#These drawings? Fucking NEXT LEVEL GAY

[lionblaze03-2]

got the winter turning gn. And uh.

qinter real forever tbh. He literally has a little qibli in his brain cracking jokes im losing it

[queen0fm0nsterz]

Reblogging this again i cannot stop starring at it. They make me want to eat bricks with cement as condiment

the girls (New)

[haveihitanerve]

Batboys centric in which they come to the realization that Bruce is pretty (not romantically, the kind of pretty when you look at your mom's wedding photos and see her in an amazing dress).

Bruce isn't used to people seeing him as pretty, but her Brucie Wayne persona because that's the whole point of it.

ohohoho i have a hunch this is you and also this is sooooo interesting... lemme see what i got-

“Do you want to come to the tavern with me?” 

The words caught Dick off guard. Both because he hadn’t heard anyone say “tavern” in years, and because Bruce had said it.

“Um?” He glanced up from where he was sprawled over the couch, looking away from his phone. “Yeah? Sure?”

Bruce hummed, reaching up a hand as though to run it through his hair, then thought better of it, and dropped it again. For good reason too.

Dick tripped as he stood, eyes glued to his father, blown wide. Bruce frowned, glancing down at himself.

“What's wrong?” He asked, concerned.

Dick’s cheeks burned and he ducked under Bruce’s arm, heading up the stairs. “Nothing, nothing, I’m just gonna get changed.” He muttered, hurrying up the stairs and ducking behind the corner.

Because what the fuck.

Dick peeked back out, daring a glance back down the stairs at his Dad.

Bruce was wearing a loose fitted light pink tank top, tucked half heartedly into deep navy slacks, hair styled away from his face in a way that clearly revealed his age.

It wasn’t to say that Dick had never seen his Dad in different versions of undressed. Quite the contrary. Their line of work required levels of nudity, whether while dressing an injury, showering, or working their secret identity personas.

But this… Dick shook his head, heading to his room to grab some clothes to change into.

Bruce was… pretty. 

The next time it happened, Dick had witnesses. Jason and Tim were sitting in the den with him, pretending to watch a movie.

Truly, only Jason was actually focused on the story, as it was a movie that had come out when he’d been dead, but Tim would look up on occasion, usually only to draw Jason into a quick debate before dropping his attention back to his phone.

Dick himself was listening to the movie like an audiobook, a real book propped up halfheartedly on his stomach.

“Tim, could you help me quickly?” Bruce called, a moment before he entered the den.

Tim dropped his phone, eager for an excuse to have some work to do, faltering only for a second when he realized the task wasn't case work. No, instead it was much much worse.

Dick lifted his book, cheeks burning, as Jason stared, eyes wide, jaw dropped.

Tim, however, seemed completely unbothered, hands moving quickly and effortlessly to help Bruce out before he dropped back into the seat.

Bruce ruffled his hair with a light smile, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Thanks Timmy. Boys.” He nodded at his eldest and exited again.

“Tim.” Jason hissed the second he was out of hearing, and Dick dropped his book.

Tim, who had returned to his phone, completely unruffled, glanced up, frowning when he spotted their gagged expressions. “What?” He asked, puzzled.

“You just-” Jason floundered.

“You just helped lace Bruce up in a corset.” Dick hissed. Tim blinked, mind whirring.

“Yes?” He finally agreed, still perplexed. “And this is important because…??”

“He’s pretty.” Jason scowled.

Tim laughed. “Guys, you do realize that our Dad is Bruce Wayne right??? The guy who wins every fashion contest? The guy our classmates call hotter than Superman?? The one person where guys go “i’m not gay but…” and girls go “i’m not straight but…” That Bruce Wayne, yeah?”

Dick scowled. “Yes. We’re aware. I’ve had to deal with those comments about him for much longer than you ever have.” He shot petulantly.

Tim raised his hands, brows furrowed. “Then what's the big deal???”

“We know he’s hot.” Jason snapped. “But he’s… he’s just.” He looked at Dick for help.

“He’s never been pretty.” Dick supplied. “Hot, yeah sure, handsome, okay, sexy, ugh, fine. But- but pretty??? He can’t leave the house like that. My ears will never recover.”

Jason nodded his agreement, looking like a grim military general at war and not a child discussing his fathers attraction level.

Tim looked at both of them, laughed, and propped his feet up on the table, picking up his phone again, chuckling like a supervillain.

“Oh man. And y’all haven't even seen him in a dress yet.” 

um. so.. okay. Firstly, I'm so sorry for the long wait, I just uh have been really busy and unmotivated and yeah im so sorry 😭- secondly, this is not like, even close to what you asked... and i also apologize for that, but i figured better late than never? and its like... kind of in line with what you asked so... yay? anyway sorry and here and hope you like it even tho its not what you asked :)

[jessejaredstories]

Craving

“Alright, I should have everything I need now.”

In the early morning light, a 20 something year old man by the name of Mike was ruffling around with a drawstring bag. He plucked various items out of the bag and laid them out on his bed. A lighter, a piece of red yarn, a picture of his gay half brother Ricky, a few strands of his hair, and a freshly sharpened pencil. A sly grin spread across Mike’s face as he looked over the materials.

He then pulled out a large, folded piece of old parchment paper. The paper was a dark yellow in color due to its old age. Mike carefully unfolded the parchment and read it to himself.

“Inscribed on this scroll is a powerful spell to take over another living creature’s body as your own vessel…”

Mike read through the scroll, although he skimmed through most of the warnings and potential side effects section. He only really started focusing once he made it to the instructions section. He laid out the paper to his side and began to execute the instructions step by step. First, he wrapped the red string around the pencil and tied it into a knot. Next, he tied the hair around the eraser of the pencil. Then, he used the lighter to set the eraser on fire. He waited until the flame engulfed the entire tip of the pencil. Once it was properly ablaze, Mike could carry out the very last step to the spell. Write his target’s name on the parchment paper three times, write his own name, and then draw an arrow connecting the two.

Richard Valenzuela, Richard Valenzuela, Richard Valenzuela…

Although only the eraser was on fire, Mike felt as though his entire hand was burning as he wrote. The fire grew stronger just as Mike wrote the last few letters. Once the deed was done, the fire quickly slithered down the length of the pencil. It nearly reached Mike’s hand, but he was able to throw it just in time. The pencil disintegrated into ashes within a matter of seconds as it flew across the bedroom. Mike groaned. He knew he’d have to clean that up later. 

But regardless of the mess, Mike was smiling on the inside. He had successfully performed the spell! But now he wasn’t sure what exactly he was supposed to do next. Mike sat on his bed, waiting for something to happen, until suddenly he felt an intense wave of nausea overcome him. His forehead was throbbing as he tried to endure the vertigo. Mike fell back on his bed while gripping his head. His vision went to black while he laid on his bed, completely unable to move.

When Mike came to, he found himself transformed. He was no longer a human being but rather a floating, translucent ball of white smoke. But that wasn’t the only major change Mike went through, he had somehow teleported too. Mike wasn’t in a bedroom anymore, and from what he could gather from his surroundings, he seemed to be underneath the driver’s seat in a car. Mike was also able to guess who the car belonged to. Although he lacked a proper nose now, he was still able to pick up on the strong smell of musk hanging in the air. He had a pretty good hunch on whose car he was in thanks to the smell.

“What the fuck is that…” 

Mike heard someone above him talking. That confirmed his hunch- he was in his brother Ricky’s car now.

Mike watched as Ricky hunched over to get a closer look at him. Ricky squinted his eyes and he had a puzzled look on his face. Mike couldn’t blame him. He’d probably be confused if there was suddenly a bunch of white smoke in his car too! 

Ricky tried fanning the smoke out with his hand but to no avail. Growing annoyed, Ricky decided to roll down the windows. But as he did so, Mike started gravitating upwards towards him. He was floating at eye level with his brother. The smoke emanating from his core was really starting to fill up the car now, faster than Ricky could fan it out. Mike willed the smoke to go inside of Ricky through his nostrils. Ricky coughed and gagged as he accidentally inhaled some of it. Ricky hunched over as he went into a full blown coughing fit while Mike continued spewing his smoky life essence all over him. Slowly but surely, Mike’s soul was trickling into Ricky’s body. Within the next minute, Ricky had enough of Mike inside of his body for him to start taking control. Mike wasted no time in exercising his new vessel.

Let me in!

On Mike’s command, Ricky threw his head back with his mouth hanging wide open. Mike then swiftly moved inside his mouth. Once inside, Mike began releasing smoke at neck breaking speed. Ricky’s eyes dilated and his cheeks puffed out as he swallowed mouthfuls of mist. Mike could feel his presence growing inside of Ricky’s body. Each and every cell in Ricky’s body was getting taken over by his soul. From his thick thighs to his muscular arms, from his fingertips to his facial muscles, every part of Ricky’s body was relinquishing control over to its new owner. Within seconds Mike suddenly had the ability to feel again! He moved Ricky’s hand over to his crotch and grabbed his cock. He began massaging his member, causing it to grow harder and longer as he did so.

“Mmm…! Ack!! Mmmmm…!! Ohhh…” Ricky moaned in between groans. Despite gagging, Mike could feel how much pleasure Ricky’s body was in while possessing him.

Yeah, you like that you little cum slut? You like it when I use your hands to stroke your cock? Let me in then! Let me take over your body all the way!!

Ricky relaxed his throat muscles, which allowed Mike to roll the core of his soul down his throat. Ricky’s chest puffed out as he swallowed the last piece of Mike’s soul with a loud gulp. His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily. Getting possessed really worked up a sweat in Ricky’s body, but it was complete. Mike had successfully taken over his beefy brother’s body and he couldn’t help but smirk as he relished the feeling.

“Whewwww! FUCK it’s hot in here!!”

Mike ripped his wife beater off to let his new sweaty body cool down. He loved the sight of Ricky’s hairy body from his point of view. Ricky was always the more active (both physically and sexually) of the two brothers. Mike decided to take over Ricky’s body

He leaned over to his hairy armpit and took a deep whiff of his ripe pit smell. His pits had just the right blend of deodorant, natural musk, and just a touch of body odor to create a scent that was truly intoxicating. Mike couldn’t stand how smelly his brother could get. Yet for some reason, Mike simply couldn’t get enough of his musk while possessing Ricky. It must’ve been Ricky’s gay thoughts invading Mike’s soul. Mike wanted to restrain himself, but he just couldn’t! He wanted/needed more! He was letting out guttural moans with each sniff he took of his dank pits. 

“Mmmm, fuckk yeahhh…”

Mike couldn’t help himself. His fully erect cock formed a tent in his pants, practically ready to explode through the fabric! His dick was sensitive to the touch. It was like electric shocks ran through his body as he rubbed his throbbing member. His hands reached down to his pants and yanked them down in one smooth motion, causing his cock to spring up once it was free. 

“Wheww goddamn, Big Bro!!” Mike was impressed by the sight of his brother’s hefty dick coupled with a set of low hanging, hairy balls. Although it was slightly shorter than his own, Mike couldn’t deny that in terms of girth, Ricky had him beat. 

Mike purred as he wrapped his hand around his new cock. He gave himself a couple of pumps, stroking his pulsating dick at a steady pace, and groaned obscenely loudly. Ricky’s cock was still hypersensitive from being possessed. Mike wanted to edge for a while, but with how good and warm he felt just wrapping a hand around his junk, it quickly became clear to him that he wasn’t going to last very much longer. 

With that thought in mind, Mike went ahead and jerked off at full force. He quickened his stroking speed while pinching his nipple with his free hand, all while moaning out loud in his car in public without a care in the world. His breathing became shorter and labored, the warmness in his face and groin area grew warmer, the pressure in his twitching cock became unbearable. 

“Agh! Ah!! Urghhhhh fuckkkkkk!!!” Mike let out a guttural groan as ropes of warm cum came shooting out of him like a geyser. 

He was panting for breath by the time he finished cumming. Mike looked down at himself and grinned. The sight of his brother’s stolen body covered in sweat and cum was getting him aroused again even despite having just finished mere moments ago. He rubbed down the sweat and cum into his pores. Mike loved the feel of Ricky’s chest hair on his fingers. He gave his perky yet firm set of tits a quick flex, just for fun. 

Once he was satisfied, Mike finished cleaning up after himself. The post nut clarity was kicking in, it occurred to Mike that he was still in public and without clothes now that he tore everything he was wearing apart. 

Mike drove back to his brother’s place. He had to use his hands to cover up his junk to avoid flashing the neighbors, but he made it back home safe and sound. Mike went ahead and took a quick shower before putting on clean clothes. Once done, Mike was ready to go out with his brother’s body for a day of fun, but the possession fatigue had caught up to him. Mike was exhausted! He decided to lay down for a quick cat nap. Mike threw himself into Ricky’s bed with his ass perked up (because why wouldn’t he now that he had a fat ass?) and fell asleep. 

Later that same day…

Without meaning to, Mike accidentally napped most of the day away. Mike woke up to the sight of the sun starting to set. He must have been even more tired than he realized, but that didn’t matter to Mike. At least he was well rested for a night out now!

Mike let out a big yawn while he scratched his chest. At first, he didn’t notice the sudden lack of chest hair because he was still waking up. But as soon as it registered how smooth his chest was, Mike went into a panic. His eyes shot down and surely enough, he was back in his own body. Mike was disappointed, but now that he was out of Ricky’s body, he was free to possess someone else!

Or so Mike thought. He thought he wanted to possess someone else, but his mind went straight back to Ricky when he thought about who to possess next. Mike couldn’t explain why but he craved being back inside of Ricky’s beefy body. All of his body hair… How thick every part of his body was… How good it felt to jerk off that cock… How sweet his cum tasted… It was no use. Mike was hooked on Ricky’s body. He needed to possess him again!

Mike hopped out of bed, ready to perform the magic spell on Ricky again. However, he didn’t notice that Ricky was waiting for him just outside the bedroom door. He nearly screamed when he almost ran into him.

“Morning, Lil Bro,”

“Oh- Hey, Rick! How long have you been standing there…?” Mike said sheepishly.

“Possess me again.”

“Wha-” 

Ricky practically threw himself to Mike’s feet. Naturally, it caught Mike off guard.

“PLEASE possess me again, Lil Bro!! I know you were inside of me. I don’t care how or why you did it, just please do it again! I never knew how good I could feel until I felt what it’s like having a man inside of my body! Please, Bro! I feel so empty without you inside of me! Please possess me again!!”

Ricky was panting and drooling like a hungry dog. Mike wasn’t sure how to react at first. He almost wanted to tell Ricky off right then and there, but then something caught his attention. As Ricky was begging with his head to the floor, he had his back arched. It gave Mike a clear view of the white jockstrap he was wearing. 

The sight of that waistband reminded Mike just how badly he wanted to get back inside of Ricky. And after Ricky’s grand display, it was more than crystal clear that the feeling was mutual.

“Alright, I’ll possess you again.”

“Fuck yes!! Take my body, make me yours!!”

Ricky shot back up on his feet and grabbed onto Mike. He was holding him in a tight embrace, pushing his body against his own as if to make him phase into him.

Their bodies rubbed against one another with full skin-on-skin contact, but no matter how hard Mike and Ricky pushed, they couldn’t get Mike back inside Ricky. So when that wasn’t working, they decided to try a different route.

Mike was the first to plant a kiss on Ricky. Ricky did not hesitate matching Mike’s energy and kissed him right back. The two men fell back onto the bed as they passionately made out. Loud kisses and sensual groans filled the room. Their clothes soon came off as they proceeded to the next step. Mike spit onto his hardened cock and rubbed it along his length while Ricky fingered himself as a warm-up. Once he was ready, Ricky lifted his legs onto Mike’s shoulders. Mike stepped closer, tapped his cock head against Ricky’s hungry hole, and eased his member into him inch by inch. 

“Ssss, ohhh fuckk…” they both whispered under their breaths. Mike could feel the warmth of Ricky’s ass envelop his dick as he slid all the way in. Ricky was moaning and squirming as his walls opened up to accommodate Mike’s well-endowed cock. Mike started off slowly at first, but once they were both comfortable, he picked up the speed of his thrusts and pounded away at Ricky, who was loving every second of it.

They fucked like wild animals in heat. The whole house was filled with obscene noises. Mike groaning, Ricky moaning, sensual kisses, Mike’s balls clapping against Ricky’s bubble butt, the bed frame creaking and more. But they weren’t fucking just to fuck, they were fucking with intent and purpose.

Mike stopped thrusting into Ricky for a brief moment. He leaned down to lay on top of him, cock still planted deep inside his ass. Ricky wrapped his arms and legs around Mike’s torso and pulled him in closer to him. The two men embraced each other tightly. They each pushed their bodies into the other’s body with as much force as they could muster. Then finally, after enough rubbing and pushing, it happened.

They transcended physical boundaries Mike’s body began to phase right into Ricky’s body. Ricky’s moans grew in intensity as he felt his brother’s presence growing inside of him. Their bodies aligned perfectly. All of Mike’s body parts slid right into Ricky’s like a custom tailored suit. Head to head, torso to torso, dick to dick, and ass to ass. Once again, Ricky’s body puffed up momentarily as it opened itself up to welcome its new owner. With one final hip thrust, Mike possessed Ricky once again by fucking his way in.

“Nrghhh uuughhh fuckkkk…!”

Ricky’s body couldn’t handle any more stimulation. He wound up shooting his own load as well as his brother’s load thanks to the body possession. It was both glorious and obscene how much he came. Mike sighed a heavy exhale of relief. He was more than ecstatic that he was able to take over his brother’s body again. It truly felt like home, and this time, he was ready to last more than just a few hours possessing him.

As for Ricky, the idea and the feeling of having a man literally inside his body was more satisfying than anything Ricky could ever do in bed. And what made the experience of getting possessed even better was having a man take full control over his body. It was total domination, and it was something Ricky loved to do. All he could was smile with bliss on the inside as his hands began moving under Mike’s control again. 

And as the beefy muscle bear laid in bed covered in bodily fluids, a cheeky smile grew on his face. It was a smile of pure satisfaction and pleasure, one that could only be achieved when both possessor and possessee are happy.

[normal-nightmare]

It's me again and please keep yapping this is the tasty content I come here for. lol I've been sitting here a while (longer than is polite) trying to form a proper response to my previous ask cause it was literally everything! I wish I could be half as eloquent instead of just yelling XD

like there are so many things that draw me to these two, and ngl it definitely started with the whole pseudo-incest vibe but they really are so complex and you really hit the nail with this:

Just... they're so complicated and it sucks that people don't wanna explore that because of the preconceived notion that they're brothers, nothing more, nothing less. Sure, legally they are, but they don't... act like it? They didn't grow up together, they weren't very close before Jason died, and they only recently started getting properly close. Jason also has his crush thing going on (seriously, how else am I supposed to interpret RHATO v2 annual 1??)

Look I will forever maintain Dick was Jason’s gay awakening and that boy has been in love with Dick since he was what 12? 15? Also the way you described their relationship to each other was so delicious and alterous is such a great term for them.

I feel like jaydick becoming canon one day would be a natural progression of their relationship. Especially since they seem to be getting paired up as a duo more often. Readers love them, comic artists and writers like them too- i feel like jaydick actually happening one day wouldn't be extremely surprising.

THISTHISTHIS!!! I hope this does happen.🙏

Also re: dickbabs and not making certain characters bisexual I feel that on such a spiritual level. Like I’m sorry but both Jason and Dick read as queer to me? Idk how to describe it. Which is why I love the little touch of bi Dick in Gotham Knights.

Also speaking of Gotham Knights, I finally finished it and holy fuck what the fuck? One of my few complaints is that I wish it was longer. I need GK2: electric boogaloo but this time with a Poison Ivy case file because reasons. I adored every interaction Dick and Jason had, from the emails to the flirting in front of everyone’s salad, plus how they were almost always near each other? (also Jason looked so good in that post credit scene in the Batcave I choose to believe every time he wears it, Dick can’t keep his hands to himself 🫣)

ALSO

I genuinely feel like the writers were intending for jaydick to happen in a DLC given how much setup there is.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this? I want to yell about this game so much. I wish I had someone to play co-op with me so I could see some of those Jaydick interactions too 😞

GOD honestly i have a million thoughts on Dick and Jason's relationship in Gotham Knights?? Because what the HELL is going on in that game!!!

It utterly BAFFLES me when other people read their interactions (Belfry, cutscenes, whatever) as brotherly/familial bc like... if you're interacting with your family like that I'm so concerned?? Bc they're gay as hell!! They flirt the ENTIRE GAME. Like... it's ridiculous how in-your-face they are about it. It's not even gay subtext anymore, it's just... text. Saying they're not gay in Gotham Knights is like saying Jayce and Viktor were 'just brothers' in Arcane to me LMFAO.

Like... the rooftop scene for one reads as really BAD flirting on Dicks part. It doesn't feel like he's being deliberately silly to cheer up Jason until he fakes falling over the edge, THEN he's properly silly. The entire scene otherwise, he's just... being really bad at flirting? And it's funnier that both that and then him being silly actually kinda WORKS on Jason. He laughs (laughs!!), relents and let's Dick sit next to him! It's so, so cute!!

And then the little interaction where Dick says that the Belfry needs a cat, and then Jason suddenly flirts with him?? Like the line "Listen, Grayson, if you're scared of some mouse you saw scurrying, I'll keep you safe." Is ABSOLUTELY flirting, and this is only supported by A) the tone Jason has and B) the way Dick stutters and stumbles over his words afterwards. Like, Dick is AUDIBLY flustered and surprised by this. He tries sooo hard to keep it cool but that boys BLUSHING.

And then there's the tension in some scenes?? When they argue in the beginning and when Dick puts a hand on Jason's wrist (after Jason jokes about making Tim a fake ID), and kind of the scene where Jasons mad, and he's sparring with Dick and Dick catches his fist and says "Easy, Tiger." Like.... the tension in these scenes goes crazy?? The physical closeness, the eye contact, the brief silence, calling Jason tiger?? Like I CANNOT be crazy thinking that there's at least a LITTLE sexual tension in these moments. Juuuust a little 🤏

And like! Yeah you're 100% on them being so physically close most of the game. It's hard to find scenes where they AREN'T standing right by each other. And their stories focus a lot on each other!! At least Dicks story focuses a lot on Jason! Like... a LOT, it's 90% Dicks story 😭

And the like,, nicknames. Dick calls Jason things like Big Guy, swole, and Miracules throughout the game, like, consistently. He points out Jason's size and strength a lot?? (His size and strength kink is so blatantly obvious, good lord this man is horny LMAO. I don't blame him though... 👀) and then Jason mainly calls him Grayson, but when he's being vulnerable he calls him Dick? Which is so cute?!

And a cute little detail is how angry Dick gets on Jason's behalf when Talia says they should be grateful she brought Jason back even though she took away his autonomy and used him. Like, Dick is PISSED! Lowkey he's so ready to throw hands right there.

And i think one of my favorite interactions is when Dick chooses to take Jason to a circus that's in town. Like! He's literally asking Jason out on a DATE. And it's the cutest thing ever?! Jason is surprised and it's just... it's so sweet.

And in general they have the sweetest interactions and emails. It's adorable how they kinda talk about Tim like they're proud parents, and it's also cute how they kinda bicker over the perfect sandwiches cause they sound like a married couple loll.

Just!! Auuggghhhh they're so CUTE in Gotham Knights! There's a mountain of setup there for a romantic relationship. It's very in your face, and honestly impossible to ignore if you have ears and eyes. I'm sure there's more i'm missing or just haven't mentioned, but it's so blatant it feels like it couldn't have been on accident.

Just... it's so cute, I'll never get over it 😭

[anxiousthoughts365]

Dress Up

TW: Very NSFW, minors DNI. Halloween is mentioned but this is very definitely a no Voldy AU

Halloween is a night that they all enjoy. It gives them the chance to relax, to get a little loose and a little drunk without feeling like they have to behave themselves, like they might at the annual Potter family Christmas parties that they've all attended for the past three years since leaving Hogwarts.

The Marauders like to dress up for Halloween, and of course, James and Sirius usually take things to the next level with extravagant and obscure designs. Peter likes a nice, straight-forward costume that he doesn't have to explain to anyone. And since moving in with James two years ago, Regulus has been dragged into the tradition, and has mostly willingly played along.

Remus often just does something half-arsed. Even though he enjoys seeing everyone else's costumes, he already feels like a monster all year round, so he can't see the point of donning one himself to let everyone else see him that way, too.

In past years, he's made do with as little as possible: a crooked purple wizard's hat and small round spectacles (Dumbledore); a headband with fuzzy ears and eyeliner stripes that he'd had Sirius draw across his cheeks (the cat that sometimes lingered around the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts); a black jumper with white lines painted on it (a skeleton).

This year, however, Remus has gained enough courage to properly dress up. Well, perhaps it's not entirely courage alone that has led to his choice of costume this evening. Sirius' daily tantrums in the lead up to the Potter-Black Halloween party also went quite a long way to him deciding that he'd actually make an effort this year, if only to stop the man's insistent whining.

But he's already incredibly uncomfortable, and he hasn't even left his and Sirius' flat yet. The four of them had gotten together to get ready, like old times, before they were to head over to the Potter mansion in time for the party. But at this point, Remus doesn't know if he'll actually be able to step outside his own front door.

He grimaces at his reflection in the floor-length mirror in their hallway, self-consciously tugging at the zip on the front of his ridiculously tight, iridescent green body suit. He doesn't dare to let it open any lower than his collar bones - it would reveal too much of his scarring.

But he'd wanted to be Bowie - specifically, Oh You Pretty Things on The Old Grey Whistle Test Bowie. And this is what he'll have to suffer tonight to achieve that look. He's just debating whether it will be worth the suffering when James bounds into the hall from the living room, where the others had been dressing. He takes one look at Remus, and quite comically stops dead mid-bound.

'Fuck me, Lupin,' James whistles appreciatively. Remus blushes, but before he can grumble at his friend, Peter wanders out behind James, fiddling with the front of his own outfit.

'Why is Moony fucking you?' he asks, then looks up from fixing his last button and catches sight of Remus. His eyes pop wide, and a salacious grin spreads over his plump cheeks as he purrs, 'Forget James, Remus, fuck me!'

'Why are we all fucking my boyfriend?' comes a third voice, heavy enough with petulance that Remus doesn't even need to see Sirius to know that he's pouting. His possessiveness of Remus is, at times, endearing. At other times, it's downright distracting.

But then Sirius is in the hallway with them, and Remus forgets all about how distracting Sirius' passions can be. Because Sirius is distraction himself tonight.

He's dressed as Mark Bolan, because of fucking course he is. One mild suggestion he'd found in an old, obscure Muggle magazine that Mark and David were 'close', and Sirius had been instantly convinced that the stars had carried out a secret gay affair. He'd gone so far as to beg Remus to be Bowie this year, just so they could do a couples' costume. He'd even said that Remus could choose his Bowie era, which had definitely swung his case. It also didn't hurt that he'd always found Mark Bolan rather attractive.

But in Remus' opinion, Mark Bolan has absolutely nothing on the man before him. Sirius' black hair has been teased into loose curls that hang around his face and shoulders. He's managed to dig a sequinned purple blazer out from Gods-only-know-where, and his tight black leather pants are leaving very little to Remus' imagination.

The smear of khoal around the man's eyes holds Remus' attention for a few minutes, but then he meets Sirius' gaze, and everything in him goes tight. Because while he's been looking at Sirius, Sirius has been looking at him, and Remus wonders just how much of the lust and need that he can see on his boyfriend's face is currently reflected in his own expression.

'Lads,' Sirius croaks, breaking the thick silence that had suddenly descended on the flat. He doesn't look away from Remus as he murmurs, 'You both go on ahead. Moony and I are going to need a minute.' His eyes, burning pools of molten silver, rake down Remus' body, and his voice is unbearably tight when he adds, 'Make that twenty minutes.'

James retches, but Peter is chuckling and coo'ing at them to stay safe, kids as he pulls the other boy down the hall, squeezing past where Remus stands, immobilised. The front door slams shut behind them, and Sirius is instantly moving. Between one blink and the next, he's down the hall, and all at once he's practically climbing Remus' lanky form, winding slender fingers into his thick brown curls and pulling him down into a bruising kiss.

'Bloody hell, Moons,' Sirius breathes, nipping non-too-gently at Remus' lower lip. 'You look incredible.'

'Me?' Remus huffs, reaching down to grab a handful of Sirius' arse. The leather is moulded so closely to his skin that it almost feels like he's wearing nothing, and Remus whines, burying his face against Sirius' neck. 'These should be illegal, Padfoot. I don't think I can let you wear them outside of this flat.'

'That's alright,' Sirius gasps, his hips canting when Remus' teeth graze his throat. 'I only wore them - ah - f-for you anywayyyooooh, fuck!'

'Is that so?' Remus smirks, continuing to move the hand that he's somehow managed to squeeze into the front of Sirius' very tight trousers. The man's black-rimmed eyelids flutter, and Remus is grinning as he goes on, 'Well, that must mean I can do whatever I like with them, right?'

'You can do whatever you like to any part of me,' Sirius pants, but then he pauses, his eyes clearing slightly as he adds, 'Except for my hair. It took me ages.'

'There he is,' Remus chuckles, extracting himself from Sirius' trousers and instead hoisting the shorter man up into his arms. 'Thought I'd lost you for a minute, there.'

'I'm always with you, Moony,' Sirius breathes, his eyes going hazy again as he wraps his legs around Remus' narrow waist. The contact and friction spur Remus on through their flat to their bedroom, and it's a vague, distant thought when he wonders if they'll actually make it to the party this year.

[ad-astrah]

Finally Watched Cinderella's Castle Digital Ticket (Twice) and I Gotta Get My Feelings Out Somewhere, Somehow (Part I)

Feel free to light up my DMs to chat about it!

And now, for my personal highlights/live reactions:

immediately I'm drawn in by Nick Lang's silly narrator voice and the way he warns us of what's coming. Especially the "muRrrDder!"

Jeff Blim cut his hair. JEFF BLIM CUT HIS HAIR. Not that I didn't like the long locks, but something about his Aladdin Era short hair gets me, man.

Jeff Blim literally getting to own the stage like the man was born to

Jeff Blim's slutty bard getup with the artfully messy hair and the heavy guyliner. That sinful bastard.

"Let's go." I'll follow you anyway, slutty bard.

Okay 80s rock jam! Hell yes.

idk why but I just love the line "There are tales in those walls, are they true or are they tall?"

THIS SET, THO. 80s vibes. Muppets vibes. Princess Bride vibes. Spooky, ethereal fairytale vibes. I love it! Props to the team who designed and built it.

prance, slutty bard boy, prance around that stage.

Jesus Fuck, I've only seen Joey's puppet but I'm already SOLD. Nick and Matt Lang and whoever else had a hand in making these puppets fucking OUTDID themselves! Did they use the Black Book and resurrect Jim Henson?

Throughout the show, the muppet vibes just absolutely amaze and delight me. Makes me feel like a little kid, spellbound by this fairytale. Except it's much darker, more gruesome, way more explicit, and extremely horny.

Oh look, it's Joey's Jingle/Jangle (whichever elf he was) voice from Black Friday.

Love me some o' dat non-binary representation from Ragweed. Starkid once again screaming GAY RIGHTS bitches.

I'm getting some of Jeff's Aragog from AVPS in this Narrator. Anyone else?

Stupid STUPID butcher!

Jon Matteson's accent. *giggles madly*

Angela IMMEDIATELY having to pause for applause before she finishes her first freaking line. The queen deserves it all, though.

The foreshadowing of the Stepmother cutting off Ella's feet. O_O

"It's furryyyyy and fouuuuul and full o' maGOTTTSSaaaaaggghhhh!"

Angela doing the little spinny finger thing in a guy's face to fluster them just like Max did to her character in Nerdy Prudes. I love these physical running gags. My fave being the Smoke Club, though.

OIIIINK oinkoinkoinkoinkoinkoink

Sir Preston asking for help from the audience. His "ELLAaaaaa....nooooo....."

The lighting in this entire show is SO COOL.

Again, Jeff just louging like a whore about the set like its his bitch. I live for it.

James' COSTUME. He looks SO FUCKING GOOD. Props to the costume folks...and to James' rockin' genes.

"But nothing compares to the juice and the hairs..." Oh no. Ohhhhh no I see where this is going. Don't say it, James, don't-- omg he said it.

er ee er ee er ee *window rolling down*

I thought the Prince drawing bewbies on the frosty window was funny already, and then he goes WAH WAH WAH and pretends to pinch them and I fucking lost it.

The Prince checkin' out DAT AZZZZZZ XD

"I'd wager she's wetter now than when I first found her bobbing in the river." OH MY GOD. PRINCE. THAT'S HER NOT-MOM.

If his highness has had every STD and beaten it, that's so fucked up but also damn, that boy's immune system is killin' it. Literally.

"Poor mad EllaAH"

"This is one thirsty FUCKING house." For real, omg.

"The offer stands firm. Come calling if you are!" *screams*

Jeff miming being crew and pulling the ropes for the curtains.

*audience member sneezes* "Bless you."

Angela's diction is next fucking level. PUNY. PINK. KIND.

The epic troll reveal! The puppets are SO GOOD.

THE FROG FUCKING TURNING AWAY AS SHE ASKED FOR IT TO DO SO SHE COULD KILL IT. CHRIST.

This bayou boogie song of Ella's is an absolute KILLER BOP. Holy shit. And it's SO perfect for Bryce's funky, sassy voice.

Speaking of which, BRYCE'S VOCALS. I'm gonna scream about them for forever and ever and ever. I love her voice SO FUCKING MUCH. I could listen to nothing else for the rest of my days and die a happy little gay.

"ohhhh woah woah waohhh" *flips the bird* She's such a queen for that.

"It needs oregano" WORK BITCH

Bryce's stage presence is fucking INSANE. I dunno how she's not on Broadway, but thank goodness we got her!

SIRE MANY TADPOLES!

GOD I love this absolutely depraved, horny little bastard of a prince.

It's amazing Tadeus hasn't murdered the prince yet. The man deserves a medal for the literal shit he's put up with.

Bugette?! I thought you choked on shit died and were consumed by the Hive Queen?

Rancilda being a typical troll and loving lurking under bridges and telling riddles.

Schuyler Sister vibes from the song with Justine and Lucy. So cute.

Justine and Lucy are SUCH real ones for IMMEDIATELY believing Ella about her family being trolls and for saying "fuck the ball, we're leaving NOW."

Shake dat ass, Mariah!

Lauren's physical comedy as Rancilda is NEXT LEVEL. I'm wheezing over here!

iSNn'tT it A BiiIItTcH?!

I LOOK GOOD IN THIS. What an absolute fucking BANGER. This song is gonna play in my head on repeat for the next decade. What a next level villain song.

Also this gives me some strongass Joan Jett vibes. "I love wearin' the skin of dead girls rock 'n' roll!"

and I hEEeaARr yoU'Re RiiiCCHhH

Seriously, is this the next Top Chart breakup revenge song? It should be.

"I really LIKE that song!" XD Putrice. I love how much of an absolute BIMBO she is.

Rancilda singing the song again. "SHUT UP STUPID BITCH, THE SONG'S OVER." "Okaaaaiiii"

Matt Dahan's ability to riff off the main songs and create motifs is otherworldly.

General MacNamara? Is that you?! Oh wait, nope. Still my slutty, slutty bard.

I LOOOOOOOVE this badass electric guitar intro, holy shit.

Kim Whalen, the queen, getting the bitchin' entrance she deserves.

Starkid is so, so good at their sound design to help immerse you in a scene without blowing a big budget or doing anything elaborate.

...Kim. My girl. Your arms must be tired.

She's just standing there, but Kim's stage presence is still so strong.

I can't get over how Jon's Sir Hops-A-Lot's voice is just a small...ahem. Hop, skip, and a jump away from Wiggly's.

JOEY. THAT ACCENT. You ABSOLUTE genius idiot. I love you for this stupidass voice.

Joey's bowl cut makes me giggle like mad.

I love these two puppets SO much.

GIT IT, KIM.

The call and response bit with Ella and the Goddess reminds me of Hamilton when Washington is dictating his Farewell Address. I know it's gotta be in other musicals, too, but that's the clearest comparison for this nerd at the moment.

Jeff sneaking in the "castle on a hill" song reference in this song.

Kim and Bryce dueting together is just Power incarnate. Holy cow. It's so good.

"You shall be as radiant and terrible as I." Ooooooh. Yes. Gimme.

The Narrator sneaking out from amidst the ensemble to finish off the song was really neat.

That fading spotlight before curtain for intermission with just Ella's face in view is so beautiful and haunting. What an epic close to Act I.

Also, it seems like this was also a strategic way to imply Ella's outfit being transformed there on stage during the song without actually having to do the tricky costume designing quick-change theater miracles of an ACTUAL outfit transformation. Which is really brilliant. Leave the audience to wonder until post-intermission about what Ella's starlight dress will look like.

[atropalugosi]

Played through the Donna good end route on @resident-lover and had to do something with our favourite dollmaker's little flirt about drawing her during work.

So have a little post good end moment between her and my MC with as much awkwardness and gay panicking as should be expected.

"Can I draw you?" Valeria asks quickly and loudly, grasping the arm of Donna's chair with white knuckles. The botanist quirks an eyebrow at the younger woman, amused.

"You already know I don't mind, tesorina," she laughs teasingly, a sparkle in her eyes. It had been months since the two officially started dating, and things were going great, but still when Donna looked at her like that she couldn't help but feel like her next request would be stupid. Taking a deep breath, she readies herself and just rips the metaphorical bandaid off.

"Can I draw you like an Italian girl?" Valeria asks again, voice pitching embarrassingly. She watches anxiously as Donna's face blooms red and her jaw drops slightly, her eyes widening like a deer in headlights. Fuck! She shouldn't have asked that! It had just been a silly meaningless flirt the older woman had made to test the waters back then, why did Valeria think to bring it up again? She quickly pushes back and out of Donna's space, fully ready to fumble out an excuse to leave and die of embarrassment somewhere else.

"I'm sorry! Forget I said anything, I'm gonna go make us some tea or-"

"Dolcézza, wait!" Donna hurriedly responds, seeming to have gotten her bearings. She takes Valeria by the arm possessively, pulling her down so their eyes are level. "You... are asking me to pose for you," she blushes again as she squeaks out, "nude?"

The redhead nods slowly, her own cheeks heating up at the thought of her love agreeing. "Yeah- but! But only if you're comfy with that!" She says firmly, staring intently into Donna's eyes to let her know it really is okay to say 'no'. Her concern appears wasted though as a cheeky grin graces Donna's face.

"I was... sort of hoping you'd have asked again after we were interrupted the first time," she admits. Valeria's head feels about ready to explode with the way that small confession makes blood rush to her face. Donna truly was insatiable with her desire for the botanist in training. Feeling emboldened, Valeria leans in until their lips are nearly brushing and responds.

"Then let me help you undress and get ready."

[spaceytoxinz]

TODD INGRAM HCS THAT NOBODY ASKED FOR

Im returning to my roots, this is about comic todd btw cause hes a dick and i hate hjm [hes my second favorite ex next to gideon]

He’s still easily flustered ofc, though not really in the sense where he gets bashful and coy like the anime conveys, he just gets frustrated about it. He will either deny the situation at hand or straight up tell someone to shut up when they point it out. Usually happens when he’s conflicted with his own thoughts regarding his sexuality or when proven wrong about smth

This is an old hc i had based on seeing this one image like early last year and immediately thinking he was zesty:

Hes definitely in denial about his sexuality. absolutely bisexual [duh] but he has internalized homophobia and focuses more on “potentially coming off as gay” than realizing he can be bisexual. Especially since he kept putting up this whole “fuck you im a rockstar” type of act. Seems very macho. Almost forced at times even if most of it comes from a place of genuine arrogance. [Angel lore implied lmfao oops]

His awakening was probably from joking around with his guy friends about gay shit [the straighter they are the gayer they act, i thought people were joking around about it] and one day they did something a little more physical as opposed to just saying gay shit [realistically they probably whispered in his ear from behind or smth] and from that day forward he’s had to convince himself that occasionally everyone thinks about getting physical with someone of the same sex but it “doesn’t mean anything”

basic but he dyes his hair blonde booooo obvious hc

surprisingly a decent cook. Originally he would make the typical cis”het” man meal [rubber tires with fried rat or smth idk] but because hes vegan he practically had to teach himself how to make food that wasn’t bland. Dont get me wrong, vegetables on their own can taste good but i feel like if anyone had to eat nothing but steamed vegetables with nothing else for a long ass time, it would drive them insane at some point. [plus envy probably told him to get his shit together and cook a decent meal for once]

Hes not ripped to me, hes like slightly pudgy. idc if its canon that he has abs or whatever. Hes still muscular ofc, but like its not super obvious unless he flexes. I guess like a sleeper build but everytime i search it up, it mostly shows skinny sleeper builds. Maybe ill draw it one day. just look at his arms in that image above.

out of all the evil exes he truly believes that hes the absolute MOST important one. Like everyone else does too but his level of arrogance is up there with Gideon’s. Unlike Gideon though he probably never shuts up about it, ESPECIALLY to Lucas. Its mostly because he punched the fucking moon. He doesn’t even like Ramona anymore. He’s just annoying

Nobody in the League fucking likes him. He probably gives Matthew and Roxy weird looks. Gideon straight up doesn’t care for them. The twins can tolerate Todd but talk shit about how annoyingly arrogant he is behind his back. And Lucas?? MF GOT PLAYED BY THIS ASSHOLE. Todd originally didn’t bother much with lucas and would sometimes tease him about their whole high school ordeal but when Lucas pointed out his faults, Todd just got defensive. So now he hates Lucas for nearly no reason when Lucas has more of a reason to not like Todd.

Hes still thought about doing it with Lucas at least once during their bickering lmao

Hes also tall as shit. Tallest in the league at about 6’. This is based on the video game sprites though so idk if it counts as comic Todd. But him and Lucas are not the same height.

alr im tired it’s almost 2 in the morning. I just make it sound like hes pissed al the time

[mayhemchicken-varneyposting]

Varney the Vampire, Chapter 11: Finally, Some Good Fucking Common Sense

[Previous chapter] [Next chapter]

Henry sits Charles down and tells him everything that's happened in the narrative so far. Charles is incredulous, but Henry points out that most of the events had multiple witnesses, lending them some credibility. He then tells Charles that, given the circumstances, Charles is free to break off his engagement with Flora without dishonor, rather than stay and become entangled in all this vampire business. Charles says that would be a real dick move on his part, and promises to stay and support the family. Henry points out that, if the legends about vampires are true, then Flora is now doomed to become one herself after death, but even this is not enough to dissuade Charles.

Charles points out that there may yet be a non-supernatural explanation for everything that has happened, though he doesn't have any ideas as to what that might be. He asks to stay at the house for a while, and converse freely with everyone involved in the vampire situation, both of which Henry agrees to.

Charles then has another idea: if the vampire legends are true, then a vampire is a tangible being, which can be caught and destroyed. Thus, Charles reasons, they ought to try to catch the vampire. Henry worries that such an endeavor would be more difficult than Charles makes it out to be, but finds Charles' level-headedness and determination encouraging in the midst of his now chaotic life. Charles requests to stay in the room with the creepy portrait, thinking that the vampire may have a preference for that room. Henry thinks this is crazy, but agrees to this request as well, and Charles retires to bed in the creepy portrait room.

What a fucking breath of fresh air this chapter is. After multiple chapters of cartoon characters with cartoon viewpoints bumbling around cartoonishly, it's such a relief to have someone react to the situation with a genuinely rational perspective.

The chapter opens with five paragraphs of exposition about Charles' feelings, most of which is unnecessary. To sum up: Charles is confused and upset, and would almost have found it less painful if Flora had just cheated on him or something, rather than withdrawing from him out of love.

But now he was to hear all. Henry had promised to tell him, and as he looked into his pale, but handsomely intellectual face, he half dreaded the disclosure he yet panted to hear.

"pale, but handsomely intellectual" is such a funny description. Now is not the time to be a little gay about your best friend, Charles.

Henry gets right to the point. Just kidding, this is Varney the Vampire, he spends about half a page stalling for time. Charles' initial reaction to being told Flora is breaking up with him because of vampires is "are all of you out of your goddamn minds", but after hearing Henry's account of events, he is a little more convinced; not to the point of belief, but at least to the point of acknowledging something Fucking Weird is going on.

Henry brings up, for the first time, the idea that vampirism is contagious, and that a vampire's victim will themself become a vampire upon death. This, as well as the idea that a vampire can be killed by staking it, are both aspects of vampire folklore which are not mentioned in this story's main source of vampire lore, John William Polidori's The Vampyre. What is interesting to me is not the fact that Rymer borrowed these ideas from folklore, but that nothing else from vampire folklore seems to have permeated Rymer's awareness. Varney needs no invitation to enter buildings, cannot be warded off by any means such as garlic, and doesn't even show an aversion to holy symbols; nor does he show any indication of being able to shapeshift. Not only that, but Rymer seems to think vampire myths originated from Scandinavia. (Yes, I know draugar exist, but he doesn't seem to be drawing inspiration from those, either.) The idea that a vampire's victims are doomed to become vampires by default is the source of much fearmongering in Varney the Vampire, although by the lore eventually settled on by the story this turns out to be untrue.

Charles is greatly upset by all this, and begins to seriously consider that the Bannerworth family may be all insane; however, he sticks to his guns regarding his love and devotion to Flora. In an attempt to reassure Henry, he tells him there may yet be a human, rather than supernatural, explanation for what has happened. I do wish one of these characters would venture at least a partial theory as to what's going on, rather than just saying "I have no idea", but I do appreciate Charles bringing up explicitly the idea that the vampire attack might be the result of human mischief. Not even Chillingworth has managed to be that concrete.

But Charles goes a step further, coming up with a sensible and concrete plan: vampire or not, something has been visiting the house, and if they catch it, they can find out what it is. A vampire is a revived corpse according to folklore, and should therefore be tangible, which means that unlike, say, a ghost, it can be caught and killed. Henry, who has seen the vampire firsthand, is a little more doubtful of this plan:

"Oh, Charles! you know not the feeling of horror that will come across you when you do. You have no idea of how the warm blood will seem to curdle in your veins, and how you will be paralysed in every limb."

Charles is pretty convinced that his love for Flora will allow him to overcome supernaturally induced vampire terror, which is rather less reasonable, but he's 21 and in love so I'll give him a pass. He then drops what may be the most sensible stance on vampires of anybody in this whole book:

"My dear friend, I always make it a rule to take things at their worst, and then I cannot be disappointed. I am content to reason upon this matter as if the fact of the existence of a vampyre were thoroughly established, and then to think upon what is best to be done about it."

"You are right."

"If it should turn out then that there is an error in the fact, well and good—we are all the better off; but if otherwise, we are prepared, and armed at all points."

Charles is sensible, but also reckless; immediately after this, he asks to stay in the creepy portrait room while he's staying with the Bannerworths, on the logic that the vampire seems likely to return to that room. Personally, if I thought there was any chance I was dealing with an actual vampire, I would take a lot more precautions. Rig up some traps perhaps, and have other people on standby as backup. Alas, every character in this book is nearly incapable of making solid plans.

Next: A busy night for Charles

[axel-mania]

Tagged by @fallynleaf for nine books I'm excited about this year. Tagging @namajague @sonastarson @lesleyherogirl and I think I'll leave it there because really this is just my excuse for book gushing.

I'm currently reading The Next Shift and Private Rites.

The Next Shift is part of my quest to actually learn from and finish nonfiction books this year. It covers how after manufacturing jobs largely left the U.S., people accumulated into service jobs, particularly healthcare. And because 1) the New Deal and subsequent union negotiation only secured rights for individual factories and industries, not for the general population, and 2) technological innovation and thus profitability isn't possible in service industries, so bosses need to keep lowering wages, nobody has a good livable job anymore. There were never enough ""high skill" jobs to fit everyone, and so we're all working at Starbucks and doing home healthcare. I wanted to know why there doesn't seem to be many strategies to escape this predicament, and it's kind of heartening to know I'm not a unique failure yet depressing because it sure would have been less bleak if my employability were just a skill issue.

Private Rites is the next book by one of my favorite authors, who wrote the incredible tragic lesbian romance Our Wives Under the Sea. Three lesbian sisters, an Evangelion like flood destroying and rebuilding society, and the cults and corporate negligence that crop up around them. She loves driving home how we just keep moving and thinking about our petty concerns no matter what happens to us.

The Starving Saints immediately piqued my interest from the premise, featuring an Elden Ring like too good to be true religious cult and intense medieval bonds of servitude and revenge, and from how I know Starling's work focuses on gross, dark queerness. Sign me up for more evil lesbians.

A Distant Mirror seems like a really wide-ranging yet humanizing book about the medieval world, and that's a subject I want to cover so I can write more fiction in a medieval setting.

Children of Time is I believe the favorite book of @lesleyherogirl, and one that's been on my list for a while. I'm bumping it up because I want to talk to her about it, and because I'm eager for more fucked up alternative alien societies. Sentient spiders!

A Drop of Corruption is the sequel to a book I loved last year, The Tainted Cup. It features an old woman detective who is allowed to be eccentric and amoral and manipulative, and her protege, a cowardly gay dude who's been medically enhanced to have a perfect memory, at the cost of slowly disabling him with horrible fits the more information he stuffs into his brain. The murder mystery in the first book was impeccable, and it was wrapped up in a great fantasy universe based entirely around biological modification and plants, providing a totally different set of rules that the mystery's clues can draw from. I want to see the characters' certainty that their empire's rulers have only everyone's good at heart unraveled in this next book.

How to Hide an Empire was recommended by one of my mutuals on Twitter, Dolly, and seems to be both very readable and covers a lot of the history I learned and forgot from shitty Chomsky and Parenti books when I was a teenager. I want to be able to challenge the propaganda around me more and have American history down pat.

The Jasmine Throne is a political fantasy centered around a fictional India, with some level of a lesbian subplot. I have all three books in the trilogy now from the library and am going to move onto this next for my fiction reading after Private Rites. I love court politics and I want let myself get wrapped up in the drama for a good long time.

[ladyluscinia]

I do have to appreciate (?) how hard the haters work to ensure their definition of bigotry is Izzy-escape proof. I mean, yeah, if you are saying that it's functionally impossible for him to not be some flavor of bigoted because technically the very concept of having socially informed ideas about ways to be a man and men's behavior is intrinsically linked to homophobia and misogyny and racism, and therefore expressing any negative opinion on how a male character is behaving counts as such...? Alright then? Telling a man not to sob over a breakup (even with a hypothetical woman!) is homophobia AND misogyny if you consider the social reason that would draw attention as a behavior to criticize and our society's collective idea of masculinity. You've defeated me with your social studies thesis logic on Every Insult Under The Sun Can Be Traced To Bigotry 🤷‍♀️

But in practice I still just don't think it's worthwhile to say the antagonist with the literal raison d'etre of not being 100% supportive and approving of the protagonists in order to cause conflict is being irredeemable or violently bigoted by *checks notes* insulting men in the story about men. Just like I don't think Stede or Edward or the rest of the crew are being irredeemable bigots by also having socially informed ideas about masculinity???

Like, looking at it that way Stede is a clear misogynist (and more, but we'll stick with just the misogyny bit). I don't think he even realizes he is one, but the whole Mary sequence and just being a man in the 1700s makes it pretty obvious. He might do less misogyny in the future on account of just not interacting with women (suspect behavior tbh), but fundamentally he has not remotely addressed or deconstructed the misogynistic ideas that shape his entire perspective. Honestly, he's probably not going to at this point. They drew attention to his worst behaviors under the framing of just kinda being a self-centered ass, made him realize he fucked up and apologize to the woman he hurt over the course of about 15 minutes, and then sent them both toward happier endings.

Is this story saying that misogyny is actually fine and misogynists are admirable and likable people? Or that misogyny is just a surface level form of bigotry that doesn't really affect your attitude toward women once you stop being an ass? Or, maybe, is the story just not about misogyny???

And if it's not about misogyny despite being literally incapable of avoiding characters expressing misogyny (since in reality that's not so cleanly excised), then why on earth does it have to be about homophobia? Is it just because the leads are gay men?

Like, I'm sorry, but media for 5-year-olds has long been able to tell stories about antagonists learning that it's okay for boys to cry and be emotionally vulnerable and it's mean to make fun of them without insanely complex layers of deconstructing homophobia or intensive requirements to overcome internalized biases. I bet OFMD can teach that lesson without explicit, targeted homophobia. No one is denying in serious meta that Izzy has been an ass? Or that character development to be less of an ass is the logical next step?

I'm not disputing their assertion that Izzy is homophobic because I think the writing team accomplished the impossible and erased homophobia from the background hum of existence for this one TV show. I'm disputing it because the essential second half of said assertation is that this is a meaningfully included and emphasized part of his characterization that will typically justify his future karmic punishment for bigotry and/or require much greater redemptive effort of him to get any sort of neutral-to-happy ending on the table. That's why they care about it. The effect on the story!

If the story isn't about homophobia, then no, the antagonist doesn't usually have "homophobic" as a character trait I need to account for.

And twisting that fairly straightforward narrative interpretation into some kinda gotcha about "So you deny insulting gay men with gendered insults has shades of homophobia?!?" is - to borrow a phrase Lucius used against Stede - "kind of a bitchy question."

[rocketrouquine]

Random thoughts on my second viewing of episode 2 :

The « you wear fine things well » replay : Taika hasn’t the same expression, when I tell you this is a different take, I’ll bet my script supervisor ass on it. If they did that, it’s for underlining the fact that they weren’t seeing the same thing in the relationship…

Stede, my sweet angel… maybe don’t tell everyone you meet (even your lovely towel collegues Maggie, Jane and Tiff) about your heart trouble with fucking Blackbeard.

The way he’s saying « they draw him to look like a ghoul » is so sooooo gay. Like disgusted sassy sista level.

Fuck you that’s how I am may or may not become a motto of mine.

Actually this whole scene, Lucius is in a fucking telenovela. The stop in the doorframe, talking across your shoulder without turning and the little disappointed head nod at the end. « oh, yeah. Now you care ? » (it just missed an hairflip) He came to ham and I’m here for it.

Sea witch again. I mean we actually saw him talking with birds last season so why the surprise.

Ed behind Frenchie in every room like a fucking dead child jumpscare in leather.

He’s actually terrifying all calm and smiling. You can sense that he can turn at every second. Like a MF snake (you know the ones, fuck yuuuuu)

Sir when you approach me like that, all analytical and stuff, I don’t think there’s anything I won’t let you do to me (imagine Ed turning this on Stede in the bedroom pffffiouuu)

*Wheeze « A panto ? » (give this man an Oscar)

I really have trouble with « he’s our dick ».. you are aware that this is the man who had absolutely no problem stranding your love on an island ? Who pushed for it, even ? That in the memory you evoke, he’s the only one not sitting with you all, all alone in the background sulking ? I guess if you consider him like the nasty old dog who bites everyone and barks all the time, I can see it…

You have hope, it’s cute . Archie is actually really interesting because she represents the classic pirate (like Ed’s crew before being Stedefied), being put amongst the crew of what she thinks is probably the rockstar of captains but they do things all weird and emotional (between bloodbaths). You can see that she’s tempted but also don’t hesitate to throw the first punch in the battle to the death because that’s how stuff goes.

Take the fucking leg (« …bitch » very much implied)

The little ships were all over the place. They kinda treat Olu like a himbo this season which if my memories serve me right was the opposite of what he was last season. (He’s still emotionally intelligent but the logical sense seems to have gone. In this scene anyway)

Every time a new character says China, I cannot take out of my mind that they are mocking Trump. (Roach’s one in particular was spot on)

Awwww Olu’s all bashful and shit, I’m sure he’s moving his shoe on the ground, like a little shy child.

Stede, All happy about the soup : So wild it’s insane ! Lucius, eyes rolling to the back of his head : Jesus Christ, Stede, keep your pants on. * gets up and go drag on his cigaret like an old nihilist prostitute. * Ahahaha! Lucius is so done with Stede, I can’t ! He reminds me of me with my mom when I was a teenager. (I was horrible)

shitty pathetic incompetent captain  Holy shit, this burn must have dried up the ocean and that’s why they have to drag the boat on land.

The Oookay of Black Pete must be studied.

I had a dream about you last night  and with that phrase, all Blackhands shippers burst into flames. To then die a horrible death for the next minutes and being turned to dust at … best I could. (Also, If I had told you about « good for you » « it was good for me » I don’t think this is how you would have envision it)

But seriously the acting in this scene was INSANE. (I mean more than good, I mean stellar)his laugh is haunting me.

Wait… wait.. is he doing the romcom trope of being horrible to him so that he would leave, to protect him ? but instead he tortures him until he has no choice but to kill him ? Ed, darling, you basic trope girl.

Yeah I guess we could call it closure. Hum.

Yeah, I am ! And I’m alone ! Don’t be like me. Stede has evolved SO MUCH. I’m actually very much hopeful about the discussion he’s going to have with Ed. It won’t be miscommunication bullshit.

The puppet game… Something tells me Lucius won’t like to listen to Pinocchio anymore. Don’t even ask him to make any voice. Stede! The hand went where you think!

Well, Hello back little black scarf which goes with everything ! Especially with the ultimate descent into the pitts of madness and despair.

Stede is choosing « alive » on Blackbeard old poster : thank you, magic of belief, for saving Ed’s life !

There’s a drawing, I repeat, he doodled Ed’s face amongst little bouts of emo poetry… oh stede.

Beheading, arsoning, just a little bit of a dick love of his life.

HE’S NOT BROKEN. SHUT UP !

calm down, you two, with the head against head : you kissed once. In the words of spicy rat boy « Jesus Christ keep your pants on »

Romance novel cover one legged indestructible little fucker Izzy under the rain.

IZZY’S HEAD ON FANG’S SHOULDER AS THEY ARE KILLING ED, WHAT !

After the pyramid scheme, Olu being the get away text.

Okay, on to the next. It will be a fucking novel.

[booloocrew-blog]

its gay pride and 2am so fuck it, cant escape this forever

Ok. So. I just heard of this franchise called I Expect You To Die, right? It's like a James Bond parody VR game series that is known for their graphically impressive movie-styled openings. 

Well, after watching said openings as a part of my writing inspo playlist, I got recomended a trailer for the bad guy of the newest game, and...clears throat...WOMEN.

LIke, all jokes aside, she's such a cool character! I have next to no knowledge about the series apart from the fact that some narrator mission control guy named John Handler(?) sounds a lot like Lord Tippet. But I mean...I'm tempted to find out. Her and Robulter have so much potential to be both engaging, comedic, and a threat due to Roxana's former agent status and mad-science esque plan. Plus she reminds me of a certain evil villain duo in my Magical Robodoki series...and also Yzma and Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove (which is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time mainly due to those two, and I was tempted to title the piece "Pull the level, Robulter" for that very reason!)

Color me intrigued, and call me hyped!

And so, since I can't sleep, and it's 2:34 am as I'm writing this, fuck it, here's a drawing of Dr. Roxana Prism, as best as I can draw from the few non-holographic, non-oddly colored images of her in the trailer!!!

Trailer itself: https://youtu.be/vz7BqJtPk0g

[grapefruide]

Episode 3: Across the Street

September of 2005! Hey, that's when I was born.

Wonder why Graham was taking the Criminology course. It could just be the Eye's desire to know more, or perhaps he was trying to learn more about what was happening to him specifically. We never really get Graham's whole story, which is one of my favorite things about this statement. How did he get involved in this whole situation? How did he get the table? Who the fuck is this guy?

Amy, I can tell you with complete certainty that there are interesting things you can do with your life aside from Criminology and alcoholism. At least try some more interesting drugs.

I say this as a blue-eyed person: blue-eyed people are Eye-oriented as a whole.

Only one A5 notebook? I could do better.

What, scared to see someone as eager to stare at strangers as you, Amy? Huh?

Wow. What a coincidence. What a coincidence that they live on the same street.

I think it was the stranger thing, the NotThem. I don't know if someone else has thought of this already, but with it's ability to mimic drainpipes, why not a lamppost or something? It just makes sense.

Gay gay homosexual gay (how did Amy not think he was gay this is the gayest man eveeeeeeerrrrr)

Something about Graham's backstory rubs me the wrong way. He's 100% lying about something, if not all of it.

I wonder if Graham gave a statement. He seems kinda private and paranoid so I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't, but it would still be cool.

"Fallen in love with it." Sure. Not hypnotised? Not compelled by a dread power? Sure.

How did she not notice Graham living across the street from her if she's such a people watcher and he apparently leaves his curtains open at all hours?

That is Incredibly Fucking Creepy, Amy. Don't fucking stare at people through their windows at all hours, girl. That's freaky as fuck.

Yeah I don't think Graham is being weird enough to justify this, Amy. Literally don't try to defend yourself.

I liked eating paper as a child. But was Graham doing this as a sort of symbolic ritual to internalise the message, or was he trying to get rid of the notebook?

Graham has a great taste in pizzas.

He's definitely being manipulated on an avatar level here. I wonder if he has any will of his own anymore, honestly. He doesn't seem to have any life at all outside of what's connected to the powers.

I love the depiction of the NotThem in it's pipe form. It's so eerie and intriguing.

I fucking love the NotThem. It is one of my favorite entities, and definitely my favorite Stranger thing. Not sorry, Nikola.

I think the NotThem draws their victims in through the table. It made the table a part of itself. It hypnotises them with the pattern and draws them in. It memorises the victim and binds their energy to the entity. Did Adelard Dekker make it this way, was it just a convenient object, or did the NotThem make the table this way?

We know Polaroids don't change. But what about older photos, also made of film? And what about digital pictures of Polaroids?

She's gonna get taken someday~

But seriously I wonder if she's going to be a future victim. It would make sense that the person who notices would be next. It's not like anyone would really notice (except for the next noticer lol).

Keep watching

[dracothedeatheatingcupcake-ao3]

slides into your inbox

hi i uh. drank a sinister potion (dr. pepper) on the way to school this morning and the problem with perfection filled my head for the fiftieth time so. i'm here now. soooo uh, warning for a very crazy caffeine induced audhd rant. 👍

i just like.... kinda wanna let u know how much this fic means to me. like fr. like seriously. it means a lot to me. we've been mutuals for a while so i feel like now's def a good time (and a long time coming lmao)

iirc i found ur fic when i was in the danganronpa trenches in like, 2021/2022 i think? it was summer and i had nothing better to do with my free time and i was super bored and ishimondo was my personality and i found it while going thru ao3 and was like "yeah. this sounds cool"

and i did NOT know what i was getting into let me tell you. adored the writing really fast. ur skill level actually blew me the fuck away like. instantly. all the characters were incredibly in character, everything was so detailed and i LOVED the fact that you made your writing very emotion driven. like you wrote a lot with like, exaggerated punctuation and pauses and spaces and stuff that i rarely ever see but i feel like your writing was like, so much better for that??? its something i've started to use in my writing because it just draws you in so much and just. puts you into their shoes almost instantly. like it sounds like you're in their head. like i think like that (got that narrator brain in me) and it was just so cool to see someone write like that. got a lot of good moments

and i honest to god binged that fic because it had me by a chokehold. like i'm talking i barely got sleep because i was so excited to read the next chapter the next day that my body would wake me up earlier. and i'd pull it out and binge the next chapter. and when i got to a point where the chapters where still being updated, i remember checking like. every sunday night or so every week to see if it got updated. so many cliffhangers that i was not normal about..........

and i recommended it to EVERYONE i knew that was into danganronpa. like i did not care if they usually read fanfiction or not i would sit there and go on infodump rants about this gay fanfiction i found on the gay fanfiction site and ik i confused them but like. that was how good it was to me. felt like it was a real book. and not only that i honest to god felt like i was reading about me.

like the way you wrote taka meant and continues to mean so much to me to this fucking day because i rarely ever see characters that are like me, at least in an honest to god way. and i was already connected to taka and loved him but i think you made him feel like an extension of me in a way and it just like. idk. it spoke to me man. ik i sound dramatic but it did.

like an autistic queer kid with a strict parent being thrown into so many situations where you just automatically assume everyone else is watching you, judging you, based on past trauma and experiences and just. at the same time so emotional and passionate and just genuine for lack of a better term. and the panic attacks that were written i actually almost had some during reading it because i felt it. that felt like me honest to god (not a bad thing btw!!! i am ok!! but that's a compliment because that's how accurate it was!!)

and during a time where i was dating people who just. idk its hard to explain. i knew they cared about me but there were so many times where there were disconnects. sexuality and gender (gender's not really a part of the story ik but yk what i mean) was a big one. and i felt how he would feel when mondo wasn't exactly the best when it came to his behaviors and expressions of love.

and now i'm with someone who is like. mondo at all his best moments. and even when he matches mondo's lower ones it feels like, there's more times where we can do what they did in the fic and work through it. be there for each other because even if we're both fucked up yk we can like. work through it. and that's so cool honestly?? its not transactional, it means something. i've felt both sides and it's so. crazy to me. it's just wild.

and while i didn't read a lot of it (mental health was NOT in a space where i could i'm gonna be so real) the other installment, the one where mondo comes over to taka's house and they gotta hide and stuff? i've felt that. god i've felt that. my current boyfriend (also a trans man) and i have had so many times where we've had to act as "friends" and hide our romantic gestures and being so deathly afraid of getting caught yk?

idk this fic made me feel seen, and i wonder if there's like... anyone else that feels that way. idk i feel like their definitely is. and i just kinda wanna like. thank you for writing something that just. made me feel heard in a time when i really really needed it. even if we didn't know each other it felt so wild to have a stranger sit there and give me and indirect hug and let me know that i am not the only guy struggling out there with this stuff. it's changed the way i view myself and how i view the world and it's so cool to me that even fanfiction of all things can do that. that's nuts man. you did that and i really wanna emphasize that you should be proud of that. that's so cool. you're writing is so fucking cool man.

and also another thing i. love. that you also wrote about sex being a form of like. expressing love for some people. i am demisexual so like. seeing a character that seemed to also exhibit that and really only feel and have that strong attraction to someone they love romantically and have a connection with, and do it to let the other person know they love them. it's like. that's cool. that's so cool. i'm shaking you that's so cool /pos

and while i'm not fixated on dr right now (as you can. probably tell. (btw obligatory "watch lego monkie kid but also you do not have to i just wanna let you know its cool" plug because of Tha Autism(tm)), and while my comic i was going to make is on a very long hiatus bc adhd is beating the shit out of me, i really want you to know how much i appreciate this fic and how much it just. lives in my brain. how much it makes me emotional to this day because it spoke to me; some random dude who was just getting out of high school who fucking needed that really really bad. and also i want you to know how excited i was when we become mutuals and i'm really really lucky to have someone so cool as my mutual, and you've become even cooler in my brain now that we're kinda yk. in a vaguely similar circle.

anyways i appreciate you so much!!!! and even if we're in different fandoms and stuff, and even if tpwp is also not being continued/on a hiatus i still appreciate what you did with it, and what you do now. don't understand all the fandoms you post but i got that respect for it. i'm in the corner with pom poms cheering u on.

so um. yeah! that was long. but i'm hyped up on caffeine and neurodivergent so ujhm. yea. hopefully this made sense lmao

~ your very much not normal mutual tyler 👍

Okay, sorry for the late response, I saw this when I got up this morning and needed the day to figure how to respond because this was. So much (in a good way I promise!!!!)

So, first of all, THANK YOU FOR THIS!! It's easy as a fic writer to feel discouraged with your writing, or to feel like you're not as "good" as other people, and it's things like this that remind me that whether or not I'm a "good writer," what I write does matter to people. And that's just... really special to me, so thank you for writing this all. It means so much to me.

I'm glad you like the dramatic pauses and the way I write, though! When I was younger, I always tried to limit doing that sort of thing, since I knew it wasn't considered "good" or "proper" writing. But with TPWP I just... decided to let myself write how I wanted to write and not think too much about it. I wrote TPWP kind of how I think, because I wanted it to feel like it was Taka's thoughts and emotions, even if it wasn't in first person. And I'm really glad that came across!

I've always been really big into psychology and introspection, which is one of the main reasons I write about things like that a lot. I like to get into characters heads and try to figure them out. See what they'd be like if this thing happened, or if this thing hadn't happened, etc. I write about struggles, because I struggled as a kid, but in more quiet ways. I mean, all things considered I had a good life. supportive, loving parents and older brother, good grades, people generally liked me and I never got in trouble. But I was so determined to do well that I psyched myself out. I was terrified of disappointing people and losing what I had, and I crumbled in middle and high school. Luckily I had good parents so I was able to stumble through it, but it always left me feeling isolated, since I could never articulate why I felt so off inside. It wasn't until I took an "abnormal psych" class in college that I even realized I had intense anxiety.

All of this to say that I'm glad I was able to resonate with you through my writing. I could never find the words to articulate myself when I was younger, so I took to writing to try and connect with people, to get a message across. Most of my stories have some form of "moral" or "lesson" that I'm trying to get across, lessons that I had to learn myself growing up. TPWP's was that perfection is impossible and that you have to learn to accept yourself for who you are. Honestly, I put the most of myself into Taka, since while I never had a distant parental figure who wanted me to be absolutely perfect, I was kinda that figure to myself. I wanted so badly to be "perfect" and "the favorite" and when I wasn't, I freaked out. I shut down and couldn't even explain to my parents why. So, with TPWP, I wanted to let other people know that it's okay to just... be you.

I don't know if any of this is making any sense, sorry. I had a long day at work and my head is a bit jumbled. Mostly just... thanks for writing this. Things have been tough lately between school and work, and it's nice to be reminded that my stories do matter to people. I never wanted to be a professional writer, but I did always want to write something that made someone, somewhere, feel something. Hopefully something good, something cathartic.

Oh, and as for the sex thing... that was honestly unintended, ha. But I'm Ace, so to me, that's what sex is. Or what it should be. A way to connect emotionally with your partner above all else. Honestly, the only reason I wrote sex into TPWP was to explore the way it would interact with their friendship, not to be like... sexual, ha. Glad you liked how I wrote it!

Anyway, thanks again for writing this!! And I'm glad we're mutuals too! Yeah, I am part of some interesting fandoms on my main blog, but I'm glad it's not too off-putting, ha. I'll try and check out that show some day, though! I don't have a lot of emotional energy to get into a new show at the moment (as I'm sure some people can understand, since starting a new fandom can be a lot at times), but maybe once (IF) things calm down for me I'll take a look! I have seen a lot of posts about the monkie kid show, not just from you, so it's something I might check out one of these days. I'm mostly waiting for Our Flag Means Death season 2 to air tomorrow so I can get washed away into Pirate Town for the next month or so, while the episodes release. 😅😅😅