#This is just me rambling about two characters i love tbh

[fanfics4all]

Crimson Ties

Request: Yes / No Ok, this might be kinda weird but I was thinking about reader being being FP Jones's oldest daughter (she's around 25 to 26) being in the BAU and dating Spencer. They go to Riverdale for a case and Spencer originally didn't really think about meeting readers' parents at all. But when he gets there he has to work with the new sheriff... FP and is terrified the entire time. If not that's ok Anon

Don’t be shy, request things! <3 Have a nice day/night

Spencer Reid x Fem!Jones!Reader 

Word count: 1546

Warnings: Mentions of murder but nothing specific 

Y/N: Your Name 

Y/N/N: Your Nickname

A/N: I love this so much tbh, I really might do a part 2

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(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

Growing up in Riverdale, I learned early on that I had two choices, let my circumstances define me or fight my way out. I chose the latter. Being FP Jones’ daughter came with baggage. The Serpents, the drinking, the unstable home life- I knew I had to work twice as hard to build something better for myself. I threw myself into school, determined to prove that I was more than just the daughter of a gang leader. 

By the time I made it to the FBI Academy, I had already perfected the art of pushing through adversity. Long nights of studying and grueling physical training, but I never backed down. When I was recruited into the BAU at twenty-four, it felt like all of my sacrifices had finally been worth it. The BAU was everything I had worked for, but it was also more than I expected. The cases were brutal, the weight of each victim’s story pressing against my chest. But the team? They became my family. 

And then there was Spencer Reid. 

At first, he was just my colleague- the genius with an eidetic memory and an endearing ability to ramble about statistics and obscure literature. I had never met someone like him before. He saw the world in numbers and theories, but at the same time, he had this overwhelming kindness that made it impossible not to be drawn to him. 

We started as friends. Coffee breaks turned into late-night case discussions, which turned into inside jokes and shared book recommendations. I wasn’t sure when my feelings for him changed, but one day, I caught myself looking forward to seeing him more than anyone else. I started noticing the way his face lit up when he talked about something he loved, the way he would always make sure I ate during long cases, the way he never pried into my past but somehow understood me anyway. 

And then one night, after a particularly rough case, Spencer blurted out something about the statistical probability of workplace relationships working out. I remember raising an eyebrow at him, realizing what he was trying to say, and before he could spiral into another nervous rant, I kissed him. 

Now, two years into my career at the BAU, I had more than just a job I was proud of, I had him. Spencer, with his never-ending knowledge and his gentle heart, was the best thing I never saw coming. He’d read to me after long days, his voice a comforting lullaby in a world full of chaos. I taught him how to ride a motorcycle, laughing when he hesitated before finally getting the hang of it. I had spent my whole life trying to outrun Riverdale, but with Spencer, I finally understood- I didn’t have to run anymore.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was just about to head home for the night when my phone buzzed. The name on the screen made my stomach tighten- Daddy. 

Dad and I had come a long way from the messy, broken relationship we once had. After years of struggling with addiction and gang life, he’d finally turned things around, earning back Jughead and Jellybeans’ trust and even becoming sheriff of Riverdale. I was proud of him. But he rarely called unless it was serious 

I answered immediately. “Daddy? What’s wrong?”

His voice was gruff, but there was an unmistakable edge of worry beneath it. 

“Y/N/N, I need your help.” Those five words made my heart skip a beat. 

“What’s going on?” I asked, gripping the edge of my desk. 

He sighed. “We’ve got a situation here. A couple murders, four bodies so far, and all killed the same way. Small town like this? We ain’t equipped for somethin’ like this. I need the BAU, Y/N. And…” He hesitated, then added. “I need you.” 

I swallowed hard. I had spent years distancing myself from Riverdale, trying to build a new life away from the ghosts of my past. But no matter how far I went, it was still my hometown. My Dad was still my Dad, and my younger siblings- Juggie and JB- they were still there. If there was a killer on the loose, I needed to do something. 

“Email me everything you have.” I told him. “I’ll bring it up to my boss.” 

“Thank you, Princess.” Dad’s voice softened, a rare moment of vulnerability. 

“I know comin’ back won’t be easy, but… I trust you.” 

After we hung up, I took a deep breath and opened my laptop. A few minutes later, an email from Dad came through, containing crim scene photos, coroner reports, and his own notes. I scrolled through the images, my stomach twisting at the brutality. The unsub was organized and calculated. This wasn’t just random violence, this was methodical. I printed out the file and headed straight for Hotch’s office. Knocking twice, I stepped in. 

“Agent Jones.” He acknowledged, looking up from his paperwork. 

“Sir, I just got off the phone with my Dad, FP Jones, sheriff of Riverdale. They have an active serial murder case. Four victims, same MO. He’s requesting the BAU’s assistance.” I placed the file on his desk. 

Hotch opened it, flipping through the images with the sharp gaze of someone who had seen too many horrors. He didn’t speak for a moment, analyzing the details before finally looking up. 

“I’ll have Garcia pull everything she can. If what your Father says is accurate, we should be there as soon as possible.” He closed the file and handed it back to me. 

“Gather the team, please.” 

I nodded, turning to leave, but his voice stopped me. 

“Jones.” He said, his tone softer. “This is personal for you. If at any point you need to step back, let me know.” 

I met his gaze and gave a small, determined nod. “I appreciate it, sir. But I can handle it.” 

As I walked out, I quickly made my way through the bullpen. First stop, Morgan. 

“Hey, pretty girl.” He greeted me, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?” 

“We’ve got a case.” 

His expression sobered immediately. “Where?” 

I hesitated for only a second before saying. “Riverdale.” 

His eyebrows shot up. “Your hometown?” 

I just nodded, already moving to find the others. Within minutes, I had gathered Emily, JJ, Rossi, and Spencer, quickly briefing them on what I knew. As expected, Spencer’s brow furrowed in concern when he realized where we were headed. 

“Y/N… are you sure you’re okay with this?” 

I took a deep breath and met his eyes. “I don’t really have a choice. My family is there.” 

That was all the explanation they needed. Hotch returned a moment later. 

“Garcia’s pulling everything now. Wheels up in thirty.” 

The jet hummed softly as we settled in for the flight to Riverdale. Spencer sat beside me, his knee bouncing slightly, a telltale sign of his nerves. I reached over, placing a hand over his, and he immediately stilled, though I could feel the tension in his fingers. 

“You okay?” I asked, tilting my head to meet his eyes. 

He exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just… your father used to be a gang leader. And your brother is now the leader of that same gang. And your little sister grew up around all of that. There’s a statistical probability of-” 

I squeezed his hand. “Spence, they’re not gonna bite.” I smirked. “Okay, maybe Jughead will give you a hard time, but he’s all talk.” 

“Jughead?” JJ asked. 

“It’s a nickname.” I shrugged. 

Morgan, who had been listening in, chuckled. “Kid, you realize you’re about to meet a family that survived gang wars, corrupt mayors, and serial killers, right? You might be a genius, but I don’t know if that brain of yours is gonna save you from this one.” 

Emily smirked. “Y/N’s family is basically the Riverdale Mafia.” 

“Hey! We ain’t the Lodges!” I protested, but even JJ was laughing at this point. 

Rossi leaned back in his seat, a knowing smile on his face. “I give it ten minutes before your Father pulled him aside for a ‘friendly’ chat about how he’ll bury you in the woods if you hurt his daughter.” 

Spencer paled. “I-I would never hurt her.” 

“Good answer.” Emily teased. “But you might want to tell FP that before he comes after you with a shotgun.” 

I rolled my eyes. “You guys are the worst.” 

Morgan leaned forward, grinning at me. “I still can’t believe you were a biker babe in your teens. You, all studious and determined in the Academy, and meanwhile, you used to ride around town like some kind of rebel?” 

“I had layers.” I said dramatically, flipping my hair over my shoulder. 

“And for the record, I still have my bike.” 

Morgan let out a low whistle. “Damn, pretty girl. Now I really want to see the old you in action.” 

Spencer groaned softly, muttering something about how my family was definitely going to eat him alive. I just leaned in and kissed his cheek, whispering. 

“Relax. They’re gonna love you.” 

Even if he didn’t believe me yet, I knew the moment they saw how much he meant to me, my family would accept him... Well, after Dad gave him ‘the talk’. 

Tag list: @les-bio-lie @tashy-bear @ashwarren32 @hollie-blogs-blog1 @lover-of-books-and-tea @nerdygaloresposts @teenwolfbitches28 @kmc1989 @drw0301bieber @lady-of-lies @ravenmoore14 @ravenempress101 @cillianchamp @rowanthomasknapp @rachelxwayne @ready-4-fanfiction @madammarvellous-blog1 @pettyjayy @bruisedfists-and-splitlips @answer-the-sirens @andreasworlsboring101 @reidssmile @currentfangirl-futuremedexaminer @mggstyles @satans-0-spawn @emofairygay @thesoftestwarlock @liz-owl 

[avnasace]

(mild spoilers: captain america brave new world)

"you can feed a million people with a phone call. but the question is, who is in the room with you when you're making those decisions? is it the people you're gonna impact? or is it just more people like you?".

for me this is the moment that probably led bucky to where he is now. "steve gave people something to believe in, you give people something to aspire to."

[skunkes]

i loooove when ocs unrealized development makes them feel like real people like no i dont know whether talon is genuinely attracted to women after years of both clinging to them for safety and years of putting them onto that untouchable idealized Perfect Protector Pedestal that must remain untainted by any bad experiences, so he doesn't even try to Be With any. He doesn't know either

[chibishortdeath]

Ok so yesterday I was looking up Simon (common occurrence) cause I was drawing him (another common occurrence, drawing isn’t finished yet) and a took a little better of a look at his armor plate from Simon’s Quest and the designs on it.

So—

These gold patterns are very swooshy, fluid shapes with some very spikey, hooked sections. They also have gems inlaid in three places on the chest right at the ends and center of the design, with little circles coming off of it dedicated to them specifically. And it sounds weird, but this looks like a floral design to me, or at least some kind of plantlike. Very stylized for sure, but in the way that the fleur de lis is supposed to be a lily and doesn’t look exactly like one.

So at like uh midnight a bit back I looked up some stylized plants in art and whatnot and boy was that a hard search because google doesn’t know what you mean by “floral stylized in a similar way to the fleur de lis” and the amount of AI that comes up under armor designs specifically doesn’t help. Anyway, two things it could be that I ran into—

It could be a very simplified depiction of acanthus leaves, which are sometimes depicted more like actual leaves of a real plant, but sometimes are just swooping curves with some spikiness on them. They often times also have the motif of three points of interest (usually buds or a bloom) that line up fairly well with the three gems and were common for things like metalworking and gilding. It’s a fair match, not super great since it’s not exact, but considering there’s no distinct flowers, a ok-ish bet. My biggest thing with it, even if the symbolism would be so fitting and cool, is that they’re typically depicted way more clustered and there’s usually not very much of an open space, especially on a breastplate like that.

I also ran into other armors from the time period (or at least the websites said they were) with other closer looking floral designs and had to try to find out what these were on my own. This one in particular caught my eye as a little bit closer.

One seems to be a gladiolus, and the symbolism here works out, it’s pretty standard stuff that’d be on armor. However, again, the Simon’s quest armor does not have very distinct blooms, more similar to simplified buds, so it’s hard to tell.

There’s also a possibility this could be roses, since those tends to have thorns as a main focal point and the hooked parts look thorny, or it could be a combination of multiple flowers I’m just not running into. Of course, I know the original artist likely did not mean anything in particular by this design other than “cool old looking armor design”, BUUUUT— I want to know what looks like closest to it to uh take the flower symbolism for myself hehe :3.

If anyone else has more knowledge on ye olden armor and art styles than I do, do pop up and tell me your thoughts on what this pattern looks like to you!!!

[quietlyblooms]

i think today i'm gonna continue tinkering with my lil reaper fellas and the remaining members of their team ( undecided on solid concepts, but we need some chaotic energy in this group ) before i get into my plotting call or the writing i owe. it's been really nice to have something new to work on and imagine up completely separate from chiyo or other lore i've worked on. i'm by no means letting go of chiyo -- that woman has a grip on me like no other <3 i just think this is the break i really needed.

[rui-drawsbox]

remembering the most memorable mc's (with canon appearences) from the otomes i played

all of them are phone games btw. and looong rambling about the games after the cut!

Mystic messenger has been in my radar since i was in elementary school but i played it for the first time after the spanish traslation came out (2017 i think?) Seven shaped my type in such a specific way that im not really sure why loved him so much (it was the whole "he loves you in every route" stuff). I like a lot the default mc, most of the fandom did and that was enough to won me over

Rosa is top tier protagonist tbh, Tears of Themis has really good story and characters (as far i played, not a lot but i enjoyed it) The reason i'm not that much of a fan is bc the game is expensive asf and not very free to play friendly. You're either lucky or have a big wallet with the gacha

i miss my wife man(Marius)

Ephemeral has to be one of the best free to play otomes i've played tbh (if my memories aren't tricking me, it's been years) Good artwork, good storyline, good characters and as far i remember you can unlock one chapter of the character route per day (mabye two days, idk) and the mc's background has an important role in every route (she's a zombie! she's pretty now but eventually will fall apart, aaaaand her story gets expanded in one of the routes!) ((shes also adorable)) There's also a sequel, if you wanted more of the boys! never finished it but i'd recommend it

Honorable mentions! Huellitas Mágicas is a great game! has a really good cast with well fleshed arcs for all the characters, even the scondary ones! The game shines more for the development of *all* the characters rather than just the protagonist/ml. The main theme is overcoming insecurities! Each love interest has a different way of helping our (very insecure) protagonist and helping different characters with their own struggles :DD

10/10 i recommend this game if you want something cute and can be finished in a few hours, if i remember right. It also has a sequel! with like- 12 new love interests, also never finished it bc i didnt found a guide that worked for me but ñek

A3! is my canon event as a gacha player. Discovered the english/global server, tried it and got bored, left it for a few months, tried it again and fell in love, noticed the game was going to shut down bc low sales -HAHA :(-. This is not a otome btw, this is here bc Izumi has to be one of my favorite protagonists in gacha games ever

last but not least! Obey me! Shall we date? oh dear, what have they done to you :(. The original had intense powercreep to force you to pull cards -multiple times bc that makes them stronger- and even now, the company showed a lot of favoritism to some characters, leaving others to dust bc they don't make the same money. Not to say, they released a new game with the same cast and new main story (ignoring all what happend before). And let me say: THEY LITERALLY WANTED TO KILL THE ORIGINAL GAME.

Nightbringer might be a decent game but i don't trust the devs anymore, i still remember what happend with Asmo's birthday right after the release, and honestly i don't want to sit there watching how they disrespect my favorite characters again and again and again. Loved the characters hated the devs. 5/10 you can play it if you want but i don't recommend spending money on it, it's not worth it, just search #obey me here in tumblr and enjoy the amazing fanworks that i can assure you have a lot more love than the game itself

i miss my wife man (mammon and levi)

[ineffable-romantics]

Some thoughts on why and how I believe Crowley and Aziraphale's relationship would incorporate sex/why I do not read them as wholly asexual:

This is something I've seen the most discourse about in this fandom, and I've had a few thoughts of my own that I really wanted to expand upon in a full meta/character analysis post. I do understand that this can be a contentious topic, so first, let me clarify a few things:

First of all, this is going to be long. Tbh it probably won't be that organized either. I ramble and I'm not very good at editing, so just... you know. Be warned. (*Hi, it's me from 2 days after writing this; I'm really not kidding, it's LONG)

These are all my own thoughts. They might not be hot takes, because recently I've seen more than a few people come to the same conclusions on a lot of these points as I have. But I've also had these notes in my drafts for about a week and a half now, and have been continuously adding to it as things have occurred to me. This post is essentially just somewhere for me to collect the separate but related meta I've been kicking around in my head.

I fully respect anyone who does see and prefer an asexual reading of this relationship. These are my own thoughts and interpretations as someone who is not asexual. I am in the LGBT+ community, so while I do know a few things about the asexuality spectrum, I am by no means an expert.

This is NOT something I expect, need, or even necessarily want the show (or, God forbid, Neil's tumblr ask box) to address. Tonally, it's just not that kind of show. Newt and Anathema's sex scene was very much played for laughs, and it worked for that reason. If the show found a way to address it in a way that was both appropriate for the tone of the show and ultimately satisfying, then great! But there is so much more to this relationship than sex, and I didn't need a kiss to confirm their love, so I certainly don't need a sex scene. As immortal beings (as I assume they'll stay) there is so much of the rest of their lives we'll never get to see. You can headcanon them as asexual and potentially be right. I can headcanon them as not and be equally potentially right. Again, these are just a collection of my own thoughts, because I think the question of sexuality (or lack thereof) is just as interesting a facet of these characters as any other.

Note: Tbh I've been second-guessing this whole post and debated deleting the whole thing several times for being silly or unnecessary, bc I don't want anyone to think that this is the only thing I care about when it comes to this story/characters. But if nothing else, it's inspired me to write in a way that nothing has in a very long time, so I've decided it's worth continuing, if for no other reason than that.

This is going to be a mixed bag of textual reading, subtextual reading, and a full-on reach or two. It's been a while since I've been in an English class, but if my teachers expected me to find a deeper meaning behind blue curtains, you can expect me to read too deeply into the symbolism of a loaded rifle or an ox rib. (This is probably not what my professors had in mind when grading my literary analysis papers but oh well) My point is, if it feels like a reach, I'm as aware of it as you are. I am in no way saying that all (or even any) of my points made were deliberate on the part of Neil or the actors or the writers or the directors. I am no longer the delulu Apple Tree Yard child of my youth, I promise.

If anything said here is in any way offensive or hurtful to anyone in the asexual community, please do not hesitate to message me or comment and let me know exactly what it was. I promise you it is not my intention to do so, and am happy to clarify or outright edit anything that reads that way.

With all that being said, let's talk about why I think Crowley and Aziraphale would absolutely fuck nasty incorporate sex into their relationship.

Note: I am out of practice with essay writing, so I think I'll just go down the bullet points of notes I have been making, and expand on each as best I can

Food

Where better to start than with Aziraphale's introduction to Pleasures Of The Flesh? (Just a heads up, this entire post may feel very Aziraphale-heavy, and with good reason).

This might be the least hot take here. We've all seen the Job minisode. We've all seen That Scene.

Whether this was intentional or not, the symbolism here is off the charts. Eve was tempted by an apple. So why not go a similar route and tempt Aziraphale with another fruit, or cheese, or bread, or literally anything else for his first experience with food? Instead, we go with a huge, glistening slab of fresh meat that he proceeds to absolutely go feral upon, moaning and gasping into his meal while Crowley watches with what definitely doesn't look to be disgust or even satisfaction with a good temptation. There's surprise at the ferocity of Aziraphale's appetite, certainly. But ultimately he looks to be intensely fascinated by it, while the thunder crashes, the music crescendos, and the earth literally shakes around them.

(It's also interesting to note how very little it takes for Crowley to tempt him with the ox rib. One murmured suggestion, a bit of unwavering eye contact, and vavoom Aziraphale immediately meets him in the middle.)

Cut to Aziraphale devouring the rest of the meat with Crowley splayed back on a makeshift bed, drinking wine and continuing to watch him indulge through half-lidded eyes. Outside a thunderstorm rages while they're learning secrets about each other in warm flickering firelight. It's cosy, it's intimate, and if they'd thrown in a bearskin throw blanket, it might as well be a post-coital scene straight out of Game of Thrones.

The next time (chronologically) we see them discuss food is when Aziraphale "tempts" Crowley with oysters in Rome. So Crowley first tempts Aziraphale with meat and then Aziraphale tempts Crowley with what is widely regarded to be an aphrodisiac. Interesting.

And then chronologically after that, the Arrangement begins to form, which has always reeked of a friends with benefits situation. Just to throw that in there.

It's What Humans Do

In the very first episode, we're shown Gabriel's obvious disgust and bewilderment towards Aziraphale eating sushi, calling it "gross matter" and being proud of the fact that he does not sully his body with it. Aziraphale initially tries to defend his own enjoyment in it, before passing it off as something that humans do, as something he simply has to do in order to blend in (which we know very well is not the case).

He does this again in season 2, passing off Nina and Maggie being in love as "something humans do". But it isn't, is it? Angels are beings of love, and can sense it, and understand very well what it is... up to a point. Even romantic love is obviously within their wheelhouse, given what we now know happened between Gabriel and Beelzebub (we'll come back to them).

What the "humans do" that angels wouldn't understand is messy, physical forms of love.

But here's the thing: Aziraphale and Crowley love doing what the humans do. They love drinking, they (or at least Aziraphale) love eating. They love music. Crowley loves driving and sleeping and watching rom-coms and sitcoms. Aziraphale loves reading and doing magic and earning little licenses and certificates for achievement in his various hobbies. They love to playact at being human so much that they've stopped playacting and started building a genuinely human lifestyle for themselves and with each other.

Once together in an unambiguously romantic sense, why do we think they wouldn't also want to explore one of the most prominent, intimate, powerful human expressions of love and desire with each other?

Angels, Demons, & Asexuality

Here's where I really want to clarify that in no way do I mean that sex is necessary for a healthy, fulfilling, and loving romantic relationship, or that the lack of desire for sex makes you any less human. Asexuality is a sexuality as valid and human as any. What I would say is that it is definitely in the human minority compared to allosexuality.

Angels and demons, on the other hand, are predominately asexual. Sexless/genderless unless Making An Effort. (Which, btw, is a concept introduced as early as the original book; why even bring it up as a possibility? Why not keep angels/demons being sexless/asexual as a hard and fast rule, if not to open up the potential for later use? Chekhov's Effort, if you will. And isn't that something that Aziraphale in particular is shown to do time and time again? He makes an effort in French and driving and magic, doesn't he?)

And this is why I don't believe Aziraphale and Crowley necessarily need to be asexual, narratively. There is already a huge amount of ace rep within the angels and demons (and no, not just the horrible ones. Muriel also doesn't "drink the tea" and has no reason or desire thus far to Make An Effort, and there are certainly other angels and demons who aren't horrible like the archangels seem to be who likely wouldn't Make An Effort either).

The central conflict for Aziraphale and Crowley is that they are on their own side, the ones who went native, the ones who are so different in so many ways from their respective hives. It would make sense for them to also break away from traditional angel/demon asexuality.

I say "traditional angel/demon asexuality", because I would also like to note that I would absolutely not rule out demisexuality for either of them. This post is being written to as a response to people who specifically believe that they (like the rest of the angels/demons seem to be) would be sex-averse in a relationship, and that it wouldn't be a factor in their relationship. I could easily read them as demisexual, but I do think there would be no real way of verifying this, because they've never been able to form as close an emotional relationship with anyone else but each other. Certainly not in heaven, and I can't imagine they would be able to form that kind of attachment with any of the humans, who they love and emulate but ultimately regard as the separate species they are. So yes, they could either be allosexual or demisexual, in my opinion.

Then again, now that I think about it, Making An Effort itself could be a great metaphor for demisexuality, since they would be entirely sexless/asexual until they have enough of an emotional connection with someone to consciously manifest otherwise. Since the other angels and demons don't generally form those types of emotional connections with anyone, there hasn't been a precedent for it.

Except...

Brielzebub

We do have a precedent for it now, don't we? Gabriel and Beelzebub fell in love. They are a direct foil for Crowley and Aziraphale's relationship, speedrunning right through their courtship and finding their happily ever after on the other side of things.

For being such a 1 to 1 comparison, it feels deliberate that they did not kiss. They held hands, they were gooey with each other, but they did not kiss. That feels like such a deliberate thing to omit when you know what's to come at the end of the episode between Crowley and Aziraphale.

And going back to the food = sex metaphor for a moment, let's notice how even as they fell in love over the years, even when pints and crisps were there on the table in front of them, they never felt the desire to reach out for them. They didn't need to. It's a date (love story) even if you aren't eating dinner (sleeping together).

Yes, I know Jim liked hot chocolate. No, I am not counting it because I don't consider Jim and Gabriel to be the same person with the same proclivities, and Jim was highly suggestible at the time anyway.

Gabriel and Brielzebub's big happily ever after moment (as of now) was one between two asexual supernatural beings. They did not need to kiss to drive the point home. They showed what Crowley and Aziraphale could have, if they would only acknowledge it.

Crowley & Aziraphale's Dissatisfaction

But they do have that already, don't they? If you really think about it, what do Gabriel and Beelzebub do with each other that Crowley and Aziraphale don't already? They hold hands, they spend time together, they create little rituals, they give gifts, they're visibly and verbally affectionate with each other, etc. They are more or less already in a romantic asexual marriage relationship with each other, aren't they?

And it doesn't seem to be enough for either of them.

At the beginning of the season, Crowley is immediately shown to be unsatisfied with the way things are. Obviously part of it comes from living in his car, but it seems to be more than that (especially since Aziraphale makes it clear that the bookshop is just as much Crowley's as his, implying that he could have been living there the whole time and is choosing not to, for some reason?). You could argue he's feeling unmoored without Hell telling him what to do, but isn't that what he wanted? Isn't that what he still wants, by the end of the season? All season long, he's never indicated the desire for a new job, or a new project. He stopped the apocalypse because he wanted the freedom to openly spend time with Aziraphale, to spend his time on Earth however he sees fit. Until Gabriel arrives, he has exactly that (minus a flat).

So where does the dissatisfaction come from? And if it represents anything to do with his relationship, what does he want out of it that he isn't getting already?

I think Crowley only really comes to the realisation of what he's missing when Nina names it for him, not only putting them in the category of romantic, but physical (outright asking if they are sleeping together). These two posts [1], [2] go into more detail about what I mean, but I think it really pushes him into acknowledging that their relationship is more human than either of them have stopped to consider, and what that might mean as far as everything a human relationship can entail.

After all, Nina and Maggie only advised that he should talk to Aziraphale, make clear his feelings. The decision to kiss him, to tip them over the edge from nonphysical to physical, that was all him. And no, kissing isn't sex, but I wonder how taboo even that might be in the kind of all-encompassing asexuality most angels seem to identify with. (If they're disgusted by food and drink, I can only imagine what they think of snogging, much less sex.)

Aziraphale doesn't have this moment of someone observing their relationship from the outside. He loves Crowley, and as of 1941 probably even knows he's in love with him in a way that Crowley doesn't understand yet. Which makes sense, since love is technically his job, he'd be more likely to recognise it for what it is.

However, Aziraphale's reference for romance and relationships is Jane Austen. It's chaste. It's dancing and dinner and doing sweet things for each other and roses and candles and handholding. He contextualises his love for Crowley in that soft fantasy sort of way, where it's there, it's obviously there, but it's neat and easy and unspoken. Not to quote Glee in this, the year of our lord 2023, but it's all very "the touch of the fingertips is as sexy as it gets".

Someone should tell that to Aziraphale's face, then.

I'm not going to pretend I know what Michael Sheen's script notes were, but there were definitely some Choices™ made. Because yes, there were plenty of moments in both seasons with Aziraphale looking at Crowley in a sweet, loving, smitten way. And then there were moments that were yearning.

But yearning for what, exactly? All of those sappy Jane Austen tropes already apply to the two of them. So why are there moments where Aziraphale is looking Crowley up and down like the last eclair in the window and licking his lips and visibly exhaling like he's trying to get in control of himself (see: Bastille scene + Crowley telling Muriel to ask him if they have any other questions about love)? Why is Aziraphale not only unconcerned when Crowley shoves him bodily up against a wall in s1, but staring at his lips and a beat too late in noticing Sister Mary's arrival? Why are some of his lines so suggestive? I'm sorry, but the car ride after the church explosion might as well have been the beginning of a Pizza Man porn with a really weird Blitz theme. If even my mother picked up on that vibe, I can't imagine it wasn't intentional on part of both the dialogue and the delivery.

(This section may feel like more of a reach/joke, but I'm really only 20% joking. These are writers and actors who are EXTREMELY good at their jobs; they know what they were doing here.)

More importantly, I don't think Aziraphale is even aware that there is more to what he wants. He lives in the Jane Austen fantasy and it never even occurs to him that he might be interested in anything further. It never even occurs to him that, as an angel, there is anything further to be interested in in the first place. Until Crowley forces it to occur to him. Just like I believe Nina forced Crowley to confront the idea that romantic love is what he's been feeling all along, I believe Crowley forced Aziraphale to confront the idea that physical intimacy is something he's been wanting, without even realising.

Aziraphale's Hedonism

Expanding on Aziraphale for a moment. We talked about his relationship with food, but we all know that Aziraphale is defined by his love of things that Feel Good.

It isn't just that he and Crowley love human things. Aziraphale loves the best of the best, or at least his version of it. He doesn't just love food, he loves going to fancy restaurants. He doesn't just love clothes, he loves soft, cosy, warm, plush clothes, or shiny, flashy, bougie fashion. He loves the warmth of tea and cocoa, loves getting drunk, and sitting in a comfy chair in the sunlight. He doesn't just experience, he indulges.

Given the emphasis put on things that Aziraphale loves just because they Feel Good, it feels narratively strange to assume that he wouldn't enjoy the feeling of being touched, or that he wouldn't be willing to try it, at least once, with someone he cared very deeply for. And just like the ox rib, I think that once he gets the first taste of things, he would absolutely tip over into complete and utter self-indulgence.

Dancing

I also think that dancing could be construed as a huge metaphor here. After all, we're told flat-out that angels don't Dance. Except one.

I would argue that Aziraphale, in fact, Made An Effort to learn how to Dance. He threw himself into the gavotte with delight (at a Victorian gay club; noted) and worked hard to be good at it. He's chomping at the bit to Dance with Crowley, working up the nerve to ask him with undeniably romantic intent and eagerness. So, angels don't Dance... unless they Make An Effort to do so.

We are told that demons, on the other hand, do Dance, but not well. Makes sense, since they're the ones who would want to encourage a deadly sin like lust, but have as little understanding of human love and physical intimacy as the angels. Crowley, however, is shown to be an excellent dancer at the ball, especially in his compatibility with Aziraphale.

(But Aziraphale WandaVisioned the ball so everyone knew how to dance! Yes, he did. However, the rest of the brainwashing doesn't seem to affect Crowley in any way, and they did actually live through the time period where this sort of dancing was a social norm; I'd be surprised if he never needed to learn. After all, the demons can't spell either, and Crowley is at least functionally literate, as far as we know.)

As of today, it's also been confirmed that when Aziraphale asked Crowley to dance, Crowley replied with "you don't dance." Not "WE don't dance". So going along with the metaphor, Crowley is just now discovering that Dancing is something Aziraphale is interested in at all, much less with him, and not denying that he himself is interested in Dancing. In his defense, I believe he was asleep for a few years while Aziraphale was learning the gavotte, so he wasn't exactly aware of Aziraphale's hot girl summer.

Love Languages

I want to expand on that; Crowley and Aziraphale's compatibility. Specifically in regards to their individual love languages.

We all know Crowley's love language is Acts of Service. I don't think there's any debate there. He loves it, Aziraphale loves it, they're both aware of it, we're all aware of it, God and Satan are aware of it, no surprise there.

You may disagree with me, but I believe Aziraphale's love language is Physical Touch, for a number of reasons. One of which being his aforementioned hedonism. Aziraphale likes things that Feel Good, remember? He likes soft clothes, and well-worn books. Neil himself has said that they like holding hands. And any time he is taken by surprise (Brielzebub getting together, the wave of love in Tadfield, etc.) what is the first thing he does? Reaches out for Crowley. He stops him with a hand to the chest in the pub. He leads him by the hand to the dance floor. He guides him by the waist in the graveyard. He reaches out during the entire Brielzebub scene, whether he can reach Crowley or not. Despite his own turmoil, he grasps at Crowley's back during the kiss.

The one time Crowley reaches out for him (not counting the kiss yet; we'll get there), he is aggressively pushed against a wall (by someone he loves and trusts) with a complete and utter lack of concern (and perhaps some interest, depending on how you read it).

And when he isn't reaching out for anyone, or there isn't anyone to reach out to? Well, he's wringing his own hands together, squeezing his own fingers, as if to find that physical comfort in himself.

So. With that theory in mind, we have Aziraphale (Physical Touch) + Crowley (Acts of Service). Throw in 6000+ years of deep love, cherished companionship, and forcibly repressed longing, and there is a very real potential of this combination resulting in fierce sexual compatibility. Where Aziraphale would want to touch and be touched, to indulge in physical pleasure with someone he adores, in the same the way he indulges in every other fine thing in his life. And where Crowley would want to indulge him in return, to give him everything he wants, and to take pleasure in Aziraphale's pleasure, in the same way he enjoys watching him take joy in food everything else.

So Aziraphale is an angel who is insecure about his own less-than-holy desires, who would want to treat Crowley like a luxury to be touched and cherished and adored. And Crowley is a demon who has, over the millennia, been unhappy about how they've been forced to deny even their friendship with each other, who would want Aziraphale to feel comfortable and safe and encouraged to indulge in earthly delights. That sounds like a stunning recipe for sexual compatibility to me.

"You said 'trust me'" / "And you did"

Just like the Job minisode, the Blitz is RIFE with symbolism (intentional or otherwise). This one will be quick, but I did want to touch on it because I thought it was interesting. Maybe I'm reaching at this point, but I'm assuming you read the tin.

First of all, Crowley not wanting to admit to never firing a gun before; comes off as someone who very much does not want to admit to their crush that they're a virgin ("You must have done this lots of times!" / "Umm.... yyyyyeah.")

(You could make the argument that Aziraphale having a firearms license and a Derringer in a hollowed-out book is symbolic of him not being a virgin while Crowley is. I disagree, for reasons I'll go into later, but it's a valid reading. However, I see it more like keeping a condom in your wallet; it's there in case you need it, but the opportunity has not yet risen no pun intended.)

More importantly, the theme of this entire minisode is trust. We already know they trust each other with their lives against the rest of Heaven, Hell, and the world. But specifically, this is about the importance of having complete trust in your partner in a charged, physically vulnerable, intimate moment, where the only danger is between the two of you.

Aziraphale needs to believe Crowley would never hurt him if he can help it. Crowley needs to trust Aziraphale's unwavering blind faith in him. Frankly, it all feels very symbolic of two people deeply in love losing their respective virginities with each other.

The trick is a success, and they share an intimate candlelit dinner in which they reaffirm their faith in each other. Aziraphale also begins to voice his agreement with Crowley, that maybe Heaven's rules shouldn't have to be as black and white as they are, and that there are benefits to... blurring the lines, shades of grey, wink wink (at which point even my mom was like, whoa guys, this is a family show).

Btw also: Can we all agree how much it looked like Crowley was getting ready to get a lapdance in that one scene? You know the one.

Also also: "Aim for my mouth"? Come on.

The Birds & The Bees

Now that I think of it, there's also something to be said for the fact that Crowley and Aziraphale are both obviously familiar with where babies come from (how they're made and how they're born) while the other angels aren't.

Something something Aziraphale and Crowley fundamentally understand sex and reproduction in a way the other angels (and probably demons) very much do not, nor have any desire to.

Probably not important. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

The Kiss™ & Religious Trauma

The Kiss. Where to even begin?

This has definitely been the hardest one to start, because there is so much going on here that I definitely won't be able to cover it all, and will certainly miss a few things here and there.

Aziraphale's reaction to the kiss afterwards is the most interesting to me. And I don't mean directly after, I don't mean the "I forgive you" part. I mean the way he touches his lips when Crowley is no longer in the room and he no longer needs to save face, when he is completely alone. Had it been directly after the kiss, it would have been rightfully read as horror, or disgust, a shield to discourage further action.

It's not. It isn't just a touch, it's a press. As desperate and angry and unexpected and imperfect as the kiss had been, Aziraphale is pressing it into himself, recreating the feeling as best he can. Beneath all the poor timing and shock and hurt from their fight and fallout, I think it's fair to say that it was something he enjoyed. Something he doesn't think he should enjoy, something that Feels Good that he only allows himself to indulge in when completely alone.

Remember, Aziraphale's idea of love is Jane Austen and gentleness and courtship and fantasy. If he'd ever even considered kissing an option, it might have been gentle pecks, cheek kisses, forehead kiss, hand kisses. Soft, safe, chaste affection.

Crowley's kiss turns all of that on its head. He introduces physical intimacy in a very real, very messy, very human way that I don't think Aziraphale ever even considered could apply to them. Considering what other angels are like and what they look down on, even Aziraphale's Jane Austen fantasies probably would have been considered taboo.

So for their first kiss to be rough and desperate and passionate in the way it was, of course he was confused and in shock. It was deeply physical, and as overwhelming and awful as it was in the moment, it Felt Good. Enough that he grasped at Crowley and kissed back, if only just for a moment, before stopping himself. Enough that he actively pressed it into his lips afterwards, in private, to remember.

I adore how Neil has decided to evolve these characters past the first book/season. More so in this season, Aziraphale and Crowley have both become such interesting allegories for queer people on either side of the spectrum of toxic religion. Aziraphale in particular obviously, because he is the side that so desperately wants to believe, to make a difference, and to unlearn all of the propaganda he's been fed over such a long time. Just like so much of organised religion, there is so much that he is told, time and time again, that he should not want, that he is silly or stupid or outright wrong for wanting. It reminds me so much of the severe Catholic guilt one might feel for wanting/engaging in sex for the first time, and the stigma of being queer layered on top of that.

What is so critical to Aziraphale's character is that he goes on wanting, and more than that, actively pursues. He was convinced to go up against Heaven and Hell and stop all of Armageddon because he wanted to go on listening to music and eating lunch and reading books and enjoying the simple company of the person he cares most deeply for, even if that person is supposed to be the enemy.

All this to say that if angels are as generally asexual/sex-averse as I believe them to be, narratively speaking, it would make sense for Aziraphale to be singular in that regard as well. Mirroring his first experience with food, it would make sense for Crowley to be the one to first introduce this new messy, physical, human dynamic between them, for Aziraphale to hesitate (obviously we are at the Hesitation phase at the moment), and then (eventually) for him to dive in wholeheartedly, to absolutely glut himself on this new thing that Feels Good. It would make sense for his character development to show him overcoming his metaphorical Catholic guilt and pursuing the sexual intimacy most (if not all) of the other angels would scorn.

(I can't help but remember that plot idea Neil described from the unwritten sequel, with Aziraphale in a hotel room trying to watch a full porno by way of the free 2-minute teaser clips so he wasn't technically sinning by paying for it. I so hope this is used in season 3, because gosh, I wonder why Aziraphale would suddenly be so interested in observing human physical intimacy after 6,000 years. Lonely and doing a little surreptitious research there, angel?)

Crowley, on the other hand, is the queer person who has broken free from his toxic religion. He prides himself on being his own person, on their his own side. He doesn't have the hang-ups Aziraphale does. He doesn't worry that he's going to be judged or cast aside for wanting things he's not supposed to. So it only makes sense for him to be the first one to suggest/initiate physical intimacy. It makes sense for him to be the one who "goes too fast" (another fantastic example of this dynamic beginning as early as s1; what is that conversation in the car meant to represent, if not Aziraphale being overwhelmed by the intensity of their relationship, and his fear of succumbing to it when he believes he shouldn't? It's also interesting that this is the first conversation to take place in Soho, just after watching Aziraphale realise he's caught feelings for a demon, with the red glow of lust serving as the backdrop).

Do I think the kiss in and of itself was sexual? No. I think it was a passionate and devastating last-ditch effort on Crowley's part to convey the way he feels for Aziraphale. Not just that he loves him, but that he loves him in the most human way possible. But I do think that the kiss represents how they can move forward from here, and what they might want to explore with each other once they feel free enough to do so.

In Conclusion

I am sure, deep in my bones (unless we are explicitly told otherwise), that this was both of their first kisses no, I'm not counting the gavotte, and that neither of them have ever thought to do anything else physical with the humans while they have been on Earth. Like I said before, they adore the human race and lifestyle in general, but ultimately view them as a separate species altogether, and they seem mostly happy to keep to themselves and each other, unless otherwise necessary. I just can't see either of them being drawn enough to a human to pursue anything close to sex. If Crowley in particular has had anything to do with sex in the context of temptations, I'm positive he would be inciting lust amongst the humans themselves, not involving himself directly. At least not that directly.

So, like every other human experience they've had on Earth, sex is something new that they could explore together, just the two of them, on their own side. A deeply intimate, tangible declaration of their love and everything they've gone through to earn it. A visceral finger to give both Heaven and Hell. A renewed appreciation for their corporations and for each other's. A enjoyable method for immortal beings to simply pass the time in each other's company. A new and exciting way to Feel Good, and all the variations that come with it.

You might agree with this post, or you might not. Whether this is something that is ever addressed or not, it doesn't matter to me. This is a brilliant love story either way, and I genuinely feel so privileged to witness it.

But I just can't find it in myself to imagine, given everything we know about these two characters, that sex isn't an experience they would both consume with wholehearted enthusiasm, curiosity, and profound, ineffable adoration.

___________________________________

Bonus feature: the very silly notes I made to myself that inspired this post

[luna-the-cretar]

Im gonna be honest here, the only OUAW ship I WANT to be canon is Coalecroux

And it’s not just because I ship Coalecroux. If that was the case, then id also want Frostbek to be canon, when I don’t want it to be (not bc I dislike Frostbek—I fucking adore it—but because I personally don’t think any romance would help Frost or Torbek’s characters or character arcs—same with Gricko and Grimmorning for the same reason)

No, I want Coalecroux for be canon because I’m 99% sure that Gideon and Kremy’s character arcs are kinda BANKING on Coalecroux becoming canon.

Let me explain;

(Spoilers and VERY long explanation/rambling below)

Gideon’s character arc—now that I took a moment to actually think about it after rewatching episode 18, and thinking more about Gideon’s conversation with Mrs Snake-Snake—involves him learning to allow himself to feel sadness and letting himself love, romantically and platonically.

“But Gideon already clearly loves and feels sadness” I hear you say. Well…yes and no? Gideon very clearly loves his friends, that much is obvious. But I don’t think he himself has actually acknowledged the fact that he does love his friends, or that he loves them as much as he does. Kremy and Twig in particular. Based on Gideon’s reaction to his portraits, I think he was either expecting his Pa to appear in one of them (considering Gricko and Frost’s portraits), or was expecting the entire party to show up in the portraits (like Torbek’s). But it was just Kremy and Twig—the two he loves the most, but refuses to admit it to himself.

Or how about the fact that Gideon hasn’t really let himself feel sadness (or fear, for that matter)? He has clearly felt upset, don’t get me wrong, but he also usually masked it with anger. Like when Kremy revealed that Gideon was the one marrying the pixies. Gideon was upset and (rightfully) mad at Kremy, but he was very clearly scared (if his tone, body language, and the fact that he was doing how many shots of fireball to calm himself was any indication). And that fear showed itself even further when Kremy calmed Gideon down. Or with Twig’s death. Gideon was angry at Bavlorna, sure, but he was also genuinely sad, hiding behind (or maybe being overshadowed by) his anger.

Even when he was stuck as a kempestri and couldn’t move very well (since he traded away his ability to dance), and ended up trading some of his fire to help them find the pixie camp, he was as dejected as he was frustrated (probably at himself, the situation, and just…everything, really. Poor guy had a ROUGH day tbh)

I could keep going on about Gideon specifically, but I still want to talk about Kremy and this is long enough, so…Kremy.

Kremy, Kremy, Kremy. Where do I even begin with Mr Kremy Lecroux? For one, let’s start with his character arc, which is another one I didn’t catch until late into the season (with a specific conversation with Pincushion), but upon a rewatch of the early episodes, has made me realize this was a thing as early as episode 6? 7? Whatever, it’s the lying thing. Though…it’s not JUST the lying thing, because it’s similar to Gideon’s, just…different. Because Kremy KNOWS about his feelings (towards a variety of things and people), but refuses to acknowledge them, and just outright lie about said feelings.

And it’s not just his feelings towards Gideon—tho it’s primarily what I’ll be focusing on—but also his feelings towards a variety of things. Like, for example, the unicorn thing (until he decided to finally embrace his love for unicorns once they really started getting settled into the Feywild).

Anyway, Kremy’s character arc—from my understanding—is not only about him letting himself feel comfortable in enjoying the things he does and feeling the things he feels, but also just…not relying on the lies he hides behind as much.

I mean, look at how Kremy acted at the Witchlight Carnival, the moment his ability to lie was taken away. He immediately became nervous, jumpy, trying to spin his words into half-truths, or just outright not saying anything—almost as if in fear that he might reveal something he definitely doesn’t want to be revealed (not now, at least). Or how about that one episode (don’t remember which one) where he had his outburst and called Gideon his husband (“You will not talk to my husband that way”)? The entire episode—before it was revealed he couldn’t lie—Kremy was quieter than usual, aside from planning.

Or, better yet, how about his fight with Pincushion when they first met? Kremy was trying to lie and bully his way into getting Pincushion to do what they want, and it wasn’t working. In fact, Torbek was the one who got Pincushion to listen to them, by doing the exact opposite of what Kremy was doing. And iirc, Pincushion even told Kremy that lying and bullying won’t just make people listen and do whatever he wanted—especially not in the Feywild.

And obviously, I can’t say for certain how Season 2 is gonna go (if we even GET a season 2 at this point ffs), but also…I DO know that Gideon and Kremy are so emotionally constipated and refuse to acknowledge their own feelings for anyone and anything. And I also get a feeling that, somehow, either Coalecroux becoming canon would either help end their respective arcs, or help begin the end of said arcs (if that makes sense?)

Idk, this is really long and probably doesn’t make any sense, so apologies for that

[rat-n-atty]

The last gift 🎁

Animation and some soppy rambling from yours truly!

( featuring in order, @stillnothereforanyrealreason @hyperbaguette @chaosisunderratedd @fandomgoesahhhhhhhhh @echostarsys @livzees (Hi wife!) @sakuwura-meow-meow @xcoffeebomb @cookiepopcat @axelcx11z @coralalala64 @tiredsmashbros @its-a-me-mango @libbytwq @bear-boi-5 @bluestrawberrybunny @briandraws )

BOOM!

REDESIGNS ONCE AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME ATTY APPARENTLY HAS LOST HER WRISTS (jk, but now her hands float for some reason, not Rats tho...)

Okay now it's time for me to rant about all the wonderful people I have made in the animation :D

@stillnothereforanyrealreason , @hyperbaguette and @chaosisunderratedd y'all are...the best friends I had ever got the chance of meeting. We have been through the deepest shit ever in our life and yet we all still managed to still be friends and that really surprises me. You guys are my truest friends that I don't mind rambling about redeemable villains with or maybe even share some shitty humor or go to y'all for some art inspiration but overall just have a really fun time.

I want to thank you for all these crazy 2 years we have been friends for and hopefully we still continue that crazy questionable bond 💜💜💜

@fandomgoesahhhhhhhhh and @echostarsys y'all are a bunch of freaks tbh /silly but you're bestest mates that I could ever ask for! I love hanging out with you guys and yapping about who knows what whether it be Smg4 or it be your Aus! I love how passionate you two are and I love how you guys support my own small projects as well! You guys have made me feel comfortable talking about my interests in a really long time and I just want to thank you for that 💜💜💜

You guys are amazing and I hope you two never stop being you (except maybe Tari...stop being rude /silly/j)

@livzees HI WIFE YOU LOVABLE BEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET YOU!!!!!! You are the best person I have ever had the chance to meet and get to know! You're super funny and your art is really cool and I love all that you do and create including your Rivalry Au! You don't mind if I yap too much or send you the dumbest things, you make me feel seen and noticed and I am so happy I can be silly with you (considering I proposed with an onion ring)

Seeing you pop up on my screen makes my day and being with you in VC trying to make you laugh at my dumb jokes makes me happy! I love you sm (/p) and always keep being your amazing lovable you ❤️❤️❤️❤️

@sakuwura-meow-meow , @cookiepopcat and @xcoffeebomb YOU GUYSSSSSS UGHHH WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?????? You 3 are the coolest people ever in my eyes, even though I tend to make fun of you a lot...you mean a lot to me. You listened, you laughed, and you supported me when I felt like no was. You made me feel like I belong and that I mattered.

You all helped me get out of my shell which I am grateful for (but you should also be terrified about too, I have breeched containment and cannot be held for much longer /hj) I hope you 3 never stop being your amazing selves and I hope you know that you all hold a very special place in my half dead bitchy heart ❤️❤️❤️

@axelcx11z and @coralalala64 YOUUUU!!!! THE SILLIES!!!! YES YOU!!! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!! I'll have to admit...talking to you guys at first was so nerve-racking for me because I look up to y'all but after some chats...I realize y'all are just a bunch of the silliest people ever lol but I love that about yous.

Cora, you are the first person I saw on my page and instantly had to follow because I thought your art style was so cool and I think your Aus and your own characters and creatures (as deadly as they can be, one of them gave me rabies /hj) is the wonderful silly aspect about you that I love 🫴👑✨

Axel, you're the chilliest guy I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and I love how you even consider me your doppelganger considering how little we interact lol (sorry, I'm just too shy) . I still totally love all that you do tho no matter what fandom you're in; I fell in love with your style when I first saw it so never stop creating dude 🫴👑✨

@tiredsmashbros , @its-a-me-mango and @libbytwq or as I call you, the holy Smg4 Trinity /silly. It was such an honor to finally meet you all in the TSB server but to be honest I was also on the verge of having a panic attack because I was overwhelmed being surrounded by a bunch of people I look up to the most. I know I'm not active much and I barely have anything to say (unless it's about AJR or my cursed hear me outs) But I absolutely enjoyed any interaction I got.

You guys are the biggest inspirations in my life and I hope that one day I'll be able to achieve what you do (but not today lol) you guys are awesome, I love your rants and your complicated lore and most of all, I love your art and I hope you never stop doing what you love 🫴👑👑👑✨✨✨

@bear-boi-5 HI! HELLO! IT'S ME! YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I LOOKED UP TO! When I first joined Tumblr, I remember your pretty little masked face /silly showing up on my screen and I immediately saw and loved it! You are such a master at traditional art and I love how detailed it is and how cool it looks!

When you first made fanart of my Smg5 I was absolutely shook considering at the time I was still a fairly small creator with only like 50 followers lmao but I want to thank you, if you didn't draw my Smg5 I probably wouldn't have drawn her much either assuming that people just hated her.

Meeting you in the TSB server was the coolest thing in my life because you're one chill dude and I hope that maybe when I overcome my overbearing shyness we could get to know each other better lol

🫴👑✨

@bluestrawberrybunny and @briandraws Brian, you're a freak /pos like HOW???? HOW DO YOU HAVE THE TIME, AND THE PASSION AND THE ENERGY FOR WHAT YOU DO???? Honestly if I ever had the amount of energy you have, I would be in a bloody coma. You are the first person I ever had the chance of actually connecting with a Tumblr moot (and realizing how unhinged they are /hj) but I just wanted to say thank you for tolerating me this long lol. Your an amazing artist and even an amazing author (even though I think you should be sentenced to a mental hospital for flooding the server about your Marware obsession /j )

And you! Blue! I love all your work as well! I love apprenticeship and I love your tangents! Having you and meeting you in the server has been a treat but it's also nerve racking because I'm still shy lol. I think your art is so cute and I hope you never stop!

🫴👑👑✨✨

Because of the song I couldn't add as many people as I wanted but here are some honorable mentions!

@deltaruinedcoco37 @purpdrawsthings @hamlos @chaoticlad @bow-and-aro-child @theartistisme43 @b-r-i-n-g-x @grinnames @strange0-0storm @goofy-goobers-things @arco-doodles @artist-heart83 @sspacesillyy @hi-imlooneybirdie @pisschxn @rainstormsart and PLENTY MORE BUT TUMBLR FUCKING HATES ME SO IF YOU SEE THIS THEN I LIKE YOU TOO

I love all that you guys do wether that be art or writing or theories or ANYTHING ELSE just know that you'll always have a supporter 🫴👑✨

Now this brings me to the end of my birthday party sadly, I hope y'all liked it and I hope y'all didn't eat all of my birthday cake and thank you for all the birthday art and wishes but before y'all go...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

The many joys of sharing your birthday with a holiday, it's often overlooked lol but I hope you guys enjoy it whether you're alone or you have a partner. Practice self love too because you're also important ❤️❤️❤️

Okay that's it

BI Y'ALL!

[literallythegrabber]

TBP characters x somehow famous reader ? ( It's up to you how ) thank you for reading my request 👍

so I wasn't sure whether or not you wanted the cast or the characters themselves, so I just went with cast because it made more sense.

If you wanted characters I can redo it! 💗💗 (this looks way longer than it actually is btw)

Mason

he definitely stalks you

like not in a creepy way, he's just always on your social platforms, literally waiting for you to post.

he's totally your biggest fan, and will literally attempt to fight all of your haters.

Before your relationship, I feel like he was very nervous to talk to you.

Like if you two were ever at a screening together, or a fancy event back when TBP was popular, this man would legit stare you down from across the room. Then proceed to duck under a table if you catch him staring.

But during your relationship he would be way more relaxed and confident.

He would be chill about pda and taking you on dates in public, but your fanbase would be doing cartwheels, cause everybody ships yall.

Miguel

He's so obvious about his crush on you that it's hilarious.

If you seen those lives where he's just reading comments, then one mentions your name. He's gonna ramble on about you for the rest of the live.

WILL NOT SHUT UP ABOUT YOU, and his friends are tired of it tbh.

bro literally forgets he's famous too and turns into the ultimate fangirl.

But during your relationship he's so sweet.

Always wanting to hangout with you, taking you out in public almost every day.

If yall ever broke up, yalls fans would explode.

They be acting like yalls children with how lovey dovey yall are.

Brady

I feel like he'd try to hide it.

Like he's not in denial, but he don't want nobody knowing about his crush on you.

"conceal, don't let it feel" he's literally elsa.

He kinda keeps to himself around you, in public and all that.

He wouldn't want to overwhelm you, especially with how the media reacts when two popular human beings get together.

So you'd def have to approach him and ask for a date.

During your relationship, he would thaw the ice a bit.

You'd have to reassure him of your relationship a lot.

He just wants you to be comfortable. Lazy nights at home, introverted hangouts, cooking together.

Pretty chill.

Tristan

literally the opposite of brady.

IS YOUR BIGGEST FAN AND DOESN'T CARE WHO KNOWS IT.

He's definitely trying to rizz you up at a fancy event, and you're just like 😐

Like whispering random shit in your ear, trying to make you blush, posing with you at every opportunity.

Kinda annoying tbh

But if you give him a chance he'll tone it down. He'll start be more genuine and less flirty.

Taking you out to dinner, not wanting to take pictures with fangirls even though you scold him for being rude.

def starts arguments with you for fun. Starting light hearted arguments with you for fun.

this mf is still annoying.

but overall very cute.

Jacob

He's honestly pretty chill about you.

He just casually approaches you strikes up conversation.

In the middle of an interview? "These lights are bright, am I right y/n?" Talking with a fan? "Y/n, don't you have that same shirt?" Signing an autograph? "Do you think aliens are real?"

like shut up 😭

He really just enjoys talking to you, hearing your voice is the highlight of his day.

Yall would ease into a comfortable friendship before he ask you out.

From there on its late night ft calls, stealing each other's clothes, and going on casual excursions.

def the easiest to date.

Madeleine

She's so funny.

Either confesses right off the bat, or confirms you're hers after yall lock eyes.

kinda reminds me of that one audio, YOU ARE MINE, YOU ARE MINE.

Yall could be talking about pregnant hyenas, and she'll randomly be like, "I love you".

like girl what?

During your relationship she would be super cute.

Yall always out together. You can never catch her inside for more than 10 minutes.

Mason be feeling like a third wheel every time yall three are in the same room.

Yall just in the corner flirting and mason's just sitting there like 😐.

def your hype girl, yall always turning up.

srry, this was so long 💗💗

[lssugaluv]

Ushijima W. x Chubby fem. Reader. <3

• Ushijima head cannons.

• High school characters/high school setting!

(Thinking of continuing this as these two dating as adults!)

Contains: fluff, embarrassment (from y/n’s side). Ushijima’s POV of you. <3

- A lot of Ushijima’s friends were in shock when they realized that he has a crush on you. He is not a man of many words, but they thought his type would be very different.

- Ushijima fell for how sweet and shy you are. He also absolutely loves your chubby cheeks. He loves to see you laugh because he can see your adorable dimples.

- It did take about 1 month for you to even notice Ushijima. You would never ever think he would want to even be around you.

- Ushijima thought at first that you hated him tbh. You tend to always avoid him.

- Ushijima had to speak to his bestie Tendo about you. It was when Tendo gave him advice to actually confront you.

- Ushijima waits for you after school, knowing he will be late to practice. He didn’t mind tho, he wanted to just speak to you.

- You see him and try to rush away. He finally calls out to your name and has you stop your tracks. “Do I scare you?” He says as you are a hot red mess. “No!” You tend to shout out.

- Ushijima asks for you to wait for him after practice is over to walk you to your home. You agree and you meet him by the front of the school’s entrance.

- You two walk together in complete silence. When he finally opens his mouth to say something, you stop, clenching your fists in frustration. “Are you walking me home because you feel bad for me?” He looks at you wide eyed, a bit confused and shocked. “No Y/N.. I-“ you cut him off. “Is it to make fun of me bec-“ he cuts you off and grabs your right hand.

- “I would never do that to you. I like you Y/N.” He is staring at you and uses a very firm voice. You’re in complete shock.

- “Why? Why would you like someone like me Ushijima-San?” His body moves and pulls you in for a hug. You are so in shock that you stand completely still as his hugs your warm body.

- Ushijima isn’t a guy who goes for looks. He loves your personality. The way you are so intelligent in class, the way you can ramble on and on about K-Drama’s with your friends. He loves your curvy body, he loves how you have a tummy and thicker legs compared to all the other girls.. of course he wouldn’t say that tho.

- As he continues to hug you, not loosening his hold, he says “Please don’t disrespect yourself like that. I like you how you are. I like for who you are. Let me get to know you better.”

- A quiet “yes” is all he hears from you. He is actually shocked you agreed. “I thought you hated me.” He says as he pulls away. You smile shyly, “I don’t. I think you’re pretty cool yourself.”

- Ushijima plans a date to the movies. He gets you a corn dog and popcorn and drinks. You two enjoy the movie and then plan another hang out. Next thing you know, you developed feelings for him.

- You confess your feelings to him a month later. He was a very happy camper.

- Ushijima asks you out one day after school. “Would you like to be my girlfriend?” You didn’t say anything until you said this, “I don’t want to embarrass you. I know being with me can ruin your reputation.”

- Ushijima grabs both your hands having your full attention. “I like you y/n. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. You will be my girlfriend, and I enjoy every thing we do together. Please give me the privilege to be your boyfriend.”

- You shyly agree to his request and earns a kiss on the cheek. You made him a very adorable blushing mess.

• Like | Reblog | Comment

• First time writing a chubby reader head canon.

• I can see Ushijima like chubby readers <3

• Yes, I’m a chubby girl myself 🤭

[amalythea]

「 actor kazuha 」

⤷ info: kazuha x gn!reader || fluff, with a little comfort? || wc: 1879

⤷ warnings: modern au, reader and kazuha have to hide their relationship, near 2k words of me rambling tbh

⤷ extra: this is a little different than my usual formatting (and it's longer) because it was originally a gift for @milk-violet so everyone better thank her for convincing me to post this here

The entertainment industry is a world of glitz, glamour, and unrelenting scrutiny. You knew this the moment you stepped into it, but nothing quite prepared you for the secret-keeping. Or, more specifically, the secret you and Kazuha had been guarding for almost two years now.

Dating a co-star—especially one as universally adored as Kazuha—was a perilous game. The whispers of fans, the prying eyes of paparazzi, and the ironclad contracts that forbade any public display of affection were all things you had to navigate carefully. But no amount of restrictions could dim the warmth of Kazuha’s love, the way his eyes would soften when he looked at you or the quiet moments you stole together in between filming.

You were good at pretending. Both of you were. It was practically a requirement for your jobs. But when the announcement came that you and Kazuha had been cast as the leads in a new romantic drama, your heart nearly stopped.

“It’ll be fine,” Kazuha had said when you told him your concerns. The two of you were curled up on his couch, a rare evening off spent hidden away in his apartment. His hand rested on yours, fingers drawing lazy patterns on your skin. “We’re professionals. No one will suspect a thing.”

“You mean no one will suspect a thing if you stop looking at me like that during rehearsals,” you retorted, though the playful lilt in your voice couldn’t hide your nervousness.

He smiled, that soft, lopsided smile that always made your heart flutter. “I’ll do my best,” he teased.

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help smiling back.

---

The first few weeks of filming went smoothly… mostly. The script was a classic love story with all the hallmarks of a hit: misunderstandings, longing glances, and a climactic confession scene that promised to leave audiences breathless. It was the kind of story that could make or break careers.

But for you, every take felt like walking a tightrope. Playing opposite Kazuha was both exhilarating and terrifying. When the cameras rolled, his every touch, every look, felt so achingly real that you had to remind yourself to stay in character. Worse still, the cast and crew were beginning to notice.

“You two have such natural chemistry,” the director said one day, after a particularly intense scene. “It’s like you’re not even acting.”

Kazuha’s hand brushed yours under the table during the script meeting that followed, a silent reassurance that he’d felt it too. The line between reality and fiction was blurring, and neither of you was doing a great job of hiding it.

It wasn’t just the director who was noticing, either. The makeup artist teased you about how easily Kazuha could make you laugh, while the wardrobe team joked about how effortlessly you complemented each other’s looks. Even the lighting crew started setting up shots with an unspoken understanding that the two of you simply fit.

“You know,” your co-star remarked one afternoon, a knowing glint in their eye, “if I didn’t know better, I’d think there was something going on between you two.”

You’d laughed it off, feigning confusion with a well-practiced air of innocence. Kazuha, ever the picture of calm, had simply smiled and quipped, “That’s just the magic of a good script.”

But behind closed doors, the pressure was mounting. Each whispered comment or lingering glance felt like a thread unraveling the careful tapestry you’d both woven to keep your relationship hidden. Still, the fleeting moments of stolen intimacy—when his hand would linger just a second too long on yours as he passed you a coffee, or when he’d quietly slip you a note during a break—were worth every risk.

It was a game of balancing acts, a performance within a performance. And as the days turned into weeks, you began to wonder how long you could keep the act going without the truth slipping through the cracks.

---

And then came the confession scene. The one the entire drama hinged on.

It was a quiet, tender moment set under a canopy of stars. Your character, heartbroken and hesitant, would finally admit their feelings. Kazuha’s character would take your hand, look into your eyes, and deliver a monologue so heartfelt it would make anyone believe in love.

You’d rehearsed the lines a hundred times, but as you stood there on set, with Kazuha’s eyes locked on yours, the words felt impossibly heavy.

“Action!” the director called.

Your character hesitated, voice trembling as you spoke. “I can’t keep this to myself anymore. I… I love you.”

Kazuha’s response was immediate, his voice rich with emotion. “And I… I’ve loved you all along.”

His hand cupped your cheek, thumb brushing against your skin with a tenderness that made your breath hitch. The kiss that followed was supposed to be carefully choreographed, a perfect balance of passion and restraint. But the moment his lips met yours, everything else faded away. The cameras, the crew, the carefully constructed facade—none of it mattered. It was just you and Kazuha, your emotions spilling over in a kiss that was as real as the love you shared.

When the director called “cut,” the set was silent. Then came the applause.

“That was incredible!” someone exclaimed. “You’d think they were really in love or something.”

You tried to ignore the knowing looks the crew exchanged as you and Kazuha stepped apart, faces flushed.

The applause and laughter carried on around you, but your heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the noise. Kazuha’s hand lingered on your arm for just a second longer than necessary, his thumb brushing against your sleeve as if silently grounding you. His expression was calm, unreadable to anyone else, but you caught the flicker of something more in his eyes—a mixture of pride and affection that sent a shiver through you.

“You two absolutely nailed that,” the director said, beaming as he walked over. “It’s the kind of chemistry you can’t fake. Keep it up.”

You forced a laugh, nodding in agreement as Kazuha gave a humble shrug. “We’re just following your direction,” he said smoothly, his voice steady and professional. The perfect answer.

Still, the knowing glances didn’t stop. The cast whispered, the crew exchanged smirks, and you could feel the invisible thread tightening around the secret you and Kazuha had worked so hard to protect. Every interaction was now under the microscope, every laugh, every glance, every moment that felt too genuine for comfort.

Later, as you retreated to the quiet sanctuary of your dressing room, Kazuha slipped in after you. He closed the door softly behind him, leaning against it with a small smile that melted some of the tension in your chest.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low, meant just for you.

You nodded, though your hands were still trembling slightly. “I think we might’ve been a little too convincing.”

Kazuha chuckled, stepping closer to take your hands in his. “Good,” he murmured, his thumbs brushing soothing circles on your skin. “That just means we’re doing our jobs.”

You gave him a half-hearted glare. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Maybe,” he admitted, his voice dipping into something softer, more intimate. “But it’s worth it. As long as you’re by my side.”

The words, simple and earnest, made your heart ache in the best way. For a moment, the walls around your secret didn’t feel like a cage, but a shared refuge. And even if the world came dangerously close to uncovering the truth, you knew that, with Kazuha, you could face whatever came next.

---

You could not face what came next.

The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of filming and speculation. Fans dissected every trailer, every behind-the-scenes clip, noting the undeniable chemistry between you and Kazuha. Gossip columns ran headlines like “Are They or Aren’t They?” and “On-Screen Lovers or Something More?”

Through it all, you and Kazuha maintained your careful act, deflecting questions with practiced ease. But behind closed doors, you laughed about the irony of it all.

“We’re not very good at this, are we?” you said one night, as the two of you reviewed the latest batch of fan theories.

“On the contrary,” Kazuha replied, pulling you into his arms. “I think we’re doing exactly what we set out to do.”

You looked up at him, confused.

“Convincing the world we’re madly in love,” he explained, a playful glint in his eyes. “Because we are.”

You laughed, burying your face in his chest. It was a secret you’d keep as long as you had to, but in moments like this, you didn’t mind.

But the world had a way of testing your resolve.

The tension reached a breaking point during a promotional event for the drama. The room was buzzing with energy, a sea of cameras flashing and reporters clamoring for the best soundbite. You and Kazuha sat side by side on the panel, answering questions with the kind of polished charm that came from months of media training.

“I have to ask,” one reporter began, her tone light but her intent razor-sharp, “the chemistry between you two is… extraordinary. It’s not often we see something this authentic. What’s your secret?”

The question hung in the air like a challenge. You felt your pulse quicken, a bead of sweat forming at your temple. Kazuha, ever the master of composure, leaned forward with a small smile.

“We’ve spent a lot of time together, both on and off set,” he said smoothly. “Getting to know each other’s quirks and nuances is key to creating that kind of connection on screen.”

It was a perfect answer, one that drew a chorus of approving murmurs from the room. But you weren’t sure how much longer you could keep this up.

Later, as the event wound down, you slipped away to catch a moment of peace. You found yourself on the balcony, the cool evening air a welcome reprieve from the stifling heat of the spotlight.

“I thought I’d find you here,” Kazuha’s voice came from behind you.

You turned to see him leaning casually against the doorway, his expression soft but laced with concern.

“I’m fine,” you said quickly, though the tremor in your voice betrayed you.

Kazuha stepped closer, his presence steady and reassuring. “You don’t have to be,” he murmured, reaching for your hand. “Not with me.”

His words broke through the wall you’d been holding up all night. The weight of the charade, the constant scrutiny, the fear of being exposed—it all came rushing to the surface.

“Kazuha,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “What if they find out? What if this all falls apart?”

He cupped your face gently, his eyes locking with yours in that way that always made the world feel like it was spinning just a little slower.

“Then we’ll face it together,” he said, his voice a quiet promise. “No matter what happens, I’m not letting go of us.”

The resolve in his gaze, the steadiness of his touch, was enough to anchor you. In that moment, the world and its prying eyes didn’t matter. It was just you and Kazuha, holding on to the truth you shared, ready to weather whatever storm came your way.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

@amalythea 2025. | do not re-upload, copy, translate, etc. my works on any form of media.

[starrylayle]

women (of colour) in severance

an incoherent rambling about the female characters in severance, specifically focusing on Gemma and Helly. Mostly Gemma. A bit of Alexa too. Spoilers under the cut.

Ok so to start off, I absolutely adore all the women characters in severance they're all soo spectacularly written.

I remember when I first started the show, I thought that Helly was going to be the stereotypical, fiery and the only female protagonist whose story started off interesting but in the end her only character purpose was to be Mark's love interest. Boy, was I wrong. First the elevator suicide scene and then the Helena reveal, I knew this show knew how to write women.

Similarly, when Ms. Casey was first revealed, I remember rolling my eyes, thinking, oh look another stereotypical robot-like Asian lady who has no greater character purpose. Then, it was revealed that Ms Casey was (partially?) severed and not a part of the staff like I'd initially assumed. Of course, then the Ms Casey = Gemma reveal happened and I was SHOOK. Like,, you mean to tell me that she is actually an important character with narrative purpose? And Mark's wife -- I had assumed she was a -- white woman -- who would never actually have a character arc and would only be shown in dead-wife-john-wick-style flashbacks to further the plot.

I became so hyped. Two characters, the 'dead' wife and wellness lady, were actually one which meant they (she) would actually have character arcs!! And she's a woman of color!! Woohoo!!

But now that season 2 is progressing, as much as i absolutely adore it, I'm just worried that Gemma/Ms Casey will not have the caharcter arcs I wanted. Especially the theory that Casey is secretly a clone and not actually Gemma,,, or that she's brain dead,, or that she'll die again,, or whatever else. I know that it narratively works, but I just wish there was some way that Gemma/Ms Casey could have a proper character/character arc, even if it resulted in death at the end. I hear a lot of Mark/Gemma and Orpheus/Eurydice parallels which gives me hope because Eurydice is still a fully formed character (at least in the musical Hadestown llolol). I've seen some people theorise that Mark may have romantacised his marriage with Gemma and maybe they weren't as happy as they seemed?? Which I highly doubt, considering the info we were given in 'The You You Are'. Or maybe she secretly worked for Lumon beforehand?? I dunno how I feel about these theories but they would definitely make for an interesting plotline and character arc.

I guess what I've realised is that the show writes white women very well (Helly/helena, Ms Cobelvig and Devon) and their woc counterparts,,, not so much. Still holding out hope for Miss Huang, Reghabi (what is her deal btw?? I must know!!), Natalie and Gemma/Ms Casey, and that they will have fleshed out characters by the end, but who knows.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but Alexa, the woman mark went on a date with, was actually a favourite of mine. I was convinced she was gonna be relevant to the plot lmao. but eh she feels more of the 'disposable Black gf trope' :( tbh I'm still delusional enough to believe she will come back. Maybe if Ricken beomes a sell-out Devon will leave him date Alexa?? Yes I sound like a delusional lesbian but cmon Devon clearly liked her enough to recommend her to Mark?? maybee?/ Anyways this was a tangent. Maybe if they decide to go the Helly got pregnant route (which I hope they don't unless it ends in miscarriage) Alexa will be there coz she's a midwife (or doula?? I hear different ppl say different things??)

Anyways, I know this is all very far from the main narrative so I don't mind too much, I'm just hoping that they fully flesh out Gemma because she, along with Mark and Helly, are at the core of the story.

[thedrawingduke]

Sorry if you've already talked about this before, but you've mentioned that Daroga/The Persian is incredibly important to the story of The Phantom of The Opera, and I was wondering if you would be willing to share your thoughts on why

The reason I ask is because you inspired me to write my own Phantom story (your Christian and Raoul give me life)

Please feel free to go on as long or short of a ramble as you want, and thank you for your time

I'm so glad you are working on your own Poto iteration! That's awesome <3 Best of luck <3

Oh boy--the man, the myth, the legend: Daroga. I do think he's incredibly important to the story, but I go back and forth on if it is possible to tell an effective Poto story without him. I mean, there have been so many adaptations that leave him out. But, I will argue this: someone always has to fill his shoes!

In terms of characters absolutely necessary for a Poto story (imho): you need an Erik, a Christine, and a witness/detective. Which...come to think of it...if I had to chose between Daroga and Raoul to fill that 3rd spot..........like if I could only chose one.....it wouldn't even be a competition, tbh. Funny to think about in hindsight because there was almost no Raoul in Fantomestein for this exact reason. I love that little guy, but there was a good while where he just Did Not Exist until I could come up a compelling enough reason for him to. :D

This is a tangent, but the way I see it: Christine doesn't need Raoul--but she does want him, and that's kind of the point. He's a tangible representation of freedom, an alternate future...but with the comfort and kinship of a shared past. I could write a whole essay on them and their dynamic--its fascinating (and very gothic in its own right)....but my Point is, you could arguably swap Raoul for any number of connections to "the real world" or freedom or symbology and I think the story would still work just fine.

The Daroga, on the other hand, is able to do so much in a short period of time (relatively, in the book). I feel like a car salesman talking about him--a lot of bang for your buck! The value on this guy! In no particular order:

He is practical, but deeply compassionate (for all parties).

Thus, he's a perfect foil for not only Erik but also Raoul AND Christine.

His pragmatism tempers/adds humor to Raoul's impetuous Loverboy-behavior (and let's be real, Raoul was not getting into/surviving that lair without intervention).

His relationship with Erik leaves room for intrigue whilst demystifying Erik just enough to establish how capable and dangerous he is. Does wonders for the world building and setting of the stakes.

His presence confirms (and he explicitly states) that Christine's compassion for Erik was not pure naiveté but perceptive, and virtuous--two qualities that everyone else (some readers included) doubted her capacity for! He forever has my allegiance for that last one.

There is so much that I don't think would've worked at all without him, both as a device and a person. He brings a level of nuance to the story that is refreshing and frankly necessary (especially when the topics of deformity/disability are on the table). I just think its a little bit of a shame, a little bit uncurious of so many adaptations to leave him out. I have had the best time crafting my own Daroga and I can't imagine Fantomestein without him so maybe I am just partial.

[gouraminnow]

If it's okay can I request a yandere sir crocodile x single mother reader. I've been thinking about what would happen if the reader had a baby, like would they take the reader and leave the baby or take the reader and the baby. If they did take the baby what would happen, would they be mean to the baby, nice to the baby, or just distance. Would they become a platonic yandere. I'm so sorry if I already sent this in, I can't remember if I did or not.

Yeah I got the first one, but dw about it lol tumblr can get weird with asks anyway.

Rambling under the cut! Not sure if you meant literal baby, child is of ambiguous age but can talk.

Hoo boy you've handed me a rough one, huh? I don't think Croc is a kids guy. But I don't think he'd be outright horrible to a small, unthreatening child- if not because of standards, but because it just isn't worth his time or energy to direct actual hatred toward. Yes, he was willing to destroy a whole country and hundreds of lives which no doubt included children, but I think that degree of faceless separation is very different from looking at a kid directly and going "Yeah I'm gonna kill this. Personally. With my hands." Vivi was 16 and Luffy was 17 iirc but one is an important opposing political figure with crucial information on his misdeeds, and Luffy... is Luffy. Idk. What I'm saying is at the very least I don't see him being abusive or disposing of the child- he does like you, and that's a pretty surefire way to destroy you and any reason you have to cooperate.

It could be a "cooperate and your child remains happy/unharmed" situation but tbh I don't wanna write that. Child abuse is a topic I'm willing to touch on in specific circumstances, mostly backstory but I don't really want to write about canon characters doing it. So I simply won't lol. Reader inserts can be held against their will and mistreated but I don't want to involve a kid in that dynamic, so if I write something where the reader is caring for a kid (such as Galley on 4th) then the yandere in question does things through much softer more under-handed methods.

Honestly? The best way I see this working out is Pre-Alabasta arc where Crocodile is still seen as a hero by the masses. There's a good chance that, at least initially, his affections start and end with you. Is irritated if he finds out about the kid after he's decided that he likes you. But you- you're a little slice of domesticity, you fit into his life rather nicely, he thinks. Plus you and the brat help round out his image as a wholesome do-gooder, don't you? A protector of the people, and a loving husband and father to boot. The... dark parts of his business all swept under the rug and kept away from you both, of course.

His dates with you are no doubt extravagant, but he prefers your kid not accompany the two of you on these. Probably prefers to shower them in expensive gifts, rather than spend much one-on-one time with them. I think he could get attached but he'd be in denial about it for a bit. He's able to rationalize the lack of time spent with them to you, specifically in public- he's a notable figure, is he not? While he's a Warlord and could no doubt protect the both of you(his pride will NOT have you believe otherwise), he just doesn't want the risk. You're an adult with full comprehension of the possibility of being targeted, so it's different. He is a good actor, though. While he doesn't spend as much time with the kid, he's good enough that they don't feel actively disliked. A bit... put out, maybe. It's possible your kid just... thinks he's really cool, despite it. Mysterious, close yet distant, someone who makes mom happy and is the reason they both have all this nice stuff, now. Which can be annoying, but stroking the ego doesn't hurt the kid's case. Liking the bananawanis would score them a couple points too...

-

"Do you think I could, um, meet them sometime? Y'know, if you aren't busy..." Crocodile raises a brow, taking in the brat sitting in a chaise lounge chair. They're leaning forward, looking hopeful- swinging their little legs in anticipation. They look comically small compared to the chair. He chuckles, takes a drag of his cigar- turning his head away from the child to exhale. "...I'm not sure if I can do that without consulting your mother first," he muses, watching the kid visibly deflate. Even if he knows the bananawanis will listen to him, that they would pose no threat if he did not wish them to do so- he preferred you to be happy. Introducing your small child to the large, imposing reptiles used as guard-dogs behind your back would be unwise. "So I'm afraid you'll only be looking from a distance or through glass, unless we can get her approval. We could always ask though, hmm?" The kid grins at him- and Sir Crocodile feels a disquieting lack of disdain.