#Us history is the only one treating me kindly

[ralexsol]

Oh my godddd I am not ready for midterms Im barely surviving as it is I stfg

[chlmtsdoll]

Guys I loved writing the first short n sweet inspo fic so here’s more bc that ovulation album is too good <3

WHERE ART THOU ? WHY NOT UPONETH ME ?

౨ৎ Summary: your hosting a slumber party at Art’s mansion. But you can’t quite stay away from your pull to get the man in a room where there are no others. Inspo from Bed Chem by Sabrina Carpenter 🤍

+ 18 | very much smut !, unprotected sex, age gap, (reader early 20’s) dilf!Art, size kink, first daddy kink fic (omg) semi-public sex, oral (f) reviving, pet names, this made me feel a bit slutty just writing it, needy!reader, fatherly Art ;)

A/N: the fucking edits on tiktok of Mike to Bed Chem are making me go insane ! just when I thought there was no possible way for me to be crazier over this man omfg. So I had to give the girls a fic to go w it ofc <3

It was like fate. The day you met him.

Nothing could of been more perfect when the stars aligned to bring you to accompany your solid group of trust fund friends to one of his tournaments that evening. You were like most girls your age, makeup, pop music, nice ornaments for your wardrobe — you weren’t the kind of girl that could say she knew much about sports, and certainly little to nothing to be caught landing a seat at the us open... but eventually that grew to be a substantial part of what found him to be so drawn to you.

It was that day when you’d been in the bleachers watching the blonde play like it was his life’s greatest prophecy. For the first time in your still too little years of living, you’d never felt that aroused by a man you’d only saw from the mere view of him hitting a ball with a racket.

But he was unearthly.

Built like how men used to be. Face like it came straight from heaven. Serve like he knew a thing or two in bed.

You were drunk on want, need for him. You were damn lucky your friends were loaded enough to go to all the after parties with most of the star athletes. It was insane to you that you would follow the vip and your most sports driven friends (enthusiast if you will.) to where the elites spend their time. You wanted a nice hang out. Good food. Expensive drinks. But it was between you and the universe that you’d leave with so much more.

You were in a sheer dress and kitten heels when he spotted you. Just his star studded sly smile from across the event hall, when he saw you and your friends conversing in mostly a pretentious manner like most kids your age did when they could afford the lifestyle most people only dreamed of. But not you, you were entranced, pulled away. By his wide, blue eyes that you assumed filled with the same yearn you’d been struck with. And to your quick manifest, Art was gazing right back at you.

Only sharing a couple brief exchanges with the tall and stature, modest but kindly — beautiful and magnetic man around mutual friends, before you’d both been rushed to leave. Him with his team, and you with your entourage.

Like that you were tied to the tennis star in the blink of a moment. And Soon enough — being photographed with him around the heat of the city.

Games, athlete dinner parties, press events. Even photos of you two sharing more than a couple of words, maybe even kisses, behind menus at glamorous rooftop restaurants. Magazine outlets went crazy through the roof in just a few weeks time. Milking whatever they could out of Art Donaldson and his controversially younger girlfriend.

They didn’t have enough tabs on what you two had officially been to one another and that was perfect for the two of you. Because now that time has pushed you and the blonde closer and more into each other — you’d spend days and nights locked away with Art in his new found mansion post his former divorce. Home so beautifully articulated and big enough for you to be extra generous with your time with the dream boat of a man.

It would go down in history what the two of you had done in every room.

Now, a gorgeous weekend ahead of you after your week that was always filled with Art treating you to the finest cooked dinners, at home date nights filled with breezy smiles and full closeness to balance your dates out on the town. Going wherever you felt just to hold hands under umbrellas and traffic lights. With all the new adorned love in your life, and man with too much mystic taking up your time, it had been a good minute since you saw your girlfriends, caught up or shared a drink. You were just so wound up in Art and the way he treated you like a princess to, and in your own world.

So you’d asked Art if you could host a sweet little sleepover for you and your girls at the mansion — and of course he complied. It was anything for his perfect girl since the beginning.

“I could ask the chef to whip up some,” Art spoke into you as he held your hips in his vast hands running carefully over the hem of your satin bottoms as you stood in the middle of the spacious kitchen with him.

“That’s okay, I wanna do it.” You laughed softly, as you stared up at the man. “Nothing says fun girls night like making our own home made friandises”

Art had tilted his head in slight confusion with eyes in question to your tone when you’d practice what you’d been learning in your French courses on him. It was all the most adorable to you really. Your laugh echoed.

“Treats, baby.”

“I- - I knew that,” He scoffed and your giggles were infectious with delight to him.

“It’s gonna be fun. We’ll watch movies, paint our nails, share snacking tips. It’s been so long since I’ve seen the girls.”

Art grinned at the way you lit up with excitement, and his icy eyes looked down at your figure below him. He tried not to bite down on his lip at the way you were in the pajamas usually he only saw you in. Pink lace two piece jammies. Completely recognized because he got them for you. The transparency to them was way too easy on the eyes.

Arts tongue darted out to wet his lips before he questioned, “Is that what you’re wearing ? There aren’t gonna be any boys.. right ?”

“No, silly. That of course counts out you — if.. you wanna join us.” You looked up at him through your lightly mascara coated lashes, it felt as if the flirtatiousness through your gaze just hooked Art by the belt.

“No, no. I’ll give you and your friends your space, doll.” The blonde gave you a chary little smile, “I really doubt they’d want an old man around while you’re trying to have fun.”

“Quit it ! You’re not old. And they adore you.” You stood on the tips of your toes, Art met you so you could leave a sweet kiss on his cheek, with a blush to your own.

“Thank’s for letting me have this little party, baby.”

“Course, what else would be better use for all this space ? Other than for the amusement of twenty something girls.”

Art chuckled and you surely were in agreement, because when your girlfriends did arrive it was immediately shrieks of girlish camaraderie and chatter of awe as you brought them around the place of posh and eloquent nature. Your laugh could of been heard from the other side of the place where Art had eventually been stored away for the night while your hands were knee deep in cookie dough and rainbow sprinkles. Pj sets all from the brands you and your friends never stopped talking about. Having your night filled with reruns of classic movies to sipping champagne.. and the wine, red, (your pick) was certainly slipping through you as the moments went on.

You’d been with your best friend when you two had a moment alone to catch up in one of the halls of the buoyant abode. Whispers and giggles coming from between the two of you as a glass of wine hung from your palm.

“God, he was a such a cutie.” She coo’d as you two had found a very special wall of framed photos of Art from back in his prime tennis days. The blonde around your age who seemed filled with joyfully energetic faces and awards from across the globe. A smile woke upon your face as you folded your arm to admire the man you’d now call your own.

“Sometimes I wish I’d known him then,” you simpered. “But I’m beyond lucky now. Because he’s still cute, and sexier.”

You tittered fondly and your friend laughed with you as she playfully tugged on your shoulder. “You gotta lock that down, y’know… you’ll be like- - hella famous just from being a world class tennis superstars hot young wife.”

She announced as she sipped on something burgundy and you thought with a heightened grin. She couldn’t have been farther from right. And as the months go by you would fall farther and farther head over heels for Art every day. You’d be his wife in an instant. That was the dream after all, and you could certainly say you’d been living one.

“I guess I’ll just have to wait for him to put a ring on it..” You smiled with a dazed shrug as you embarked your wine glass to your lips again.

“He better.” Your friend chirped with a proud glint and you couldn’t help but stay stuck in your thought of your boyfriend who’s been just a few rooms away for the past couple of hours while you’d been enjoying all the perks of your girls making the most of their time with you. But you couldn’t help but want Art to be nearby now, and the red wine in your system maybe hit more than just your head — you couldn’t even try to fight it.

You missed your man.

So after you’d take in a few more drinks and a bit sensually themed games with your friends, you’d made your attempt escape off to find Art. Slipping away from the girls was easy when you’d have every necessity needed to execute a very graceful grown up girl sleepover provided for them.

You’d been walking down the hall heading to where his office and master bedroom would be at the end of the home, and as you passed by the lush kitchen area, to your surprise, there he was. Muscles looked enchantingly delicious in this light as they flexed to pull on the fridge handle and when he turned, his eye line met your glance staring back his way (of course you’d both arrive at the same time.) Arts lips began to curl in an amours grin when he saw your petite figure making it’s way over to him with the same like of smile across your face.

“Hi, baby. You having fun?” He glanced down at you through his blonde lashes to meet your nod, only following up with a soft titter as you stepped closer to the man. He almost immediately picked up on the lust laced within your eye and the way you slightly leaned onto the fridge door with your aura basically gooing with sex at him now. The blonde had an eyebrow furrowed as he chuckled just a bit and he sized you up.

“Are you drunk, princess?”

“No. No… no,” you shook your head.

It had been true. You weren’t drunk. But a little wine tipsy and horny ? Definitely.

Art hummed and put the back of his hand to your forehead gently as he observed your state. “Did you eat?”

“Mhm, did you ?”

“No. That’s why I came down, not to stalk you. I promise.” The man laughed, to which you did as well and you only raised your arms so they could embrace your boyfriend’s shoulders with a soft hum.

“Y’know, if you’re hungry, you can eat me.” Your finger tips grace Arts neck unashamed as you smile into the crook, and he took in a breath, proceeding to hold you close.

“Oh- -” his chuckle matched your giggle as he noticed you’d changed again. His hands were gliding up the ruffle of the even more transparent sheer cover on you’d been dressed in. Lime tinted. The shorts were near pantie like.

“Mmm, I miss you, I want you.” You peppered kisses as close as you could to his earlobe from your height and Arts breath hitched as he was weak to your slow but enticing touch to him. Fogging up his knowledge that you’d been right in the middle of the open kitchen that was just a few ways down from the living area your friends had been in.

“Here, sweetness ? Your friends- -” Art murmurs down to your ear, but you just locked your arms just above his shoulders without a care.

“And- - ? What about them ? I need you,” you whined. “I want your touch.”

“Yeah? You want me to touch you?”

You nodded again with a naughty giggle and the blonde was smirking now, his hands roamed your body. Large and groping your curves. As much as he knew what was rightful, Art just couldn’t deny your cling to him in that damn near lingerie that had him going almost unbearably hard beneath his jeans since you walked in. Feral even. It was beginning to get miserable as you pressed your dainty chest against his, he felt your nipples grow hard and sensitive against the cloth. So into his aroma, presence, like you were a moth to a torch.

He’d fallen into your pecks merging with his now. Kissing you against where the cupboards stand like your lips were candy. Your small legs stumbling as the man towered over you “Fuck, you look amazing in that set.” Art pulled away from your plump lips to view your gorgeously perfect body. You batted your lashes once. And his attain just couldn’t be stopped. Art slid his hands across your soft ass cheeks, massaging and kneading it in his palms before leading up to laying a solid smack which made you hiss out an excited squeal-like giggle. Your fingertips slid down his ample biceps brushed with virile bristles of hair.

“If I had known you’d like this set so much, I would of worn it much sooner for you.”

Art leaned into you and he held a sly smirk, “this was your plan all along, yeah? Wearing that to get my attention so I would come out here and fuck you in the middle of your slumber party.. you’re such a naughty girl.”

You only giggled more into his skin with a slow exhale, your freshly painted french tips exploring him as he explored you. Art took his sweet time just feeling the way your ass jiggled in his palms and you felt like you’d been going weak in the knees before his tender contact turned rough when he turned you around without warning, making you gasp.

Art made sure you could feel how hard you’d gotten him as he pressed himself to your core. Facing the counter, you lost yourself in complete bliss just to the feeling of not knowing where he’d pleasure you next — Arts restrained bulge against your clothed cunt was just something else. The blonde pushed up your sheer top just a bit and pressed a kiss to your shoulder, you made a soft noise with it.

“Feel what you do to me, pretty girl.” Art nibbled on your earlobe and you sunk your teeth into your bottom lip to subtle your smile. His hands bracing your hips as he stared down at your lacy panties and your minx-like eyes followed Arts famished expression while he licked his bottom lip.

“All yours, daddy.” Your sweet voice immediately made Art go nearly lightheaded and that was it. He melted.

The man tucked both his thumbs into the fabric and pulled your panties down clean with raucousness, followed up with him getting down on his knees before spreading you with his palms and your hands reached for the marble with a soft whimper.

“That’a girl, stay open for me.. Let me taste you.” Art huffed out before he pushed one of your legs up on the counter and you breathed out at the feeling of him making your body his toy for amusement. Art took his fingers and ran them up your folds, getting them wet with the slick of your pussy. Your cheeks started to heat up just at the wonderful pad of his index running against your core like that , making you let out a soft, “oh..” by the way he moved to rub around your clit. Arts lips kissed on your exposed inner thighs, and your jaw became unlocked extraordinarily far when his tongue finally rolled on the soft tissue.

He was splitting you clean open on the counter as tiny whimpers escaped your throat. You were lost in the draw you had to the man making you feel surpassing of even the way you played it all out in your head. “Mmm, yeah- - yes” you panted and the man flicked his digit over your bud at the same time he’d been making out with your cunt. Letting deep groans flow throughout your opening. You’d been on the tip of your toes for him. Letting him suck where you pulsed till you’d been overstimulated if he wanted.

Your head had been spinning from the friction of his perfectly sculpted nose rubbing against your sensitive area. Art was known to be gifted with his mouth so much so, you almost wondered if your friends would have heard if you just couldn’t keep your moans level — but with the way Art held your hips, fucked his tongue into your cunt like you’d been his last meal, your anxiousness washed away. All you could do was let the shake of your thighs and Arts dripping oral member lead you to a crisp pleasurable cry.

“Shit,” Art took a brief exhale as he pulled away from your entrance, dampened lips of your juices going wide with a grin and he ran his palms over your slick thighs again,

“you’re so fucking wet for me, princess. You gonna take my dick? Let me make you feel good?”

“Mmm, please. Fill me up, Art. I wanna feel you.”

“You gotta be quite for me, baby.” Art stood to his feet.

You didn’t care. All you could think about was dick. Arts phenomenal dick. You wanted him to toss you over and split you open till you were sobbing on his thick member, your wine drunk friends would understand. A girl has her needs.

The risk made your blood pressure rise as the moment went on, when Art reached over you to tug your panties dangling from your thighs all the way down — he kicked them off to the side. Taking note of his own belt buckle and undoing it quickly, which you only grew more greedy by the sound of him unzipping his fly. The blondes aquamarine orbs swam with the need to pump you fuller than you’d ever taken him.

“Bend over for me, sweet girl..” Art breathed out softly as his slightly calloused hands ran from your hip up your spine while you did so, bending over fully and displaying your sweet dripping cunt for the mans lidded eyes. He sucked in his breath and his now aroused dick twitched when it unveiled from his boxers — going barmy with just how tiny and soft you looked beyond him.

“So fucking tight and small- - your amazing with the way you take me when I barely fit in, sweets.”

You bit down on your finger as you watched Art run his hands over your ass. Take your hips and line his cock up with your hole. He hissed at the way your soaking cunt wet his tip, you almost croaked out a deep moan at his gestures to tease your pussy. Just nodding along as you’d gone cock drunk before he’d even been in you. Your nails run at the marble counter as Art slowly burrowed into your drooling core. Working you open as his cock disappeared into your body inch by inch — he pushed your thigh higher onto the ledge as you whined at the stretch.

“Ah.. mmm- - fuck, fuck, fuck,” you groaned as you adjusted to the size of his warmth finally filling you full. Art was big. And he’d never want to put you, his sweet doll in discomfort for long, never. So when he started to plunge into you, he watched as your face scrunched up from ache to pleasure in time. His name sputtering from your mouth as you clawed at the counter top and he watched your pussy lips that were just throbbing around his erection like it was begging to be so sporadically fucked by him.

“That’s it baby doll,” his own groans heightened as his hips knock into your cervix, chasing that spot of yours till you were moaning and whimpering like a slut around him. Hole so full with yours and his pre-cum and you sucked in your bottom lip, tussled hair going wild on your back. You just had to look over your shoulder to watch him — see Arts gorgeous face as he snapped against you all shimmering with light sweat as he focused on the way a ring of your wetness pooled around his base.

“You love this, hu? Getting me to fuck you while your friends carry on without you- - At your party. But you just had to come.. looking for daddy’s cock, yeah? You love being a dirty, dirty girl for me.” Art rasped as he clenched his jaw with the overwhelming feeling of your tight cunt clenching him. It made your skin feel like it had been sparked with fire, so exhilarated. He put his hands in your hair to fuck into you as your jaw dangled open.

“Oh! F-fuck! I needed that big fucking dick, daddy… w-want you to cum all over me, mmm- -” you were choking out whimpers and your pretty little hole dripped with Arts pre-seed slipping from you, making it drag out when he pulled out of your pussy to turn you around and pick you up in one swift motion. Your high pitched gasp echoed as you wrapped your legs around the mans abdomen and Art set you on the counter. His lips curl up into a smirk and his eyes met your wide doe set ones. Slipping back into you he watched you cry out his name. Rutting into your heavenly body at this angle, hands go squeezing your thighs, and Art kept them apart as he took you at a wild pace. Hitting that gooey spot till you didn’t remember your own name. “Good fucking girl. That’s it- - such a sweet thing for me, taking all of my cock. It was made for you, doll.”

You couldn’t even catch your self as you’d leaned back on the counter and let Art pound into you. Your tits bounced with each thrust and you were shuttering as your orgasm ripped through you without warning. “Yes ! Ooh- - shit, yes yes yes…” you were whining out as you came on Arts dick. He held your legs spread as he grunted and watched you soak him uncontrollably. You loved it. Feeling like his perfect little gift. Art licked over his lips at the sight of your beauty, throwing your head back in bliss, he pulled out of you and pushed up your dainty little baby doll top — making space as he pumped his throbbing dick over your stomach till he himself came hard. Ropes shooting out on your candescent skin and making sure some got on your pussy just for the fun of it, he grinned and trailed his thumb up your gentle inner calf that had been dangling by his side.

You were whimpering like you’d gotten your brains fucked out to the sweetest soundtrack you’d ever heard. Art was so cinematic in moments like these, he leaned up to kiss at the nape of your neck, cheek, and lips.

“Pretty, perfect girl.. I love you.” Your gentleman muttered against your mouth. You smiled and sunk your teeth into your bottom lip as Art brought your panties up to help you slip them back over your thighs and to your feet as steady as you could. Dressing himself as well, he glanced down at you through his hooded eyes to see your impressively only slightly disheveled state. You were just always glowing, it was hard to make that go away anyways.

“You sleeping down here tonight?” Art buckled his pants again as he questioned you with a soft raised brow. You started to smirk at the way he was heading. You shrug.

“Maybe, maybe not… I’ll sneak into your room when they’re sleep, if you want.” You offered the man, the glint in your eye saying you’d suck his cock and let him have you in as many different positions as he’d like in a couple hours till you were all tapped out. The blonde only scuffed and towered over your presence that was still taken by your hoyden attitude, just to turn you back towards the doorway.

“Go host your party.” he taunted almost fatherly, to then leave a light slap on your ass that made you giggle on the way out.

[apollos-olives]

i've been thinking about this for months but honestly i think no one knows how to interact properly with palestinians. we've already gone over the whole "parasocial relationships with palestinians are bad" thing but then there's the other issue of just using palestinians as news outlets. so many people followed me because i was talking about palestine and educating people on tumblr about palestinian culture and that's literally all they use me for. they don't care about me as a person, as an actual human being, who has a life outside of just talking about palestine online.

i notice when no one interacts with me outside of that. i notice when no one treats me like a person with likes and dislikes and hobbies and interests. no one really interacts with my personal posts that talk about my day-to-day life. no one really cares about it when i share about my work, my school, my family. no one cares about seeing palestinians as people with real lives. they only see palestinians as history books, or news channels. they only share our posts and our stories when it relates to the occupation. i've posted hundreds of small posts about my life and my struggles and my celebrations and my activities and no one cares. and i'm not demanding anyone to care, but it does tell me that people only follow me for the information i can give them, and that they don't follow me because they actually really care about me as a person. people see me as a news outlet. as an object. just an information machine. and i've seen this happen to other palestinians on here as well, not just me.

palestinians have lives. we have personalities. we're just normal people who are undergoing genocide. the best way to comfort those in need is to befriend them and let them know that you care about them. yes, please donate, please advocate, please keep boosting palestinian voices and sharing palestinian news. but also please talk to us!! treat us as people!! we have likes and dislikes and hobbies and personalities and we're human beings just like you!! please treat us more kindly and interact with us outside of just the genocide. we want to be treated as humans. only following palestinians for news and education and nothing else plays a part into the dehumanization aspect of the genocide. we just want to be treated like normal human beings.

i've seen this happen to other palestinians on this site and other places as well. i've had several discussions about how people don't interact with us unless it's about the genocide. it's really isolating and makes us feel as though no one cares about us as individuals with different beliefs and personalities. we just want people to actually care about who we are as people outside of our oppression.

[angelsworks]

A Scarab Knows Jaime Reyes (Blue Beetle) x reader

Summary: Times when the scarab on your boyfriends back caught you in a lie.

Warnings: Smut, angst, insecure!reader, talks of period, 18+

Moodboard credit goes to @your-yandere-kiss They’ve got so many other great moodboards. I’d definitely recommend you check them out if you like that sort of thing.

DC Masterlist

It took a while to get used to the scarab. Khaji Da was not what you were expecting Jaime to reveal after a couple of months of dating. Your boyfriend was so nervous as he explained the ancient alien that held the power of the blue beetle that had bonded to his back. At first you had no response. Then you wanted to see it to which Jaime happily obliged.

Your eyes found the shiny blue shell of the beetle in line with Jamie’s shoulder blades. Call it morbid curiosity that lead you to reaching out and gently tracing part of the scarab. When red eyes opened and glowed along the scarabs elytra in response you jumped back in surprise. The action causing Jaime to jump up and away from you.

He didn’t say anything, instead staring almost blankly at something behind you. An action you’d found him doing throughout your relationship. Only now did you realise it was because of Khaji Da.

Finally he spoke, “I think it likes you.”

From then on things got better with Jamie. There were no secrets between the two of you anymore and you could continue your relationship in peace. Well almost in peace. The scarab on his back was to blame for that.

It wasn’t that you didn’t like Khaji Da, it’s just that it was almost like another person you had to share your boyfriend with. A person that was with him all the time. A person that he has secret talks with. A person that he fought crime with.

You weren’t jealous. Jaime was yours and Khaji Da had no interest in him like that. It was just hard getting used to being in a relationship with Jaime and now Khaji Da. After telling you about his scarab Jaime could talk to it more openly, without you thinking he was strange. Sometimes you’d be with Jaime watching a movie and he’d answer a question you hadn’t asked. Or other times you’d be looking for something you’d lost and he’d blurt out it’s location, claiming Khaji Da had told him.

Khaji Da wasn’t all bad, in fact it treated you kindly and as a valued person to Jaime. Over time it too became protective like Jaime towards you. A gesture you found sweet. Well mostly sweet.

One evening you saw the positives to the scarab on your boyfriends back.

The day you’d had was one for the history books. Anything that could go wrong, did go wrong. This morning you overslept for class meaning you had to rush out the door. In class you realised you left your paper you’d been working on at your home. After class you went to your job at a local restaurant. A job that on a good day would wear you down and drain your social skills. But on a bad day? It was unimaginable. To add to it you started your period mid shift, unprepared of course.

Finally at the end of the day you remembered the plans you had to stay over at your boyfriends apartment. Despite feeling anything but happy, you plastered a smile on your face and pushed your tears back as you greeted him. You hugged him tightly and kept up your facade. Engaging in small talk about your day and your class. Purposely leaving out or brushing over the majority of bad bits.

Jaime was buying the facade of course and you couldn’t blame him. The two of you hadn’t been dating for long and he hadn’t learnt you yet. However Khaji Da had, or to some extent it had.

A quick body scan had revealed your true feelings. Your low mood, recently working tear ducts and uterus walls cramping. All of which was relayed to Jaime whose face quickly took to looking crestfallen.

“Mi Vida, why would you lie to me?” Jaime asks softly. Pulling you from beside him on the couch to his lap.

You look at him startled. Unable to form words or even think of a coherent answer. But he waits for one. Even though it takes a few beats of silence.

“What - how do you know?” You ask him perplexed.

His tongue swipes out over his lips, “Khaji Da scans almost everyone I meet. It makes a habit of scanning you especially.”

You nod slowly, letting the new information sink in. You wonder just how much Khaji Da knows about you. You wonder how much information it passed on to Jaime each time you met. Was this the first time it caught you out in a lie, or just the first time Jaime chose to bring it up.

“I didn’t want to burden you with my bad day Jaime. You seemed so happy. I just wanted to enjoy being with you today.”

Jaime sighed and held you impossibly closer. Rubbing your back as you let out a few tears.

“Nothing you tell me would burden me. I love you so much Cielo.” Jaime whispers in your ear.

“Cielo?” You ask, unsure of the endearment.

“It means sky or heaven. That’s what you are to me. Nothing my Cielo tells me burdens me. You are my world, Mi Vida.”

Although Khaji Da’s interference worked out this time, it didn’t always. One time in particular didn’t end well with Jaime.

It was just past nine when your eyes glanced over to the clock on the bedside lamp. Jaime had been pounding into you for what felt like hours. He’d been out all evening doing something for Kord industries. The topic a sore one as you knew of the previous feelings he felt for Jenny.

You tried to put your feelings aside and remember that Jaime was with you now, not her. Your efforts hadn’t been good enough as Khaji Da and Jaime had seen right through it. Leaving him no choice but to show you just how much he loved you.

Yet the hurried passion between you hadn’t given you the stimulation you needed to reach your climax even once. There was little foreplay and things unraveled and quickly lead to him being deep inside you.

At one point you’d moved your fingers to your clit, trying to gain something to take you over the edge. Jaime, thinking you were acting up as you often did with him (in dynamic of course) removed your hand and pinned it with your other above your head. He gave you a gentle kiss and whispered some dirty words in your ear.

“Are you close?” He panted, still hammering into you. You thought about saying no, then wondered what he would think. You started to feel insecure in the fact that your orgasm was taking so long. So you decided to pretend.

It wasn’t something you’d ever had to do before but once wouldn’t hurt, would it?

You moaned out a reply and started your act. Rolling your eyes back into your skull, praising your partner for his work, clenching your walls on his cock. It wasn’t long before he followed you. Stilling inside you before reaching his own.

After pulling out slowly and kissing your temple he rolled over, having a moment before getting a wash cloth for you.

Silence hung in the air. Comfortable silence of course, but silence non the less. Jamie’s hand found yours, holding it gently as he often did.

Some time passed before his grip changed and became tighter. He turned on his side and looked at you accusingly.

“You faked it?” He asked, a little hurt but mostly angry.

Your eyes widened and you could feel your face heating up. “Jaime it’s not like that, you know I wouldn’t - ”

“But you did, or else Khaji Da wouldn’t have brought it up.”

You let out a huff, “Why does it matter. I’m sure it happens to plenty of couples all the time. I’m fine. Your fine. Let’s just go to bed.”

You move to roll over only to be pulled back by an angry Jaime. You’d never seen him this annoyed before about something you’d done. Usually you couldn’t put a foot wrong with him. He thought everything about you was great. It would be a lie to say his anger didn’t make you guilty about being dishonest.

“It matters because your my girlfriend. We aren’t just another couple. And while I’ve got working fingers, a working tongue and a working cock I have no excuse not to make you cum.” He tells you in earnest, putting his anger aside for a minute.

Although the sentiment is there, his wording isn’t. Jamie’s right, everything about him works. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to make you cum. It’s you that’s the problem and that same insecurity creeps back in once more. Making you doubt if there was something wrong with you. Making you remember why you lied in the first place. You didn’t want him to think less of you.

“So why Mi Vida, why lie to me? You know I love you.”

You huff again but this time it’s more pitiful as you feel your throat tightening. “It’s not you Jaime, it was me. It just wasn’t happening. I don’t know if I needed more foreplay or something. Maybe it’s just me, maybe there’s something wrong. Please let’s just go to sleep.” You practically beg. The warmth in your face ever increasing from the embarrassment you now feel.

As he understands your words he feels his anger dissipate. “There is nothing wrong with you Cielo, I should have done more before you know, going inside you. It was rushed. But you need to know that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I love making you cum.”

You smile, leaning over to kiss Jaime. Who responded eagerly almost trying to make up for lost time. Showing you that there was nothing wrong with you at all.

“Let me show you how much I love doing it Mi Vida.”

You could only nod as your boyfriend spent the rest of the night doing everything he could to make you cum.

By the time he’d done you’d finished a record number of times and had forgotten any ill will you’d felt towards Khaji Da. It turned out to be quite useful.

[sweetwolfcupcake]

Swords in the Court: Wedding Bells

Secret Garden

Yandere Don John x Reader Part 2

Word Count: 2.5k

Warning: Nothing but the fact that Don John is hypnotic

Note: This story is set in a fictionalised historical setting. Though there are clear inspirations drawn from the real world and history, this tale in no way tries to explain, change or state any historical, political, communal, geographical or religious 'facts'. Kindly treat this short-series as it is, a fiction

Unedited

You pay no heed to the stares of passing court ladies and lingering servants while making your way towards the Queen’s chamber. You have grown accustomed to them now. Of course, people will stare—you are a lady-in-waiting for the Queen, despite having no house or regal title to your name. As the daughter of a blacksmith, you should not be even in the Queen’s chamber—any royal chamber. But here you are, serving and accompanying. the queen wherever she goes. 

Your father used to say that he was a self-taught man, a person of his stature, should have been illiterate. But he not only taught himself but you as well. And one day, by a twist of fate, you found yourself in the Queen’s presence. She took a liking to you and appointed you as her chambermaid. But by the time the seventeenth summer of your life passed, you were elevated to the position of her lady-in-waiting. You later realised that she needed a true trustworthy lady by her side. The court was divided, and the Queen needed a loyal companion by her side, and she put her confidence in you. 

You are no Lady by birth, but you have learned the court's ways and a Lady's mannerisms. You will never be accepted, of course, you do not expect them to. But as long as you have the Queen's favour and know your place, you are safe.

“What took you so long.”

“Apologies, Your Highness,” You bow down before gesturing for the maid following you to serve the Queen her tea.

“The physician is certain that this shall help you sleep better, Your Highness.”

The Queen nods, taking a tentative sip of her tea. 

“The Prince of Spain will be here tomorrow. And here I am, unable to earn a wink of sleep. How shall I welcome and accompany them if an unrested mind grips me.”

“Forgive me, My Queen but you have taken great troubles, arranging the union, pursuing the King and preparing for the Prince and his companions’ welcome. Sleeplessness might be a result of such responsibilities.”

The Queen smiles faintly and takes another sip “You always know what to say, clever girl?”

“I merely state what is obvious, Your Grace.”

“I haven’t been able to keep track of the court, I have been engaged with the matters of the Princess’s marriage. Anything worthy?”

“Not much, Your Highness, the King has taken an interest in Lord Beecham’s eldest daughter.”

“The Earl of the Walden?”

“I’m afraid so.” You pour some more tea into her cup.

“Wasn’t it he who rebelled against my father when he was King? My dearest husband started a rebellion and won, and now his favourite dogs wag their tails in the court. Strange are the times.” That’s all she says before picking up on her letters to read.

Such news comes as no surprise to her, as long as those ‘pretty playthings’ as she likes to call them do not try to influence the King in ways she holds the power to, the Queen doesn’t mind. The King has his entertainment, the Queen has hers, and only one has it in the public eye—the other needs to be discreet.

“Prepare to welcome the Spanish Royalty tomorrow, and tell the Princess to be ready. The looming war could be thwarted with the Spanish by our side. Your King doesn’t seem to understand that, but as the Queen, I do. They’ve sailed for days, are bound to be haggard, and make sure the supply of wine, and food never runs out, and hopefully, the capital's brothels are ready as well?”

“All has been taken care of, My Queen.”

She nods before assessing you, as if stuck by a sudden realisation “How old are you again?”

“I turned twenty, two moons ago, Your Highness.”

“You mean two months.”

“Yes, My Queen, my apologies.”

She makes a dismissive gesture and puts aside the now-empty tea cup.

 “Don’t be, you should never forget your roots, your reality, where you came from, where you are, and where you can end up. Wear this knowledge like armour, and it can never be used against you.”

“Yes, My Queen.”

“Now go, it is late and tomorrow you must be up earlier than the rest.”

With a greeting of good night, you make your way out of her chamber.

—-----

“Do you see them, now?” Madeline asks, quivering with excitement. 

The young and handsome Crown Prince of the foreign empire, his brother and fellow loyal soldiers riding into the capital—a visual straight out of those romantic fables and poetry that court maidens love so much.

But you are not them. They see the idyllic image of a handsome prince marching towards the palace. You see their banner and the potential this alliance has. The Queen has seen the possibility of a looming war years before it actually might happen and after all these years with her, you know that the Queen is seldom wrong when it comes to politics.

“Look! That’s the Crown Prince. Look at his dark curls, he's magnificent, isn’t he?”

“Yes, Maddy, he is.”

“And there, his brother siding beside him…Oh, and his bastard brother too, riding behind.”

You frown and fix your gaze on the man riding right behind the Princes.”

“I thought bastards do not join such official ceremonies.”

“I heard that the Emperor has recognised him, some say he might even become a Duke there.”

“A Duke? But, he’s a bastard.” You turn to your friend, surprised.

“Birth does not always decide our place in this world. We were lowborns as well. Your father was a blacksmith, mine was a butcher. Look at us now.” 

“We still are lowborns Maddy, this will never change.”

Madeline nods “You’re right, but here we are, overlooking the Prince of Spain marching into the Palace.”

“What is his name?” You ask, intrigued as your gaze fixes on the man in black and white.

“The Prince? He is Mechor Bohorquez de Alvarado, and—”

“Not the Prince, his bastard brother, what’s his name?”

“Him? That’s Don Juan—that’s in Spanish. John,  his mother was not from Spain as I’ve heard.”

“And where do you hear all these from?” You turn to her.

“From the letters I carry.”

“Maddy! They would have you imprisoned at the least for this!” Your eyes widen as you hiss into her ear.

“Take a breath, nobody knows, or suspects. I have been curious, you know?”

“Still, this is dangerous. You will not do it again.” You touch her shoulder to assert “I mean it, Maddy. No playing around dangerously…Please.”

Madeline sighed “Okay, I won’t do it again.”

—--

With a grand welcome has come the dinner— an even grander affair. Pies, cakes, ale, roasts, meat, sweets and chocolates, lots of chocolates, a gift from the Spanish Empire—-the food and drink flow in and empty trays and plates leave the grand hall where the Spanish princes and their men make merry, laugh, drink, and eat. The Crown Prince sits with the King, the Queen and the Princess by their side. The rest of his friends and companions enjoy the never-ending flow of wine and delicacies. At the same time, they play charades of words and intentions with noble women, from the newly blossomed to the ripened, the maiden and the sourly married while their father and husbands go off with other women. 

The norm of the court.

You have seen plenty of it already. You sit with Madeline, tired from running around and ensuring everything is perfect. Your eyes wander around the hall without any particular purpose, until your gaze lands on the bastard Prince—having been granted recognition and now holding the prospect of dukedom, you expected him to be tangled with women in a corner, drunk out of his mind. But he simply stands with a shorter man, that you surmise is some advisor or friend of his, too old to be a squire.

As if feeling eyes on him, his gaze meets yours. 

You like to think that you are above all those silly notions and admirations, that you only want to learn the ways of the court and survive it, excel in it, even. 

But the moment your eyes meet his, you are frozen. Everything seems to stop, everything but the electrifying sensation of his gaze–deep, dark and intense– meeting yours. You feel it in every part of you, because suddenly, everything comes alive in you, things you never existed. 

Your heart thuds uncontrollably.

 But your mind is not racing, it’s not going anywhere at all—there is no thought other than the realisation, that he is beautiful—not exactly the sharp, princely, kind–although it is there, he has something more, something different—he is beautiful with his big brown eyes–sharp but not exactly arrogant, there’s something worse. 

No, no, no. Don’t do that. You are no royalty, you will get no chance to clean up your mistakes.

You chastise yourself and look down at your empty goblet after offering him a polite smile, deliberately making sure that it is no different from the one you offered while welcoming the rest of the guests for the evening. 

But it does not help that you still feel his gaze.

—--

You wish you could wake up to the position of the sun you wanted. But that is the luxury only the royal family enjoys here and the noble ladies who aren’t the Queen’s Lady-in-Waiting. Besides, you are to oversee the cleaning of the Grand Hall before the King wakes. Everything is supposed to be pristine and shining.

“The corner is still not done, and carpet—is that…” The putrid smell of vomit greets you as soon as you step closer to the ‘mysterious’ stain on the carpet in the hall. “Forget cleaning this, the carpet needs to be replaced.” You dismiss the servants, urging them to be quicker.

You look around the place. Wine stains on the walls, splattered food, some pearls, some shoes, even some clothes left behind. It seems like after you left the place has been through a wild ride.

“Much to clean up?” 

Turning to the entrance of the hall, you find an unexpected face.

“My Lord.” You greet him in your Kingdom’s fashion of formality.

“Don John. That’s my name.” He saunters inside, looking around before your eyes again for an official greeting. 

While something tells you that the belated greeting was neither custom nor negligence, you do not pay heed to his boyish attempt to ruffle your feathers. Subtle, typical of courtly politics but never amiss.

“Prince Don John, it is an honour to meet you, but I’m afraid this…” You look around, partly embarrassed with the mess, though it was most definitely, the Spanish guest’s doing. “Is no place for any of our esteemed guesses to be.”

“Please, you embarrass me, My Lady, I’m afraid my brothers and men have much hand in this…mischief. They get drunk so often and so easily, lose their gentlemanly coats.”

This makes a genuine smile press press out stubbornly. He sports no accent that might give away his Spanish heritage, you notice.

“We are most honoured to have your brave and virtuous men in our palace, and the Crown Prince, for the Princess’s hand.” 

Don John smiles down at you, he is tall, you notice–lean but athletic.

“The court here is most polite and charming.” 

Oh, only if he knew the thrones hiding under the roses.

“Of course it is.” You reply. 

His smirk tells you that maybe he is not as new to this game as you surmised.

“They say my mother was from this land.”

“Here?”

“I am not sure ‘here’, but, somewhere from this beautiful land. His Highness, my…father, says I have her eyes and his temperament.”

“The Emperor of Spain has been most generous with us.”

Don John smiles and looks ahead as you both make your way towards the spring garden—now beginning to turn brown with the onset of autumn.

“I assume this court is not too different from ours, after all, people like us get the opportunity to rise,” he comments, lightly tracing the vines as you two make your way deeper into the garden.

“I’m afraid, my Lord, unlike you, I have no royal blood or upbringing.” 

Don John frowns, you read the questions before they come to his lips and explain yourself.

“My father was a blacksmith who forged a few good swords for the nobility. God bless our kind and generous Queen, she took me under her wing, and took care of my learnings of books and mannerisms.”

“I see” 

There is a slight smile, that does not seem anywhere near mockery. You know what a smile veiling a scowl looks like. His smile has no malice peeking subtle, it is just a courteous smile---either that or he is good at hiding it. It confuses you more. There is no straight line he can be read through. He is no open book. A puzzle, yes, that he is, a puzzle that has all its pieces scattered around. 

All.

Nothing is hidden from you for long.

—----

“And I wish I could smack his head—-” Maddy bursts into another fit of giggles, narrating her adventures during the welcome feast “Have you heard, it’s said that the Prince has never lost a single battle.” 

You shrug, fingers racing the leaves and flowers as you two stroll through the gardens. The Queen’s courtyard had some of the most stunning autumn blooms, along with the fallen leaves on the damp ground. The faraway mist gives the stretches of land beyond the place walls an eerie beauty.

“But some say that he has never lost a war, because in every war, his half-brother, Don Juan has fought by his side. Crushing the enemies like ants.”

“Ants?” You chuckle. I do not doubt Don John’s capabilities on the battlefield, but  slaying enemies like ants is slightly an exaggeration.”

“Yes, could be, or perhaps he is indeed the finest sword Spain has ever witnessed? No wonder the Emperor wants to keep his loyalty.”

“And is he not a threat instead?”

“Why would he be so?” 

You sigh and gaze at the forming mist beyond the palace walls. Most of the view is interrupted by guards standing taut like stretched bows.

“I’ve heard rumours, the Queen, sometimes, I heard her say, that Don Juan, though, to the world younger than the Crown Prince, is in reality, two autumns older.

“What?” Maddy ducks her head and looks at you in disbelief “None of….” Licking her lips, looks around before lowering her voice to whisper “None of the letters ever mentioned.”

“It’s just a rumour, we don’t know the truth.”

“If the Queen’s spy says that…”

“Never heard her mention the source, it was a passing comment.” You explain

“Why would the Emporer give him Dukedom then? He’s a threat to his succession.” 

Maddy is right, Don John indeed is more of a threat than an ally if seen through the shrewd lenses, and you know that all the glories and virtues are nothing more than grand shows— carnival under the roof of sorts.

“Maybe, they want to keep him close. He crushes the enemies like ants, you said it yourself”

“They say he swings his mind in battle strategies more than his sword.” She adds after a moment of thought.

“Then he is a dangerous man.”

“If the Princess marries the Prince, they must produce an heir as soon as they can.”

You sigh and turn to a wilted rose.

“They must. We need the Spanish Ships, a war might be stirring soon.”

******

[mehiwilldoitlater]

Hi I don’t know the difference between imagine or hcs ; I was wondering can I hear your thoughts on yandere monkey king x reader who’s the white bone lady please ; love to hear your thoughts (sorry if my English isn’t good 💗)

My thoughts, uh?

My thoughts... well, my thoughts are...

Before being the Lady Bone Demon, Reader was a mere, small, iey kind of spirit, like a fairy. She wasn't anything big, just a small creature that lived in the cold, turned to water during the hotter seasons, and waited until the cold came back and snow gave her her true form.

My thought is that she once met a small monkey, an intelligent one, and they became friends. 

Every winter, he liked to pass it with her, playing and learning about the fun and the joy that even winter can bring. And he learned the pain that spring brings and the longing for her return in summer.

Years pass, and he changes. He became a dangerous demon, his name now Sun Wukong, and he had learned a new trick: how to make an ice spirit never wither.

My thoughts are that, at first, you found it quite nice to enjoy the hotter season, the flowers of spring, the fruits of the summer, and the fire-colored leaves of autumn, but as time passed, you wondered how long this thing would last... You miss the waters, your sisters, and your brothers... You would like to go back.

"Back?" He snarls, "Don't you like my gift?! Is this how you treat me?! YOUR KING?!"

But he wasn't your king, and you didn't like his way of acting.

And he didn't like your defiance, so he hurt you badly.

He cured you, using water and ice, but you remembered... and you started to wonder what was happening with him. Since when did he want to control you and keep you close to him? Since when have his eyes become dark? Since when did the small and friendly monkey become the demon that declared to love you like life itself?

You didn't want to give in; you were proud enough to not fall for threats and aggression. No matter any time he hurt you and rebuilt you, you didn't lose a single grain of hope to being free.

So, when the diamond ring came to capture him, you secretly asked for your father, the cold wind of the north, to guide it against him. Your father responded, and not only him.

When the celestials founded you, the ice fairy that the great Sage cherished as his own Queen, they found someone that was overjoyed by his fall and asked nothing but for your freedom!

But the damage was too deep now. He had fed you those damn pills and peaches; now not even the sacred fire could melt you... You felt helpless, near to giving up on your hope...

But the Mother of the West gave you another chance.

"There's a mountain, not far from the gate of the west," she spoke. "Go there and act in my name. Protect people, help them, and act as a guardian. Once your work is done, you'll find your immortality revoked."

History is written by the winners. Your name wasn't about death and bones; it was one about keeping company men in their last moment, helping them pass the threshold, and being there when the Black and White Impermanence came. You were there, guiding children in their home when they were lost, fending them from the dangers of the night. You were there to take away the tears from the face of the young lady.

You saved women that wanted to take away their lives; you were a saint.

Your name was Lady of White Reverance.

But he had to come back, did he? He had to meet your gaze when you kindly offered to help his master by bringing him food and water, remembering then all the years of torture, of imprisonment, and of seclusion by him. And he was fast to attack you, claiming you were a demon that wanted to eat his master. a lie, a dirty lie; he even tried to take you away again, bring you back to Mount Huaguo, promising to finish his journey and come back for you, to his wife. But you refused, and that angered him again.

Only this time, you were strong enough to fend him off.

In the story, he had killed you, but the truth was that you got away, and he is still alive, now searching for you.

[coolnameloading]

Second place

Summary: Your relationship with Shauna is reaching a boiling point after months of feeling neglected. Will your anniversary dinner fix everything or is it time to move on?

You were Shauna Shipman’s girlfriend—well, you were supposed to be, but lately, you have felt more like her side piece. 

When you first started dating she made it very clear that if Jackie needed her for anything she would be by her side no questions asked. And at first, you were fine with that.

You thought it was cute that your girlfriend was such a loyal friend so you told her it wasn’t a problem.

Oh, what a love-struck idiot you were. 

At first, your relationship was great. You were like a couple pulled straight out of a 90’s movie. You’d wear her jersey to her games, your friends would roll their eyes at how sappy the two of you were, and old couples would see you walking down the street and give each other a knowing look remembering when they were your age.

Everything was absolutely perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

You didn’t truly understand the position you put yourself in until about 10 months into your relationship. 

Suddenly Jackie was having problems with her boyfriend Jeff, which meant that your weekly date nights became the stuff of history, and the only time you got to see your girlfriend was briefly at school before she was whisked away to soccer practice, or class, or Jackie.

And even when you did get to see her all she’d talk about was how hard Jeff was being on Jackie. 

“He should be glad Jackie even gave him a chance, she could do so much better.”

She sighed leaning against your car.

“Yep”

You mumbled back only half listening to her while grabbing something from your trunk.

“I mean she’s pretty, popular, and the captain of the women’s soccer team.”

“Mhmm”

Suddenly your door slams shut, you look up and see she’s giving you an annoyed look.

“Are you even listening?”

You sigh and nod, “Sorry Shaun but all we’ve talked about for the last two months is Jackie’s love life.”

Shauna rolls her eyes but reaches for your hand, “Sorry baby but I get so upset with how Jeff treats Jackie.”

“I get that but you’ve been so busy with her and soccer I only get to see you for like fifteen minutes in the morning and all you talk about is Jackie.”

You mumble looking down at your intertwined hands trying not to fidget.

“I just want to spend some more time with you.”

You whisper anxiously.

Shauna doesn’t say anything for a minute and you freak out, you open your mouth to make up some excuse but she cuts you off with a kiss.

“Look our one year is coming up on Saturday, what if we go to that burger place you’ve been wanting to try then we catch a movie?”

She whispers kissing the back of your hand while looking at you with her big puppy dog eyes that always make you melt.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah”

“No Jackie?”

“Nope.” 

You nod and kiss her cheek, “Can’t wait.”

Saturday comes, and you arrive at the restaurant. Seeing that Shauna isn’t there yet, you sit down in a booth and wait.

After 10 minutes you start to wonder what’s holding her up.

After 15 you get worried and send her a text ‘Hey I got us a booth, you almost here?’

After 20 minutes and the waitress refilling your water twice you finally get a text back. 

‘Hey baby sorry to do this so last minute but Jackie and Jeff just broke up and she needs me. Hope you understand.’

You stare at your phone for a while, unsure what to text back. You don’t know how long you were staring but the waitress circles back snapping you out of your trance.

“Hey, honey are you ready to order yet?”

She whispers kindly while glancing down at your phone, you tilt it down trying to hide the screen.

You want to answer but you’re afraid you’ll start sobbing the second you open your mouth.

“I-”

“I’m so sorry babe!”

Suddenly Lottie slides into the booth next to you.

“Practice ran late and then my phone died and I couldn't call an Uber to get here so I walked.”

She rambles on and on wrapping an arm around your waist.

You’re too stunned to speak but the waitress laughs and hands Lottie a menu.

“Oh thank goodness I thought the poor thing had been stood up.”

She says smiling at the two of you.

“No ma’am,”

Says Lottie smiling back at the older woman.

“Just ran a little late.”

The waitress walks away leaving the two of you alone in the booth.

“Lottie? What are you doing here?”

You ask watching her look over the menu carefully.

You don’t know much about Lottie. You’ve talked a few times while you waited for Shauna to get out of the locker room, and one time, she asked you for a pen in your English class and never gave it back.

“Well I came to get something to go but then I saw you here and heard the staff whispering that you’ve been here for like a half hour.”

You mumble hiding your face in your hands.

You look over by the entrance and see a group of waitresses whispering and looking at you. When they notice you’re looking, they all split up, and you watch one of them take plates away from a table that is clearly still eating as she tries to look busy. 

“God, can this day get any worse?”

“So why are you here by yourself? Where’s Shauna Isn’t today your anniversary?”

You peek at her from behind your hands.

“You know when our anniversary is?”

She nods chuckling with a small smirk.

“Kinda hard to forget the day Shauna got so annoying. So where is she?”

You take your hands away from your face and sigh trying to keep your voice from cracking.

“She’s with Jackie…I guess she and Jeff broke up and Shauna wanted to stay with her.”

Lottie puts the menu down looking at you in shock.

“You’re fucking with me.”

The waitress comes back and takes your orders. Lottie orders a grilled chicken sandwich with fries and you get a cheeseburger with fries.

As the waitress walks away again Lottie turns back to you.

“And she told you all this last minute?” 

You nod your head looking down at your water cup.

“Yeah, she texted me like 30 seconds before you showed up.”

The waitress comes back with your food and Lottie thanks her handing her a hundred-dollar bill.

“That’s enough right? And you can keep the rest as a tip for keeping my girlfriend here company while I was running late.”

The waitress nods thanking Lottie and walks away probably to brag about her tip.

“You usually don’t pay until you’re done eating ya’ know?”

You mumble trying not to blush, how can she call you her girlfriend so easily and just keep going like nothing happened?

“And what’s with the whole girlfriend comment?”

Lottie eats some of her fries with a grin.

“Well I figured you wouldn’t want them circling back with the check and I called you babe when I first got here so I thought I’d keep playing along.”

The two of you finish your food just talking and having a pretty good time overall, which is shocking given how the day started.

When the two of you get up to leave you grab onto the sleeve of Lottie’s sweater.

“Hey, I um…I got tickets to Beatlejuice Beatlejuice for me and Shauna. Do you wanna….”

Lottie smiles at you, not like her usual confident grin or her haughty little smirk but an actual smile. You let go of her sleeve and look down trying to get the butterflies in your stomach under control.

“Yeah sure lets go.”

[alpaca-clouds]

The Haitian Revolution

Yeah, okay. I guess to properly do the history thing, I also have to talk about the Haitian Revolution, don't I? Given that it is so important for the backstory of both Annette and Edouard.

Why didn't I do that so far? Because the Haitian Revolution is super hard to talk about because of the sources. A bit issue is that for a good part of it we only have French sources, that are not always the most... neutral. Because a lot of the rebelling slaves had never learned to write. As such, we actually do not know a lot about the side of the rebels until some Free Blacks started to take their side and lead the rebellion.

But I know a bit.

So, let me explain what I know.

Haiti (St. Domingue specifically, the French side of the island) was build exclusively on slave work. There were plantation there for indigo, sugar and coffee for the most part. And those plantation were very important for the French economy. And of course it was slaves working those plantations.

On the island there was a three class system (though if we are honest, it was a four class system).

Whites, who were free people and citizens of France. (Though in truth there was a difference between the plantation owning whites and those whites, who were not of the owning class.)

Free Black people. What differed in Haiti from the US for example is that it happened quite often that children of rape (white owners on Black slaves) would be freed and even adopted as children. While not considered citizens, they could own things, including their own plantations. (Yes, there were quite a few of these that owned slaves.)

Slaves, who outnumbered all other people on the island somewhere between seven to one and ten to one.

Now, most slaves did not survive the first three years after getting to the island. Many died in fact in their first year, because the working conditions were so harsh, they often did not receive food, were severely punished (through it receiving infections and such), and of course there was just the general issue of sicknesses.

There were people rebelling a long while and from what we know (again, there is so little in terms of sources) there were some escaped slaves living in the mountains and at times using guirella tactics. But there was not quite the move for a widespread rebellion starting...

That was until the French Revolution started. Once more the gentle reminder: The French Revolution took a long while to brew and originally was not a violent revolution, it only became violent in response to the violent oppression of it. Now, the people on St. Domingue were instructed not to talk about the Revolution, because some folks rightly assumed that it might give people ideas. Especially as among the Revolutionaries there was a big discussion about the abolition of slavery.

But in the end... Well, it did not work out and the freed slaves banded together for a proper uprising in 1791.

It is this uprising that we see in Nocturne. I have seen some people being very shocked in the human on human violence we see there, because folks are really whimpy when it comes to that. So, a little explanation: Originally (in the 1791) uprising the slave uprising was once again not very violent. Almost everyone who got killed was connected to immense abuses of slaves. The rebels tried to spare everyone who treated their slaves kindly. As such within that first uprising only 400 whites got killed, compared to 4000 Black people, as the French were much better armed.

Still, the rebels managed to capture part of the island.

It should be noted: This is probably around the time when Annette and Edouard left. They captured some plantation, and freed quite a few more slaves.

There would follow quite a bit of back and forth then. Especially between Haiti and the French Republic. And I would not be surprised if we were to see that in the coming season(s).

Mostly, because the Revolitionaries went back and forth between whether Free Black people could be citizens who got to vote or not. Making the Free Blacks, who originally were against the revolution, more and more take the side of the rebels.

And yes, it would get more and more violent. Because France and then later Britain, too (who did not agree with France on many things - but on saving slavery) threw thousands upon thousand of soldiers in fighting down the revolution with extreme violence, leading the Haitian Revolutionaries to answer this violence with their own violence.

But for the love of God, do not go there and be like: "Ugh, violence. Violence bad." Like, fuck that. I said that about Isaac before as well: Slaves freeing themselves have the right to use whatever violence necessary for that.

[plusvanity]

Finally someone who dislikes Hellhammer lol I feel like CRAZY when talking with other people about Mayhem and they all love him so so so much! It's just insane. He has a massive ego and is a shitty person with shitty opinions but somehow he gets a pass. Also sometime ago I read an interview where he was asked if he misses Pelle/Øystein and if in his opinion there would be a place for them in Mayhem as of now and he said that he does not miss them at all (besides, he laughed at Øystein's mother at the phone when he learned about his death he just pisses me off so bad ong) but he was also like. No there is no place for them at all because we changed a lot and it was good for Mayhem that they are gone. THE SHEER AUDACITY IS INSANE! Did he forget so casually WHO FOUNDED MAYHEM and gave him a place in there? Who was influential in the early BM scene? Please. Mayhem is not even all this great stuff atp, when Øystein had hold of the group, it was all... unique in its own way, very atmospheric, he got the gist. Don't even get me started on that hag of Necrobutcher. The only person that speaks kindly of Øystein is Attila. Also, Mayhem should have ended with Øystein's death in my opinion. Pure madness

I was never fond of Jan, to be honest.

I can definitely recognize his talent as a drummer. He is, in fact, one of the best of not the best drummer in Black Metal history. But this is the only good thing about him because his personality is very insufferable.

It's not just the overly inflated ego that he displays, but he comes across as a 'bully' somehow. I won't judge him by his interests in drugs and drinking because he wanted to have fun, live the rock and roll life, whatever, but I can't overlook how Øystein complained about him messing up gigs because he was too intoxicated to play, or how he neglected their rehearsals. He seems very careless, very insensitive, and overall very untrustworthy.

What pissed me the most was the way that (I suspect) he treated Pelle while he was alive. Pelle wasn't shy to call Jan a 'fat, stupid drummer' in one of his letters, expressing how he preferred Faust (if I remember correctly) in the band instead. Now, the impression that this comment gives me is that Jan must've done something to piss Pelle off. Maybe something repeatedly, like unsavory jokes. Because, for me, Pelle's insult seems very sincere and personal. I am very sure that there are things that must've happened (arguments and stuff) that we will never know about, and all we can do is to try to fill the gaps with speculations about what really happened within the band. This is why I feel like Jan has 'bully' traits.

Another important aspect that bothers me to no end is how Jan was, in fact, the last person who saw and talked with Pelle. You can tell from the way he explained the incident he seemed very cold and detached about it. Pelle seemed 'happier' than ever before, telling him about his knife while he knew what Pelle could do shows how disinterested he was in his friend's well-being. And I get it that everybody was young and dumb and no one had the resources to help Pelle, but it's common sense to ask 'Hey, what are you going to do with that knife?'. Even Jørn had more common sense than this man, but I digress.

Another interesting thing about Jan is how Varg talked about him. Him and Fenriz (and Faust) are the only ones who he doesn't consider 'rats'. I get it that Jan was an extreme-right sympathizer, and that drove Varg to talk more nicely about him, but I believe that apart from their common political affinity, their personality are quite similar. It's not just a say that 'dark personalities attract one another', it's actually true. Jan seems to have some empathy issues, in my opinion, and it's very common for people in cluster B to use substances or alcohol to either numb their feelings or to 'feel something'.

I'm not insinuating anything, I'm just laying some interesting facts and observations that I have.

And then, of course, he said the worst thing possible for the sake of publicity. He said that he was in the room while Pelle took his own life, which is an aberration. But he can tell anything to the fans, right? He's alive to 'tell the story', right?

And him laughing in the phone about Øystein's death is yet another indicator that he might have some real issues with empathy.

I believe him when he says he doesn't miss Pelle or Øystein because they probably mean too little for him, but he likes talking about his dead bandmates, doesn't he?

I don't like him for these reasons and many more.

It is unfortunate and infuriating how these people talk anything but the truth nowadays and they get to pass with a lot of obvious lies just because they're famous.

[tinfoil-jones]

Gravity Falls: For Your Own Good, Ch. 17

Summary: A few years after moving to Gravity Falls and having his lab built, Stanford Pines happens upon his estranged twin brother, Stanley. He mentally prepared himself to be suffocated by his brothers neediness all over again - what he wasn't prepared for was Stanley walking right past him like he didn't even notice him.

Rating: M for language, violence, and adult implications

Preface: Dialogue only, but some actions will be annotated for clarity. Cross-Posted on AO3 Here.

First - Prev - Next

CH.17

“Hey specs, can I get a favour?”

“What’s that?”

“Can you drive me into town?”

“What for?”

“The hot water shut off two days ago, and PhD still hasn’t paid the water bill. So fuck it, I lifted his wallet and we’re gonna do it for him.”

“Did you talk to Stanford about this?”

“I told him as soon as the water went cold. He said he’d get to it, and look where we are. Either cold water doesn’t bother him, or he actually doesn’t shower… I’d believe that second thing.”

“We could just drag him out.”

“He fell asleep at his desk, we’re good.”

“And you’re just going to claim to be him to the utility companies?”

“I’ll stuff my hair into my beanie. You two are always going on about how similar we look and how we ‘have the same face’.”

“I suppose he’s so reclusive the townsfolk don’t know him that well…”

“Besides, I can do a pretty good impression of him.”

“You can?”

“Sounds kinda rough because I used to smoke, but yeah. Wanna hear?”

“Sure.”

“‘I’m a total maniac who lives in the middle of nowhere in the woods, I love being a massive nerd’.”

“...Wow, that’s so close. It’s unnerving actually. I kindly ask that you never do that again if you’re not impersonating him.”

“So you’re down for going into town?”

“Yes sirree. The lack of hot water was bothering me too.”

(...)

“You know, I’m used to people giving me the stink eye, but I didn’t think your friend was so disliked by the general public too.”

“Stanford doesn’t have the easiest time forming bonds with others.”

“Colour me surprised.”

“He explained to me that due to his less than stellar history of paying his bills on time, and these strange ‘episodes’ he’ll have every so often, the town generally considers him to be a menace.”

“Ha! Guess we do have something in common, after all.”

“...I don’t think that’s the only thing.”

“Hey, what’s with all the costumes? Is there a festival or something going on?”

“Oh, right; you don’t know. The townsfolk were explaining to me the other week that Gravity Falls loves Halloween so much that they celebrate it twice a year; Halloween on October 31st, and Summerween on June 20th.”

“Should we have stocked up on some candy or something?

“Stanford said not to worry about it; his cabin is so isolated no one would go over there to trick-or-treat.”

“Ah, no fun. Wait; there’s no rush to head back, we should hit a couple of bars, maybe sneak into a Summerween party or two.”

“I don’t know, Stan...”

“Come on. We’ll even get some lame costumes, get in the spirit of things. I still owe you that apology drink.”

“Hmm, I guess I’ll have to take you up on that offer then, big boy.”

*Stan elbows him in the ribs and looks away*

“Why do ya gotta say something like that?”

“Did you just turn red?”

“No.”

“Sure darlin, I’ll believe you if you can say that again looking me in the eye.”

(...)

“Oh my aching cervical spine- I don’t remember putting this blanket on myself.” 

*Ford gets up with his desk and walks out of his room, looking around*

‘It’s quiet.’

‘Where did those two go?’

‘They’re most likely together, I did not think they’d become such good friends in such a short amount of time, but I suppose it’s preferable over them being at odds.’

‘A note? …They went into town to run a few errands. Very well. I hope Stanley behaves himself. My reputation isn’t the best already.’

‘Did Fiddleford rearrange my shelves again? I know he means well, but I’d prefer to know where my belongings are.’

‘Those letters? Looks like he arranged them by sender alphabetically, which is considerate of him… I suppose I have nothing better to do than to finally read them, see what the fuss was about a year ago.’

‘...Condolences?’

‘With deepest sympathy…?’

‘Sorry for your loss?’

‘Thoughts and prayers?’

‘This- this article? That- that can’t be right! Why would they think-?!’

*door opens and Stan and Fiddleford stumble in laughing; Stan is wearing a werewolf costume and Fiddleford is in a vampire costume*

"'-only one thing To do now, Stan', and she pulls out a gun too. 'Agent Powers's got a fucking gun? So will I'. And then they just have a shootout in the middle of the street."

“Your stories get more and more wiley every time Stan. Hey Stanford! Sorry we were out for so- hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, you’re looking pretty pale PhD.”

“I- I-... I need to go. I need to- I need to call someone.”

*Ford grabs the box of letters and practically runs back to his study, slamming and locking the door*

“I hope he’s okay…He’s looking as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

“Yeah, it’s not like our costumes are that scary.”

(...)

RING

RING

RING

RING

CLICK

“Do you have any idea what time it-.”

“Ma!”

“Oh, Stanford darling. What’s wrong?”

“Ma, why did all of my colleagues send me condolence letters?”

“...Sweetheart-.”

“Why is there a newspaper article stating that Stanley died in a car accident?! Ma, why would-!”

“Stanford, I know the grieving process is different for everyone…”

“It’s all lies!”

“But you need to accept what happened…”

“He isn’t dead!”

“It’s been over a year, Stanford! When you didn’t come to his funeral, I knew you weren’t handling the shock and pain the same as the rest of us… How could you? He was your twin, the other half of your whole. But denial like this isn’t healthy.”

“I’m not-. He is not-. There wasn’t even a body!”

“It was destroyed in the fire… Just ash.”

“How could you be so sure!? This is your own son-.”

“The car landed in a ravine, Stanford! Stanley.. Oh my poor free spirit, I wanted so badly to believe that maybe he escaped but… the only way out of the ravine was to climb out, and Stanley was terrified of heights…”

OREGON COMMUNITY WATCH STAN PINES DEAD  FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED IN PINES' DEATH. The flaming wreckage of a wrecked car was found in a ditch four miles from Highway 618 at 6 a.m. Monday morning. The cut breaks and odd location of the car suggest that this was no accident. Says a rookie cop, "Mighty suspicious. Mighty suspicious." In other news, leg warmers all the rage this week and we predict this style will go on forever.

To be continued…

[art-and-a-half]

TADC PART 2 SPOILERS INDER THE CUT (spoilers for characterisation and the plot outline + major events) (long post ahead)

The way Jax being portrayed as a legitimate asshole who doesn't care about the NPCs in quests just makes him so much more INTERESTING to me

Like everyone's reactions to the adventures sums up the different reactions to distractions in stressful times. It's like...

Okay, so the Circus is presented as some sort of world, without meaningful consequences, right? Throw a bunch of people into a world without consequences (like,,, videogames irl) and you're going to get a bunch of different reactions to it!

~

Ragatha presents as an individual who wants to use the adventures that Cain presents as a positive distraction from the existential horror of the Circus itself. She is even acknowledged to have a history of issues surrounding the nature of The Circus from when she first arrived (evidenced by dialogue in the show, too lazy to pick specific examples, but she acknowledges it herself, source: trust).

But at the end of the day, she is a member of the system. She treats the adventures as what Cain presents them as, just adventures. She refers to the people that exist in the world as NPCs. NPCs that she treats kindly, and with respect, but one's that she is disconnected from, as shown when Pomni expressed distress at the loss of Gummigoo. Stating that Cain sometimes reuses NPCs, so it's "not too bad".

So in a world without consequence, she strives to do the adventures/quests in the "right" way. Heroically and all that jazz.

~

Jax on the other hand is someone who is also using the adventures as a positive distraction from the circus. While he presents in a nihilistic, unbothered way, it's clear from his responses that he greatly cares about what he can "get out of" The experiences the Circus provides.

After all, why would he be so disappointed that The Fudge was destroyed, if he truly didn't care about anything? He does care. He just wants something different out of the adventures. He wants destruction, a sense of control.

His behaviours reflect many disenfranchised peoples ones when in crisis situations. Presenting with a lackadaisical attitude, and getting joy out of things they can control. After all, most people wouldn't want to have the Fudge come and destroy things, so he gets to take agency and make the decision without anyone else getting pleasure from it.

Is it right? Probably not. But in a world where there are no consequences, it makes sense that he would watch a city get destroyed for the joy of it.

We also see moments of vulnerability in Jax outside of his frustration when things don't go his way. He expresses a moment of sadness at the mention of Kaufmo's funeral service, before he forces himself back into the mask of indifference and disgust.

Ergo, in the face of a non consequential system, Jax says "fuck it, burn it all down"

~

Zooble also represents typical responses to distraction methods in the face of adversity. With uncaringness. Their refusal to participate in Cain's adventures (unless explicitly forced to, like in episode 1) reflects a complete disconnect from the offered mechanisms that Cain provides.

After all, why participate when it doesn't mean anything to you? Zooble presents as the disinterested individual, who, similarly to Jax, does care about events within the Circus, but does not desire to use the coping mechanisms that it provides.

In the face of a world without consequence. They do not care for it.

~

Kinger presents an entirely different coping mechanism from his peers. Kinger, underneath the pressures of the Circus, has disconnected from the reality around him. While he has moments of clarity, and even shows interest in things people say, it seems to be filtered through layers of dissociation and uncomprehending.

When asked direct questions, it's a toss up whether he can 1) hear the question 2) comprehend it correctly and 3) be able to respond but only once.

He's shown to have a depth of knowledge, but it's out of his reach. And when faced with a world without consequence, he doesn't seem to fully grasp it. Instead, going only for the ride.

~

Gangle is an interesting case, where her fearful personality pushes her to agree with the sentiments of those around her. What she believes in seems to be kindness, but it's difficult to tell how exactly she feels about the adventures, and the Circus, as she often reacts to what others do, rather than pushing herself to the forefront.

Case in point, while driving, Gangle appears very nervous, and when Jax comments on using violence against the croco bandits, she doesn't directly go against it. Instead, she makes a small comment about violating a convention. Not "that's wrong" or "I dont think we should do that", but a reflection of law and order.

We haven't really seen her without the pressures of external influences (particularly Jax). So while we can make some assumptions about her intentions (she probably doesn't want to hurt people) it's difficult to see deeper reasoning beyond "not wanting to upset anyone".

So, when Gangle is presented with an adventure with no consequences, she reacts to it, rather than enforces her own will onto the environment.

~

And finally, Pomni.

In a world of no consequence, she finds them. She does not fullt accept the narrative Cain constructs, that the adventure is inconsequential (a distraction), that there is no exit.

She gets presented with a "fact" (I.e., there is no exit), and immediately (either through her own determination, or chance), finds deeper meaning and alternate paths.

There was an exit door. True, it didn't lead to the outside world, but it existed. Pomni proved that. She continued for ages, down paths of endless corridors, to prove that everyone was wrong, until she found the void.

The mission was to stop some bandits and get the syrup back? She instead fell through the floor of the map, and found friendship in what was meant to be an NPC with no consciousness.

Pomni is the person, that when presented with an impossible situation, finds ways around it.

Cain is the one who takes her progress and resets it. (Taking her out of the void, popping Gummigoo)

While we can't be certain of Cain's intent just yet (beyond being a representation of/being the system that the characters are stuck in), we can ascertain one thing.

Pomni, when faced with a world without consequence, finds that there is in fact, a cost to the world

[eventinelysplayground]

When Bonds Are Broken

This is a fic that I have had the idea with for so long and I just finally finished it. It is going to be a 3 part fic, with the others being POV fics. I just can't cover all the in depth emotions, thoughts etc that I want to in one fic so I decided this was the best way to get all of it. I started with the overall fic because it was easiest and not as emotionally heavy as the POV fics will be. That said this fic still does deal with what happened just ata more only scratching the surface way. Silvio and his father begin a long overdue conversation with uncertain results. WC approx 2523. CW/TW ⚠️: Contains spoilers for Silvio's route, this also mentions Alfios past treatment of Silvio and why it happened. There is also mild swearing. If Silvio and his Dads history/relationship bothered you then you may want to skip this one.

“You expect me to stay here? What if-”

“Silvio.”

Lidia may not have been Queen anymore but she still had an air of command about her and she made use of it now. Silvio shut his mouth for the time being and just listened.

“I understand you're worried but trust me, I've given birth myself in case you've forgotten and what Emma needs now is fresh air and exercise.”

Silvio frowned and was about to start arguing again when Lidia laid a hand on his shoulder.

“I promise you I will keep very close to her and make sure nothing happens. You’ve kept Emma in this room for the last week. It's time you let her move about again, you can trust me, Silvio.”

Of course he trusted Lidia, she had always treated him kindly even after what his mother had done to her and she adored Emma but he was still worried. The birth had been hard on Emma and she was still healing. He was afraid something may happen to her or slow down her recovery.

“Please Silvio, I'd love to go outside. I promise I won't go far or overdo it.”

Between Emma's pleading eyes and Lidia’s commanding tone he knew he wasn't going to win this one anymore.

“Fine, but only in the garden and only for half an hour! If you're gone even a minute longer I'm coming to get you and-”

Emma flung her arms around Silvio's neck and kissed him on the cheek.

“Oh thank you Silvio!”

“Just what the hell do you think you're doing!?”

“Come Emma let's go.”

Lidia gently tugged on Emma's elbow and began to lead her to the door when Silvio called out to them.

“Wait what if he-”

Without stopping their escape Lidia called over her shoulder.

“I'm sure you'll figure it out just fine Silvio, I have immense faith in you!”

And with that the door to Emma's room shut with a gentle thud.

“Damn it.”

Silvio plopped down in a chair near the bassinet and let out a sigh before running a hand through his hair.

“You could of helped me out ya old fart.”

Silvio glared at his father who just snorted at him.

“Have you learned nothing in two years of marriage? Besides, this is more fun.”

“Rotten bastard.”

“You're the king yet still talking like that. I would have hoped you had learned some decency by now.”

“There's nothing wrong with-”

Just then the baby let out a tiny noise followed by loud crying.

“Shit.”

Silvio was quickly on his feet scooping up the infant and holding him to his chest. The baby settled but only momentarily before crying again. Silvio lightly bounced him while softly shushing him as he had seen Emma do but it didn't work.

“What's the matter? You ate already and you don't smell or feel wet. I’m not wearing anything that could bother ya or you could get caught in.”

The infant continued to cry and wail, his little face contorting. Silvio continued to gently bounce him but it was clear looking at his face he was quickly running out of ideas. He was about ready to send for Emma when his father stood up and walked over his exasperation evident on his face.

“Oh give him here.”

Alfio reached out for the baby but Silvio reflexively held him closer.

“Don't act like that, I raised three sons. I know what I'm doing.”

“The hell you did, you raised one son.”

Alfio scowled and grabbed the infant out of Silvio's arms than began rubbing circles over his back. He took a seat with the infant in the nearby chair and began alternating his circles with firm pats and soon enough the baby stopped crying followed by a very loud burp for such a tiny infant.

“There, all better now aren't you.”

Silvio watched the scene unfolding more confused than anything. It wasn't just that his father knew exactly what to do but the melancholy look in his eyes that had his thoughts tripping over themselves.

“How’d ya know that was what he needed?”

Alfio looked up at Silvio briefly before turning his attention back to the baby in his arms. He was silent for long enough that Silvio became aggravated and clicked his tongue.

“Fine, keep it to yourself, I don't need your damn help.”

Silvio reached out for his son and now it was Alfios turn to hold him closer.

“He looked just like you.”

“Huh?”

“When you were a newborn infant. You would wail and cry and scrunch your face up just like that any time you needed to be burped.”

Silvio's eyes were wide, he had never heard the old man's voice sound like this before. It was heavy with an edge of anger but also extreme sadness. He wasn't sure how to handle it so he stood there motionless looking down at the two of them.

“Despite everything that has happened between us I'm relieved that that's one thing you will never know. One thing that can never be taken from you…it's such a horrible thing, I would never wish it on anyone no matter how much I hated them.”

Silvio knew exactly what the old fart was talking about and for the first time he felt the tiniest bit of short lived sympathy for him. He took a seat on the footstool across from the chair and stared at his son while once again thinking how incredibly thankful he was to have found Emma.

“I won't lie, I was certain that was the way things were heading for you. The type of women you attracted was always the worst, not really surprising given your attitude. I'm still trying to figure out how a dog like you managed to get somebody so.. so pure and kind to fall in love with you.”

Silvio was pissed off now and reached out, taking his son back. The infant squirmed slightly but soon settled against his father's broad chest.

“Geez thanks.”

“What? I'm just telling the truth, if you can't handle it then maybe you should change your att-”

“Why do you hate me so damn much? What the hell did I ever do to you?”

Silvio had kept his voice low since his son was now falling asleep but the anger in it was unmistakable. Alfios eyes widened looking exactly like his sons had earlier, clearly stunned by the questions and Silvio just huffed seeing it.

“Forget it.”

Silvio kissed the top of his son's head content to just hold him and stare at him in silence but the old man recovered his senses almost immediately.

“I don't completely hate you, deep down I've always loved you in some way.”

“You sure as hell got a funny way of fucking showing it!”

“For once in your life just shut up and listen to me will you!”

Their voices had gotten louder but they both stopped when they heard a small whine come from the baby. Silvio immediately began swaying him gently from side to side to soothe him. The crisis averted, both men let out a sigh of relief and Alfio continued.

“I was so happy when you were born, no… happy isn't even the right word for how I felt, it was so much more than that.”

Silvio ran his hand over the top of his son's head, he knew the feelings his father was trying to describe.

“Then not two weeks later it was all shattered to pieces. Stolen away from me by that conniving horrid excuse for a woman.”

Silvio's involuntary shudder didn't go unnoticed by his father and he let out a sad chuckle.

“Those few simple words broke me that day. She was twisted and hateful enough she could have said it just out of spite but it didn't matter, once it was said there was no going back and she knew it. Your grandparents tried to reassure me, he has your eyes is what they'd all say. If blue eyes was all it took to make a kid mine I could be the father of thousands of children.”

Silvio looked up but instead of meeting the old man's gaze the former king was looking past him, his face twisted with decades of deep pain and anger.

“I found that I couldn't bear holding you... or even looking at you anymore. As the months went by and you grew and started to develop something of a personality it all just got worse. Everybody commented on how you were acting like me, how you'd grow up just like me and that woman, she'd just sit there smirking at me or make some backhanded comment like ‘we’ll see’. It made me sick and furious and every time I saw you do something that reminded me of myself or something that was nothing like me it just threw it in my face all over again that I would never know whose child you really were. Everything I felt towards you became so twisted, it was mental torture what I went through.”

“So what? You think that's an excuse for all the damn torture you put me through? Hell you were gonna kill me the last time if it wasn't for Emma and the damn mutt!”

“I don't need to excuse anything I did, especially not to you.”

Alfio leaned forward on the chair, his sharp eyes locked on Silvio's.

“You may think whatever you want about what I did but you will never have the faintest idea of what I went through, what I fought with, what I still fight with to this day over you.”

Alfio practically spat the words out at Silvio who leaned back from him while instinctually bringing up a large hand to shield his son. Alfio seemed to return to his senses and leaned back again, his face softening ever so slightly.

“There was a night not long after Emma had arrived in Benitoite that I saw the two of you together in the hallway. I don't remember exactly what was said but I do remember the way you two looked at each other, nobody can fake that look. Any doubts I had as to her motives vanished in that moment. As I continued to watch the two of you I found a weight I didn't even know I had lifted off me. It was from the fear you would go through what I had. Being tormented by uncertainty, your actions and your own feelings of insecurity and inferiority.”

Silvio started at those last words, the old man had always been such a blow hard he never even considered he could feel insecure or inferior about anything. Silvio was unsure whether to believe the old man or not so he simply asked him.

“Why did ya never say any of this before?”

“I don't owe you anything plus…this isn't something easily explained or understood. But now you have your own child, your own son and you know how wonderful and life changing it is.”

Alfio reached out and like Silvio had earlier he ran his hand over the baby's head.

“To have this perfect expression of your love, this tiny child who completely belongs to the both of you and, unfortunately for him, looks just like you.”

“Hey!”

“You know this joy now and know what it's like. You're in the best position you'll ever be in to imagine what it feels like, what it would do to you to have it all ripped mercilessly from you and thrown away. And even with all you know now your imagination will still never come close to the horrible truth of it all.”

Silvio didn't know what to say. He knew Emma loved him and would never but his mother was a different story. He had become familiar with her twisted cruelty at a young age and he knew how it had sent him reeling the day his mother so casually told him he may not be the king's son, how much it had tortured him since but none of that excused the old man's behavior.

“I told you I don't need to excuse anything. Empty apologies won't undo what's been done for either of us. Even with all the conflict and torment I went through I still continued to recognize you as my son, though admittedly I did so begrudgingly most of the time.”

“That's an understatement.”

“So what if it is, you still never lost your place here like you were so afraid of.”

Silvio's breath caught in his throat.

“Thought I didn't know about that, did you?”

Silvio said nothing, not wanting to confirm anything and Alfio huffed.

“You're easy enough to read, especially for those close to you. Even without that though I'm not so incompetent I couldn't pick up on the change in you. I thought about asking your mother to confirm my suspicions but what would have been the damn point, everything was so much worse after that.”

Silvio couldn't deny that and he clicked his tongue thinking about how his mother was probably laughing at them from hell.

“You’re a shitty father.”

“And yet I still made you king.”

“Ya because I forced your hand you old fart!”

“What does that matter, you still got what you always wanted!”

“What I wanted was the father that Valerio had!”

Silvio cursed internally when he realized he had said that out loud.

“The man that could have been that father for you died a long time ago, Silvio.”

There was a resigned bitterness and sense of loss in Alfios voice.

“I can promise you this though. Regardless of whose son you actually are, this little one is my grandson and I plan to be much better as a grandfather than I ever was as a father."

Silvio snorted.

“That ain't exactly hard considerin’ where you're starting from.”

“Watch your tongue with me, I may not be king anymore but I'm still your father!”

The air had been tense but somehow the familiar chastising had lightened the mood and Alfio leaned back further in his chair and began laughing.

“What's so funny?”

“I'm just thinking about when he grows up and starts talking back to you. I mean with the example you're setting and the way I've heard his mother sass you well…”

Silvio went to argue but very quickly thought better of it, not out of any respect for his old man but more because he was probably right.

"You'll be a good father Silvio, even with that mouth of yours."

“Rotten bastard.”

“Maybe so but that doesn't make me wrong, and that type of response is exactly what I'm talking about!”

That night as Silvio sat close by watching Emma and their son sleeping he thought back on everything the old man had said. He still thought he was trying to excuse away all his shitty behavior but in the end it didn't really matter. Nothing could repair the decades worth of damage that had been done but now, if nothing else, they could make sure that the horrors of the past remained just that.

[marshmallowloves]

can I tell you guys a secret about my history with my crash f/os... well here it is anyway cause I feel like rambling more about them fjdhfj

back in 2013, maybe even a little earlier, I got this little palm-sized notebook with teacups on it (which I referenced in this post for my crash self insert!) that I called the Tiny Tea Journal.

2013-2015 was a very tough time for me for many reasons. moved schools, family things, all that stuff. but I also happened to be very into crash bandicoot at the time! so in this journal, I wrote dozens of pages of dialogue exchanges between N. Gin, Cortex, and myself...or rather, Twist (my OC at the time, before I made a proper self insert) about stuff like people who annoyed me at school or my friends and family or struggles I had with studying. I also had a word document where I did the same thing, but the tea journal was more portable so there were way more entries in there.

this journal quickly became very important to me, as did the two doctors in question. Actually, it was originally just N. Gin... I shipped him with Twist before even starting this journal. but I came to adore Cortex as well...or I guess my own interpretation of him at the time. when I wrote him in the journal he acted somewhat differently from canon, he still had classic evil tendencies like wanting to vaporize my classmates and his usual brand of humor/theatrics, but he also treated me/Twist kindly - the whole "only exception" thing I'm a sucker for.

N. Gin didn't really have many tweaks to his personality when I wrote him. he was still unhinged as usual and I always imagined him to be polite and affectionate if he liked someone a lot anyway, so it worked out for the journal~

eventually I started flat-out self shipping with both of them, but nowadays I try to write them as close to canon as I can, because a.) that's what I initially fell in love with anyway and b.) I've grown up and realized it's waaay more fun and interesting to use their current canon personalities when making my s/i interact with them.

but...there will always still be the Tiny Tea Journal version of them that lives exclusively in my head...and in that book. (which is sort of why it's been a struggle to flesh out Synes and Cortex's relationship lately... I never had to think too hard about whether he'd love me genuinely or not, because of the way I wrote him all those years ago. he just...did fjdhfj)

bonus fun fact as a thank you for reading to this point: the reason my ship name with N. Gin is Fuzzy Slippers is because when I was writing those entries, I was mostly picturing the CTTR/Titans/Mutant version of him. there's one mission in CTTR where he asks for fuzzy slippers to complete a weapon and for some reason it just kinda...stuck with me, to the point where he would call me/Twist his fuzzy slipper as a term of endearment in the journal. and now it's carried over to Synes fjdhsf

[daintydolldiary]

i am here! i have twelve hours shifts alternate days, it is very tiring! of course you could never be a disposable toy, you are the my treasure who rests on my shelf! everything you do makes my heart flutter, makes myself even more psychotic! i adore how you yearn for my attention all the time and i could never cease from giving you it. you are so so precious to me my little love, i am uncertain what i would do if you ever stopped wanting my attention. I understand your worries, i suppose you were used in the past and casted side when they were done, i promise history wont repeat itself rather it will be a turning point in your history! hehe i loathe nothing more than time without you! you radiate such a comforting atmosphere, not a moment passes when i don't feel embraced by the security and bliss your affection provides! i wish i nothing more than to hold you near forever. you make my whole life, my whole world brighter just by merely existing! i love you, thank you for everything! now that you have entered my life and become one so invaluable, i have never been more happier! i admire you and often wonder your touch! i feel your embrace would be comforting, warm and gentle! rather there is nowhere else i would rather be than your arms! although adorable is a great understatement, it applies no less! i just wish to see and hear yourself at any given opportunity! if it's no bother, i'd like to remind yourself how greatly i adore you throughout every moment.

i am so parasitically obsessed with you. I need to amputate my doll, so pretty unable to run away from me, without their limbs. chained up, locked away in my basement, for my eyes only, the only person who will ever come to love them or even know of their existence, their only knowledge of the world revolving around me! No one else can love you like I do and if I’ve to beat that fact into your skull many more times I can count, i shall! my knuckles may be sore and stained red, but now, when you will finally suffer from nightmares and you will see me in it as well, how lovely! - 🍥

T-tweleve hour shifts? That sounds so horrible, n so so tiring,,, I hope Dolly's love n attention can help you relax after working for so long 💕 m the luckiest Doll to be able to be treasured by tou and to get a spot on your shelf, you treat Doll with such love, it feels so free, so light when talking eith you, you lift me up so so much! How could Doll not yearn for your attention? You are perfect!!! Doll will never stop adoring and wanting and needing your attention!!!! If so, then Dolly can't wait for the future snd to have you part of every day, every second 🩷

Doll won't let you have too much time without it. After all, that'd only break Dolly too! Really? Doll is unbelievably glad that they make such a comforting and safe atmosphere for you ♡ You make my world a brighter place too, so much brighter it's blinding!!! N you don't need to thank Doll for a single thing. It's not like its done anything? Dolls touch, well m very clingy! So you will get plenty!!! Doll would love being yours, clinging to you constantly, grabbing your leg as you get up so I can pull you back to me, holding your hand, clinging to your arm, hugs, kisses, cuddles. The gentle love that will explode from doll just to give to you (and to satisfy its own selfish needs)! No word you could ever speak would be a bother! Dolly appreciates your every sentence, every word! Thank you thank you thank you for being even greater than the very essence that creates dreams, and showing so much of the live that comes with that to doll, it'll never be able to thank you enough or pay you back for how lovely you truly are! 💕

Fx6cugfycfx6yfc lovely, you leave Doll speechless so often, it's truly not fair QwQ You love me perfectly, so kindly, so gently, just also with enough obsession and determination to kill a person, it's the most adorable thing doll has seen! Doll cannot even handle your adoration, it's so much for a tiny doll with a tiny heart, you love, it's so pure 💕 your eyes only, your attention only, depending only on you, every choice for m little doll body is yours. Doesn't that sound like perfection?! If Doll ever starts to fall out of love n obsession for you, please beat it brainless, cause it's already not thinking straight!! You are heaven and peace as a person, everything Doll could ever want, mmmm~ you are so comforting, even as you threaten Dolly, it's all just reassurance of your devotion and love!!! 💕

[janyxbeloved]

Since I'm gonna be doing this again, I'm going back to school tomorrow (1/6/25)

It's time for a special chapter for one of my KNY OCs, Tsubaki.

If none of you are familiar with Tsubaki, her lore is in this link. Also, this is an alive Yuichiro au, cause I'm not depressed- *Incorrect buzzer sound*

Enjoy! This is semi canon au btw!

Life beyond immortality and trust to humanity

Summary:

The master wants four selected demon slayers to solve a case about the mysterious author of the corp's handbook, out of curiousity, they managed to solve who it is and locate her.

"You are a warrior of the mind. Don't disappoint me." - Teagan Earley as Athena in EPIC: The musical

Flashback:

A quiet evening, Kagaya summons Muichiro Tokito, Yuichiro Tokito, Ichiinama Hanakitsune and Gyomei Himejima to see something.

"Master, you called for us?" Gyomei started off.

"Indeed. I have discovered that a Tsugikuni was the one who wrote the corps handbook, however... I have trouble on which Tsugikuni it is." Kagaya spoke as he handed the handbook to the spirit Hashira. "Do you know who it could be, my child?"

Ichiinama inspected the handbook, reading the name carefully. "T. Tsugikuni...? I beg for your forgiveness master, but I do not know who the author of the handbook could be..." Ichiinama opened the book and inspected through the handwriting, "I haven't seen a T. Tsugikuni in the history books that I've read..."

Kagaya nodded understandingly.

"If I may, master... Why have you summoned four of us to handle this? And why have you summoned us to handle something about someone who's probably long dead by now...?" Yuichiro wanted to know.

"Well, if you really want to know... I just want you four to research about whoever wrote the handbook, we need insight about them." Kagaya stated.

Gyomei and Ichiinama nodded while Muichiro and Yuichiro seemed... Unsure.

As the next few days in Ichiinama's library enused with so much research, they were all puzzled. On one particular day, Gyomei had to be sent out on a mission so it was only left with the Tokito twins and Ichiinama.

"There's really nothing I can find here... I've read all the books here and there's nothing that matches about the author of the handbook!" Ichiinama returned the book she was just reading for the... Who knows how many times now.

"Y'know, it's starting to feel pointless..." Yuichiro shrugged while Muichiro continued searching for other books.

Muichiro sighed, "What are we supposed to do now?"

"Well, giving up is on the table." Yuichiro shrugged while Ichiinama sighed.

"Yeah, you can do that." Muichiro interjected while he scanned around. His eye getting caught by some sort of... Trapdoor?

"Huh? Hey, come check this out..." Muichiro opened the trapdoor and pulled out a book.

"Huh... Guess I didn't really read all of the books..." Ichiinama mumbled, grabbing the book, inspecting it, "It looks like a diary of some sorts..." Ichiinama followed up, opening it.

"Really? Let's see..." Yuichiro looked over Ichiinama's shoulder.

Then a slip of paper fell out.

"Huh?" Muichiro bent down to pick it up and opened it. "It's... A riddle?"

The other two exchanged a glance and looked at the slip of paper

To whoever found this, solve my riddle to achieve what you are Searching for, Unmistakably, in the Back of a lake, lie a forest where one lives in, Act fast if you may, Kindly do not disclose my location when you do find me. I do not welcome the unwelcomed.

T. Tsugikuni

"It's written by the author of the handbook." Yuichiro mumbled...

Muichiro scanned the paper, "What's this supposed to even be about? The words don't make sense..."

Ichiinama inspected the paper thoroughly... "I'm not good at solving these kinds of puzzles but am I crazy that specific letters are capitalized...?"

Muichiro squinted his eyes, "You're right... Some of them are capitalized..."

Yuichiro facepalmed, "What if we're just wasting our time? I don't think it's worth it."

Muichiro grabbed a pen and wrote out the capital letters... "Tsubaki? Is that her name?" Muichiro mumbled as he re-read the paper slip again...

"It does sound like this... T. Tsugikuni does sound like Tsubaki Tsugikuni..." Ichiinama nodded, looking through the diary, a map fell out. "How odd..." Ichiinama pulled the map off the pages and opened it.

Yuichiro cocked an eyebrow, "Hm... What's with the map?"

Ichiinama shrugged, "Maybe she wants us to find her? Or atleast her home?"

Muichiro nodded, "That must be the case..."

Ichiinama scanned the map, "I can't come with you guys if you're going, I have a mission in five minutes."

Yuichiro sighed, "Can't go either... I also have a mission in another town..."

That leaves Muichiro to go... Alone.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Muichiro mumbled... Ichiinama and Yuichiro shook their heads.

"Guess not." Yuichiro shrugged.

"Mhm... This might be the only chance you're given, don't waste it." Ichiinama also shrugged, handing Muichiro a bag filled with food rations and water. "Be safe on your journey, it might get dangerous."

Timeksip to present:

"So... That's how you found me, huh?" Tsubaki inquired.

"Pretty much." Muichiro shrugged. "Based on what I read in your diary, you're pretty badass!"

"Oh, thanks. You aren't so bad yourself. Y'know, after you killed my swan and all." Tsubaki shrugged as she sipped her tea.

"I wasn't really expecting much when I got here..." Muichiro said while he ate some snacks Tsubaki set out, "I was kinda expecting it to be abandoned."

"Eh, I get that. You, your twin and your friend were able to solve my riddle, huh?" Tsubaki said, "How old are you kids anyway?"

"Fourteen." Muichiro shrugged.

Tsubaki chocked on her tea for a moment, "Fourteen?! Damn, you kids are smarter than I thought..." Tsubaki adjusted in her seat.

"I mean... My friend's a bookworm. It's almost easy to her." Muichiro shrugged. "Will you take me as your student, Tsugikuni-sama?"

"Why should I? You're already a Hashira, are you not?" Tsubaki didn't want to take Muichiro as her student, it was difficult to mentor someone as a demon, that was clear.

"Please Tsugikuni-sama? I promise I'll behave!" Muichiro pleaded.

Tsubaki sighed, irritated that this kid was persistent... However, looking closer... She saw a younger version of herself pleading with her father that she learns swordsmanship... "I-... Fine, but under any circumstances, you don't tell your comrades, you can tell you friend and brother, you can bring them, however, I won't tolerate anyone else." Tsubaki said strictly.

"Yes ma'am!" Muichiro nodded.

"And don't be a pain up my ass." Tsubaki went to fetch more hot tea.

[in-deep]

If you could only pick one piece of Byler evidence to convince someone that Byler is endgame, what would you pick?

First off - I wrote this stream of consciousness style so please be kind aha.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this question and I think it’s simply the fact that if Mike is in fact straight, then what is his character arc?

Let me explain.

A lot of the GA view Mike as a glorified side character - sidelined after S2 to fulfil the role of El’s incompetent boyfriend whilst simultaneously leaving Will (his best friend) behind and treating him like a dick. The GA also view Mike as straight. For many GA viewers, the idea that Mike is gay/bi, let alone in love with Will, seems implausible and were it to happen, it would come out of nowhere.

Which leaves the question of: what is Mike’s character arc?

From this GA perspective, he doesn’t have one. He’s destined to make up with El in S5 and support her independence, and kindly turn Will down and go on with being besties like the supportive guy they remember him being in S1/S2. If anything, his character has regressed from the early seasons into a douchebag - a mouth breather. 

Not to mention that from this perspective, he has no real internal or external trauma to be unpacked. While this is obviously untrue as it has been made clear by the Duffer brothers and even within the show (Mike’s suicide attempt, Wheeler family discussion around his behaviour at school) that he is struggling with depression, that doesn’t seem to play into their predictions on his ending. If anything, many GA viewers don’t really view his character’s conclusion in S5 as something important because to them, (just to repeat my earlier point) he’s just a glorified side character.

Of course, if you watch the show carefully and focus on Mike, you’ll quickly realise that his character is dealing with a lot of the direct pressures of heteronormativity and internalised homophobia:

His family is your classic nuclear family, Nancy talks about the Wheeler family dynamic extensively in a heart-to-heart with Jonathan 

S1 has a lot of homophobia - all of it is about Will, but a lot of it is targeted and directed toward Mike

There are multiple times he is visually shown to come to realisations about his feelings toward El and Will, respectively. Now I won’t analyse those in this post because technically, none of the contents of those realisations have been made clear to the audience, it’s just my own interpretations. I’m sure this will come back in S5, though.

To show Mike’s queerness in S5 is not changing his sexuality, simply just revealing what has been shown to the audience the entire time. Stranger Things is brilliant at show vs. tell. They tell us something, and then show us something entirely different or even something that directly contradicts what we were told. Much of the GA don’t pick up on this (and tbf I don’t really expect them to, it’s intended to be subtle!).

To reveal concretely that Mike is queer and in love with Will would change everything. It would be shocking! The GA would lose their minds - and many people would, at first, struggle to believe it. But upon rewatching the show, it would all make sense. It would turn what many view as an unimportant character into one of the most well thought-out and planned queer stories in media history (definitely an exaggeration but bear with me aha, I’m not normal about these boys).

What people thought to be an incompetent boyfriend and an absolute dick to his best friend for two seasons in a row would turn out to actually be a deeply traumatised boy struggling to remain on the “normal” path (quote from Finn Wolfhard on Mike), within the bounds of heteronormativity. A boy who desperately wants to play DnD and Nintendo with his best friend, but realises that what he feels for him isn’t “normal”. It would reveal so much about Mike and all the things we never got to see from his perspective.

And in terms of my predictions, I’m absolutely a believer in Mike being Vecna’d, and we’ll finally see Mike’s point of view on all of this. Just imagine Vecna taunting him about how he failed to be normal. He failed to do the “right” thing. He’s been in love with Will since before he even realised it.

So yeah. Byler is real. Byler is endgame. And I’m 10000% certain that Mike is going to become an extremely popular character once we get his insight. He’ll also absolutely need a hug once all is said and done. I will be hysterical. 

But at least he’ll have his cleric <3.

A really good video on Mike's internalised homophobia that essentially sparked me to write this post in the first place, and I highly recommend if you haven't seen it yet, was this one (@lesbianmindflayer) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6IOlmBEEgE&t=80s&ab_channel=LesbianMindflayer

But yeah! What would you pick as your one piece of evidence?