#Set 353

[gobs-o-dice]

Dice Set #353: Grey-White Irregular

(This set marks the first batch of photos I took with my new phone's camera. So, I played around with things a little bit)

(For comparison, I also took the same photos [as close as I could, anyway] with my old phone to see if there was any appreciable difference. I mean, other than the fact that I hadn't really figured out the aspect ratio settings stuff yet. The widescreen shots below are from my old phone)

[venacoeurva]

Had to reinstall Skyrim (which I then have to move to my new SSD when it gets here, a lot of shuffling around lately) and naturally it got updated so I'm downgrading back down because older mods and it doesn't add anything I want/need, and now I'm waiting

But I have to say the CC window in-game looks a lot better than it used to, at least, that's nice :|

[imnameimswrld]

ⵌ ׄ ۪ 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐁𝐎𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 ¹⁶ ׄ ⑅ CL16 ‌˖ ֺ ᰮ

— DESCRIPTION ੭ alex's twin sister has had the hots for a certain blue eyed ferarri driver, and it's finally time to stake her claim on him.

— PAIRING ੭ charles x albon!reader.

— FILE ੭ social media au.

— WARNINGS ੭ language.

— FACE CLAIM ੭ tontawan tantivejakul.

━━━━━━━━━━❪ 🖤 ❫━━━━━━━━━━

alex_albon & yn_albon • 1 hr.

seen by charles_leclerc, landonorris, and 988 335 others

lilymhe replied to alex_albon story !

stop being mean to ur sister alexander.

landonorris replied to alex_albon story !

oh, so that's how it is ? golfing without me now ? okay. cool.

pierregasly relied to your story !

wooaahh, what's with the heart there girl ? trying to steal my man or something ?

get in line gasly, this boy is mine.

user replied to your story !

THE HEART MISS MA'AM !!?!?!?

THE BETTER TWIN

so golfing was fun guys !

we should totes do it again sometimes 😄

STUPID STINKY COPY & PASTE

why ?

so you can just stand there like a flag pole and flirt with charles the whole time ?

THE BETTER TWIN

exactly ! 😁

LILY MOMMY

AND SHE LOOKED DAMN HOT DOIN' IT TOO.

STUPID STINKY COPY & PASTE

i-

it's always 2 against 1 here.

LILY MOMMY

you'll get used to it hun 💋

THE BETTER TWIN

eewwww no being lovey dovey in the gc allowed.

brb guys, gonna go text my man's

STUPID STINKY COPY & PASTE

HE IS NOT UR-

oh forget it, ur hopeless.

FUTURE BF

hey y/n !

it's charles here, lily sent me ur number I hope that's cool with you ?

HIS FUTURE GF

hey charles !

yes ofc omg 😊

FUTURE BF

I think I grabbed ur golf set by accident haha 😅

HIS FUTURE GF

oh no problem !

you can give it back tonight at 8pm, at reagan's diner, and wearing ur finest suit because it is a 3 star restaurant.

FUTURE BF

I...

...uhm....

...huh ?

are u... asking me out ?

HIS FUTURE GF

did I stuttter, charles ?

no ?

so 8pm, sharp. those are my favourite golf clubs that i never use, so i'd like them back.

are we clear ?

FUTURE BF.

yes ma'am.

charles_leclerc & ynusername added to their story ! • 2hr

seen by pierregasly, alex_albon, and 1 224 353 others

alex_albon replied to charles_leclerc story !

WHAT

CHARLES

ARE. U. INSANE.

SHE'S CRAZY !?

but she's miiiinnnneeee 😁

maxverstappen1 replied to charles_leclerc story !

so, what did you do ? huh ?

because how does a total dope like urself, bag a 20 like yn ?

ahh, come on max :\

lilymhe replied to your story !

YAAASSSS QUUEEENNN

GET UR MANS

YOU KNOW IT 😝

user replied to your story !

my wife... had been stolen from me....

user replied to your story !

NO COME BACK TO ME YN 😭

charles_leclerc replied to your story !

how am I going to get people to believe that u wanted me first ?

u won't 🤭

yn_albon

liked by lilymhe, carlossainz55, and 1 332 454 others

yn_albon suck on ur zero points alexander.

View all comments

logansargeant OUCH.

▹ yn_albon not u logs u know i love ya !

[ liked by logansargeant ]

lilymhe as the girlfriend I shouldn't click a like on this post but...

▹ alex_albon but ? BUT !?

▹ yn_albon love ya too lils baby 🎀

maxverstappen1 the real mic drop is alex thinking that YN ALBON couldn't pull a kid like charles.

▹ charles_leclerc I want to take offense but I can't, because ur very much right.

▹ user HOL' ON- alex thought YN MOTHER ALBON couldn't pull any man of her choosing !? 😭

▹ yn_albon aw, thanks maxie !

alex_albon just say u all hate me and call it a day.

▹ yn_albon quit being dramatic lex and answer mum's ft before she beats ur ass with the wooden spoon again.

user so no one's gonna talk abt slide 3 ? NO ONE !? HELLO !? 😭

♡. ♡. ♡.

imnameimswrld OOHOOO BACK AGAIN ??? hiii lovelies, I hope you're all doing well ! college is trying so hard to kick my ass but i am hanging in there (just barely lol)... but I hope you enjoyed this one, I'm switching up the look of my stuff coz I hate the old look :)

[starchaserwrites]

@jegulus-microfic / february 5: hormones / word count: 353

"…the adrenal gland is made up of two glands: the cortex and the medulla. These glands produce hormones in response to stress and regulate blood pressure, glucose metabolism and the body's salt and water balance." James reads aloud as he absentmindedly runs his fingers through Regulus' hair, his head resting in his lap.

They have been studying for end of term exams non-stop for the last four hours and are intending to pull an all-nighter. At this rate, Regulus senses that he will be dreaming about the endocrine system as soon as he gets a chance to sleep.

Even though they are not studying the same major and have different part-time jobs, they try to spend as much time together as possible. If studying is one way of doing it, then so be it. Regulus loves when his boyfriend reads for him anyway.

"Baby, wanna take a short nap?" James says, caressing his cheek when he notices that he has closed his eyes.

"Hm, you know if we sleep now, we won't be up again to keep studying." Regulus says as he sits up properly and stretches his arms.

"I'll stay awake, don't worry about that."

"But you are tired too."

"Maybe, but I know how important it is for you to keep studying even when you know almost all of the contents."

And oh, Regulus could cry at how seen he feels right now. Instead, he lets himself be manhandled to bed, leaving pecks in every part of James's body he can reach.

"I'm only going to sleep for 20 minutes, okay?" the younger man says, hiding his face in his boyfriend's chest.

"Okay, alarm set."

"And James."

"Yes?"

"I love you." he can feel James' breath hitch for a second.

"I love you too." he replies sincerely, holding him closer and Regulus smiles.

It's the first time they've said it and he probably should be freaking out right now, but he falls asleep easily.

In the end, he doesn't dream about the endocrine system, but about James whispering sweet nothings to him.

But it might not be a dream at all.

[emlovessid]

@jegulus-microfic february 12, fireside, 353 words part one, part two

It’s a few days later that Regulus’ breakfast is interrupted by a knock at the door, opening it to find a mailman on his doorstep holding a package. He knows what it is before he even opens it.

He’s careful as he unwraps it, unfolding the card nestled in amongst the tissue paper.

You may not know it, but this album would be nothing without you. Thank you all the way from Edinburgh. J x

After spending an embarrassing amount of time looking at the picture of James on the cover – he’s still coming to terms with the fact that this James is his James – he pulls the vinyl out of its sleeve and sets it on his record player, curling up by the fireside with a cup of tea as he listens.

He recognises Track 2 as the one he heard on the radio, smiling to himself as James sings Regulus’ words, though he prefers James’ words over his own. He has a way with words that sucks Regulus in, makes him feel connected to them. He supposes that’s a sign of a good songwriter, having the ability to make anyone listening believe that these lyrics are written for them personally.

Like on Track 4; This was never really casual.

Track 5; I miss my nights in London, more than I ever miss my home.

Track 8; When I kiss that freckle by your ear.

Eyes flying open with recognition, Regulus reaches up to his left ear, fingers brushing over the patch of skin below that James has always paid particular attention to. 

Taking out his phone, he only hesitates for a moment before typing out a text and pressing send: I don’t want to presume but… are some of these songs about me?

It’s less than a minute later that his phone starts ringing, James’ face lighting up the screen; a photo Regulus had taken of him sleepy and smiling in Regulus’ bed.

He answers, but doesn’t say anything. Hears James exhale, feels his own heart stop, and then start right up again as James says, “Of course they’re about you.”

[little-miss-dilf-lover]

Foggy and Karen spy on Matt's date with Reader

hii!! sorry this took longer than I planned, I wasn’t writing during the holidays and only just had time to work through the rest of my inbox. thank you for requesting, hope you like it💌

NOSEY

matt murdock x implied fem!reader

word count. 353

Matt's friends are the types that are always on the lookout - ones who try their hardest to protect him and guide him in the right direction. Though, with Matt, that isn't always easy.

When it came to dating, Karen and Foggy were often wary about their friends' choice of partners. They knew very little about his previous flings and girlfriends, though there would be one that always came to mind first, the one who had caused him the most damage. The one he dated in college - the one who chewed him up and spat him out. Elektra.

So, as a result, Matt's friends often injected themselves into his love life, wanting to guard him and steer him - wanting to save him from even more harm. They would disapprove of Matt's poor choices in romantic partners, often shaming him for his casual hookups and one-night stands - reprimanding him for his refusal to settle down with someone decent. 

All berating from his friends stopped when he mentioned someone new he was dating. And that was you. He wasn't usually one to share details of his new partners, but there was just something so uniquely special about you, something so different to all his past partners. 

He knew he didn't need their approval or blessing, but he found it almost oddly comforting to hear their genuine excitement for him, for them to be intrigued and finally pleased with his choices. 

Things were still new and foreign and scary between you, but it was the good kind. And although you were only two proper and official dates in - you each had a positive feeling about where things were heading. 

When your third date rolled around, unbeknownst to the pair of you, Matt's friends had set up shop in a corner booth at the back of the restaurant, essentially spying on your date. They listened in on your conversations and watched your body language - noticing lingering hands and earnest smiles. 

And as they watched from a near distance - for once, they had finally approved of who Matt had decided to date.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

[the-soliloquies-of-sadists]

#353

“Hey Jimmy.  So you came out to you mamma, hunh?  Yeah, she made a bee line to your Aunt Stacy.  The two of them are going on and on together about how your life is ruined and how she should have raised you different and other bullshit.  So much crying, I had to get out of the house.  As I was leaving your mamma asked me to come by to get some of her things as she’s probably going to stay with your Aunt Stacy and me for a few days.  Fucking great.  My place is going to be filled with so much sister talk I don’t know how I’m going to put up with it.  I know one way is… Jimmy, get over here and give your Uncle Lee a blowjob….

“I’m fucking serious.  Your mamma and aunt may not know what to do with a gay son, but I know exactly what to do with a fag nephew.  Get naked and on your knees in front of me….  Damn boy!  That was fast.  It’s like you are hungry for cock.  Well, I got seven-and-a-half inches that has used hundreds of faggots throughout my life. 

“Oh man, does your mouth feel good….  Jesus fuck!  You know how to throat a cock.  Where the fuck does a nineteen-year-old learn to do that?...  Don’t talk with your mouth full.  We’ll have plenty of time for that.

“Get your hands off your dick.  Your focus should be on the cock in your throat, not the one in your hand.  In fact, use both hands to grab my ass.

“Fuck yeah.  You have a talented throat.  I’m getting close.  I’m taking over this blowjob.  Get air however you can.  I’m gonna cum.  I’m gonna fucking cum faggot.  That throat is going to be flooded.  Here it cums.  Ahh.  Ahh.  Ahhhhhh.  Fuck yeah.

“That’s it boy, try to suck out the last drop.  Oh man.  You fucking cum whore. 

“Where the fuck did you learn to suck like that?...  In the bathrooms at the University?  That’s still a thing?  Years ago, I used to go there to get my dick sucked or fuck a boy’s ass.  I thought they redesigned it to discourage activity.  I guess they failed.  Who goes there?... Other students?...  Any fucking going on?...  Yeah it’s not set up for that…. 

“Go get me a beer….  No, no.  Leave your clothes on the floor.  You should be kept naked.

“Damn!  That is one nice ass.  Have you been fucked in your cunt?...  Too bad.  I would have loved to have popped that cherry so fast.  I’ll be raping it a bit later.

“Nice and cold beer always tastes good after shooting a wad.  Have a seat….  What the fuck are you doing?  You sit on the floor like a faggot should.  In fact, sit in front of my boots.  They are in need of a spit shine.  Start licking.

“…Now, really where the fuck did you learn all this?  I have been calling you a fag or faggot a number of times, and you don’t flinch.  You deep throat a cock without much resistance.  You take a skull fuck without a problem.  You follow orders, like leaving your pecker alone without pushback.  Hell, I have you kneeling licking my boots buck naked in your own home, and this is all very natural to you.

“No university bathroom blowjob is going to train you on servicing a man.  Where did you learn this?...  Videos from the internet?  Are you kidding me?  Have you ever serviced a man, not some other student?...

“A few.  They ever get rough with you, or treat you like the faggot you are?...  Didn’t think so.  Natural faggots—like yourself, looking to service men the way the men want—are as hard to find as the men who need that level of service. 

“Lean back on your heels.  Spread your knees.  Your pecker is rock hard, and it’s leaking.  You want this?  You want to be treated like a faggot?  I’m not referring to being gay.  Faggots are tools who exist to service men.  You’ll be used by men, real men, any way they want, usually without asking your permission. 

“Don’t you fucking touch your dick.  Put your hands behind your back.  I can see you are about to explode and this is what I want.

“You ever eat ass?... Drink piss?...  Good, I got two cherries to pop with you.  Yes, you will get nasty.  Faggots live to be nasty.  You’ll love sticking your tongue inside my shithole.  You will clean up my ass without ever complaining.

“I can see the disgust in your eyes, but I also see the curiosity.  Faggot you are so easy to read.  There’s so much lust in your eyes.  You really crave this. 

“Lean forward.  Now you say, ‘Thank you SIR’ whenever a man slaps you across…  Jesus fuck!  You are fucking cumming?  Fuck yeah fag!...  Shoot on my boots….  Hell the fuck yeah….

“Damn, faggot.  Hands free. That was impressive.  Now clean up your mess.

“Oh man.  When I came over here, I was expecting just a blowjob.  I got a full faggot, somewhat inexperienced, but I’ll gladly take that.

“This is what is going to happen.  I’m taking ownership of you.  I’ll decide what’s best for you.  You are going to pack up some things, and you are coming back with me to the shop.  There’s a small apartment above the main office.  I sometimes crash there; I’ll fuck fags up there.  You’ll move in.  It’s perfect.  My guys will be happy that I have a resident faggot to take care of their needs.  Adam and Jose will most likely be blowjobs or the occasional fuck.  Tyson and Brick will require more service.  Brick will probably bring you with him when he goes on his weekend runs.  You’ll be gang banged by a bunch of bikers, but he’s very protective and will look out for you.  You are going to be whored out.  Literally.  I will be making money off of the men I will send up to you.  Many of the bikers don’t have much to do when they come into the shop for service to their motorcycles. 

“What’s your major at the university?... Undecided?  Well, I decided you will major in accounting. That'll help with me with running the shop.

“You’ll bring very little of your shit from here.  I’ll provide most of what you need.  You can leave the rest of your shit here.  Your mamma will be glad that you are gone.  Your aunt will be happy that I will offer you a job.  She’ll think that I am helping you with your future.  In a way I am.

“Your days will be filled with servicing real men, submitting to them, at times suffering for them, and ultimately sacrificing for them.  You want to do this?  You want this as your life?  This is the only time I will ask this of you.  After this moment, I am in control.

“Good boy.  I got to take one hell of a piss, and I have a virgin kneeling in front of me.  I’m going to take it slow, but eventually you will be drinking it at a natural flow.  Nasty tasting hunh?  You’ll learn to love it.  If not, that’s not my problem.

“Oh fuck, that cunt is sticking out just waiting to be raped.  I hope you are cleaned out back there.  If not, your mouth will be taking over. 

“Faggot, you are a true natural for this.”

[landscapeexposurenetwork]

Thank you again for another great year allowing us to share original photographers with you. We will be taking a break and return January 8th. In the meantime we have set up a queue filled with photos from our past featured blogs this year. If you are looking for new blogs to follow, please have a look at the list below. We have listed a general description of the types of photos each blog posts, so it will be easier for you to find the ones you like. And of course applications are still open during our break. Hope to see you all again in 2024. Happy holidays and much love from all of us at LEN.

January 341 @cissaking (landscape) 342 @foliorumviridis (forests, landscape) 343 @rchrgd (nature, forests) 344 @marljin (forests)

February 345 @highways-are-liminal-spaces (landscape, animals) 346 @dk-thrive (landscape, quotes) 347 @fotozeiger (landscape) 348 @alyaly (landscape, flowers)

March 349 @joeswildlifephotos (animals, landscape) 350 @silver-frog (landscape, urban) 351 @bedr-focus (landscape, urban, animals) 352 @alli-takes-photos (nature, landscape, urban)

April 353 @thethingsiveseen-photography (landscape, animals, flowers) 354 @rock-cedar-mosquito (forests, landscape) 355 @zedensposts (landscape, animals) 356 @whitneybarkman (nature, forests)

May 357 @renmoldovan (landscape, animals) 358 @gettinglostisnotawasteoftime (landscape, forests) 359 @nwalthall (landscape, flowers, portrait) 360 @ivacunja (landscape) 361 @moer-koffie (flowers, animals)

June 362 @lbk-photography (landscape) 363 @stillwater67 (landscape, urban) 364 @desomnis (landscape, urban) 365 @tomo8455 (flowers, animals, landscape)

July 366 @bluebelly-sun-serpentine (nature, landscape) 367 @carmen-art (landscape) 368 @thomaswaynewolf (landscape) 369 @birdmemorandum (birds) 370 @thecorpsofrediscovery (landscape, urban)

August 371 @orofeaiel (forests, fungi, animals) 372 @sugiichi (birds) 373 @oscar-out-of-a-suitcase (landscape, urban) 374 @pela-schmidt (landscape)

September 375 @andulkaphoto (nature, urban) 376 @orendarling (landscape, urban) 377 @thomas--bombadil (birds) 378 @kiteknots (nature, forests)

October 379 @differentharmonywasteland (nature) 380 @zocher (landscape, flowers) 381 @mbhfphotos (nature, fungi, forests) 382 @wild-e-eep (nature, fungi, animals) 383 @franz-bauch-foto (forests)

November 384 @vnvnationfan (landscape, flowers) 385 @sssnapspics (nature, animals) 386 @ohlsdorf-cemetery (nature, forests, cemeteries) 387 @flippantsmeagol (landscape)

December 388 @coenderuiter (landscape, forests) 389 @opdrie (landscape, forests)

2022 Featured Blogs | 2021 Featured Blogs  2020 Featured Blogs | 2019 Featured Blogs  2018 Featured Blogs | 2017 Featured Blogs   2016 Featured Blogs

[im-just-a-mississippi-girl]

Your Biker in Worn Leather

Pairing: EZ Reyes x female!reader

Category: Angst/Comfort

Word count: 353

Summary: You call EZ to pick you up and his temper goes through the roof at the state you’re in.

Warnings: Mentions of cuts, scratches, and bruises

Part 2

Masterlist

Taglist

Gif is not mine. Credit to owner.

“Can you please come and get me?” Those words played on loop in EZ’s head, he couldn’t get the sound of your scared voice out of his head. You didn’t tell him what happened or if you were hurt, only where to pick you up from.

Ezekiel was quick to jump on his bike and speed to your location. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest, mind racing a mile a second thinking about all the possible scenarios you could be in. By the time EZ finally found you on the side of the street, it was pouring rain and you had no rain coat or umbrella to shield you. As EZ took off his helmet and goggles, he noticed you were shaking and that’s when you immediately raced towards him, throwing your arms around his neck and clinging to him for dear life, not giving him the chance to get off his bike. EZ’s arms instinctively enveloped you in a tight embrace, his hand gently rubbing your back. Neither one of you cared that you were getting drenched and could possibly end up with a cold tomorrow. You needed him, his safety, his protection, and you needed him as close as possible. EZ allowed the hug to last a few more moments. “Let’s get you dry, okay?” He spoke softly, placing a kiss to the top of your head.

You nodded against his shoulder before pulling yourself out of his arms. As you did so, EZ caught sight of the state you were in, a busted lip, bruises decorating your arms, and a red cheek. EZ’s blood boiled more and more as he saw each bruise, scratch, and cut littering your body. “Who did this to you?” He blurted out, causing you to jump at his stern tone and clenched jaw. The movement didn’t go unnoticed. “I’m sorry, mi amor. I didn’t mean to scare you. Do you know who did this to you?” He apologized before asking again, this time in a calmer tone.

You knew exactly who did this, and you knew EZ would revel in setting the score.

General Taglist: @kmc1989

EZ Reyes Taglist: @zaenight

[max1461]

As for the areal distribution of zero-marked NP-coordinations, we can note that it appears to be absent from Africa and from at least the western part of Europe. In all other parts of the world it must have been an old encoding option. In fact, it can be demonstrated that its wane has begun only very recently in areas such as Central America and Siberia, where the overt coordination markers are clearly of foreign (Spanish or Russian) origin. Even in Indo-European, which in its modern forms allows no or only very marginal zero-coordination, the ancient languages (such as Sanskrit, Old Persian, Ancient Greek, or Latin) and the more "conservative" languages (such as the Baltic languages Latvian and Lithuanian) permit a certain amount of asyndeton. However, the general trend all over the world is that zero-coordination tends to be marginalized into specific functions or is replaced altogether by overt marking strategies. Mithun (1988: 353-357) suggests that this development, which can be attested for NP-coordination and clausal coordination alike, has its source in the global increase in literacy. While the zero-strategy, which is basically intonational, is functionally quite well adapted to spoken language, written language requires a more overt formal marking of syntactic relations.

From Strassen, And-languages and with-languages. Interesting suggestion (read: suggestion, not established fact!) that

there has been a decrease in the use of juxtapositional strategies of coordination (e.g. "John Mary go") relative to explicitly marked strategies of coordination (e.g. "John and Mary go") crosslinguistically within the historical period,

this may be due to the rise in global literacy.

I'm uncertain about claim (1), maybe the data bears it out I but I haven't seen the data and I don't really know. I'm a little dubious that you could actually demonstrate this in the case of Eurasia as a whole, though maybe it could be demonstrated for the Americas, or of some certain sub-regions of Eurasia. I am extremely uncertain of claim (2), especially if claim (1) can't be demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt for the whole of Eurasia. Because at that point we could just be looking at an areal phenomenon, or a set of areal phenomena. Actually even if it is a Eurasia-wide shift it might still be an areal phenomenon. Or a coincidence. (2) seems really hard to demonstrate. But it is an interesting suggestion one way or another.

[gobs-o-dice]

Okay, so, now that my month has restarted for mobile data, I'm back up and running...ish.

Supposedly, the new wifi home kit is on its way. After nearly a month of them not responding with more than useless chatbots that ignored everything we said and closed the support tickets the second we looked away (Seriously, if you have any other options, go with someone other than starlink, because it might quite literally take an act of calling down the regulatory authority in your area to get them to actually do their jobs).

While I might not have wifi again yet, I've got enough data that I feel like I can run updates, catch up on some youtube and post extra pictures and stuff. Y'know, when the mobile data signal isn't throwing some sort of tantrum. And even then, it's pretty unpleasant and inconsistent to rely on.

Anyway, here is my overdue post for my

DICE MAIL!

(Woo-oo!)

From earlier this week

Sets 353-358 have finally arrived!

Yes, four of them are chessex lab sets from the latest batch (Borealis Cosmos, Festive Hydrangea, Nebula Fluorite, and Marble Calcite)

The other two sets were ones that looked neat when I was placing the order - On the left is "Grey with White Irregular Pattern" (I'm just gonna call it "Grey Irregular"); On the right is "Multi-Colour Mix" (I'm calling it "Multicolour Splats")

*****

Haven't done a full photo session yet - Not like I was able to post anything for a bit, there. Not like I'm gonna post a whole ton of photos right now anyway.

Plus, after this whole fiasco with relying on mobile internet and my mobile device, I've realized that I definitely should upgrade my phone - It probably won't fix network issues, but might have better hardware for maintaining a signal and whatnot.

So, I'll probably wait until I have the new camera in that new phone to do the full photos (and I may or may not be strongly considering getting more dice from amazon because I saw I really good deal on the wiz dice series 4 line)

[stardust-moth]

Hey there! What's your take on why Mike keeps his eyes open and just limply stands there when El kisses him at the end of ST season 3? Bylers claim it's because Mike doesn't love her and idk about that... that definitely wasn't my read. But I recently rewatched the whole show, and I can't really figure out what that moment is supposed to convey?? Like, watching that scene, there isn't the feeling of a great love being fulfilled, or of grief at losing her to the move. He just kind of seems... idk, confused? Perturbed? idk! I can't wrap my head around what I'm supposed to take away from that moment!

Ok. I almost didn't bother writing out a long, detailed post about this, because it's one of those things that (in my mind) shouldn't need to be explained, since (to me) it's presented so clearly in the source material already. So much of this show is so wildly misinterpreted all the time these days and it's getting to be exhausting-- half the time my reaction is just:

BUT! Why would I ever pass up an opportunity to yap about my favorite things, namely my dear my son my boy Michael Wheeler??

So! Let's consider all the context pieces going on here, shall we?

Things we know about Mike:

Struggles to say the Big L Word in general. Feelings are big and scary. (This is not a new concept, mind you. It's a very common romance trope. It's also a real thing that real people struggle with, especially among men and boys. Remember the cultural setting, everybody.)

he has low self-esteem and Big Insecurities about the validity of his feelings and his relationship with her (insecurities which are constantly reinforced by the people around him)

he is ALWAYS visibly startled/surprised when ANYONE expresses that they care about him to ANY extent (surprised that his mom empathizes with him and isn't angry about staying home from school when his best friend is missing, surprised when Dustin points out that he and Lucas are close best friends, surprised that Nancy runs out to hug him and says she was worried about him, surprised that El doesn't judge him for being bullied and says she understands, surprised when she tells him she was listening all 353 days, surprised when she tells him she missed him at the pizza shop, surprised when Will tells him that he's the glue that holds the party together and that they all need him, surprised when Karen goes on a mom tirade about how she was worried sick and never wants to let him go far away ever again, etc etc etc... idk what you expect at this point)

here, he is clearly bracing himself for saying goodbye and putting on nonchalant fronts to protect himself from experiencing that grief again (see my pinned post for more in-depth analysis of why Mike is scared of his feelings)

Also take into account: 

He TRIED to tell her he loves her in the supermarket, like really genuinely tried, but they were interrupted by ALL the shit hitting the fan. There is a LOT going on!! El's powers are gone and no one knows why! She's grieving the loss of her father! She's about to move across the country to somewhere entirely new and unfamiliar! Mike doesn't want to be selfish right now given what she's going through, making such a move now would be pretty tactless, and he's trying so hard to be a good respectful boyfriend (after literally everyone told him off for things like caring too much/spending too much time with her). Plus, if she doesn't reciprocate, well then fuck, some of his last moments with her will be stained by disappointment and guilt and awkwardness. And if she does reciprocate, well then fuck, now that just makes this goodbye even harder for both of them.

So yeah. He's fuckin shook. And, like the awkward noodle he is, Mike is slow to process it.

There are SEVERAL emotions going on right now-- the most apparent one being shock/surprise/confusion. Of course it's massively validating to hear "I love you, too", the same way it's massively validating to hear her say "I understand" and "I heard". But whatever happy feelings it brings are definitely overshadowed by the sinking realization that despite it all, he's still losing her. They still have to go separate ways. Remember that while we the audience know they're all going to come back to Hawkins and be reunited by the end of the story, the characters don't know that. As far as anyone knows in this moment, they're moving away for good. (And btw, distance is a lot bigger of a deal when methods of communication are limited-- remember the setting, everybody!! No instant messaging!! Letters take weeks to mail, no way to see each other's faces except through mailed photographs, only one landline phone per household and you have to factor in time zones and family members' working hours... long-distance relationships are hard now, imagine how hard they would be for teenagers in 1985!!)

Bottom line: He wasn't expecting her to say it. He wasn't prepared to hear it now. He wasn't ready for it to be such a mix of hurt and happy all at once. All he could do is stare in awestruck bewilderment.

His first love, the most important person to him in the whole world, truly reciprocates his feelings. And he's about to lose her forever again.

Unfortunately Finn's face is kind of obscured from view during a lot of the actual kiss, which can understandably make it hard to read, but he is most definitely kissing her back-- it's very hesitant and subtle compared to El's confidence, but he does lean in to meet her.

Every single indicator (in the music, the blocking/camera work, etc) is purposefully framing this scene as a positive moment and the resolution to their relationship arc for the season.

Further conflict and further resolution that we see in S4 supports/confirms this as the correct interpretation. His confession monologue spells it all out word for word for christ's sake.

Narratively, the scene would make ZERO sense if that was meant to be a negative reaction. Their romance subplot goes through all the story arc steps and all the buildup, why would it fall so flat right at the final piece of the resolution? That would just be poor writing. (And frankly, that entire take is evidence of poor media literacy and comprehension. You just... you can't cherry-pick the details, guys, I'm sorry.)

If that kiss was meant to be a nail in the coffin, a realization that everything that the story has established and everything these two characters have expressed thus far is, in fact, not so... then we wouldn't have seen a moment like this with such intimacy right afterwards:

Tell me you can't read his face now. He's in tears and clinging to her. That is heartbreak! And just by looking at how she touches his face and presses their foreheads together, you can tell she feels it too and understands.

So yeah, that's my take on it. I hope this provides some clarity! <3

PS, on a lighter note, allow me to present to you a directly comparable confused-open-eyed kiss scene that absolutely NO ONE questions:

[rhymeswithfart]

(pretend I didn't spell Tsubomis last name wrong) Since you're here, check this out:

https://gofund.me/c1544f1a

Please read Jaber's story, share, and donate if you can. He is trying to evacuate his wife and 2yo son out of Gaza and bring them to Kuwait to start a new life.

This is a vetted fundraiser, more info under cut. Low on funds, $353 / $29,000

Vetted by association here. (Confirmed to be real by another vetted person). More info + visit his blog in this post

In his words:

"My name is Jaber AlHaj, a graduate with honors in Applied Chemistry. I currently reside in Kuwait, but my heart and thoughts are constantly with my family, who remain in Gaza amidst the ongoing war and devastation. My wife, Muna, and our 2-year-old son, Hashem, live under the constant threat of violence and uncertainty. Every day, I worry about their safety and well-being, and my greatest wish is to bring them to Kuwait, where they can find peace, security, and a fresh start.

After graduating, I turned my passion for chemistry into action by starting a small business in Gaza with my brother, Aboud. Together, we established a small lab for manufacturing essential household cleaning products. We began with the most basic resources, tirelessly conducting experiments to perfect our formulas. Over time, this modest project evolved into a stable source of income that supported not only myself but also my brother and our family.

We dreamed of expanding our business further, creating more job opportunities, and making a difference in our community. But all of our aspirations were cut short. The relentless bombardment and airstrikes on Gaza destroyed everything we worked so hard to build. Our lab and equipment were reduced to rubble, and the future we envisioned disappeared overnight.

The war didn’t just take away our business; it also separated me from my family. It has been over a year since I’ve seen my wife and child in person. Unable to travel back to Gaza, I feel helpless being so far away from them during these difficult times. Despite all my efforts, it has been equally challenging to bring them to Kuwait, where I could offer them the safety and stability they so desperately need.

The Goal of This Campaign

I have set a goal to raise $29,000 to help me:

Bring My Family to Safety: Secure the necessary funds to relocate my wife, Muna, and our son, Hashem, from Gaza to Kuwait. This would mean everything to me—to finally reunite with them and ensure their well-being, far away from the horrors of war.

Rebuild Our Business and Dream: Reestablish our lab and business in Gaza alongside my brother, Aboud. With these funds, we can purchase equipment, secure a new location, and restart production. This would give us a chance to rebuild our lives and restore the hope that was lost.

Your support will not only help me reunite with my family and provide them with a better, safer life but will also enable us to rebuild a business that once sustained us and gave us purpose. Every contribution, no matter how small, will bring us one step closer to achieving these two crucial goals.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and for standing with us during this challenging time.

Warm regards,

Jaber Al-Haj"

[busra-tr]

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[arecaceae175]

Flufftober Day 22: Picking

353 words, Hyrule-centric featuring Sky and Legend. A03 link. @flufftober

“Okay,” Twilight said. He clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Time to pick teams. Two groups of four, since I’m judge.”

“I want Hyrule on my team!” Sky yelled.

Hyrule’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Sky picked him first?

“‘Ey, no! I want Hyrule on my team!” Legend said. Hyrule’s head whipped around to Legend.

“Sorry. I chose first. You’re too late, ” Sky said with a grin and a shrug. His tone conveyed exactly zero regret.

“We never set up the rules!” Legend said.

“That’s true,” Twilight said. “I never said who was picking first.”

“I picked first,” Sky said. “It already happened. Let’s move on.”

Legend crossed his arms with a scowl. “That’s hardly fair.”

Sky raised his eyebrows and his smirk changed into something more menacing. He straightened his back to his full height. Legend shrunk back minutely. Hyrule watched them with wide wide eyes and a brain full of static.

“Y’know, we could always have a friendly little spar,” Sky said. He tapped his fingers on the Master Sword’s handle and grinned, eyes sparking with mischief.

“Yeah, nope. Sorry, Rulie, that’s not happening,” Legend said. “Sky, you’re terrifying, you know that?”

Sky beamed. “Thank you!”

“I’ll take the old man instead, I guess,” Legend said flippantly.

“Feeling the love,” Time said sarcastically as he moved to Legend’s side.

After they finished picking teams and Twilight re-explained the rules for Wild who hadn’t been listening the first time, Hyrule approached Sky.

“Sky?” Hyrule asked.

“Yeah, Rulie?” Sky asked.

“Why did you want me on your team so bad?” Hyrule asked.

“‘Cause you’re cool,” Sky said without hesitation. Hyrule felt his face burn, and he was sure the tips of his ears went bright pink. The warm, fuzzy feeling that came with being loved and appreciated settled itself in his chest.

“Plus, you’re resourceful, and I need to beat Warriors,” Sky said. Hyrule laughed, but it turned into a nervous giggle when he realized Sky was being completely serious.

“Right,” Hyrule said. “I won’t let you down!”

“You could never. Now, come on. I think Four has a plan,” Sky said.

[quattro-bacheema]

Ah right I completely forgot to share it here but I am currently working on a UC Gundam X Mass Effect fanfic set a century and a half after G-Saviour. I also comm'd a friend to draw the workhorse mobile suit used by the Solar Sphere Congress (the successor faction to the Earth Federation).

Meet the M-18-E Gunstrike, a mass production MS used by Congressional Space Force introduced circa the UC 0360s, as a cheaper alternative to the more complex machines used in the Secession Crisis of UC 301-353. Line art was done by @nge064 who I also just realized has a tumblr account (he doesn't use it anymore so go to his xeeter instead). Color was done by me.