#also not a childhood show but why the fuck is everyone and their dog in dhmis (2022) its insane /pos

[gnomeantics]

the weirdest part about growing up is finding out that british comedy actors are all in the same few things together and then googling an actor from a show you’re watching and they along with like five others were in your favourite childhood tv shows. its wild

[jackiepackiee]

Hear me out. What if one day Chuuya finds out that the reader was also experimented on.

TW:scars, leaked information, trauma

Chuuyax reader

𝒞𝒽𝓊𝓊𝓎𝒶 𝓍 𝐸𝓍𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹! 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓇

𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 - 𝓁𝒶𝒷 𝒶𝒷𝓊𝓈𝑒

𝒯𝓎𝓅𝑒 - 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒸𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝒾𝒶𝓁𝑜𝑔𝓊𝑒

Chuuya is DEVASTATED

How come his sweet and gentle lover has been hurt

He would take every ounce of pain from you into himself if given the chance

And his initial reaction, however he found out, will be hard to stomach

He’s in shock

“No… no no that’s not true. You had that good childhood, and you’ve been treated good by everyone. Just like you deserve, right? Right?��

Wide eyes traveled the room mindlessly. His brain was too occupied by thoughts to see anything beyond patches of color and light.

It was obvious what was going on in his head.

First, his experience. What he knows of the pain that still cause shakes and shivers in his body. The absolute mental devastation caused by the storm in his heart and mind from knowing his past.

Secondly, he sees you in the same position. Screaming, blood over your plush skin. Eyes dazed, far away from the world around you. Whatever world you may have been in that allowed you to be treated so poorly. Because if you had gotten hurt, it must’ve been a world Chuuya wasn’t part of.

“Right?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Sorry? No, fuck. Don’t be sorry, don’t you dare say that.”

In a split second he crossed the distance and pulled you into his chest.

“I’ll kill them all.”

Of course he would lie down his life for you, but this information increases that tenfold

You’re not fragile, that much is obvious, but after learning how close you were to death he strives for your life

Whatever it takes

“Chuuya, I do not need a bodyguard. It’s just down the block! And this boy needs a walk anyways!”

The dog barked in agreement, sorta. But Chuuya would not budge. No puppy eyes work on him when it comes to your safety.

“No. You can talk him on the walk, and go to the market. But one of my subordinates is going with you. I have some emails to write.”

“But!”

“No buts, love. It’s for your own good.”

He pet the doggies head while speaking sternly to you. Little did you know, it wasn’t just one subordinate. He had a whole team on your saftey detail at all times outside of work and home.

And if those scientists are still alive?

Not anymore… it will be a MASSACRE that the news will cover for months

“Hey baby, did you see the news this morning?”

You asked, on a whim as you scribbled a shitty signature on some paperwork.

“No, why?”

“Some old facilities blew up. It was crazy. Reports said none of the victims died in the explosion. They all died by these terrible and violent ways. Like torture and stuff… gives me the chills.”

That was his cause, you. The cute way you told him about every little thing you heard. The funny actions you do to make show of your words.

All his to watch, and not theirs to ruin.

“No baby, I didn’t hear about that. How interesting.”

I hate to bring it up, but it makes him feel worse about himself

How can you, someone who went through the same as him, still be so kind?

Why isn’t he like you?

He doesn’t see himself as sweet or gentle, he’s a monster and a threat to everyone he loves

And he thinks he lacks the humanity that you “still have” that allowed you to grow so kind

You stalked into the bedroom, tense at the fact that the door was closed. He usually would leave it open?

“Chuu? I saw your shoes at the door, I know you’re home-”

There he was, his ginger hair on full display. Hat in his hands to his chest. Said chest on his knees, curled into a ball of black clothing.

His torso expanded and contracted with each exchange of air.

“…was it work? Meetings with Mori su-”

Words failed. Minuscule things such as meetings at work would cause this. Would cause Chuuya Nakahara to cry.

“You weren’t supposed to be home.”

“…what?”

“You weren’t supposed to be home. I was supposed to be alone, and… and I- I dunno.”

Whines left his mouth when you kissed his cheek.

As if Judas to Jesus, he burned at your affection. Unworthy of something so…human.

“What did I do to deserve you?”

“Living, and loving. That’s what you’ve done.”

This isnt meant to be spicy, but sex is sex 🤷🏻‍♀️

And obviously if you’re going to be doing that, he’ll see your scars

For a couple who both has their fair share of scars, this likely isn’t the way the experiments were revealed

It takes a hell of a lot of trust to show yourself so vulnerable to anyone

But he loves each indent

He sees not the pain, but the growth then on

When you cuddle, he’ll get dazed and start rubbing circles on section of skin

Doesn’t mind them at all, even if they are dark and large

He has the same, and is no hypocrite

Not proofread lol

[wickjump]

Not exactly hurt comfort but I am enjoying the idea that every time Cross reveals something about his past/childhood it slowly but surely makes the team angry. Like he happens to share a "funny story" or mention how he was treated and one by one the gang is horrified to the point where if xgaster actually showed up in the same au as them they would all be gunning for him immediately.

Also the stars showing up during this fight and like Dream: Nightmare stop this!! What are you doing to- Nightmare: (goops over and whispers something in Dream's ear) Dream: WHAT?? No fuck that (starts aiming his arrows at xgaster)

IVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS SO MANY TIMES WITH FRIENDS/MUTUALS I AGREE SO MYCH HE HAS SO MANY TRAUMATIZING CHILDHOOD STORIES HE INTERNALLY NORMALIZED GOD. HE DOESNT REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS AND THE REACTIONS HE GETS ARE UNNERVING. THANK YOU FOR THIS AND OTHER CROSS RELATED ASKS YOURE SO GOOD WITH THEM THEYRE MY FAVORITE

ok ya this is just plain whump warning for lotsa child abuse including physical. like beating the shit out of an 8 year old physical. also I’m so tired right now

chances are that’s not even the worst of it because you know his seven year old ass was told ‘don’t tell anyone about me beating you to near death’ and he still sticks to that. but he speaks about abuse he doesn’t even grasp counts as abuse.

withholding food. sleeping in the yard. eating food on the floor while the others sat at the dinner table as punishment (or to eat out of a dog bowl on the ground i had to do that once lol). as a kid still scared of the dark he was locked in dark rooms until he got over his fear (he’s still scared to this day but he won’t seek help because he doesn’t want to be punished again). cross touched something he wasn’t supposed to? put your hand on the burning hot stove for however many seconds that item was worth in G (maybe divided by 5/10), or until he cried.

cruel and unusual punishments were xgaster’s forte but he tells them like funny stories to the horror of literally everyone around him.

cross is not coping well with figuring out that no that’s not normal and no that’s fucked up. most of his scars are probably from xgaster (excluding the red one on his face obv). and when he delves into the traditional abuse it gets worse somehow?? anyway xgaster is on THE multiversal hitlist. star sanses and bad sanses all want his head on a wall. even ink because ink didn’t know about the abuse because xgaster never told him for obvious reasons and it’s not like cross was willing to share.

i think that once he starts talking about the abuse he can’t stop (same) and he’s just. slowly crying and eventually hyperventilating and oh he’s been holding onto that for SO long. and then he hates that he told people because he wasn’t supposed to and is scared that they’ll see him less or punish him for some reason or hate him now, but he isn’t expecting to be comforted after? wtf? he doesn’t grasp that saying ‘yeah i got in trouble at school so my dad beat me until i lost two of my baby teeth and got a temporary crack in my skull’ normally results in being hugged or something. like dude you were 8 wtf. and he’s so scared but he just wants to feel safe AUGH HE MAKES MY HEART HURT. like dude, he almost beat papyrus at a time he was so young he had to use a step-stool to reach the sink to brush his teeth :( dude…

anyway ya cross is me fr (the burning hand stove happened once/twice to me actually idk i was like 5 lol. my grandfather is not the best man) and he deserves to go through hell on earth and be tortured in his childhood i think. oh and experience comfort or whatever after idk. kross maybe because their dynamic is ‘my childhood was ruined’ x ‘my adulthood was ruined’ and i think that’s sweet. or mtt + cross poly with nightmare as the outlier wondering why they’re so affectionate all of a sudden (he’s aroace…)

BUT THATS SELF INDULGENT LMAO what really matters is how much we torture the poor lad that is cross 🥰

also make him trans because abuse isn’t enough he needs extreme dysphoria all of the time. xgaster isn’t transphobic btw this is independent from everything else

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 407: Wait Why Are You Running Away

Previously on BnHA: Kacchan figured out how to control his quirk upgrade and was totally chill and normal about it. Definitely not terrifying at all. He actually spent the entire chapter smiling and laughing like the wholesome little boy he is. I don’t know why Kid For One is so freaked out about it. He even politely introduced himself using his childhood nickname. Clearly he just wants to be friends with you, KFO!

Today on BnHA: Horikoshi is all “sorry to keep you waiting, here’s the AFO and Yoichi flashback you ordered at long last” and proceeds to serve a nightmarish stew of HUMAN MISERY and RATS and STABBING and CARNAGE and SO MUCH MURDER and THE SINGLE MOST FUCKED-UP CASE OF CODEPENDENCY ANYONE HAS EVER WRITTEN. I was not even remotely prepared for any of this, and if anyone else claims that they were, I will call you a liar to your face. If this chapter had a mouth it would scream. Or just sob, ceaselessly and uncontrollably. I’m really glad Horikoshi is on break next week because that man needs to take a fucking nap. My god.

okay WOW

anyone else read the first two words and just immediately say to themselves, “oh okay, so it’s gonna be one of those chapters”? I mean, I guess we were due for a darker chapter after last week’s Kacchan Comedy Tour. but idk, I just wasn’t expecting “homeless sick prostitute with a drinking problem” levels of dark

AND SHE’S PREGNANT?!

what exactly is this manga rated again? doesn’t this backstory seem just a little bit raw for the impressionable kiddos??

has anyone actually checked in on Horikoshi recently? you know, just to make sure he is okay??

what a fun and wholesome manga this is

the lil baby arm covered in blood with the AFO hole on the palm. lying next to the dead mom hand. what an image to sear into our minds. I guess it’s been a while since he killed any dogs. gotta keep us on our toes somehow

also wasn’t expecting AFO and Yoichi to be twins! that puts an interesting spin on their relationship, because it’s usually a closer bond than even regular siblings. especially with all of that delightful shared trauma from a young age!!

yes, exactly

ohhhh this chapter is gonna hurt me, isn’t it. okay. ooooooookay. let’s do this

OH I’M SORRY, THERE’S MORE?!

Horikoshi my dude. you do realize that their mom dying in childbirth and the two of them just barely surviving and growing up as street orphans would have already been MORE than tragic enough, backstory-wise. you did not have to turn this into a freaking horror show with RATS TRYING TO EAT THEIR NEWBORN SELVES jesus christ

and THAT’S where you chose to put a one year timeskip?!

what the fuck am I reading here, you guys. no please tell me, I am actually desperate to understand

so the narrator is saying that some of the quirks manifested later in life, in “pubescent and pre-pubescent stages”, which is interesting because it’s the first time I can recall hearing about someone actually manifesting a quirk that late. maybe Deku’s old OFA cover story was more plausible than I realized

anyway so eventually it occurred to everyone that they should maybe freaking study this shit, idk. and eventually the researchers concluded that the superpowers came from a new gene that apparently isn’t human. and upon hearing that, society apparently lost its freaking mind. which is fascinating to me because it implies that the turning point wasn’t actually the superpowers themselves, but the realization of what it meant

like, so they were apparently fine with it when they thought it was a “mysterious disease”, but somehow it hit different when they learned it wasn’t actually a sickness at all, but instead the Next Step in Evolution. and it became an “us vs them” thing, as opposed to a “we have to cure these poor people” thing. damn

anyway so now Japan is a dystopia and we’re cutting to a big crowd of merc-looking dudes who are getting ready to attack some “meta freaks”, how lovely

but who is this figure in the shadows

I ask politely, as if it wasn’t already beyond obvious that this is AFO about to wreck some people’s shit

ohhhhh my god lmao

hopefully Katsuki and Deku can take the present day AFO out before he winds up looking like this. because this little fella is clearly demonic and idk if anyone can stop him

you all don’t understand. you need to run the fuck away right now

oh shit it’s already too late for them

it’s too late for any of us. it’s over. it’s all fucking over

((((；゜Д゜)))

AFO I am putting the manga down. I am backing away slowly with my hands in the air. I mean you no harm. please for the love of god have mercy

holy

“you see, we told you he wasn’t human” okay Scientific Research Group, you know what?? you win this round I guess

“HE WAS LITERALLY EVIL FROM BIRTH” HORIKOSHI SERIOUSLY ARE YOU OKAY??

HE WAS BORN AN ARROGANT BABY is literally the most terrifying sentence I have ever read

what the entire fuck

it’s a gorgeous sunny mid-November afternoon outside my window. but no matter how hard it tries, the light cannot reach this place

what kind of moron would throw a can of soda at him. officially the stupidest person we have ever seen in this manga

OH MY GOD OF COURSE IT’S HIM LMAO

(ETA: how come baby Yoichi has clothes that fit him perfectly but baby AFO is just stomping around wearing a tablecloth.)

BABY YOICHI. OH MY GOD. HOW THE HELL DID YOU GROW UP TO BE SANE AND KIND AND GOOD. THAT’S MY QUESTION THAT I NEED ANSWERED RIGHT NOW. YOU ARE LITERALLY A MIRACLE. YOU ARE AN IMPOSSIBILITY, DO YOU KNOW THAT

small and weak, but also so, so cute. all of the cuteness genes went straight to him. no wonder AFO was jealous

(ETA: just want to press pause for a second to speculate about what type of twins AFO and Yoichi are, since it has some relevance to the story, and especially to the OFA/AFO quirk lore. so! at first glance the two of them would appear to be fraternal twins, just based on the fact that they have very different appearances, and also the fact that Yoichi doesn’t have the AFO quirk – no holes in his hands, etc. identical twins are born from the same fertilized egg, so in theory they would both have the same sequence of DNA, which means Yoichi would have had the same quirk as AFO. but that doesn’t appear to be the case. so all of that points to them being fraternal, not identical.

on the other hand, there is one piece of evidence in this chapter that does support them being identical twins, and that’s the fact that per the narration, AFO absorbed most of the nutrients from their mother. a few minutes of google fu informed me that this condition is relatively rare, and only happens in cases where two twins share a placenta, which typically is only the case for identical twins. HOWEVER, for what it’s worth, there have also been rare instances where two fraternal twin placentas fuse together and become a single placenta. AND this apparently also increases the chances of one of the twins gaining more of the nutrients and causing the other twin to have a lower birth weight.

so based on the evidence here, my conclusion is that the two of them are most likely fraternal twins with a case of placental fusion. besides, you can’t tell me that stealing his baby brother’s placenta while the two of them are literally still in the womb doesn’t sound like exactly the type of BS that fetus!AFO would pull, lol.)

HEY!?!

okay?!?!?! well to be fair he did throw that soda at him

oh my god this is so fucked up. in like the best and worst way possible

I genuinely couldn’t ask for a better AFO backstory. it’s so incredibly twisted, and you actually do feel sorry for him. or at least I do. but it’s also beyond clear that this kid was FUCKED UP BEYOND ALL REASON right from the get go. zero goodness in him. literally doesn’t see other people as people. sees them as possessions only. things to rule over. not other thinking, feeling human beings. and that includes his own little brother

but. even if it’s not actually what I would call love, there’s still... attachment, there. it’s the closest he can get to actually caring about someone. guh. just, somehow they have both managed to humanize him, and at the same time made him less human than ever. this manga, man. this fucking manga, though

lmao and here we go. Captain Hero

you know, all those times that I made fun of AFO for not knowing how to read, I never suspected that the twist in his backstory would be that he LITERALLY DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO READ dfksjdlfkjslkdf

but seriously though. because Yoichi appears to be self-taught, and I can’t see AFO having the patience for that, and CLEARLY no one else was around to teach him, sooooo...

oh my goodness it’s actually getting wholesome up in here

what a good fucking boy. poor AFO. fuck me, I can’t help it. it’s not your fault you’re the world’s greatest monster you poor bastard

now we’re cutting to THREE YEARS LATER. okay

is he going to declare war on the glowing baby

typical teenager concerned about nothing but likes and view counts. AFO you would be so much happier if you stopped worrying about all of that and just focused on your own growth

oh, lol. well that was quick

(ETA: r.i.p. Damien.)

“this guy had more instagram followers than me. so I killed him” honey. sweetie pie. you need therapy

omfg

all this time I was wondering who AFO’s middle school lit teacher was who had failed so spectacularly at teaching him reading comprehension. and it was YOICHI ALL ALONG. omg

“and, presumably, that’s how it always was and always will be.” dude. can you imagine listening to AFO’s oral book report on A Tale of Two Cities. “ahem. it was the Best of Times. the end” buddy noooooooo

it was at that moment when Yoichi knew, etc. etc.

oh my GOD I scrolled down to the next panel right after this one and I just IMMEDIATELY DIED LAUGHING

“WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID” ffffffffffffffff I fucking can’t omfg

NOW THIS HUSSY IS STEALING HIS BROTHER AWAY FROM HIM NOOOOOOO

HE’S HIS!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! THAT’S NOT ALLOWED!!!

oh my god the hands. so wait, is this just the standard symbolic BnHA handholding, or are there More Levels To This. when exactly did Yoichi pass OFA on to Kudou. like is that why the sudden close-up and all that? omg

WHAT!!!!

OH THAT’S THE END, HUH? THAT’S THE END RIGHT THERE, AND THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS. I SEE. OKAY THEN. EXCUSE ME WHILE I PUT MY LAPTOP DOWN AND GO INTO THE NEXT ROOM AND SCREAM INTO A PILLOW

oh my god. and break next week too. this is what you guys have been dealing with this entire time huh. I understand your feelings now. godfuckingdammit lmao

[istherewifiinhell]

scheduled hopefully for appropriate insanity causing hours

304 cant believe everyone in gin.tama just lives like this. the. speech convictions dramatic childhood flashbacks promises lifestyle. not just for main characters i guess (is this guy the shogun.....)

yay yay yippppppe the guys. yay ayay yippeee flashbacks. DONT DIE.

kaaaaaaruga. always suspected. if i understood her more id be obsessed. Confirmed. 2 second in pulling that. i was waiting for ur weakness bullshit. BEAT UP UR OLDER BROTHER. (<- comma. gay? ) kagura born on this planet.... half a second of taka.gin grappling could sustain me for a life time (gin puts his hands on him to throw him) hey fellas i know this is the Sword Penis show but have u considered going at it meg.op. style. for me?

omg baby flashback leftest infighting. sugi ur not the most oppressed person in the world u know. well u would say that scholarship baby zura. diddddddd they shape each others ideologies like that. where they reading theory together as shitty little kids -> well prob not this show but lets indulge

oh right gin former. ghost eating thing. showing up to the school yard beef with a real sword.

HI SHOU.YOU. HI. his little pogchamps

loveeee how they do the blood in this show looks like velvet, alll dark shimmery. also the editing. wooooo.

bushido speech. this shit is cool actually. also leon.ardo the ninja turtle would love it (03)

zura giving him fooooood oh no. little. verbal redirects of kindness transparency

NOOOO SUGI beats gin for the first time clip NO NONO SUGI LAUGHING SLOW MO CLIP (already tearing up)

ahhhh the position of the school and the attitudes of the backgrounder kids actually very affecting and interesting isnt it.... shou.youuuuuuuu the man(thing) that u are....

ep. 305

theeeeee babies. the babies.... the babiest guys. so so charmedddd by them charmeddd again by how. unexpected? maybe. sugi and zura stick together.... the remainers..... kidtoki why are uuuu such a perfectly cromulent. thing. little. video game character ass look. perfect. shitty cool affect. wanna pinch his little cheeks 10/10 letting this kid be the leader of the playground gang.

shou.youuuuuu shou.youuuuuu. such a. believably. man with his complexities but hes being around children so (friendly voice) 'thats right. what do you think' sooooo. yeah immediately believes 100 thousand percent he means everything he says so truly yeah i probably would get. horrible weird trauma give the givens too

THROW THE SWORDS AWAY YAYYYYYY. flashback. ohhhhhhh sugi. i little. weird bitch (said in. desperate scrambling fondness. i love the things that are wrong with him)

gin boots are so hot...

SOMEONE INTIMATE TO CUT AND CURSE!!!!!!! ohhhhh babes (what could i possible say abt it that hasnt been said) well i hope they fuck themselves to death about it

fightscene styles gt vs tf <- place holder i left for myself. that will be extricated to a diff post.

gin scrambling in the blood and dirt under all the promises he has given his loved one. YES BABE. thats exactly what ur supposed to be going

ohhhhhh godddddddd the fucking beheading scene back to back from both of their perspectives oh jesus fuck oh hell. im going to. cut and curse at someone else. i guess. THANKS HIM. THANKS HIM FOR IT. (crying) cool. thats normal. i feel normal about the man (shou.you)(gin)

what the fuck. oboro real? thats fucked up. THATS WHO TAKES THE EYE? (knew this techincally) WHO THE FUCK IS OBORO. (am seeing him) why is he a grown ass man i thought he was a kicked dog of a boy.

SUGI. SUGI YOU DUMB BITCH (loves him)(loves intractable positions)(loves the emotional incommunicability of reality)(loves an emotional confliction you can never resolve and just have to die about) he did it to save u fucking losers. cause his fucking teacher dad man asked him too. and thanked him for the service. ohhhhh u miserable fucks

why did you SAVE US. say it like that. damn.

oh youd do anything. youd kill shou.you. youd kill sugi himself. just to save the student your teacher loved. okay. okay. jesus. so you are the same. so your exactly the same person. your saying things that dont even make sense youve both lost any plane of reality cause you cant separate the things youve lost from the things you have. the very people youve saved are now reflected in those youve lost and youll both kill them to keep them alive. okay. no yeah thats fine cool lol.

(i guess sugis version would technically be said in reverse, you cant separate what youve have from what youve lost and the very person you lost are reflect in the one who saved you. and to keep him alive (crying gin.toki) youd kill him)

and MOST IMPORTANTLY. because you are the same person. you see yourself in him and him in yourself and u cant figure out where you end and he begins and your diametric opposed mirror reflection goals that lead you to taking. the exact same actions. okay. lol. OKAY. lol.

WHO THE FUCK IS OBORO. GET OUT OF HERE FREAK. i was talking.

id alt. im always saying this. or even just. Why is Oboro.

ep 306

heyyyyyy kagura! hiiiiii. youre not dead yay! hi. older brother. youre still here.

squints ohhhh these are. the cops? mayo man and. is this the other canonical gay sex haver or. (only has the normalest of second hand knowledge)

'if im just gonna end up as fertilizer anyway, i dont care if my path there is paved by roses or thorns.' damn dude. get out of the fucking. whatever ur in. and go become a metal music lyricist. what the fuck

oh shin.pachi. ur in this show.

googling. cant figure it out. whoever this green zombie bitch is sounds familiar. wish he had a name or smth.

damn there really is space in this show huh. thats crazy thats crazy. planet of the big hats vs planet of. umbrellas? anyone wanna watch space military anime.....

shogun 'i will protect the country were my friends live' what kagura said abt the planet. 'and to fulfill that goal, you'll even endure the deaths of your friends here?' gestures at the shou.you trolley problem. wow. that is tidy. good job recursive gin.tama

why do you grip that broken sword. you killed your teacher. you battled your friend. - my enemy is right here. WEVE NEVER CHANGED. weve all been fighting our own selves. ill stop him. even if it means having to kill him. but im also the one who understands how he feels better than anyone else

ohhhhhh gin. tama. ohhhhh gin. toki. i love u. i love u so much for just. saying insane thesis shit. like. yeah! YEAH OKAY! yeah thats. making out sloppy style with the narrative theming <- what do i mean by that.

be it killing him or protecting him. their both my job (gets so hard i pass out)

gin: says the most homoerotic twisted identity shit ive ever heard in my life that rests solely on. how unextractable gin. and sugi both are from each other due to. their love of shou.you. and thus. reflectionally. each other. oboro: his students are burning with hatred. <- IS HE STUPID?

and second question. upon reflection, looking at this grown ass man thing. do we have a classic ninja turtles adult beefing with teenagers situation. please tell me yes i will roast this man to shit.

(sugi also say gay twisted identity shit) [impact image font] we are. we are going to beat you to death.

[ending bumper comedy thing] u cannot deny their commitment to the bittism. need this shit for my annoying nitpick continuity fandoms. yeah no it was cause he pooped his pants. he shitted and farted.

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Watching the Show Fanfic FMAB

@anastasian-dreamer suggested writing a big rambling post about the FMAB watches the future Au to get it off my chest and for me to offer people to send asks. You want a scene/me to explain how i’d handle something? Send it it!

 So how would this go?

First the background: 

First: Edward is a trans man. He's known from childhood. We dont have transphobia in Amestris or in this world. Envy is genderfluid and Father is literal shadows in a human form. Gender makes zero sense to them and they don't allow bigotry they'd be affected by.

 We’re going to give them testosterone but Ed isn't on it because 1) he doesn't want to take it while Al is in the armour (and that is a frequent discussion) and 2) he's not sure if he wants to. He's a fairly androgynous person and he is small chested. He’s one of the lucky assholes who have very light periods (Winry hates him for it) and its alright. He doesn't want to take it also because a part of him wants kids and he’s nervous it will lower his chances. He also knows adoption is still there so he is a bit torn. I honestly just want to explore this concept.

Second: this is also a soulmate AU. I'm thinking there are multiple types of soulmates: paternal/child, platonic, romantic and enemies. 

 Now, you're born with the paternal ones (and the parent gets their when the child is born) but the others happen later. You are five when you get your platonic and romantic; then you’re ten when you get the enemy one.

 Ed and Al are both born with a red salamander on their shoulders and the flamel Izumi has on her chest. I've read a few ‘your own mark is on your chest’ so we’re going with that. These marks tend to be something that can define you. Edward has the alchemy sign for human on his chest and Al has the helmet of his armour. 

 Hohenheim tries not to let it play on his mind. 

When they turn five, Edward gets a sword and the ouroboros on his arm, while Al gets a kunai. 

 The boys both get a silver gear which is Winry for platonic to. (how can they tell? Vibes. Literal vibes)

 When they're ten, Ed is so confused why they get more ouroboros marks. But he's busy with the transmutation. So big deal. We all know how that ends.

 But Ed also is surprised when he gets a mark when he’s eleven.

( “It kind of looks like the head of a long-haired dog?” 

 “It does. Weird.”)

Ling gets the sign for human and the ouroboros. As well he gains a silver blade for a friend (Lan Fan), the child mark of a long haired dog, and the enemy tattoos of ouroboros along with some family. (he also gains the panda friend mark of the heiress to the Chang family) 

 Greed has a sword and the sign for human, along with markings for all his Chimera buddies and the long haired dog for a child. 

Three: Roy starts off being very nervous about the kids. He sees Al and knows its his soul son. He would keep it quiet if he didn't know that his soulmate Maes would spill the beans. He tells the boys. Edward is so angry that of course it's his fuck up that defines his brother. 

 Roy and Ed keep the antagonism but it’s just their thing. They're like that. Al gets to have a cat that stays with Roy. 

 Also: three way bonds like Roy, Hughes and Gracia aren't uncommon. However due to the need for alchemists in the East Roy is based there. He has a house and makes trips bi weekly to see his soulmates. They also make trips bi weekly so they basically see each other each week.

Four: Various countries have different views on Soulmateds. Amestris believes that while there is a bond its a choice in the end. You don’t need to marry/befriend/whatever your bond is. While about 90% of the time it does happen, there's then 10% everyone knows. 

 Xing fully believes in them and soulmarks are a great honour. There's been a few times clans will join together as an heir will find their partner in another, making an iron clad bond. Soul children are precious and enemies are the utmost awfulness. 

Five: I’m tossing in a few OCs. One is named Amelia Cross. My original story for her is she is the brother’s elder sister from Hohenheim having a one night stand years ago. Theres a whole plot. But for here she's simply the Alchemist that helped make the soldiers into human chimeras before she quit the military. (and was let go because she did human transmutation)

 The other is Amelia’s soul daughter Elaine who is a chimera herself and Ishvalan. Its a whole thing. 

Lets go to the start.

 Now: I think this story would start right after Tucker makes Nina into a Chimera but before the boys see her. 

 And I kinda want to keep to my theme of ‘ah yes everyone sees it’ cause I can. How does this happen? Alchemy. A bunch of stones (some dropped by Hohenheim, some in the ground from Father) bonded together. An alchemist in the region was doing human transmutation to bring back their wife, the stones hijacked it (the alchemist lost their heart) and Truth went: you know why not. (does it make sense? No but I'm keeping it)

 So everyone in the world is watching now. And we don't start with the brothers.

 We start with Slave 23, speaking to the dwarf in the flask. We follow him as he walks to Xing, as he walks the world. We follow him to Trisha and the boys. We see him put pieces together and realize what happened to Xerxes will happen again. Of course we don't actually know YET. As far as anyone can tell he found signs of the Dwarf and went hunting.

 There's also the drama of Ling seeing the marks on Ed and Mei also seeing hers on Al. And like every other reaction to. (the Homunculi are fucking baffled that this kid somehow got a mark for one of them. Hohenheim is freaking out)

 We watch as he leaves. Then we cut to the boys fighting the Freezing Alchemist. 

Now 2003 FMA is really good at the build up so i'll probably borrow from them but I like the freezer beginning. So that's going on. And of course we learn Roy is the parental soulmate, and its all cute…

 And then we learn of the Taboo.

 I 100% think Bradley makes a bullshit claim he knew and decided since a CHILD was willing to join the military and all their trauma he let it slide. Its on the radio.

 Its all ‘aww poor little meow meows’ kind of stuff. Ed and Al hate it, go to Tucker and FUCK NINA?

 Course since Ed’s child mark is shown he claims its destiny. Ed kicks his ass, and then Nina gets to go to grandpa Roy’s place while Amelia gets contacted by one of the soldiers who is a chimera. 

 Which side note: when that happens on screen Ling is busy discussing how to murder Tucker with Lan Fan and Fu (and his clan cause that is their heir’s daughter) while Greed and the others are heading to kick some ass. 

But after the freezing alchemist we get more flashbacks to the boys in the first few years of military, and then so on.

Themes of the story: 

 -A theme there is the discussion of family. I really want the idea of family to play a huge part in this because Al and Ed’s story revolves around their relationship. So a lot of focus is on this. But also I would explore rejecting family. 

 Greed rejects his ‘siblings’. The boys reject Hohenheim because he isn't a bad person but he sure is a bad father (and yes he is. I saw one post defending it but lets be real, abandoning your family is abandoning them no matter what.) Ling rejects some of his siblings. 

 Family is important but it’s family of choice that matters. You can choose your family and many choose their blood family but they also reject it.

 -Romance is the next theme, and exploring what its like to have romantic soulmates. Like I really want some drama since Edward has been raised knowing he doesn't need to be with his romantics mixed with Greed ‘its all mine’ and Ling ‘destiny bound us’. Like they choose to be together of course but its a thing. 

 We have the themes of FMA though included.

Other notes:

 -I do know Ed keeps alchemy and both his automail parts. Not sure how but he does.

 -Mei throws herself into finding out how to free her soulmate. 

 -Mei and Xao Mei both arrive with Ling due to the alliance and that they are platonics.

 -I want to keep Ling being possessed but also I think Father actually is weirdly interested in the soul bond? I think his attempts at being perfect isn't just about like being a god but also being better then humans. And here is a being he's made having a soulmate. Two in fact. And a soul child! He's very invested. So he somehow has it that they can share the bond like they do in canon? I dunno. I'd need to work on it. 

 -Amelia is killed by Scar and it sparks a large subplot because her romantic is actually Kimblee. She visits him every year on his birthday and he's allowed out to her funeral where Elaine is. Amelia and Elaine had a falling out after some stuff but Elaine is pretty messed up. Elaine is also Kimblee’s soul child. Also Elaine is Winry’s romantic soulmate. Its a mess. 

 -I kinda think Ling having Ed as his soulmate puts him right at the top for heirs because ‘ah son of the Sage’ kind of thing mixed in with ‘the other soulmate is immortal’

 -Mrs. Bradley is actually in the know because Pride has her mark as a friend and Wrath couldn't lie to her. They never told Father until after the reveal of Greed’s soulmates but yeah she got told early on. She is subtly talking them away from the plans but it's slow going. (I kinda would want to set up Wrath in Greed’s place as a sacrifice)

[rosy6maple6mothman6]

So I just finished xiaolin showdown: I wanna talk about it. Spoilers.

I really liked the show! I knew I would thanks to childhood memories of it but I think it holds up alright even today! Imma break it down in what I Did like and what I Didn't like (I think Imma make a different post talking about the Wu). This is longer than I thought it would be. I'm sorry.

What I liked

The Wu themselves, love me magic shit even if they get repetitive at times(fr there are like 4 that just give the power to fly).

I fucking love Jack Spicer and Clay Bailey. They are my boys do you hear me! Love how Jack just won't quit and how Clay is just so painfully Texas. My bois

Love the magic in general! How all die of the main characters get to master their element and get special weapons and gear to help. Wish there was more time to flush all of it out tho ,but hey what can you do(other than post head canons).

Dojo Kanojo Cho

Just his name is fucking amazing, and I did like some of his jokes

And his powers were cool! I wish we could have seen the limits of his shapeshifting powers.

I did like wuya and wish we could have seen her do more witchy things.

Chase Young was also very cool.

I also like panda bubba's design and I kinda wish there was more of him. I wanna do things to him DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT

I already said this BUT I just love how all of them got individual weapons that I don't think were Shen Gong Wu? I think.

Master fung and dojo... Had a very odd relationship. I'm 90% sure they were at least fucking by how dojo acted when he went to a different temple and after that it was just very. Weird.nit Bad weird but still.

Wish we could have seen more of their families. kimono's dad was fucking adorable. I want to fuck her dad

Also Love le mime!!! I also wanna fuck him, I am not taking. criticism at this time

I also liked Jermaine and wish he could have been able to join fully or show up more.

Over all love this show.

What I didn't like

How they treated Jack. Idk man I just thought it was weird how the heros tournamented him so much? Like ya he's a ass but like, y'all are the heros why are you acting borderline worse than him???

I also kinda wish he could have officially joined the xiaolin side, I feel like they alluded to him switching multiple times but then he never does and I think that was a waste.

LET JACK BE THE DRAGON OF METAL.

LET JACK MAKE THEM AN AWESOME DEFENSE SYSTEM.

LET JACK DO A FAKE OUT WHERE HE PRETENDED TO GO BAD AND THEN FUCK THE BADDIES UP WITH SABOTAGE.

Idk dude he deserved betted

Also didn't like how he started out at Least semi competent but then just became a pathetic joke? And not even fuc pathetic. He's not a wet dog he's just pathetic.

I wish we could have seen Raimundo's family if not just a sibling or his parents, just something.

Fuck Clay's dad. Not in a hot way. I hate him.

Omi had such an ego. Like dude, please stop.

I really wish we could have seen more of Fung and Omi's relationship. I kinda wish it was more father and son rather than teacher and student since it seems like Omi lived there his entire life.

I also wish we saw more of Fung being badass. I feel there was a lack of that.

I'll say it again, there are a bunch of shen gong wu that kinda just repeat? And some Wu that don't seem like they should be categorize as Wu? Idk I'll make a different post about it bc there a lot to say.

Le mime was cool and I want to know more about him.

I want to know more about almost everyone honestly.

Give Me Their Backstories. Please

This is all I can think of ATM. I'll add more later probably.

Thank you if you made it down here. Let me know what's your fav and least fav about xs.

[itsslivernotsilver]

hi guys does anyone wanna hear about the dichotomy that mist and maddie form in reference to that god damn tomato from the og short stories. ok great here i go

pantheon definitely expands a LOT on the differences between the two sisters but ken liu’s bit about the tomato has always stood out to me and i’m kinda sad they didn’t keep it in the show but whatEVER!!!!!! anyways it’s such a perfect symbol for the glaring differences between mist and maddie and i’ve been thinking about this for almost a year now so i gotta get it out there

like. it’s so simple. it’s just a tomato.

🍅<—tomato. round and red 👍 (also i love that little interaction so much holy shit)

anyways it’s so simple in it’s design but the connections that each sister has with such basic object like this are so drastically different it’s crazy

maddie approaches it from a deeply emotional and human perspective. to her, a tomato means the taste of one, her grandma, her family’s garden, her family’s dog, and just like. general childhood memories. in the show, she represents the side of humanity that wants to stay physically in the real world. she’s obviously friendly with UIs and CIs given that like. yk. and she expresses curiosity in mist and her whole deal!!!!!

but she clearly has her biases and those are shown through her wants for her son and how upset she gets when he advocates for uploading (even though mist practically raised him too but whatever i’m not gonna get into that rn). anyways my point is that she’s approaching this tomato conversation with her experiences regarding physicality, nostalgia, and other “human” feelings

but mist doesn’t have any of those!!!!!! she doesn’t have any human experience at all. she approaches a tomato from an extremely technical and factual perspective. she brings up the species categorization, court cases, genome info, etc. she even decides to mention that, logically speaking, she knows more about tomatoes than maddie does (which is like??? girl????? a little unnecessary but true)

in the show there’s the conversation about nostalgia and her line about having the code for nostalgia but not being able to execute it because of a lack of memories fucks me up sooo bad

she loves maddie and everyone around her because she’s kinda just an actual embodiment of love but she can’t help but feel alone in a world where everyone moves so slow and nobody really gets that she can’t understand a lot of “human” emotions. it’s why she’s so ecstatic to introduce caspian to the cloud and why she’s so passionate about the drive with all the CIs who are just like her. but in this moment she tries her best to connect with maddie but ultimately can’t because of the sheer lack of similar experiences

they just can’t understand each other fully and they never will. they’re forced to agree to disagree over something as simple as a tomato and god that tension keeps me up at night

another thing that i thought was super interesting was how the maddie’s interest in mist was flipped in the show if that makes sense???? like in the stories, it’s clearly maddie who wants to learn more about mist. she tries her best to bridge the gap and it’s her idea to give mist a body. but in the show, it’s mist that seems “more obsessed” (heavy on the quotes) with maddie. she’s reaching out more and she asked for a body herself and maddie lashes out when mist does something while trying to help (don’t even get me started on caspian and his whole deal this season i’ll fucking kill someone)

ALSO i feel like this post is getting too long now but i wanna at least mention the quote at the beginning of the chapter cause holy shit man

anyways that’s it for now i think. i might make another post about the quote and the other stories and some other details i really liked for the nonexistent people who’ve seen this show 👍

[ohwell-itsme-but-danganronpa]

First shared in The Saiouma Pit discord server, parts said by other members are in quotations, unassigned bullet points are my messages

Hina: "It could go either way but... if it's Shuichi demonic royalty instead of parent, it's his uncle or Shuichi's parents and uncle being there and he's managing to perfectly play shit off to his parents while his uncle is just not buying it?"

his parents being the rulers of hell but his uncle being the one that cares to visit

Dra: "Shuichi tells Kokichi about what's going to happen, Kokichi agrees to help him find someone to marry (they are stupid) but before they can think of anyone time Runs out Shuichi's uncle appears from his silly little red demonic circle, looks at Shuichi, notices Kokichi and just "your human is rather small" And Shuichi loses it because oh fuck he didn't want to get Kokichi involved in this"

Hina: "The fact they really thought an hour was enough time to find a fiancé is just sad"

Fuwa: "we can extend it to 6 hours." And then I said: "no, an hour is perfect"

also Shuichi knew beforehand and just waited helplessly until it was last bell to do anything so he asked Kokichi for ideas

Fuwa: "they do fucking tinder, try to get a demonic looking match. They use a goddamn fake face app, to like, see who's demonic enough, and they point it towards Kokichi on accident at the very end, and it's like "perfect match". "Wow it's truly satan!!""

Hina: "WHY THE FUCK WON'T ANYONE MATCH WITH ME??? I TRIED A THIRST TRAP. I POSTED A PHOTO WITH A DOG. DO YOU NEED A FUCKING FISH??? IS THAT WHAT WE NEED??? SHOULD BE GO FISHING???"

Dra: "Does Kokichi get pros/cons of suddenly being married to demon royalty?" me: "like, what could the cons even possibly be? but yes he does"

after that dinner he stays up at night, pulls out his trusty white board

Dra: ""What if they don't have wifi in hell"", Fuwa: "Shuichi's family" (also listing cons)

Hina: "Pros: Demon Royalty, Would Protect You, Live in Castle, Rich, Cool Uncle, Husband Kinda Cute Ig Cons: The Signal Sucks, Parents are Meh, A lot of fire, Hot. Everyone Here lowkey wants to kill you"

idk about the killing part, I think Kokichi could gain respect in hell, they'd think he has what Shuichi lacks, he was always deemed too timid and soft for a heir to the throne, now this human he brought on the other hand…

Dra: "Ok but it'd actually be so funny if the other demons started going with Kokichi's lies and introduced him as the most powerful demon ruler that just happens to look like a lil dude (it's totally so he can fool sinners into thinking he's harmless) and Shuichi is just watching this go down like "huh""

I love fake dating AUs so I'll try to add a little more to this.

Neither of them has realized their feelings yet when that fated night happens, but something's been brewing through months of their living together. They're just friends that help each other in situations like needing an emergency fiancé. It's cool.

Until it's serious and they're told to pack, so they can begin preparations for the wedding and coronation in Hell as soon as possible. So things get a little tense, but they can go with the flow. It's just another adventure in the life of a supreme leader. And then the shenanigans begin.

The chambers prepared for them obviously have only one bed. They have to show off their affection to sell it to everyone. Learning new details about each other when they're made to pick out stuff for the wedding together. Some frosting on one's face while trying potential cakes. Waking up face to face after swearing to stay on far off sides of the bed the night before.

Kokichi learning things about Shuichi's childhood, Uncle shows him pictures. Shuichi watching Kokichi as he impresses demons with his act, looking at the faces he makes and being not only impressed too, but falling a little bit in love with the joy it brings Kokichi to have a receptive audience.

The realization of feelings being followed by the assumption it's unrequited and wallowing in it. The mixed feelings when trying on suits, dreading the approaching wedding day while thinking the other doesn't feel the same. Something pushing the tension past the limit and causing the confrontation. I've been thinking of maybe introducing a little magic to Hell's wedding traditions; they would each have to throw an ingredient into a huge jug of a special alcoholic drink that is prepared for weddings some days in advance and those specific ingredients have to be thrown in by the couple because the mixture will turn a pretty color when someone in love does this step.

Those idiots. These two morons. When it turns out alright they jump to the conclusion that the other is in love but with somebody else. [This could also be done with Kokichi hearing Shuichi mumble something about love in his sleep, or overhear him venting to somebody who knows their situation, probably Uncle or a friend, say "I think I'm in love" all tragically and the same misunderstanding happens]

So accusations fly, "If you're in love with someone, then why didn't you go to them with this?"

"I didn't know then. Why did you agree to this if there's someone you-?"

"I didn't know. And I expected this to be over by now. I thought that they wouldn't approve of me, or find out it's a farce and then kick me out."

"You should be with the one you love. I can open a portal for you. I can come clean to everyone, I got you into this mess-"

"No. It's not that simple" Shuichi looks at him questioningly, so he sighs and continues "... I am pretty sure it's unrequited. Doesn't matter anymore. What about you? I promised to help. Whatever that means now."

Whether they resolve it at that point or continue without talking things out [Shuichi claiming that his feelings are unrequited too, so their only option is to stay on track.] is up to you.

[anonymous--weirdo]

i really dont like when you dont listen

Show: Teen Wolf

Rating: EXPLICIT

Ship: Thiam

Dominant Liam Dunbar

______________________________________________________________ Theodore Raeken hated pack meetings. Everyone had long gotten over their fear of Theo. They trusted him to an extent. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that every single pack meeting made Liam ignore him the entire time. If there was one thing Theo hated more than pack meetings, it was being ignored by Liam. He was ignored most of his childhood; it made sense he yearned for attention. Theo reached for Liam’s hand under the table and was happy when the other held it back. A soft smile flashed upon his face. The only thoughts in his mind were Liam, not the hunters coming in from out of town, not the fact they needed to be on guard just in case they ended up being untrustworthy. Only Liam Dunbar, he thought of Liam’s eyes, the soft baby blue that made his mind go static, especially when Liam gave him puppy dog eyes; the thoughts wandered to his smile, well not even his smile but his lips in general, he thought of the way they melted against him, how beautiful they were bruised and swollen from making out, thought of the way a soft Theo would escape when he wanted to take things further. He got so lost in thought he had almost forgotten he was at Derek’s stupid loft sitting around his kitchen table. 

“Theodore!” Liam hugged and slapped his shoulder, this snapped Theo at of his blissful thinking. He knew when Liam said his full first name he was in trouble. He looked around the table at everyone else and then at Liam. 

“Do not Theodore me! I didn't do anything wrong!” He grumbled out at his lover. He already did not want to be here in the first place. The least they could do was let him daydream in peace. 

“You weren’t listening, were you?”Stiles rolled his eyes, Stiles was still a bit on guard to Theo and rightfully so. 

“I will punch you,” Theo said grumpily and crossing his arms, “can someone tell me exactly what I missed that has Stiles and Liam’s panties in a twist. It’s not like I was a willing or active participant in this conversation! You all were talking I was minding my own-” “Theo, we were trying to ask you if you wanted to come patrolling with me tonight to make sure nothing was going on drawing the hunters to beacon hills.” Liam said, taking a deep breath. 

“That is a stupid question, Why would you even ask that? Why is it even important right now? Why is any of this even important right now? We could handle this when something actually goes wrong or a threat is posed but you all would rather sit around and chit chat about something that isn't even happe-” 

“Truck, now.” Liam said glaring over at Theo. 

“No! And will you stop cutting me off? It’s really starting to pi-” 

“I said truck, now Theodore!” Liam said in a tone that made Theo shut the fuck up instantly. Theo knew what that tone meant, he needed to get his ass in the truck. But something else creeped up inside him, a devilish smirk appeared on his face. 

“No!” he said again, arms crossed over his chest as he stared at Liam, “And don't you dare cut me off again you know I hate that shit.” 

“Theo, you have exactly 3 seconds to get in the truck. One-” Liam started 

“Ooooooo Theo got in trouble!” Stile’s teased him. This genuinely bothered Theo, it was cute when Liam did it but the second Stiles did it it made him grumpy.

“I'm going because I don't wanna deal with that,” he pointed to Stiles (which earned him an angry yet amused glare from Derek). He stood from his seat and went to the truck his keys left on the table. 

“We will go patrolling tonight,” Liam said with a scarily sweet smile dancing upon his lips, “I am also sorry for his behavior. I’m gonna handle that.” He said, grabbing the keys from the marble table top. 

The sentence made Stiles cringe, “Ew dude, I can smell the lust from here and I’m not even a wolf.” 

The statement simply made Liam roll his eyes as he left heading out to the truck. Theo stood outside the passenger door waiting for Liam to come out. He smiled when he saw his lover, it wasn’t the smile of someone who had just acted like an asshole in front of everyone. It was the smile of someone who was genuinely happy to see their lover. 

“Hello baby wolf.” He said amusement laced through his sweet and silky voice. Despite the tone that escaped his lips his partner did not look amused. “Look i-” he was cut off by Liam’s lips on his, it wasn’t a soft kiss by any means. It was rough and it was powerful. Theo stabilized himself on the truck as he held onto Liam’s sides. “Mmm not that I don’t mind this side of you baby wolf but may I ask what warranted this sudden display of affection?” He smirked and bit his lip. 

“Get your ass in the truck, now.” was all Liam said before going to the driver side. Liam had gotten his license (finally) and they were trying to help Theo give up control, it had become very helpful for them and it saved Theo the hassle of driving when he really didn’t want to drive. 

Once both were inside the truck Theo reached over for Liam’s hand, the other held it tenderly. There was one thing Theo and Liam never messed with and it was the car routine, their playlist played through the radio and they had to hold hands. No fight or anything could disrupt this, it kept Liam’s road rage intact and it helped with Theo’s passenger anxiety. 

Theo listened to the radio as soft songs played through the stereo system. He kissed Liam’s knuckles when a car cut him off. His partner was already a bit, he wouldn’t say angry or mad, Liam didn’t get genuinely mad at Theo, annoyed was more the word he was looking for. He didn’t want that annoyance to turn into anger and them both get killed in an accident, or worse, Liam get hurt. He knew the other would heal but he still didn't like the idea of Liam hurting. He watched the lights change as they pulled into Liam’s driveway. Theo moved in a few weeks into their relationship after Liam found out about him living out of his truck. Once the truck was parked and cut off they exited and entered the house. 

“I want you upstairs in my room, now Theodore. You wanted my attention, you're going to get it. Somebody is about to get a lesson in listening.” Liam growled. Theo was taken aback, he had never seen this side of Liam before. It was…hot. It was so hot Theo almost believed a god had crafted him. Despite his attraction to this new Liam he couldn’t help but be a shit, “No, I don’t think I will. Maybe I’ll go sit on the couch.” he smirked as he watched his partner's eyes darken. He genuinely shivered softly.

“Oh darling, it’s funny you think you have any say in this. Upstairs now,” Liam said with a dark chuckle. Chills went straight down Theo’s spine and he listened. He practically sprinted up the wooden steps to Liam’s room. Liam followed behind with a sweeter giggle that made Theo melt inside. 

Once inside the room Liam pinned Theo to the now closed and locked door. Liam kissed his lover passionately, it was rough and violent. Theo adored every second of it. Usually kisses like this were initiated by Theo and usually after Liam scored a winning goal in lacrosse, which had been happening a lot since he made the deal with him. Liam took Theo’s bottom lip between his teeth gently and ran his hands up his shirts lightly dragging his nails down his chest. 

“Take this off and go sit on the bed while I decide what I want to do with you,” Liam commanded. Theo thought he had seen every single part of Liam. Dominant Liam had never surfaced and Theo genuinely thought Liam was a submissive brat at all times. Theo nodded and stripped his shirt off, throwing it into the clothes hamper, Liam hated dirty clothes on the floor. He sat on the edge of the bed looking up at Liam who’s eyes had gained a new sparkle, normally this would make Theo smile and kiss the corners of his mouth and then his lips softly, but this sparkle was different. It meant something bad was coming to Theo and boy was he excited, he was sure the growing tent in his jeans was giving that away. 

Liam smirked at his partner before walking teasingly slowly to his dresser. He opened the top drawer, Liam had one tie, from some stupid middle school dance he didn't even want to attend, but in the moment he had never been happier for the damn thing. 

“You see Theo, pretty boys who listen get to touch themselves. However, pretty boys who are mean and dont listen don't get to feel that sweet relief.” he smirked softly. Liam made his way over to Theo and pressed him down by his chest, so he was flat on his back. He looped the tie around the headboard and then around Theo’s wrist. When he was sure Theo couldnt move he kissed the other deeply, hsi hands trailing up and down the chimeras sides. He knew Theo’s kinks and limits, he ran his nails gently down his sides, he knew it was agonizing for the other. Theo would rather Liam draw blood than be gentle. Everytime they made, ‘congrats you won the game’ love Theo would end up with deep red scratch marks down his back that Liam would kiss softly and The would gloat about. 

“Li-Liam, come on, don't be a little shit,” Theo huffed out looking down at his partner's face kissing him roughly again. Theo happily kissed back, though he craved Liam’s touch. The gentle nail marks were not cutting it, he needed more. 

“I really suggest you be good for me Theodore,” Theo suddenly loved his first name. It was the best sound in the entire universe and he wanted it played over and over again like his favorite song. 

“Mm no sir, I don't think I will. You see you may have this act like you have the power. But you are all bark and no bite baby wolf,” Theo teased him. From an outside perspective this may have seemed like a very very bad idea. But in Theo’s eyes it was a brilliant plan. 

Liam didn't justify that comment with a response. He kissed down Theos neck covering it in love bites, drinking in each and every whimper, each soft noise of pleasure flooding his brains with endorphins. Being noisy was usually what Liam did. They had gotten complaints multiple times by the other members of the house because of Liam’s noisiness. So to hear Theo making them was electrifying. 

He kept the kisses trailing along his hip bones and back up his chest, he knew this was hell for Theo. The other was understimulated and that was exactly what Liam wanted. He undid Theo’s belt slowly looking up into his hazel eyes. He tossed the belt to the dresser and Theo's jeans somewhere in the room. That was what ultimately made Theo realize he had no idea what he was in store for. Liam was the romantic partner to make you neatly fold your clothes before hed let you fuck him so the fact his boxer and jeans were discarded on the floor meant regular Liam was gone and this new side was here to stay. 

It took Theo way too long to realize he was the only one naked. Liam was fully clothed. “Hey! That is not fair, you are gawking at my body, why are you still clothed?” he huffed out at the other. He tugged the restraints before stopping, he didn't want to accidentally break free. He was enjoying this more than he would ever admit. 

Liam smirked “oh, does Theo want to see my body?” He said in a teasing tone, “well I wanted you to listen at today’s meeting. Lives could be at stake Theodore,” he said, the name making him shiver and grow harder, “I knew you loved that name” he chuckled deeply. 

“It’s hard to hate it when you keep saying it like you're going to pounce on me at any moment.” Theo smirked at him, he almost hoped that was exactly what Liam planned to do, but something told him that was the exact opposite of what was going to happen to him. 

“Oh no darling, I have more class than that.” He said stroking Theo’s member slowly maintaining perfect eye contact, and Theo had never loved the color blue more. A soft moan escaped his lips as relief washed over him, though it was quickly ripped away. Liam ran his hands down Theo’s thighs slowly, teasing him. “Beg for it Theodore. I want you to beg for me to touch you, I want you to beg me to feel pleasure.” 

The words alone almost made the other cum. He blushed bright red, he had never begged a day in his life. “And if I don't?” Theo asked, raising a brow. 

“I will let you lay here, hard, needy, and get myself off. Force you to watch me, but never one will touch you, and you clearly don't touch yourself.” Liam smirked. “That’s your big punishment if you continue to not listen, your lesser punishment isn’t anything you can't handle,” he said and stroked him once more, but it was  a ghost-like touch. He pulled a hand away and gave a gentle smile, “this is okay right? You're still comfortable?” 

Theo smiled sweetly at the other, Liam was too perfect for his own good. “Yes darling I am still okay. I will tell you if I'm not. You know that.” He promised him and pursed his lips for a kiss which he received. 

“Now beg,” he demanded. The stark contrast between sweet boyfriend Liam and this dominant Liam was something that made Theo’s brain go static, it was as if something in his mind snapped. 

He felt himself growing painfully harder and bit his lip, “Please Liam, please touch me. I need you to touch me so badly.” He begged softly, “Please.” The last please was so openly vulnerable. Liam smiled and stripped down, throwing his clothes to an unknown whereabouts. Hovered over theo’s face. 

“I will make you feel so beautiful Theodore,” he whispered before kissing him roughly. While he did want Theo to learn a lesson he wanted Theo to feel pretty, he wanted Theo to know he was the only person Liam ever needed in this sense. He began to stroke Theo at a painfully slow but even pace as he roughly kissed the other. He smirked into it feeling the vibrations of the others moans against his lips. He would occasionally speed up and slow down, increasing and decreasing pressure. Theo knew Liam was good at this part, handjobs were not uncommon for the pair, most of the time happening in the truck, once in Scott’s room, and twice in Derek’s bathroom. However with the new dominance it was so much more than usual, he was feeling things at ten thousand times the power he usually did. 

“Mm fuck Liam, oh god.” he mumbled softly, his hips bucking up against the others hand. 

“No,” he said and roughly held Theo’s hips down with one hand, he knew the press was going to leave a bruise and he knew Theo would love it. He liked being marked up, it was one of his biggest turn ons as Liam learned over the months. Liam edged him closer and closed and then pulled his hand back. 

“Hey!” Theo huffed out and looked up into Liam’s eyes, “that was not fair!” He muttered out. 

Liam smirked “awwe, well good boys get to cum the first time, sadly Theodore you've been a very very bad boy today,” Liam growled in his ear. 

“Do that again and its instantaneous baby wolf,” he chuckled back softly, he still had some of his wit despite his incredibly submissive state. 

Liam rolled his eyes and pulled away from his lover, he dug through his bedside drawer and pulled out a lube. He slicked up two fingers, “are you still okay?” He asked gently, he wanted to make sure. 

“Mm id be less okay if you didn't do this,” he smiled at him, “I love you.” He said sweetly. 

Liam slid the two fingers into Theo, “I love you too Theodore,” He whispered and kissed him roughly as he began to finger him open, he wasn’t going to hurt his lover in a bad way. He knew the process pretty well. He gripped Theo’s hips bruisingly rough causing Theo to moan out Liam’s name softly, and slid a pillow under Theo’s hips to help with the angling. He kissed him roughly again, his teeth taking Theo’s bottom lip again as he slid a third finger in. He made sure the other was ready before pulling his hand away. 

Liam lubed himself up and slid into Theo slowly giving his lover time to adjust, “you look so handsome like this,” he said with a sickeningly sweet voice as if he wasn't balls deep in Theo. He started slowly listening to the other’s small whimpers. 

“Liam I need you to speed up, please darling.” This beg was not asked for and it made Liam sparkle in his soft bedroom lighting.  He nodded, he sped up nails digging into Theo’s hips. Theo moaned loudly as he felt the other pound into him, he had never been on this end of the love making but he could see why Liam was so loud every single time. 

“Mm fuck The, youre so pretty. So fucking pretty,” he said speeding up using some of his wold strength to increase depth and hardness of his thrust. Then he hit it, the spot inside of Theo that made gospel spew from his lips. 

“Oh fuck Liam, fuck—thats—right there!” He said and closed his bound hands into fists. He ached to touch himself, he felt himself growing closer as Liam hit the bundle of nerves with each thrust. “Mm fuck Liam, oh fuck, I’m close, I’m so close.” He moaned out, eyes fluttered shut and head thrown back, his hair was curly and matted to his forehead with sweat. He felt himself get closer to his climax, but then Liam stopped. Just as he was close. 

“Oh darling, did you really think I was going to let you come yet?” Liam ran a soft hand down his face and placed his thumb on Theo’s bottom lip, “perhaps you are just a pretty face Theodore.” The words made the hair on his neck stand up but the look in Liam’s eyes let him know he was okay. 

“No sir, I remember. I've been bad,” He said and hoped playing into Liam’s little game would help him get to his climax. 

“Youre the prettiest suck up I've ever seen,” Liam whispered into his ear marking down his jaw and kissed him deeply again. He picked back up his speed railing into Theo, he pulled back from the other to hear his pretty moans, and once the other was close he pulled back and stopped. 

This continued a few more times until Liam had a satisfied grin on his face, “don't cum until I say so, you hear me?” Liam said and kissed him deeply. The other nodded sweetly, throat raw from screaming Liam’s name, he prayed no one was home.  Liam kissed him and pounded him with all the force he could muster, hips snapping at a bruising pace until he came deep in Theo.

He kept the pace going, snaking his hand to Theo’s member and looking into his eyes, deeply. “Fuck Liam, I am begging you,” pleasure filled tears in theo’s eyes began to spill down his cheeks. He looked absolutely beautiful like this, “Liam please let me cum. Please I'll listen” he begged, his legs shaking in pleasure. Liam nodded to him and kissed him, helping him to his orgasm. Theo moaned out Liam's name and a string of profanities against his lips. 

Liam let Theo ride out his high before pulling out of him, he undid the restraints and sat on the bed pulling Theo into his lap smiling at him. He ran gentle fingers through his brown hair and hummed, “that’s it. Come back to be Theo.” he said as the other came down from his high. He pressed soft kisses to the other’s temple. 

“Where have you been hiding that form of you?” Theo asked softly and wiped the tear streaks from his face. He had never felt so much pleasure, “and how do I get in trouble more often?” He asked, laying his head on Liam’s shoulder. Usually this was reversed, Theo making sure Liam came back down from his high gently and to love. 

“I really don’t like when you don't listen at meetings,” Liam smiled, “come on. Let’s get you cleaned up handsome.” he said and helped Theo to the shower, the others legs still trembling. “If I knew I could get the Theo Raeken to scream my name like that I would have dont it much sooner” he chuckled and turned the shower on. Once the warm water spurted out he took a wash rag and cleaned theo and himself, he then ran gentle fingers through his hair and hummed a soft song. 

After the shower they laid in the bed in fuzzy pajamas under the warm covers. Their foreheads were pressed together and gentle kisses were exchanged. 

“I love you,” Theo whispered softly. 

“And I love you,” Liam whispered. It had been his new response recently. I love you, too sounded like a forced response even if it was true. It felt more real to say I love you. He gently kissed Theo’s lips “get some rest; we have to patrol later.” Theo pouted but knew he wasn’t up for another round of being a brat yet. So he just nodded and snuggled Liam close as they dozed off. 

[dontbotherwiththepronunciation]

Theon survey songs + links:

@feed-me-a-penny and @team-mom-wannabe In case you still want to see the songs that have been submitted until now.

I found an acoustic version of the song Worms by Lolly Jane Blue on a Theon fan mix once and then lyrics really latched onto my Throne synapses! Very ADWD chapters, I think

The Lighthouse by Halsey; What the Water Gave Me by Florence; Piledriver Waltz by Arctic Monkeys; Ship to Wreck by Florence; Stone by Jaymes Young; Let Me Drown by Orville Peck; Atlantis by Seafret; Wade in the Water by Eva Cassidy; I Don't Want to Talk About Me by Stereo Jane; Sail Away Sweet Sister by Queen; and honestly every song on Everything Ends by Materia.

SOOO many. Ooohhh boy, I hope you like long answers, because you are going to hate me if you don't (you probably already do, I cannot shut up if I'm under the guise of anonymity lol). In terms of poetry, I will forever love this quote by Jenny Holzer: "In a dream you saw a way to survive and you were full of joy". It's so Theon, and I actually have it tattooed on me lol. Social Skills training is also a great poem for Theon ([PRIVATE INFORMATION]... hits so hard for so many reasons when paralleling w Theon), here are some raw verses: "Gloria Steinem says women lose power as they age and yet the loudest voice in my head is my mother. Studies show that the mother we have in mind isn't the mother that exists. Mine says: what the fuck are you crying for? / Studies show the baby monkey will pick the fake monkey with fake fur over the furless wire monkey with milk, without contest. Studies show to negate something is to think it anyway. I'm not sad. I'm not sad. / History is a kind of study. History says we forgave the executioner. Before we mopped the blood, we asked: Lord Judge, have I executed well? Studies suggest yes. What the fuck are you crying for, officer? The wire mother teaches me to say, while studies suggest, Solmaz, have you thanked your executioner today?" Just literally everything about that poem hits me right in the Theon feels. Like, are you kidding me? Then The House That Dripped Blood by Mountain Goats is great for imagining Theon circa his Prince in Winterfell era. The lyrics are all about a house haunted by the pain trapped in there, which seems perfect for Winterfell imo. Any Florence + The Machine, but Heavy In Your Arms for painful throbb feels. Would by Alice in Chains has the right mood and great lyricism for Theon/Reek angst too! Then Everyone's Victim by Lisa Germano just has the right mood I feel for thramsay stuff, same vein as Would by Alice in Chains.

pearl diver by mitski, he doesn’t know why by the fleet foxes, cocaine and abel by amigo the devil

So many, a bunch of guns n roses songs, and dead hearts by stars

Dio Ed Io by Charles Wright, there are more but I'm all burnt out typing AHHH!!!

Cry for Judas the mountain goats "long black night/morning frost/I'm still here/ but all is lost" There is a light that never goes out The smiths. Robb and Theon vibes "to die by your side/ is such a heavenly way to die"

“archers never made good kings, fly headfirst into everything” -archers, the ballroom thieves

Almost Human (Aurelio Voltaire) for the Lucifer association

Putting the dog to sleep by the antlers!

call them brothers - regina spektor (that’s it, it’s split, it won’t recover just frame the halves and call them brothers find your fathers and your mothers if you remember who they are over and over they call us their friends can’t we find something else to pretend? like nobody won and we’re safe at the end) that’s okay - the hush sound (you were a child who was made of glass you carried a black heart passed down from your dad if somebody loved you they’d tell you by now we all turn away when you’re down you want to go back to where you felt safe to hear your brother’s laughter, see your mother’s face your childhood home is just powder-white bones and you’ll never find your way back) house of wolves - my chemical romance (well, i think i’m gonna burn in hell everybody burn the house right down and say what i want to say tell me i’m an angel / take this to my grave tell me i’m a bad man / kick me like a stray) mama - my chemical romance (well mother, what the war did to my legs and to my tongue you should have raised a baby girl i should have been a better son if you can coddle the infection they can amputate at once i should have been - i should have been a better son) JUDAS - the reverent marigold (god knew his face and held it but it still didn’t save him and i see far horizons where the lambs lie with the lions but there are poppies growing over where my friends are lying and paul had an old name, but we never use it you may call me traitor but my lover calls me judas)

i have a playlist, some accidentally theon lyrics i enjoyed is bad medicine by liz green (...) For every man wants more than he, ever did before He’s still got no way out We’ve got no way out No way out We’ve got no way out of this So if my eyes turn black and my teeth fall out and my hairs caught up in rags Don’t give me none of that medicine ‘cos I’ll spit it right back out He tried so hard to fit in but he never really got a chance Before he spoke they burnt him, cut him, roped him and finally put him in the ground He said ‘I’ve been though war, and I’ve been though law and I’ve climbed that hill so cold Yeah I’ve been though more than you’ll ever know still they never let me go And every man wants more than he, ever did before He’s still got no way out We’ve got no way out No way out We’ve got no way out of this So if my eyes turn black and my teeth fall out and my hairs caught up in rags Don’t give me none of that medicine ‘cos I’ll spit it right back out Oh yeah, I’ll spit it right Yeah I’ll spit it right Oh I’ll spit it right back out I will spit it right I will spit it right I will spit it right back out

I love Mr. Tambourine Man for Theon. Especially this line: “Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind, Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves, The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach, Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow. Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves, Let me forget about today until tomorrow.” I also love Hurt by Nine Inch nails- All the lyrics and the entire soundscape of that song is Theon to me. Absolutely intense and amazing. And I also love and associate A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall with Theon. The "seven sad forests" the "dozen dead oceans" the "newborn baby with wolves all around it." But all the imagery in that song is so cool and very appropriate for asoiaf in general .

Oh man, so so many but to name a few: 1. How Soon is Now by the Smiths ("I am the son and heir of nothing in particular" / I am human and I need to be loved just like everybody else does") 2. Sorrowing Man by City and Colour ("Sorrowing man, look how worn you've become. You once were lord of the barren sea. There's blood on your hands." / "Oh, how you have lost your way." 3. Crystal Ball by Keane ("I lost my heart, I buried it too deep, under the iron sea." / "I'm fading out, everything I know is wrong, So put me where I belong.") 4. Bravado by Lorde ("I learned not to want The quiet of the room with no one around to find me out. I want the applause the approval." 5. Hurt by Johnny Cash ("And you could have it all, my empire of dirt. I will let you down. I will make you hurt" / What have I become? My sweetest friend. Everyone I know goes away in the end."

iron by woodkid seven nation army (in a way) bones in the ocean under the water by the pretty reckless

"Oh No" by Marina & the Diamonds; "Bones" by Ms Mr; "The Ocean" by Dar Williams

i'm a marionette by ABBA starring role by marina and the diamonds asleep by the smiths i still have faith in you by ABBA judas by lady gaga california dreamin' by the mamas & the papas al andar by ABBA crucified by army of lovers i'm not coming home by the cowmen no more from into the woods oh i know by only natural waiting around to die by the be good tanyas

Smoke filled room - daughter

Gilded Lily : I remember when you told me it’s an every decision (Theon’s oath to Robb) But with my double vision, how was I supposed to see the way ? (Double vision : Greyjoy/Stark) Haven’t I given enough? Always the fool with the slowest heart (softie boi ) I know you’ll take me with you ( could refer to Robb or Ramsay as they die that they take a piece or the whole of him with) Every city’s got a graveyard (kinda makes me think of his prince of Winterfell era) Now I’m sleeping in the backyard (Well, his Reek moment ofc)

a spanish song by my fave band ever Fito y fitipaldis - Antes de que cuente diez (Before I count to ten) some verses i really like from it are: I got lost in a cross of words. They missed wrote down the address. I already engraved my name on a bullet. I've already tried the cannon fodder I already have everything under control. And someone said no, no, no, no, no That now the wind is coming from the other side Leave me the rudder And someone said no, no, no. What will take me to the end? It will be my steps, not the way. You don't see that you always go behind. When you pursue destiny And I won't feel strange again. Even if you don't get to know me And I won't love you so much again. And I won't stop loving you again I stopped flying, I sank into the mud. And between so much mud I found myself. Some warmth without your hugs Now I know that I will never come back.

I dont know many poems but sinnerman by nina simon and sorry by karine polwart and some other songs in my own language :)

honestly.. robb and theon are kinda two ghosts by harry styles if you squint

All of Radiohead tbh

Pardon this next block of text where I name random music. I have to say something about the album The Downward Spiral by NIN being huge Theon material to me (the instrumental track named after the album is so TWOW Stannis execution presumably foiled by old gods activity. also Hurt but everyone's saying that. ummm THE BECOMING.). Ptolemaea by Ethel Cain. 1906 by the West Coast Art Pop Experimental Band is so Bolton Occupation of Winterfell. Avalanche by Kyle John Kenowski. Sister Europe by The Psychedelic Furs feels TWOW Asha and Theon returning to the islands or something. Sweat by Oingo Boingo. All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Bauhaus young Theon in Winterfell. King Rat by Modest Mouse feels either Jeyne and Theon escaping Winterfell or Theon and the invasion of Winterfell. I think I'm saying too much but I hate having things out of context, but I can't just parrot an entire playlist here: these are all ruthlessly selected from my playlist on spotify called [PRIVATE INFORMATION] (Epitaph by King Crimson inspired me to make the playlist) that has these plus more but fair warning it's under construction for my reread I've been doing this summer :^) . Um. A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers by Van Der Graaf Generator but it's 23 minutes long and all over the timeline sorrrrry I like prog rock so much. On Kyra thoughts: Please listen to To The Dogs or Whoever by Josh Ritter for Kyra and the keys thoughts.

Remy Zero - Prophecy: You walk this world like you’re a ghost / Your hands are coming through the needles / Sick of your tragic and your evils / I am the keeper of the songs of everyone / [...] / This is a coming of the times / You are a witness to the movement / If all you’re seeing is your lies / You had your chance, but now you’ve blown it / You want this world so you can own it / I am the keeper of the songs of everyone / / Look into the sun and see your soul is dying / Used to feel the faith, but now you’re tired of trying / Should have left alone what you have stolen from everyone / Mmm, how ya feelin’? Seems a little sick to me now / / From the light on high / A chance to change your fate / Forgiveness falling down / On those who chose to wait / Remember the time / Find yourself home again / Deep within your life / Find yourself home again / Find yourself home again / It’s a choice / You have chosen your own T.S. Eliot - The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: And I have known the eyes already, known them all— / The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase, / And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin, / When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall, / Then how should I begin / To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways? / And how should I presume? / [...] I should have been a pair of ragged claws / Scuttling across the floors of silent seas. [...] I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. / I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. / I do not think that they will sing to me. / I have seen them riding seaward on the waves / Combing the white hair of the waves blown back / When the wind blows the water white and black. / We have lingered in the chambers of the sea / By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown / Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

Century Eyes by Shearwater (You are not the last of this house / Nor the first to go over the side / Remember the wrecks of those elegant ships / “Turn it off! Turn it off!” / Look with century eyes till they make you go blind) Two Evils by Bastille (I’m the lesser of two evils / Or am I, am I tricking myself nice? / If I’m a lesser of two evils / Who’s this man, who’s this act I hide behind?) Hurt Feelings by Flight of the Conchords (It’s my birthday, 2003 / Waitin’ for a call from my family / They forgot about me / I got hurt feelings, I got hurt feelings)

The Devil's Backbone by The Civil Wars

Lots ([PRIVATE INFORMATION I'M NOT GONNA DO MY COUNTRY DIRTY LIKE THIS] but a very tragicomical and delusional version), but I'm going to list purely English stuff for the sake of it: "Crucify your mind" by Rodriguez is my go to Theon song and I know no one knows or cares about Rodriguez and this might as well be one of those situations where this only works in my head, but fuck it: Was it a huntsman or a player That made you pay the cost That now assumes relaxed positions And prostitutes your loss? Were you tortured by your own thirst In those pleasures that you seek That made you Tom the curious That makes you James the weak? And you claim you got something going Something you call unique But I've seen your self-pity showing As the tears rolled down your cheeks […] So con-convince your mirror As you've always done before Giving substance to shadows Giving substance ever more And you assume you got something to offer Secrets shiny and new But how much of you is repetition That you didn't whisper to him too? "All these things that I've done" by The Killers has some vibes and lyrics too but god do I feel like an idiot for saying that.

[rigginsstreet]

misc. tag game

tagged by @blood-mocha-latte

a band you don’t like that many others do:

maneskin... tried a couple songs, wanted to like them.... cant do it

a childhood memory that you remember vividly:

this costume contest i refused to enter because my costume was boring and i knew i was gonna lose by the adults were like "no just join come on itll be fun" and i was like... already consumed by the darkness at that point lmfao and i sat watching everyone crying. fun! lmfao

least favorite animal and why:

i hate a snake. i respect their role in the ecosystem but dont you ever put one near me. dont put one within 5 miles of me. no. i dont trust anything that slithers bitch aint got no legs! i dont like that. and the striking? dont like that either. i have to stop talking about them now im genuinely uncomfortable

hot fandom take:

steve harrington is not a good character. he is badly written. yall only like him cuz you think joe is hot. thats literally it. the man has literally zero positive qualities. apply this to every other loved st character as well theyre all bad the show sucks i hope everyone dies

do you were any jewelry, if so, what’s your favorite piece:

i wear a friendship bracelet and a rope bracelet i got on a cruise (i forgot what theyre called. sailor bracelets or something?) and thats about the extent of my jewelry wearing

a movie others liked but you didn’t:

i don't think i've ever cognitively watched a movie and thought that i loved it or hated it. i'm usually just like Well That Sure Was A Movie. <- im keeping prevs because thats what wildest thing ive ever read in my life i need to study you lmfao as for my answer, insidious movies are bad. youre next is bad. many movies this website loves i havent even seen but i know they are bad thats why i havent watched them.

three things you love about yourself:

my hair is getting real cute lately. i am a huge bitch. i stare at my butt a lot i think its fun

a place you hope to visit in the future and why:

italyyyy i want to trace my roots

an actor that gets on your nerves and why:

idk if theres actors i have beef with for their personality lmao several i dont like because they are overhyped and im sick of seeing them. ariana grande she counts as an actress i cant stand her lmfao the vibes are rancid also stop dating married (taken) men its gross its weird

things you’re excited for in the nearby future?:

for my dog to finally be healed from her surgery cuz god its a lot of working making sure she dont pop her stitches

least favorite ship in a fandom you’re in:

if stancy is endgame im setting fires to buildings i want you all to know this. also fuck a steddie and a ronance but that goes without saying

what’s the most toxic fandom you’ve been in?:

stranger things. riverdales a close second but stranger things... you are all genuinely mentally unwell i would like to speak to your therapists and tell them shit aint working

list three things you find beautiful about life:

the ocean my best friend the ocean. animals just be out here looking for pets... brings a tear to my eye. im really struggling for a third life is bad lmfao my best friend? thats it.

any dreams for the future?

i try not to think about the future it gives me panic attacks

how are you really feeling today?

sleepy

tagging (no pressure): @panickedpenguin @avalonlights @ihaveacorgi @imsodishy

[autisticempathydaemon]

Take all the time you need hun! I don’t wanna make you feel rushed or anything, life is always busy 💞💞💞

What song are you fixated on at the moment? What lyric or verse, and why?

Both Over & Over by Rio Romeo and Again&Again by The Bird and the Bee, those two songs have been stuck in my head recently, it fits this fear I have in my mind that I’m never truly growing or I’m never actually gonna leave where I am, that I’ll always fall victim to habit and paranoia 💃🏽 also I just ADORE my meloncholy depressing songs lol but that’s not very heehee haha of me soooo Spider Web by Melanie Martinez bc it has the sound of a Coqui in it (I’m Puerto Rican) or River is a Vampire by Bear Ghost and Dan ET bc it’s just the vampiric version of that one meme “How you do my fellow kids” and it kills me

• What is your Enneagram type?

I think I’m a type 4? but I do know I’m an ENFP!

• Do you love gargantuan Youtube video essays, and if so, which is your favorite and why?

God I haven’t watched a video essay in AGES but I used to love them, but idk what gargantuan is </3 but I typically like video essays about internet history or crime cases, or of shows I enjoy (like MLP)

• Tell me about your childhood imaginary friend.

SHE WAS A CHEETAH WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME NO MATTER WHAT!!! I would pet her, talk to her, and she’d keep me company when everyone would isolate me/avoid me bc I was ‘too weird’. She was just a big ass cat that would keep me company and run by the cars side to make sure I and my family was safe. She protected me 💞 (thank you for making me remember her 🥹)

• What is your go-to way to fall asleep?

Getting on call with my partner, I’m rather clingy and just wanna spend time with them even if it’s just silence or sleepy rambling, it also keeps me from doom scrolling. If not on call with them I’ll put on RSlash or Gavin’s/Davids sleep aid and hope that knocks me out (and if not that a ba LMFAO-) also if I have Lavender, I put it under/rub it all over my pillow and plushies

• If you had to change your name, what would it be, and why? (In tandem, if you have changed your name, why did you pick that one?)

Im genderfluid/gendervoid so I’ve tried many names, I do like my birth name, it means Loyal Protector/Pledge, so I wanted to find names that mean loyalty or music related names, but one name I’ve been using recently is Quincy, it feels nice sometimes, my partner suggested it to me.

• What is your favorite of Redacted's audios, and why?

Sam’s cuddles and confessions, it’s nice and comforting. That or Cataclysm in general, I fucking LOVE Cataclysm, I love relistening to it. Also any audio that involves Caelum I love that boy dearly

• What Redacted boy holds no appeal to you, and why? Like, not the one you hate but the one who you don't get the hype for. (I won't judge, I promise.)

Aaron and Vincent. Despite me being a huge vampire lover, Vincent just did not catch my attention at all, Aaron just doesn’t peak my fancy aside from one of his BA’s. Also same thing for Porter, he kinda bores me 😔

• Tell me about that one book/movie/tv show you know all the words to.

When I was a little kid, it was the live action 102 Dalmatians, I KNEW THAT MOVIE LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND!!! I FUCKING LOVED WATCHING CRUELLA BEING BAKED INTO A CAKE BY ALL THOSE DOGS. Also Oddball my beloved 💞💞💞 the sweet baby puppy, I just understood the pup for feeling like and odd one out as a grew up, I haven’t seen the movie in years now but it still holds such a special place in my heart. Now as an adult my two favorite shows are The Promised Neverland(only season 1, I’m reading the manga) and Madoka Magica. I love rewatching TPN, but Madoka I have to mentally prepare myself for cause good lord does it make me feel like I never took anti-depressants/pos and then a movie I love now, A Silent Voice. I think I do know that one scene for scene. As a kid who grew up being bullied for being different or just not doing things right, I felt strongly for the main characters. I’ve cried almost every single time I’ve watched the movie. The part where one of the characters jumped off the balcony kills me every time because it reminds me how that could’ve been me from the fresh ages of 9-16 and almost was. It just holds a special spot in my heart and helps me keep going. (I adore my sad heart wrenching shit lmfao)

• Which Redacted boy are you platonically attracted to? Like- forget dating, which dude do you want to be your best friend?

Asher and Guy, those two would be so much fun to be friends with, also with the fact I’m so similar to them, especially Asher, bro is just like me fr 💀💀💀 collars and all. Like I just wanna be that man’s friend he is so silly

• Do you have a go-to thing you ramble about when you're tired, and if so, what is it? (For example, my boyfriend knows I'm ready to sleep when | start talking about space.)

As cheesy as it is, the fact I just want everyone in the world to be okay and happy, I want us all to hold hands, hug, and not hurt. I cry during these rambles sometimes, I genuinely just want everyone to be safe and happy and it tears me up inside and out bc that’s just not possible with the world we live in. That or I just start rambling nonsense lmfao (bonus is if I start rambling about how much I love and care about the person I’m talking to)

• Tell me your go-to gas station and drink combo.

Root beer and either Hot Cheetos/Cheesy Ruffles, or spicy chicken cheese sticks, meow I’m eating the shit out of that. (But if we have the money for it, Icys specifically cherry cause it’s objectively the best flavor next to Pinacolada)

• Tell me about your favorite playlist at the moment.

Like music playlist? Currently my fave has to be either my Alexis, Quinn, or my Darlin and Quinn playlists, I love my evil people playlists and songs that represent fucked up mindsets and relationships. That or my Melancholy Comfort playlist, I enjoy my meloncholy songs.

Redacted playlist tho? Either Sam, Vega, or Caelum, Sam holds a very special place in my heart, he’s incredibly comforting and ngl I miss the less sexual audios from his earlier era. Vega just drives me feral with every new piece of info we learn, GOD I FUCKING LOVE THAT ANCIENT MAN AND THE LORE HE DROPS!!! And then Caelum’s playlist holds a special place in my heart since that was the only playlist I could listen to after finding out I was cheated on/the other woman. Helped me out a lot for about 2 months 💞

• What's your guilty pleasure media, and why?

Those shitty werewolf romance things you see on tiktok, GOD I get so fucking invested in those they’re so needlessly interesting LMFAO idc they’re cringe, I’m cringe too stfu

• And whatever else you think tells me about who you are!

I’m a huge performer! I love singing, dancing, acting, especially singing and dancing. I LIVE for the stage and positive attention, I just wanna make people smile or make people feel scene when I preform. Hopefully one day I can be famous and truly fulfill that dream of mine. I also feel emotions strongly and spent my entire childhood from middle school and up studying psychology and human behavior. Also I absolutely HATE fake people, I can’t stand when people are fake, I try to be a safe person for everyone to truly be themselves cause lord knows I always hated having to put on a mask growing up/being isolated because I didn’t fit in lmfao.

I forgot to click on anon sorry-

I adore this entry- not only did you give me so much information to work with but you’ve given me an opportunity to pair you with Lasko which I love to do.

He’s such a character in need of love, and I think you’re a perfect person to love him and be loved in return for so many reasons. He’d be an introvert to your extrovert which is always an adorable couple dynamic. You’ve mentioned a past characterized by isolation and feeling other; Lasko is uniquely situated to understand and empathize with that. You prefer true, genuine people, and Lasko is so incredibly (albeit apologetically) himself and probably incapable of being anything else.

One of the most fun activities I think you and Lasko would do together is watch anime. I like to think he’s already a fan, mostly of adventure and isekai, with some cheesy shoujo faves he’s so bashful about liking. You show him A Silent Voice, which isn’t his usual genre, and you two cry together. Another fun thing is how you’ll perform and Lasko will be in the front row every time, cheering you on. He brings you a mismatched bouquet and rambles about how he couldn’t pick a dozen of one flower, so he got a little of them all.

Song:

Cause lately it's been hard/ They're sellin' me for parts/ And I don't wanna be modern art/ But I only got half a heart to give to you/ How can you miss someone you've never seen?/ Oh, tell me, are your eyes brown, blue, or green?/ And do you like it with sugar and cream?/ Or do you take it straight, oh, just like me?

You like melancholy songs; I can provide. This is one of my favorite pining songs, and it makes me think of a young Lasko (and maybe a young you) longing for connection, love, understanding, that one person who will make the love songs finally make sense. It makes me picture Lasko just waiting for you, you know?

Runner-ups:

On the total opposite of the pairing spectrum, Hudson is one of your runner-ups because he’d be such a good match to you as a performer. I personally can’t imagine a better hype man than Hudson. I’m also picking David as a runner-up for you, because I think you two would contrast each other really cutely, in a maybe golden retriever/german shepherd way.

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[dekusleftsock]

Like good omens? Bc the current climate of bkdk is exactly like what happens with Crowley and Aziraphale. EVERYONE, and i mean, EVERYONE around them realizes they love/want each other in the shortest amount of time possible but not the two guys that have known each other for thousands of years, until like, now and they STILL fucked it up.

DUDE YOURE SO FUCKING TRUE FOR THIS

Good Omens is always a show I knew I would love, but never got around to watching. My friend basically made me binge the entirety of season one a week ago and then I binged all of season two when I got home, and MY GOD. MY GOD. THEY ARE SO MUCH LIKE BKDK AND IT SUCKS.

I feel like this is obvious but Good Omens season 2 spoilers lol.

Aziraphale kinda likes to romanticize the time when Crowley was an Angel WITH HIM. The first scene in season 2 where Crowley and Aziraphale first meet and Aziraphale watches him with puppy dog eyes, all of it reminded me of bkdk’s childhood. And from Izuku’s perspective, it was AMAZING! He got Kacchan all to himself, they were friends, even if he was a bit mean and teased him. But to Bakugou? It felt like Izuku was bullying him, looking down on him. It feels a lot like Crowley’s perspective on heaven. He doesn’t like hell either, but at least they don’t care how things get done, just that it’s done.

AND LIKE, AZIRAPHALE AND CROWLEY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS I KIND OF SEE IZUKU AND KATSUKI HAVING. Losing your sense of identity in the obsession of the one you love, it fucking happens! There’s this post about Crowley and Aziraphale’s relationship that puts this into words so well, and it feels very them, yk? Bkdk feel so so much like the type of people who could get so attached to each other that they lose what makes them, them.

AND MAYBE THATS A STRETCH, BUT YEVAISBISHSISHSHJSB

When togachako’s relationship is built off of your individual senses of identity (who therefore feel a lot like Maggie and Nina in this equation tbh), and bkdk’s is built off of the fact that you’ve never had a point in your life where this person HADNT existed, then you can see how that can turn into a problem—especially for their relationship.

Bkdk is a slowburn built off of a fear of rejection, much like Crowley and Aziraphale. Because if this person ISNT in your life, then who are you really? What makes you, “you”? What makes us, “us”?

Is there really space for “you”, in a sense of self built on “us”?

ALSO AZIRAPHALE SAYING “I FORGIVE YOU” AFTER THAT KISS BROKE MY FUCKING HEART RVEINSUSVSISBUS

Their miscommunication in both bkdk and in Aziraphale/Crowley is so so bad and yet so so relatable why is it like that good lord.

I think what I liked most about season 2 was when Nina made the comment that “everyone else’s love life always seems so much more straight forward than your own”, AND IF THAT ISNT BKDK/TGCK THEN I DONT KNOW WHAT IS LMAO

Oh yeah and the coffee theory is dumb. It very much makes sense for Aziraphale to take the offer that he did. He has said time and time again that heaven has the good guys and hell has the bad guys, there’s just individually good and bad people in both. He has always wanted Crowley to be a part of heaven again, he literally always mentions how Crowley “was an Angel once”.

Aziraphale represents the cult-ish mentality that Christianity can be. He wants to believe that there is a higher power that doesn’t agree with the things angels do and don’t do, because if that isn’t the case, then every belief he has ever been told was built on a lie.

Heaven negates it’s flaws by simply believing that there are individually flawed angels and not that the larger system itself is a problem. This is why metatron says this in his meeting with Gabriel and the other high ranking angels. Gabriel cannot fall or there is a systematic problem, and so long as there isn’t a systematic problem, he will simply be dealt with in the cleanest way possible.

It’s all a capitalism metaphor. If Aziraphale is good enough, if he believes in god and her plan, if he believes in the good Crowley has in his heart, if he believes that a fundamentally flawed system can be changed for the better, if you can somehow work hard enough for your company, you will be rewarded. You will be praised. You will be seen as a person who deserves recognition because you worked hard enough.

But you never work hard enough. There is no plan. There is no infinite peak. It’s just you, in an infinite universe, trying to guess some plan that will never be comprehensible.

LOOK IM OF THE BELIEF THAT GOD HAS HAD NO HAND IN ANY OF THIS SINCE THE BEGINNING, EVERYONES JUST MAKING IT THE FUCK UP. 

This got so far off track bc I have good omens brainrot dear god.

[cavehags]

i know we're all hyped about roy and jamie training sessions but i do hope the show addresses roy's tendency to angry outbursts not just around jamie but directed at him. i really thought we were past this shit but the trying to lunge at him because he assumes jamie told the team about his break up and that bullshit move of flicking food from his fork and making him clean it were just clear evidence roy's got some work to do on himself

(2/2) it feels especially shitty 'cause they had made progress and he comforted jamie after the fight with his father you would think he'd know not to do that shit and it's not like jamie doesn't react in ways that would tell roy that he maybe should watch his fucking steps because jamie doesn't laugh roy's anger when it's directed at him, he flinches, he looks scared. i'm just really hoping the writers address this pattern soon

this may sound harsh, but: this is a comedy show. in comedy, heightened reactions are quite normal. the intent is for the viewer to find the heightened reality humorous, rather than to consider the character reprehensible for it. that is just how it works.

for instance, to use a fandom darling on a show tumblr loved dearly, consider rosa diaz on brooklyn nine nine, a woman who threatened colleagues with death regularly (a credible threat from a police officer, no less) and famously told a room of her coworkers that if any harm came to her dog, she would murder everyone in the office and then kill herself. conversations have evolved surrounding that show as the copaganda discourse kicked into high gear a few years ago, but i do not remember anyone ever saying that rosa's threat was real and she needed to learn anger management -- nor do i remember anyone laying on especially thick sympathy because jake peralta had a hard childhood and was really scared of her.

in comedy, we are asked to accept that characters act and react in ways that might be problematic (original definition) in life. you have to get that in order to enjoy it as an art form. a character lunging at someone else and needing to be held back by a comically large team of people is such a disney-channel-ass overdone joke that i am shocked that anyone could be treating it seriously. (if we ARE taking it so seriously, should we go a step further and question the physical mechanics behind why roy, a two-years-retired coach played by a 42 year old man with - i'm sorry to say - limited muscular definition, would require quite so many active professional athletes to restrain him? no, because we get that this isn't meant to be hyperrealistic. in other words, it is a joke. so is flinging food on the wall.)

but furthermore, i also want to quibble with your claims about who roy is as a person and what jamie thinks of him. jamie most certainly is not scared of roy - in 3x02, he laughs when roy is yelling at the team and he says flat-out that he thinks roy's anger is funny. jamie, again, is a professional athlete at his physical peak. he is not afraid of getting flicked on the nuts by a man he called granddad. i think there's a real danger of woobifying jamie as a poor widdle victim of abuse who cannot operate with dignity in the masculine sphere of professional football and i urge you not to succumb to that mentality. jamie was a dressing room bully, he can give as good as he gets, and he plainly enjoys getting a rise out of roy for whatever reason (i like to posit that it's a very particular reason but ymmv). he spent all of season one winding roy up and calling him names. funny way to express that you're terrified of someone if you ask me.

lastly, as far as where the show is heading? it's quite clear to me that we ARE going to get to a place where roy and jamie understand each other better and communicate with less tension than they had between them at the start. the show has spelled out in explicit, unmissable dialogue that roy sees jamie as a younger version of himself. the show has also shown us that roy doesn't like himself very much and isn't convinced he deserves love. so i do think his hostility toward jamie can be understood through that lens -- and the show spoon-fed us that information about roy in the hopes that we would understand his behaviour in context. the natural conclusion of roy's arc is for him to learn to accept love and kindness in his own life, and acknowledge that he deserves it. and jamie, as an extension of his self-image, should reap the rewards of that lesson too. if you continue watching this workplace sitcom, i do hope you keep that in mind!

[angelasscribbles]

The Best Christmas Ever

Series: None, this is a one-shot and you can find those here.

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Riley x Max

Rating: G

Warnings for this chapter: none

Word Count: 2,181

A/N: This is an ask from @squid-princess-teach-swallow from my follower prompt list/wheel event. The ask was for Max x fluff x embarrassing.

I'm also submitting it to @choicesholidays for the prompt "I'm so glad we found each other" and tagging @maxwell-beaumont-appreciation

My other stuff: Master List.

Maxwell Beaumont flung his car door open and jumped out. He was late.

He hurried up the driveway to his childhood home hoping they hadn’t started dinner without him.

“Sorry, I’m late!” He called as he stomped the snow from his boots and flung his jacket in the general direction of the coat rack.

The sound of laughter floated out of the sitting room as he made his way down the hall. An affectionate smile played across his face as he regarded his friends and family getting along.

Bertrand was seated on the plush, oversized beige sofa with his wife Savannah on one side of him and Riley on the other. Liam and Drake stood behind the sofa looking over his shoulders at something.

“What’s everyone doing?” He asked then his steps faltered as he noticed the large photo album in his brother’s lap. His good mood turned to horror, “No!”

Riley looked up with a sparkle in her eye, “Bert’s been showing us pictures from your childhood, Max! And telling us stories!”

“Oh, no…we don’t have to do that! Isn’t dinner ready?” Max asked in distress.

“We were waiting for you!” Riley told him.

“It’s fine,” Savannah said, “a few more minutes won’t hurt.”

“But-“ Max was sure that he did not want his friends and family telling the woman he was secretly in love with about his childhood.

“Ah, what a cute dog!” Riley pointed to a photo of both boys hugging a Labrador retriever.

Max smiled, “Her name was Penny. She was a great dog!” This wasn’t so bad. Just focus on the dog.

“Wasn’t she a rescue?” Liam asked.

“She was,” Max agreed, “She was one when we got her and I was seven. Our father explained how dog years worked and I thought it was really cool that we were the same age!”

“Oh Max, that’s so cute!” Riley smiled at him and a flush of pleasure crept across his face.

Of course, his brother had to ruin it, “Yes but when she turned two, Max cried for a week.”

“Why?” Savannah asked in puzzlement.

“He thought since she was turning fourteen, she wouldn’t want to hang out with him anymore,” Bertrand answered, “because he was still only eight.”

“That’s hilarious!” Drake said.

“I think it’s cute!” Riley gave him a sympathetic glance as everyone else laughed.

“Thank you,” Max said as he walked around to stand in front of the sofa ready to snatch the album from his brother’s grasp if necessary.

Bertrand flipped the page.

“Oh, I didn’t know you wore glasses when you were younger!” Riley glanced from the photo album to his face.

“He didn’t,” Bertrand explained, “Somehow he got it in his head that wearing glasses was what made you smart.”

“Oh, so they were fake.”

“Yeah, yeah, they were fake!” Max agreed shooting a death glare at his brother.

“No,” Bertrand contradicted him, “he convinced our parents that he was having trouble seeing and got them to take him to an ophthalmologist where he pretended he couldn’t read the eye chart.”

“No!” Riley gasped in delight, “He did not!”

“Oh, he did,” Bertrand assured her, “then he suffered with blurry vision for a month before finally confessing.”

“I hate you,” Max said yanking the album out of Bertrand’s hands.

“Oh, come on!” Bertrand protested, “We’re just having fun!”

“Yeah, Max!” Riley agreed, “I love hearing stories about your childhood!”

“Really?” He felt his heart do a little flip.

“Really.” She assured him.

“Oh! I have one!” Drake exclaimed, “You’re going to love this one, Brooks!”

Max ran a hand down his face with a groan, “Not the fucking closet story!”

“Yes, the closet story!” Drake chortled, “They had come to the palace to visit. We were playing hide and seek-“

“No, we weren’t!” Max interrupted, “I was hiding from you because I broke your favorite action figure and I was afraid you were going to murder me!”

“Whatever,” Drake said dismissively before plunging on, “He wouldn’t come out of the damn closet and his parents were ready to leave so I threatened to suck the air out of the closet!”

“But he still wouldn’t come out,” Liam added.

“He was a very stubborn child.” Bertrand supplied.

“What happened?” Riley asked, looking from Liam to Drake to Max.

Max picked up the story, “I was sitting in that closet and I see a straw slide under the door and I hear a sucking sound….”

“He came hauling ass out of that closet like he was about to die!” Drake howled.

“Yeah,” Liam broke in, “he broke the door, it had to be replaced.”

“I really thought I was going to die!” Max shook his head, “You were all assholes!”

“It was a straw under a closet door!” Drake scoffed.

“I was six!”

“Remember when you fell out of the window and broke your arm?” Liam asked.

Max sighed as his head tipped back and he looked up to heaven for guidance.

“How did he fall out a window?” Riley asked.

“Our parents sent him to his room for setting his pet crabs loose in the house and he was leaning out the window crying-“

“Wait, you had pet crabs?” she asked in astonishment.

“They were the little ones that go in the aquarium with your fish.” Bertrand offered.

“Okay. Why were you leaning out the window?” Riley directed the question to Max.

“I wanted my peacocks to hear, and any servants that were outside,” he answered, “I was being dramatic. I wanted the world to know I’d been wronged. Those crabs were falsely imprisoned and they wanted to be free!”

“Anyway,” Bertrand continued, “he leaned too far and fell out! But no one knew it had happened, he had to ring the doorbell to get back in!”

The room was howling with laughter.

“Okay, okay, I was a dork but why are we only picking on me?” Max asked, “Remember the time you asked mom why there were different colors of people?”

“Yes,” Bertrand responded, “She told me it was because God wanted a variety of flavors.”

“Unfortunate word choice,” Max said, “for three years, Bert thought that when people died, God ate them!”

“No, he did not!” Savannah wiped tears of mirth from her eyes.

“Yes, he did!” Max replied smugly.

“Fine, but one time when he was about eight, Max found dad’s driver’s permit and started crying hysterically,” Bertrand put the focus right back on his brother, “It took us almost an hour to get him to calm down enough to tell us what was wrong.”

“What was it?” Riley asked.

“He saw the expiration date and thought that was when he was going to die.”

“Yes, well….in my defense, when things expire, we throw them away, I thought the expiration date was for him, not the permit.”

“Ah, Max, that’s sweet!” Riley said, “You were a sensitive child!”

“We should probably get to dinner now,” Bertrand stood up and turned back to help Savannah up.

Max had been returning the photo album to the shelf, he turned and tripped over the coffee table, “Ow!”

He caught himself but his shin was going to be bruised.

“You okay?” Riley stayed behind as the rest of the group trailed out of the sitting room and into the dining room.

“I’m fine,” he assured her as he sank onto the loveseat grasping his leg, “nothing hurt but my pride.”

Riley sat down next to him, “Hey, I hope you aren’t upset about the pictures and the stories.”

“What?” he glanced at her face then back down at his leg as he mumbled, “No, I mean, they were just embarrassing…”

“I don’t think they were embarrassing, Max,” she told him, “I think you were an adorable child and the stories were funny but cute.”

“Yeah?” He looked back up at her and his heart skipped a beat. His face flushed.

Why couldn’t he just tell her how he felt?

She and Liam had formed a close friendship during the social season but had agreed that a romantic connection wasn’t in the cards. There had been a spark, yes. But it had never exploded into a flame.

He had been terrified she would leave at the end of the season but she had decided to stay and finish out her graduate studies at Cordonia University.

“Yeah,” she said, “Now, why were you late? Is everything okay?”

“Oh, I, ah…” he flushed an even deeper shade of red as he fumbled in his pocket, “I was picking something up. I wanted to give you this before you left to spend Christmas with your family.”

She glanced down as he thrust a small velvet box into her hands, “I can open it now?”

“If you want.” He still hadn’t met her eyes.

She opened the lid to reveal a delicate gold chain with a golden phoenix curled around a brilliant sapphire. Her mouth fell open as she pulled it out of the case, “Max!”

“You don’t like it! It’s okay, I can return it-“

“Shut up!” She slapped his chest, “It’s beautiful and I love it!”

“You do?” He asked hopefully.

“I do! It’s gorgeous! But-“

His face fell, “But what?”                   

“Nothing, just, this had to be really expensive and-“

“And it’s too much, isn’t it? I’m sorry! I knew I shouldn’t have-“

“Max, stop! That’s not what I was going to say!”

“Sorry, what were you going to say?” He stared down at his lap while silently cursing himself for being so utterly bad at this.

“It is expensive…I’m just wondering what it means.”

“I saw it and it reminded me of you. All the crap you’ve been through in your life but you just rise from the ashes every time….what?” The way she was looking at him made him stop breathing.

“Nothing,” She said slowly, “could you put it on for me?”

She handed him the necklace then turned her back and lifted her hair.

His hands shook as he attempted to fasten the clasp. He was successful on the third try.

When she turned back toward him, she fingered the necklace thoughtfully. Her voice was soft as she said, “You know, this is the kind of thing you usually give a girlfriend, not just a friend.”

Max froze as panic sliced through him.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

As he struggled to formulate a response, she reached out and touched his cheek gently, “Do you ever think of me like that?”

“I….yes…I just didn’t think that you…I mean, you probably don’t …..I’m sure you don’t-“

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

His body jolted in surprise before melting into her with relief, happiness, and awed amazement.

“Maxwell! Riley!” Bertrand’s voice boomed from the other room, “Are you coming to dinner or not?”

They pulled apart, both a little breathless.

“In a minute!” Max yelled back.

“We should go,” Riley said.

“Can we talk when you get back from the states?”

“About that,” she replied, “I got you something too, I wasn’t sure if you’d like it, but now…”

“You didn’t have to get me anything, Riley!” He told her, “The fact that you like me is already the greatest gift I could get!”

“That’s so sweet, Max! And I know I didn’t have to, but, this is as much for me as it is for you.”

Curiosity swirled through him, “What is it?”

“A plane ticket,” she answered shyly.

“A plane ticket?” He repeated in confusion.

“Yeah, I was hoping you’d come with me.”

He blinked in surprise, “You want me to come with you to visit your family for Christmas?”

Riley felt her face heat as she responded, “Only if you want to! It’s okay if you don’t!”

Max’s face broke into the widest grin she’d ever seen, and that was saying a lot, “I would love to spend Christmas with you! I’d go anywhere with you, Riley!”

“Seriously you two! What’s taking so long?” Liam called.

“We’re not waiting anymore, I’m hungry!” Drake yelled.

“Coming!” They yelled back together.

Max jumped up from the loveseat and offered her his hand.

She took it.

He pulled her to her feet and they started for the dining room, hand in hand.

“So, am I like your boyfriend now?” He asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

She smiled as she cut a sidelong glance at him, “Oh, absolutely!”

“This is the best Christmas ever!” He told her as joy suffused his entire being.

And he meant it. Everything in his life had come down to this.

He had been slowly falling in love with her since that first night in New York. He’d never dreamed she would return those feelings.

As the snow continued to fall outside, they gathered around the table with family and friends. It was almost Christmas, he had a sister-in-law, a nephew on the way, and a girlfriend.

Riley was his girlfriend.

The thought made him feel like he might explode from happiness overload, and for the first time since his mother died, Christmas actually felt joyous.