#I'm also trying not to complain too much so I hope this doesn't come across as actual anger because it's not

[atlantic-riona]

@an-spideog

That's a really great question. I do have a fondness for O'Siadhail's Learning Irish, mostly because that was the one used to teach me when I was a child. I like that he includes a lot of grammar, I like the fact the exercises have you translate from Irish to English and from English to Irish, and I like the audio. I don't like that the grammar can be confusing as an independent learner—I was very confused for a long time about several grammatical items and O'Siadhail's explanations were very technical and difficult to wrap my head around, even as an adult.

I've tried the Gaeilge gan Stró series as well. I like the dialogues, but the set up of the chapters themselves can be a little confusing? It seems to jump around a bit.

I like the Buntus Cainte series, from what I've seen of it on archive.org, but it looks like it's very light on grammar explanations, and focuses more on speaking and hearing and seeing. Which is fine! But it seems like the kind of book used best in a classroom, with a teacher to help provide those explanations.

I've tried a lot of textbooks, online programs, etc., and I feel like my problem with most of them is that they focus extensively on reading/writing, not enough on speaking and listening, and they either do too little grammar or too complex grammar in the beginning.

I could just be really picky. I don't think there's a perfect language book out there for any language, but it seems like other languages usually have new and updated textbooks coming out, and a lot of the heavily recommended ones for Irish are from the 1960s. This is probably because Irish is an endangered language, and it seems like most "newer" textbooks are aimed at Irish schoolchildren (which is great! I want the focus to be on reviving the language in Ireland).

But it is kind of frustrating sometimes to see the same problems in every adult learner course for Irish. I've taken German, Italian, and Japanese classes, and none of them were perfect either, but maybe because there was more available to choose from, it felt less frustrating to work around?

I think my ideal Irish course would be like the Tobira Japanese textbook course, which I absolutely adore. They have audio for all the vocabulary, dialogues, texts (including repeat audio where there's space left for you to repeat the word or phrase). They have a two spread page before each chapter with all the vocabulary, and then another spread with all the same vocabulary next to pictures. Each chapter opens with three dialogues that cover the vocabulary and grammar that will be used in the chapter. Then each activity works piece by piece through each point of the lesson. I loved that the first chapter was all about correct pronunciation - it broke down every sound made in Japanese, and had audio of the sounds so you could repeat them and have better pronunciation, rhythm, and tone. There was a workbook that had additional exercises, and also writing exercises - I would love an Irish book that focused beyond simple translation to things like spelling or other writing needs. I also loved that it was so visual - there were pictures and cartoons everywhere. For every activity, you could do more than one thing. So for example, if you had a "telling time" activity, you would have the various characters shown doing different activities in front of the clock or calendar. You could progress from "it is 9:00" to "Naomi is swimming at 9:00" to "Naomi swims in the pool at 9:00." It was really helpful for building on previous lessons and tying concepts together. It was repetitive, but simple, so you grew more confident and were able to tackle the more complex ones later. They have a website, and I'm sure it's used in courses, but I did it as a self-study course/refresher before I went to Japan and it was very helpful.

when you want to try learning Irish again but all of the adult learner textbooks make you want to scream

[strawberrygyuuuu]

𝐓𝐗𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒 —> 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐄 6𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 —> 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂!

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 —> 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 —> 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜!𝐭𝐱𝐭 (𝐨𝐭5) 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

—> 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩.

◞꒷◟ ͜ ͜ ◞ྀི◟୨୧◞ྀི◟ ͜ ͜ ◞꒷◟

I'm running off of hopes and dreams dudes

𝐘𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐧

Older brother vibes

Definitely takes care of everyone but especially you

Yeonjun makes sure you're eating at least 2 meals a day even with a busy schedule

Very protective over you because you're the only girl and he knows you get awfully a lot of hate because of it

But he tries his best to make sure you know that you deserve to be apart of the team as much as the rest of them do

He pushes you to work harder, but because he wants you to be the best version of yourself

He's def clingy to you, but in an annoying way almost

Loves ruffling n messing your hair up, pinching your cheekies, sends you flying kisses across the room bc he thinks your reaction is funny n cute

He teased you a lot too but knows how to not cross the line

And if he does he'll be so regretful and apologetic like he'll do anything until you forgive him he feels SO bad 😭🙏🏻

Likes it when you cling to his arm, hug him or depend on him in general; especially if you prefer or like to be more independent

(or too stubborn to ask for help lolol)

Bro is all smiles n gladly helps you or takes care of you

Forehead kisses

Complains n whines when you try n kiss his forehead or cheek back in return or as a thank you but he doesn't mind it, finds it endearing, actually

Let's you rest ur head on his shoulder while sitting next to each other if he notices you're really tired or so ur neck won't get stiff

You guys are close and have a special bond

Definitely knows when to comfort you and when you're starting to have a hard time, and vise versa

Loves messing with you though like, pushing your buttons a little bit cause he thinks ur reactions are cute

��𝐨𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧

I think he's also hard on you but only because he wants to prove that you can do just as much as the boys can do

Tries and make sure you don't feel like out

Because he knows that it might be difficult for you being in an all boys group and feeling left out since you're the only girl

But none the less he wouldn't want it any other way

He's fought hard to get you with them and so did you having to constantly prove yourself; youll always have too

He js couldn't be prouder of you tbh

Always comes to defend you

soobin feels safe with you and he knows he can tell you if he's struggling or if something is bothering him

youre the main reason he stopped doubting himself when he was new to being a leader

and he's forever grateful for you

When walking up stairs he takes his coat or blaze off and holds it up from being you to cover you up and protect you

Hates seeing you sad or upset so definitely tries to do anything to cheer you up or keep you happy !!

You prob bake sum with him sometimes in your guy's free time just for fun and bonding

𝐁𝐞𝐨𝐦𝐠𝐲𝐮

Your BSF cuh

Like y'all are always together almost

Most of the time if you wanna find one or the other yall are found together doin sum

The schedules together are much more fun with beomgyu although I have a feeling the staff aren't the most thrilled 💀🙏🏻

He's so annoying But it's also kind of endearing you can't help but not be TOO mad at him 🙄 Y'all are prob the most comfortable with each other and you've seen him cry the most and vise versa Idk y'all just feel the safest w e/o and understand one another really well You guys truly have a special bond / friendship The most chaotic and funniest duo amongst all the members

Like, being paired up for challenges is hell for everyone else bc of how chaotic you two bitches are LMAO They sometimes will BEG to switch but just for shits and giggles the staff refuse to change the pairing bc it's funny n entertaining

He's def the one to act so brother like towards you

Like, he'll always come up to you and start punching you or sum but not enough to touch you just really close, but he's never actually touched you or hurt you

Idk dude it's js a brother thing apparently

Y'all are so sibling coded lol Rather you're older or younger, I think he'll still act like either an annoying little brother who admires his older sister or the annoying yet very caring (a little protective?) older brother with his little sister

Eats food with you all the time

There's been far too many times where he's made you starve and wait while he got his food js so y'all could eat together

Sorry pooks you gotta wait to eat, get used to it

It's also js y'all's love language, especially bg's

Def partners n crime, y'all need each other to fight crime !! ( Y'all share one brain cell while together trust you need to be together to function and be smarter, kinda)

For sure tag team yeonjun just to annoy him and get a good laugh at it lol y'all are unstoppable!! 𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧

You're prob a little older then him

He admires you, a lot

He thinks the things you do are cute and he js adores you

He's such a Sweetheart to you😭

He's very understanding and relies on you a little more then it might seem

Likes it when you give him affection the most out of all the boys

He has a little soft spot for you

Gives you cute little pecks and kisses on your cheek sometimes because he just adores you🥺😭

Will defend your name in public and correct you in private 𝐇𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐢

Also admires you a lot

Like he really looks up to you even if you're younger or older

If he sees you face a fear of yours he'll be so proud of you but also it'll help him have strength as well

Y'all are always doing pranks or up to some kind of mischief together

Y'all spoil each other

Although you probably buy food for him most of the time while he'll buy you food on special occasions

Y'all are gumz

Always touchy and clinging

Seen back hugging each other a lottttt

Very playful with each other too, just cute banter

You guys are also seen giving each other belly rubs a lot especially after a meal like maybe bts to do episode you'll just see Kai n you rubbing each other's bellys in the background hiding in a corner

Moas think it's the cutest but so do the members, they love teasing sometimes, "aigoo, what will we do with these two cute gumz?" Yeonjun says fondly lol

You n him learn kep1er dances together and other gg it's so fun w him

Soobin joins you guys sometimes as well

Y'all support and comfort each other when needed though

Always have an eye out for you and always tries to cheer you up when you need it most, even if it's acting a fool or embarrassing himself lol.

Bonus

They were all definitely forced into learning the whole choreography of magnetic by illit because you begged them, they couldn't say no to you LMAO😭

A/N I've had this is my drafts for far tooooo long and I figured to js post this to get sum out cause I have zero motivation.

[coolyiooo]

BSD Men - When Someone They Know Has A Crush On You

pairings: Dazai, Ranpo, Fyodor

❗Warnings❗biting, marking, hickeys, slight angst, PDA stuff

🖤DAZAI🖤

Dazai has been noticing how Kunikida has been acting differently towards you. He just seems more timid and nicer to you than the rest of the ADA members. You don't seem to notice it, but he definitely does.

I feel like Dazai wouldn't say anything directly towards Kunikida about how he knows he likes you, but he'd give subtle hints to him. He saw how Kunikida kept looking where you sat in the ADA office ,which was right next to him, and Dazai would say in a teasing tone,

"whatcha looking at Kunikida?" Kunikida blushes a bit

"go back to work. I was just spacing out" he said nonchalantly, only making Dazai smirk.

Sometimes during work, Dazai will just walk up from behind your chair and hug you and whisper sweet nothing's in your ear, but loud enough for Kunikida to hear

"Your so beautiful my belladonna~" he gave you a kiss on the cheek. You were blushing.

"Can't stay away from me for two seconds?" You teasingly asked

"I don't see you complaining my love" he kissed your cheek again with a loving smile.

"I suppose you don't recall our last discussion about PDA rules? Can't you guys wait until you go home?"

"I think someone is jealous~" Dazai responded

"What do you mean?" Kunikida asked a bit startled, wondering if Dazai found out about his secret.

"Just that you don't have a girlfriend, but wait didn't your little journal say you won't find your soulmate until-"

"Enough! Go back to your seat Dazai!"

Dazai would also definitely leave bite marks and hickeys on your neck just so Kunikida can see and remind him who you belong to.You tried your best to cover your hickeys and bite marks Dazai gave you last night, but some of it was still noticeable. You'd have to really look directly at your neck to notice.

During work Kunikida looked at your direction and noticed some marks on your neck, the longer he looked at it he finally knew what it was. He'd get a bit hurt, just another reminder you belong to someone else, but why does it have to be him?

He looked at Dazai and Dazai felt his stare, he'd look back at him "Hm? Getting distracted again Kunikida? Its becoming a bad habit~"

"Oh shut up I was just thinking for one second"

"Oh? About what?"

"None of your business. Get your work done"

Dazai's lips curled into a smirk. Honestly he'd probably feel a tad bad for Kunikida, but at the same time he doesn't just bc there's no way he'd willingly give you up for Kunikida. He knows that you love him and not Kunikida and that he wouldn't make a move on you.

💚RANPO💚

The second he saw how Dazai looked at you, he knew instantly that Dazai has fallen for you. Dazai would know that Ranpo knows that he likes you and Ranpo would know that Dazai knows that he figured out his little crush on you.

Sorry for making this confusing, but they're intellectuals so.

Ranpo wouldn't be insecure or scared about you leaving him for Dazai because he knows you love him, but he'd still keep a close eye on Dazai because he's very flirtatious and a bit touchy towards you. Ranpo would probably confront Dazai about it.

"You do know that being flirty with y/n won't get you anywhere right?"

Dazai smiles sinisterly " yes I'm well aware, but are you perhaps a bit frightened she might choose me over you?"

Ranpo laughs "HA! ofc not! I know she loves me dearly, I just wouldn't want you to get your hopes up so please know your place" he says with a smile.

Dazai looks away, a sinister smile still on his face "Alright, You always know what's best "

Ranpo would know Dazai wouldn't really try anything too bold and Dazai really wouldn't just because he knows it's a loosing game. Still doesn't mean that Ranpo won't show Dazai how much you love him.

It was another normal day at the ADA office and Ranpo was craving some love from you.

He yells across the office "Baby cakes! Can you please come here?"

Everybody jolted from the sudden yelling after the office being quiet for a long period of time. You looked at your boyfriend who was smiling at you.

"Hm? Alright" You walked right next to your boyfriend's side

"is there something wrong?"

Ranpo then suddenly held your waist and forced you to sit on his lap making you yelp. He put his arms around you, hugging you from behind, and put his chin on your shoulder. You were a blushing mess and caught by surprise. Everybody in the office just ignored you and luckily Kunikida wasn't there at the office today.

Ranpo chuckled, "nothing wrong, you were just so cute I couldn't help myself!" He snuggled his nose to your neck .

You chuckled softly, "alright but if you become more of a distraction I will have to go back to my seat"

He sighed gently "fineee" he gives you a quick peck on the neck making you smile.

Ranpo knew Dazai wasn't really watching but he didn't need to, to know what was happening. Ranpo was just smiling to himself. Dazai would feel sorrowful about the situation but he'll just smile through the pain as always :( he'd probably keep his distance from you and that distance will grow larger just so he won't be so heartbroken.

💜FYODOR💜

Our man is very observant so he noticed how Nikolai was more open with you and would try his hardest to make you laugh or how he also took notice on Nikolai's body language and tone in his voice when he's with you. He just knew Nikolai is interested in you.

I feel like Fyodor wouldn't say anything to Nikolai just so there wouldn't be conflict and that'd ruin his plans so he just keeps you and Nikolai at a distance.

I can see Fyodor sneakily making up excuses to separate you two from interacting, but when he can't, he'll find other ways to show Nikolai that he can't have you

Fyodor walks into a room while looking for you, when he does find you he sees that Nikolai is there with you. You were both laughing at whatever the hell y'all were talking about that you didn't even notice your boyfriend standing by the doorway, staring at you two. When you finally realize Fyodor is there, you smile at him.

"Oh hi Fedya! Are you taking a break?"

Nikolai looks at Fyodor with a bit of disappointment, you can barley notice it but Fyodor did.

"No my love, but I do need to see you for a moment" he walks towards you two

"Oh alright! Well bye Nikolai"

You wave Nikolai goodbye while getting up from your seat, he waves back at you

"Don't be gone for too long! You are the only one who cures my boredom" he replied

Fyodor's held his arm out to you and you take his hand, but he smoothly slides it to your hips and takes you to your room. Nikolai's eyes follow you two until your completely out of the room.

When you and Fyodor make it to your room, he starts to gently kiss you and caress your body while putting your back against the wall. You were caught off guard, but you immediately kissed back. Your arms were around his neck and his were on your waist as you both make out passionately.

You pulled on his hair slightly to pull away from the kiss.As you were slightly breathing heavily you asked

"is this why you wanted to see me?" You smiled slightly while tilting your head to the side

"Not exactly"

"Hm? Don't tell me you were a little jealous Fedya~" you asked with amusement in your voice

"Why would I be jealous my love? I have no reason to"

"Yeah your right, jealousy doesn't suit you.. but maybe possessive?"

He pulls your hair back, leaving your neck exposed, making you gasp.He then sinks his teeth into your neck, not enough to make you bleed, he then leaves a couple hickeys on your soft neck and pulls away.

"I just have to remind others what's mine" he kisses your bite mark then looks into your eyes with his harsh ones.

"Don't hide these do you understand?"

You smile at him "wasn't planning on it"

When you return to Nikolai, he sees the marks on your neck. He'll joke/tease you about it as a way to cope with what he's feeling and Fyodor will be able to see the pained look in Nikolai's eyes, but he'll hold no sympathy for him only pity.

[inoreuct]

zosan with abba's super trouper.

is this essentially a pop star au? yes. bear with me anyway.

so the entire vinsmoke family are pop stars and they're perfect in the public eye but actually toxic as HELL, and sanji's sick and tired of it— so he breaks away from them and joins another agency, and zoro's assigned as his bodyguard.

they fight SO MUCH at first. i'm talking screaming and yelling and throwing things across the room (mostly sanji) and being stubborn and straight-up refusing to talk after a certain point (also mostly sanji) and then apologising with food and gifts and not words (mostly, well, both of them). they're like flint and steel; putting them together is just asking for trouble, but the years pass, and somehow through the endless bickering they end up best friends. who would've thought? their sharp edges have softened just enough and they're both too old and too tired and too busy to have cold wars anymore. they know more about each other than perhaps anyone else, and they care.

(they're also both in love and refuse to admit it. idiots.)

and then sanji goes on tour, and zoro has to leave for a training refresher course thing, and sanji's MISERABLE. luffy's with him as a bodyguard instead and it's fine, he's great, sanji loves him— just not the way he loves zoro. he feels fucking homesick in a way he never has because he's never really had a proper home and he knows, he knows it's because zoro isn't here with him. sanji turns around to tell him something and is met with empty air. he keeps trying to order double portions of food and booze before he catches himself and maybe he's being dramatic, but it feels like he's missing a fucking limb.

nami, his manager, has to yell at him to stop moping because all he's doing is eating chocolate and binging french soap operas in his hotel room and huddling up in the big leather jacket that zoro left behind. he just wants to get back to his tiny apartment and curl up on his shitty couch to eat pizza and watch Mean Girls for the hundredth time as zoro complains and gets invested in the drama all over again anyway.

he's nearly dead on his feet as finishes yet another exhausting show, trying to take comfort in the fact that it's his second last; his shoes are kicked off to the corner, his makeup barely removed, and just when he's about to turn in for the night his phone rings and when he sees the caller ID he SCRAMBLES to pick up.

"hey," zoro says, low and rumbly and so achingly familiar that sanji doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice," he breathes, and he means it. he means it more than he even knew he did and it hits him all at once as soon as the words leave his mouth. he misses his best friend, no matter everything else that zoro is to him.

zoro's chuckle is a balm to his soul. "i'm coming to see you tomorrow."

sanji sits bolt upright from where he'd been laid back against the pillows, eyes going wide. "are you serious?" he can't help the hope and excitement that unspools in his gut, the warm rush in his blood as zoro laughs.

"yeah. i'm done with the course. speedran the fucking thing and scored so well they had no choice but to let me go. couldn't miss the last chance i had to see you on tour, could i?" sanji can hear his grin through the phone. "i'm flying in tomorrow morning."

"i'll come pick you up from the airport."

"like hell you will," zoro retorts immediately. "you have a press conference at ten."

shit, he'd forgotten about that. "how'd you know, huh?" sanji counters, faux-petty and reclining back against his plush bedding. god, if there was one good thing about being on tour, it was the fancy hotels.

"been talking to nami," comes the reply, amused and teasing, and sanji groans. "what's this i hear about you acting like a widowed husband?"

"you fucking wish, you moron," he snaps, curling up on his side and hugging a pillow to his chest. the bed is awfully big and awfully cold.

zoro sighs, and there's the sound of something zipping up briskly. "missed you too, curls. look, listen— i gotta get to the airport. see you tomorrow night?"

"...yeah," sanji says, because there's so much he wants to tell zoro and no idea how. he doesn't know where he'd start. he doesn't even know what he wants to say. "yeah, i'll see you. you'll be in the crowd, right?"

"mhm," zoro confirms, accompanied by what sounds like the chirp of an electronic lock. "you just sit tight, curly. i'm coming home."

they exchange a few more words before the line cuts off, but sanji's mind is stuck on three specific words and the possible space for three more after. i'm coming home. but he isn't home right now; he's in a foreign country, in a bed that isn't his, and zoro's flying to him. this isn't home to either of them. unless... and that silence afterwards, like zoro had wanted to say something that would have fit right in. something that would have been a natural end to that string of syllables.

sanji takes a deep breath and does his best to push all thoughts of i love you, spoken or not, to the back of his mind.

still, he can't help but let it all boost him up like a buoy bobbing merrily on the sea. one call from zoro, one short conversation, and he's fucking effervescent; he wakes up smiling and breezes through the press conference with effortless charm. he's bouncing on the toes of his heeled boots even before he steps onto the stage, thrilled by the thought of zoro being in the audience. thousands of eyes on him, thousands of people screaming his name, and he only cares about one. he takes a deep breath as the lights change and the platform he's on begins to rise, fingers tightening around his mic. it's his last night here. he's doing it all for zoro.

it turns out to be the best performance of his life, if he does say so himself. he powers through the entire two hours with ease and hits every note perfectly. he enjoys himself for the first time in a long time, soaks up the glitter and glamour and blinding lights, lets the atmosphere wrap him up and tousle his hair, and he wonders just how it's possible that one person's presence could change so much.

(he doesn't need to wonder. he already knows.)

when he says his final goodbyes for the night he's breathless, heart pounding, anticipatory. the hands patting at his back in congratulation backstage are superficial compared to who he knows is here, and he spares nami a few seconds for a rare squeeze, pausing for a few more when she whispers i'm proud of you in his ear.

and then sanji sees him, and nothing, nothing else fucking matters.

he sprints forward and they crash together and something slams into place inside of him. zoro sweeps him off his feet, squeezing him tight enough that he laughs, bright and merry and real as they spin around and around and he's so dizzy when he's set back down, light-headed and his heart full. he doesn't care where he is, he's home.

zoro takes his weight as easily as anything, tucking sanji to his chest. "god, fuck, you were amazing up there," he says breathlessly, the words pressed into sanji's bejewelled hair. "you were incredible."

the words rumble through his chest and sanji clings tighter, holding zoro desperately around the waist and taking in deep lungfuls of laundry detergent and the fancy pine-and-sandalwood body wash he'd given zoro for christmas. "you're here."

"'course i am," zoro replies, matter-of-fact. "said i'd be here, so i'm here."

his earrings press against sanji's cheek. "can we go get pizza?" he asks meekly.

zoro's answering laugh pours into the horrible aching pit that's been gnawing away at him, fills it up with liquid sunlight as he answers, "we can do whatever the hell you want."

they get pizza. sanji lets zoro pull him around town swearing at the Google Maps on his phone before he finally takes pity and steers them towards the little pizzeria he'd found when he'd snuck out with luffy on their first night here. the tongue-lashing from nami had been worth it, but even so the experience back then had been dull. muted, at best.

now it's like he's seeing the whole world through a whole different lens; the fluorescent sign in the window beams charmingly as the bell above the door chimes, and sanji doesn't even care about the raised eyebrow zoro gives him when he wiggles into the booth seat with undisguised glee. between them they put away a large four-cheese pizza and a frankly massive slice of apple pie à la mode, and sanji's feeling pleasantly stuffed as he finishes up his vanilla milkshake and successfully fends zoro off from stealing sips when he isn't looking. he has plenty of experience with that, after all.

the walk back is filled with comfortable silence. sanji doesn't need anything else— zoro here with him is more than he could ask for. scary dog privilege aside, the man next to him is sanji's best friend, and he loves zoro more than he can, or will, ever say.

zoro drops him off at his room and hugs him goodnight. sanji strips down, blasts the shower as hot as it can go, and scrubs the gel out of his hair along with any of the remaining dregs of emptiness he resolutely tells himself are not there right down the drain.

it can't stop him from thinking, though. of zoro. of compression shirts and cargo pants and worn black boots. of the nights zoro had taught him self-defense and the time sanji nearly broken his jaw with a roundhouse kick neither of them had known he was capable of; the other had grinned up with him with blood all over his teeth, proud and raring to go, barking again! and sanji had glowed. his mind swims with it all even as he towels off and slips into his silk pyjamas— memories of late-night talks with wine and beer, sometimes tea, quips all around, beds shared back-to-back under unspoken agreements when neither of them wanted to sleep alone.

three knocks sound on his door.

sanji hates the way he rushes to the peephole and yanks it open as soon as he confirms who it is. zoro stands there, one hand on the back of his neck, looking bored yet unsettled in his baggy tee with his damp hair sticking up everywhere. "jetlag?" sanji asks, raising an eyebrow as zoro grunts.

"you could say that."

he steps aside in a silent invitation, and zoro looks around as he goes in. sanji topples onto the bed with a sigh of relief and crawls under the blankets, patting the space beside him as he switches on the television. "mean girls?"

"god, i fucking hate you," zoro groans, but he settles in anyways, and sanji grins triumphantly.

it's still not his apartment or his shitty couch— but zoro's here, so it's the next best thing.

they make it through the movie without incident. zoro parrots the dialogue and cheers when regina gets hit by the bus like he does without fail every time. sanji knees him in the thigh for it with a scowl like he always does and it starts a fierce kicking battle under the sheets that results in zoro dangling half off the mattress and sanji laughing so hard he can't breathe.

when they've mostly calmed down, sanji sighs out one final chuckle and sinks back into the pillows. "think you can fall asleep now?" he murmurs, turning to look at where zoro has his head propped in one hand.

"maybe," the other allows, and sanji swallows before he smiles.

"goodnight, marimo."

"goodnight."

the flick of the light switch feels like finality. in regards to what, sanji doesn't know, but now that they're in the darkness and zoro begins to get comfortable behind him he cannot deny that he wants.

he wants those arms around him. wants to sleep even better than he does when they're back to back, wants to fit within the circle of zoro's embrace like he belongs there. wants to belong there. wants zoro as his best friend and everything more. it manifests as a tight ache in the centre of his chest, a knot around his heart that he knows he cannot untangle by himself. sanji curls up into a ball and hugs a pillow to his chest, biting his lip— because zoro is right next to him instead of thousands of miles away, and he's still untouchable all the same.

he's on the cusp of restless sleep when he feels zoro shift, and he prays that the hitch in his breath is unnoticeable. he forces the rise and fall of his chest to stay even as the blankets are smoothed securely around his shoulders, a callused palm brushing his hair away from his face; a soft kiss is pressed to his forehead, a hand cupping his face tenderly and trailing away with the brush of a thumb over his cheekbone. "sweet dreams, curls," zoro whispers, before light cracks in from the hallway as his room door opens and shuts.

the electronic lock beeps, and sanji's eyes fly open. the white ceiling swims as he stares at it, unseeing, and the sheets on the right side of the bed are still warm. there's an indent where zoro's body was and sanji gasps as he drags himself into it, huddling down and pulling the covers over his head until all he can smell is zoro.

his heart stutters, mind racing, fingers tightening in the plush duvet. he's confused, so confused. hopeful. a little mad, if he's being honest, and his next breath trembles out of his lungs. mostly still confused, though, because what the fuck did that mean?

he'll find out, he swears. he will. he'll storm his way to zoro's room and break the damn door down if he has to. but for now, if he hides for a little while until he stops feeling like he's about to cry—

well, that's a secret for his hotel room to keep.

[stil-lindigo]

okay so, not entirely sure what the last anon was on about (and it very well could be a troll just trying to bait. they really should have at least brought up what they meant if they wanted to appear in good faith), but it may be in relation to "drink up" and how it attracted terf attention on twitter? (which I know you addressed btw, so I hope this doesn't come across as an attack or anything)

personally, I think the phrase "our only natural predator" might have appealed to terf rhetoric just a little (but that's my opinion - I very well could be 100% wrong). I have my own personal feelings on the use of "natural" in the phrase (men don't naturally prey on women like animal predators do their prey - if anything, it's unnatural, deliberately chosen behavior - and it reminds me of the excuse that "it's just naturally how men are," like "boys will be boys." HOWEVER, I see how that phrasing ties into the "lioness/women turning it around and preying on the predator" theme, so honestly it works well there), but aside from all that, I can also see why it might've attracted terfs: bc they very often view and frame trans women as male predators to cis women. I know that's definitely not how you intended it though!!

and this also isn't meant as a nitpick to your work, so my apologies if that's how it comes across. I really like your art and your writing (and "drink up" has a very cool theme)! it's just that I can see how terfs might've interpreted it a certain way. it's not your fault that they viewed it like that though, and you've made it very clear you're NOT down with trans exclusionary BS. so that's literally the only thing I could see anon complaining about tbh, assuming they're not just being a troll. also I'm sorry for the super long message (I have an issue w/ typing too much smh). I just thought I'd share my thoughts on it in case it's at all helpful, but also this might just be annoying to read instead, so honestly feel free to just discard it if you prefer!

It’s not annoying at all anon, and I appreciate you taking the time to send this in. The comic you’re talking about is one I think back on with a lot of regret. It was made in a furious haze after a big time female streamer revealed that she was being mentally abused for years by her husband, where he would waste her hard earned money, threaten her dogs and her livelihood and overall be a monster to the woman who was their primary breadwinner. The reaction online to this information by her largely male audience was so genuinely vile and violently misogynistic that I made the comic, without thinking broadly about the implications you’ve already pointed out. In reality, the comic was meant to talk about how all women (cis and trans) suffer under the patriarchy and how the label of womanhood can often be an open call for baseless derision, dehumanisation and entitlement at many levels.

TERFS quickly co-opted the comic, and I’ll always regret ever giving them an opportunity to feel empowered and validated by my art, but I’ve learned from the experience overall to do better by my trans siblings. Thank you for engaging in good faith - I hope my behaviour now and in the future can make up for past mis-steps.

[orange-imagines]

Mud Dogs x Sick Reader

Relationship: Platonic

A/N: *blows dust off my keyboard* Uh hey guys. Fancy seeing you all here! Anyway I'm feeling blehhh and I've been thinking about the mud dogs a lot lately, so here you go have this for free <33 Also if you have mud dogs requests, send em in! Will I get to them? Who could possibly know. But reqs are open all the same

Well, they don't like seeing you miserable, that's for sure.

None of them are really used to dealing with this kind of thing. Sure, they all have experience being around people who've been sick and sometimes even helping with it depending on who the person was, but since taking up a life of crime they've gotten a bit rusty. They're way better at patching up the cuts and bruises you all get from your various missions and heists, but taking care of someone who's just caught a bug or has invisible pain going on? It's not their strong suit. But that doesn't mean they don't still try.

Danny's the best at looking after you by far. While he might make a joke here or there, he's the least likely to get on your nerves, and the most likely to make you a warm beverage and a hot meal unprompted. He looks after Len and Mick enough when they overwork themselves or go too far on a job that he has a good understanding of what you need: time, rest, and peace and quiet (the latter said while he glares at your other two friends). I take back all my generalization, actually- he's not a bad caretaker at all! He'll stop by your room/your spot on the couch and ask how you're doing and if you're feeling up for accompanying them on some task, and he'll sit with you and rub your back and let you complain about how bad you feel if you want to. He keeps as many worries as possible off your plate, and encourages you to rest as much as you can. He doesn't care if you're all actively being hounded by the cops (which you probably are), he just says "that ain't for you to worry about. Go take your meds and lay down". While he may come across as stern, he really just wants you to feel better. He doesn't like seeing anyone he cares about in pain.

Leonard is brash and can be quite loud and irritating when the others are involved, but when left alone with you he's way softer than he is on a daily basis. He won't baby you, but he's way more likely to do what you ask of him without complaint (holding things for you, getting up and getting you stuff, microwaving lunch, changing the channel to something he normally would never watch). If you want to vent about how bad you feel, he's your man. To him, your pain is something he can shit-talk with you about ("That fucking sucks. Why's your body doing this? This guy bothering you? Next time someone sneezes on you, tell me. I'll take care of them"), and he's only a little bit serious. He'll continue on with the bit if it makes you laugh- actually, there's little he won't do to try and lighten your mood, so if the two of you have any embarrassing/silly inside jokes that you want him to recreate or a funny voice you want him to do, this is the time. He'll deny you for a few minutes, but he's super easy to sway when you're sick. I hope Danny and Mick were there to see him do some cheesy shit to make you feel better. The big softie. They'll never let it go.

Mickey's just a pure wild card here, god help you. It's not like he's bad, he's just a bit chaotic because he really wants to fix whatever's going on with you, and gets impatient when he realizes there's nothing either of you can do but ride it out. He's very good about reminding you take any meds or painkillers you need though, and he comes up with a lot of other ways to ease your discomfort. Anything that usually helps you, he's down to do, no joke. He'll be your body pillow or heating pad or wrap his arms around your face if you have a headache. He cares the least about the possibility of you getting him sick and will be in your space and company as much as you want him to, though if you're feeling touch adverse you may have to shoo him away. If he's pestering you, feel free to tell him you're annoyed- he's got thick skin and knows you love him, so he won't take it to heart. He's a good sport.

Mick's also the most likely to procure mystic medicine for you, not realizing the potential negative effects that could have on a human, especially when a few of his medicines definitely came from the black market.

"Yeah I'm sure Y/N would appreciate this crazy plant I got. Funny that it's making my arm all tingly." "C'mon Mick for fuck's sake-"

I won't lie, it's not the most ideal situation you could be in. The guys' lives are chaotic and messy and often lacking in common physical comforts. But they always look out for you when you need it. Them having your back doesn't just apply to high-stakes cons and heists, they're there for you 24/7 (no matter how much beauty sleep they might lose). You're part of their messy little family, and they'll always do their best to take care of you, even if they might be lacking in a few areas.

[gray-thistleclan]

(accidentally made this more of a chatfic. my bad)

Cherrystar skittered across the muddy floor outside of camp. It rained just a few moments prior, so the ground was sticky and not pleasant to walk across, as Cinderpaw described it. Going for a patrol to reinforce the Gray-Thistleclan and Deep-Murkclan border. Cherrystar took Call Of The Void along with her, and the two quickly wandered far away from the camp.

"Hey, COTV?" Cherrystar's loud voice made COTV jolt up a little.

"Mhm?" She asked, now looking face-to-face with the leader.

"Can i talk to you about something?"

COTV nodded. Cherrystar took a deep breath and spoke up.

"I'm a little worried about Goldsight. Ever since Fogkit was born, she has been acting erratically, complaining about not felling well and her eyes get darker and darker, like she's slowly dying or something. I certainly hope she's not dying!" Cherrystar rambled to COTV, who was staring intently at her, expression unreadable.

"That would be awful, Cherrystar. I guess she should talk to the other medicine cats, maybe she's sick." COTV mumbled while sniffing the ground for any strayed scents.

"It doesn't seem like any sickness at all, it's like she's been cursed. Are her kits maybe weakening her? That seems like a high possibility. It's just... making me very worried."

"It's okay, Cherrystar."

"What if it's not okay, COTV?" Cherrystar harshly responded, surprising COTV. "I-I'm sorry about that, but what if she isn't okay? She looks life the life is draining out of her! I'm just..." Cherrystar sighed. "I keep repeating the same thing over and over again."

COTV didn't say anything, just nodded and looked away.

Awkward silence engulfed the two mollies, both seemingly trying to start a conversation but too anxious to actually say anything. Cherrystar suddenly jumped, looking like she had an idea.

"What about your paranormal abilities? Are they cool to have?"

"It's fine." COTV murmured quietly.

"You can see dead cats right? Have you seen Sparrowswipe and Woollyspeckle? What do dead cats look like, do they sparkle??"

"While i've seen Woollyspeckle, he mostly hangs around his mother and sometimes Anisetail, i haven't seen Sparrowswipe. I only hear what he's saying. Dead cats look like a wispy version of themself, they don't sparkle."

"Aww... Wait- What does Sparrowswipe say? Any insults about you or something?"

"Well, the first thing he said was "COME ON!". It was very loud. Since then, he's said stuff like "I knew COTV shouldn't have joined!", or "Cherrystar exile her!". I don't pay much attention to these, but they are quite loud- and he just said "Buzz off." right now. He seems to follow wherever i go."

"Does Woollyspeckle say anything?"

"Mostly saying stuff like "Man, Sparrow is loud!" or talking about Strawflower, Raincrackle or Fogkit. He doesn't say much, so it's mostly Sparrowswipe talking."

"Sweet!"

Silence once again. However, this time, they weren't focused on the patrol, they were more interested in enjoying each other's company. So much in fact, they've strayed away from doing any bordering and were just wandering around their territory.

However, COTV spoke up to break the silence.

"What was it like in Deep-Murkclan?"

"Hm? Oh, uhh, i left when i was 6 moons, don't really remember much, hehe... urghh..." Cherrystar babbled, speaking without thinking at all. "Umm, there was this apprentice task, where you had to feed the pit-"

"Feed... the what?"

"Feed the pit. The pit was scary! I hate it so much! Anyway, we had to feed the whatever was living underneath the horrible pit. Also it was very dark!"

"Must have sucked."

"It did suck! Also, Serpentstar, she wasn't the leader before! Though that didn't mean she was obsessed with the warrior code. Seems like it only got worse when she got her nine lives."

"Why did you take Goldsight with you when you left?"

"Oh, uh, well..." Cherrystar struggled to say anything. "Well, you know she has a scar, right? She got it when she was just a moon old- and i thought it wasn't suitable for her to live there, so i fled with her."

"Interesting."

"...What were we supposed to do again?"

"...Excellent question."

"Weren't we supposed to... um... patrol?"

COTV shrugged, which made Cherrystar sigh.

"We should get back to camp before the others think we got lost or died somehow."

"Yeah, that's fair."

They didn't get much done, but they liked being around each other. COTV has tried to tell Cherrystar something, but has never been confident enough to actually tell her. Maybe another day will be the day she will finally say it.

-🦚

DOG this is so good, kinda makes me wish i need how to write lol great job!

[remusawoooo]

anon here, excited to read the essay! i asked you because i really like your takes and i see people in the more canon-adjacent parts of the marauders fanbase to complain about the extremes of the fanon one, though personally ive never really seen anything Too extreme, tho thats probably just tantamount to how well i curate my spaces i suppose (ive seen people say that fanon makes remus really “alpha” or makes sirius “bimbofied” and while ive seen hints of those extremes here and there, mostly it looks like it varies from person to person. ive just seen remus be more assertive than he probably is in canon, or sirius being more dramatic and “fem” than he probably is in canon). from what i know people like exaggerating events (the prank, etc.) or shifting some personality traits, but i dont really think thats a bad thing - i personally enjoy it. as long as they dont completely turn characters into stereotypes (though its a pitfall of every fandom, i fear), then whatever its just camp.

people are allowed to criticize stuff like that though, not taking that away from anyone, i personally just dont really care enough to be totally accurate esp since this hyperfix is kind of the bottom of the barrel for me LMAO. but i ask mostly bc im just curious to see what other peoples opinions are, and bc i think - especially in a fanbase like this - that its incredibly important to be at least a little critical with your media experience and reflect on it. saying “oh fuck canon we’re just having fun” is fine and all, i dont think anyone is stopping you, i think the personalities people have made up for characters that have zero screen time are super fun and the little ships are not everyones tea but like its fine. but even still, people should be way more aware of what characters theyre dealing with and from what franchise, and like reflect on any biases you may have. if youre making shit up for a random DE character, or retconning some sutff, okay, whatever, but be sure to not defend or like suddenly turn to really weird rhetoric. idk i think its the bare minimum in a fanbase like this

i definitely rambled way too much here, super sorry op! i hope this doesnt bother you, feel free to reply or feel free to not. i just really like hearing peoples thoughts on things, and i like your takes and your blog so i hope i didnt catch you by surprise. i really am just an outsider trying to look in LOL

hello anon, I'm sorry I lost your ask. I was writing on my laptop and saved the draft (but apparently had to press on alt, and didn't do it) so I basically lost your question and half of my initial response. Ty for sending in another ask!! Not a bother at all, i find this very lovely :D 

I was mortified to find that someone who isn't really a part of the fandom was perceiving me while I was complaining about fictional characters ahahaha. still, thank you for validating me and asking my thoughts on the mischaracterization of marauders!! I do talk about it daily, unfortunately, and without any prompt too. I'll try to gather all my thoughts here. I don't necessarily come across fanon as much as I did when I reentered the fandom and honestly, I can not be more with you about curating your space !! at the end of the day, I am just here to have fun, and really, pointing out these issues is not a good time at all! But I do post a lot about these, I can't be bothered to bottle up any thoughts lol.

I think the major issue I have with current interpretations is the underlying bigotry that comes along with it. There is a lot of unchecked problematic content that doesn't sit right with me.

Flanderizing characters in fandom interpretations is not limited to marauders fandom obviously. any popular media will face this because so many of us want to interact with one character so their traits are simplified for easier consumption and to find a common ground. this is also not limited to new marauders fandom. even in the older era, leather jacket-wearing, motorbike-driving quintessential bad boy siruis was a thing. so I won't nitpick on silly simplifications.

I just want to say that this isn't about me wanting everyone to have the same interpretations as I do about the canon. I follow so many lovely people and I don't agree with all of their posts. But, we all just simply share the love for these characters in the text and form an imaginary community. So, if we were to remove all the issues I will mention, it is still very well possible to have different personal takes.

Here are some of my issues:

Queerness, Gender roles, and misogyny:

My biggest problem is the representations of queer relationships. the fandom packages these couples in a strange and obvious heteronormative mold where the individuals fit into male and female gender roles. mlm and wlw are now an “f/m”* stereotype and characterization gets affected by the ships. Heterosexual relationships shouldn't have these limitations either, anyway. There is no one way to be a woman or a man. With queer relationships in particular, we have reclaimed the word queer now but it was used to describe the unconventional weirdness in the relationship. We didn't fit into the normal portrayal of a loving relationship. So, it really bothers me, even in fiction, that queer ships are popularly consumed in a way that represents a traditional template. (*this is not about gender itself but the gender roles! f/m can very well be queer!). 

Let's take the biggest victim in this fandom: sirius.

Sirius’ portrayal concerning his gender and sexuality has heavily changed his characterization in the fanon. We have a character who is popularly headcanonned as trans and is it a coincidence that all their traits have changed from the og material? Sirius is suddenly vain, whiny, and dumb. Canon doesn't suggest this interpretation, it has to have stemmed from somewhere. It's the implicit bias. Sirius becomes a caricature of what a woman “should be”. When we focus on sexuality, there is the suddenly short twink sirius who has the same new traits- proving the point of fulfilling gender roles. These characteristics are a stand-in for the “female” role of the traditional relationship and it becomes more clear in the example of new age wolfstar. Remus is now the big alpha stoic manly man- the obvious stand-in for the “male” role. I could go on, it is apparent in the way you can see remus becomes a caretaker and sirius is taken care of.

The point I am trying to make is not to discourage gender/sexuality hc. I love them, keep them coming. But, why is female sirius not tall suddenly? It is not inherently bad at all to have a feminine and masculine pairing! But why do we need to change the constitutions of these characters to consume their relationship?

I'll keep dropping disclaimers because I hate being misinterpreted: I don't obviously mean every single person is doing this or that doing one of the things means doing the other too. 

Race:

It is related to the point above. I was personally so excited to see the popular desi james hc. Even in fanon, I have never seen such a prevalent and encouraged brown rep, it was quite sweet to come back to that. But the problem is the change of characteristics that comes with race hc. Desi james is also a manly dude who is big and buff as opposed to the white petite and delicate regulus within jegulus ship. The melanin is directly proportional to the manliness here. 

This is a propagation of race stereotypes. Maybe jegulus was a bad example because usually there are seen as blank templates. I will raise the argument that this can't be all we can come up with for blank canvases then. Either way, my point about race still stands when you repeatedly design interracial queer relationships so they fall into heteronormative roles. Anyway, same issue with wolfstar when there is a brown remus.

Canon, JKR, and hypocrisy:

Refusing to engage with source material is funny when we are picking characters out of it. the interpretations of the characters will be from their book. otherwise, they are just original characters with the same name. you can add onto the traits and a lot of the time fandom comes to a consensus regarding a few things! This is common in every fandom but I don't think I have seen such reluctance to not only critically engage with media but also shame others who do. We are surely in special circumstances with this fandom but I really do think jkr and how we navigate the fanon should be two different things.

Most of us don't condone jkr or even remotely agree with any nonsense she spews on the daily. Most of us can see the problematic nature of even consuming this media and staying in this fandom. It is one of the reasons I even left the fandom. Most of us are simply doing our best to engage carefully while distancing ourselves from her. So, it is quite laughable when some love to take the moral high ground for rejecting canon while still engaging with the same characters. (the rejection of canon in question being sirius’ height, lol)

(Sirius' height is quite a polarising fact apparently. Unfortunately, the point about height is also discussed so disingenuously. When I talk about sirius’ height, it is not really about him being 6 or 7 feet. It will not really impact my life. It is about what it represents. He is bimbofied as he becomes short. It's an issue of "WHY" again.)

Of course, this isn't an accusation of intentional bigotry from everyone here. The problem with this fandom is that the people in it tell themselves that it is progressive and to run away from the problematic creator as much as possible. We are not progressive if all we do is co-opt queer and racially diverse identities on such a superficial level. The bias manifests in subtle forms. I just wish we check ourselves from time to time, that's all. 

There is a lot of hostility when we try to discuss issues in the fanon. Things are interpreted in the most misguided way to just win the argument. Like I said in the beginning, we all just want to have a good time. That also means creating a welcoming space for vulnerable groups (especially when the same identities are used to pat yourselves on the backs for inclusivity points). I didn't even cover everything btw, I just wrote about the issues that concern me. queer and poc also partake in biased representations, I also probably have some biases that I didn't identify yet. I just think it would be super neat if everyone tried to make an effort to unlearn and engage with media without hurting anyone. 

I have other issues but they are all just super subjective opinions and smth I can ignore when others do. ex: I really don't like giving tragic backstories to bigots in the story. Not every supremacist loser has a trauma that forced them into oppressing people! There is also "tropeyfication" of all major ships. Just an overall issue in the reading world I think, though.

Anon, I didn't mean to make it preachy in any way btw. You probably asked for a silly little rant and I went full lecture mode, so I apologize for the tone shift!! I mentioned these because every other issue can be brought down to these imo. Like you said, I also don't have any fixation on everything being canon-compliant. I only complain by asking about the thought process behind certain kinds of changes, if that makes sense! I hope this wasn't a drag really and you can see where I am coming from. If I misspoke anywhere, pls lmk. Thanks for sharing your opinions too!!

This is a long long rant, anyone who read everything, you are wonderful and patient. Thank you for taking the time. This huge post and the content can make you think, “who cares this much?” or “it's not that serious” and yaa it really isn't that serious. The characters aren't real but we all are. the identities projected are real. so, it does matter to talk about this.

Everything said this is a fun place to be once you find your own corner in the playground.

[distortedataraxia]

Sk8 the infinity x reader (platonic)

When you first start skateboarding

Author note : Hi ! Sorry this is really small and rushed, i wanted to begin and try to post in this fandom with something simple, like i did for bsd, i hope this is enjoyable anyways ★

Reki ! ★

When you first start skateboarding, reki is really excited and motivated to help you learn, he'll be patient and will keep you motivated, giving you a lot of tips and making sure you're okay on the run.

Chances are, he's the one who's gotten you into skateboarding, or he kept harassing you to try it out, both are very possible.

Reki will make sure to congratulate you on every small steps of the way, if you don't feel confident or scared, reki will reassure you that it's okay.

He might aswell build you a personalized skateboard while he's at it.

Overall, he'll be supportive, bright , patient and kind.

Langa ! ★

Langa will be patient and considerate, if you're injured, he will forbid you from being reckless.

He'll also probably ask reki for advices when you're having troubles with something and he doesn't know how to help.

He'll get worried when you fall down but he'll also encourage you, he'll try to make you feel the fun and freedom feeling in his own ways.

And most certainly, Reki will be included 100% in one way or another, so you're probably going to have the duo supporting you all the way through this journey of skateboarding.

Joe ! ★

Joe. Joe... How do i say this.

He'll be supportive, sure, but he'll probably flex and use himself as an example very very often. Am i wrong?

Please bury me if i am.

I can imagine you two chatting about skateboarding tricks in a restaurant(most certainly his restaurant) in a very chill atmosphere.

He'll encourage you, that's for sure, and remind you to never isolate yourself and come to him or anyone else for advices or to hang around and have a good time.

He might look like a dad with his child.. unless-

Cherry ! ★

Cherry will be supportive, though he might not look that happy, he is happy about it.

He completely believes in you and encourage you to learn.

Looking at the way you stand on the board and skate when you're able to, he'll give you advices, a lot of advices, probably based on operations, degrees and all of that.. AM I LACKING ORIGINALITY?? I'M SO SORRY-

Overall, Cherry will be really sweet and will help you learn skateboarding in his own ways, if joe came across him teaching you though...

Well, guess you're having a break and a show to watch, yay! Where is the popcorn at now?

Shadow ! ★

Shadow.... uhm, shadow.. I.. Uh..

It depends on multiple factors, shadow can be a complete "antagonist" Or a real sweet guy, if he's on his "antagonist" mode, he won't be really supportive , as you know..

But if he's on his sweet side, then he'll be supportive and patient, he'll try to make sure you don't get too hurt...

Or he won't.

Maybe try to kidnap him through the garden store, he'll complain but uhm..

I guess it'll work out.

Shadow can be helpful though, i swear. I'm just too tired lazy to think furthermore.

Miya ! ★

Miya will be a tease, but he'll also be very supportive and caring, he'll make sure to give you advices and that you're okay, and will, once again, tease you a lot, but you'll surprise him caring a few times there and there.

He's very sweet, and he'll encourage you, he doesn't want you to leave him too, so, he'll be really considerate and all of that...

I uhm, this is too much for my heart plz imagine the rest i'm quitting my job bye

Adam ! ★

Adam.. He'll try and see if you're suitable to being his uhm... Eve..

If you are, then be ready because this is going to be something, if you're not, then he's completely disinterested.

I don't know what else to say, maybe he could give you a few advices like he did to miya?

[sweetshelluvaau]

Okay another sorta kinda rant but more of a ramble.

I see a lot of people complaining about 'why is Lucifer so short?' or think he's goofy and honestly kind want to put my two cents in.

Lucifer being short compare to Charlie doesn't bother me much being I Stan a short king. Heck, I'm even down for him being a goof at times but I feel my huge grip with HH!Luci is that he lacks the intimation factor.

He's Lucifer! He's the King of Hell and the Sin of Pride! He shouldn't come across as a push over, let alone make Alastor look more competent in comparison. I mean if you want to have the two have a bit of a feud, sure, that could be fun depending on how it's handled seeing the two try to one up each other or maybe Alastor having respect for Luci despite him low key seething on the inside being c'mon, Al is a prideful guy too and I doubt he takes well to losing, regardless if he had no shot on winning against the king of hell.

If anything, I kinda was hoping they went the Hunson Abadeer route with him if they were gonna make him a goof being Abadeer had moments where he was down right terrifying! (that and I won't lie I can't help but not to picture a 'why did you eat my fries?' moment with Charlie after seeing someone drawing that). Also kinda wish they made him look a bit older than he does now notably if he is gonna be a short king.

Also hot take: I find his interest in ducks cute. Man has to have hobbies.

[dandylovesturtles]

*wheelchair annon rolls in*

Does Leo ever have successive days of being able to do things he hasn't for a while, of feeling better and more capable and more HIMSELF, only to have it all seemingly snatched away by the successive BAD days that follow like dark clouds, snatching away his autonomy and his thinking and his capability and his good mood like its all a big joke? How does he deal with it? (Overdoing it on good days very often leads to this, for me. It does get easier to deal with with time, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.) (Sorry about the gloomy question. I was going to ask something else but I have been fighting a migraine all day... you can probably guess why lol.) *wheelchair annon rolls out*

Hi wheelchair anon! I'm so sorry to hear about your migraine :( I hope you're feeling better by the time you read this!

I've actually been thinking a lot about Leo's good days vs the bad ones since the last time you sent an ask so this is good timing haha. For this ask everything I'm going to talk about is after Leo has recovered (as much as he's going to) and gotten his powers back - obviously things are a lot more shaky earlier on in his journey.

Even on good days Leo can't really get around like he did before (he's not going to be jumping across rooftops or trying the 1440 off the halfpipe), but he can walk around pretty good for basic daily life stuff around the lair and even do a few of the physical things he used to, like shooting hoops or riding on his skateboard (though, he doesn't do tricks, and they make him wear a helmet and knee/elbow pads because they don't want to risk him breaking anything). I was talking on discord too about how Leo gets into gliding around after his brothers to film them doing tricks, then he and Mikey edit the footage with old 90s skateboard video aesthetics. And while he doesn't go on patrol with his brothers (monitoring them from his command center instead), he joins them on planned missions or can portal in to join them in a fight (though he still mostly runs support and doesn't often trade direct blows with anyone). It helps that Donnie can make temporary construct versions of virtually any of his mobility aids on the fly if Leo joins them on a mission and ends up needing something immediately that he didn't or couldn't bring with him (Leo complains about the purple every time, it's a running gag).

So yeah, on good days Leo usually feels pretty great, and much more like himself, and it definitely improves his mood every time! But that also means when he gets a good day, especially early on, he wants to go go go and do do do, enjoy all the things he doesn't have the energy for or is in too much pain to do on his bad days. And this definitely means he overdoes it, especially in the beginning. But even when he's careful, bad days still hit him and it sucks every time.

On Leo's bad days he usually sticks with his wheelchair even in the lair, sometimes using his walker instead. He also makes liberal use of his portals if he's really feeling drained. How much he can do depends on the day, and usually how much he did the day before.

On his very worst days, especially ones coming after a string of good days where he got to do a lot, Leo can get really depressed and not even want to get out of bed. Usually his family at least encourages him to get up, take a shower, brush his teeth, sit with them, do things other than lay in his bed because they know it will make him feel better, even if he doesn't really want to do it. But then there are days he doesn't even get that far. Days like that make him pretty miserable. It feels like his body betrayed him all over again, and is a reminder that the rest of his life is going to be up and down like this. And he hates how much help he needs on days like that, especially coming off days where he doesn't really need help much at all. He has to start asking for it again and it embarrasses him.

He'll learn to deal with it in more mentally healthy ways over time as he gains better coping mechanisms; he'll never be fully okay with it, like you said it will always hurt, but over time not all his bad days come with a complete mental health nosedive. He has days where he feels bad physically but is still able to enjoy the company of his family and friends or enjoy some Lou Jitsu movies or what have you. He's always annoyed that he can't fully predict how he's going to feel in advance, even as he gets older and more experienced, but over time he'll have fewer "fully depressed laying in bed" days (though still some of those, and some "physically too pained to move" days as well).

And of course no matter how he's feeling on any given day, his family is always sure to remind him that they love him no matter what. <3

Like I said, I hope you feel better when you read this, anon. Thanks as always for the ask! I hope I answered it alright.

[shytastemakerthing]

hi there, happy saturdayi hope you're doing well! if it's alright, i'd love a romantic TWST matchup. here's some info about me! physical appearance: tan skin; big, brown eyes that people describe as doll-like or doelike; flat, button nose; full, pouty lips; chubby cheeks; very short (4'10) but thicc LMAOOOO. cutie with a booty, all thighs no lies, that sort of thing. so maybe that compensates for my height. i also have several tattoos - one of a snake, one of a goat skull, one of sailor saturn's glaive just to name the bigger pieces. personality: very empathetic ENTP. the friend everyone goes to for advice or reassurance. i'm in the process of getting licensed as a therapist, so i'd like to think i'm very kind and a good listener. i love getting to know people. tattoos aside, i also have a very 'friendly' appearance given my big eyes and round face, so people tend to approach me fairly easily. outside of that, though, i'm very crafty. mischievous, witty, coy, and kind of a schemer. people tend to underestimate my intelligence because of my profession, my height, and my 'innocent' looking appearance, but i mean, every rose has its thorn or how ever the saying goes. hobbies: kind of a jack-of-all-trades! writing, music, tarot readings, cooking, gaming, hiking, wire-wrapping, dancing, writing code, swimming. what i'm like in a relationship: ride or die, all or nothing. intense. devoted and loyal. i might come across as flirty or unserious just based on my appearance/surface-level interactions, but in all actuality, i understand just how significant romantic relationships are and am always willing to do the necessary work to keep one alive. sacrifice was a huge part of my life growing up, so i'm not afraid to compromise but also maintain healthy boundaries. i'd say my love languages are acts of service and words of affirmation. thank you in advance for your time! looking forward to what you have in mind!

A/N: Thank you so much for your request! I hope that you enjoy it! Have a wonderful day!

Request type: Twisted Wonderland Match-Up

I match you with.........

Jack Howl

Meet the ultimate ride or die when it comes to a relationship

Wolves are known to mate for life, so when you two are officially together, that is something that he takes very seriously, there would be no other

Only you for the rest of his life

He just screams as someone who would give wonderful acts of service

Anything that helps you throughout your day

Aside from anything in the realm of working together in a relationship (ie. laundry, normal clean up, cooking, etc.)

Has it been too long of a day and you are simply too tired to properly have a shower and clean up? He has your back

He grew up with Vil and the two are good friends, he knows the ropes

Washing your hair and body away from the stress of the day, working through your skincare, the whole nine yards

That is just one of the many things he will do for you

If you cook something for this man, his tail will be wagging so fast and for once, he doesn't try to hide it. Especially if it's his favorite meal, you will see that flustered face of his

It was your friendly demeanor that drew him to you

Seeing you so helpful of other students who were in the school, how they could easily come to you, it was no wonder that he would soon be one of said students

In the end, he isn't complaining. Had he known that his life would have been this much better with you at his side, he would have come to you so much sooner

Thank you so much for your request!

[bokutosbiceps]

Hello love! Hope all is well 😁 I'm not sure if you feel comfortable writing this, but a scenario where Midorima's gf is getting abused at home and she doesn't know how to tell him but maybe Takao assumes something is going on?

you’re safe with me

midorima shintarou x f!reader | angst + fluff | words

warnings: mentions of physical/psychological abuse, depression, anxiety, mild violence

a/n: this is the 2nd request i've gotten about abuse in like less than a week 😔 are y'all okay ? you can talk to me about anythingggg !! also,, this got really long + self indulgent, i hope you enjoy 💕

characters can be aged up to 18+ if reader is 18+, otherwise, no smut so minors feel free to interact

Kazunari wrung his fingers as he paced in his room, unsure of exactly what to do. He had just gotten off the phone with you. You, who were sobbing and telling Kazunari that your mother was after you again. After soothing you as best he could, he got you to open up and tell him what had happened. 

You knew that your mother had taken a strong liking to Shintarou. She had said that he reminded her of your father back in the day, but now your father was gone and your mother was bitter. She couldn't stand to see you so happy when she was in so much pain. This, however, did not excuse her from treating you the way she did.

You had come home late after a night out with Shintarou and were feeling content. You explained that you had told your mother of your plans and she didn't seem to have any issues with it. She had actually told you to go have fun and stay out past your curfew if you wanted to. But when you got home, she was waiting up for you, furious. She immediately began to scream at you, telling you how inconsiderate you were, how you were a bitch, and how she wished she would have never given birth to such a bitch like you.

When you started to recount the physical abuse that your mother had imposed on you, Kazunari stopped you, unsure if he could stomach any more.

“Why don’t you tell Shin-chan what’s happening? Of course, I’m your friend and I care about you, but I feel like your boyfriend deserves to know. I know he would really appreciate knowing. He could probably help you more than I can.” Kazunari had said slowly, trying to make sure his best intentions came across.

He knew that Shintarou would be both hurt and furious to find out you’d been keeping this from him. It had been going on for far too long, anyways, to continue hiding this from him. He was your boyfriend and he loved you—so why did you feel so afraid to tell him?

You had sighed. “I really want to. But…I don't know. Part of me feels like I’m just complaining about it, and the other part of me feels like he wouldn't want to be involved with someone who has such an unstable family.” You sniffled. “I mean, you know, Kazu! The Midorima’s are practically perfect. Why would Shintarou want to be involved in my family drama?”

Kazunari didn't want to speak for Shintarou, so he didn't. He just told you that he thought you should tell him, solely because Shintarou cares about you more than anyone else. You had ended the phone call with a small chuckle, that had worried Kazunari, because why would you be laughing in a situation like this?

Now, he's seriously debating whether or not he should tell Shintarou what happened. He glanced at the time, one in the morning. No doubt, Shintarou would be in bed by now.

In an instant, acting on his impulse for your well being, Kazunari pressed the little phone icon next to Shintarou’s name. He tapped his foot impatiently while he listened to the monotonous ring, anxiously waiting for Shintarou to pick up. He didn't. So, he called again. And again. Four times he called, until an extremely annoyed Shintarou picked up.

“Takao, you better have a good reason for calling me four times at—” Shintarou brought the phone away from his ear to check the time, “one in the morning, nanodayo.”

“Shin-chan!” Kazunari felt his anxiety evaporate after finally getting a hold of him. It returned just as quickly though, once he realized the hardest part was not done yet. His tone got more serious. “I have to tell you something.”

The lack of the usual lilt in Kazunari’s voice made Shintarou straighten up. He'd only ever heard Kazunari be serious on a few occasions, so he knew this must be real. “Well, out with it.” Shintarou fidgeted with the hem of his nightshirt.

“It’s about y/n.” Kazunari sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “She…she's been having a hard time.” Shintarou’s silence signaled Kazunari to continue. He told Shintarou of how your mother had been beating you, shouting at you, and how you were afraid to tell him.

“Why wouldn't she tell me?” Shintarou’s soft voice startled Kazunari. He had never heard Shintarou’s tone reach that level of softness. He didn't even know it was possible.

“She believes that you wouldn't want to be involved in her family drama. I told her you care about her, but that's all I said. I think she needs to hear that from you.” Kazunari huffed. He felt better after he had looped Shintarou in on what was happening, but he still felt bad that he had gone against your wishes. It’s for her own good, though, he reasoned with himself.

A couple of seconds of silence followed. Kazunari got nervous. What was Shintarou thinking? How did he feel? Would he be mad at you and him for keeping these secrets?

After more silence, Shintarou finally spoke. “I’m going to go check on y/n.” 

Kazunari’s eyes widened. He leapt up from where he was sitting on the floor of his room. “It’s almost two in the morning!”

“I won't be able to rest until I know she's okay.” Shintarou stood beside his bed and folded the sheets back over neatly. He walked over to his closet and pulled out joggers and a sweatshirt. He noticed his fingers were trembling.

“I understand that but shouldn't you deal with this after some rest?” Kazunari began to pace again.

“You're the one who decided to call me at one in the morning, nanodayo. Four times, I might add.” Shintarou quipped. Kazunari realized he was right and stayed silent, listening to the rustle of clothes as Shintarou got dressed.

“Sorry, Shin-chan. I just felt bad keeping it from you, and I was worried about y/n.”

Kazunari could hear the jingle of keys and shutting of doors. He heard the wind against the receiver of Shintarou’s phone, signifying he had made it outside. 

“Do you want me to come with you?” Kazunari asked, breaking the tense silence.

“No, Takao, you’ve done enough.” Kazunari immediately felt bad. He'd probably ruined Shintarou’s night. He was about to apologize when Shintarou spoke up again. “Thank you.”

Kazunari smiled at his tsundere friend’s forced thanks. But he knew he meant it. He could tell. “You’re welcome, Shin-chan. Please let me know if y/n’s okay.”

Shintarou grunted in response and hung up so he could start running to your house. It wasn't that far, just a ten minute walk, so that would make it a four or five minute run, right? However, Shintarou felt like it took hours to reach your front door. He had never been so worried about anything in his whole life. 

Images of you with bruises and cuts and a tear stained face flashed in his mind as he knocked on your front door. He shifted his weight from foot to foot as he waited. He raised his hand to knock again but was incredibly relieved when he heard the door being unlocked, then his uneasy feeling settled back into his stomach.

“Oh, Shintarou-chan!” Your mother beamed at him. “It’s pretty late, what are you doing here? An excellent young boy like you needs his rest.”

“I’m here to check on y/n.” Shintarou said, anger bubbling up inside of him. Seeing your mother standing there, acting like she hadn’t just ruined the beautiful night that you and him had just shared, made him furious. He tried to hide it, though, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“She’s sleeping, so I’m afraid you can’t see her right now.” Your mother’s eyes began to dart around nervously, hoping that Shintarou wouldn’t insist on seeing you. He’d see the redness and swelling of the cheek that she had slapped just hours earlier. He’d see the fresh, red cut from where your mother had dug her nails into your arm. He’d see your tear stained face. 

“Please, I insist.” Shintarou bowed politely before pushing past your mother into your house. He had never blatantly respected his elders, but in this moment, he didn’t care. Your mother did not deserve any respect—she had hurt you. That was unforgivable.

Shintarou didn’t hear the protests and babbles of your mother as he made his way to your room and knocked on the door before deciding to just open the door. He couldn’t wait another second of not seeing you. 

Your room was dark and you were in bed, turned on your side away from him. He could tell you were awake, though, because he could see your thumb scrolling on your phone and hear music overflowing from your headphones. He walked in and shut the door behind him, locking it, so that your mother couldn’t intrude. He could hear her wailing outside the door, but still decided to ignore it. What an unstable woman. 

He approached your bed and lightly touched your shoulder, causing you to jump up and cower in fear. His heart ached at your reaction to being touched. You had never been like that with him, you must’ve thought that he was actually your mother coming back to harass you.

You relaxed once you realized it was your boyfriend. “Shin? What are you doing here?”

“I-I came to check on you.” Shintarou took a deep breath. “Takao told me everything.” 

Your bottom lip wobbled as Shintarou told you everything that Kazunari had said. You weren’t mad at Kazunari at all, you were actually grateful that someone was able to tell Shintarou that you needed help. You didn’t want him to think you were weak, or a complainer. You collapsed to the floor in relief, sobs wracking your body. 

Shintarou moved over to you and wrapped you up in his arms, gently bringing your head to rest on his shoulder and stroking your hair as you sobbed.

“You are so brave, love. I can understand why you didn’t want to tell me anything, but just know, I am always here for you. No matter what.” Shintarou let out a dry chuckle. “That’s why I’m here at two in the morning.” 

You sniffled against Shintarou’s sweatshirt, muttering a small but sincere thank you. He just squeezed you tighter and held for a moment, letting you cry your heart out as much as you needed. But he desperately wanted to make sure you were okay. 

“Can I see you?” Shintarou asked softly, using one of his hands to reach to your bedside lamp and turn it on. You hesitated but eventually backed away from his shoulder. Shintarou felt his breath get caught in his throat as he finally got a look at your face.

He saw a bruise forming over your right cheek, as well as a long and fresh cut along your neck. He clenched his jaw as even more rage welled up inside of him. He had never wanted to commit an act of violence against another human being, but your mother would have been an exception to him at the moment. He decided to focus back on you.

“Does it hurt?” Shintarou asked softly, reaching up to lightly graze your cheek. You winced a little bit, causing him to draw his hand back.

“Not anymore. Just kind of stings when you touch it.” You offered him a reassuring smile. Shintarou stared at you for another moment or two before abruptly standing up and moving to your closet, throwing it open.

“Pack what you need, you’re leaving this place.”

“What?” You stood to approach him and he turned to you, his face slightly red with adrenaline. 

“You’re staying with me for a while.” Shintarou rummaged through your closet for a duffle bag or suitcase, and upon finding a small suitcase, brought it out and placed it on your bed.

“Shin, I can’t just leave!” You protested, watching as he opened the suitcase to prepare it to be filled.

“Yes, you can, nanodayo. You’re not safe here. Either you’re coming with me or I’m calling the authorities on your mother.”

Even though you know she’d deserve it, you didn’t want that for your mother. You sighed in defeat. You knew you couldn’t continue to take your mother’s abuse. Even if you were her daughter, you didn’t deserve this. You moved to the closet and began to take out some clothes that you wore often.

“We can go shopping for toiletries tomorrow, just clothes and underwear.” Shintarou instructed. Your hesitancy left your body as you continued to pack, feeling excited and relieved to finally be leaving this place for a while. Once you were packed, Shintarou unlocked your door and stepped out into the hallway, making sure that your mother was not around. Once he decided it was safe, he grabbed you by the hand and ran out of your house with you, not bothering to close the front door behind the two of you.

You both ran until you were down the street and around the corner, far enough away that your mother wouldn’t be able to see. You let go of Shintarou’s hand and stood still to catch your breath, leaning on Shintarou as he wrapped an arm around you.

You felt your eyes begin to well with tears again. You couldn’t believe that you had just run away. Even more, you couldn’t believe that your prim and proper boyfriend had just helped you. You dropped your suitcase and threw your arms around Shintarou’s neck, letting yourself cry into his shoulder once again.

“Thank you, Shin.” You choked out. “I love you.” 

Shintarou smiled softly and held you firmly, certain that he would never let you go again. “Of course, y/n. You’re safe with me.”

[moonstruckme]

Hi Mae! I’m gonna ramble in your inbox for a sec don’t mind me

So it’s graduation season (as you are very aware, congrats btw!!) and I just graduated high school today and it was great but it was also really sad (and I’m aware this is very dumb to complain about because a lot of people have no one around them to support them and I am very lucky because I do) but I was there alone up until the ceremony started and my family came to watch.

And I know that I wasn’t the only one getting ready alone but it made me kinda sad to see all these kids with their parents helping them get ready and taking care of them and I didn’t have that. And I know that it’s not because my parents don’t love me, they just always have so much going on and I’ve always kinda had to look after myself and I’m usually fine. (And realistically I know if they were there it would probably be way more stressful) but for some reason it just made me really sad. I was struggling to get all my stuff on right so much that the girl in front of me had to help T-T and I just kept thinking that I wish I had a mom there.

Thankfully I had friends there who were looking after me too (one of them gave me free rein of his chocolate pretzels ♥️) and my teachers were all really great but I was literally on the verge of tears all day bc of all the emotions T-T

Also a random guy saw me waiting after the ceremony by myself and just said “congratulations, kiddo” i literally almost started bawling 😭 so I am very lucky that I had more support than a lot of other people, I was just kinda lonely for a bit. (I really hope this doesn’t come across like I��m ungrateful rip)

Anyways that’s all!! I hope things are going well for you!

Hi lovely, I don't think that's dumb to complain about at all!

I actually think I really get where you're coming from, my parents are divorced and often I find it easier to tell them I'm just going to do things on my own rather than mediate who will be with me at what time and where, so lots of the big parent-centered events in my life have been by myself too. I understand that you want to give them credit where it's due, and I think it's a good thing that you still know how much they love and care for you but it's totally understandable to feel sad regardless.

It's so kind and considerate of others to try and step in for you when they see you don't have the support they do, but I know that in the moment that also doesn't always feel great. When I was little my dad never wanted to come to anything and often my friends' dads would take turns doing the thing with me so I didn't feel left out, and that was so so sweet of them but I was pretty embarassed at the time! It's not nice to feel pitiful, and the idea that people are perceiving the same thing as you are in your parents' absence probably didn't make you feel better.

Like you said, none of that detracts from how loved you truly are, and it sounds like you know this already but it seems like you also have all this excess love pouring in from the people around you!! I'm incapable of not looking for silver lining, and to me all those kind people are definitely something to be grateful for, but also I think it's okay to let yourself mope a little if you want to my love. Don't deny how you feel because you think it's dumb or unjustified or anything of the kind! I promise you it's very valid.

Congratulations on your graduation sweetheart!! I'm sure your family are all very proud of you, as well as the friends who were there for you on the day (and me too!!). I hope you enjoy a lovely summer and take some time to reward yourself for all your hard work before whatever comes next <3

[valscigarette]

Meek and the Bold

Warning for Piss

It can be difficult to get work done when Vox’s business partner is too much of a slut to go a single day without fucking Vox specifically. Nevermind that Val has enough whores at his disposal to get off whenever he wants. More than once, Vox has wondered if his partnership with Val is part of his eternal torture, but he always reminds himself that business is better with Valentino. Someone has to run the porn studio. He also makes a pretty office decoration when Vox gets tired of fending off his advances.

As Vox fires off another email, Val’s constant stream of whimpers raise in volume and pitch, garbled like he’s trying to speak behind his gag. Vox rolls his eyes and switches to the next email. “Shut up,” he reminds, too absent to have real bite behind it. “Daddy’s working.”

Val whines indignantly.

“You can take it,” Vox tells him.

He’s only had Val tied up for a couple hours. Since he’s been so insatiable, Vox hoped an afternoon strapped to a fucking machine would remind Val not to bother him while he’s working. Somehow the cameras trained on Val’s face, dick, and ass streaming to Vox’s desktop are less of a distraction than Val whispering obscenities in his ear. He glances to them to make sure nothing’s wrong. But no, Val looks exactly as he had before he started complaining. The fine fur coating his body is shiny with sweat and come, tears cut tracks down to the corners of his stretched mouth, and each thrust of the machine into him noticeably distrends his lower stomach. As far as Vox is concerned, there’s nothing worth indulging Val’s latest attempt to distract him.

Refocusing on his inbox, he discards the warning about a defect in their latest TV line–something about shocking the user if they try to change the channel too frequently–and moves onto a revised budget proposal for season thirty two of Yeah, I Fucked Your Sister, So What? The casting director wants to hire some famous imp to play a new character, but their going rate is far too high for a fucking hellborn. Vox emails back to fire the casting director and figure out a replacement before the end of the day.

Behind him, Val cries loudly and flutters his wings, creating enough of a draft to send Vox’s paperwork flying off his desk in a hundred directions. Fine. Val wants Vox’s attention? He has it.

Vox shoves his chair back and stalks over to Val. A fine tremor has set in across Val’s body, earlier than usual, but far from enough to concern Vox. He tilts his head to the side and adjusts his cameras to study every angle of Val’s body simultaneously.

“You came six times and you’re still this desperate for attention?” he asks.

Val shakes his head and sobs something into his gag.

That’s less like him; he definitely has more rounds left. Vox unbuckles Val’s gag and eases it from between his lips, massaging his jaw for a moment before giving him the chance to speak.

“Now, what’s so important?”

After another wheezing inhale to steady himself, Val looks up at Vox with glassy eyes and whines, “I really have to piss, Vox.”

“Okay,” Vox replies. “And?”

As if Val has ever been gun shy before. More than once, he's fucked up Vox's circuitry because he preferred, for some inexplicable reason, to piss on or in Vox instead of taking a bathroom break or holding it like a normal person. Vox doesn't give a rat's ass whether Valentino has to piss right now.

“Finally into it, are you?” Val goads.

“Not really.”

Vox reaffixes Val's gag and pats him condescendingly on the cheek before returning to his desk. He won't be able to focus on his work but the illusion of dismissal gets Val to whine again.

“It's just good entertainment,” Vox continues, “to see you throw a tantrum about this when I know watersports is in your top five kinks.”

The gag muddles Val's words but not his sardonic tone or the tightening of his abdominal muscles as he fights to keep control of his bladder.

“You can let go any time, Val. I'm the only one watching, and you don't have anything to lose but what, your pride? I'm sure your ego will survive the blow.”

Whatever smart-ass response Val might have had planned dissolves in a moan of relief when he can't hold it back anymore. Both Vox and his computer terminals are far enough from the splash zone to be safe as Val writhes in his bondage, the fucking machine continuing to pound into him even as he pisses all over himself and Vox's office floor, and comes again as soon as the flow begins to taper off.

“Are you going to think twice the next time you feel like interrupting my work?” Vox asks.

Val shakes his head, even as every exhale carries a breathy noise of overstimulation.

“Let me know when you change your mind.”

At that, Vox opens his email to pretend to resume working.

[foulfirerebel]

What role do you think ghira, ilia and the new white fnag will play in the vacuo arc? Besides having cute reactions to bumblby being a thing now.

I hope they don’t do a repeat of what happened at haven where the “good Faunus” save the racist humans so all the Atlesians have a “change of heart”. The last thing this show needs is more respectability politics lol.

Put of everyone ilia seems the most likely to tell the Atlesians to their face that they brought this upon themselves for their complacency in atlas many MANY societal injustices without trying to sugarcoat it.

Simply put? Helping to arm and aid Faunus who can fight, while aiding in taking care of those who cannot. Remember: there's not been a gathering of people this big since the olden days of Ozpin and Salem, so there's going to be MASSIVE tensions between every nation.

But of course, that's not all. The New White Fang is going to need to be one of the lines of aid and defense for the combined forces, and people are NEED to accept their help. I can see them telling off some racist asshat Atlesians who complain about how the "animals" are talking back now and threatening to leave them in the desert or something if they don't accept things as they're moving.

Also, just one other thing about Haven. The choice there was either leave the kingdom itself to die, not just the school, or go and help them. It took the Belladonnas nearly being assassinated and Blake's speech to get some Faunus to WAKE UP about the situation.

And if some people STILL want to cause problems? They can do so in the harsh, unforgiving desert sands. There's too much at stake to cater to racists, and since the show itself has shown our protagonists shutting them down and basically that their ideas don't matter or deserve time in the long run? I don't see any respectability politics being used at this point.

Mistral is arguably a work in progress for now, but Vacuo? Shit, the Atlesians and Mistralians are going to be lucky that Vacuoans don't rip them a new one BEFORE or ALONGSIDE the Faunus. I say this because Atlas and Mistral both drained Vacuo dry of resources following The Great War.

So. Calming the tensions or resolving them between nations is going to be...interesting, to say the least. I don't see The New White Fang prioritizing Atlas citizens (unless they're Faunus, were already poor, etc.) that decide to keep their horrible attitudes intact after everything its done to the world and the Faunus.

This isn't saying I'm wanting fights to break out or people killed, just the tensions to be a factor at this point. Old wounds reopening, a lot of social injustices being called out, the imperialism, colonialism, racism, you get the idea.

Any sort of division at this point only aids Salem, so this is going to be interesting to see how it's resolved. I do like that Ruby's message convinced so many to come to Vacuo. The world tensions aren't going to be solved overnight, but at least they can start by helping defend the kingdom.

TLDR: I want the NWF to help Faunus across the nations, and to be helping defend Vacuo alongside others. I'd also like them to be keeping tensions low, shutting down the racists, and proving to Salem how wrong she was to underestimate and discount Faunus.

The citizens of Atlas have lost their kingdom, homes, and livelihoods. I'd like at least one of the NWF to rub salt in the wound by calling them out on things the nation did, but they'd be one of many doing that. People of Vale would want answers for the Fall of Beacon, Vacuo for the colonialism of both Mistral and Atlas, and Mistral for their lack of support following Beacon's fall.

It doesn't mean that I think all citizens of Atlas necessarily deserve to be treated like dirt, but there's a lot the nation needs to answer for when all is said and done. In the meantime, ensuring people are able to defend themselves and taking no shit from the more bigoted of people from there will absolutely be a good start.