#absolute unequivocal love of my life

[steevejr]

im sorryyyy but one of the top ten gay tropes is the "i hate my gay roommate but only my roommate" to "just realized i was jealous and into him" pipeline. i know everyone on reddit posting this exact story on r/amitheasshole every week are fujoshis lying for clout but it never stops being funny. top ten of all time.

[twilightcitysky]

Everything Is Meant (long S2 analysis, part 3)

Part one

Part two

There's SO MUCH excellent meta out there right now, and I'm going to try not to reinvent the wheel too much, but I want to keep going with tying the episodes/ elements up together because on first watch it wasn't entirely clear how everything fit. I also strongly recommend a rewatch, no matter what you felt about the ending... if you need to stop it 10 minutes early, do that, but you pick up so much more the second time around.

So: Maggie and Nina. I spent most of my first watch wondering why we were bothering with them, honestly. Later in the season Nina, and then Maggie and Nina, gave Crowley some insightful advice, but their actual relationship didn't progress despite all the meddling, and the amount of emotional investment BOTH Aziraphale and Crowley had in making them get together was frankly strange.

I started thinking in terms of mirror couples, since that was such a big deal in S1 and that's clearly what they were set up to be, but I made the mistake that all of us made on first watch: that Nina was Crowley and Maggie was Aziraphale. It still wasn't really coming together.

Then I put the psych hat back on and started to think about displacement. Displacement is a defense mechanism, and it consists of satisfying an impulse (usually an unconscious one) with a substitute object. At the beginning of the season, Aziraphale and Crowley aren't really in a good place, and I think on some level they know that. Aziraphale is trying to SHOW Crowley that he wants to take the next step through all the casual touches and phone calls and inviting him in, and feeling frustrated because Crowley doesn't seem to be taking the bait. (I absolutely think that Aziraphale tried to get Crowley to stay with him at the bookshop instead of living in his CAR, and Crowley said no. That's a whole other meta.) Meanwhile, Crowley, I think, is waiting for a Grand Gesture. Where did he go, as soon as Aziraphale brought up trying to get two humans to fall in love? Romantic tropes. Getting caught in the rain under an awning. A dramatic kiss that opens someone's eyes. That's the sort of thing he's always done, right? Big rescues, impassioned pleas on the street, fancy dinners, "give you a lift anywhere you want to go". He's defensive and guarded and unlikely to let someone in unless he's CERTAIN he won't be rejected, and Aziraphale's approaches are just too... quiet. No one's fault, they just don't speak the same language.

Then, they're handed the opportunity to make two humans fall in love, and they're both All In immediately. Look at Crowley's face when he summons the rainstorm. This is HUGE for him. Why? Because of displacement. Look at Aziraphale arranging the ball and being borderline deranged about it. They're both desperate to demonstrate what they think it takes for two people to move past their misunderstandings and fall in love. They can't do it for each other because the stakes are too high, and if either of them shows their cards unequivocally the vulnerability feels life-shattering. They're codependent and terrified of rejection and also, importantly, have no idea what they're doing when it comes to love. "Saw it in a film", Crowley says. Aziraphale's read about it in books. But they have zero practical experience.

Instead of learning to communicate, they try to say what they want to say through the medium of Maggie and Nina, up to and including the questionable moral decision to exert control over people's actions and thoughts during the ball. If I can just make this come out right, they both think, then things between us will be alright too. It HAS to come out right. They're attempting to gain some control over their own lives, over something that feels so overwhelming and shattering they can't look directly at it.

It doesn't come out right. Nina's relationship falls apart, but that doesn't mean she's in love with Maggie. While Crowley's stress-cleaning the bookshop to the music that played when Aziraphale got his books back in 1941 (just fuck me up David Arnold), they come in and tell him so. "I don't understand", says Crowley. Because it should have worked. Why didn't it work?

They tell him, of course. "You need to talk to each other. Say what you're really thinking." But here's the thing about communication: you have to learn it. You need to get the hang of expressing your feelings without blaming your partner, and separating intent from impact, and staying away from getting defensive and lashing out. No one has ever taught Aziraphale and Crowley how to do this. It's like Maggie and Nina put Crowley in front of a loom and asked him to recreate the Bayeux Tapestry. He doesn't have the skills; he's always going to get it wrong, even if he tries his hardest.

And he does try. But that's where Maggie and Nina the mirror couple, rather than Maggie and Nina the displacement relationship or Maggie and Nina the Greek chorus, come in. Aziraphale, as Nina, has just ended an incredibly toxic, invasive relationship with Heaven. A relationship that invaded every facet of his life, isolated him, and prevented him from being close to anyone else. "Rebound mess," Nina says. Aziraphale is a rebound mess. He's transferred the responsibility for his emotional wellness to Crowley. Crowley is the person he calls when he's in trouble, or (and this is key) when he wants to report a clever/ good thing he's done, or when he's bored. (At no point did Crowley reference Aziraphale calling him for a solicitous reason-- another problem.) Crowley is meant to take care of him. He forgets, I think, that Crowley is a person with his own wants and needs, just like Maggie and Nina are people with their own wants and needs who don't appreciate being messed with. (I think things would have been much different had Aziraphale BEEN THERE for Maggie and Nina's talk with Crowley, but he wasn't.)

And Maggie-as-Crowley? Lonely. Behind on rent, at risk of being evicted (it's important to note that Aziraphale saves Maggie from losing her record shop, as he couldn't save Crowley from losing his flat). Pining. Awkward. Revolving around Nina like a planet, to the extent that we don't get much of an impression of her otherwise. They realize, there at the end, that they both need to round themselves out before jumping into a relationship. Aziraphale and Crowley need that too. They need to take time apart and learn to be healthy on their own. Unfortunately they don't have the skills to get to that conclusion in a healthy way, so it all explodes in their faces and everything falls apart.

Aziraphale tries to teach Nina and Maggie to dance as a substitute for communication. Nina and Maggie try to teach Crowley communication as a substitute for the dance they've been doing around each other. That's the reason they're a part of the plot: they exist to demonstrate the way Aziraphale and Crowley might have succeeded in forging a better dynamic. Sadly, the boys' dance is too practiced and they got sucked right back into it.

It's okay, I think, that Nina and Maggie's storyline never really went anywhere. It wasn't supposed to. It's an allegory, not something that needs to stand alone.

[valsverse]

but i love her !

summary: to say that leo valdez is absolutely enamored with you would be an understatement. so, why don't you like him back?

pairing: leo valdez x fem!reader

word count: 2.3k

LEO VALDEZ does not just like you. no, it is much more than that.

leo's feelings for you surpass mere affection. his love for you is deep-rooted and unshakable, transcending the limitations of the heart and mind. he doesn't just love you with his heart, which can falter or stop altogether. nor does he solely love you with his mind, which may fail him one day. no, leo valdez loves you with every fiber of his being, every inch of his soul, and every essence of his existence. his love for you is all-encompassing, unequivocal, and forever enduring.

so why don't you like him back?

when you first arrived at camp, leo was immediately taken with you. while he had a reputation for falling for girls completely out of his league, this time was different. he knew deep down that he would do anything for you, even if it meant risking his own life. he couldn't pinpoint the exact moment he realized this, but he was sure that you were the one he was meant to be with. despite piper's concerns, leo was undeterred in his pursuit of you.

as you sat at your usual table in the dining pavilion, enjoying dinner with your cabinmates, you were completely immersed in the moment. laughter filled the air as you chatted about your day and shared stories of past quests. just as you took a bite of your dinner, you heard your name being called out loudly and persistently. turning your head in the direction of the voice, you found leo standing right in front of your table. as you tried to recall any previous interactions with him, confusion washed over you. you've only ever spoken to the boy about a grand total of once, and you don't even remember giving him your name.

leo slipped into the empty seat next to you, his smile beaming as he waited for your reaction. gasps escaped the mouths of several of your cabinmates, because, well, isn't it forbidden to sit at another god's table?

“sooo, is this seat taken?” he asked suavely, and you mentally rolled your eyes at his attempt at charm, knowing exactly where this was going.

"well, it wouldn't matter if it's taken or not, because you aren't supposed to be sitting here in the first place."

he only smiled dreamily, seemingly unfazed by your response. the tension in the air grew thicker, and someone let out a snort, unable to contain their amusement at the situation.

it took you a moment to piece together what was happening. leo's sudden changes in behavior around you, the not-so-subtle glances, the smiles, and the way his eyes would light up - it all made sense now, although you didn't want to admit it. leo valdez had a crush on you, and there was nothing you could do about it.

leo leaned forward on the table, his chin resting on his hand. he was brimming with enthusiasm, and you couldn't help but feel just slightly uncomfortable in his presence. "can i ask you something?" he inquired eagerly, his eyes fixed on you.

you sighed inwardly, not wanting to engage but feeling obligated to respond. "do i have a choice?" you quipped, attempting to mask your discomfort. leo didn't seem to notice, too caught up in his own enthusiasm.

suddenly, he pulled out a metal rose from his pocket, presenting it to you with a flourish. "wanna be my girlfriend?" he asked, a hopeful expression on his face.

your siblings snickered around you as your eyes widened in absolute horror. your face felt hot with embarrassment as you struggled to maintain your composure.

"i practically just met you!" you protested, feeling the need to state the obvious.

he had clearly anticipated a different response, going so far as to prepare a metal bouquet in anticipation of impressing you. however, his efforts were in vain. "i'm sorry, but no." you replied firmly, not giving him any room for negotiation.

it was clear that this was not a successful attempt at romance.

from that day on, it had become the norm for leo to actively pursue you, as he had made it his mission to win your heart. you couldn't deny that he put in a great deal of effort. and he was plenty consistent. for months.

you couldn't help but notice his constant presence, as he seemed to magically appear everywhere you went, making it impossible for you to ignore him.

despite his persistent efforts, leo never pressured you into anything you were not comfortable with. he respected your boundaries and always made sure that he did not cause you any discomfort. it was clear that he adored you, but he never allowed his feelings to dictate his actions towards you.

interestingly enough, it was the reason behind your initial hatred for leo that began to fade away. unfortunately for you, once that seed of doubt was planted, there was no going back. you found yourself unable to justify your previous animosity towards him, in fact, you began to feel guilty for the ill feelings you harbored towards the boy.

after leo's clumsy attempts at asking you out, things became quite awkward between the two of you. you did everything in your power to avoid him, convincing yourself that you loathed him. however, despite your best efforts to push him away, the universe seemed to conspire to bring the two of you together. in fact, you even found yourselves forming an unlikely bond that some might even consider a friendship. leo would somehow magically appear in the same places you happened to be (though he always insisted it was a coincidence), and you found yourself unable to shoo him away as you used to do. yet, despite this newfound closeness, leo's attempts to win your heart remained as elaborate and over-the-top as ever.

from writing your name in fire surrounded by a heart, to asking you out with grand gestures and signs, he never seemed to give up. unfortunately for him, all of his efforts were met with either an indifferent stare or a frown.

maybe your feelings towards leo had changed somewhat, but that did not make him any less unbearable.

"i just don't get it!" leo complained to piper during free time that day. "i thought me and y/n were making progress, but today she didn't even look at me!"

piper paused from sharpening her dagger and looked up at leo. "what makes you think you were making progress?"

"she let me sit next to her yesterday."

piper couldn't help but let out a laugh, quickly covering it up with a cough. "that was for like two minutes," she scoffed.

leo's face fell. "but i swear i saw her wink at me a few days ago!" he protested.

"she was only blinking in your general direction."

leo mock-glared at the girl. "seriously, you're like an aphrodite kid, aren't you supposed to know this stuff?"

piper rolled her eyes. "shut up. okay, but seriously, come on. think about it. leo, you tend to get infatuated easily and your crushes never last. it's inconsistent. she probably thinks your feelings for her will change once you find someone new."

leo took a step back, not expecting her answer. "but that's not gonna happen!" he retorted, eyes wide with exasperation. "i love her, i swear!"

"prove it to her then." piper responded, running her fingers through her choppy locks. "go find her and prove it."

and that's exactly what he was going to do.

it's been days since you last saw leo. the usual sight of him following you around, asking to hold your tote bag, or just plain flirting with you is now a distant memory. your tote bag, which he usually holds for you, is now slipping off your shoulder as you sit alone with a feeling of emptiness. you've only seen him run in and out of the workshop, waving at you with the same fire in his eyes but not speaking to you. you keep looking for his head of curly hair everywhere you go, but the inevitable disappointment strikes you every time it isn't him.

although you had been trying to deny it, the truth was that you missed leo terribly. despite his occasional obnoxious flirtations, he was actually quite easy to be around — even more than that, even. maybe you had developed feelings for him that ran much deeper than you ever anticipated. you've been grappling with your emotions for quite some time now, and you were certain that your mask of indifference had already slipped off without your knowledge. you slumped against the wall you were leaning on, feeling the weight of your emotions.

if leo were here, he would have moved you to somewhere you could sit more comfortably, instead of a damn wall. if leo were here, he would have taken your tote bag off your shoulder already, making sure you were not burdened with anything. the absence of his presence now makes you realize just how much he meant to you and how much you miss him.

you pushed yourself off the wall you were leaning against, making your way back to your cabin to sulk, when it happened.

you spotted leo approaching you. his strides were large and purposeful, and you could practically see the determination in his eyes. you could tell he had just emerged from the workshop, his face smeared with soot, but that didn't seem to bother him at all. before you could even react, he had his arms on your shoulders, shaking his head as he gasped for breath, clearly winded from whatever he had been up to. "i've been looking for you everywhere," he said urgently, not giving you a chance to respond.

"okay, look. you know i like you, y/n. you're not like anyone else i've ever met. you're kind, and smart, and funny, and beautiful. and i know that sounds like a lot of flattery, but it's true. i don't think i've ever met anyone who makes me feel the way you do. you make me feel alive, and happy, and.. stuff. and i don't wanna lose that. don't wanna lose you."

he took a deep breath, then continued, "i'm not going to pretend that it was always you, because i've liked other girls before, when i didn't really know what liking someone meant. what i felt for them is not even comparable to what i feel for you right now. it hasn't always been you, but from now on it will."

"i can tell you feel the same way too, even if you try to hide it. you always have a little grin on your face when i come around, and i know you still keep all the things i made for you in your cabin, even though you act like you don't care. but i get it, you're scared. that's okay. i'll prove to you that there's nothing to be afraid of. i'll be devoted and take on more responsibility, because you inspire me to try harder. if you could just give me one chance."

he took a couple steps closer, reaching for your hand, and intertwining his fingers with yours when you didn't pull away. looking deeply into your eyes, he adjusted his grip, his crooked grin indicating that he had rehearsed what he was about to say.

"i guess what i'm trying to say is..." he trailed off, and then pulled out a metal rose from his pocket, just like the one he had given you when he first asked you out. however, this one was special, its intricate patterns reflecting everything that reminded him of you.

"wanna be my girlfriend?" he asked, just like he had all those months ago.

you didn't even hesitate, you just pulled him in by the fabric of his shirt and slotted his lips with yours into a long-awaited, giddy kiss.

a/n

ookaayyy it's been a while since i've read the books so leo may be a slightly ooc here?? or not?? y'all i don't know i'm trying. 😭😭

xx val

[gumiluver]

I'm begging you on my knees, can you write a little more of bully Toji???

oh heck yea I can luv, ‘bouta speak some straight facts about bully!toji >:) <3

cover pic credit: @/miywao on pinterest | border credit: @/cafekitsune

luver <3: afab!reader x fushiguro/zen’in toji

byr/byi: the content in this fic is not suitable for individuals under the age of 18, minors please do not interact (you will be blocked!) | wc: ~500

cw: toxic relationships, mean/bully toji, degradation, exhibition (slightly), possessiveness, guest appearance w shiu :D

an: this is my first time doing a drabble so pls pls plssss tell me your guys’ thoughts!! inbox & requests are open as always!! <3

bully!toji has a mouth on him, unlike that of any of the men you’ve ever met before. his words are much meaner than his actions, calling you all sorts of nasty little names as he bullies his cock in your womb, “piece a fuckin’ work you are, gonna slut ya out real good.” <3

bully!toji scolds you like a father, knowing it hits on a much deeper, psychological level. he knows it’s fucked up, but that’s what entices him to you in the first place—loving the way you fold so easily once he’s got you laying over his lap, scolding you like the misbehaving brat that you’ve been, “how many fuckin’ times I gotta spank ya before you learn your lesson eh? Don’t mouth off t’ me again, brat.” <3

bully!toji has no mercy, dueling out punishments to the full extent. no amount of kickin’ or cryin’ could get you away from him and his arsenal of ‘weapons’ fully loaded and ready to make you bend to his will and submit—like the good girl he knows you can be, “don’t start strugglin’ now brat, you dug your grave—now fuckin’ lie in it.” <3

bully!toji absolutely looooves it when the waterworks come to play, your teary eyes matching your slick pussy as they each let drops of your essence roll down along your flesh, trailing sweet little lines or toji to lick and kiss as he bites and sucks at your flesh. the single act of kindness he’ll do for you before he ravishes you to completion, “fuuuuck…who knew such a spoiled lil princess could taste so fuckin’ sweet.” <3

bully!toji doesn’t really care if you apologize for your bratty behavior, it’s waaaay too late for that, but he does think it’s cute—he can’t help but be a big softy for you internally, his heart clenching in agony at your huffs of frustration. but how else were you gonna learn? sending you off without any consequences would be a disservice to you—that’s what he keeps tellin’ himself as he continues pistoning his hips into you at a bruising pace, not letting up even when you beg, “ya had your chance pretty thing, don’t think battin’ your eyelashes and poutin’ will get ya outta this one.” <3

bully!toji purposefully messes with you too, loving how you get so flustered, so wound up. he’ll watch you scrunch your brows in anger, stomp your feet a little louder as you sashay your hips away from him, “where do ya think your goin’ girl? ya better get that pretty ass of your back over here if you know what’s good for ya.” <3

bully!toji knows your bratty mouth is all just a little act, “his little drama queen,” he’ll say to Shiu whenever the two of you are at each others throats in front of him. toji doesn’t mind it one bit tho, it just means he gets to play with you for longer, and maybe with an audience just this once, “if I didn’t know any better I woulda missed that sass slip between that nasty mouth a yours—whaddaya’ think Shiu? should we train that mouth better?” <3

and while bully!toji may seem to completely and unequivocally despise you to his hearts content, he realizes that you’ve been the only person in his life that has made him feel so passionate, so alive—it makes him mad with desire to a point where all he can think of is making you his and only his brat, “don’t get it twisted now doll, your mine. I don’t care who I gotta fuck up to make it known to everyone but you. are. mine—got it?” <3

As always, likes, comments, follows, reblogs, and any other form of interaction is greatly appreciated <3 #supportcreators

[intermundia]

I love the sheer lack of understanding of fandom of asking someone “how, why, and where” they began to ship a ship in canon.

Like, my dude, I don’t think anyone actually believes that Anakin, a man canonically so obsessed with his wife that he murdered children over the threat of losing her, had a raging hard-on for Obi-Wan or that any of our fanfiction was actually happening and Lucas just forgot to mention it.

The beauty of fandom and fan writing is that we can explore interactions, potentials, and things we find intriguing without worrying about if those things are actually happening in the media. We can explore dynamics because they interest us, irregardless of if they are textually supported, let alone canon.

I enjoy ObiKin not because I think Lucas neglected to mention that they were secretly boning. I don’t even enjoy ObiKin because I think they should have been together over Anidala. I enjoy ObiKin because I enjoy reading how writers explore their dynamic of master & padawan, of former slave & the human embodiment of his new life, of grieving man & the child who kept him tethered, of someone who externalizes their emotions & someone who internalizes theirs, etc.

Tl;dr: You don’t have to think something is canon, or even think something should be canon in order to ship it. You don’t even have to think the ship is healthy to ship it. You just have to think it’s an interesting sandbox to play in. And enjoying said ship has absolutely zero correlation to the kind of relationships you have or want to have in your real life.

you said this so well!!! it really is a bit disrespectful to fans to assume that we cannot hold a distinction in our mind between what we know the official canon to be, and what we make of the canon for ourselves (just like we can't hold a distinction between a compelling story and the kind of reality we want for ourselves). i'm fully able to appreciate the platonic bond intended on screen at the same time that i'm able to see a billion ways for homoeroticism to enter the story. i'm able to enjoy canon padmé-obsessed anakin at the same time i'm free to imagine the story if he were bisexual. i know all that canon so well because i search out all the pockets in between the told story and occupy it for myself, changing it as i see fit. i love obikin for the nuanced layers of impossibility between them that such a rich, dense canon gives us. i like my stories to have conflict and deep intertextual setting, you know? it's wild but true. but i'm certainly not saying lucas was hiding a gay love story the whole time, because he was unequivocally not doing that lmao

[littelestvic]

About Bluza and The Destruction of the Femenine Fantasy

Hello! I haven't talked about Joker Out in a hot moment. Today, after the release of Bluza and the reading of some dissapointed critiques on the nature of the MV, I wanted to talk about how I think Bluza has presented us with the most clever and interesting MV since A Sem Ti Povedal.

On purpose or not. (Probably the later)

So, let's talk about Bluza (The Song) for a second. A beautiful ballad about yearning for a woman, it's beautiful, it's romantic, it's idylic, it's perfect.

"Tonight you're my muse" that's beautiful! It's almost like you want that muse. You want to pretend it's you who Bojan is talking about. You want to be her.

So I was kinda in awe when Zoran broke a bottle on Bojan's head while the woman he was so enthusiastically singing about just protects herself in a bit of horror.

I found it fascinating how the beautiful instrumental notes just kept drifting away almost in a hypnotic matter while the rest of the men in the room broke into a violent fight.

During my stance on the Joker Out fandom I've come to realize how we have constructed what I can only describe as a Fantasy. And it makes sense: this is a mostly femenine-driven fan base (and as a transmasc person I will include myself here too) yearning to think they're the epitome of a Perfect Man. And how wouldn't Joker Out be perfect, when they're so beautiful and talented and write and perform the most beautiful and romantic ballads? We have unequivocally constructed the "Perfect men" fantasy around a bunch of people that, in the end of the day, are nothing more than your average men.

This is something that will forever happen in boybands, of course and I do not say it's Bad and you Suck because you idealize a bunch of guys (I do too). But Souvenir Pop feels like it wants to be a record about the new experiences after the last year, and you kinda need to understand how shocking it might be for a bunch of 20-year-olds from Slovenia to be nothing one day, and the personalization of perfection for millions of girls around the world on the next one.

And Bluza (the song) plays perfectly into this Fantasy. It's beautiful and perfect and romantic like how any other Joker Out ballad needs to be because that's what we want from them and that's what we demand from them: Idealized perfection.

So you could imagine the reactions to some fans when they found out that Bluza (the MV) plays into toxic masculinity, objectification of women, and violence. They weren't very happy about that.

Because yes! I DO think this song plays into the idea of objectifying women. I think they portray this random woman as nothing but an object of desire while Bojan has the absolute guts to sing into this lady he has never seen before in his whole life and knows absolutely nothing about (but she's pretty, at least) that Tonight, she is his muse.

And I think it's amazing, how I've read statements like "Bluza MV objectifies women" and "I do not care much about what happened in Bluza MV as long and the guys just stand there and look pretty" all coexist in the same environment. Because I think it's actually very interesting how they objectify a woman almost in the same way as the fandom objectifies them. Because at the end of the day they're nothing more than objects of attraction for many of us.

And I find it kinda fitting how they spend most of the MV just Standing there, almost awkwardly and clumsily, not even caring enough to pretend effectively that they're playing whatever instrument they were given, while Bojan sings beautiful lyrics of yearn and love to the nothingless.

So yes, I do believe Bluza MV is fitting. Is fitting in the sense I find very clever how they subverted the theme of the song to talk about the expectation the fandom has towards them to follow their fantasies of the perfect man.

Now, do I think this was all made on purpose? Well, no. Not at all. I think this reading is nothing more than a coincidence. I do believe they did try their best to make a MV just about being in love or whatever but it came out tacky, and I do not care at all about that reading.

But a meta-reading about the MV is not really that out of place when you take other things they've done. Take for example how A Sem Ti Povedal, how the song is also a very typical love song but then the MV also plays with themes of idealization and fantasy.

[rotthepoet]

Pookie pookie lemme tell u ☹️ I ughhh like Lorenzo so much (not as much as I like u ofc wink wonk w rizz 🌚) but I would neverrrrrr irl entertained the idea of being w him (bros a s-tier asshole)

SO THIS GAVE ME A REQUEST IDEA

There's Lorenzo who's...well Lorenzo. And then there's us 😻 the it-girl 😻 academic weapon, got our life together, ambitious n too smart to fall for Lorenzo's bs and won't give him the time of our day🤞😩

Essentially I'm saying I'm craving for a girl boss x pathetic Lorenzo trope n headcanons ☹️

Btw that new Mattheo fic was so intense got me fanning my face

- 🎹

ONG BABES IM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO GET TO BUT IM HERE FOR YOU NOW POOKIE!!!

Because Lorenzo thinks he is ALL THAT and some, when in reality hes just a pretty face with rizz. Hes not a genius, and his personality doesnt offer any redeeming qualities, so when he sees you??? God youre so perfect. Absolutely everything he wants, everything he wants to be. You’d make him look perfect, he’d be perfect next to you

Lowkey his pining after you is a power move before it fails and he becomes unequivocally whipped.

He’s literally on his knees begging for you, offering to carry your bag or books between classes, i mean he is TRYING SO DAMN HARD

But you’re independent, pookie. You are a GIRL BOSS!! YOU DONT NEED HIS SHIT!

And so Enzo tries a different approach. Buying your love! Every single day, without fail, you have a new present. A new necklace, a new perfume, a new dress, and these things are not cheap in any way. He is trying to SPOIL YOU and when you so humbly ask him to take it back, he refuses, and says he’ll only take them back if you agree to a date with him.

At least the gifts are cute, because thats not happening.

And fuck he’s becoming so pathetic for you, going out of his way to be a gentleman for you. Holding open doors, paying for your bill at the three broomsticks.

Maybe if hes lucky, you’ll give him a little kiss on the cheek for being so sweet.

[prettypaprika]

Thoughts on Wicked and love triangles

Having seen the film version of Wicked (part 1) has completely reignited my absolute love for Wicked. I haven't been able to stop thinking about Wicked since I saw it a few days ago, specifically the relationship between Elphaba, Galinda (Glinda) and Fiyero. Spoilers for and incoherent thoughts about the stage musical abound!

When I first saw Wicked (over twenty years ago...welp), I was absolutely obsessed with Elphaba and Fiyero's relationship. In watching it again now, I am so much more cognizant of the overlapping types of love that I see between Elphaba, Galinda and Fiyero, although the Elphaba/Fiyero relationship continues to really resonate with me.

I've been trying to think about why the Elphaba/Fiyero relationship resonates so much for me (aside from how incredibly attractive Jonathan Bailey is) and I think that I am really into the fact that Fiyero chooses Elphaba. He makes a choice and that choice is for her. Why does this feel so important? I think it's because Fiyero's choice contrasts with Galinda's choice. Part 1/Act I ends with Elphaba asking Galinda to choose her and she does not (in the Defying Gravity scene), instead choosing self-interest and the life that she knows. I find that contrast so interesting.

To start, I think that Elphaba does love Galinda. Is it a romantic love? I'm not sure it is explicitly (although I absolutely believe that it could be--there are a lot of intimacies that Elphaba and Galinda have and I certainly think that it is coded as a romantic love). But I think that describing the type of love between them isn't that important to me--I think that Elphaba unequivocally loves Galinda objectively more than she loves Fiyero. I think that they're just emotionally closer in Act I and that Galinda sees Elphaba more clearly than anyone else in the story. After all, Galinda is the one who identifies just how much Elphaba cares about people's opinion in Dancing Through Life. And Galinda is the first person to risk public censure (in a low stakes way) by befriending Elphaba. I think that's very meaningful for Elphaba. The most popular, gorgeous girl in school starts giving Elphaba all of her attention. Um, yeah, I think Elphaba is very into it! She asks Galinda to come with her to the Emerald City and she asks Galinda to run away with her and fight the Wizard. I think that if Elphaba had to choose between Galinda and Fiyero (post-Act I/Part I), she would have chosen Galinda.

Conversely, Elphaba never asks Fiyero to choose her. It's stated during the Thank Goodness scene that he's been searching for her since she disappeared but hasn't found her yet--although I don't have proof that Elphaba absolutely couldn't find a way to reach Fiyero if she'd wanted to, I suspect that she made a choice to not send him any messages. I think that partly it's because she expected that even if she did ask him to join her, he would turn her down (like Galinda). Not to mention that he's publicly with Galinda. But, when she does see him again, she expects him to still be her friend (in meeting in the Wizard's building (castle? i don't know)), and is shocked when he initially appears to be against her, so she clearly doesn't think that he'll turn into an enemy. Maybe she thought that she was protecting him? Maybe she thinks that because he is with Galinda, he is off-limits? I suspect it's the latter, because when Fiyero initially says that he's coming with Elphaba, she's shocked and immediately denies that anything has happened between them.

But Fiyero unequivocally chooses Elphaba. He tells Galinda that the entire time since Elphaba left, he's essentially been emotionally unfaithful. And honestly, I love that. I love that Elphaba, for the first time in the play, has been put first in an meaningful way. Fiyero is putting her above every other thing about his life. The guy who stated that he wanted to skate through life chooses the thing that will make his life so incredibly hard. He is all for Elphaba.

I love that! Fiyero consistently chooses Elphaba. He helps Elphaba save the lion cub. He searches for Elphaba and plans to join her. He becomes a fugitive with her. And even as the scarecrow, he still chooses her (even when Elphaba has gone a little mad). He is ride or die for Elphaba. And I love that. I love a fictional relationship where a character in a position of power is willing to give it all up for love. Usually (in the genre of books that I read), the powerful character is able to have both love and power/status. But here, Fiyero is willing to give it up and does. He really sticks the landing.

And clearly that does something for me, because I remember searching on fanfiction.net after watching Wicked for Elphaba/Fiyero fic. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED THESE TWENTY YEARS.

(I think that the real tragedy of Galinda's initial choice is that by the end of the second act, she does choose Elphaba. But, it's too late. (For a lot of reasons.))

[treviso-nights]

look. listen up. i don't want mature, slow-burn, appropriately applicable romances in these kinds of video games. i want absolute DEVOTION from my protagonist's love interest. i want every single interaction to be high stakes. i want them to love me IMMEDIATELY and fall to their knees in supplication. i want the bottomless abyss of obsession to take root in their soul so strongly and unequivocally that the thought of life without me is unimaginable. i want them to be absolutely horrified at the depth of their affections for me.

[liyazaki]

"specially abled" and "disabled" are absolutely, unequivocally not interchangeable terms. & yeah, it actually is that deep.

I wish my autoimmune disease made me specially abled instead of regularly ill. I'm a pro now at managing constantly-changing treatment regimens, coordinating monthly (if not more) doctor visits & endless bloodwork, but alas- that's not a superpower. it's the day-to-day reality of living with a disability.

I can only speak as a someone who was relatively healthy before I got sick, but the mourning period I went through was brutal. getting diagnosed with an incurable disease brings a metric fuckton of grief with it, requiring a huge perspective shift.

I'm an intensely independent, self-reliant person- sometimes to my own detriment. unsurprisingly, coming to terms with this new reality was no small task.

when I was finally diagnosed, I made a playlist (my go-to coping mechanism). I played one song on a loop because of its namesake line, & it still packs an emotional gut-punch for me: "I needed to lose you to love me."

I was angry at my body for 'failing' me- for having zero control over such an all-important outcome (my health). I had to reconcile myself to the reality that my life was different now. I had to lose my old view of myself to love the new version that needed more sleep, more sick days, more accommodations.

it took me years to get comfortable using the term "disability" to help describe what's now a big part of my lived experience (especially since mine is invisible). it went from being a foreign term I could've never imagined using for myself to my bridge to self acceptance.

(note: I have my own complex relationship with the term, as do most people. I’m talking about the harm in equating terms here, not implying that anyone should use these words to describe themselves. that’s entirely up to the individual.)

there's nothing romantic about my disease- a quality that "specially abled" imbues for me. do I- & all disabled people- have special abilities, valuable experience & unique skills? you bet your ass we do. one has absolutely nothing to do with the other.

every person has the right to choose the terms they're comfortable with to describe their experience. for me? treating "disability" like a dirty word 1) glosses over (if not entirely erases) the very real, life-altering struggle inherent to my condition, & 2) muddies the waters, potentially making it even more difficult for disabled people to get the accommodations we need when we need them.

using terms like "specially abled" isn't some evil, awful thing, though. if anything, it tells me that the person is trying to be delicate & respectful with their word choices. I genuinely appreciate that, even if it's misguided (in my opinion).

when in doubt? listen to how people describe themselves. honor them by using the same descriptors (unless they tell you otherwise). choose to believe people when they tell you how terms affect them.

forgive yourself if you don't always get it right- who does? perfection isn't the point- effort is the point. kindness is the point. respect is the point. how we get there is as varied as people, but it starts with the words we use.

[xxx-theartofsuicide-xxx]

Concept: what if sometimes Lydia asks BJ to show her some alternate reality dreams where they’re in conflict, or where they’re falling in love all over again in different ways, because she’s just curious and creative and likes thinking about their relationship from a bunch of different angles? And he’s a simp, of course, so he’d show her whatever enemies-to-lovers AUs she wants to sorta-live out, possibly including ones where waking up next to him is a “nightmare” that she had to wake up from… and then she could wake up for realsies and be happy to see him

Maybe the whole marriage-bargain thing from BJBJ was a fantasy of hers to sort of give herself plausible deniability from admitting that she really does want an unhinged wedding. Kinda like how many women have fantasies about non-consensual sexual encounters in part because then it’s like, even in their imagination, they’re still pure and virtuous and someone’s just forcing them, it’s not like they have desires of their own that they’re fantasizing about! So the wedding in the movie could’ve been a fantasy of like, “noo I’m a good girl in a dubiously-consensual wedding, I’m not to blame for this, I had to marry him for my daughter’s sake! It’s not like I’m into his freak vibe!!!” and then when she wakes up with him she’s unequivocally into his freak vibe, but sometimes the girlies gotta go into their fantasy world to subconsciously work out some lingering shame

Idk I like to think Lydia's noncon fantasies would be spicier than that, especially at this stage in her life. But I do agree with you that Betelgeuse absolutely would indulge Lydia any fantasy she desired.

I'm pretty sure BJ2 is all about Lydia wanting to be a mother and Betelgeuse fulfilling that wish. He's a jealous guy. It's not easy for him to let her go traipsing through the ether having imaginary relationships with imaginary men, but it's worth it to give her what she wants; Astrid.

[agustsmuse]

Slow Dancing | KNJ

Pairing: Boyfriend!Namjoon x Reader

Genre: Unspecified

Synopsis: A simple slow dance with your favourite human.

WC: 718

Posted: 15 September 2023

You sleepily rub your eyes still dazed from sleep, snuggling further into your boyfriends arms who was still wide awake finishing a book ‘he just couldn’t put down’.

“What’s wrong, my love?” He asks in his rough honey tone.

"I had a thought today and it's playing on my mind."

"Go on.."

“I want to slow dance.”

His lips curl into a small smile, chuckling softly. "You can't sleep because you want to slow dance?"

“Yup.” You flutter your eyelashes with a soft pout on your lips. It always gets you what you want from Joon.

A smile breaks out on his face, his eyes softly looking back at you, “What time is it?”

You glance at your phone, suddenly feeling guilty realising the time and your odd request. 

“It’s 12:09.”

“What song?”

"You know that song It's Been A Long Long Time?"

“Aish, from Endgame? You've been spending to much time with JK.”

"Would you prefer me to ask him?" 

He instantly bolts up out of bed, book flying across the bedroom, offering you his hand, “Can I have this dance?”

You can’t help the giant smile that grows on your face, literally jumping out of bed and grab his hand. Namjoon pulls you into his arms, one hand intertwining with yours, bringing in close to his chest, the other resting on the small of your back. You slip your free arm around his waist while smooshing your face into his pillow like peck. The two of you gently sway to the music, in solitude in each others arms, the world around you completely melting away, the whole world at a stand still except the two of you.

You look up to Namjoon who was already looking down at you with a soft smile on his lips, disbelief washing over you that this man is yours. Feeling so incredibly lucky that he choose you. Was lucky even the right word? You didn't know if it was enough to express how incredibly surreal it felt that you got to call him yours. No words feel adequate enough to express your love and gratitude.

If only you knew he was thinking the exact same thing. His love, his baby, his everything. Absolutely, undeniably, unequivocally in love with you.

‘It's good practice’ He whispers as softly as he could before he presses a soft kiss to your forehead, nose then lips, letting his lips linger before turning to rest his face on top your head as you leaned yours back against his chest.

Too peaceful in that moment to realise the full extent of what he'd just implied, you softly hum in response, getting lost in the sound of his steady heartbeat and warmth of his bare chest.

The song started to fade and you felt Namjoon shift, reaching for his phone to pick another song, you presumed. You were beyond lost in your own world at this point to even care what was happening around you.

K. by Cigarettes After Sex started playing.

The melody made you feel sleepy, so you held him that little bit tighter and he followed suit, lifting you gently onto his feet so you could still dance with him but he was doing most.. well... all of the work. Not that he minded. He was enjoying the moment more than he ever thought he would. Having you practically molded to him, letting the music take you both far away from the busy life's you both lead. It was in moments you shared like this he knew he found the right one. His forever.

"And I'm kissing you lying in my room, holding you until you fall asleep and it's just as good as I knew it would be stay with me, I don't want you to leave" He sang in a soft whisper, just loud enough for you to hear.

Your heart flutters and butterflies fill your stomach, a smile pulling on the corners of your lips, enjoying the rare moment that Namjoon sings, without acting like he can't.

Love didn't get any better than this.

At least, not yet.

Authors Note: In honour of Namjoon saying it's his favourite song from Layover. Thank you @lifeinakpopbubble for proof reading and helping me with song ideas!

Tagging: @sopebubbles-reads

[sseniita]

medical malpractice

cw injuries, whump-adjacent, malpractice of the medical kind (?)

To say the villain was bored was an understatement. They led a dreadfully, unequivocally, dangerously, dull life. They had achieved their goals months ago, enacting a plan years in the making and swiftly took control over the city. It was easier than expected, both the killing and the politics. Now, having everything they’ve ever wanted, they questioned why this desire in the first place? 

They barely had fun with the various heroes who tried to stop them, pathetic attempts at most. Bombs, guns, punches, it all didn’t mean too much to a healer. Other villains called it ironic, the villain’s own mother insisted on the villain pursuing medicine- she didn’t seem to complain about her child’s career now that the villain had put her in a luxury home on some sunny island. Yes, the villain was bored; sat rotting away on the mayor’s chair- with absolutely nothing to do but polish their mask and listen to the protestors gathering on the steps of city hall. 

Oh? The villain thought. They’re quite rowdy today. 

Before the villain could kick their legs off the desk a group of heroes barged into the office, guns blazing, yelling obscenities at the villain. Charming. They put their mask on and skillfully and elegantly the villain took each of them down one by one. The heroes obviously hadn’t healed from their previous encounter with the villain. All the villain had to do was hit them in the same spot to send them calling a retreat and running out of the office, revealing a lonely individual in the doorway. 

The villain didn’t break a sweat, setting their eyes on the new hero, practically trembling from fear. They stood frozen in perfect fighting form watching from the doorway. 

“You're new.” The villain tilted their head curiously at the hero, recognizing the symbol they had haphazardly tied to their thigh. “Ah, I see.” The villain’s finger lazily spun a dagger they swung out of its holster. “You’re Superhero’s little protege. Oh! He would be so proud if he saw you there trembling in fear.” 

The villain noticed they had struck a chord within the hero, dodging before the hero could land a hit. “Ooh, so close!” 

The hero seemed to burst alive, they continued to try and try and try, shooting out powered rays, breaking windows, doors and wreaking havoc as they followed the villain through city hall. The villain, merrily laughing all the way, having the time of their life. They had avoided many close calls to certain death but with each one they dodged, they laughed harder, perhaps it was their first laugh in years. Their mask had fallen off long ago, but the villain couldn’t be bothered to care. The villain landed a good deal of hits on the hero, causing them to trail blood on the carpet, couches and anything else the hero was thrown into. The hero continued like this until the villain got bored and threw a punch to the hero’s ribs, knocking them down and leaving them unable to turn themselves to get up. 

“Oh ho ho! You are fun! Lord, much more fun than your little friends who ran before anything got interesting.” The villain paced slowly towards the hero. The hero obviously tried to hide their whimpers of pain, but a kick to their ribs was enough to make them howl. “Awe, you overdid it, didn’t you, sweetheart?” 

If looks could kill, the villain would have been six feet under; the hatred in the little hero’s eyes was intoxicating to the villain. If the villain didn’t know any better; they would have thought themselves in love. 

“You’re short. How old are you? Superhero died…” they pursed their lips in thought, “2 years ago? You were a teenager, then. Hmm, 21, 22?” they finally said. 

“You killed them!” the hero spat. 

“That I did. What’s your deal, hm? Avenging your fallen master, are you? How mature.” 

“You’re a monster!” The villain tutted. 

“No, no. Enough with the insults. You seem to be above that, my little firework.” The villain used their foot to turn the hero onto their back, they crouched down and took hold of the hero’s cheeks; squishing them. 

“You’re cute.” the villain smiled at the hero, almost kindly. Before the hero could spit out another curse, the villain squeezed harder to shut them up. “Your mission is admirable. If not a little annoying. But this has been the most fun I’ve had since this godforsaken city surrendered.” There were shouts from outside. Backup. 

With a sigh, the villain smiled at the hero. “I’ll cut you a deal. You get better, and I’ll give you another shot at me.” They winked, much to the hero’s horror. 

“You broke my ribs.” The hero groaned. In response, the villain took this as an invitation to feel up the hero’s chest. 

“Only… hmm. About 13 or so of them.” The hero coughed up some blood. “Maybe more. Wish I could help but…” they stuttered. Looking at the hero; hunched over on the floor, their smartest idea popped into their head. “Oh. My, my, my, firework. You just might be the best thing that’s happened to me.” 

“You’re sick.” They growled, trying to crawl up and away. 

“Yes, yes. Come on, stand up.” They grabbed the hero by the arm, enjoying their shouts of pain and the way they tried- and failed- to wring out of the villain’s grasp. The villain wrapped their arm around the hero and set them on a couch, ignoring their shouts to let them go. 

The villain was called a healer, but this knowledge wasn’t widely known. They were known for their more terrifying ability to control any biological body. They had the ability to kill with a touch; control blood pressure, suppress hormones, destroy senses, manipulate memories. They used this ability wisely and sparingly, preferring to use their knowledge on their human body to always have the advantage. This power was very misunderstood between the heroes, they never cracked the code, and they would have never believed it to reach such lengths. 

“Look at me.” The hero was very obviously terrified. Confused at the sudden mercy- if you could call it that- they shut their eyes tight, remembering all the warnings about the fearsome villain. Their mind went a million miles a second- trying to find a way out. They has seen the villain’s face, they had a chance to get an advantage. 

“You and I are going to get along swiftly. But I need you at your peak. Constantly.” They smiled, not unlike the hero though the devil would. 

“I’ll kill you.” 

“And I’ll be looking forward to see you try.” 

“Once I heal I’ll get you, I promise.” they snapped, feverishly staring daggers into the villain’s eyes. 

“Yes, of course. But that’ll take too long don’t you think?” 

“Oh don’t worry, no amount of time will stop me- I’ll keep coming back until you’re dead.” They threatened. The wicked grin on the villain’s only grew, the hero began to feel a pit in their stomach- why weren’t they dead yet they thought. 

“Well, I’m not the patient type.” They set their hands on either side of the hero’s head, sticking their thumbs into their temples. “Don't worry though. I’m sure you’ll heal in a jiffy, my little firework.” 

The hero’s vision grew blurry and their head went fuzzy. The villain’s face swirled until it was barely recognizable, a final attempt to remember their face came in a hazy image of the Cheshire cat. 

///

Hero’s mission to defeat the villain had been futile. They’d discuss it daily with other heroes and planned raids once a week. Hero began to wonder if the villain knew they were coming, month after month the villain was always prepared. The villain had seemed to take a personal grudge against them, never holding back. But no matter what, the hero was always ready to go back. Since the first time they met, the villain was an elusive, mysterious being, and the hero was committed to destroying that illusion. 

The hero would return after a siege bloody and bruised, aching and sprained. They lost count how many times the villain had broken their arm, leg, cracked some ribs, scraped some skin. They were barely recognizable without their arm in a sling or a bruise on their cheek. Even when life seems unbearable they knew the healer would always be there for them. 

They had found the healer months back and they joined the team immediately. They were a godsend. 4 week healing times would be shortened to a weekend, not only were they incredibly useful and talented in their position, they were charming too. They carried a smile wherever they went and seemed to have taken a liking to the hero- their most frequent patient. 

Limping and trailing blood, the hero made their way towards the infirmary inside the base. Weakly opening the frosted glass doors, their eyes met the healer's, seated at their desk. Hero smiled at them and promptly plopped down on the examination table. 

“Well. That was quick. Did you miss me?” The healer rolled their chair towards the hero, setting their hands casually on the hero’s knees. 

“Yep. Even broke my arm just to see you.” The chimed back. The healer chuckled, standing up and examining their arm. 

“Hmm. Nothing major.” They grabbed their stethoscope, placing it on their chest. The hero didn’t need instruction to begin breathing methodically for them. The whole examination could have been done blindfolded and without a word. An action so familiar it was almost comforting. The hero would lean into the healer’s hands against their limbs, warming with the healer's power, the ache of which felt like a much needed massage. The healer spoke in a soft, instructing voice, something the hero only ever got from Superhero. The dull grief of losing the Superhero was still there, but the healer seemed to heal their broken soul as they did their broken bones. 

“You’re all set.” The healer said, power fading from their palms.

“How much longer till I get back out there, Doc?” 

“Give yourself a day or two.” They said, wiping away the blood on hero's nose as they would the snot on a child, the hero couldn’t help but be embarrassed. With a sigh, the hero started. 

“Great, so in less than a week I’ll be back. Right at square one.” 

“Oh, don’t think like that. You're close I know it.” 

“Well, I’m glad you think so. The other heroes are starting to have doubts.” 

“Don’t listen to them.” The healer grabbed the hero’s jaw softly, caressing it with their thumb. The hero did all they could to not melt into their touch. “You’re so extraordinary. So special. None of those heroes even come close to matching your power, you know that, right?” They pulled a strand of hero's hair from their face. "Superhero would be so proud."

The hero blushed. “You’re just saying that because I single handedly keep you busy; I know how bored you get here.” The healer smiled back, leaning in to give the hero a peck on the forehead. 

“Don’t tell anyone but you’re my favourite patient.” 

The hero failed in not melting under the healer’s gaze, they were smiling ear to ear.  

“Can’t I just stay here, forever?” They said in a hazy, drunk sort of way. “I’ve forgotten how it feels to have bones that work for longer than a few days.” The healer chuckled. 

“Maybe someday, but for now, you have to get back out there and give the villain a fight they’ll never forget, don’tcha firework?” The healer winked and the hero could barely contain the butterflies in their stomach.

[nanistar]

one of the reasons that i like jaybriar so much is because i’m a sucker for long, slow burn relationships that develop naturally over time, and warriors doesn’t have very many of those. they start out as patient/doctor, then they become friends, then they become close friends and after that it feels natural for them to share a nest and curl up together. firestar and sandstorm develop naturally over 6 books, which is about a year and a half and you grow with them. they were rivals, then friends and then mates. it feels natural. bristlefrost and rootspring weren’t even friends.

briarlight gets injured just before she turns one year old, and then she dies at about 5 and a half, and jayfeather is about 6. that’s 4.5 years of living with jayfeather in the medicine den. they have spent a majority of their life together, and were together through major tragedies like hollyleaf’s real death and the great battle. she starts out as his patient, before a verdict is reached and she’s told she can’t be a “full warrior” (not getting into that now.)  after she gets well enough to start moving around again, he helps her with her exercises and stretches (as is his job) and keeps her spirits up and reminds her that she’s a valuable member of the Clan even if she can’t do typical warrior activities and he helps her come up with jobs to do, and then she is referred to as “jayfeather’s assistant” several times in the actual text (this progression from patient to assistant happens over about 2 books iirc). she very much does not put up with his grumpy bullshit, she’s shown talking back at him and they have a lot of back-and-forth banter. they’re shown to have a very close bond at this point, sharing a first Close moment when he comes back from the tunnels soaking wet and he lays beside her as she grooms him dry, and he falls asleep like that. he refuses to take her as his apprentice because he doesn’t want her to feel forced into the job like he was, or cinderpelt before him, but he teaches her a lot and she is shown sorting herbs, preparing herbs for him, and helping out with small remedies which helps her stay positive and gain confidence and feel “useful”, and he trusts her to do so (especially compared to how much he micromanaged and didn’t trust alderpaw at first). and she comforts him after the gathering where he is accused of killing flametail, taking care of him and again grooming him to sleep, and then fetching food for him in the morning. he encourages her and helps her work on her goal of climbing a tree with just her front legs. she’s the first person he thinks of when rocks start falling into the quarry, throwing himself over her to protect her. he blames himself for her death, and he chokes up to the point where he can’t continue speaking and alderheart has to take over when trying to speak at her vigil.

the two have two major gestures; jayfeather massages briarlight’s back and hind quarters, which yeah, is a medicinal thing, but it’s also an intimate gesture. cats kneed as a comfort thing. idk it’s the close skin-to-skin (fur-to-fur?) contact. it’s different when millie or alderpaw do it. it would be different if they were humans. and then the other gesture, is briarlight grooming him to sleep. he allows himself to relax only for her, and is comforted by her. not an easy feat for emotionally constipated jayfeather. i never see these two actually talking about being mates or talking about their relationship at all, and they would absolutely deny it if anyone ever asked them. but they have a very deep bond, are unequivocally and undeniably in love with each other. it just sorta... happened. it makes sense for them. their physical and emotional closeness feels natural to them because it just is.

(additionally, i’m not making this post to defend them or convince anyone! just to think out loud about them, essentially. i saw a few folks tag my most recent jaybriar post as qpp and honestly if you see them more that way, that’s awesome. if you don’t sip them at all, hell yeah. peace and love on planet warrior cats)

[sky-kiss]

Sending prompt for Dadphael! Maybe the kids getting in trouble but Raphael is low key proud they managed to pull it off. I just need Dadphael in my life and I love baby Orin.

A/N: I can do this. Not the best, but hopefully you chuckle.

Dadphael: He Shouldn't Be Surprised, He Robbed His Dad Too

Raphael's first reaction is blinding rage. A voice in his head screaming how has it come to this? How, in the name of the gods above and below, by all of Asmodeus' grace, could his spawn have been so colossally, unequivocally stupid?

His second reaction is begrudging respect. 

He settles somewhere in the middle, screwing his eyes shut and pinching the bridge of his nose. In the most even tone he can manage, the devil says, "Explain your vision."  

Orin's brow furrows. In contrast to her brother, who has adopted an expression of absolute contrition, his daughter seems to weigh her answer. Her expression shifts, visibility reactive to the path of her thoughts: confusion, desperation, irritation, all in quick succession. 

She settles on a petulant. "Haarlep?" 

"Are you naming your inspiration? Or enquiring after the source of your damnation?" 

She turns her nose up, crossing her arms over her chest. "Both." 

"Mm, then, in the spirit of fair play," he steps forward, linking his hands at the small of his back. "Yes. They sold you out. Let this be a lesson to you, pet: trust carefully. Better yet, trust none but me." The impudent little thing snorts. Raphael holds his hand out, "And now, an explanation is in order: why have you robbed me?" 

Carlyle steps forward, the pilfered item in question held before him. Orin favors her brother with a look. It is so simultaneously venomous, and so pleading that the boy cannot fathom how to proceed. "We meant to return it, Father, truly. But Korilla would not allow us near portals…" 

"With excellent reason." 

"...and we needed the scroll to contact an associate on the Prime Material." 

"Why." 

"Don't tell him, stupid," Orin hisses.

But Carlyle is determined to come clean, his sense of fair play and respect for his sire winning out over whatever fear his much smaller sibling might inspire. He hands the scroll of dimension door back to Raphael, standing tall and proud. "A gift, father. Haarlep gave us the location of one of your preferred artists. We'd hoped…" he shrugs, attempting a smile. And it is fundamentally strange to see his own expression reflected at him, all on the face of himself in miniature. "To commission something." 

The idea reeks of sentiment rather than bloodlust. Carlyle's idea, then, not Orin. Raphael eyes the pair, suspicious, irritated. "And how did you intend to pay for this work?" Orin produces a back of coin from her pocket, grumbling as she hands it over. "Ah. Is there anything else I should expect to find missing?" 

They answer as one: "No, my duke." 

"And you know better than to lie to me, yes?" 

"Yes, father." 

"Off with you then, little failures. Consider what you might have done to succeed. Learn from this." He is feeling magnanimous, infernal wine still heady in his system, a night of potential pleasure stretching out before him. Let them take this as a lesson and be done with it. 

A decision he comes to regret later. 

The little shits are, in fact, acting as a distraction. Haarlep has slipped from the House (also highly against protocol). Haarlep contracts the artist for the little beasts, and they present their gift to him a month later, beaming and unrepentant. 

He is caught entirely off guard, delighted and horrified in equal measure. Conniving wretches! Little thieves! They beam at him, a united front, unrepentant and full of potential. 

He still sends the little shits to their room without supper and confines them to their wing of the House for the next month. 

He's proud but too petty to pass up seeing the look of betrayal on their little faces.

[anths-girl]

I just need to say that...Robert Sheehan is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I've been sort of obsessively watching interviews and videos and just... anything of him, the last week or so, and I am just in AWE.

Because not only is he just breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL (those EYES are literally ethereal?!?), an amazing, versatile, brilliant actor, but he's just also a wonderful person - just...his personality is...I have no words.

He just has NO filter. Like, ZERO. He seriously just says WHATEVER he wants to. He's completely, brutally, HONEST. And, unlike a lot of "celebrities," I think, he's even very honest about himself and his personal life. He just doesn't hide who he is, at all. And I LOVE that. I actually ADMIRE it, so, SO much.

I fucking wish I could BE like that: Just so unapologetically, unequivocally YOURSELF. It's almost been kind of therapy for me, watching him. Because I legitimately CANNOT do that, in my own life. I CAN'T be myself. I have to hide so much of who I am, and what I feel, ALL the time, because of the community I live in (it's very much the torches and pitchforks kind of attitude... 🙄🙄🙄)

But yes...I just want to say...THANK YOU, Robert, for being SUCH a beautiful human being, in this otherwise absolutely shit world, we live in. And I need that kind of thing VERY badly, these days...