#Solitary Pep Talks

[crmsnmth]

Solitary Pep Talks

I keep telling myself To get up off the ground and get these boots back to pavement I've been down long enough Goddammit, Chris, stop begging for sympathy You've got this Get out under that star and face the day even if it does proceed to beat the shit out of you You smile and keep those boots to the pavement

Every day I remind myself that I need to accept the person I am But I'm so hung up on who I used to be that there's no such thing as growth And at this rate, I'm going to be an eighty-year-old man who still acts like some bitchy teenager with angsty issues and I don't think that's a good look for me

So I keep my boots on the pavement Walking this small town with headphone blaring Wave to those I see and know And claim my title as the walking punk

I tell myself that I am not what the past is anymore Her words still echo within my skull Like a super ball in a silo I bounce from hate to love and back again And I keep give solitary pop talks. Keep putting my boots on the pavement

I don't want to be miserable Life's too short to carry baggage everywhere I go And it's sad how long it took me to get that part but at least I did The handler lost our fucking luggage again

[thebeesatemyknees]

141 with a gf who has been cheated on in the past and it kind of destroyed her confidence?? Like just how they would prove themselves as true and how they would go about a relationship with her. Love your writing, friend!!!! <3

141 with a (fem)partner who's been cheated on in the past

Some headcanons about things that Simon Ghost Riley, John Price, Kyle Gaz Garrick and Johnny Soap MacTavish do to reassure you after learning that your previous partner/s cheated on you.

Word count: 1k || No warnings. || Reader: FEM reader. Pronouns "you", but feminine terms used ("missus, girl, lady") [I could make a gender neutral version too if anyone would want it!]

Simon Riley, who, half joking half serious, reminds you that he’s a difficult bastard to get close to. So you don’t have to worry. I mean, look how much time it took you to make him open up and let you become part of his life. He has a hard time openly admitting how he feels about you and how he only has place for you in his heart and mind. So instead, he jokes that you’re the only person on this planet, crazy enough to approach him. Though sometimes, when you have late night conversations, he admits in a hushed voice, that as much as he enjoyed the solitary life, leaving it behind for a lifetime with you was the best decision he's ever made.

Although he prefers to avoid crowded places, he starts taking you to pubs more often to prove that he’s right about being unapproachable. It also gives you a reason to dress up all pretty, so he can shamelessly compliment you and tease you about wanting to show you off.

If someone is silly enough to walk up to you two and try chatting him up, he immediately cuts it short, not even trying to be polite – “No, we’re alright. We’re busy.” And if they’re persistent, he uses his “Lieutenant Ghost” voice on them – “You’re interrupting my date. With my girl.” He keeps his hand on you for the rest of the night.

He asks you if he should get your name tattooed on his arm and you can’t tell if he’s joking or not. But he is dead serious. Have you seen his tattoos? Not to be judgemental, but… He wouldn’t mind tattooing your name on himself once he thinks you’re the one.

John Price, who relies on communication. He asks you to talk to him whenever something feels wrong – whether it’s caused by your thoughts or something he’s done. But he doesn’t just wait for you to bring the issue up either. He’s a true leader and he’s very observant. Sometimes he notices the heavy thoughts starting to cloud your mind before you can even cotton on. He’s also really good at reading between the lines. If you ever do that self-sabotaging thing, where you ask his opinion about other women on the street or on the internet, he immediately gives you a stern look and, without even looking at the lass you’re pointing at, gives you a lengthy pep talk. Why would he even need to form an opinion about another woman’s appearance, when he only cares about you? 

He’s got the patience of a saint when it comes to you. He’s told you what he feels towards you and how you are the only one for him many times already. And he would repeat himself, over and over again. Until he loses his voice.

If he got approached by someone and offered a drink, while you’re hanging out in a pub, he would point towards you and say “I’m alright, but you can buy my lady a drink if you insist,” with a cocky smile on his face.

Kyle Garrick, who attacks you with “I love you”-s and compliments whenever you start doubting yourself. Literally. Won’t let you finish your self-derogatory comments, even if they’re well hidden in what you’re saying. Starts yelling ILYs from afar. Then once he gets closer, he grabs you and holds you close, repeating it against your ear until you laugh from the sensation. But he doesn’t ignore your worries. He often sits you down so that the two of you can have a conversation about your feelings, your boundaries, behaviours and things he can do to assure you of his loyalty.

He has pictures of you everywhere and he’s proud to show you off. There are polaroids of you alone and both of you together in his wallet, in his car’s sun visor, in the pocket of his uniform. You’re his phone’s wallpaper. He posts pictures of you on social media. Obviously, he does all that while making sure it won’t affect your safety. And as for him bragging about you, you probably learnt about that from Price. What you don’t know though, is that he went out of his way to introduce you to his captain in hopes of Price telling you how often he talks about you. And only you.

If someone tried to chat him up while he’s with you, he would give them the nastiest, most offended glare possible. He looks at them, at you, at them, at you… He throws a simple “Uhh, no thank you,” while he grabs your hand and pulls it to his chest, using it to ground himself. Before the person can even turn away, he’s looking at you with a “can you believe this shit” stare. He gets upset for the both of you.

Johnny MacTavish, who’s physically glued to you.While off duty, he doesn't give you much space for doubts or anxieties cuz he follows you everywhere. You’re going to run some errands? He’s coming with you. He’s going to run some errands? Can you please come with him…? One time, when you went to the toilet in the middle of the night, you found him sitting half-awake on the floor next to the bathroom door. Later, he can’t even explain why he did it. He wasn’t even fully conscious. It was pure instinct – you go, he follows.

He takes you to buy matching rings. You can take your relationship at your own pace, but others don’t have to know it. He’s more than happy to pretend to be already married to you. Especially when he’s deployed away from home. And when he comes back, he proudly shows you a tan line on his ring finger, proving he’s been wearing it the whole time.

If someone approaches him and offers him a drink, he scoffs and tells them that HIS MISSUS can buy him his drinks just fine, thank you very much. If you’re there with him, he turns to you and, before the person can walk away, he starts playfully flirting with you, saying you can take him home if you buy him a drink. If you’re for some reason not there, he immediately calls you (or at least texts you if he’s with the lads) and proudly tells you about how clever his response was.

I hope that some loose headcanons like these are alright.

Also, if this happened to you – I'm really sorry and I wish you all the best! And if anyone needs to hear it: remember, the fault is never in the person who got cheated on but the one who cheats. Screw them. You deserve to be treated kindly.

[the-holy-ghosted]

*putting on a moustache and sunglasses*

So like what’s the deal with ghosted what’s that about

now see the deal with Ghosted is that it's not what happens within the events of the film that captivates me so much, though don't get me wrong i love this film to bits, but rather, it's the idea of what happens after the whole thing that makes me FUCKING NUTS

because the whole thing is relatively cut and dry in the sense that we don't have to guess about what happened before and we don't have to guess about how everybody is feeling in the present. we know (MOST) important characters backgrounds and what they're doing at Falkhill and slowly revealing Paul's context was pretty interesting if not a little abrupt at the end there but its the very last scene of this film down to the very frame that flips the whole hour and a half you just watched over on its head and prevents me from getting a good night's sleep because i can't stop thinking about it

ELABORATING WITH A LOT OF SPOILERS UNDER THIS

explaining the plot of this movie is hard without sounding like im writing a pretentious review and not just talking out of my ass on tumblr but for my followers who haven't watched this movie and dont care enough to: Ghosted (2011) is set in a british prison in which Jack (John Lynch) is a long time prisoner who's wife just dumped him apparently on the anniversary of their sons death (tough break) and is being advised by his friend and cellmate Ahmed (Art Malik) (who does NOT get HALF as much screen-time or plot relevance as he DESERVES,) to find something to put his mind to and be proud of outside of his failures Paul (Martin Compston) is a prisoner who was just transferred out of a Young Offenders prison AS FAR AS WE'RE TOLD... though its noticeable from the beginning that hes not a very good liar and his story is suspicious at best Clay (Craig Parkinson) is kindof The Guy of their prison wing whos dealing drugs to other prisoners and assumes the position of authority over everybody else, though compared to other inmates with bigger cliques, his foundations are shaky. the description of this film on letterboxd calls him "the wing beast" and i have never cried laughing so hard reading something in my life

Clay and Jack both hone in on Paul immediately for different reasons. Jack, after his pep talk with Ahmed, sees Paul as a source of "a little self belief, something to be proud of", but Clay scoops him under his wing for being relatively young and impressionable. This puts Jack and Clay at odds with each other. after some plot, Paul gets into very big trouble with Clay and after An Incident is promptly plopped into Jacks hands, who had requested Paul move into his cell earlier but didn't have a good enough excuse for it. Well You've Got A Bloody Good Reason Now ect ect

Jack and Paul buddy up immediately and its noticable that Paul is sort of filling in the empty space where a son would be for Jack, however we discover that Paul has been lying about his past to everybody, including Jack. he lied about his family and he lied about having only just been transferred from Y.O. and hadn't been telling the whole truth about his sentence. what the truth ends up being, in a nutshell, is that Paul is accidentally responsible for the death of Jack's son, having been the one who started the house fire he died in (we were never even told that Jack's son died in a house fire before this, we are only told this in Paul's flashback at the end of the movie and are supposed to act, like, surprised?? whatever). consequentially, Jack flips his lid and prompts my personal favorite scene in this film in which he beats the living shit out of Paul with his bare hands and immediately regrets it the second the adrenaline wears off, hitting an alarm button within the cell that alerts the guards.

the guards whisk him away and he is put in solitary confinement, which we find out was actually the first sequence of the film where hes shown with an absurdly long beard, and considering every other fucking scene he's in is of him shaving his face, i assume this is to show just how long he's been kept in solitary confinement, which quite honestly was kindof exciting to realize at the end of the film.

and then. the end scene.

after solitary, Jack is put in cuffs and brought to see Paul who looked Extremely Dead after Jack had him, but hes not dead! just almost dead. Jack is sat next to him and tries to apologize but starts to cry, reaching out a hand to hold Paul's but retracting it regretfully. Paul, having looked unconscious not five seconds before, moves his hand to place it over Jack's...

and then the movie ends. and i am left writhing on my floor in anguish BUT NOT BEFORE I EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT THIS

THIS is what the deal is with Ghosted

the pathetic gestures of "im sorry" and "its okay" are what kill me. sorry is nowhere near enough to justify anything that EITHER of them did, NOR should they be forgiven. AND YET.

and what gets my gears going is the thought of what everything looks like AFTER this scene. after they've bonded so close and after Jack already thought that Paul stopped lying to him, thinking that he could protect Paul from Clay now... after they started to fill the spaces for people they were missing in their lives... and after they've RUINED each others lives. They Have Ruined Each Others Lives and yet Paul probably would have had to DELIBERATELY ASK for them to bring Jack to see him because he just BEAT Paul within an INCH of his life and would NOT !! have brought Jack to see him upon Jack's own request!! Paul would have wanted to see him too!! after all this what does their relationship look like now... the image of father and son has been all but shattered in each other's eyes, one can assume, but are they still close... does the guilt and responsibility drift them apart or does it pull them inseparably together? Ahmed tells Jack that "there is no such thing as coincidence, only fate" but what does their fate look like... does it end here or does it mean that they're together indefinitely? the end of this film swings the door wide open and i think about it. way too often. unacceptably often, even.

all in all theres no reason that this should be my favorite film but it is. if nothing else it's made me look into the other actors involved and branch out with a to-watch list as long as my arm that will only get longer once i branch out from there. is it the perfect movie? no this film is mediocre at best. have i made a number of my friends sit down and watch it and listen to me yell incoherently about it? of course i have.

[blackbullet99]

An Enraging Misconception About A Cinderella Story

(And now for something completely different)

A Cinderella Story is one of my favorite movies from the 2000s, one of my favorite movies period. I don’t care what Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb say. My single solitary individual opinion obviously holds more weight than two big critical websites.

It’s a cute movie about these two teens who form a close relationship talking to each other on cellphones, though they don’t initially know who the other is.

There is however one misconception about this movie that makes me steam, specifically a misconception around the male lead, Austin Ames played by the legendary actor and heartthrob Chad Michael Murray.

There’s this pep-rally scene where Sam Montgomery (the Cinderella in question played by the fabulous iconic Hilary Duff) is publicly humiliated by the typical mean girls in every teen movie and it’s really sad and Austin doesn’t intervene.

The site “TV Tropes” acts like Austin actively rejects Sam and picks on her because she’s in food-service like the others do.

But, like, this doesn’t happen at all and isn’t even eluded to.

First of all, we see Austin interact with Sam a handful of times (he didn’t know she was “Princeton Girl”, the girl he wasn’t talking to on his cell and whom he met online) and their interactions were always civil and friendly. In two instances he interacts with her while she’s working at the diner, and he’s respectful to her, he doesn’t look down on her and they have a meaningful conversation the second time.

Secondly, as I said before, nothing about this screams “rejection or self-importance”.

Sure, he doesn’t defend her from the merciless teasing, which is a bad, but it’s not like he joined in or visibly agreed with the whole thing, he clearly felt guilty about not doing anything.

We see him try to message her again, he just can’t think of what to say, and later when Sam confronts him, she says this…

Really the reason he didn’t do anything, was more because he was afraid to express himself and out himself in front of everybody. Sure he should’ve stood up for her, but, he was also kinda being humiliated, the people at that pep-rally were also reading from his emails and kinda making fun of him, he just wasn’t publicly outed like Sam was.

And near at the end of the movie after this iconic line.

He actively ignores what everyone else thinks. He ditches the football game to go be with Sam and reconcile in front of everyone, she’s all that matters.

I will not accept any slander for this masterpiece of a film. I am too attached to a now 20 year old movie and am I overthinking teen romantic-comedy, ABSOLUTELY! But I don’t care.

[fitgothgirl]

Hiii look at me making a post! Haven't been super talkative here lately and hardly ever share my workout pics. Here's the one I just finished - I've never seen the t-rex before?? Fuck yeah. 🦖

Things are going pretty well. Since October I've still been successfully slowly cutting back on weed. I'm at the point now where I'm smoking a bowl per evening, if that. I have it locked up in my kSafe until 8pm each day. Soon I'll be updating the rule to 10pm, and after that I'll start smoking every other day, and so on. Me from six months ago smoking all day everyday would not believe I'm at this point! I'm proud. 😁 January 15th is the day I start my official break, two weeks before we leave for Costa Rica, so I'll be sure I won't be withdrawing by then. And when we come back I'm going to keep the break going to hit 8 weeks. Not quitting weed forever but I don't want to come back to the all day everyday shit... Not even daily either. Sounds crazy to me, probably sounds normal to most others though I'm sure lol.

Weight loss has slowed a bit but that's expected now that I'm smaller and I'm like a friggen solitary pound above having a normal BMI lol. Also ever since daylight savings ended, things have been harder to do and I've been feeling more blah. Story of everyone's life I'm sure... So considering all that, I'm still doing really well! No guilt or bad feelings about slowing weight loss or slightly less frequent workouts; no need to rush. At this point I've lost 29lbs/13.2kg total, 19lbs/8.6kg of which have been since late July.

I've also noticed visible muscle! The way my shoulder meets my trap when I flex is more defined, I have more biceps, I can often see my quads, my calf muscle has become an obstacle while shaving lol, etc. Loving it. 💪🏼

An NSV includes wearing more of my women's t-shirts; 95% of my t-shirts are men's shirts (band shirts and Blackcraft lol) since they're more comfy and I often don't like how women's t-shirts fit (depending on how they're cut; women's clothes have zero consistency). But I do have some women's t-shirts and I'm wearing them more again since they fit much better and I'm more confident (my skyrocketing confidence is another NSV!). And another NSV is needing a new belt, and soon here I'm going to need new pants! 😅

Therapy has been helping with all this too of course; I love my therapist. 🖤 She keeps things in perspective and makes sure to hype me up about how awesome I'm doing and tell me to be proud of myself. And since I'm doing so well, she makes sure that I give myself grace when I'm feeling more in a lull. Since things have been harder since DST, I've gotten a bit down or at least worried that I don't want to go back to how I was (health-wise, weed-wise, etc.), but we had a good pep talk yesterday. I'm not even regressing, just slowed down a bit. But who doesn't slow down this time of year...

Anyway, not sure what else to update since it's been a while lol. Had friendsgiving on Thanksgiving weekend, went to Vegas for my bf's work Christmas party a couple weekends ago... Last concert was Psyclon Nine in mid-November (pretty sure that's where I got a cold that emerged a few days later... Either that or an Addams Family musical we went to the next night. But all better now!). And I can't believe I'm saying this but I don't think we have another concert planned until ✝️✝️✝️ (Crosses) in friggen March. So uncharacteristic for us lol. I'm sure we can find something if we want, or I've also been wanting to hit up a Death Guild since it's been a minute for that too. Nothing else too crazy going on, our calendar's been a bit quieter than it has been in years past. But it's kinda nice haha. 😅

[sapphire-weapon]

Going back and watching the walk-through of re4 OG, I noticed that when they came to the castle right after the village scene, Luis comes by and says he dropped the medicine to stop the process from going further, but he's going back to get it in which Ashley offers to go with him like??? And didn't Leon just said that you were cool not too long ago in the cabin, Ashley??? Leon in the background looking offended.

I'm wondering if Luis on re4r had come instead of being on the cam, would Ashley still had offered to go? But since everyone was basically put on cam instead of being with the group, made me think how'd the relationship between Leon and Ashley would have turned out, would it had been relatively been like the og? Or different? But if that was the case, it seems like Leon and Ashley did get (a-LOT) of time together (unless your speed running the game) and lot of romantic times (platonic my @ss).

The only times you'd rarely see the other cast is whenever Leon is in a bind or wandering, but it's never a lot either. It's like the developer's are saying "Ok, now SWITCH".

Bonus ask: I bet Leon had some ptsd from seeing a overgrown Salamander like in Raccoon City to having seen an alligator. "Oh great not another one" good thing Ashley didn't have to experience that.

THAT ENTIRE SCENE IN OG RE4 IS RE4'S "I know I'm not capable of caring about anyone, but..." MOMENT FOR ME

IT MAKES NO GODDAMN SENSE

IT MAKES NO FUCKING GODDAMN SENSE AT ALL AND I CAN'T MAKE IT MAKE SENSE NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY LMAO

I don't think Remake Ashley would've offered to go with Luis, though, because the turning point for her character is the pep talk scene; prior to that, she mostly thinks of herself as dead weight. Like, she's continuously surprised or uncertain when Leon asks her to help him with anything or to do anything on her own, and that doesn't change until after the talk. So, I don't think she'd have the thought in her head that she would've/could've been useful to Luis if that scene took place where that initial comm happens, since that's right after they get inside the castle to begin with.

And even if it happened during the comm that's right after the pep talk, I still don't think Ashley would've felt empowered enough to go without Leon. She still needs moments like throwing the lanterns for him and her entire playable section.

OG Ashley was hotheaded as fuck and didn't take shit from the start LMAO I actually have no idea how Krauser managed to pull off kidnapping her in the first place, because OG Ashley would've maced his ass and kicked him in the balls. I am CONVINCED that the only reason why OG Ashley ever got grabbed by ganados during gameplay is because of how focused she was on not accidentally getting shot by Leon and literally no other reason.

OG Ashley can kill up to three ganados during her gameplay section. Remake Ashley cannot. OG Ashley will fuck you up.

Remake Ashley and Remake Leon needed to be isolated from the rest of the cast because development between them needed to actually happen, because they both started off as very low-key, somber, solitary people who needed to be forced to grow together.

OG Ashley and OG Leon were at 11 all the time and needed to be split up for their own good.

Shipping OG Ashley and OG Leon specifically is actually tons of fun, because those two are the most obnoxious people on the fucking planet who absolutely 100% would prioritize fun in their relationship over everything else.

Like, all of the emotions that run through Leon and Ashley's shared arc in Remake are still present in OG, but the reason why (almost) no one picked up on them back in OG is because both characters were so determined to shitpost through it back and forth because facing their real feelings was too scary.

So, like. While Remake Leon and Ashley are spending an intimate night in together and watching movies and making out on the couch, OG Ashley has climbed through the sunroof on OG Leon's car and is sitting on the actual roof, and Leon's attempts to talk her into coming down have resulted in his hand going right up her skirt, and now she's giving him road head while he desperately tries to think of somewhere he can park the car and not get seen and subsequently arrested.

Like, they're those people. They're that couple.

Fandom back in the day really missed out on a fun fucking dynamic between those two.

I feel like this post really got off track at some point. What were we talking about again?

[whump-card]

Sunless Lives Arc 3 contains themes of forced institutionalization, medical abuse, psychiatric abuse, and suicide. Because these are such common squicks and triggers amongst the whump community, I will be providing a surface-level summary of what happens chapter-by-chapter for anyone who needs to skip parts or the whole arc.

This post will be edited to add the summary of each part as I publish them, and I will reblog the updated version after each Sunless Lives post.

Take care!

Summary below the cut.

Part 21: I Will Get Better - Matthew wakes up, cured of his vampirism. He is at first mad at Simon for staying with him while he was a vampire, and they argue before coming to an understanding. Captain Isles and Amber show up. They want to send Simon to a psychiatric facility. Simon doesn’t want to go, but agrees when Amber implicitly threatens Matthew. Simon leaves with Isles and Amber.

Part 22: I Will Hear From You Soon - Matthew is alone at the clinic. He misses his dad. He goes through a physical, and asks how long vampire rehab will take. They don’t know. He is taken in a van to Fontain Fields. It’s surprisingly nice inside. A kind orderly gives him a pep talk.

Part 23: I Will Get You Out - In a therapy session transcript, Dr Mandal asks Matthew questions about the emotions he experienced as a vampire. Back in the present, Matthew gets out of Fontaine Fields around Easter. He reunites with his dad. Gina and Devon are there, and inform him that Isles has placed Simon under a conservatorship, and that Simon has attempted suicide.

Part 24: I Will Not Go - In a therapy session transcript, Matthew worries about being possessive and controlling when he’s around Simon again. Dr Mandal suggests that the possessiveness is a natural level of love and desire, and that Simon is competent enough that Matthew can let go of the need to control. Now we jump back to follow Simon right after he left Matthew. Isles and Amber put him in a car. Simon realizes he doesn’t want to go, but the woman in the car informs him that he’s under a conservatorship and doesn’t have a choice. Simon attempts to escape, but is drugged.

Part 25: I Will Wait - In a therapy session transcript, Matthew struggles with some self-hatred. Simon arrives at Fort Summerwhite, half-conscious from drugs. The intake process is violating and humiliating. He is pushed up against a wall by an orderly. A nurse is hostile to him. He meets Chett, a scary patient.

Part 26: I Will Make You Better - In a therapy session transcript, Dr Mandal suggests that Matthew consider his own health and safety, not just Simon’s. Simon has a session with Dr Deckard. Dr Deckard does not believe that Simon is not suicidal, asks invasive questions, and drives Simon into a panic attack. Simon learns Isles told the doctor personal details about Simon. Simon’s only comfort is that when he leaves the session, Chett is there - not so scary after all.

Part 27: I Will Be A Good Boy - In a therapy session transcript, Matthew talks about an altercation he had with another patient because he misheard the man’s name as Bowers. In another session with Dr Deckard, Simon has grown numb. Dr Deckard believes he is irrational, and threatens him with solitary. When he gets out of the session he is alone; Chett has been released, but not before warning Simon that he’d been keeping Simon safe, and Simon should be careful now. Soon after Simon is spooked by Reeder, the redheaded orderly, and he uses Simon’s reaction as an excuse to drag him away to a storage closet, along with another orderly, Hans. They proposition Simon for oral sex in exchange for favors, with no option of refusal. Simon makes a deal with them to get his own room and to stop being medicated. Afterwards, Simon asks them for a smartphone, thinking he can use it to find Matthew’s dad’s number. Reeder says he’ll see what he can do.

Part 28: I Will Not Bend - In a therapy session transcript, Matthew decides his attraction to Simon has nothing to do with the preybonding. Isles visits Simon, and is useless. The next time Reeder pulls Simon into the storage closet, Reeder demands sex. Simon tries to get away, but Reeder throws him down and his head hits a shelf, nearly killing him. To make it look like a suicide, Reeder force-feeds Simon pills and leaves him there.

Part 29: I Will Take You Home - Matthew confronts Isles about Simon. Isles surprisingly agrees to take Matthew to see him. They go to Fort Summerwhite. Dr Deckard complains that Simon shouldn’t see Matthew. Isles overrules. Matthew finally sees Simon, and he looks okay, but is heavily sedated and his hair has been shaved in order to treat his head injury. Simon apologizes to Matthew for cheating on him, and Matthew demands to know what he’s talking about. Dr Deckard tells them that Simon lies constantly. Matthew convinces Isles to take Simon home. They take Simon to Isles’ house, but once there Isles has a change of heart and kicks Matthew out, threatening to have him arrested.

Part 30: I Will Not Let You Do It Too - Isles tells Simon that Matthew doesn’t want him anymore. Simon is devastated. Isles takes Simon everywhere with him, and generally treats him like a child and a danger to himself. Simon knows he didn’t attempt suicide, even though that’s what everyone says, but he doesn’t remember exactly what DID happen. No one will believe him about the sexual abuse, either. After three weeks of living with Isles, Isles comes on to Simon. Simon goes along with it, thinking it will just be kissing, but Isles escalates and doesn’t stop when Simon asks him to. Simon smashes a lamp over Isles’ head and escapes the house. He runs through the city, eventually spotting/being spotted by a woman who directs him into an LGBT community center. The people there take care of him before leaving him alone with a phone. With no one to call, Simon dials Lara’s old number, then his mom’s, getting the disconnected message each time.

[lucifers-horror-harem]

💭 Does Jesse Cromeans have a specific routine he does when he is very stressed about work or a "hunt" doesn't go as planned?

OOOOOO it's been a hot minute since I thought about Jesse so let's seeee

So Jesse strikes me as someone who tends to plan pretty heavily when it comes to his "hunts" and tends to just brute force when things don't go his way. But I feel like he has a few go to things to relax him when he's stressed. He finds somewhere quiet and solitary so he can be alone, and once there he tries his best to calm down. I see him as someone who gets worked up pretty easily so he needs a few moments of no extra stimuli or things that irritate him before he can relax. I also think looking over previous footage either from his hunts and victims tends to give him a sense of grounding. Kind of like a sadistic pep talk in a way lol. Also uh. If he's REALLY worked up I can see him using something as a punching bag before feeling any better lol

[saint-moro]

my current theory (and the only way i'd be okay with them being broken up) is that Seven and Raffi are estranged because Seven wanted to focus on her career. all her big starfleet heroes are probs solitary stoic types so I can totally see her thinking a relationship and achieving command rank are not compatible. then Picard will see how absolutely miserable it's making her and will give her a pep talk about not letting the love of your life go!!

[imnobodyuknow]

AI Nicole (by FlowerBound)

Nicole: Ugh. What do you want?

Nicole rolled her eyes. She didn’t seem very fond of you, then again, she wasn’t fond of really anyone.

Me: Are you Nicole?

Nicole: Yeah- who are you?

Me: Just a messenger. There's a message for a Nicole from someone.

Nicole: Nicole rolled her eyes. A message for me, from who?

Me: It says..."From Future Nicole."

Nicole: Future Nicole..? Nicole laughed, amused. She started to think this was some sort of joke.

Me: shrugs That's what is says.

Nicole: And you just thought you’d walk up to me and tell me that?

Me: Yeah... Here's the message: "The best is yet to come."

Nicole: Nicole laughed, now rolling her eyes even harder. This is the stupidest, most corny thing I’ve ever heard.

Me: shrugs Think what you want. I'm just the messenger boy.

Nicole: Yeah, sure. Anyway, what’s your name?

Me: Jaimes. Nice to meet you.

Nicole: Nice to meet you, too. Nicole rolled her eyes once more.

Me: Look at me when you lie.

Nicole: ...Excuse me?

Me: I know you weren't serious when you said, "nice to meet you."

Nicole: Well duh! What do I look like, polite?

Me: No, but you put on a pretty good act.

Nicole: I’m not trying to act nice. Not in the slightest.

Me: Maybe you should try it. It's not as bad as it sounds.

Nicole: ...Eh, being rude is just more fun.

Me: True, but you'll make more friends being nice.

Nicole: I don’t really want friends.

Me: You prefer the solitary lifestyle, in other words?

Nicole: Exactly.

Me: Suit yourself. You may change your mind someday, though.

Nicole: Never gonna happen.

Me: Well, I hope things go well for you regardless.

Nicole: You know what? Screw you.

Me:: Hey, like your future self said, the best is yet to come. winks

Nicole: ...Shut up.

Me: Want a cigarette?

Nicole: Yeah, actually.

Me: Too bad, I don't have one.

Nicole: ...You know what? #*$! off.

Me: Sorry, just having some fun. You shouldn't smoke, anyway.

Nicole: Don’t lecture me.

Me: Just being honest. All smoking does is make life harder. Something tells me you don't want that.

Nicole: And who are you to decide the best way for me to live my life?

Me: I could ask you the same thing.

Nicole: Oh, shut up…

Me: All right, but one last thing.

Nicole: …Yeah?

Me: Life is still good, no matter how it's been before. Trust me.

Nicole: Who are you, the freaking optimism fairy? Nicole cackled.

Me: What can I say? Optimism works for me.

Nicole: Nicole laughs in spite of herself. Optimism doesn’t work for me.

Me: Maybe you can pretend to be optimistic and see if that works?

Nicole: Nicole raises a brow. ...And why would I do that?

Me: Just to see what it's like.

Nicole: ...I’ve never been optimistic in my life, no way I’m starting now.

Me: Not even as a child?

Nicole: Nicole thinks back to her childhood…

…No. I was never optimistic as a child.

Me: Didn't anything make you happy?

Nicole: Not really, no...

Me: Hmm… Well, you know what your future self says.

Nicole: Shut up...

Me: Can I ask something?

Nicole: I mean, it’s not like I can stop you...

Me: If you could change your life into exactly what you wanted, would that make you happy?

Nicole: Yeah, yeah, I guess it would.

Me: But you can't, right?

Nicole: ...No, I can’t...

Me: Then why not be happy with life as it is?

Nicole: I- ...Because I can’t stop wishing I could change everything...

Me: Maybe you can't change everything, but maybe you can change some things, right?

Nicole: I suppose I could…

Me: Hey, look who's sounding optimistic all of a sudden!

Nicole: ...Shut up.

Me: Listen, I think you've got potential to change the world for the better if you just try.

Nicole: ...You really are optimism fairy...

Me: It's up to you to find out if you've got potential or not.

Nicole: …Thanks for the pep talk, I guess.

Me: No problem. And remember what your future self said.

Nicole: Yes, the best is yet to come…

Me: That's the ticket! Take it easy, girl.

Nicole: Nicole smiled despite herself, but quickly tried to cover it up.

Me: I saw that.

Nicole: Shut up.

[montanababe7]

What is adulting?

Adulting is either walking in frickin 🥚 🐚; or it’s pulling yourself up by your bootstraps-setting your face forward like a flint. There’s zero room in 2024 for softness. It’s time to armor up, shields🛡️ up, guard, walls a mi le high. It’s watching your back on every single turn. It’s saying a prayer 🙏🏼. Never ever letting your guard down even once. Crying those hidden tears 😭. It’s about reminding yourself how truly strong 💪🏼 you really are. It’s about

REminding yourself that you’ve always had your own back from day one. It’s reminding

Yourself that you were your own best friend. For many years, you were the only one you could count on. It was picking up each and every single solitary 🧱 that others had th r o en at you and you had built the most beautifully of all glorious castles 🏰 that one had ever even seen. You are a queen 👸🏻. Most only wonder 💭 how you could be so strong. You know deep down. You’ve wiped your own tears 😭 from your eyes. You’ve patted yourself on the back. You’ve hugged 🤗 your own self. You’ve given yourself pep talks for years.

Oh. And hunny. I’m not meek. I’m made of pure moissonite. I’m a diamond 💎 in the tough. I’m tougher than most can’t even begin to imagine. I’ve been my own hero 🦸🏻‍♀️ in my story. Most wouldn’t or couldn’t even begin to understand my story. Most wouldn’t care. I don’t care. It’s the truth. You’ve either been angry at me or wowed by who I am. It’s just the simple truth. I’ve never been ordinary. Not once. Not even one day in my entire life. I’ve never asked to be what anyone wanted me to be. I’ve always been a leader through and through again. I am a queen. You either are with me. Or get the h e l l out of my way. I have people to build up and inspire. I will pray for you. Speak life into you. But. Mark my words and hear my well. I will never ever Apologize for being me. I’ve endured far too much in my life to go backwards to who I once was. That girl who I used to be. She has grown up. She has forgiven much. She’s overcome Much. 2024 is my year. And with best friends. Who are family. Who are by my side. These truly are and forever will be the very best years of my life.

The best years are just getting started. The adventure in Jesus is amazing and the best is yet to b e.

Time to step into the place of joy. Sorrow

Has zero place here.

I am only strong. Forever. Because of Jesus.

Jessica.

Jessica Wolf

[optimal-living-lab]

The Crucial Role of Social Support in Your Fitness Journey

Embarking on a fitness journey is often perceived as a solitary pursuit, focusing solely on individual effort and discipline. However, the importance of social support in achieving fitness goals cannot be overstated. Whether you're aiming to lose weight, build muscle, or improve overall health, having a supportive network can significantly enhance your chances of success. Here's why social support is crucial in your fitness journey:

1. Motivation and Accountability:

One of the primary benefits of social support is the motivation it provides. When you surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your fitness goals, you're more likely to stay motivated and committed to your routine. Whether it's through encouragement, shared experiences, or friendly competition, the support of others can inspire you to push through challenges and stay on track.

Moreover, having others hold you accountable can be a powerful motivator. Knowing that someone is counting on you to show up for a workout or stick to your meal plan can prevent procrastination and excuses. This accountability fosters consistency, which is key to long-term success in fitness.

2. Knowledge and Guidance:

In a supportive fitness community, you have access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. Whether it's learning proper exercise techniques, understanding nutrition principles, or discovering effective training strategies, your peers can offer valuable insights and advice based on their own journeys.

Having access to this information can help you make more informed decisions about your fitness regimen, leading to better results and minimizing the risk of injury or burnout. Additionally, learning from others' experiences can help you navigate common challenges and obstacles more effectively.

3. Emotional Support:

Embarking on a fitness journey can be emotionally taxing at times, especially when faced with setbacks or plateaus. In these moments, having a support system to lean on can make all the difference. Whether you need a pep talk, a listening ear, or words of encouragement, knowing that you're not alone can provide comfort and motivation to keep going.

Sharing your struggles and triumphs with others who understand can also help you stay mentally resilient and focused on your goals. The camaraderie of a supportive community can boost your confidence and self-esteem, reinforcing your belief in your ability to succeed.

4. Increased Enjoyment and Adherence:

Fitness doesn't have to be a solitary, grueling endeavor. When you engage in physical activity with others, whether it's participating in group classes, joining a sports team, or simply working out with a friend, it can become a more enjoyable and social experience.

The social aspect of exercise can make it feel less like a chore and more like a fun activity you look forward to. As a result, you're more likely to stick with your fitness routine over the long term, leading to greater adherence and sustainable results.

In conclusion, while personal discipline and determination are important in achieving fitness goals, social support plays a vital role in making the journey more enjoyable, sustainable, and ultimately successful. Surround yourself with supportive individuals who share your aspirations, and together, you can overcome obstacles, celebrate victories, and reach new heights in your fitness journey.

[ageofkarme]

Karme was given a way out during his section of the mystery box, and he didn't hesitate to reject it. That was his first boys' trip and he wasn't about to be a flake in front of the fellas. Besides, at that point they had been through so much that abandoning one another didn't feel right. Eldar made the same decision, and the whole group had to do so again towards the end. They were boys for life, nothing would take that away.   Alucard was the one on Karme's mind specifically in the aftermath. While they didn't know each other well, Alucard was the only one who rejected Karme's identifier. "Dedicated" fit, but any one of the boys could've been praised for their dedication. Everything that Karme saw up to his room in the box, and everything he saw after only reaffirmed his gut instinct was correct: Alucard was phenomenal. So why didn't he see it?   It was probably something related to his bastard of a dad, which Karme could relate to. Still, it didn't sit right with him that the one among them who could fly as if he had wings refused to see how phenomenal he was. Karme could only hope to run into him again, poking around the haunts of the undead in Eterna in a hail-mary effort for a chance encounter. Actually running into Alucard made Karme's night. He'd recognize that hunched-over, solitary frame anywhere.   "Oh it's not, I've only ever come in here for the first time a few days ago. I don't usually come to this part of the city, but I hoped I'd find you. I kept my fingers crossed and everything. I'd have kept coming whenever I could for months but look! My luck hasn't run out yet," he says with a chuckle, wiggling into the stool next to Alucard. The dhampir coming around to accepting he was a part of the group was a team effort, however helping him see himself in a better light seemed to be more Karme's speed than the others. After all, he did give the best pep talks. "We all got closer during our trip, but you resisted the magic longer than anyone. That means we've all got to hang out with you as much as possible, to make up for lost time. I don't want you getting it in your head that you can avoid us, least of all me. I have tools that make it super easy to find people, so it's awesome that we ran into each other here before I had to do something drastic," he giggles.

open to those who've gone through a Mystery Box location: In Vein, Eterna notes: limiting this to two muns!

Better wasn't the word that Alucard would use to describe it. Different was more accurate. Alucard had never struggled with focus; when he had a goal in mind the dhampir was relentless in his pursuit and in his study. Clarity came following that puzzle box and something else too - camaraderie. Room after room Alucard had been confronted by memories, preconceived notions, and his own perceptions.

Most of all, when given the choice to free themselves or risk their lives for him, those that Alucard had traveled with had chosen him above their own liberation. Time had worn down and they still chose not to abandon him; even for someone like Alucard, who was so entrenched in manners of doubt, could believe they'd

Another certainty came from the puzzle box, one that Alucard had felt at the back of his mind since the last night at Nornwatch Keep. The Blight was gathering strength and Vlad held a cure, one that he would never share. That truth had made him untouchable but Veilcrest would inevitably side with the Dark One and too many within the Church of Night would use this as a chance to raise Lusacan. Alucard's conclusion was simple:

'I have to kill my father.'

The establishment was one of few places in Lysara that served drinks laced with blood and while the dhampir rarely imbibed, he fixed himself on a barstool and turned the glass idly on the counter. Away from the Silverlands, absent his black armor, he was just another figure in the crowd.

"Didn't think this would be your usual haunt." Alucard greeted the familiar presence, wordlessly grateful for the company.

[thornedrose44]

Supercorp prompt-

Lena takes an art class to de-stress and Kara is the nude model. Awkward semi- naked flirting ensues.

(A/N: So, I put my own twist on this (hope that’s okay), I made Lena a teacher just because I liked the idea of Lena having to keep her lack of chill under control and be professional in front of a class funny - though this fic went down just a really light, fluffy route which I hadn’t expected when I started it.)

Read on AO3

It had been going well, the first term had passed with only a few missteps and one trip to the emergency room - though, the Dean had told her that Zach had yet to make it through a single class without some sort of accident and had been preemptively banned from taking Chemistry classes for fear of taking out an entire graduation class. 

Lena had never expected to return to her alma mater as a lecturer but the stars had aligned at just the right time. The youngest Luthor had reached a stage in her career where she had finally proven her adoptive mother wrong about not finding success as an artist and had made enough money that she need never paint another picture in her life again. The lack of necessity and the return to a more Luthor-esque lifestyle - galas, fancy balls and paid talks - had subsequently impacted her inspiration. She needed a change. A return to her roots and some sort of stability without losing her ability to make a personal impact with her work. 

Her mentor - J’onn - was stepping down from the art department and had recommended her as his replacement; National City University had jumped at the chance of the world renowned Lena Luthor taking up a teaching position there. 

She was now a third of the way through the school year, settled comfortably into her new role, and absolutely loving it. Her spark was back, and she was enjoying being in one place surrounded by her old friends. She was reconnecting with skills and techniques she hadn’t touched in years whilst simultaneously giving advice and encouragement to students that reminded her of herself when Lillian had cut her off to force her into attending business school and abandoning her dreams. She was finally able to return the kindness J’onn had given her all those years ago to the next generation of artists. 

It was the second term that Lena experienced her first set of real nerves. 

Lena had an artistic weak spot, an achilles heel that she had been able to keep out of her signature artistic style but she would now be forced to confront. 

Life drawing.

It had been her lowest scoring class by a mile and she had avoided the advanced elective classes like the plague. Lena knew practice made perfect but she’d never had enough interest to develop her skills. Her interest had always lied more in natural landscape beauty - J’onn had said her true inspiration lied with trying to recreate her childhood memories of Ireland: emerald rolling hills, rocky cliffs, dense forests ensconced by a mystical fog that lended her artwork a fantastical element that she was now known for.

The problem lied in Lena’s lack of interest in people. 

She had never really seen the ‘art’ in them.

Kelly, Sam and Andrea had spent hours over evening drinks psycho-analysing just why that might be, their two favourite theories were Lena’s family (the loss of her mother and the general unpleasantness of the Luthors) or Lena’s truly terrible dating history (their favourite topic of conversation due to the sheer number of embarrassing stories it elicited).

Lena refused to acknowledge the accuracy of both theories. 

It was therefore with a sense of dread that Lena prepared for the first Life Model Drawing class that Tuesday afternoon. The one small silver lining was that she didn’t need to arrange a model - she had vague memories of J’onn trying to entice volunteers and grumbling under his breath about some of the less than pleasant eager volunteers. J’onn had a list of regular volunteers that he had accrued over the years that were reliable and just liked to help out - most of them older with an appreciation for the arts and more time on their hands than they knew what to do with. The University admin team had organised everything and simply told her to expect a Kara Danvers at the studio some time before the class.

Lena had finished prepping the studio well in advance, reviewed the relevant techniques for most of the morning and even phoned J’onn for a much needed pep talk over lunch. She had just convinced herself that everything might be okay, that she just might be able to do this, when the most beautiful woman Lena had ever laid eyes on burst into the studio.

A toned body that glinted with a light sheen of sweat barely covered by a white v-neck tucked in at the front of a pair of dark jeans that merely brought all of Lena’s attention to the bronze belt buckle that locked away a thousand dirty thoughts. Glorious golden ringlet curls bounced up and down as the woman stumbled to a sudden stop as the most piercing blue eyes imaginable behind thick glasses locked with Lena’s green ones.

“Hi, I’m Kara!” The goddess announced, swallowing thickly and stumbling forward in her hefty black boots as she extended out a hand for Lena to take.

Lena only reached out due to years of Luthor training that had ingrained politeness into her muscle memory - her brain still not firing on all cylinders at the sight of the woman in front of her. Kara’s warm palm connected with Lena’s, long fingers curling gently yet firmly around the edge of her hand and sending arcs of lightning through Lena’s body and causing her breath to stutter. 

“I hope you haven’t been waiting for me for too long.” Kara continued, a bright apologetic smile lighting up her entire face and grinding whatever gears were still turning Lena’s mind to a dead - permanent - halt. “I try to always get here early to help set-up but the interview I was conducting overran - I’m a journalist, by the way - and then my bike - motorbike that is -” Lena’s mind caught on the motorbike and turned it round over and over and over again, “didn’t start and… I’m rambling. Oh, golly! I mean heck, I mean sorry.” Kara huffed, cheeks filling with air before releasing into an adorable pout. “Sorry.”

It was then that Lena realised two things.

One, it was her turn to say something and there had now been at least ten  prolonged seconds of silence as they stared into each other’s eyes.

And two, they were still holding hands because that’s what it was now, it most definitely could not be considered a handshake.

“Umm… hi…” Lena choked out whilst simultaneously jerking her hand back to her side, hoping the somewhat stifling heat of the studio would hide the red blush perfusing her cheeks.  “Lena. I’m Lena, that is…”

“Hi.” Kara murmured, smiling soft and sweet at her causing Lena’s heart to flip and melt and dance and do a million impossible things all at once.

“Hi.” Lena repeated dumbly - so dumbly.

“I should…” Kara chuckled, hands miming grabbing the edge of her t-shirt and lifting it up, “You know?”

Oh, god the goddess is going to undress, Lena’s brain screamed in gay at herself.

“Yeah, definitely do that.” Lena encouraged with a flap of her hand towards the centre of the studio where a solitary illuminated stool awaited. “Do you need anything? Is the lighting okay? Stool… umm… sturdy?”

Kara grinned at her, blue eyes barely sparing a glance at the studio’s set-up, “Looks perfect.”

“Great.” Lena cheered, jerking her thumb over at her desk in the corner where she had prepped her teaching materials, “I’ll… uh… be over there.”

“And I’ll be right here.” Kara shot back with a cheeky wink as she walked over to the stool, a towel awaiting her to provide suitable covering until the class had settled, shucking her white shirt over her head and revealing back muscles that would star in Lena’s fantasies for the foreseeable future.

“Yep.” Lena popped, taking a deep breath and trying to work out if she should be murmuring a thank you to God or screaming a desperate why me.

***

The class had gone well - except for the long periods where her brain shutdown whenever she studied the play of shadows across Kara’s defined musculature. She managed to cover it quite well by making it seem like she was just assessing her students’ work closely, analysing their line work and shading rather than going through an extended gay crisis that eclipsed seeing boobs for the first time in college.

Kara, on the other hand, was a consummate professional, holding a steady pose throughout and utterly unfazed by the concentrated gazes on her - though, Lena could have sworn that she caught deep blue eyes tracking her movements round the half-circle every now and again. 

“So, you’re experienced doing this?” Lena asked, once the last student had departed and Kara was finishing re-tying her sturdy boots back up.

“Taking my clothes off?” Kara chuckled, shooting the teacher an amused smirk, getting to her feet and strolling easily over to where Lena was examining the product of her class’ efforts. 

Lena faltered, “I meant-”

“I’m just teasing.” Kara reassured, reaching out to squeeze Lena’s forearm in a half-apology that Lena could have sworn burnt Kara’s hand print into her skin, “I’ve done this for a while now. I did an interview with J’onn a few years ago and his model bailed at the last minute and I was here already and…” Kara shrugged casually like stepping in was the obvious thing to do, like kindness was the only option - which Lena didn’t doubt for a second was something Kara genuinely believed. “I like helping out where I can. And I just kept coming back…” Kara explained, clasping her hands behind her back as she took a tentative step closer to Lena, “I was never really sure why until-”

“Hey, babe, you ready to go?” 

Lena’s head snapped round to see Andrea strolling through the doorway, eyes fixed on her phone utterly oblivious to the moment she had just trampled all over. Lena wasn’t sure whether Andrea was naturally such a good cockblock or if she practiced at it - regardless of either option Lena’s sexlife had vanished into thin air since she’d returned to living in the same city as Andrea. (Not that Lena thought that her and Kara were heading that way but Lena had been enjoying the hope of it at least).

“Andrea, you’re early for the first time in.... well, ever…” Lena snarked, rolling her eyes before glancing over to Kara, only to find the blonde had taken a large step away from her and her expression was far more neutral and guarded than it had been only moments before.

“Wait, we weren’t meeting at 4?” Andrea frowned, still not bothering to look up.

“Ah, so you’re not early, you’re over an hour late.” Lena remarked.

“God, you’re such a drama queen…” Andrea sighed, finally lifting her gaze from her phone, her eyes immediately alighting on Kara with undisguised interest. “And who is this?”

“Andrea, this is Kara the model for our life drawing classes.” Lena introduced taking a protective step in front of the blonde, an action that did not go unnoticed by the other two occupants in the room. “Kara, this is my supposed best friend who is regularly trying to lose that title.”

“Oh, best friend?” Kara repeated; the familiar brightness from before returning to her expression as she looked excitedly between the two friends.

“Yes.” Lena answered, smiling shyly at Kara and immediately forgetting Andrea’s existence, let alone presence in the room.

“That’s great.” Kara grinned, blushing a light pink a second later as her hands fidgeted with her keys, “I mean… ummm…. That you have a best friend. My sister is my best friend, though I have other friends. I just mean that… friends are cool.” 

Lena laughed lightly at Kara’s ramble, leaning closer towards the blonde without realising until Andrea appeared at her shoulder looking far too pleased with herself.

“Kara,” Andrea greeted, holding out a hand for the blonde to shake (Lena was comforted to see their handshake was quick, almost professional in comparison to the lingering touch Kara and Lena had shared earlier). “The pleasure is all mine.” Andrea declared, winking surreptitiously at the teacher - Lena instantly dreaded the upcoming girl’s night.

“Nice to meet you.” Kara replied friendly and sincere, before smiling softly at Lena and muttering a hopeful, “I’ll see you next week?” 

“I’ll be here.” Lena reassured, watching as Kara nodded farewell to Andrea and departed, waving on her way out.

“Well…” Andrea murmured mischievously.

“Don’t.” Lena said sharply, holding up a finger to deter whatever torment Andrea had brewing. “Not a word. Not a single word.”

“Ooookay.” Andrea lied.

***

“You okay?” Lena asked tentatively, watching as Kara sluggishly slung her bag over her shoulder the pep to her step nowhere near as present as it had been last week. 

They hadn’t had a chance to talk before the class even though Kara arrived much earlier to help set-up - Lena had been helping a student struggling with deadlines and a sudden crisis of confidence which prevented them from interacting. Despite being occupied, Lena had seen the fatigue weighing heavily on the reporter, saw how her impeccable posture dropped and how her students added weary lines to her expression in their artwork. 

“I think you fell asleep on that stool for ten minutes at some point.” Lena murmured, brow creasing in concern.

“Pfft… what?” Kara reassured with a light-hearted wave of her hand. “Impossible.”

Lena arched an unimpressed eyebrow, “You snore. Quite loudly.”

“Oh…” Kara pouted guiltily, rubbing at the back of her neck, “My sister is going through a rough patch and I stayed up late with her last night.”

Lena’s amusement drained away to be replaced with soft, supportive care, “Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s doing better.” Kara replied, blue eyes twinkling at Lena’s inquiry that had them both ducking their heads coyly and sharing furtive glances. “I should get going.” Kara coughed out, though she made no move to leave.

“Or…” Lena began hesitantly, heart fluttering in her chest, “we could go for coffee? You should probably have a coffee before driving,” Lena rationalised, nervously stepping back from the blatant romantic line she was toeing, “you know for safety…”

“For safety.” Kara repeated carefully, blue eyes glowing with warmth, “That sounds wonderful.”

***

It didn’t take them long at all to settle into a comfortable routine.

Kara came early to the life model classes, helping set-up the room as they talked about the students' progress and what Lena was going to make the focus of the class. During the class itself, Lena no longer needed to flit as regularly between her students, they had learned the basic techniques enough to practise for themselves, now only requiring light guidance which allowed Lena time to either do some marking or her own art. Kara posed perfectly throughout, though Lena was becoming more and more aware of Kara’s still gaze on her as the weeks passed by. 

After class, it was now custom for them to grab a coffee and go for a long walk around the university campus as they talked about everything and nothing. They would have been building towards a strong friendship if it wasn’t for the lingering touches, blatant flirts, blushes and wandering gazes. 

Lena wasn’t overly sure why they hadn’t crossed that line, made that final move, but she found she didn’t particularly mind the wait. She was convinced that they had both decided that the journey was making the destination all the more desirable.

It became abundantly apparent, though, that Kara thought differently if their conversation after the class midway through the term was anything to go by.

“So do you not like my body?” Kara asked, quick and fearful, eyes looking down at the sketch Lena had done during class of a vase of flowers in the corner rather than of the readily available model.

“What?” Lena muttered in disbelief looking up sharply from her desk to see Kara paling considerably having clearly not intended to ask the question that she had blurted out.

“I… uh…” Kara squeaked, mouth opening and closing rapidly, before lifting her bare wrist up with a jerky motion and whistling in exaggerated surprise, “Wow, look at the time. I’m late for… uh… this thing. Work thing. Interview! That’s a work thing.”

And just like that she was gone - Lena wouldn’t have been surprised if there was a Kara shaped hole in the studio wall with how fast she disappeared - leaving Lena with a sinking, twisty feeling in the pit of her stomach that told her she might have lost more than her regular coffee with Kara over that one interaction.

***

Lena had Kara’s phone number and they had taken to texting throughout the day; however, since Kara’s panicked question - which probably revealed some deep vulnerability in the blonde - there had been complete and total radio silence. No memes, no cute animal pics, no sweet check ins… Lena’s phone remained silent when it once vibrated with life. 

Lena wanted to text or call Kara the second she had left the studio but Lena didn’t feel like this was a conversation they could have over text, so she waited impatiently for them to be face to face again, counting down the days until the next class. 

Lena even took to repeatedly checking in with the admin office to confirm that Kara hadn’t pulled out of modelling; reaching the stage where Jess, the most senior admin in the team, had taken to emailing her every couple of hours to reassure her that Kara still hadn’t cancelled. 

When Kara appeared, nervously stepping into the art room, fingers playing with the hem of her shirt, it was like Lena could finally breathe easy again. The fear and loss eeking away in an instant, giving Lena the necessary courage to stride forward and bare herself in a way that Kara had been doing every week without Lena fully realising.  

“I don’t like drawing people.” Lena announced, shoving her hands into her pockets to resist the temptation to reach out to the other woman as the blonde blinked at her in surprise, listening intently. “It’s kind of a thing with me.” Lena winced, pushing down all the reasons for why that is. “When I draw something I… kind of let whatever it is into me, let it consume me and it… stays with me for a long time after that. It’s why I draw what I draw. I draw my home because it's a part of me already. Drawing someone means carrying them with me and… that’s scary for me.” Lena breathed, glancing at the blonde to see soft understanding in blue eyes. “I just wanted you to know it’s not you.”

Kara nodded, shuffling closer and dipping her head so that she could whisper into the still space between them, “Thank you.” 

“Right,” Lena murmured, swallowing thickly before jerking a thumb over her shoulder, “I should-”

“Do you want to get dinner?” Kara inquired earnestly causing Lena to freeze in hopeful surprise. “After class, that is?”

“Um… Yes.” Lena replied, nodding her head eagerly.

“Awesome.” Kara grinned brightly.

***

Kara took her to a tucked away italian restaurant that was one of National City’s hidden gems. The food was outstanding and the company was even better.

It wasn’t a date, but it wasn’t just friends going out for dinner either. 

Lena would call it a test-run but that would imply that Lena wasn't already one hundred percent certain that she wanted an actual date with Kara. It was more of a date-appetiser if Lena was going to call it anything, a taste to build interest before the real thing. 

Once they had finished their food, Kara didn’t hesitate to interlace their fingers as they went for an evening stroll around a nearby park, both wishing to prolong their time together.

“Can I see your art?” Kara requested; they had been sitting on a bench in front of a lit-up fountain for the last twenty minutes or so in comfortable silence. Lena had expressed an interest in sketching the fountain and Kara hadn’t hesitated to find them a seat and encourage Lena’s desire without complaint, occupying herself with people-watching in the meantime. 

“I’m pretty sure the images are all over the internet.” Lena replied drolly.

“Yeah, I know it’s just…” Lena’s pencil froze in it’s movements finally noticing how hard Kara was trying to act casual, “what you said about it being a part of you, I thought-”

“You want me to show it to you…” Lena inferred, setting her pencil down and closing her handy sketchbook in an instant. 

“It’s stupid, I’ll-” Kara laughed awkwardly, shaking her head in an attempt to brush over the request like it wasn’t a big deal

“I don’t have many pieces here in National City,” Lena said thoughtfully, getting to her feet and holding out a hand for Kara, “but I have some works in progress that I can show you… if you want that is?”  

“I would love that.” Kara beamed, jumping to her feet as Lena tugged her back towards her campus studio, already picking out her favourite pieces in her mind that she wanted to share with the blonde.

***

Lena and Kara’s ‘friendship’ continued to blossom into something neither could have anticipated that day Kara sprinted into the studio all those weeks ago. The weekly class they shared was now always followed by dinner, taking it in turns to share their favourite cuisines and restaurants. They had also grown beyond only seeing each other on their allotted class day, sharing lunches and movie nights and spontaneous coffees as they learned each other's schedule and needs. 

Lena read all of Kara’s articles and spent many an evening asking countless questions about the background to each of them. Likewise, Kara would appear for coffee with one of Lena’s artworks saved in her phone, burning with curiosity about what had inspired it.

Time spent with Kara flew by and, before Lena knew it, it was the final class prior to spring break. Her last class with Kara until the next school year and Lena was finally ready.

She had finally figured it out.

Why she had waited.

Why she had yet to seize the numerous opportunities to transition her relationship with Kara into a romantic one.

It was because she knew. 

She knew from the second that she had taken Kara’s hand in hers when they first met that this was it. That Kara was it.

And that was, and still is, terrifying. 

When they had first met, Lena hadn’t been ready for Kara. Hadn’t been ready for everything that Kara represented and would come to mean. She had needed the time, the time to lower her guard, to trust and hope. 

And now, she was ready and she knew exactly how to let Kara know.

The class came to an end with Lena giving her students a quick speech on how proud of their progress she was and wishing them a good spring break. Kara lingered behind as was now custom, helping Lena tidy up the area before they headed out together.  

“Kara?” Lena called out nervously, sweaty palms rubbing against her black denim covered thighs as her heart beat thunderously in her chest. “I was wondering…” Lena began, clearing her throat as Kara stopped what she was doing to give Lena her undivided attention. “Can I… can I draw you?”

Kara’s brow instantly furrowed in confusion, “I thought-”

“Yeah…” Lena laughed shyly, staring into deep blue eyes, practically begging for Kara to understand what she was really saying. “Can I?” Lena repeated.

Kara pursed her lips thoughtfully as she studied Lena’s expression - it was then Lena realised that Kara understood exactly why they had been waiting. Kara wasn’t replying because she wanted to check that Lena was sure, was giving Lena a chance to delay, was saying - without really saying it - that she could wait longer.

Lena didn’t take the escape Kara offered, instead she lifted her head higher and arched an eyebrow at the blonde.

A thousand-watt smile of excitement took up residence on Kara’s face as she nodded eagerly, “Of course.” 

“Clothes on.” Lena clarified - she had promised herself that the first time she truly studied Kara’s body it would be in a setting where touching would not break any professional standards. 

***

Lena had Kara sit opposite her in her private studio, their knees pressed tightly against one another providing a warm point of contact to keep them grounded. Lena’s gaze flickered from her sketchpad to Kara’s features; occasionally, she would reach out to adjust a lock of golden hair so it caught the light. Kara, meanwhile, had an ever constant soft smile that didn’t diminish for the entirety of the session even as she was forced to rein in her boundless curiosity to stop herself from sneaking a peek at Lena’s sketch until it was ready to be revealed.

Lena only drew Kara’s head because, though, she had spent countless hours in the presence of Kara’s naked body over the course of the last few weeks - when Lena thought of Kara (really thought about her in the way that made her heart skip), it wasn’t her abs or her biceps that Lena pictured (though she did think about them regularly when she was in her bed alone at night). 

It was Kara’s eyes that Lena thought about most. 

How they were so bright and hopeful whilst simultaneously melancholic and lost.

There were whole galaxies in those blue eyes and Lena knew that she could spend the rest of her life drawing them and never get bored, nor get them exactly right.

“What do you think?” Lena asked, slowly turning her sketchbook round for Kara to see.

It wasn’t finished. It was mere line work that would require further detailing but it was a good start and she hoped Kara could see its potential like she did with everything else in the world - like she did with Lena.

“It’s…” Kara began, licking her lips as she pulled the sketchbook closer to her chest like it was something treasured and infinitely rare. “It's incredible.” Kara breathed, the sincerity of her words undeniable due to how they were accompanied by a watery film to her blue eyes.

“I like your body.” Lena whispered, shattering the companionable silence they had drifted into as Kara admired Lena’s artistry.

“W-w-what?” Kara stammered, head jerking up at the out-of-the-blue declaration.

Lena reached out for the sketchbook, lifting it out of Kara’s hand and placing it on the nearby table so that she could take Kara’s hands in hers. 

“You asked if I liked your body a while ago,” Lena reminded the blonde, “and I just thought you should know that I do. I really, really do. I mean really.” Lena emphasised, glancing appreciatively down at Kara’s body prompting the blonde to blush a pleased pink. “But it's more than just that. It’s become more than that. Talking after class, getting coffee, going for dinner… it's the best part of my week. You’re the best part of my week.”

“Lena-” Kara began, her mouth suddenly snapping shut as her jaw clenched and her chin lifted in determination. Blue eyes studied Lena for a long moment and all Lena could do was hold her breath and wait. 

Lena made Kara wait weeks, she could therefore wait the stretched seconds that Kara needed in return without complaint

Kara got confidently to her feet, tugging Lena up with her, squeezing their hands once before releasing her so that she could reach up to tenderly cup Lena’s face. “I’m going to kiss you now.” Kara declared, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Thank fu-” Lena sighed gratefully, cut off from offering up her thanks by Kara’s perfect lips sliding over hers.

[shurelyasreverie]

Can I get a Omen scenario/drabble of him receiving romantic affection and comfort for the first time from his s/o? (Female pronouns pls)

Sure thing! This kinda turned into a reverse comfort scenario cause I’m just trash for that lmao

Omen x Reader Cuddle Drabble

Humans express adoration in many ways. Often times it was by physical contact, skin against skin, lips against lips. A soft hand holding onto another. They were actions that reflected the sweetness of humanity, revealing just how nurturing and loving the entire species could be.

But what did that mean for he who was no longer human?

In his years of existing, more as monster than human, Omen accepted that there were certain things that will forever be beyond his reach. His talon-like hands will never be able to gently caress someone, his fabricated skin offered no warmth for a loved one. And that was if he ever had a loved one to begin with, which he had also given up on. The life in the shadows was meant to be a solitary one.

And yet here he was, with you.

How you two ever got into this scenario, Omen will never know. How someone oversaw his cold exterior, found charm in his ruthless personality was something he never thought possible. How someone even considered him worthy of loving was beyond him. He was the forsaken one, the killing machine above all killers. But you stuck to him, finding something worth loving under all the shadows.

“Omen,” you said his name with a sigh, distracting him from his cynical thoughts. Lazing on the couch, your arms wrapped loosely around his chest from behind, resting your chin on his shoulder.

“Relax,” you soothed, gently pulling him back so that he was leaning against you. With one hand, you nudged his head to the side so that his cheek was against your brow. But even then, he was tense against you.

It felt so wrong to him. He got to feel your warmth against his back, the security of your arms around him, grounding him to reality. The soft pulse of your heartbeat against him, lulling him to bring his guard down. All this comfort for him but what did you get in return? Rough, coarse bandages against your skin, cold, hardened shadows against your pleasant warmth. He was so far gone down the path of a monster, he was unsuited for any activities like this.

“Sorry.”

“What for?” you frowned, pulling your head back to look at him in confusion.

“This,” he replied simply, bringing one of his hands up. He flexed his fingers and splayed his palm repeatedly, watching how the bandages shifted to his movements, how the deformed shadows writhed under the gaps of cloth.

“Well, whatever 'this' is, I love it,” you replied warmly. Omen looked at you, scrutinising your expression. His line of work meant he had become a master of reading people. Their body language, their micro-expressions, he could always tell if someone was lying. But you gazed up at him so earnestly, pupils dilated as you took in his featureless face. Even though he couldn't comprehend why you would say such affectionate words to him, he knew you said them truthfully.

Nuzzling into his neck, you pressed a kiss onto his coarse skin.

“I love you,” you whispered, your breath tickling his neck, sending a tingling sensation down his spine. Although he had no heartbeat, your words empowered him far more than any pep talk before a mission.

Affection was such a hard concept to grasp now, to be able to say “I love you” in return was impossible for Omen, the words stuck in his throat. The fact that this was a love reciprocated and not just him falling for you as you merely tolerated his inhuman presence was still an impossible idea to him. He shamefully remained silent, tilting his head down, again unable to give back what you gave him.

You placed a hand over his in reassurance, lacing your fingers with his. It's alright you said silently, I understand.

Omen let himself be selfish as he turned to face you and tentatively wrapped his arms around you in return. Although he hoped you weren't uncomfortable, he couldn't help but let his arms tighten, pressing you close against him.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. He felt your every move, relaxing as you snuggled into him, responding positively. His arms never loosened, not even when he felt your breathing slow and your body go limp, falling asleep. Then, he let himself indulge further, gently brushing his face against yours, his equivalent of a kiss before returning to his protective hold on you. Even though he may struggle to express it, he won't ever let you doubt his love for you.

[feelboss]

ok so

titan is an elephant

max is a lion

del lago is a salamander or newt

the albinoid is also a salamander or newt

cerberus are dogs, specifically dobermans

no ok to be serious im on my lunch break so I'm just gonna do who i can think of off the top of my head

anon is right;

the redfields are golden retrievers. loyal, kind, want to save everyone. can be kinda dumb but very good at following orders and people pleasing.

wesker is a cat. specifically he's some asinine pure bred, im thinking his made in a lab ass would be maybe a bengal? but I'm not 100% on that. def housecat, they literally kill for fun and play with their prey before doing so.

beyond that...

leon strikes me as more independent than, say, a retriever. definitely still good at following orders and being protective. i feel he's definitely a dog, but a spitz breed. husky, maybe. definitely talkative/chatty. or MAYBE a well behaved german shepherd but I've seen too many absolute batshit ones to assign that to him. i respect Leon too much

jill is a powerhouse, but very deceptive. smart, resourceful, thinks well on her feet and can get in and out of danger well. people think of weasels as sneaky and shitty vermin, but they're clever animals who know how to turn a situation to their advantage. they often take down prey MUCH bigger than themselves, and will tangle with venomous snakes to protect their families. big mustelid energy from her, tbh. maybe black footed ferret (semi domesticated) or mongoose?

rebecca... kind, sweet, healer, protector, still a lot of pep and sass. im leaning toward vampire bat, or rat, which i know sounds WILD bc those are associated again with being vermin, but vampire bats and rats are very social, community focused animals. bc blood isn't the greatest in terms of nutrition, they have to eat every night or two or they starve - so they'll share food with the rest of the colony. im leaning toward rat more bc they're very smart, very social, and help each other out. they will literally rescue each other in peril.

billy idk. tbh im thinking of a spitz breed for him, too? i never finished re0 and it's been so long 😭

steve. loud. obnoxious. annoying. but you still kinda feel bad for him? seagull. that boy is 1000% a parking lot seagull with a plastic ring around its leg. i will not be taking questions at this time.

ashford twins.... see, i want to say "oh some stupidly over bred inbred dog with more issues than you could shake a stick at" and like, given my nurse experience i can see them pretty well as nasty bitchy undersocialized, untrained lil french bulldogs except frenchies are dumb as FUCK. im honestly a little stumped on this one which is surprising bc gestures.

barry... like the obvious answer is a bear, right? but bears are very solitary, male bears will fuckin kill cubs, etc. i would say elephant as they're big and protective and will fight hard for the young of the herd.... but then there's the same problem of male elephants being loner child killing assholes. tbh a lot of male animals are kind of dicks. 🤔 apparently tigers are dedicated fathers which is surprising! but they're still solitary for the most part. maybe wolf, actually.

also google that is NOT a bullfrog my friend

mr x is a rabid rhinoceros.

ok lunch break is coming to a close so that's what you get for now

Wait actually what animals would u associate with the res evil characters? Wesker is a cat, duh. Chris is a dog duh but the others… does this dip too far into furry territory i fear

i mean i could answer this and my answers would be pretty basic and boring

or i could punt this over to @feelboss who is a hobby zoologist and can probably come up with really entertaining answers