#also older max!!!! with a beard!!

[gomosmorodina]

i'm sure they'll be best buddies since they are the same type of people haha. they would have the best time working at the superlab together!

[avelera]

I’m trying so hard not to have Arcane theories that would make me at all disappointed if the show went in a different direction, guys, seriously I’m trying SO hard to just focus on what they’ve given us and analyze that and NOT try to write fanfic in my head for what could happen next because I JUST want to enjoy what masterpiece they give us instead of being disappointed if I’m wrong…

… but GODDAMMIT if we find out that Jayce just broke out of a time loop, that would explain EVERYTHING:

- How quickly he killed Salo, a Councilor he used to work with, when Jayce is NOT a natural killer. He just said “I’m sorry too” as if he already knew what he would do and just did it. The decision making was too fast and too unlike him.

- The fact that APPARENTLY Jayce was muttering to himself, “I won’t fail again.” Like HELLO that is literally THE time loop line that is THE line people say when breaking out of the time loop. Did Jayce just break out???

- Does that mean Ekko and Heimerdinger are still trapped because they HAVEN’T found a way out yet? Or even pushed Jayce out so he could go save the day because he’s the one who has to do it?

- It explains how Jayce suddenly has the ability to see void creatures. He’s now experienced at fighting this future or these events and has more magical experience too.

- It explains how Jayce looks OLDER, not just bearded and dirty but actually OLDER. Also it’s such a time loop trope to go through various dystopias caused by getting it wrong and ending up in some Mad Max world which might explain the LEG BRACE, the guy has injuries he didn’t have but more than that he’s got injuries that he got a sophisticated ASSISTIVE DEVICE for. That would have taken TIME to put in place on him!

- His utter certainty that Hextech has to be destroyed. Early on when we first time we met Jayce he said his Hextech notes were HIS LIFE. And now he’s totally at peace with destroying it? Something is UP. He didn’t just see a few visions, I think he LIVED all the different possibilities OVER AND OVER. I think he’s had MULTIPLE TIME LOOPS to come to terms with having to destroy his life’s work.

- Speaking of life’s work, it ALSO explains how Jayce can just WALK UP and kill Viktor. No conversation. Barely any emotion. The shots of him fighting himself could be OVERLAYS of all the times he’s done this before. Which COULD mean we WILL see the version of Jayce needing to kill Viktor to save the world that we didn’t get this time, because it already happened in one or even HUNDREDS of other loops.

I mean I know I’m in fully conspiracy gif territory but I can’t get it out of my head. It fits so much of Jayce’s weird behavior. He’s DONE THIS BEFORE.

… oh shit we also saw hundreds of mirror images of him before he hit the Wild Rune, going back to the day he first saw magic. Shit guys I don’t want to set myself up for disappointment but WHAT IF.

Final note, all of Arcane S1 is about “what could have been” it’s scene after scene of turning points that all would have stopped the final scene with Jinx if they had gone different. The butterfly motif of the butterfly effect is everywhere. Could we FINALLY be getting the pay off for that by seeing Jayce live through a time loop alongside Ekko and Heimerdinger of all the OTHER possibilities?? It is Ekko’s power after all!

[mistydeyes]

hello! can you please do headcanons of 141 boys with nepo baby!reader?

ahh thank you sm for requesting! this was so creative and UGH i totally wish in another life i could be a nepo baby with all of life's luxuries

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summary: When the 141 met you, you had done an amazing job keeping your repo!baby status under wraps. What happens when your starstrucked boyfriend finally finds out?

pairing: Task Force 141 x fem!nepo baby!reader

warnings: swearing

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John Price

Surprised but happy you aren't one of those stuck up ones (*cough* *cough* Kendall Jenner *cough* cough*)

"Hey love, these came in for you today," your boyfriend, John, said as he heaved in a large bouquet of flowers with an ornate envelope attached

You groaned loudly as you opened the envelope and the room filled with the aroma of fresh red roses

You skimmed over the letter before tossing it back onto your kitchen island

"Something the matter?" he comforted as he wrapped his arms around you

"They just want me to walk for Victoria Secret," you said as if it was an inconsequential request, "something about how my mum's wings and outfit would fit me perfectly."

At this, you felt the palpable silence and turned to see the bewildered look on John's face

"What I'm getting from this is that you are a model fit for their show and also have a mother who used to be a model for them?" he almost whispered and you nodded in response

He whistled quietly as he pulled you back into his arms

"I knew you were gorgeous but it's nice to hear that others think the same," he joked and you lightly smacked at his chest

"My mum always wanted me to get into modeling but after my last show as a teenager, I decided civilian life was more for me"

He nodded as he put aside the letter and put the flowers in a more respectable place

"Well I am glad you chose that," he replied, "don't think I would be able to meet a world class model."

You cocked an eyebrow and laughed slightly at his response

"You're telling me! I'm lucky for a shot at the respectable military captain who looks absolutely dashing in a bonnie hat"

With that, he gave you a soft kiss and you giggled as his facial hairs tickled you slightly

"Although, if I get sent any brand deals for shaving cream and beard care, I know the perfect person to give it to"

Johnny "Soap" Mactavish

Overall he is the most excited to find this fun fact out about you

He realizes when you meet with your sister at a local coffee shop

You ran up to her with Johnny closely following behind you and you hugged her excitedly

"Maeve! It is so good to see you again," you smiled, "this is my boyfriend, Johnny"

Your boyfriend did a double take as your sister shook his hand and sat down at the table

"Do I know you from somewhere?" he asked quietly and you and your sister shared a look before laughing

"Hmm what project are you working on now?" you asked her as Johnny just watched the interaction

"That's a secret for now," she said mysteriously, "I will tell you we're premiering the show on Max"

Once she said that, it was almost as if a lightbulb went off in his head

"Oh shite," he said a bit too loudly, "you're Maeve! You did that show on Netflix!"

She nodded as she sipped her matcha latte casually

"Wait so if that's you," he said before turning to you, "does this mean you're parents are those famous spy movie directors?"

You nodded as he finally understood but before you could reply, your sister beat you too it

"She was always the studious older sister, chose to go to university here instead of pursuing an acting career," you sister proudly replied as you leaned into Johnny's chest

"To be fair, dad's films were always too ambiguous for me," you joked, "he always loved those off plot twists."

You laughed at the memory and both Johnny and Maeve joined in

After that, you had a pleasant lunch but you definitely needed a tea with lemon and honey after answering all of Johnny's questions

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

You were not a nepo baby by conventional means

No, you didn't have parents who were famous actors or singers

You were the worst kind of nepo baby for Kyle

You were the daughter of a General in the British Army

Maybe he should've been clued in by your surprising knowledge of military history and traditions

In fact he did look at you a bit skeptically when you adjusted his ribbons of decorations/medals

"You're a natural at this," he said as he kissed your forehead. "My dad and the internet taught me all I needed to know," you smiled back.

Kyle never did get to ask you who your father was until you were at the Army ball

When he saw one of the decorated Generals making his way to you, he could feel a lump in his throat

Kyle immediately saluted the man and almost lost it when he saw him hug you and spin your around

"Pleasure seeing you here, dad," you beamed at him, "didn't know you could make it to this one!"

As Kyle was putting the pieces together, the small talk ended and your father turned to him

"Sergeant Garrick-" "Yes, sir, that's me" he said, fumbling over his words and causing you to laugh loudly

"I've heard much about you and the missions," your father spoke highly as you looked over anxiously, "just make sure you come back home to my daughter."

With that, he gave Kyle a firm handshake and hugged you before returning back to mingle amongst the other officers and soldiers

Kyle stood there for a moment looking at his hand

"Did that just happen?" "Congratulations Kyle, you survived meeting my father!"

Simon "Ghost" Riley

He does not put the pieces together until something forces him to realize who you actually are (more like whose daughter you are)

"Keep your head down, I think someone's following us," Simon warned you as he lead you down another aisle in the grocer's

For the past hour, there had been a man with a camera had been following you and trying to snap pictures

Simon had been more than observant and was running through scenarios to lose this man without any unnecessary violence

"Oh, they're probably trying to figure out where my parents are staying while they're in town," you said nonchalantly, "probably trying to get the best pictures before the premiere."

At this Simon, pulled you aside and look at you bewildered

"Are they in any danger?" he said as he pulled out his phone to make an urgent call

You giggled a bit before taking his phone from his hand and smiling

"No, no, they're probably just preparing to be harassed by the paparazzi. Nothing they're not used to," you said as you typed a few things into his phone's search browser

"Here, you might have heard of them before from all those superhero action movies," you continued, giving Simon back the phone so he could look at the Wiki page

"So you're saying that you didn't think this was important information to tell me when we started dating?" he asked as he looked back down at you

You rolled your eyes before pulling him along to continue you're shopping

"I honestly didn't think it was that important, Simon," you mumbled, "besides would it affect your decision to date me."

He shook his head as he tried to understand the whole situation and how you were the daughter of two very famous and successful actors

"For such a smart military man, you are a bit dense sometimes," you joked before turning and blocking the titular shot from the camera man with a cereal box

"Not this time!" you yelled triumphantly before Simon took the opportunity to plant a kiss on your cheek

"That's why I dated you."

[writingoddess1125]

Buggy's Secrets Headcanon

Feed me Seymore, Feed Me!

Random thoughts

• Buggy has always wanted daughters

• He knows boys are destructive

• AKA HIS TWINS links here

• But would be a good girl Dad, teach them how to do their hair, makeup, find them pretty clothes.

• Would adore having daughters. His biggest fear however is when they get older he would probably either bomb men who hit on them or cry at seeing them grown up.

• He likes to paint his nails, even though he wears gloves he does enjoy a nice coat of polish. Will do his partners nails as well when he has the free time or to unwind.

• HE. WANTS. A. CORGI

• He thinks they are so damn silly looking and cute, That and now they move is just so interesting to him.

• Will put the damn dog in a costume if he had his choice!

• He is Bisexual and has Bisexual experiences in his life. Mostly while drunk but he never Dislikes adventures on that side.

• Kissed Shanks one by accident- it was his first kiss and he ran around the corner of Gol D Roger's ship and both of them slammed into each other face first. Mouth on Mouth + Teeth on Teeth. Was not a pleasant first lips and still shivers in horror since he remembers the taste of apples on Shanks Mouth

• He is a ass guy- likes a nice ass anyday of the week!

• Buggys standards of beauty are unique- He's attracted to originality so unique features or personalities is what gets his gears going. Likes it weird!

• He plays stupid but he's smart. Doesn't work hard cause in truth he doesn't feel the need to-

• It's like walking behind someone shoveling snow- You're going to reach the goal right as they do bit they are doing all the work.

• Also has detached parts of his body to clean for convenience. Aka after a tussle in the sand has taken off his own lower half to clean and make sure no sand was left.

• Can play the ukulele and is a fairly good singer

• Has tried to grow a beard yet its patchy and he gets blonde patches that look terrible- so stubble is the max for him.

[aretheyqueer]

Anyway I sent you that ask but I’m not like boiling over mad about it, it’s just like. The experiences of men and women are different but it is because a woman’s experiences breaks off from the default, which is the male experience. I do not think things can be that clean cut when it comes to gender identity but for cis men? The intersectionality of being black and disabled makes sense, the intersectionality of being black and a man doesn’t. That is called anti black racism. And it is foolish to act like the ways black men are seen, as violent, aggressive, poor, untrustworthy, older than they are as children, aren’t applied to black women too

what are you talking about

well its about this post and normally I try not to give attention to angry anons but I'll talk a bit about it

misandry. a difficult topic for some. it seems that a lot of people believe that in order for misandry to exist, misogyny has to not exist. but that's not true. both exist at the same time and both affect everyone.

men are seen as more violent than women, and if you combine that with the "black people are more violent" mindset, you get a violent black man stereotype, which is different from what a black woman experiences. doesn't mean one is more oppressed than the other. but one of them has been affected by misandry as well. one of the people I know is a black man and because we get "violent black person + violent man" together, people cross the street in order to not pass him on the sidewalk. he has been told to his face by women things like "you're actually cool, I thought you were going to hit me when I first saw you...", which they somehow think is a compliment. this is not only because of racism or misandry, but because of both at the same time.

generally speaking in the US, women get away easier with crime than men. there have been cases where all the evidence shows that the woman killed someone, only for it to be randomly decided that she didn't. this is a combination of pretty privilege, and difference in how men and women are treated. white people also get away with crime easier than black people. it's not ridiculous to think that these combine, that black+man (violent+violent) has different expectations of how much evidence is necessary and how harsh the punishment should be.

when a trans man transitions, it's likely that he will feel a change as he starts to experience male privilege. but things aren't as great as a man as they tell you on the internet.

men and women have different beauty standards. generally, it's seen as unattractive if a man is chubby, has acne, lack of muscles, beard growing in the wrong places etc. (even women who "like dad bods" often go for the conventionally attractive men). now, as a trans man basically going through your second puberty, acne, fat redistribution, hair growth - it can all impact your appearance in ways that you don't actually like.

and this happens. some trans men experience these "ugly" changes, and suddenly they go (literal quote) "people are so mean to me now!" becaaauseee... society has different expectations of men and women, and when men don't meet those expectations, they are treated differently. not only because they're "ugly", but because they are "ugly" men.

a lot of women don't like to admit it, but they can be really horrible to men. there's this assumption that men have it easy, which leads to a couple things:

"Ugly" men are treated horribly by women

Every ugly man is assumed to have worse morals than handsome white men

Women's abuse against men isn't taken seriously

Remember the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case? There was a lot of evidence that a man was being abused by a woman. Him literally taking her to court and showing the world that men CAN be abused by women and there are things you can do about it, was an inspiration to other men that had been abused. But then you open twitter, and... people are demonising him because he has "started a culture where men take women to court over every little thing". You hear that? That's misandry, baby. (btw, rape and abuse accusations have been used against men to take advantage of the "trust all victims" mindset. it's horrible to do something that causes distrust against women who speak up, but it is an unfortunate truth. this happens both off the internet and on the internet.)

Now...

It's important to step out of radfem and "hate all men" bubbles sometimes, because while their purpose is to support women, they are frequently spaces where misandrists thrive. there, it's normal to think every man you pass wants to rape and/or kill you, and it's normal to laugh at and make fun of ugly or weird men.

men and women have different experiences. disabled men and disabled women have different experiences. trans men and trans women have different experiences.

and that's ok. we don't need to have a competition about which one is worse. misandry being a problem doesn't mean that misogyny isn't. we can fight both at the same time.

I would encourage people to think about what they mean when they say they hate all men. if you tense up when you walk past men. how quick you are to believe that a man is a rapist before you've seen the proof. how you define an ugly man, and how you think about ugly and handsome men differently. if you've ever made fun of a man for having traits that you praise women for. if you've ever forgiven a woman for something that you would have never forgiven a man for. etc.

there aren't any titles or stuff in this post so I don't know how readable it is. but if you got this far, cool.

tldr: misandry is real and it is amplified to the max when a man is a minority or doesn't meet the expectations of what a handsome man is, go talk to a man in your life about it

[hawkinsschoolcounselor]

Prediction for the start of season 5

I've been going crazy trying to figure out just how they'll transition into season 5. It certainly seems like "life goes on" in Hawkins despite everything that happened at the end of season 4. While it does seem like there's a military presence in town, there are clues that quite a bit of time has passed.

Aside from dates left on papers on set and whatnot, which could potentially be faked to throw people off, we see character differences that indicate time. El's hair has grown back. It's hard to tell just how long it is now, but it looks to be at least as long as it was in season 3, if not longer. We've seen little of Hopper, but we've been able to see set photos of David with a long beard. Then there's Holly, who seems older even taking into account the casting change.

This tells me we're looking at an approximate 8 months to one year time skip. While we might see some immediate aftermath from after the ending of season 4, the bulk of season 5 seems to be set in late Fall/early Winter of 1987. This isn't taking into account a possible rumored second time skip considering they're only halfway through filming.

So, how do we go from the end of the world to almost a year later? Well, there wasn't much that could be done in the position our heroes are in. Here's what I think happens after that final scene in the field.

Shortly after the "earthquake," an Army Corps of Engineers detachment arrives to help rebuild, overseen by Lt. Col. Sullivan. They proceed to block off affected areas for "safety concerns" under the pretense of having to seal up the fissures to allow for later rebuilding. In reality, they are setting up research stations and entry points while also preventing anyone else from getting in...or anything getting out.

Blocked off from being able to go after the weakened Vecna, and now faced with the concern of Sullivan possibly finding El, the heroes have to regroup. They both need to be able to hide El and have a safe base of operations. Agent Stinson arranges to set El and Hopper in the old WSQK radio station under the guise of the station being under new ownership.

While researching, I found out that many old radio stations had emergency shelters built by the government during the Cold War in case of a nuclear attack. Like the Dept of Energy Lab before it, the radio station would serve as a legitimate front for getting equipment and other resources they may need for what they're really up to. The shelter would also provide a place to hide their real activity and keep El safe. It may also even potentially provide access to the areas the military blocked off if the shelters contain escape tunnels.

We would essentially find out that the time since the end of season 4 were spent with the heroes trying to find a way into the Upside Down to get Henry while he's weak. However, it's just not possible with the military presence. The mission turns to trying to monitor both the military and the Upside Down threat until a window presents itself.

What might be the event that provides this window? I have some ideas.

The military breaches a Gate, which allows for Upside Down creatures to get out.

El has a breakthrough in her search for Max, providing them a critical clue.

Henry comes back to full strength, leading to Will getting Harry Potter-like visions of his plans.

Problems I have with this idea:

El is once again living in hiding, just as she did in season 2. I can't imagine she's able to get any kind of education unless Owens' people can set her up with tutoring.

The Byers being in town would certainly tip off Sullivan, and it doesn't look like they're lying low. I suppose they could feign moving back to Hawkins because they think she's dead.

What is up with Owens, and would his people even have the ability to do anything after the losses sustained from Sullivan's actions?

Why the hell would anyone even stay in Hawkins? This isn't the first disaster the town has dealt with in the past few years. I suppose it would cause property values to plummet to levels that could prompt a rich family to buy up land in preparation for owning everything after rebuilding. There was a Turnbow Land Development & Realty ad seen on set.

Does anyone else have thoughts on this?

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias x Reader - Fix You Part 1/10

This story is my new baby. ☺️ Ruben is so vunrable in it, though. 😭

Part 2 and 3 are out on my Patreon for Free!

Summary - Reader is hired as Ruben's assistant nurse after receiving head trauma during a football game. He has fallen into a deep depression on his road to recovery and does not accept much help from Reader as she only reminds him of how incapable he is.

Enjoy!

You wouldn't consider yourself a failed actress. No. If it wasn't such a male dominated and misogynistic industry, perhaps you would have continued your short-lived career as an actress. Instead, you found yourself in the depths of Manchester, looking for jobs in nursing. 

Luckily, you had that to fall back on. Listening to your parents might have spared you the experience of being a struggling artist. So, hats off to them for forcing you to study nursing while pursuing your acting career at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Now, the moment has come to utilize your experience in both ahead of the job interview you had as an assistant nurse.

"Y/N, right?" Said a fairly young man. You arrived at the address you had been given, and there he stood, in the doorway to a fancy apartment complex in uptown Manchester City.

"Please, follow me." He said and led you down a hall towards the elevators. On your way up, the young man explained the terms of the job interview, that if you were given the job, your employment would begin with immediate effect. Starting off with you signing an exclusive NDA.

But why would you have to sign an NDA for a nursing gig, you thought. However, as you were invited to a fairly neat residence, it became obvious to you that your employer was a very wealthy man.

"This is Bernadette and João." My and Ruben's parents." Said the young man, introducing you to an older couple. "And this is Max Foster, Ruben's physio." He further introduced you to a man in his forties, quite fit, as most physio tended to be.

"Hello, everyone." You waved, awkwardly, presenting your best winning smile.

"This is Y/N. She's applying for the job as Ruben's assistant nurse."

"I'll bring him out." Said the man named Max, disappearing into the other room.

You were offered some tea while you waited. Ruben's parents seemed quite surprised that you didn't decline the offer. His mother rushed to the kitchen to put water to a boil, but before she could return, Max entered the living room, leading a blindfolded man by the arm.

With a tap on your shoulder, the man that had brought you up to the apartment gestured for you to rise from the couch. "Y/N. Meet Ruben Dias, my brother." He said.

You stood and straightened your dress. "Erm....nice to meet you, Mr Dias."

The man chuckled. "Mr Dias is my dad."

"Ruben, please." His mother hissed. She entered the living room with your tea and a tray of cookies. "Behave, the girl is our guest."

"Yeah, but if she's holding out her hand to greet me like the other ones did, then tell her to fuck off."

You were taken aback. Quite appalled, actually.

"She's not, Ruben." His brother budged in. "So, can we please get on with the interview?"

You noted the tension already lingering in the room, how everyone seemed careful not to upset the blindfolded man. He obviously had a short temper.

"Fine." Ruben sighed and shrugged off his physio's arm, insisting on taking a seat without his help.

You took a seat as well, looking curiously at the man who sat before you. He had dark, untamed hair and a beard that needed trimming. He was also very young, the youngest one in the room after yourself. And the blind fold he wore was actually a bandage wrapped around his head to cover his eyes. You wondered how long he'd have to wear it, as well as the color of his eyes.

"As you've read in the job description...." Ruben's brother continued, taking charge of the interview. "Ruben is in need of an assistant nurse during the six week recovery of his brain surgery."

It was quite sad. In the job description, you were told that you'd be working for a man with severe head trauma following an accident. The damage to his head caused swelling in his brain, along with damages to a nerve that unfortunately affected his eyesight. However, after undergoing surgery, Ruben was expected to make a full recovery.

"He is also in need of assistance when it comes to physical recovery, since Ruben has temporarily lost some of the mobility in his body...."

Ruben's jaw clenched.

"However, that will fall under Max's job description. Your job, Y/N, will be to make sure that Ruben has everything he needs, whether that is medically or just as a helping hand around the house. We, Ruben's family..." He said, gesturing towards his parents. "Don't have the jurisdiction to help Ruben medically. However, we do handle his financial affairs until he is fit and ready to do it himself."

"There." His brother sighed. "Did I miss anything?"

It was a sigh of relief. His brother was clearly not used to being in this position, and neither were Ruben's parents. Perhaps the accident had been traumatizing for all of them, not just Ruben.

"Tell me about yourself?"

You perked up as the question came directly from Ruben and not his older brother.

"Erm...what would you like to know?" You stammered. He seemed to be looking right at you now. Perhaps he could see right through it, the blindfold.

"Anything." He smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile, more of a spiteful one. "Like, why are you even here?"

"Ruben?" His family hissed.

"What? Her resumé stated that she is based in London. I wanna know what she's doing here, in Manchester of all places?"

"Well, the weather is nicer here, no?"

Ruben raised a brow, perhaps surprised by your comeback.

"And even though I'm from London, I guess I've always wanted to experience life in the north. I hear this is where all assholes come to breed."

The room fell silent. Ruben's family looked to have swallowed their tongues, anticipating what was to come. However, Ruben kept his attention towards you, perhaps wondering who sat before him.

You figured that you blew the interview by not keeping your cool. So much for being an actress.

You grabbed your purse and made the motion to stand up when suddenly, Ruben made a quick movement in your direction, grabbing a hold of your wrist, searching for the palm of your hand. "You're hired." He said and shook it firmly.

Part 2 and 3 are out on my Patreon for Free!

[dcigar]

The Costume That Transformed Me

It all started with a seemingly innocent trip to the Halloween store. Max had always loved Halloween, but this year he wanted to go all out. His friends had convinced him to attend a big leather and cigar-themed costume party downtown, so he figured he might as well dress the part. Though he wasn’t into cigars or leather himself, he knew he’d need a costume that stood out.

He wandered into a small, dimly lit store tucked between towering buildings in the city. The interior had an odd feel, almost like the costumes themselves were alive. A chill ran down his spine, but he brushed it off. As he wandered through the aisles, something caught his eye—a mannequin at the back of the store, clad in a full leather outfit, complete with a harness, biker boots, and most notably, a massive, sculpted beard. The mannequin’s head was completely shaved, its face adorned with the kind of beard that looked intimidatingly masculine. A cigar protruded from its lips, and its bulky frame seemed to radiate confidence.

Max chuckled to himself. “This would be hilarious,” he thought. It was the complete opposite of who he was—a clean-cut, average-built guy with no facial hair to speak of. He reached out and touched the costume.

“Ah, you’ve got good taste,” a deep voice behind him said.

Max jumped. The shopkeeper, an older man with a beard that rivaled the mannequin’s, stood grinning at him. “This costume isn’t just a look—it’s an experience,” the man said, handing Max a large box that seemed heavier than it should have been.

Max looked at him skeptically. “What’s in here?”

“Everything you need to become someone else for Halloween, and maybe for a bit longer if you like,” the shopkeeper said cryptically. He leaned in, the scent of tobacco heavy on his breath. “But beware, it’s not just a costume.”

Max laughed it off and paid for the costume, deciding to try it on at home. The box felt heavier the longer he carried it, but by the time he made it back to his apartment, excitement was overtaking any doubts. He opened the box and was surprised to find not just the leather harness, pants, and boots, but also an enormous, lifelike wig—a big, fake beard, and a cigar.

“Alright, let’s see how ridiculous this is,” he muttered.

Max put the leather outfit on first, the tightness of the pants hugging him in ways he wasn’t used to. The boots were heavy, giving him a commanding presence, and the harness accentuated his torso. He then picked up the wig, which had a perfectly sculpted bald cap attached. He slid it onto his head, feeling an odd tingle as it settled into place. Then he applied the fake beard, the weight of it pulling his chin down slightly.

He turned to the mirror and gasped.

The man looking back at him wasn’t him at all. Max barely recognized himself. His jawline appeared wider, and his face more chiseled under the weight of the fake beard. It was as though his body had somehow started to fill out the leather more naturally. It fit him perfectly, snug in a way that made him feel stronger, more powerful. His bare head gleamed under the dim light of his apartment, making him look menacing in the best possible way.

Max grabbed the cigar from the box, chuckling. “Might as well go all out,” he said, placing it between his lips. He didn’t light it, but just holding it made him feel different—more confident, even a little cocky.

As he stood in front of the mirror, something strange began to happen. The tingle from earlier had returned, spreading across his scalp and face. The fake bald cap seemed to fuse with his skin, disappearing until he couldn’t tell where his real scalp ended and the wig began. His hands shot to his head in shock—his scalp was smooth, completely hairless.

Before he could process what was happening, the beard—fake, or so he thought—started to grow. Max felt a pulling sensation at his chin, and in the mirror, the beard extended, thickening and curling naturally. It was no longer a prop but part of his face. His jaw grew more square, muscles bulging out of nowhere. His body, too, was changing—his chest puffed out, his arms thickened, and his legs became as solid as tree trunks.

He stumbled back, breathing heavily, the weight of his transformation settling in. His shirt tore at the seams as his muscles expanded, and the tight leather pants that had once felt awkward now hugged his powerful legs perfectly. The harness stretched over his newly broad chest as though it had been custom-made for him.

“What the hell is happening?” he whispered, grabbing his face. The beard was real. His head was shaved. His muscles… they were real too.

Panicking, Max reached for his phone to call someone—anyone—but stopped when he caught sight of himself in the mirror again. The man staring back was imposing, dominating even. He looked like he had spent years in the gym, smoking cigars, living a rugged, hardcore life. A wave of desire rushed over him—this body, this look, it was intoxicating.

As the transformation completed, his mind began to shift. He had never been into cigars, but now, the unlit one between his lips felt natural. He grabbed a lighter, his hands steady despite his shock, and lit it. The first puff filled his lungs with smoke, and with it, a sense of calm washed over him. The smoke curled around his face, the smell of leather and tobacco now blending seamlessly into his being.

Max flexed his arms, feeling the power surge through him. He traced his hands over his thick beard and bald scalp, smirking at the reflection. It was as if this was who he was always meant to be. The old Max felt like a distant memory, fading fast.

“Let’s see how long this lasts,” he muttered to himself as he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, the heavy thud of his boots signaling his new presence to the world. Max wasn’t sure how permanent this transformation would be, but a part of him didn’t care.

Max stepped out of his apartment building, feeling the cool evening air wash over his freshly shaved scalp. He instinctively reached up to touch his smooth head, the sensation foreign yet thrilling. Every breeze across his exposed skin sent a shiver down his spine, reminding him of how different he was now—how *massive* he felt, both in body and presence.

As he walked toward the street, his boots clunking heavily with each step, Max couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement. His body responded to the new sensations—the tightness of the leather around his muscles, the weight of the harness pulling against his chest, the solid bulk of his legs filling out the pants. His beard brushed against the collar of his jacket, thick and unruly, while the cigar between his teeth gave off an earthy aroma, blending with the leather in a way that made him feel powerful. He took a deep drag, savoring the thick smoke that filled his lungs, then blew it out in a cloud that hovered in the air. The cigar felt *right*, almost as if his new identity wasn’t complete without it.

As he approached the meeting spot, his friends stood waiting outside a bar, already in costume. They were chatting and laughing until they saw him approaching. Max noticed how their eyes widened in disbelief, their faces unsure whether to laugh or gasp.

"Dude… is that *you*?" his friend Chris asked, stepping forward cautiously.

Max grinned, the motion tugging his thick mustache over his lips, and took another puff of his cigar. “Yeah, it’s me.” His voice rumbled deeper than before, surprising even him. The smoke curled lazily out of his mouth as he spoke.

“Holy *shit*!” Chris said, circling around Max like he was inspecting a completely different person. "What the hell happened to you, man? You look… massive!”

Max flexed his arm instinctively, feeling the leather pull tight over his muscles. He enjoyed how his friends gawked at him, their eyes flicking between his thick beard, the shaved head, and the cigar that never left his lips.

"Costume store," Max replied with a shrug, though inside he felt an intense wave of pleasure at their reactions. The transformation had not just been physical—there was something else at play. His friends’ admiration turned him on in a way he hadn’t anticipated, and it wasn’t just about the way he looked. It was the *power* he felt. The power to command attention, to *own* the space he was in.

"You really went all out," said Jason, who was dressed as a lumberjack, complete with a fake beard and a flannel shirt that barely fit his leaner frame. His costume suddenly seemed childish next to Max's overwhelming presence.

"Yeah, man," added Zack, who was wearing a goofy superhero costume—his cape fluttering awkwardly in the wind. "Didn’t think you were into cigars, though.”

Max grunted in response, taking another long drag, his thick mustache bristling as he exhaled. The taste was growing on him, and every pull on the cigar made him feel more grounded in this new version of himself. The more they stared at him, the more his body reacted. His cock stirred, pressing against the tight leather pants, and he had to suppress a groan as a wave of arousal hit him harder than expected.

He wasn’t just turned on by his new look—he was turned on by how different he felt. The way his bald scalp tingled in the cool air, the way his beard commanded attention, the way his muscles strained against the leather. Every sensation made his cock twitch, the leather pants doing nothing to hide the growing bulge that pressed tightly against the material.

His friends were oblivious to the internal battle raging inside him as they continued their conversation.

“Man, you put us to shame with that costume,” Chris said, laughing nervously. He adjusted his own costume—a basic vampire outfit with cheap fangs and a plastic cape. “We should’ve known you’d go all in.”

Max smirked. “Can’t do Halloween halfway,” he said, his voice gravelly, the cigar smoke rolling off his lips as he spoke. The weight of the mustache covering his upper lip made every word feel heavy, almost more commanding. He loved it.

But as they stood there talking, Max couldn’t stop thinking about how much his body craved more. He was *alive* with desire—desire for himself, for the power his new look gave him, and the way his friends looked at him. He felt his erection pressing painfully against the zipper of his pants, the sensation only adding to the pleasure building inside him.

He wanted to feel more of it. He *needed* to feel more of it.

“Alright, let’s head inside,” Zack suggested, waving his hand toward the bar. "Before we freeze our asses off out here."

Max nodded, following them with a swagger that came naturally now. The boots thudded against the pavement with authority, and the weight of the cigar between his lips felt as natural as breathing. With every step, he felt himself becoming more turned on by the way his friends couldn’t take their eyes off him. His massive presence dwarfed them, and he *loved* it.

As the door to the bar opened, Max couldn’t help but grin around his cigar, knowing that tonight would be unlike any Halloween he’d ever experienced before.

[cevansbrat0007]

How would aj and Andy feel if his friends call his mom a milf ( gp!reader) aj is in his teens

Summary: You're a wife, a mother, and apparently...a MILF.

Warnings: Fluff, Female Objectification, Mentions of Violence, Cursing, Minors DNI

A/N: This drabble is part of my Growing Pains Series. All mistakes are my own. Likes, Comments, and Reblogs are appreciated. ___

"Dude! It was just a joke, bro!" The young man sputters as his friend, A.J. Barber, unceremoniously thrusts his gym bag and water bottle into his arms. "I wasn't being serious."

A.J. simply shakes his head as he brushes by his buddy, Max, to open the door before gesturing for him to step outside.

"DUDE!"

"That was my mom, man. My MOM!" The younger Barber huffs, pointing an accusatory finger at Max. "And I don't know how old she is because I'm afraid to ask. I saw my Dad do it one time and it did not go well, okay? But she's not - she's so not a...a..."

A.J. trails off, visibly shuddering as he's unable to finish his sentence. Out of nowhere comes another voice, this one belonging to the Barber family patriarch.

"What's all this commotion about, gentlemen? I can hear you from the kitchen." Andy strides into the foyer, wiping his wet hands on a navy blue dishtowel.

"Nothing." His son grumbles, blowing out a breath as he tries to resist the urge to thrust his friend out the door and slam it shut in his pencil-mustached face. "Max was just leaving."

Andy raises a concerned brow. "Before dinner? But we're making tacos in the wok tonight. Well, your mother is. I'll just be there to supervise."

And by "supervise", he meant hang out in the middle of the kitchen while you cooked so that he could occasionally accost with you kisses. While he thought of it as his own version of moral support, you maintained that he just liked getting in your "fucking way".

Your words, not his.

"He's not hungry." A.J. grunts at the same time as his pal utters the words "I could eat".

"Uh huh." The older man casts them both a suspicious look before crossing his arms over his rather impressive chest. Even in his fifties, Andrew Barber was still easy on the eyes. The budding silver-fox still managed to attract female attention wherever he went, whether he wanted it or not.

But he never paid it any mind, because he was also a happily married man who wore his wedding ring with pride

"Mrs. Barber is a phenomenal cook. My mom can't cook worth shi- I mean crap." Max laughs nervously, his hand going to rub the back of his neck. "She - my mom. Her food is not great, like at all. But, uh, maybe we could eat by the pool like we did last time."

"He's really gotta go, Dad."

"It's okay A.J. - I can stay. Mom's cool with it." Max calmly pats A.J. on his shoulder, trying to ignore the fire burning behind his hazel eyes.

"I mean...I suppose we could do that." Andy responds, a hint of skepticism in his tone. "I wonder if Y/N feels like making her homemade salsa too. I probably oughta ask..." His short, trimmed nails absently go to scratch at his bearded chin that now sported flecks of gray.

For the life of him, he couldn't seem to figure out why his son was turning such a spectacular shade of red. Or what now had him typing so furiously on his phone.

"She definitely should." Max tosses his bag back at Junior as a grin spreads across his smug face. "And you know, they say that a little sunshine does a body good."

"That it does." Andy agrees, noting of the sudden tenseness in his son's shoulders.

"And I know it's true, because the last time I saw Mrs. Barber outside she looked amazing."

Now that stops Andy quick, even as A.J. makes what sounds like a distinct choking noise in the back of throat. But the young man - Max - keeps talking, seemingly unaware of the danger he's just placed himself in.

"I was just telling A.J. here that your wife is definitely a MILF, sir. We talk about it all the time at school. And you can totally tell she works out or whatever, because she doesn't even look like how most Moms look. "

Suddenly, Andy's twitching eye mirrors his son's own.

"Hey, how old is Mrs. Barber now? Like 40?"

Andy clears his throat before casting a withering glare in the direction of his son's friend. "A word to the wise, young man - never ask a woman her age. Especially not if you want to live long enough to see your way through puberty."

A.J. nods along before returning his attention back to his phone.

"Even I don't know how old my wife is, mostly because I'm not stupid enough to ask."

"But then how do you -" Max interrupts, clearly confused by the direction of this conversation.

"If I think I need to know, then I guess. And when I guess, I err on the side of caution. Because I'm smart, and I've come to understand the meaning of the phrase happy wife, happy life."

"Oh."

"However, even without knowing just how many times Mrs. Barber has made the journey around the sun, she's still out of your age bracket. And therefore out of your league." Andy places a hand on Max's bicep, squeezing just hard enough to make the younger man gulp.

"And I would appreciate it if you didn't disrespect my wife and the mother of my son like that ever again. Do we have an understanding, Maximilian Robert Greenwell?"

"Ye-yeah. I mean yes, sir!" He quickly amends when he notices the way the elder Barber's nostrils flare. "Sorry about that. And, um, my bad, A.J."

"I took the liberty of texting your mom. She'll be here any minute." Andy's namesake interjects. "I suggest you wait for her on the front porch."

Without offering up another word, he opens the door and points toward the street. Taking the hint, his friend gathers his things once again and traipses outside. "Guess, I'll just see you at school -" He tries, only to be cut off when the door slams in his face with a satisfying thud.

"You alright, son?"

"Yep." He huffs before flipping the lock.

"You sure?"

"When he wasn't going on and on about Mom, he also threw in how KitCat and Rory were kinda hot, especially for a couple of nerds. But I shut that down fast. But then he just had to go and call Mom a MILF..."

"I understand. I've seen a lot of men do and say plenty of stupid things because of your mother, but Max..."

The two men share a look of quiet understanding. It lasts a full beat before they finally speak again.

"Max is dead to me, father."

"Good man." A.J. smiles when his father affectionately claps him on the shoulder. "We've got to watch out for the women in this house."

"We do. Plus, they'd eat a guy like Max for breakfast. I mean the level of violence I've been subjected to alone - I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, including him."

"Mhm." Andy wraps a muscled arm around the younger Barber, pulling him close to drop a brief kiss on top of his head. "Believe me when I tell you that your Mom's silverware throwing ability has seriously improved over the years. Shit is scarily accurate now."

A.J. simply nods, choosing to take his father at his word. "Well, now that that's over, is it almost time for dinner? Protecting the women in this house can really take a lot out of you."

The elder man sniffs the air, his nose detecting the delicious aroma of fresh herbs simmering in hot oil.

"I think it is. Smells like your mother's cooking now, which means I need to get in my spot." Andy bestows one last kiss against his boy's temple before playfully pushing him to the side. "Besides, I don't think I've given her a reason to fuss at me yet today. Gotta keep the spark alive somehow, kid."

Throwing his son one last wink, A.J. then watches as his father jogs off in the direction of the kitchen bellowing "here I come, baby girl".

With a sigh, the youngest member of Barber brood turns and begins climbing the stairs, laughing when he hears his lovely mother's annoyed shouts coming from the other side of the house.

His parents were crazy about each other, that much he knew. But the older he got, the more he was beginning to realize that there was a little more to it. They were actually still in love with one another.

And that was cool. Sometimes, it even made him the envy of his friends whose folks were either divorced or barely tolerated each other. He was cool with that too.

Just don't ever call his pretty Mama a MILF. Because that shit right there...that wasn't cool no matter how you spun it.

END

[ace-race-ace]

podrias hacer un fic de chelance, o algo así como un triangulo amoroso entre chelance, strollonso y chestappen?

Creo que me excedi, pero sería genial, por más que intento escribir mi diminuto cerebro no lo logra :(

It’s interesting to me that quite a few people on here have the impression I speak Spanish but I don’t whatsoever 😅 I just like Checo and Nando :)

So apologies for responding in English buttttt

I do like some good Chelance 🤭

I really do like the dynamic they can have, similar to Strollonso but a bit different. They are closer in age so it’s a bit more of a ‘meet cute’ type of situation!

I’ve sprinkled in a few Chelance implications in some of my Strollonso stuff, usually for some jealous/possessive Fernando purposes, but I could be tempted to switch it 👀

Maybe Lance and Checo become (secretly) a thing at racing point. They continue to see each other casually and everything’s going well. BUT THEN Fernando comes in to replace Seb and he’s much more openly flirting with Lance. So Checo has to stand his ground and make it clear 🤭

Oo could also tie in a bit of angst where Lance also thinks Checo has moved on with Max?? Dunno, need to think

Random lil snippet I came up with ⬇️

Max is completely unaware of his teammate’s distraction, going on his usual debrief as they lean against the railing. Usually, Checo is pretty happy to chat with the Dutchman, but today his attention is pulled towards the two figures dressed in green behind him. Checo watches the scene from afar, his blood boiling under the surface. Lance’s beautiful doe eyes are beaming at the older driver in front of him. His body is slightly leaned in towards him, responding to Fernando’s expressive hand gestures. The Spaniard even goes as far as reaching over to squeeze Lance’s shoulder a few times and letting his hand linger there. The younger driver throws his head back at something he says, his chest heaving up and down. Checo grinds his teeth, doing his very best to stay where he is and not make a scene. But the last straw comes when Lance bites his bottom lip as Fernando drags him down to whisper something in his ear.

Checo excuses himself, cutting off Max mid-ramble, but at that point, he couldn’t care less. He walks over to the Aston Martin drivers, standing straight with his chest a bit too puffed out. Lance is in the middle of giggling once again as Checo gets to his side.

“Hola Lance!” The Mexican quickly wraps an arm around the Canadian’s waist, giving it a tight squeeze. Lance immediately whips his head around and smiles at the new arrival. He presses his lithe body against him and reaches out to fix a strand of dark hair that had fallen out of place. Checo returns his smile before turning back to face the Spaniard. “Ah and hola Fernando.”

Fernando raises his eyebrow at the pair, finally wrenching his hand off of Lance’s precious shoulder.

“Hola Checo. We were just talking about the race. Lance made some great overtakes; I was impressed!”

There was no missing the way Lance’s cheek got a bit pink at the compliment. Checo pulls the boy closer to him, spreading the hand resting on his waist wider as to cover more surface of his soft belly. His pinky is now also trailing dangerously close to Lance’s shorts.

“Of course you were. Lance is always incredible. The way he moves on track... beautiful.”

Lance can feel Checo’s eyes roaming from head to toe and back up again. His body gives a slight jolt at the attention. Fernando huffs under his breath and scratches his beard.

“Yes, yes. Lancito, we should go, team is waiting for us in the garage.”

Checo’s brain short circuits. How dare he? Lance catches on to the Mexican’s anger, quickly nudging him with his hip, so he stops death glaring Fernando. Thankfully, this brings his attention back.

“Checo, mon chou, I need to go. But I will see you later, right?”

The older man’s expression softens, he unwraps his arm from around him to hold on to his hand instead.

“Of course, mi angel!”

Fernando shakes his head and points to his watch.

“Go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

The Spaniard rolls his eyes and walks away. Once he is far enough, Lance turns to him.

“Jealous much?”

“I was not jealous. He was just obviously flirting with you.”

Lance smirks at him.

“Ah, and people aren’t allowed to flirt with me? You sure you’re not jealous?”

Checo scrunches his face at him. He wraps both arms around Lance this time, pulling him flush against his front. Lance bites his lips as he looks down at the shorter man.

“I don’t like sharing what’s mine.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not my best work, just didn’t want to leave you with nothing! I could expand on the idea if people like it :) but also the idea of the four of them (Checo/Lance/Max/Fernando) being caught up in a love square (?) is so tasty to think about 🤭

Thx for the ask anon 🫶

[zelda-cooper]

My version of Loonatics Unleashed (Part 3)

This is just my interpretation of this universe of "Loonatics Unleashed", don't take it as a summary of the series or as absolute truth to interpret your version. NO! It's just MY view and you have every right to disagree. Furthermore, there will be low-level words (even though I censor some) and there may be sensitive topics for certain people. Besides, this refers to the universe of Loonatics Unleashed, so for those who don't care, you can skip this blog, but for those who are a fan or if this interests you, you can continue reading. Part one of this blog is at the link below if you want to see it.

Part 1

Part 2

Hi I came back! And this time with bombastic news (And I hope no one has forgotten me at this point-). This time it's going to be a simpler blog because today, I'm finally going to show the Redesigns of the protagonists of my version of Loonatics Unleashed! For those who want, the links to see my journey through this madness are there at the beginning, I don't want to go into detail here because I'm really, like... VERY excited to show them soon! So, let's go!

Credits again to @drakepad-luv-200, who was the person who inspired me to make this crazy saga!

Protagonists' Visuals (Reinvented/Redesigned)

Let's go, I wanted to start by saying that this was one of the parts where procrastination came STRONG... Because, first... I had to consider their new personality, think about the pose that would represent this, the clothes that would have a heroic look and, at the same time, is minimally simple to draw... And that's not easy...TuT

So I had to get a lot... But A LOT OF REFERENCES!!! And in this I have to talk about two artists who inspired me and who I NEED to give credit to thank them for how incredible they are! The first is @onyxonline, who is currently making a Smilling Crittens AU called Space Riders AU (I highly recommend reading it). She also has her Loonatics AU and her visuals are AMAZING! I really like her style, something very Anime and such. She helped me a lot with some clothes.

The second is @theangrycomet-art, he, in this case, helped me a lot with the proportions and also with the bodies of some characters. His art is very clean and he made sketches of how they would look. I also highly recommend checking out his blogs!

But now... Time to talk about MY Redesigns! Let's start with the Bunny brothers: Ace and Lexi!

For Ace's design, I wanted to give him a pose of a somewhat inexperienced leader, "mainly protagonist" and who is good at fighting (even on the street), I put looser clothes and bands on his arms to symbolize him as a fighter.

As for Lexi, I gave her a cuter look that could show a heroine power. I gave them very long clothes and some extra accessories. This was one of the easiest.

Danger Duck

Danger Duck was also reasonably easy (the pose was difficult, but ok-), I took a lot of inspiration from Darkwing Duck (because the personalities even match and are really similar), a very arrogant pose, a calm one to symbolize that he is the "most incredible hero of all time". The beak wasn't difficult, because... I draw a lot of ducks...-3-)

Tech E. Coyote and Rev Runner

MY GOD!!! TECH'S MUZZLE AND REV'S HAIR WAS HARD!!!! But it was worth it, I think... The Rev wasn't too difficult, I picked up some references from marathon runners and a scarf and glasses to add some charm. Tech I mixed a bit of scientists, but also a more "Mad Max" look with the torn shorts and scarf around his neck, I also took the opportunity to show him wearing the glove and projecting a holographic screen.

And finally, Slam Tasmanian.

This one was difficult, but it was one of the most fun. I got the fighter vibe and also made sure he had a muscular physique, I made his fur simulate a beard to make him look older and I gave him some stylized gloves to give him something similar to boxing gloves.

Final Considerations

Well... That's it, folks! It was actually shorter because I wanted to talk about the redesigns (and because my life is pretty busy these days-). I'll still work on Zadavia and us villains, I'll also show two of my OCs that will be relevant to the plot, but that's for another day. I hope you enjoyed it and I’ll see you in the next blog! BYE!!!!

[eowynstwin]

BRO in the same vein of people making Simon be an unrealistic Instagram prettyboy PEOPLE WONT STOP KPOP-IFYING PHOTOS OF PEDRO PASCAL. Like they smooth out all his fine lines and whitewash him until he looks like a dollop of bread dough. HES ALMOST 50 FOR CHRISTS SAKE HES ALLOWED TO LOOK MATURE AND AGED. LET THAT MAN HAVE WRINKLES OR SO HELP ME 😭

He looked good when he was younger but he looks SO good now, the gray in his hair and beard and his smile lines… why are people obsessed with over-editing older celebrities and beaut-ifying crusty military men 😭 if you want kpop boy and that’s fine but why are you erasing all the appeal from perfectly good older men 😭😭😭

It’s “I want to fuck that old man” until he actually starts looking like an old man 😒

But yeah ageism is a MASSIVE problem on tumblr, especially within the 18-24 age group. I’ve seen people refer to Price as an old man when at max he’s 40 in canon. I’m sorry but 40 is not fucking old.

Simon, meanwhile, is probably mid-30s, and he’s been in active combat for at least a decade now—so he’s going to have aged. A lot. And that’s not even considering the trauma he’s endured which definitely ages you both visibly and invisibly. Even if he is impossibly handsome beneath the mask, he is not going to have the dewy skin of a Hollywood actor with multiple microdermabrasion facials under his belt.

I mean shit, I’m 27 and I already have fine lines on my eyes and mouth, and I don’t even spend that much time outside. Younger fandom just does not understand how soon aging happens. Younger fandom also does not understand how attractive aging is. And it’s a tragedy for them, honestly.

[thessalian]

Thess vs Greenwich Market

So. Laundry's in the dryer cycle, the last batch of cookies is cooling (I just decided to bake, like, all of them), I used the kitchen time to boil some more potatoes for potato salad and those are also cooling, so now I'm going to take a minute to explain my Adventure from yesterday. And coincidentally also explain why my feet hurt so very much.

See, there's this place in Greenwich Market called The Fudge Patch. An old friend of mine who I mostly see on Facebook these days recommended it - apparently he goes fairly regularly and last month they had a deal on delivery fees, so I tried some and I loved it. Then I discovered that some of the flavours they have in store were not available on the website - specifically, coffee fudge. Which ... well, you guys know me well enough to know I just simply had to have. So I decided to look up how one might get to Greenwich from my little chunk of London. Turns out it's not that far - only takes a couple of buses. So I decided that if I was having a not-too-bad day Saturday and if the weather was decent, I would go and get this coffee fudge.

Yesterday, as far as I could tell when I woke up, was sunny and bright and I wasn't feeling too bad. So I thought, "Great! I will go to Greenwich Market". Even checked to see if there were any pharmacies in the vicinity so I could pick up the mallet meds I needed. There were, in fact, two. (This will come into play later.) So off I went on the bus.

Decided to do the pharmacies first, and discovered that neither of these two chain pharmacies had a pharmacy counter at those outlets. I mean, I guess it might have something to do with the fact that the place is very much for tourists - the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark are both there. So I sighed a little, and decided to take a quick trip to local bookstore. Bought a Neil Gaiman short story anthology and a copy of Max Brooks' World War Z (far superior to the movie, as far as I've ever been able to tell), and then went to the market.

Greenwich Market is ... squished. Cramped. Lots of lovely things in a very small space. Which was not precisely easy for me to navigate, especially since I made the tactical error of entering via the food court and an awful lot of people were standing around eating while blocking the entrance into the main market. Then I had to hobble through very small aisles between stalls. I did look at some of the pretties, but not too closely because too many people. So I decided that, while the market proper would get a decent look on some other day when we're not at the start of a bank holiday weekend, I should just get my fudge and be on my way, preferably via a pharmacy.

The shop was also small, and a lot of it was devoted to the area where the fudge slabs were sliced and stored (and also probably packaged for delivery). There were a couple of people in ahead of me and the first thing I heard from the guy running the shop (mid-60s minimum, one of those wiry guys who gets tough and leathery-looking when they get older, long hair, receding hairline, big beard, very engaging grin) was, "No, seriously, take a sample! We are happy for you to taste everything!" and talking about how even if you don't want fudge right now, and leave without buying anything, he's happy to give samples because you might think of the place the next time you want fudge, or a gift for a fudge-lover on holidays, or when you're recommending a treat to a friend. Good way to do business, frankly. So I tried some of the lemon sherbet fudge he was offering (which was really good; I decided at that moment to go for a five-slab box again, and that to be one of the five) and told him that I was very specifically there because I'd ordered some for delivery but the flavour I was most interested in wasn't available online. He asked which one, and when I told him, he went, "Oh; we will definitely rectify that!" So I might be responsible for the coffee fudge hitting the delivery list. Huzzah!

Anyway, he practically insisted that I try a sample of the coffee fudge, since I'd come there especially for it, and in the process he noticed my pin badges. As I ordered my selection (coffee, lemon sherbet, raspberry sorbet, cinnamon swirl, and peanut butter), first he said, "Decisive person; knows what they want. I like it!" and noticed my pin badges - specifically the D&D themed ones. He said he didn't play but that he was peripherally interested in the whole thing and I told him that the fudge was at least partly gaming snacks. To my utter surprise, he asked what I was throwing at my players this weekend. No stranger has ever asked me anything that specific about my gaming before. So I told him and that was a thing.

That brought us to Warhammer, and sideways into books - apparently he's at the penultimate book of the Horus Heresy. Since we were recommending books and he was almost at the end of an apparently very long series, I made a recommendation of my own - the Locked Tomb. When trying to tell him what it was about, the best I could come up with that was short enough not to be too spoilery or involved was "necromancer lesbians in space". The young woman who was packaging up fudge looked up for the first time at that point, going, "Oooh!" and the guy slammed his fist on the counter in a very Thor-like kind of way (you know, the "I like this! ANOTHER!" thing) and said, "YES. Why has no one done this before? I need this!" So I wrote down the title of the first book for him; he can get the rest from there.

Last little bit of discussion was Patrick Rothfuss, who I told him I only knew from his time on Critical Role, and described the letter he wrote to Keyleth in-character a bit. And by then, my fudge was packaged and it was time for me to be on my way. But I think he sincerely hoped I'd be back sometime. Which was nice. Either way, one of the best shopping experiences I've had in a long time.

Then I had to find a bus stop to head in a home-ward direction. This took awhile, because that particular bit of Greenwich has a lot of one-way streets. Finally found it after a bit of a walk, during which I noticed that the sky was going from sunshine and blue to dark and grey. Well, fuck. Waited a bit for the bus, and didn't notice until I was basically on it that it was only going halfway to where I needed it to go. However, it was stopping at New Cross, so there might be a pharmacy there. Even if not, there's a big Sainsbury's, and the start of a bus route that takes me past at least two pharmacies and about a block closer to home than the one I would have taken if it'd stopped at Peckham like it was supposed to. Unfortunately, it let me off a fair distance from the big Sainsbury's, and there were no pharmacies. Woe.

Stopped at the big Sainsbury's, picked up some vegetables and treated myself to a can of root beer, and waited for the bus. That's when it started to rain. "Fuck", was my only real comment to that. There is nothing more annoying than standing at the start of the route, weighed down with shopping, watching the bus driver fuck around, and knowing you can't complain because they are entitled to breaks too. Honestly, I would have just been happy enough with a bench. But nope.

Anyway, bus finally got moving, got as far as Dulwich, got off near a pharmacy, picked up my mallet meds, back to the bus stop, ten minute wait for the next bus, and finally home - tired, sore, but triumphant.

...Then I started cooking dinner, which was roast chicken. I did really well, too. First I discovered that sage and lemon balm are a nice combination of herbs to stuff into the cavity; gives a really nice flavour to the meat, especially in combination with an onion and an entire bulb of garlic. Then I discovered that whatever I did to that chicken (might have been the slight oiling and salting of the skin before I put it in the oven, or maybe the herbs, or both), it resulted in the chicken being exceptionally juicy and tender. As in, when I went to carve off a leg for dinner, the thigh bone just kind of ... fell out. So ... that was good.

Boiled up the carcass, too - onion, garlic, herbs and all. May have boiled it too long, mind you. Or maybe not; what I have is a highly concentrated stock-jelly, of sorts. I figure I do what I would do with stock cubes or those little pots of jelly stock you can get at the grocery store - water it down and heat it, and stock will ensue. Which is good, because the leftover chicken breast is going to be risotto later.

But not today. Today I have done enough, and on top of what I did yesterday, I deserve more of a break. But that's why I have so many reheatables - on days when I have simply Ceased To Can, I can stick a thing in the microwave but still have home-cooked niceness.

So that was my Adventure. The lemon sherbet fudge is already gone, sad to say. But I still have more fudge, so that's nice. No major regrets for the Adventure, but man do I hurt, especially on top of the Adulting. I mean, hell, I mopped the kitchen floor today. Which would be more impressive if the kitchen weren't the approximate size of a postage stamp, but there we are. I have leftovers and fudge and cookies, plus still a lot of my proper American Sour Patch Kids, and I will have potato salad, and eventually some chicken katsu curry and risotto and chili and...

Look, if it's going to hurt no matter what I make myself to eat, I'm going to make sure the things I'm hurting myself to make are fucking worth it.

[islndgurl777]

Roy coaching Jamie in how to be a great player and also a great team member

Roy confronting Isaac with compassion and care and giving him good advice about how to handle his anger

Roy increasingly using tedisms this season

Roy using a personal anecdote during the press conference to meaningfully drive his point home.

I’ve been thinking a lot this last week about where Ted was before he came to Richmond. Obviously he was well-known, had a good reputation as a coach… What happened to the team he left behind?

I think he was working at the college level, which is a lot different from the pros mostly (I assume) because there’s the potential for a lot more turnover. That entire team is changing every four years max, so any familial bonds and love and true camaraderie created between team members is gone sooo quickly. “The Lasso way” is not going to work long for a team that, four years down the line, doesn’t know Ted Lasso and hasn’t been personally coached or influenced by him. At most he will have left another coach or two behind who worked alongside him, and I don’t know what turnover for college-level coaches is like, but I think it would still be very difficult for those one or two coaches to continue a legacy of such goodwill among a team with no personal stake in “the lasso way”. Therefore, I’m not sure these teams do well without him there in the long run.

Richmond though. They’re pros. These guys, barring serious injury, could be on this team for another decade or more. That is so much time for the team to cement itself together as a force for good in their world. Team members will trickle off as they get older and retire or get offers for insanely lucrative trades (though I think the culture of respect and love in the Richmond locker room makes transfers out incredibly unlikely; why would you leave a place you feel loved and valued?), and younger players will trickle in. I think the rate of this would be slow enough at the pro level for ted’s legacy of positivity and kindness to cement itself again in newer players who’ve never met him; the greyhounds value Ted’s lessons enough to pass them on to the newer players, and the number of players at any given time who participate in and see the value of this culture are able to, in turn, keep passing it on to the next newbies.

Which brings me back to Roy Kent. He’s invested in Richmond in a way Ted and Beard are not. He played on the team. He lives there. He has family and friends and love there.

Now not only is he coaching at Richmond, but he’s slowly taking all the parts of Ted that make him a great mentor and coach and he’s incorporating them into his own coaching style. He’s become a damn fine coach and mentor himself.

All this to say, this season has shown Ted being torn more and more between his job and his son, and we know if it comes down to a choice he’s going to choose Henry. This season has also shown that Ted has made a deep impact on the team, once that has the potential and likelihood of carrying on in the lives of these men and any new players for years to come. Top that off with damn fine coach Roy Kent sticking around Richmond for years to come? And I think the team will do alright without Ted.

[nothorses]

My genetics have cursed me. My mom is 5,2 and my dad is 5 foot even. My older sister is 5,3 and my younger brother is 5,1. Their oldest son (me) is 4,11.... I get carded every time I buy a freaking energy drink and they are shocked to see I'm twenty five. I guess at least I got the hairy gene cause if it wasn't for this beard if be accused of skipping fourth grade :(

I mean- first of all, that's an absolute mood. I'm 5'4'', which is not quite as rough for sure! But I definitely feel how short I am, and I am consistently tied for, if not outright, the shortest in any given group of people. And I once had a grocery store clerk tell me I looked 12.

That said.

Nothing has left me feeling more validated than working with my CT did (mentor teacher for my students teaching): a cis guy who's like 5'6'' max (probably closer to my height tbh but I'm not a good judge), has a higher voice than I do, and is overall fairly scrawny and, in many ways, "feminine". He's an art teacher, even! I can't tell you how many times I've felt out-of-place as a male art teacher.

Except that he's a favorite among the cis male students. They love and respect him, he's the school's track coach, and he's never once had his masculinity questioned (that I've seen). And I mean, that's not to say it doesn't happen- people can be pretty brutal to short men- but he's found his place, and his people, and that's really reassuring. And just working with a cis guy who didn't tower over me was, in and of itself, really fucking affirming.

I wish I could like, beam that feeling directly into your brain somehow. But I can't, so I'll leave you with this:

You are taller than Danny Devito. If you wanted to a be a jockey (guy who rides racehorses), you would be a prime candidate and highly sought-after. Lots of people wish they looked younger, and in time, you'll look more your age anyway. And lots of people will perceive you the way you want them to, even if some others don't.

I know it's rough, and I'm sorry. I know this kind of thing doesn't fix these issues. And I also hope you can find some comfort in these ideas, even if it's temporary.

[choccyhearts]

90's!Eddie Headcanons

Note: I always like imagining how Eddie would adapt with the 90's since it is lowkey very different from the 80's, so here's some random thoughts ^_^

CW:

Cut his hair around the beginning of the decade

I really couldn't tell you why my brain won't let this go, but I really believe that he would've thought that The Blair Witch Project was real (like not for a suuuper long time, but maybe before seeing it he would)

(But he would NOT have made that mistake again with Paranormal Activity in the 00's...totallyyyy...)

He prepared for Y2K "just in case"

He told the others that it was stupid and that people were all worked up over nothing

But did drag along a case of beans, beer and a first-aid kit with him to Steve's New Year's Eve party "just in case"

(He left his other favorite belongings in his van)

His precious van did sadly break down but that was okay cause he ended up just getting a new one instead :)

He refuses to not drive a van, honestly

Would maybe depart from that though if he had access to hearse

Despite being the rough around the edges metalhead he is, he would find a love for Britney Spears

Like ya know how today there's a collection of metalheads who love Carly Rae Jepsen and see her as their emotional support pop girly? That's what Britney is for him

Thought Scream was a masterpiece and forced the others to dress up as the characters with him for Halloween (you can take your guess as to who he was...)

(Stu, duh.)

Speaking of Halloween costumes, the older gang would also dress up as the Friends characters (because c'mon, these are yt ppl..) (He was Joey because he refused to be anyone else) (Yes him and Steve argued over it resulting in a coin toss to make the decision) (Steve was Ross)

He's def a Seinfeld>Friends kinda guy

He's also a Simpsons>Family Guy kinda guy

Fuckin' loves DunkAroos

Got lost at a Nirvana concert (this applies to both Rockstar!Eddie or regular Eddie)

Rockstar!Eddie and Corroded Coffin went on SNL

Eddie told Mike Myers he was hilarious but kept calling him "Michael" to be "respectful" (also cause he thought it was hilarious)

Got Adam Sandler's autograph for Steve

Isn't a fan of ICP or juggalos but can accept them from afar

(Is highkey thankful he went to high school in the 80's because otherwise he would've had some juggalos sitting at the Hellfire table)

Celebrated the beginning of his 30's with a bottle of champagne and a pack of DunkAroos

Would also mourn his 20s but not entirely

His first time using the Internet, he looked up porn

Not cause he was in the mood or anything, but just to see what was there

He's not allowed to use Steve's computer anymore

Embraced the younger ones' new phases :

Lucas styling himself after Will Smith in Fresh Prince (which btw not an Eddie hc but Lucas and Max dressed as Men in Black for Halloween on year, okay bye)

Max definitely embraced the grunge style of dress

El loving riot grrrl bands due to their boldness and unabashed expression of emotions (Eddie thinks it's badass)

The boys' love for video games surging due to history being made before their very eyes (Sonic, Crash, Super Mario 64, etc.)

Eddie gets high and watches Kevin Smith movies

Misses his long hair after watching Jay & Silent Bob :(

Likes Goosebumps books and collects them for his future children

The whole crew went to go see Space Jam expecting it to be really dumb and dopey

Everyone left with their lives changed

Forced Steve and Lucas to teach him basketball

It went exactly how you'd expect it go

Fell asleep watching Titanic at movie night

Freaked TFFF out when he got high and watched the Truman Show

Then let his fear subside and would make jokes

"Steve, move out of the way, you're blocking my good angle" *is staring at a plant pot*

Wants smoke with the Chucky doll

Tried growing out a small beard towards the end of the decade

Didn't really feel it, will try again in his 40s

Rockstar!Eddie bought Wayne a house in '95

Made sure the kitchen had lots of cupboard space

Eddie didn't cry until he was leaving after moving Wayne in

Wayne didn't cry until he started putting up picture frames of Eddie through out the years

Mechanic!Eddie saved up for a house for the two of them to rent

Either version Eddie got Wayne a black labrador

Wayne was your typical "I don't need a dog to worry about, messing up my furniture" type of man

They're attached at the hip after one day

"This Green Day isn't half bad"

Despite knowing that it isn't his first actual drink, Eddie is psyched to take Dustin out for his 21st birthday, just the two of them

Steve tracks them down, upset he wasn't the one to buy Dustin his first drink

Dustin doesn't even care as long as he isn't the one paying

This would be the decade that Eddie properly settles down with someone

Gets married early in the decade

Decides to have kids towards the end of the decade/early 00s

I'm gonna cap it here ^_^