#Josh average talks

[implausiblyjosh]

Thinking more on Santos now that The Pitt is over, I think the biggest thing that I'd like to see is for people to just accept the quirks of the characters you like.

I think her softening up in the finale and actually seeing others as human beings and not just stepping stones for career progression is awesome. But that softening up doesn't work unless you admit, as the viewer, that there was a change in how she acts. Her opening up to her last patient about her own history, or offering a place to Whitaker when she finds out he's homeless, doesn't really work to show character progression unless you acknowledge that several episodes ago she was making fun of Whitaker for "killing a patient", losing her shit when she gets teased, asking for Javadi to put in a good word with her mom after bullying her all day, or viewing patients as nothing more than a vehicle to flex medical skills.

I also think this applies to Langdon! I wasn't super keen on him from the start, but like... he wasn't nearly as insufferable as Santos in my mind, and now I want to beat him with hammers based on the finale. I don't get that change from "he's alright, he's doing his thing I guess" to "I think you should be thrown off the roof for funsies" unless he starts by being a pretty respectable guy and really embracing and supporting King and ends at saying Robby's minute-or-so emotional breakdown to himself is worse than Langdon being an addict putting patient's lives in danger. Having a working memory and understanding of the actions characters have taken is good, and means future character actions can have an impact!

This shit doesn't work if you're just like "they're the devil" or "they've never done anything wrong". It's good writing, actually, to have your opinions on a character change over time. That's TV, baby!

People gotta be more normal about Santos in The Pitt, man. She is an aggravating character! To take a bit of wrestling jargon into my thoughts on a medical show, she's a bit of a Heel character. She's talking down to other med students, she barely sees her patients as people, everything is just another stepping stone to her. Even during the high-stakes and high-stress environment of dealing with mass casualty victims she can't just Be Normal, she's gotta push buttons and be an asshole.

She's also extremely skilled and competent! In the most recent episode (S01E13) she does some procedure that she really shouldn't, and pulls it off flawlessly and gets complimented on her work. She was, seemingly, the only person who could (or wanted to) catch Langdon stealing benzos from the hospital. She stood up for other patients when she dealt with that dude filming shooting patients on their phone.

She's not an angel. She's not the devil. She's "a bully at your high school is trying to become a doctor".

[joshuamj]

finally got an autism diagnosis hoooray

[bongolia]

Eltingville Headcanons (School)

Bill

Isn't bullied to his face for the most part, but instead gets shit talked by everyone and their best friends boyfriend's friend's ex crush

He cares about being better than people, and grades are seen as a status symbol in his eyes

He averages a 3.8 GPA (87-89% average)

Bill's pretty smart, but he cares too much about his collection to study at times. He absolutley has the potential to earn a 4.0 (90-100% average)

He doesn't have lunch with any of the gang nor does he have any friends outside of them so he eats all alone (poor wittle incel)

Normally he packs his own lunch since his mom couldn't care less if he ate that day. He'd rather starve than eat the school food on the occasion he forgets to pack

His favorite classes are Creative writing and Honors English

Yes he brags to the gang about being in honors

No they do not care

He rotates the same 3 flannels, washing them once a month unless they get dirty or smell too musty for his liking

Remember how I said people don't bully him to his face much? That's because you can only beat someone up so many times a month without getting in trouble

This is how he found out that he could fit in a locker

And what the janitors closet looks like

...And what the toilet tastes like...

He definitley participates in class, but only if he's 100% sure about what's going on

"Erm actually Miss teacher the answer is 0.0043834 moles hehehe" head ass

Not a big fan of science despite being alright at it

Probably because he actually has to study for it

Same with history. He's good at it, he just doesn't like studying

Bill shares a single class with one of the gang members and it's Josh

They have the same sketching class

Nobody really cares about what Bill has to say...and the other too aren't there...so why not let his ego drop?

Ofc he's still a dickhead to Josh, he's just a lot less angry

Neither of them want to kill each other!

Sometimes Bill passes Pete or Jerry down the hall

He doesn't say hi he just does that head nod at them

Although on more than one occasion him and Pete had to share a class for detention

The teachers always let them leave early

If Bill wasn't a fucking loser he's go to college for sure, maybe get himself an academic scholarship

End Post

[synnamon-hearts]

I wonder if you have any hcs for poly! Climbing class x Reader like Josh and Chris are both fine asl and can't decide

𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭

Heyyy, this is interesting! I've never been a huge climbing class shipper but I once read a Josh x reader x Chirs fic and it stuck with me every since. 😂 So, with that, let's get started on these headcanons!

NSFW and a bit of a plot down below!

𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭

So let's say you have known Josh and Chris for quite some time and have always been so close to them. They are both super charming, goofy, loving, and also pretty cute. So of course you would gain a crush on both of them over time.

And like all these tropes go, Josh and Chris also end up falling down the little rabbit hole that is feelings for your good friend. Expectedly, this causes some issues between the boys. When you laugh at one of their jokes or look at one of them a certain way, the other gets jealous.

It isn't until one drunken night at a party does the truth come out, when Chris nearly clocks Josh for kissing you! Both the kiss and the small fight between the two was heavily unexpected and kind of scary. Once Mike and Matt broke up the fight, you pull Josh and Chris into a nearby bedroom to talk.

The boys finally confess their long-lasting feelings for you and as reluctant as you are, you confess your feelings for both of them as well. Thank God for the liquid courage you drank before coming in here! But this leaves a dilemma. What now? You would hate to just choose one and hurt the other. And how would you even choose? They are both so special for you.

After voicing your concerns to the boys, Josh and Chris begin to think for a solution in the few minutes of silence that follow your worrisome confessions. But then, seemingly at the same time, Josh and Chris both get an idea that makes them smile. After sharing a knowing look between each other, they give you a proposal. You could be their girlfriend.

The suggestion shocks you. A relationship with the two of them? Could end messy, but could also end up to be a beautiful thing. So with tears in your eyes, you accept their offer, sealing the deal with a kiss on both of their lips.

The thought of having your first time with the boys that night lingers, but it doesn't happen. No, you all agree that it is better to give each other a chance to adjust to this new lifestyle before making that big of a commitment. That comes 5 months later.

After many date nights of going to the movies, amusement parks, and other fun stuff, you and the boys decide that you are all finally ready for that special night you have all been anticipating. It takes place in Josh's bedroom, who has the biggest bed out of all three of you. It begins slow, a bit of making out with one while the other kisses your neck and feels you up, and then vice versa. This continues on until the clothes come off.

Chris is the shy one of the two, there is no doubt in that. But even a bit of insecurity glimmers in Josh's eyes when he reaches down to undo his belt. Not that either of them needed to be though. They both have amazing bodies, Josh having a bit more meat and muscle while Chris is a tiny bit skinnier but still so appealing to the eyes. They are both fairly average, Josh being a tiny bit longer by an inch and Chris being just a little more thicker. And oh man, when they finally enter you, it feels like heaven.

They are both careful not to hurt you, both taking turns while the other jacks off while watching to keep himself satisfied until his turn is up. It's definitely a special night to remember. Every time you are with them naked and in bed or even in a shower or a car, it feels so right and perfect. They love it when you lay on your back and take one of them down below while sucking the other off. It's such a hot sight for the two guys.

It doesn't take long for either of you to realize the love you all share for one another, and that's what makes this interesting relationship work so well. There are ups and downs but the ups are just so beautiful that the downs do not matter. The others may think you are crazy, and they are right; you are crazy in love with these two dorks that mean the world to you.

𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭~𖹭

[tomorrowusa]

Trump probably can't win the presidential election without North Carolina. 🤔💡

It would be difficult though not out of the question for Kamala Harris to win without Pennsylvania. But it would be close to impossible for Donald Trump to win without taking North Carolina.

If Trump loses North Carolina, it could be an early night — and curtains for GOP

Democrats hope that momentum determines the presidential winner and even changes the contours of election night. North Carolina polls close early, at 7:30 p.m. Moreover, state law allows processing of mail-in votes well before Election Day, making an early count possible. (Some states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, cannot start processing until Election Day, which could result in delays of several days before a winner is determined.) Should Harris win North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes, Trump’s chances of victory diminish greatly. He would need a virtual sweep of other battleground states (and likely all of the blue-wall states).

A quick reminder that North Carolina was the state which gave Trump his narrowest victory in 2020. It was won in 2008 by Barack Obama. So we're not exactly talking Tennessee or Idaho here.

An early-evening victory in a state Democrats have not won for 16 years would reverberate through the country, potentially depressing GOP turnout in Western states and diminishing the appetite for stunts to refuse certification of results in states such as Arizona and Georgia (which would not be determinative if Harris holds the blue wall and wins North Carolina).

Republicans are more likely to vote on Election Day than Democrats who have adopted early voting in greater numbers than Republicans. So an early call for Harris-Walz in North Carolina on the night of the election would more likely depress Republican votes in the Western US.

One thing which may negatively affect Trump in the state is the awful Republican candidate for governor of North Carolina.

[T]he North Carolina governor’s race might have a “reverse coattails” effect. The Republican nominee, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, is an extremist conspiracy nut, a “fount of social media conspiracy theories and vile proclamations about the LGBT community, Jews, and other minority group,” the Daily Beast noted this year. From Holocaust denial to thundering that “some folks need killing” to his support for an abortion ban from “zero weeks,” he symbolizes everything wrong with today’s MAGA Republican Party. Robinson’s Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, the state attorney general, has opened a 10-point lead. If Democrats tie Robinson (a Trump favorite) to Trump, voters might run from both. At the very least, Republicans could suffer a drop in turnout as disgusted North Carolinians simply stay home.

A better than average turnout of Dems in NC would help flip the state. If you live just over the border in deep red South Carolina or Tennessee then consider doing some volunteer work in North Carolina. It could have an impact which extends far beyond the Tar Heel State.

[boreal-sea]

okay sorry you don’t like the word Zionist I’ll come up with a new word and it’s weirdassbitch btw and guess whatZzz ummm yeah you fit the bill. I don’t know man 😭😭😭😭 the fact you’re only posting about gofundmes when it’s about Israeli hostages or only ever being like “okay yeah what’s happening to Palestinians is bad” in conjunction with “so about this anti semitism we’ve been having…” means you’re obviously biased you’re just biased and hey… hey holds your hand it’s okay ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ We can work through this… together *looks away shyly* also I’m like Jewish like by blood. I didn’t even have to convert sorry I’m laughing converts you’re valid but boreal I guess I’m just like…. Better than you at being Jewish? Idk btw and hey maybe the reason why antisemitism is rising is because you guys are all like yeah so we deserve Israel because we lived there 1000000 years ago and if you hate Israel you’re anti Jewish soooo yeah…. Yep maybe having being Jewish synonymous with a genocidal state isn’t smart idk just my thoughts. I think having Jews live all across the world is so beautiful it brings a tear to my eye… I think shoving us all in one place is gay as hell to be frank. Whwtagevrr. I was born in USA born and raised and my family came from Ukraine. I have zero claim to a plot of land 6000 miles away just because I wanna have a sick ass vacation home. maybe that’s why you converted I’m just joshing around it would be funny though if you went through all that just to build a cute little Resort on stolen land. I don’t know boreal. I think I’d just rather have my BLEGH :P, not a :•]

I have not posted a single gofundme for Israeli victims. I’m not sure why you’d make up that lie? Please feel free to look back in my blog as far as you’d like, you won’t find one. It’s even in my blog description that I do not reblog gofundme posts.

I do post links to organizations that directly help Palestinians in Gaza. I have done so fairly often. I don’t recall ever posting a link to aid organizations that only benefit Israelis.

Do I often talk about antisemitism and Gaza at the same time? Yes. These two things are inextricably linked. What is happening in Gaza right now wouldn’t be happening without antisemitism.

Am I biased? No more than the average human being on Earth. I personally consider the folks screaming “Death to Israel!” to be a lot more biased than myself, as I am simply calling for peace between Israel and Hamas. I wanted a peaceful solution from the beginning. You can even find posts on my blog right after Oct 7th where I compare Israel to the USA after 9/11 and state my fears that Israel will have a disproportionate reaction. I loathe the political posturing of both Netanyahu and Hamas and I hate that they both dragged this out so long. Netanyahu wanted this to look like Trump’s victory, which disgusts me. And Hamas allowed their people to suffer for over a year! They’re disgusting, too. Every leader involved in this conflict failed their people.

Our personal feelings about whether or not native people like the Jews “deserve” to live in their homeland is irrelevant — Israel as a country exists here and now. Though it does bring up the interesting question: do you think if the USA just waits long enough, native Americans will also lose their landback rights? How long will that take?

Jews don’t really live “all over the world”. Nearly half live in the USA, and the other half in Israel. This is because all the other countries were so violently antisemitic to the Jews living there the Jews had to flee. In fact, after Israel was founded, a lot of countries literally forced their Jews out under threat of death.

Jews still suffer from antisemitism all around the world, and did so even before Oct 7th. The increase in antisemitism since Oct 7th hasn’t exactly made diaspora Jews feel safe. “A country you’re not even a citizen of did a bad thing, so now I’m going to firebomb your elementary school” isn’t fertile ground for cooperation, is it?

I don’t agree with everything Israel has done. I don’t have to. I think it is a country in crisis that needs major reforms, much like the USA. But I don’t scream “death to America!” either. I live here. I want to make it a better place. I want them both to be better, to live up to the ideals they espouse. To be free, and safe, and prosperous.

I want Gazans to be able to go home. I want them free from the cruelty of Hamas, which has allowed its people to die and suffer since it took power in 2005 and refused to hold any more free elections. They are tyrants. I want Palestinians in the diaspora to come home, too. I want them to have a safe, prosperous country where their culture and children can flourish!

I want peace. If that makes me a “weirdassbitch”, then so be it. I’ve been weird my whole life, anon!

[epiphainie]

can you elaborate on why you think 911 is conservative with its queer rep

sure, i mean i talked about the show's conservative approach to systems of power while looking liberal with its diversity etc. before and i think it also goes for queer rep in the sense that it has many queer characters but queer characters are only allowed to be queer without reminding the average cishet audience they're that different from them. they can be queer but they need to conform to what is digestible to a heterosexual/heteronormative audience. they're queer when the show needs to remind the audience of their romantic partners (or in josh's case when he needs to play the gay bestie) or in very rare moments they make a statement (hen's speech in s2).

i don't think this is the type of show that'll ever have a pride episode, for example. or explicit queer solidarity between buck and hen. or women flirting with hen on calls like they do with buck and eddie. or a talk about open relationships or polyamory which i think realistically would be a talking point for queer men in buck and tommy's situation. i seriously doubt it can show what dating for a bi person looks like (a lot of biphobia, let me tell you) once buck starts dating again nor show him explore and join queer spaces. i don't think we'll ever see a lesbian friend group/support system for hen and karen. etc etc.

i know many people would disagree with this because there's a very queer found family feeling to the show and none of what i said changes the fact that this type of rep is valuable too but it's only a queer show as much as it can be while keeping in that conformist space.

[implausiblyjosh]

i used to work at a coffee shop, and during the winter holidays they would play one (1) holiday CD on repeat all day long. at a certain point i could judge how long the day was by how many times i heard one specific song on the CD.

God's strongest soldiers are retail workers that have to listen to that dog shit music all hours of the day

[hamliet]

why are much of the self-described "anime/manga" fandom these days is just a bunch of people who're terrified of art actually meaning anything as opposed to just existing for their enjoyment?

I'm just going to quote Josh Johnson here and say,

Art can save your life. Art can absolutely save your life. I believe it from the bottom of my heart, but believe me when I tell you that entertainment will never be your salvation. Art can save your life, but entertainment, by and large, is escapism. And no one has ever escaped their chains by forgetting they were there.

In fact, realizing you are in chains is uncomfortable.

In all seriousness, art can be entertaining, but it isn't exclusively so. And enjoying things just to enjoy them is perfectly valid. Ask my collection of fluffy romance books or my love of hurt/comfort fanfic or my playlist of Blackpink songs.

And there's nothing wrong with escapism. We're all just trying to get through life, and that is hard. But I do think people who are more comfortable in general tend to get prickly whenever someone suggests that may there are some messages in art, that there are purposes beyond entertainment.

At the same time, I do think there's a general movement away from media literacy, which I've talked about before. Reading comprehension is down, and reading comprehension and media literacy are intrinsically entwined, as reading comp is really just a particular branch of media literacy. The skills that you need for reading comprehension are exactly the same as for media literacy broadly speaking, and they are transferrable to visual mediums like film, shows, anime, even graphic art. Yes, you might be better at one medium than another, but those skills are massively useful.

I also am going to bluntly say that I place a lot of the blame for this at the feet of D&D, the writers of Game of Thrones who said "themes are for eighth grade book reports" and seemed to believe that shock value and unpredictability were why people loved stories, when in reality the reason people loved those twists in GoT were that they were well-written and if you paid attention, you could predict them.

The problem is that D&D reflect the average YouTube Dudebro's perspective. They're not themselves anything unique, and while YT Dudebros like to claim that they have media literacy and claim they understand storytelling, they by and large don't.

It's not a coincidence that most YT Dudebros are white cishet men, either (not all!). Guess who's most comfortable and thus less motivated to see chains, and used to entertainment pandering to them?

[bongolia]

Eltingville headcanons (School)

Jerry

Loser

He gets decent grades, doesn't care enough about getting A's to be quite honest

He has like a 3.3 GPA (83-89% average)

Probably really good at his art class

Maybe also his sciences classes much to his parents' liking

I'd like to say he's the least stinky of the group when in school.

He showers thrice a week and brushes his teeth every other day

The only reason he wears deoderant is because he sweats a lot and he really hates the feeling of wet armpit

Gets physically bullied the most and much more frequentley because unlike Bill, he'll be quiet about the whole ordeal

Can't fit in lockers so they just beat him and drag him around, especially in the locker rooms

Jerry doxxes them online afterwards

They never know that it's him doing it

People probably make shooter jokes about him

A group of girls found out that he was into fantasy roleplaying online and now that's all he's known for

A couple people have taken interest in him (romantically or as friends) but didn't know how to start a conversation with the guy

Jerry wears his zip-up hoodie, his green sweater, or some subtle Legends of Zelda hoodie to school. He probably re-wears his shirts as well

I'd like to think his mom packs his lunch. She's scared that he'll get food poisoning if she doesn't

Normally it's a turkey sandwhich with whatever else

Jerry gives half of his lunch to Josh since he sits with him at lunch

He normally listens to music all day since he's not really talking to people much

Unless he's in math, english, or music

He has those classes with Pete who talks his ear off

At least he doesn't die of boredom while in music class, he can't stand that place

Speaking of music, his parents made him do guitar for years on end which became evident when his music class did their guitar unit

Pete is now begging him to teach him how to play thinking it'll get him girls

No stinky, it will not

His parent's probably get on his ass about grades. They make him do his homeowrk in the dining room every night before going to play his games

Sometimes he forgets and is unable to attend club meeting because he's being forced to do school work

He went to community college after high school I think

For what? Who knows

All I know is that his parents were happy he actually got some post-grad eductation and a job

He's still harassing people online

End post

[implausiblyjosh]

I think we have a core disagreement about moderation on social media as a concept. I don’t think an expansion of the “moderator class” is a bad thing, and if we’re acknowledging the current system I doubt that’s much of a “class” to begin with. Regardless, even if we’re going to argue about how moderation is, right now in this very moment, Tumblr still shows that they don’t care!

Tumblr has nuked posts critical of staff and they’ve had a hugely transphobic moderation policy. Even if we agree that the flagging/modding of trans content was automatic as OP and others suggest, that automation didn’t come from nowhere. Tumblr, the website, didn’t decide to start flagging those posts on its own. People put that specific automation in place. People decided to nuke those posts. People decided to take these extreme measures on those specific things, yet ban evasion of bigots is a huge issue. These are choices made by people, and I don’t care if Tumblr staff loves them or not. How they decide to wield their power shows that some of these things are more important than others.

And if we want to talk about “trauma dumps”, again within the framework of the current reality of moderation, you have to grapple with the fact that humans on some level have to look at this stuff. If any moderation is left to some machine learning or automation, there are real people whose whole job is to make sure the machine’s data is correct and the machine is making the right calls. You either look at that shit from the start, with employees paid wages and benefits, or you kick the can down to contract workers paid hourly with no benefits for 6-18 months at a time, or you kick the can to “automation” so you don’t have to think about who makes the automation work and can just abstract those people as just “the machine” or “the algorithm”.

Moderation has to happen. Every community and social media platform knows this, even the shitty and awful ones have moderation and realize it’s important. How these places decide to moderate, and what they decide to moderate, tells us a lot about where their priorities are. We know what Tumblr’s priorities are, and they’re not good!

The number people on this site just solidly convinced that the Nazis and bad people are around because staff loves them and not because moderation of millions of accounts is very very hard and expensive is. Staggering.

"oh just use automation." You mean the one currently mismarking trans accounts as mature? You think they just need to flip a no Nazis switch on the moderation-o-matic?

"oh why did they manage to get rid of that post about staff being Harry Potter fans" because there was a lot of targeted harassment and it was a single account, not the millions that make up Tumblr. And actually it's a very straightforward labor protection to make sure your staff don't get harassed. It's actually very bad to insist that staff gets harassed as long as there are other moderation issues.

[pyr0-kai]

Game Date

Josh Futturman x reader

I was threatened w being cursed if I didn’t write for him

This is short and also kind of bad but its more of a test to see if anyone wants fics w him. He’s super cute imo

Feel free to Give me feedback

Send me ideas if you have any

It was an average day, when you had walked into the local Video Game store in town. Josh was talking to the staff at the counter as you walked in, the bell on the door chiming. They all seemed to take a glance at you as you walked past, before returning to whatever they were chatting about.

You hadn’t really noticed them, as you had headphones on, and knew what you we’re already looking for. But they were whispering about you.

“Yo, they’re pretty hot. What would someone like that be doing here??”

Once you found what game you were looking for and stepped up to the counter, pulling your headphones down around your neck, they acted like nothing happened.

Josh looked at whatever game you were planning on buying and scoffed.

“Ha, you’re playing that? Thats an easy one.”

“Hey, its a classic. I wanted to play it again after this long” you shrugged, getting a good look at him. His brown eyes seemed intrigued about you.

He nods “Well, I’m Josh, and should see me play this one.” He spoke up, showing you the biotic wars case, “Everyone seems to think it’s unbeatable, thats why I play it, to be the best”.

You nod along and pay for your game. “Ah, I’m [Y/N].”

You look at him again after he stops speaking, looking at his pretty face as he grabs the new joystick he was buying and puts it under his arm.

“Well, If your serious about wanting me to watch you play this “unbeatable game”, You say, flipping over your receipt. You take a pen and write your name and number on the back of it. “Then call me, I don’t have much going on”, you say, handing him the paper, before leaving the store, the door chiming behind you.

Josh looks at the paper in shock, and excitement.

“I think I got a date…”

[oldiesstationlover11607]

hey i’ve never requested anything from you but ive been devouring your works and holy cow you’re such a great writer!

i was just wondering if you could do a josh x plus size reader? i usually don’t see povs where the readers size is specifically larger than average? idk? it’d just be nice for my self esteem 😭

Movie night - Josh Dun x Plus sized!Reader

Warnings: none really super fluffy

Word Count: 1689

A/N: I hope this is okay! I haven't written for a specifically plus sized reader before so hopefully it's okay. I tend to stay away from image specific stuff bc that way everyone can enjoy the fics and feel good about themselves but anything for an anon who needs a pick me up!

It was Friday night, which meant one thing: movie night with Josh. Ever since we’d started dating, it had become a tradition. At the end of every week, we’d snuggle up on the couch, binge-watch movies, and devour far too many snacks. Sometimes we’d pick a theme—like action or rom-com—but tonight we were keeping it simple. It was just us, our favorite movies, and more snacks than two people should reasonably consume in one sitting.

I’d spent most of the day in comfy clothes, which was my go-to attire for a night in. Oversized t-shirt, leggings, and fuzzy socks. I felt comfortable in my skin around Josh—he never made me feel like I had to dress up or look a certain way. And honestly, he’d never been anything but loving and supportive, always making sure I knew just how beautiful I was to him. No matter how insecure I sometimes felt, he was always there to lift me up.

It was getting close to the time he’d promised to come over, so I busied myself by tidying up the living room. I fluffed the throw pillows, straightened the blankets, and adjusted the lighting just right—soft and warm, the way we both liked it. I’d already picked out a few movies we could choose from, ranging from lighthearted comedies to emotional dramas. We always ended up talking more than watching, but that was part of the fun.

Just as I was about to sit down, I heard a knock at the door. I smiled to myself, knowing exactly who it was. Opening the door, I was greeted by the sight of Josh, arms laden with bags—each one brimming with snacks. He had a grin on his face that was nothing short of contagious, and his excitement was clear in the way he practically bounced on his toes.

“Hey babe,” he said, leaning in to kiss my cheek as he stepped inside. His lips lingered for a second longer than usual, warm and soft against my skin.

“Hey,” I replied, closing the door behind him. “Are you trying to feed a small village or just us tonight?”

He laughed, that easy, carefree sound that always made my heart feel a little lighter. “I may have gone a little overboard, but I figured it’s better to have too much than not enough, right?”

I shook my head, already knowing what was in those bags. He always bought way too many snacks, but it was one of the things I loved most about him. He was thoughtful, always wanting to make sure I had everything I could possibly want—even if it was far more than I needed. He made me feel cared for in the smallest of ways, like remembering my favorite flavor of chips or grabbing extra candy just because he knew I had a sweet tooth.

“I’m not complaining,” I said, taking a bag from him and peeking inside. “You got my favorite candy!”

Josh winked at me. “Of course I did. I know how much you love those.”

I set the bag down on the coffee table and turned back to him, pulling him in for a proper kiss this time. He wrapped his arms around me, his hands resting on my waist as he kissed me back gently. It was the kind of kiss that made me forget everything else for a moment, just sinking into the warmth of him.

“Missed you today,” he murmured against my lips.

“I missed you too,” I replied, smiling up at him. “But I’m glad you’re here now.”

He stepped back, eyeing the stack of movies I’d left on the table. “So, what’s the plan? Are we going with something funny or are we trying to cry tonight?”

“Depends,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “How much crying are we talking about? Like ‘a single tear’ kind of crying or ‘sobbing uncontrollably into each other’s arms’ crying?”

He laughed again, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that adorable way they always did. “Maybe we stick with something in between? I’m not trying to have an emotional breakdown tonight, but I’m also up for something with a little heart.”

I nodded in agreement. “Alright, I can work with that.” I picked up one of the movies from the pile. “How about this one? It’s sweet but still funny.”

“Perfect,” he said, plopping down on the couch and patting the spot next to him. “Now come over here. I’ve got all these snacks to share, and I’m not eating them alone.”

I laughed, grabbing a blanket before joining him on the couch. I tucked myself into his side as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. The warmth of his body against mine was comforting, and I couldn’t help but sigh contentedly. There was something so simple yet so special about moments like this—just the two of us, no distractions, no pressure. It was our time, and it felt perfect.

We started the movie, but as expected, we were more focused on each other than the screen. Josh tore open a bag of chips, offering them to me first before taking some for himself. I reached for the candy, popping a piece into my mouth as I settled even further into his side. His hand absentmindedly played with the ends of my hair, a small gesture that always made me feel so cared for.

“You know,” he said after a while, his voice soft, “I love this. Just being here with you. I know we go out sometimes and do fun stuff, but I think this might be my favorite thing.”

I looked up at him, my heart swelling with affection. “Really?”

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine with that familiar warmth that always made me feel like the most important person in the world. “Yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love going out and doing things together, but I think there’s something special about just being with you like this. No distractions, no crowds. Just us.”

I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. “I feel the same way.”

For a moment, we just sat there in comfortable silence, the sound of the movie playing softly in the background. I could hear the gentle rise and fall of his breathing, feel the steady beat of his heart against my side. It was peaceful, and I couldn’t help but think about how lucky I was to have someone like him in my life.

Josh shifted slightly, his arm tightening around me as he leaned down to press a kiss to the top of my head. “You’re perfect, you know that?”

I let out a soft laugh, feeling my cheeks warm at his words. “I don’t know about perfect, but I’m glad you think so.”

“I’m serious,” he said, his tone earnest. “I love everything about you. The way you laugh, the way you take care of people, the way you just… exist. You’re beautiful in every way, and I don’t ever want you to forget that.”

I felt a lump form in my throat at his words. He always knew exactly what to say to make me feel loved, even on days when I didn’t feel so great about myself. It wasn’t always easy for me to feel confident, especially being plus-sized, but Josh never once made me feel like I wasn’t enough. In fact, he went out of his way to remind me just how much he loved every part of me—something I was still learning to accept for myself.

“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

He smiled, pressing another kiss to my head. “I’m the lucky one.”

We fell back into silence after that, but it was a comfortable one, filled with the quiet assurance that we didn’t need to fill every moment with words. The movie played on, but I couldn’t focus on it. My mind was too preoccupied with the way Josh’s hand rested on my waist, the way his fingers occasionally brushed against my skin, reminding me that he was there—that he was always there.

As the movie came to an end, I let out a contented sigh, stretching out slightly but still staying curled up next to Josh. He glanced down at me, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“Want to watch another one, or are you getting tired?” he asked, his fingers still tracing lazy circles on my hip.

I considered it for a moment before shaking my head. “I think I’m good for now. I just want to sit here with you for a little longer.”

“Sounds good to me,” he replied, pulling me closer.

We stayed like that for a while, the soft glow of the TV screen casting shadows across the room. Josh’s hand found mine, intertwining our fingers as we sat together in the quiet. It was moments like these that reminded me why I loved him so much. It wasn’t just the grand gestures or the exciting adventures—it was the quiet, intimate moments where we could just be ourselves, no expectations or pretenses. Just us.

Eventually, the night grew late, and Josh helped me clean up the remnants of our snack feast. He gathered the empty chip bags and candy wrappers, all the while making me laugh with his silly comments about how we’d eaten enough to last a week.

As we finished tidying up, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with love for him. It was in the small things, the way he always made sure I was comfortable, the way he went out of his way to bring all my favorite snacks, the way he made me feel like the most important person in the world just by being himself.

And as we settled back on the couch for a final snuggle before calling it a night, I knew that I couldn’t ask for anything more. Because in that moment, with Josh’s arm wrapped around me and his heart so clearly intertwined with mine, I felt complete.

And that was more than enough.

//

REQUESTS OPEN

[implausiblyjosh]

I was watching youtube video essay about how Picard "ruins Star Trek". They're talking about Star Trek (2009) and how it "reboots the timeline" and I'm just like... no? It doesn't? That's a core part of the on-screen plot is that this is not a "reboot"! It's not trying to replace what came before, it's just remixing ideas, iconography, aesthetics, and characters from Star Trek TOS. Leonard Nimoy basically looks into the camera and says that! If you're getting such basic shit wrong about this movie you decided to talk about for 5 minutes in your almost 4 hour video, mayyyyyybe you're gonna mess up more things later.

[implausiblyjosh]

You’re NTA for not wanting to be friends with someone. Friendships fall apart for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes people drift apart, sometimes you’re not a good fit for each other, maybe someone just annoys you. It happens.

YTA for being such an asshole about it.

You’re coming in swinging right from the jump with your little aside about “cringe culture” to start off. You obviously think of yourself as inherently superior to this person for, seemingly, trivial reasons like “dabbed at you” and “has a nasally voice” and “dresses bad”. You write about them like you don’t view them as a person but instead a cosmic annoyance you need to overcome. You’re trying to paint any POC who disagrees with you as white by making the dichotomy “white people mad at me” and “POC who get it”.

Even taking everything you’re saying about your “friend” at face value, they deserve better than this.

WIBTA for dropping a friend for being cringe? Obligatory "cringe culture is dead" or whatever people say to feel better about liking kids shows. I (22F) have this friend (21 NB), and we've been friends since high school. We're in college now. This friend of mine genuinely makes me cringe so much I don't think I can maintain this friendship anymore. At the time of writing this I've only been texting them to reply to anything they say, and even then it's a one word answer or an image at most.

They've always been cringe, but when you're a neurodivergent woc in one of the whitest states in the country, you take what you get in terms of friendship. Beggars can't be choosers or whatever. I don't know why I let the world let me think I'm a beggar though.

Anyways, It's a lot of things. They fucking dabbed, without a hint of irony, when I was walking up to them and I considered pretending I didn't know them and walking past. They have this comically nasal voice and are completely incapable of having an appropriate volume anywhere. Like fuck man how do you sound more autistic than me? Their style is so fucking ugly I feel sick looking at them sometimes. They're not dirty or smelly or anything but jesus fuck at least match a color. What I think broke the camel's back was going out to a movie with them. They would NOT shut the fuck up. Like goddamn fuck off I'm trying to enjoy the movie. Stop eating my fucking popcorn bitch. To their credit they did stop after I told them to. I feel embarrassed bringing them anywhere. My brother has asked me multiple times why I hang out with this individual, and I think this is what made me completely reconsider. He's neurotypical and more emotionally intelligent than me, and due to being younger will always keep it real with me, so I trust his judgment. I'm not an emotional person or anything so I can't say I feel much of a bond with people in the first place, so I don't feel bad ab potentially cutting this person off.

I realized I fall into this situation a lot as a neurodivergent woman of color, which is being friends with ugly white people I should know I'm too good to even look at. I've already had other friends tell me I'm too pretty to be seen with them. Objectively? They're right. I'd rather be friendless than interact with this bastard anymore. I've already dropped most of my former friends from before college for similar reasons.

What are these acronyms?

[steddiexbylerxronance]

part 1 of 2 of whatever this is

Borrowers were like ants. Found in every continent except Antarctica, smart, diverse, adaptable, and small. Liam, an average sixteen year old boy who worked as a janitor at a small restaurant in New York City on the weekends and after school, didn't care much for them. Obviously, he had to learn about them in school. In science, they studied their anatomy and habits like they were animals, in which they were not. They could speak languages like English or Spanish or Japanese just fine, like humans. In history, they learned about how Borrowers changed the way the world was today, but never had their own “Independence day.” They weren’t free. Liam hated to compare them to the enslaved people way back then, but that’s kind of how it was today. Many people at the top of the food chain who had an insane amount of money would keep them as pets, or for entertainment value. By entertainment, Liam means torturing them. Most Borrowers get cycled around, bought, traded, or stolen. Even though he doesn’t really care for them, he knows the difference between right and wrong. What Liam tries not to think about is that sometimes Borrowers are served as food. Especially in large, fancy restaurants. Thankfully, where he works at, Josh’s Diner, they don’t. It’s actually a pretty rare thing, and only a select few do, but it still happens. It makes Liam sick just thinking about it.

Borrowers aren’t allowed to get jobs, buy a house, or have access to good food and water. Liam’s friend Cathy is a big Borrower supporter. She’s always talking about what they can do to help Borrowers, and leaves food and water out on her porch, just in case she says. She’s always saying things like ‘They’re American citizens. They were born on American soil, and all American citizens have rights, and all Americans are protected.’ Liam can’t argue with that logic, but many government people can. Liam is not 100% sure, but there are rumors that she and a few of her other friends found an abandoned area, way on the outskirts of the city, where they have a bunch of Borrowers living there, and she’s one of the few people who help them. Just a rumor though. Cathy is always pushing Liam to help the Borrowers, and she made him promise to give food or water to any Borrower he sees. Liam promises he will, and he never goes back on a promise, especially to a friend. He would provide Borrowers with anything they need, but none have come close to him. They all run off, hiding in their torn up cloaks.

One day, Liam was one of the only people left in the diner, besides the owner, Josh, who was currently walking out of the door, expecting Liam to close up. Now he was the only one left. He had just finished cleaning up the tables, the floor, and the bathroom, and was now in the kitchen washing dishes when he spotted something at his foot. It was a Borrower. Liam’s breath hitched in his throat. He threw off his gloves, and cautiously crouched down to get a better look. Not one Borrower had come up to him, ever. This one must either be really brave, really stupid, or really desperate, since they held eye contact the entire time. Liam didn’t speak as he raked his eyes over the Borrower. They looked to be a boy, and a really young one at that. He could see that childish innocence in his eyes, which were big and silver, and had tears starting to form in them. He was dressed in a black cloak, which looked like it had been through hell and back. He was cute, in that kid way. “Hey buddy…What are you doing alone, approaching me?” Liam asked gingerly, watching him for a reaction, or a response. “H-Hungry.” The Borrower said quietly, or at least that’s what Liam made out. The kid was speaking very quietly, that's for sure. “Well, you’re in the right place. I hope. Stay here buddy, I’ll get you something.” Liam watched the Borrower nod before standing up and walking to the pantry. He really hoped Josh didn’t watch the cameras, or the people cooking counted the supplies. That would be bad. Liam grabbed the loaf of bread, and opened it. The bag that the bread was in made a lot of noise in the silence he was currently standing in. Liam ripped a small piece off, worried that someone will notice tomorrow. Don't worry about tomorrow. Worry about the hungry kid. Liam internally bashed himself.

Liam made his way back over to where the kid Borrower was still standing; thankfully. He crouched down once more, tore an even smaller piece off of the bread, and put it on the floor in front of the kid. That wasn’t the most hygenic thing to do, but he had just mopped. That should be okay. “It’s okay buddy. Eat that. You’ll feel better.” Liam said softly, like if he was talking to a wounded animal. He watched the kid wipe his tears and pick up the piece of bread and eat it, really quickly too. Liam’s heart almost broke. This little kid, probably no older than ten, was eating something a human gave him, because he was so hungry. “It’s okay.” Liam mumbled again, wanting to reach out his hand and stroke his grimy hair, and comfort him, but he knew that the action would scare him away, and Liam didn’t want that.

His phone buzzed, and the Borrower flinched. “Sorry…” Liam looked at the notification, and it was his tio texting him, asking where he was, and that his dinner's getting cold. Liam cursed under his breath. He put the piece of bread down on the floor, just in case the kid wanted some more. “I gotta go. Stay safe buddy.” Liam said sadly. He didn’t want to leave this kid alone to face the dangers of the world. He was too young. Liam stood up, locked up the diner, grabbed his bike, and left. The entire ride back to his apartment, that kid Borrower was on his mind. He kept thinking about him, and that when Liam was around his age, his only worry was elementary school, and ‘being cool,’ or as cool as a ten year old could be. He had fun. But here this kid was, and probably a bunch of other kids, having to worry about surviving. When his next meal was. Having to avoid all these giant humans. It was really sad. Liam wondered if he would ever see that kid again. Maybe he’d be able to help.