#WEEEEE DISCOURSE

[xirlos]

Actually, I will add to this some of my deeper thoughts, because one of the main things I will say is that my main focus is on the dislike of characters, not the nature of evil itself.

I didn't quite get to it because of the focus of the post but I also pretty deeply abhor the Hornsent culture as well. Yes, it's designed to be weird and esoteric to outsiders, such with the obsession with horns and the weird clothing and masks, but the fact that there were an entire subset of people who were actively oppressed and tortured as "that's just what we do with you" is incredibly close to home and the game does a beautiful job of horrifying the player with what I thought was a goofy concept outside of the Lands of Shadow.

To go "they're both as evil as each other" I feel isn't quite what the focal point is of the DLC, really – more that there's almost always some kind of inherent darkness to a culture that goes back that far; for whatever reasons, what we consider barbarism and heinous tends to linger in the background of human civilisations and the progress away from that is always important, not retaliation for past crimes that turn from revenge into a cycle of oppression.

That said!

MOORE DID NOTHING WRONG AND HE NEVER DESERVED ANY OF THIS

you can fully hate an elden ring character for personal reasons, ideally while acknowledging this. but to claim one is more evil and morally abhorrent than another for (most) of the main cast goes against the themes of duality in the narrative, where every main character is broken due to the systems they live in yet ultimately still contributing to it

[veggiecorner]

What are your thoughts on Age of Calamity Zelink!!?? I like that version a lot because champions are alive, and there's the longing and the added pressure on Link and his future if he decides to court Zelda

I'm gonna be honest I dont really think about it much. It's mostly cause 1) i haven't played Age of Calamity and 2) I just feel like...idk no matter how Nintendo sugar coats it Zelda and Link were NOTTT happy in that timeline. Yes they won, yes people are alive but idk!! Also I feel like AoC went against what BOTW established in terms of Zelda and Link's growth together so it was hard for me to really...get attached.

But AoC aside I used to think about a "what if they won, they're a little damaged but they won" scenario but it went EXACTLY how BOTW played out, instead of AoC's cutscenes. Then to me it has a good sense of longing. Zelda would have different motivations and ways to heal v.s. post-calamity Zelda. Hyrule Castle is messy but its still...there and so are many of the people. I feel that this version of Zelda would feel more motivated to rebuild the kingdom and take over her status of Queen (while post-calamity Zelda was like "nah actually. i'm not gonna re-establish a monarchy"). And Link...would still have that same closed off personality. Yeah he'd be more open to Zelda but he's still dealing with that anxiety of that social status given to him. Additionally he's unsure what he is now. He put away the master sword and now what?? who is he? Why doesn't he feel free from this burden? They won, right?

Overall I think theres definitely a different dynamic in their relationship, one that doesn't exist in post-calamity. Do they pursue it? Well its going to take a lot of time, and tbh more growth on Link's side.

Sorry for the long rant kJSBDAKSBJD I think i just lost the plot

[nerves-nebula]

I’m so glad I don’t follow whoever the people I follow are vauging about it seems exhausting. I see one sign of #discourse bullshit and I think ��I need to get in touch with my local community” and then I block and never look back. Weeeee

[idlingintheimpalapodcast]

New Episode Alert: (Gently) Taking Authors To Task - runawaydr3amer’s “Drag Out From Your Mouth”

Weeeee did a thing!!

@sam-is-my-safe-word, @talltalesandbedtimestories & @runawaydr3amerao3 lost our collective minds in March & signed up for the @wincestbigbang (It's Kasey's fault. Blame them. Dreamer has receipts.)

But now the bang is over, the stories have been posted, and we're breaking down the experience.

We saved the longest for last so grab some snacks & a drink cos Dreamer is about to take us on a *journey* of trauma recovery, self care, idiots in love & some seriously sexy smut that will leave you in need of a cold shower.

Lets answer the age old question together, does Sam Winchester send nudes?

Read Dreamer's Fic Listen on Spotify Watch on Youtube:

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:55 - Dreamer’s First Big Bang

00:07:45 - Why did Dreamer decide to dive into a bang this time?

00:10:04 - Why the Wincest Big Bang?

00:11:32 - The hurdles Dreamer had to overcome

00:18:10 - Dreamer needed some distance before talking about her Big Bang story

00:24:25 - The story breakdown

00:31:20 - How Sam processes and lives with trauma

00:45:14 - Where did Dreamer get the story idea?

00:48:28 - We finally get around to mentioning the story title

00:49:06 - Why unrelated Wincest?

00:50:20 - The discourse surrounding unrelated Wincest

00:54:55 - Six Degrees of unrelated Wincest

01:02:22 - Who got the Winchester surname and why?

01:03:45 - The feedback on Dreamer’s story

01:10:27 - Dreamer loves a redemption arc

01:18:44 - The structure of the story

01:22:15 - Stretching the definition of Epistolary

01:27:44 - Being objective in exposition

01:30:12 - Formatting the Fic

01:34:29 - Thoroughly Modern Sam and Dean

01:39:59 - Mining server sources for accuracy

01:42:37 - Underestimating the AO3 formatting process

01:44:23 - Dreamer’s posting date

01:49:15 - Who would use emojis more?

01:52:23 - Breaking down Sam’s dream in Chapter 4

02:10:16 - The Horny on Main climax

02:22:01 - Kasey is the MVP

02:30:47 - Does the end story resemble what Dreamer envisioned at the start?

02:43:04 - Dreamer’s overall Big Bang experience

02:48:00 - Dreamer’s collaboration with artist I-already-know-im-going-2-hell

03:03:35 - Would Dreamer do another Big Bang?

03:12:59 - Dreamer’s thanks shout-outs

03:15:07 - Outro

[jadeofblades]

pregame gonta hcs weeeee!!!!!!!

Is the hashtag rich kid on the block, a lot of ppl assume he's the snobby type cuz his parents are like that but he's actually chill abt it... also known as he Hates it because he would very much rather put the money to other good things in life and not into running dumb shit.

Speaking of parents, his relationship with them is Strained to say the least. His mother tries and assures him she just wants whats best for him (even tho it's the complete Opposite of helpful and she ends up just brushing his problems under the rug) and his dad is a demanding ass. Due to traveling theyre not around a lot, and when they are the family rarely ever talks with each other.

Got into danganronpa mainly cuz most of everyone else was into it, and what better way to fit in than to watch the show everyone was also watching? Somewhat desensitized to the gore but would have to stop watching it sometimes because it would get too much (especially if guns and potentially animals were involved because it reminded him of when he was in the forest. Yeah that backstory probably wouldn't apply to pre dangan but shut up im not making a new one.)

Anyways, hates togamis guts and loves nekomaru. Also likes mikan and chihiro in a "damn theyre just like me fr....." way. Participates in fandom stuff like once in bluemoon cuz social interactions Scary but an enjoyer of sakuraoi, yay yuri. Number one usami defender too, Gonta acts like he has little opinion on her until someone shits on her and he proceeds to send like seven paragraphs explaining why theyre wrong. Baby's first discourse.

Speaking of social interactions Scary, despite his looks Gonta is..... Actually very awkward when you talk with him. He doesnt rly speak unless spoken to and he has like no idea how to make casual conversation cuz he fears anything he says will be made fun of. If he's comfortable enough, tho, prepare for him to bring up random, almost bizarre, topics out of nowhere, because hes Like That.

Joins danganronpa solely to run away from his home life and to possible show that he could mean something more than just being a prop in the background.

[the-owl-tree]

(Feel free to ignore this if you’re sick of Nightheart discourse, I don’t blame you)

The thing about Nightheart is that if he was written by basically any other writer then he’d just be subjugated to a comic relief type character. Angsty ‘not a phase’ teenager who gets hit hard by reality in the second act and comes to appreciate his family by the end.

But Nightheart written by the Erins who are convinced he’s the specialist little guy and the people around him are just mean :( and it’s just such a boring way to write a character like him. Ironically they act like he’s Firestar more then anyone in Thunderclan.

this'll be the last ask i take for this dude lol im just gonna use ur ask to sort of explain my thoughts more

the thing about nightheart is he is right up my alley as a character (i am a certified Lightleap Enjoyer characters who do stupid things are very fun), but like.....there's just waaaayy too much shit ingrained in his writing for me to like him, you know? rookflower made a good post pointing out the issues being discussed so this is me basically adding onto this but you know

-he's not a teen, he's a young adult at this point so the angsty teen thing just isn't a thang for this dude. every book he gets older and older and the "im not orange thing" becomes increasingly stupid. this isn't a kid lashing out, this is a young adult who is being written as if he has actually being wronged in some way.

-his writing hinges on him being wronged in some way, that Squirrelflight, Sparkpelt, and all of the other she-cats in the introduction have actually done something they need to atone for. isn't it strange that the first book is them being treated as nagging harpies while Bramblestar (the guy who manipulates him) is this understanding and relatable grandfather to him who understands him like no one else? why write that?

-to which, this isn't some intentional commentary on bramblestar for being a manipulative dickhead, the writers actually give him credit for pairing up Sunbeam and Nightheart when it was actually Squirrelflight.

-*hands on my hips* like isn't that weeeiiirrrrdd? weird that we have an arc that unfairly blames she-cats and then gives credit to the male characters around them for shit they don't do? like isn't that just a weeeee bit strange to some of you?

-this is a series that holds she-cats, and specifically mothers, to a higher level of scrutiny than its male characters. Sparkpelt's treatment by the narrative does not exist in a vacuum, why is the narrative saying she named her son for her own ambition? why is her being exiled treated as a slight against Nightheart? why is her ppd (which was already something squirrelflight's hope used to reflect poorly on the character) being used to boost her son's arc?

[gagfadget]

Is it okay I have no idea what proshipping or shipping is or the discourse around it? It doesn’t appear to affect my life, I don’t fan that hard about anything I’m more like weeeee this is cool let me post silly observations and reblog gifs about it.

OH ITS VERY MUCH OKAY!! Don’t worry at all about this shit and please feel free to blacklist any tag you want pertaining to this💀💀

I just talk about it because I have trauma with that community and venting and fighting with them sometimes helps that 💀

[voltronthingsiguess]

I see a lot of Sh@nce shippers acting as if the Sh@nce fandom is completely free of discourse and that She|th and Kl@nce shippers are the antis, but we are far from innocent lmao, don’t act as if we are. I’ve seen plenty of fellow Sh@ncers, the majority, in fact, bashing ships of all kinds and then trying to say “oh well at least we’re not as bad as She|thers or Kl@ncers” and it’s... a bit disappointing. And embarrassing. And hypocritical. And immature. Just a bit.

As a She|th and Sh@nce shipper and former Kl@nce shipper... let’s please just not give ourselves bad reputations?

[pyrten]

im gonna start off by apologizing for the rambling in this post about technoblade's situation. twitter is just grating on my nerves hard, and having all this happen to someone I hyperfixate on is, "buries face in hands".

And if this post isn't phrased all that well and I gave off the wrong vibes, my apologies. I don't have any ill intention towards the minorities affected in this situation, and if you want a certain line rephrased to accurately reflect my real meaning/message/intentions (but it didn't because I sucked at phrasing it) uh replies. DM. Ask. Whatever works to reach me.

To anyone who's affected by it too, whether it's because he's your hyperfixation, or not and you're just generally worried. Stay off twitter yeah, hope you're doing alright, uh have some water.

CW! Twitter Discourse , Ableism , Mentions of Asian Hate and Harassment.

Stop reading if you know well that it will trigger you. Please scroll past. Find a cute cat picture, maybe.

So, new hashtag trending. Wonderful, congratulations people on Twitter involved, you did something! You did something you thought was good! Good job! (/s)

this sounds super rude but, what the fuck mate? what was going through your mind when trending #kick-insert techno's real name- ? You had good intentions to call out people who deciding doxxing techno is okay. I can respect that, but tweeting about it with the hashtag? That's what gets it trending. Multitude of people tagging it.

how much traction did the og tweet of the doxxing get? how much attention was pulled to the situation AFTER the hashtag trended?

have anyone ever thought that, someone with, horrible anxiety, would reply to such a stressful situation? that maybe their mental health is on the brink after this shit?

Call him out on the bad shit he's done, that's fine. Good for you. But to this point of not considering someone else's side and expecting someone who's ND to rise to your NT standards is a pure shit move.

A week to apologize?

Look, I get it. It's been going on for awhile. But, who gave him a week to apologize? The minorites ACTUALLY affected? If so, that's alright, you're tired of waiting. That's fine. I can't say much. The only one I can say much about is the covid joke he made since I'm Chinese . I don't live in China, but I'm definitely Asian nonetheless.

Have you seen the full clip? Or did you only focus on the single part. He didn't completely disregard the Asian harassment and hate. He said before he made the joke: "horrific racism aside" .

And yes, I don't speak for the entire community, I know some people are hurt by the joke, especially (observation based) if you found out about the joke around this period of time where COVID is far worse compared to Feb 2020 when the joke was made. that's fine. Just because me and my friends aren't hurt doesn't mean you should be the same.

It's fine to ask for an apology, but to chase an apology to the point you're carrying out blatant heavy harassment towards another person is not okay.

But anyways, a week to apologize?

But if the one who gave this deadline isn't minorities actually affected? If it's the ones being performative and said "hey! You have a week to say sorry!" ?

ಠ‿ಠ what bro.

People are really chill with the easy side of adhd aren't they? Hm? Once the tough stuff about adhd comes up and shows itself, people really just flip faces quick huh? So quickly. Actually, no, once the tough stuff about a ND persons disorder comes up, flip.

shhhhh. listen hey hey hey hello listen. s h h h h h h h h don't say no more words. shush. sealed. keep your lips closed.

Claps clap yay I'm done weeeee. (not /s). I'm keeping this off the main Technoblade tag as this is more of a rant and it's definitely much heavier.

[myloish]

goddamnit i remember so vividly seeing the promo for su at a relative’s house before it had come out and getting annoyed bc every 15 seconds i’d hear that “if every porkchop were perfect” “weeeee wouldn’t have hot dogs” quote and i was so pleased with myself knowing i’d leave and never actually watch it and now here i am a ghost of a person unable to think of all the ways this 11-minute cartoon and discourse magnet fully connected with me and how i’m going to carry on its lessons and songs for as long as i can AAAAAAAA STEVEN

[yisschamp]

TAGGING DIRECTORY

sometimes I use various tags for various things here they are:

FREQUENTLY USED:

#artchamp: my own art! and posts about personal art stuff, wips, and progress

#dnferisms: personal archive of the times dnf are dnfing

#fav: favorite posts of all time ever (relating to mcyt). mostly just funny

#lovelies: personal archive of when dtkqia+ is sweet or otherwise pos

#psa: things that would be on my pinned for the people if tumblr allowed multiple pins

#rainy day tag: the digital equivalent of putting money in a jar for rainy/sad days or other emergencies

MISC:

#404 or #709 or the green emoji blue emoji: for big posts or otherwise i feel relate to cumtent creators dreamwastaken and/or georgenotfound specifically, usually specified with #c[number] or #cc[number] if i feel like its the vibe for the smp character or the cc themselves. otherwise its both. other ccs just get a direct mention or a letter. why just these two? well because i have rot.

#ask #anon and #user [username]: self explanatory

#clipse: my own uploaded clips from streams etc

#discourse: VERY RARELY USED but for discourse. i try not to get too involved with it but on the occasion i do, there it is (FOR BLACKLIST)

#dnfcore songs: when songs are dnf either c or cc. yeah

#dream loveposting: for postive lovely posts about dream <3

#drodcast lb: liveblog tag specifically for drodcasts

#dsmp dump: my own tag to organize my dream smp thoughts and rot

#favchamp: art i really like tag! ALWAYS RB TO SUPPORT THE OP!!

#lb: for liveblogging streams weeeee

#misc ramblies: miscellaneous talks about random things i may want to find later. sometimes i go uh joker mode here

#music posting: i like music so i talk about it and how many emotions it brings me (usually make me go off the rails tbh.)

#nsfw?: questionable content... (FOR BLACKLIST?)

#personal: things that happen in my wacky eventful life

#real: real. its just real. 

#suicide ment: (FOR BLACKLIST)

#unrelated fav: posts that usually have nothing to do with mcyt but i like anyway to keep. sometimes kind of like the 404 or 709 tag when i forget the numbers or its duos etc

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO BE BLACKLISTED AND I WILL TAG IT AS NECESSARY! 

THIS LIST WILL PROBABLY BE UPDATED EVENTUALLY IF I EVER THINK OF ANY OTHER TAGS I NEED OR WILL USE FREQUENTLY ON THE BLOG!

[1agentofchaos]

The Spawn of the Great Joraffe and the Unicorn Queen

Notes: So, I know it’s the end of January, but this was an unfinished story I was attempting to write for Christmas which had made me frustrated because I couldn’t figure out how to end it. I needed a break from my other stories, so I went back to this one, and it actually began to flow, even though I had a number of holes to plug.

There is a book I mention at the very end titled “Unicorn Giraffe.” This children’s book actually exists. It’s by Teddi Rutschman and Laura Botsford (whom I hope would be pleased at the free press they are getting right now). While I’ve never read it, from what I can tell, it looks beautiful with a lovely story perfect for a child of Helena and Myka’s. The sentence Helena reads to her son is the actual sentence at the beginning of the book.

This story came to mind partly because of an inside joke in the Bering and Wells fandom regarding Jo and Jaime. For various reasons, Jo became known as the “Great Joraffe” and Jaime as the “Unicorn Queen”. I also was given a plush animal that looks very much what I described and couldn’t help but think how it could be the love child of the stuffed animals the Great Joraffe and Unicorn Queen with a rainbow mane.

Also: Fluff. So very much fluff! But we all need that right now, I think.

—

Summary: The big eyes of the little multi colored spotted plush animal with a little unicorn on top of its head stared at Helena with what could only be described as wonderment…if the bloody thing was alive.

The big eyes of the little multi colored spotted plush animal with a little unicorn on top of its head stared at Helena with what could only be described as wonderment…if the bloody thing was alive.

Which it most definitely was not.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes! I’m going to buy it. You can’t tell me Choo Choo Charlie won’t love this?!”

“While he may, Myka won’t.” Helena rolled her eyes. “And why on earth must you call Charles ‘Choo Choo Charlie’? Is it just to aggravate me?”

Pete grinned. “While I do love to aggravate you, HG, it’s an American thing from an old TV ad. Besides, it’s your own fault; you bought him that train set to begin with.” He elbowed Helena, teasing, “And don’t act like you’re all upset about it. You love to play it with him as much as I do.”

Helena did her best to hide her smile. She really did enjoy it to the point of making her son an intricate train track, and buying him additional pieces and train cars. Sunday afternoons were often devoted to Thomas the Tank Engine, building model trains together, and playing with the train set in the basement.

The inventor’s special surprise for Charles on Christmas Day: a brand new Steampunk train designed and built with the help of Claudia. There was also an even more detailed track that for one thing, required one to solve puzzles along the way.

“Oh my god! Squeal of delight!” Claudia rushed over, and seized the plush animal-thing out of Pete’s hands.

“Hey! I wasn’t done yet! Me and the spawn of the Great Joraffe and the Unicorn Queen are creating some awesome dance moves.”

Shoving Pete out of the way, Claudia squeezed and hugged the garish toy. Closing her eyes, Claudia cooed, “Oh, you are so precious, aren’t you, little…uh…” Claudia’s eyes opened, and she regarded the plush animal thing. “I’m thinking we need a name here, H.G.”

“Oooo, yeah!” Pete placed his hand under his chin, rubbing it as if contemplating some great universal question.“Now, let’s see: Joraffe Jr.?”

Claudia waved a hand, dismissing him. “Too easy, and too boring, Pete.”

“Well, what do you have?” Pete snagged it out of her hand and held it high above Claudia, who kept jumping and swatting at it to no avail.

“Come on, Pete! Give it back!”

“Weeeee! Look what I can do!” Helena was surprised Pete could make his voice go that high pitched, and watched the man child make the plush animal thing do various jumps and impossible athletic endeavors.

Helena rubbed her temple. She knew her four month pregnant wife would likely show up any minute and feared Myka’s reaction.

It was one week before Christmas. Helena and Myka were visiting Mr. and Mrs. Bering in Colorado Springs, and decided to revisit this charming store featuring all kinds of wonderful baby and nursery items. This was their second child, but now it was Myka’s turn to carry the child, and she was not happy about it. Not one bit. Helena refused to give her a free pass stating, “I’ve already done this twice now. Besides, Dr. Calder doesn’t think it would be safe for me to carry another.”

When they were married, the idea of children was not on the list, but the Warehouse had other ideas. Helena did not come to the Warehouse often but Myka had needed some help with organizing and deciphering some of Warehouse 12 files, not to mention Caturanga’s illegible writing. One thing led to another in the library…and now nine months later, Charles Christopher Peter Bering-Wells was born. (“That’s what you get for being naughty in the Warehouse, Mykes,” Pete had teased.)

Everyone was in shock it was a boy. Myka kept babbling about how science is science and they both had no y so why is there a y…

Pete was ecstatic, declaring the Warehouse knew another male was needed, and swore there were days he felt like he was swimming in estrogen. Steve took exception to this, pointing out there was also him and Artie to help in the testosterone department. Pete came back with the rebuttal that if you add Abigail, all the guys were out numbered. Plus, there were days Pete could have sworn Myka multiplied just to torment him.

Myka on the other hand was pissed Pete made this all about him, but her eyes were full of happy tears when little Charles was born. For her part, Helena was just happy to have a healthy baby.

She was also in a way relieved. Helena didn’t think she could have stood giving birth to another little girl. It would have been overwhelming, bringing back too many memories. It seemed strange to say, but somehow she felt the Warehouse sensed this, which would explain why she gave birth to a son.

Charles was now four, and the apple of everyone’s eyes, and he knew it. Helena swore there were days she could see her brother in little Charles’s mischievous expressions. It brought back happy memories of her and her brother Charles as children. Helena was usually the instigator, as most of the ideas were hers, but Charles was always a ready and willing comrade in arms. The days she saw that expression on her son’s face were the days she missed her brother the most.

Adding to Charles was always open ended: they simply never discussed it. Helena suspected Myka knew having Charles was a blessing, but was well aware of the spark of darkness within Helena. If anything happened to Charles, Helena doubted even Myka could hold her back. To add another child…

Now a consultant to the Warehouse, Helena held a non related Warehouse job as well. She was still afraid of the lure, the temptation to use artifacts no matter how many times everyone else (including the Warehouse) knew she would not.

The Regents it seemed were in agreement with her as they disapproved of her returning as an agent (despite the protests of the rest of the Warehouse team). There was the discussion of Helena becoming a Regent, but she simply didn’t want that sort of connection anymore. However, Helena did enjoy acting in a consulting capacity, and the Regents gave their approval. Helena’s expertise from situations relating to Warehouse 12 was invaluable, as well as her genius level intellect. And much to the delight of one Claudia Donovan, Helena was allowed a certain…leverage as well.

Or really, it was more of a plausible deniability on the part of the Regents. Claudia Donovan originals (or improvements for that matter) were never officially sanctioned. However, considering these inventions improved life in the Warehouse and the field (especially achieving a higher retrieval rate), Helena’s role was overlooked.

Claudia had declared working with Helena as “the most awesome of awesome”. Helena still did not understand the girl’s use of language, but understood enough to know this was a good thing. Helena was simply pleased her version of the MicroRay had saved Claudia’s pseudo father’s heart.

Afterwards, Artie’s attitude towards Helena as Claudia’s mentor softened. His gruff paternal demeanor towards anything connected with Claudia was still there but the ire towards Helena for past misdeeds had disappeared with the cravat that Helena hurting Claudia in any way, shape, or form would carry serious consequences up to and including bronzing. Helena got the message loud and clear, and felt an odd kinship with Artie as a parent.

The need to invent, to discover, to imagine, had never really left. She found that out with Nate who seemed mystified, and while not the exact cause of their relationship ending, was at the least a symptom of the cause. Emily Lake was a mask, and after the jaw bone incident, Helena G Wells started to peel the rest of the torn mask away; and that person was not someone safe enough, not someone who could be the PTA soccer mother Nate and Adelaide needed.

When Helena and Myka finally admitted their feelings, the urge intensified. It was like rediscovering a part of her she’d buried for so long and she reveled in it.

Once Helena and Myka were married, they bought a house in Univille, and between consulting for the Warehouse and inventing, Helena worked part time at the local bookstore, much to Myka’s delight. It gave Helena solace, being surrounded by literature. They were all like old friends; the smell and texture brought to mind her days in London with informal scintillating intellectual discourse in a group much like the Algonquin round table.

There was also a laboratory in the basement of their home. When she became pregnant with Charles, it was decided this must change. Helena simply bought one of the pieces of land nearby and built a laboratory, much to Claudia’s excitement.

While Helena enjoyed the computer, her love for the physicality of the written word on parchment had never ended; the feel of crisp paper between her fingers, and the smell of the ink as it dried. To Myka’s elation, the Victorian began to write again.

Eventually, Helena gained the nerve to submit a story to a science fiction magazine. Initially rejected (Myka threatened to fly to the company’s headquarters and tell them off), Helena retooled a few things, realizing her style of writing came off a bit antiquated.

At last, she had a story published, and decided to focus on a novel next. Helena loved her wife, but Myka hovering around her as she wrote proved too much. Eventually, they came to an understanding; when Helena was writing she was not to be disturbed, barring an emergency.

With that understanding, things flowed easily enough. While Helena becoming pregnant with Charles was unexpected, she was determined to not make the same mistakes she made with Christina.

One or both of them were always with Charles. During those moments when they were unable to, Uncle Pete, Aunt Claudia, Uncle Jinks, or Grandpa Artie would keep careful watch. It took a long time before Helena would even allow this; there were continual flashbacks to Christina’s death. Not just the fear, but the guilt at having left Christina with a young weak maid unable to fight off the huge men during the robbery.

At last, with time, patience, and convincing, Helena was assured her friends were capable of protecting Charles. Myka had pointed out they were all Agents, and were more than capable of shooting and fighting off intruders.

So, Helena relaxed. And with it, came the enjoyment of motherhood again; just simply the true joy of sharing things with her son.

There had been questions from Myka’s relatives (especially her mother and Tracy) over when they would add to their family. They had been convinced Charles was the result of a experimental procedure allowing two women to procreate, and the insistence to add another child intensified.

Myka at first was annoyed, but as time went on, the thought to share things with a daughter as well grew.

Charles had a lot of Wells in him, and Myka was hoping to have a child with more Bering, even if she would never admit it. Their son was never keen on athletics, and while he loved to read, his love of trains and anything mechanical, took precedence. Helena knew Myka wanted to have a child that would someday fence with her, perhaps join the debate team, and read as if the books were the very essence of life itself.

Every so often, Myka brought it up. After many nights of talking and crying about Christina, Helena was ready to try for a girl. This time, they used an artifact. As Myka put it, “we are never, ever doing it in the warehouse again!”

As Charles was considered some sort of fluke, they expected a girl this time, as “science was still science” (as Myka put it). Once Myka was pregnant, they eventually discovered they were indeed having a girl.

Myka was taken off retrievals, and while she knew it was coming, it made Myka agitated. The inventor had faced certain restrictions while pregnant but she was still able to tinker, write, and work at the bookshop. Myka wasn’t able to go out and do what she loved best: be a Warehouse Agent.

So here they were, joined by Pete and Claudia. It had just so happened there was a curiosity nearby Colorado Springs, which was snagged, bagged, and tagged in record time. Artie graciously granted Pete and Claudia an extra two days to spend in Colorado Springs. Pete was very happy to see Mrs. Bering and most especially, her cookies.

Helena’s iPhone buzzed in her pocket. It was Myka, and she would be here any minute.

“Just stop!” Helena reached over and grabbed the plush animal thing, and predictably both fussed like two little children.

“Aw, come on, HG!”

“Yeah. We haven’t settled on a name yet.”

“I don’t really care. Myka just finished at the bank, and will be here in a couple of minutes. You both know how she has reacted to your incessant teasing about that…animal…family…you seem to have created for Charles.”

Helena dimly registered the tinkle of a bell but was focused on this ridiculous conversation involving the…offspring?…of two plush animals in Charles’s room.

“I thought she liked it,” Pete lamented.

Helena’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Every time you mention it, she hits you!”

“She always hits me! How am I supposed to tell the difference?”

Helena did have to concede a point there.

“The difference between what?” Her wife said evenly behind her.

Pete’s eyes widened and he grabbed the stuffed animal thing from Helena’s grip prompting a glare from the inventor. Pete whipped the garish animal thing around his back out of sight so fast Helena would have been impressed if she wasn’t more worried about the situation at hand.

The situation called for her best charm. She sauntered over, and wrapped her arms around her wife. Whispering in her wife’s ear, Helena intensified her British accent, knowing for some reason she had never been able to understand, her accent was a turn on for Myka.

“Now, come, come my darling. Just ignore Peter. Let’s instead think about having a wonderful candlelight dinner at the Mediterranean restaurant we saw on the way into town. We can leave Charles with your parents overnight, and have a lovely dinner and return to the hotel where I can pamper and make love to you.” She softly kissed Myka’s ear. “Je vous adore, mon amour.”

Myka’s body however remained rigid, and when Helena pulled back, Myka’s face was expressionless. Drat. Not even her best seduction method was working. Helena absently wondered if she was losing her touch.

It was obvious that not only would Myka not let this pass, she would most likely yell at Pete in the store when she learned the meaning behind Pete’s statement.

But fortune smiled upon the group, as little Charles Bering-Wells and Mrs. Bering entered the store. The little boy ran to Helena, hugging her legs. His little arms reached up to be lifted into Helena’s arms.

“Mummy!”

Helena’s eyes lit up and she gave him the smile reserved only for her son. Charles was getting to the point where he was too heavy to hold for any long period of time, but Helena refused to acknowledge this. Her body however had other ideas, as she felt the strain in holding him for a length of time. Helena knew it wouldn’t be long before she had to stop (most likely a month, if she were lucky) but she was determined to make the most of this cherished ritual other parents enjoy. Christina had reached the point of being beyond this stage when she was killed, but just holding her own child in her arms again returned that joy to her heart.

Helena adjusted her arms a bit, and said, “Hello, my little engineer. Have you been having fun with your grandmother?”

Charles nodded enthusiastically, his engineer cap bobbing slightly on his head.

“Where’s your new hat, Charles?” Myka reached over to fuss with Charles’s cap, and the young boy scrunched up his nose, and wiggled so much Helena was forced to set him back on the ground.

“I want to wear this hat, Momma. Mummy said I could wear it.”

Helena cringed as Myka turned, giving her a hard look, and Helena knew she was in trouble.

“Well, Mummy seems to have forgotten that the temperature is thirty degrees outside-much too cold for wearing your engineer cap.” This statement was more for Helena’s chastisement rather than directed at their son.

“Darling, it is true I said Charles is allowed to wear it while we enjoy our time together with the trains…” she looked down at her son “I did not mean everywhere.” Her son was wearing his puppy dog face which Helena had a hard time resisting, but Helena knew Myka was right; Charles would be sick with the lack of warmth on his head, and no covering on his little ears.

Kneeling down, Helena caressed her son’s cheeks.“You know, even engineers get cold, and need the extra warmth. Besides, it would be terribly difficult to enjoy Christmas in bed. You would miss Grandpa Artie’s cookies, going caroling, decorating the tree, opening your presents under the tree, and our Christmas feast with Christmas crackers.”

A small pout was almost Helena’s undoing as she removed the engineer’s cap, smoothing down his chestnut hair. “Now, darling, they have some lovely stocking caps right over there.” Helena pointed to a display next to the cash register. “And you may pick whichever one you like.”

Helena rose, and noticed a contrite expression on her mother-in-law’s face. "I’m sorry, Myka. I couldn’t get him to put on a warmer hat before we left the house.“

"Charles, is this true?” Helena looked down at her son, frowning. “You know to obey your grandmother.”

The little boy bowed his head in shame, and then mumbled,“I’m sorry, Mummy.”

Helena sighed. “All right, no punishment this time, I suppose.” Charles looked back up at her, and smiled. “But next time this happens, young man, there will be no Thomas the Tank Engine and playing with your train set for at least a week.”

The smile dimmed, and Charles grew serious. “Yes, Mummy. I will listen to Grandmother from now on.”

“Good.” Helena nodded approvingly.

“Mom, we can take it from here.”

“What time will you be coming over for dinner?”

“Soon. I’ll give you a call,” Myka replied.

“Okay.” Mrs. Bering kissed Myka on the cheek, and glanced at Helena. “I’ll see you two later. Make sure Myka gets to the house all right, Helena.”

“Mom! I’m not an invalid. I can get myself over there just fine, thank you very much.” Myka crossed her arms, and pouted, looking very much like Charles at the moment. Helena bit her lip not to smile; Myka was adorable.

Mrs. Bering rolled her eyes. “Goodbye, Charles.”

“Goodbye, Grandmother!” Charles hugged her and then Mrs. Bering walked out the door.

“Mykes, I’m still invited to dinner, right?” Pete was wearing his best puppy dog face.

Myka sighed, relaxing her posture. “Yes, you and Claudia are both invited, like I told you.”

“Yay!” Pete cried happily, as he and Charles gave each other high fives.

“I don’t think I can deal with going over there tonight, Helena.” Myka whispered.

Helena kissed her wife’s hair. “It’s only for tonight, love. And we will most definitely be returning to the hotel later.”

At that moment, Pete demonstrated his bull in a China shop tendency, and knocked down the display of stuffed animals behind him which just happened to have more of that god awful multi colored plush animal…thing.

Various forms of Pete’s name were cried all at once.

“Pete!”

“Peter!”

“Dude!”

“Uncle Pete!”

“Whoops.” He bent over to pick up the animals while Claudia began to reorganize the display.

“Don’t worry, Mykes and H.G., we got it. No problemo.” Claudia said, waving off the clerk who was set to come over. “Sorry about that!” She called, and smiled at the clerk, who seemed to hesitate, but was interrupted by a customer ready to pay.

A quick glance at her wife revealed Myka with closed eyes trying to regulate her breathing. Helena placed her hand on Myka’s back, rubbing soothing circles through her coat, and was very thankful Myka didn’t push her away.

Opening her eyes, Myka leaned into Helena, who just wrapped her arm around her wife. It was time to go home. Just as Helena was about to open up her mouth and relay just that, her son exclaimed, “Mummy, look! This animal looks like both you and momma!”

The little boy grinned as he held up the prized ghastly thing.

Myka didn’t answer. Helena saw a mix of confusion and incredulousness on her face.

“Charles, darling-” Helena began.

“Told ya!” Pete smiled wide at Helena as he pranced a bit in place and Helena feared another accident.

Helena felt Myka’s back grow rigid again, and she withdrew from Helena’s touch. Helena internally sighed. Why must Pete be so…Pete?!

“What the hell are you talking about, Pete? That-that thing does not look like us.”

Undeterred, their son informed, “It looks like the Great Joraffe and the Unicorn Queen mixed up together.”

Helena feared Myka would blow a gasket, but then Charles continued, “It’s like me being a mix of you and Mummy!”

Helena immediately sensed Myka’s body relax and thought she heard sniffles.

“Myka, darling, are you coming down with a cold?”

Myka turned, causing Helena to only hear a muffled answer. Her wife drew out of her pocket a Kleenex, and blew her nose while still sniffling.

Charles tugged on Myka’s coat. “Are you sick, Momma?”

He sounded so concerned and sweet it was no wonder Myka turned back and bending down slightly to hug him close to her legs, kissing his dark hair.

“No, no, baby, I’m fine. Momma is just a little…out of sorts today.”

Charles raised his head to stare at Myka with worried wide eyes. “Why are you out of sorts?”

“Um…it’s just sometimes when women are pregnant, it gets hard to control their emotions.”

“Does this mean you won’t be able to have Christmas with us?”

Helena decided to take control of the situation as Myka appeared to be on the verge of losing it again.

Leaning down, Helena looked her son in the eyes. “Momma will be just fine, Charles. Now, be a good boy, and go find which hat you would like to wear. After that, we will all go back to Grandmother Bering’s house, and have hot chocolate.”

Glancing one more time at his momma, Charles withdrew slowly from Myka’s grasp. “Okay, Mummy.”

Helena smiled and then instructed, “Hand Claudia the plush toy to return to the display before you leave.”

Claudia jumped in, and held her hand out, saying,“Come on, Charlie. Let’s put this animal back on the shelf, and go over to the hats. I bet we can find one you will totally rock.”

When Claudia and Charles were over perusing the hats, Pete tried to make his escape. “You know, there is this new restaurant I saw open in the next town over. I’m gonna go get the car, and then Claud can meet me outside when her and Charlie are done.”

Myka laid her hand on his arm. “Pete, it’s okay. I’m sorry. I’m just tired.”

“It’s okay, Mykes.” He grinned sheepishly.

“I know you meant the best…in your own way.” Then she added, “But that animal thing-” she pointed at the garish toy “does not look like-like-”

Pete grinned widely.“The spawn of the Great Joraffe and the Unicorn Queen?”

Helena scoffed, while Myka pinched her nose. He grabbed the plush animal again, and once more did a (admittedly more subtle) dance with the thing.

“Pete! Fine! You can give it to him for Christmas.” Myka gave in.

"Yippee!”

“Just put it back, and come in later to buy it please.” Myka glanced at Helena who was rolling her eyes.

Helena sucked in a breath, and conceded, mumbling, “Righty ho, then.”

Pete grinned widely at Helena. She shook her head at his enthusiasm, knowing he really did have a good heart.

“Now, if you will excuse me, I think it’s time to buy Charles’s hat, so we can leave.”

“Agreed,” Myka responded, and Helena was pleased to see the smile on Myka’s face.

Walking towards Charles, Helena called, “Have you found a hat, my little man?”

Holding up a hat with the craziest, most obnoxious design Helena had ever seen, he exclaimed happily, “Yes, Mummy!”

Helena closed her eyes, and wondered if this day would ever end.

—–

It was the beginning of February with Christmas long since over.

The snow softly fell in the chilly dark night, while inside Charles’s bedroom, Helena tucked her son into his warm bed with Thomas the Tank Engine sheets and comforter.

“Mummy, read the story to me again.”

“Which story, darling?” Helena asked.

“The one about the giraffe unicorn.”

“You mean 'Unicorn Giraffe’?”

“Yes. That one.”

“All right.” She walked over to the windowseat where the book rested next to the Great Joraffe, the Unicorn Queen with a rainbow mane, and a garish plush toy sporting a tiny engineer cap fashioned by Claudia.

“Mummy, can you bring Choo Choo Joraffe Jr. too?” Charles asked in a sleepy voice.

Helena rolled her eyes, but did as asked. Bringing it over with the book, she commented, “Have you considered a nickname, Charles? 'Choo Choo Joraffe Jr.’ is rather a mouth full.”

Charles happily accepted the offered toy, and hugged it fiercely to his chest.

“No, Mummy. Choo Choo Joraffe Jr. is his name.”

Helena internally sighed, but looking at her son so happy with the little plush animal thing softened her feelings.

“All right, my darling. Choo Choo Joraffe Jr. it is then.”

He grinned.

“Now scoot over, so I can come onto your bed and read the story.”

Charles happily complied, and Helena crawled up to lean against the headboard, book in hand. As Charles snuggled into her side, she opened the book, and began.

“It was in a land called Lemony a place faraway from where we are now where only friends of the Aftertime could visit.”

As Helena read the story, she felt at peace, full of happiness and love, emotions she never expected to find again.

—–

The story finished and Charles fast asleep, Helena gently extricated herself from her son’s grip and rose from the bed.

She kissed his tiny head, whispering, “Sweet dreams, my little lamb.”

Helena replaced the book 'Unicorn Giraffe’ on the windowseat, and as she closed the bedroom door, she mused, wondering how such a little garish plush animal thing could bring so much so much happiness.

Maybe she should listen to Uncle Pete more often.

[colorisbyshe]

im the anon who said that hs sexuality was scrutinized and u mentioned garfield as well. I don't want to start discourse but I think it's worth mentioning that he said in a recent interview that he felt a "deep connection to the lgbt community and longed to be apart of it" so yeah a ton of these guys are just really supportive straight fans but there's also a ton of them who're just really deep in the closet. im not disagreeing with u at all- it's a really complicated situation for a lot of ppl.

I mean... I can see that.

But also Andrew Garfield is a Theater Kid and Theater Kids tend to be surrounded by LGBT people and get real antsy about being left out, so, again, they the hetero nonsense move of acting like they’re Gay By Association or some shit.

Again, as it becomes safer to be LGBT, especially for celebrities who have additional bubbles of privilege, a lot of people like to play with the murkier sentiments around being gay. And for Andrew that meant “Immersing himself in being a gay man” by watching... RuPaul. For his role... about the AIDS Crisis.

I mostly genuinely like Andrew and think he meant well and maybe you can read what he said as being in denial/closet but like...

Straights really just Are Like That sometimes. Look into the ace discourse tag on any given day and see how many cishet aces say they just feel ~connected to the LGBT community.

Straights are fucking wild. And while I have my theories about lots of celebs (as an LGBT person, we tend to know what to look for because it’s a matter of safety for us)... I don’t think anyone benefits from me saying “They’re definitely in the closet.”

Because a. if someone is in the closet.... me pointing that out doesn’t help them and b. if they’re cis and straight... they don’t really... deserve to be associated with LGBT people lmao.

Speculating about the closet for gay people just puts them in danger. And while I think in Harry’s case it’s a weeeee bit different because uhhhhh he’s already pissed off the homophobes and he flirts w/ every Dad in a ten mile radius... it’s still just like, “He could be [x] but also it’s none of our business.”

It’s fun for like... fictional consumption to maybe be like “Wouldn’t it be nice if he were [x]” because it’s always nice for more peopel to be LGBT but... real people can’t be your representation unless they choose to do so.

And even then... have fucking fun with that. Because i promise you they’re gonna do something ~problematic and ruin it for ya, real fast.

Harry’s already knee deep in problematic shit. So is Andrew.

So??

Leave them alone until they say something for themselves. PRivately speculate all you want. Read and write fic or whatever Just know that like... you don’t know them.

Like... none of us fucking know any of these people. We know what they put out into the world which like... could have any level of truth to it. And that’s their right.

It’s their right to keep this shit from us and just exist as their own people without making their lives about Feeding Fan Intrigue.