#and “their man” is usually also someone elses man

[sylussflower]

Let's talk about Sylus's recent secret time, "Heatwave."

Sylus—the man who lived his life all alone, who never received comfort or warmth when he was sick, and who is at constant risk of showing vulnerability because of his many enemies. He has always been a hyper-independent person, believing he can handle everything on his own. Imagine living a lonely and dangerous life, yet deep down, there’s an unhealed inner child secretly longing for comfort and warmth when sick. It’s heartbreakingly tragic.

When he says, "No one is allowed here," it’s because he doesn’t want to show his vulnerable state. He’s convinced he won’t receive any comfort, but then he sees MC. That’s when he realizes—she is the exception. She can give him the warmth and care he’s always needed.

And the way he asks, "Let me use your lap as a pillow," "Be gentle," and "Hold me"—it’s as if he transforms into a needy and clingy person, allowing his wounded inner child to seek healing. When he refuses to take medicine because it's bitter, it's like he's finally letting himself act stubborn, just like a child who wants to be taken care of. Gosh, I will never get over the fact that he acted like a baby! This is such a rare and beautiful side of our beloved Onychinus leader.

Then, we see his possessive side emerge:

He asks, "What's on your neck? You were putting on lipstick, and it accidentally got here." Then he kisses her neck and says, "I won’t believe that."

The way he questions the lipstick—almost as if he’s making an excuse for why her neck is marked—shows how much it bothers him to think of someone else being close to her. Even if she says it was an accident, he chooses not to believe her, because deep down, he wants to believe there’s something more—something his.

And the kiss? That’s both a possessive act and a desperate attempt to feel connected to her. It’s as if he’s silently saying, “You’re mine,” even though he refuses to acknowledge how much he truly cares.

This scene captures Sylus fighting so hard to maintain control while unknowingly revealing his feelings—his jealousy, his possessiveness, his desire for her. He’s caught between protecting himself and letting his emotions slip through the cracks. It’s raw, messy, and powerful.

And then, he calls her "Ice pack."

That’s such a soft Sylus moment! He’s still holding on to his tough persona, but his tenderness seeps through. Calling her "Ice pack" is his way of keeping things casual, but it also shows how much he craves her care. And when he asks her to hold him—that’s a huge step. He’s letting go of his usual control to let her in.

Finally, when he says, "We should have done this earlier," it feels like he’s realizing, maybe for the first time, that it’s okay to be vulnerable with her.

Our Sylus is finally allowing himself to be open, little by little.❤️

[just-wrting]

Think I Like You

Title: Think I Like You

Pairing: Roronoa Zoro x Half Mink!Reader

Word Count: 4.1k

Master List

Summary: You try to figure out why Zoro won’t take you seriously even if the answer isn’t what you expect.

A/N: I’m not dead! I’m just all over the place with a lot of stuff. I sleep a lot which I can’t tell if it’s a sleep issue or a depression issue, but I’m always tired. I still work full time but also do school part time now. Plus I’ve still got a boyfriend! But he wanted to end this weekend on 1062 which means Zoro brainrot for me.

You stretch and roll over, burying your face into your pillow. Ever since you changed where you nap, you've started sleeping so much better. Something about being more comfortable or something like that. The actual reason doesn't really matter. You're just happy you're sleeping better.

"You owe me for this."

"I don't owe you shit. Not my fault you nap in my spot." You reach up and pat his cheek. "What do I need to do for you to be quiet?"

"I already told you, you owe me."

You open your eyes just a little. "What could I possibly owe you? I don't like to drink, I don't keep money, not to mention I can't even tell if you're the type of man to be swayed by physical charms. What could I possibly offer you, Roronoa?"

"For starters, you can start referring to me by my name like everyone else does." He looks pissed. "You should fight me."

"You didn't take me seriously last time, Moss Head. Why would I bother trying again?"

He pulls on your ear. "I said like everyone else, not like how that idiot says my name."

You ignore him and bury your nose in his stomach. Dinner has been started, and if you don't ignore it you'll end up going to the kitchen early. It's less that Sanji minds seeing you, it's more of the fact that you struggle to suppress the urge to knock shit off the counter and dip your fingers in the sauces. Such is the life of someone like you.

You let yourself doze a little. You can still hear what's going on, but just like every common house cat, you ignore it. What you can't ignore is the gentle scratching behind your ears. As far as you remember, no one has done this since you were a kid. You don't hate the feeling, but you start to feel flustered over it. Ever since you left home, you've made sure affection comes at your own terms so you haven't had this in years.

There's no point in asking him to stop. You're clearly fond enough of him to nap on him, what's the big deal about getting ear scratches? Besides, he's the type to get embarrassed and loud if you point out you're awake. That's not something you feel like dealing with right now. You're too touch starved to complain.

Despite the comfortable conditions, you don't actually fall asleep. You spend the next forty-ish minutes pretending to sleep, waiting for dinner to be done. The time passes by relatively quickly, though you're sore afterwards. You couldn't bring yourself to even twitch, worried that he'd stop.

The dinner call goes off, and you pretend to wake up. You have no clue why you're acting, but it was too late to stop twenty minutes ago. Standing up, you stretch halfheartedly. At first, he doesn't say anything. It's only once he catches up to you that he starts asking questions.

"What's the deal with the noise you make?"

Raising an eyebrow, you look at him. "I don't snore, so I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm not stupid, I can tell you aren't snoring. The other noise, the one that's relaxing. I can usually feel it when you're laying directly on me."

"What do you mean? The other noise?" You pause to think it over before it clicks. "We aren't talking about that."

You know what he's referring to. It's not like it's something you can control, but it's still embarrassing. Of all people to be you around, it's been Zoro. No one on the crew has judged you for being what you are, it's just embarrassing to be a mix. Your mother's human, and your dad's a mink. You look decently human, just with a few quirks.

"What do you mean, we aren't talking about it? We're talking about it right now."

Your face starts to heat up. "I mean I don't want to tell you."

His eyes narrow in suspicion. "Why not? Is it supposed to be embarrassing or something?"

"If I say yes, will you drop it?"

"Yeah, sure."

His face instantly relaxes. If you could smack him, you would. The last time you tried, it hurt. So you put your hand on his shoulder and give him a push. The only thing it does is cause his other shoulder to hit the doorframe, but you use it to march past him.

You take your seat, leaning back against the armrest of the booth seat. Kicking your feet up on the space next to you, you watch the crew carefully. Everyone is smiling and in a good mood, so you don't have anything to worry about. You don't ever admit it, but you care about them even if it's difficult to show.

Zoro picks up your legs and lays them in his lap. Since it doesn't seem to bother him, you're tempted to just sit normally. You have no idea what's going on in that head of his, and you doubt he does either. However, you actually do enjoy touching him, so you'll stay like this for now.

There's more commotion as Sanji brings out the plates. The one you're most interested in is a large tuna fillet that gets set in the middle of the table. You can't stop staring at it, the tender flesh a beautiful golden color. It's hard to tell if it smells better than it looks or looks better than it smells. Sanji has never failed to impress you with his dishes, so you can't wait to sink your teeth in.

Before you can even start to load your plate, Sanji sets a small plate in front it you. It contains a disk of packed rice, some avocado slices, and chunks of fish. You're assuming it's more of the tuna. Whatever it is, it was made specifically for you.

You don't mind the special dishes. You'll try almost everything, and unlike Luffy, you'll eat it slow enough to give a review. Everything tastes good so you don't get the point, but it probably makes Sanji feel better to have honest reviews and not just someone who loves food fawning over his cooking. Though if you're not careful, you worry that he'll start having write an essay about it.

"And for you, a special tune tartare! If you like it, I'll make it again for everyone some time."

You nod. "Yeah, I'll let you know. I always do. Not that you've ever made a bad dish."

You can't stop the tip of your tail from flicking back and forth in mild annoyance. By the time you get halfway through the tartare, all of the fillet is gone. It's not like it's the biggest deal, you just wish you could've had some of that too. It's not fair that since you got a special tuna dish, that you don't get the other one.

"If you tell me what that noise was, I'll share," Zoro teases while pointing at you with a bite of tuna. "I bet you can't resist answering now."

"I'm a cat. I was making a normal noise that cats make. Consider it a compliment."

You lean forward and take the bite of tuna. It's flakey and melts on your tongue with a slightly sticky glaze that has hints of honey and garlic. You lick your lips savoring the balance of flavors. None of them are overwhelming, but it's hard to gauge in just one bite what you think about it.

"You can't just," Zoro stutters. "You can't just take the food off of my chopsticks. Get your own!"

You grab his wrist and lick the glaze off of the chopsticks. It feels like there's another flavor there that you can't quite tell what it is. It's some sort of herby flavor, that while you enjoy, you can't pin down.

"Here!" Zoro doesn't look at you as he shoves his plate towards you. "Just take it since I don't want your germs."

You want to tease him, but you'll leave him alone. It's better to leave it in front of other people since Robin's insinuations are becoming too much. For now you'll just eat the food. Later, you'll tease him.

—-

"You're still not taking me seriously, Roronoa. Why did you want to fight if you won't take me seriously?"

You lunge, hand reaching for his throat. He blocks it with his arm, causing your claws to dig into his skin. Using his arm as leverage, you pull yourself closer to him, swinging your sword at his side. His parry is effortless, and he looks bored. It's so aggravating that he won't take you seriously in a simple sparring match. Perhaps he'd take you more seriously if you actually tried to kill him.

You disengage before leaping over him. This time, you swing your sword at his neck as he turn around. It's once more blocked, and he smirks. You're just barely faster than him as he takes a halfhearted swing at your sword arm with his other arm. You catch the flat of the blade with your knuckles, steeling your arm against the shock wave of the blow.

Kicking your leg out in front of you, you aim for his knees, intending to bring him down. Despite the grip on his sword, he catches your ankle in his hand and pulls your leg to the side. You let your body pivot with the movement, twisting until your leg is behind you. You yank your foot forward as hard as you can, pulling him into your back.

He's quick to let your ankle go and grab your shoulder to steady himself. In a fluid motion, you swing your arm and grab your dagger. You flick it in your fingers and thrust towards his ribs. His hand trails down your arm to your wrist and pins it behind your back. He gives it a squeeze trying to get you to drop the dagger.

"Are you actually trying to kill him?" Nami tells from the side. "Are you stupid?"

You roll your eyes, sweeping your leg behind you and hooking Zoro's. Despite your efforts, you can't get him off balance, only causing him to take a step back. By now you're getting pissed off. You aren't a bad swordsman, it's just that this jerk is ridiculously smart in battle. This is probably the only time he'll use his brain all day.

You jerk your head back, hitting his jaw. The sound of the impact makes you regret it, knowing you'll feel like shit later. You manage to free yourself as he loosens his grip, and you elbow him as you twist back around. The only reason you're still going is because he won't take it seriously. It's like he finds it funny that he's able to fend you off so easily.

You rush towards him, tossing your weapons to the ground. Digging your claws into his shoulders, you use your momentum to knock him over. It only works because he's too busy rubbing his jaw to notice you in time. The two of you tumble to the deck, and you lean in as close as you can.

"Why won't you take me seriously? Is this just a game?"

Faster than you can blink, he's able to flip and pin you under him. He's even more smug than the last time you sparred, and you can't tell if you want to smack him or if you should kiss him. Not that you could smack him, he's got your hands above your head. While kissing him would let you win, you're not willing to fight that dirty in a friendly match.

"You're a brute, Zoro. You can't just manhandle the other crewmates just because you feel like it." Sanji pulls him off you. "If you were in the mood to fight I would've taken the offer."

You tune out their fight as Chopper checks your head and shoulder. You're a bit sore now, but you'll be fine in a few hours. Nothing keeps you down for long, even if it's usually just you going against the doctor's orders. The only thing actually bothering you is the fact that for a moment you thought he was going to answer your question. Though the fact you thought about kissing him is also an issue.

It's not difficult to figure out why you thought that way. Your parents made sure that you knew to find someone strong enough to protect you in case of something happening, even if you knew how to take care of yourself. That, and he's easy on the eyes. Even if he's an idiot half of the time, that doesn't matter. Your parents never said to find a smart man, just a strong one. Everything else was your choice.

Chopper hands you a damp towel, and you use to clean under your claws. Tiny spots of blood rest under them, probably from when you grabbed Zoro. If the pinprick wounds bothered him, he doesn't show it. He's too busy trying to shove Sanji off the boat. As long as you stay dry, it doesn't matter if they end up overboard. They can both swim.

After a few minutes, Nami separates them. You watch her glare at the men before you stalk off to take another nap. The sun is just starting to dip below the water, so finding a nice patch of sun to lick your figurative wounds isn't possible. You'll have to settle for sulking in some weird spot. Perhaps it's time to torment the fish in the tank once more.

Lounging on the sofa is probably the second best place to nap. The sound of the tank constantly humming while you watch the fish swim in tempting circles puts you at ease. You stretch out fully, let your arm and tail hang off the edge. The tip of your tails twitches slightly as you trace the movement of a particularly large bass. That should be tomorrow's lunch, perhaps in a stew. Even though it hasn't been long since you had food, your mouth starts to water at the idea of seafood stew.

"He really doesn't take you seriously, does he?"

You recognize Robin before she even speaks. Her stride is longer than Nami's with her steps being lighter than everyone else's. Not to mention she smells floral. It's never overpowering, but it allows you to pick her out from the crew.

"I guess not. Maybe I should've gone for his other eye."

She laughs, sitting down next to you. You aren't opposed to the company, especially if it's Robin. There something about her that puts you at ease.

"I don't think he'd like that," she muses. "What did he say to you?"

You scoff. "He didn't say anything. Bet he's too proud to take me seriously, like the jerk he is."

Robin smiles knowingly. "I'm sure he has his reasons. Maybe you should talk to him, just the two of you. I'm sure he'd tell you when no one else is around."

You frown. "What is he? A shy school boy? There's only one reason for not taking me seriously in a fight, and it would be him not thinking I'm even worth it. No point in having him tell me that in private, he can just keep it to himself."

She reaches out her hand, gently brushing your hair from your eyes. "Then what do you think about him?"

"I think he's an idiot who swapped out his brain for more muscles."

"Let me rephrase that. What feelings do you have about him?" There's a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "At least figure that out."

You shift so you can place your head in her lap. "I guess he's fine most of the time. I don't know why I enjoy his company, I just do. He's never really pushed me on anything, just sort of letting me do my own thing. Not to mention he's comfortable. As much as I hate admitting it, I suppose I like being around him."

She continues to brush your hair with her fingers silently. It's one of those tactics of hers. She'll stay quiet until you keep talking.

"What do you want me to say? He's nice enough to me, I can respect him as vice-captain, and he's decent looking. Everything else I think about him is my little secret." You're starting to get irritated talking about him. "Actually, I think I'll go talk to him now. I'll drag that answer out of him if I have to."

Robin looks at you with worry as you sit up. "Perhaps this is just a misunderstanding. What are you going to do if his answer isn't what you expect?"

"I'll deal with it when it happens," you say with a shrug. "It's not like it'll be anything surprising."

You take your time wandering around the ship. It's not hard to tell where he is, you'd rather put it off for a little bit longer. This weird feeling in your chest has been bothering you a lot lately. It can't be ignored anymore, but that doesn't mean you're one hundred percent ready to admit it.

Thankfully, he's exactly where you knew he was. You won't tell him that you enjoy finding him when he's working out. Something about him being shirtless is nice. Not that he usually bothers with wearing a shirt, so you can usually just stare whenever you want. Maybe he just likes the attention, and you'll gladly give it to him.

As soon as he leans back on the bench, you sit on his lap and stretch out over his torso. You rest your chin on your hand, pressing your palm on his chest. Watching as he sets the barbell back on the stand, you wait for him to start talking. It would be fine with you if he kept working out, but he seems opposed to the idea.

"Is bothering me amusing to you?"

You tilt your head slightly. "You're not cute when you're mad, so no. I was just hoping we could talk."

"You don't have to sit on me to talk."

"That's just personal preference. Besides, you tend to avoid talking about certain things and this keeps you from leaving." you say with a Cheshire grin. "I enjoy your touch, so this is ideal for me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zoro looks away from you. “You keep saying weird stuff.”

You don’t even blink as you respond, “I enjoy your touch. That’s what that means. I’ll even be nice and tell you the answer to your question from earlier. As a cat, I sometimes purr when I feel comfortable and content. Though some cats purr when scared.”

“So you’re scared of me? Is that what that means?”

“No. The only thing particularly scary about you is the fact that you’re an idiot.” Your ears twitch. “But since I answered your questions, you can answer mine. Why don’t you fight me seriously?”

He looks at you for just a moment, before looking at the ceiling. It’s like he’s embarrassed by the answer and is hoping you’ll forget about it. However, you’ve already made up your mind about what you want. You’re just waiting to see what he’ll do.

“I-,” Zoro cuts himself off to hide behind his hand. “I could hurt you really bad. That would be bad.”

Your tail swishes on the ground in mild irritation. “So you think I’m incapable of defending myself. That would explain the times you’ve interrupted my fights.”

“It’s not that!” He sits up, wrapping an arm around your waist to make sure you don’t tumble to the ground. “I don’t want you to get hurt if I’m around. It’s my job to make sure you’re safe.”

You’re nose to nose with him now. Even at this distance, he can’t seem to make eye contact. You can smell the liquor from dinner on his breath. It would be so easy to close the gap and kiss him, but for some reason the thought makes you nervous. You’re usually close to him, so why is this time different?

“Why should you keep me safe?” you mumble. “Do you save me out of obligation for the crew? If so, aren’t there better people on the crew to swoop in and save?”

“Does it matter why?” The way that his lips almost touch yours as he speaks makes you flustered.

You close your eyes. “Yes. I don’t want to get my hopes up if you think of me as nothing more than a burden of a crew-mate. Just be honest with me for once, Zoro.”

You don’t regret the soft begging tone as you say his name. You regret not saying his name in that almost pathetic tone sooner. The way that he kisses you makes your head spin. Even though he’s holding you close, you have to wrap your arms around his neck to make yourself feel more steady.

Zoro kisses you like he’s been wanting to for months. His hold on your waist makes it impossible to move, and the way that his hand grips yours hair makes you moan. You can barely breathe as his tongue explores your mouth, your grip on reality slipping as his fingers dig into thigh.

Even when he pulls away to let you breathe, you find yourself lost in the way he touches you. Sloppy kisses trail down your jaw and neck, coming to an end with his teeth on your collarbone. The way that his fingernails scrape gently against your scalp as he tugs lightly on your hair causes you to expose more of your chest to him as you lean into his palm.

You’ve never felt like this before. Hot, heavy, and breathless all while being lightheaded. You wouldn’t have it in you to resist him if he wanted more. In fact, the pathetic words of begging him to ravish you weigh heavy on your tongue. Yet he just continues to press kisses along every inch of skin exposed to him, ignoring how hard you’re panting as little moans escape you. He’s oblivious to everything but the act of kissing you.

Zoro only pauses after you tug his hair harshly. You didn’t mean to, you couldn’t help the reaction to him biting down on the side of your neck. You couldn’t even help the strangled groan that leaves you as he leaves a mark. For some reason, your body is shaking like you have some sort of withdrawal.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice rough and low.

You kiss him again, desperate to get as close as you can. Desperation courses through your body as you realize just how badly you’ve waited for this. You’ve spent months being almost attached to him so it makes sense, you just can’t figure out how you missed it. The long nights spent curled up in his lap, face buried in his neck has left you craving him so much.

You whine as he pulls away, unwilling to let this stop. It doesn’t even matter anymore how prideful you’ve been up until this. It’s so obvious how much you want him. Nothing could hide it anymore.

“Zoro.” You don’t even open your eyes. “Please.”

He gives your thigh a tight squeeze as you whimper. You can tell that what little restraint he has is fading with each whine of his name. Yet he’s able to pause and hold you close, breathing heavily into your ear. Eventually, he covers your mouth with his hand, stifling your words.

“Not like this,” Zoro says, his tone meaning he’s serious. “If you really want it, I want to make it special.”

“S-special?” You don’t know what that means. When was the last time someone told you that you were special? “How?”

“Just better than in the exercise room on the Sunny. You deserve to be treated better than that.”

You nod, and he lets his grip loosen. Despite the fact that nothing much happened, you feel drained. Maybe it’s because you really enjoy naps, but the exhaustion is hitting you hard. You don’t hide it, letting yourself go limp as Zoro picks you up.

“You can sleep in my bunk tonight. Not that it matters if I say you can as you usually show up anyway.”

You caress him jaw before giving his cheek a kiss. “Thank you, Zoro.”

The flush on his cheeks goes unnoticed by all beside you. Not that it matters, you don’t want to hide your feelings for him any longer. If he agrees to it, you’ll parade your feelings for the world to see.

[the-ghost-of-jason-todd]

Interesting that you bring that up, because I think it ties into a different Jason post I made once. You don't have to read all of that, the important part is this:

i think thats my favorite thing about the red hood. he pulls people out of the abyss. he never steps entirely out of the shadows himself, but he will extend a hand to someone else, until they can get their own grip and climb past him. he did it with roy and kori, and with the random pyg minion in batman reborn, and with duela dent, and suzie su, and bunker, and ma gunn, and in a way even his own father. he does it all the time, and i love him for that.

That post is in regards to the (eventual) conclusion to the Duela Dent arc, where Jason helps her unjokerfy and go back home. Because it really is a theme we see! I don't think DC did it intentionally, especially since half of these happened during Scott Lobdell's runs and I don't think the man did anything except throw spaghetti at a wall in the hopes that it would stick, but it's become a theme. (....Scott Lobdell also had the Generation Outlaw storyline that he didn't fucking land or conclude in any satisfying way, but that's a rant for a different day).

Anyway, the point is that yeah, in some ways Jason DOES still have to choose. A lot of the storylines he has are with people who do, eventually, decide to be less morally gray. And that's just something he doesn't do. Or, if he somehow did, if he TRULY came back into the light, he would ABSOLUTELY lose the ideological purity that drove him in the UTRH era. I'm not saying it's not possible for someone to stay with him in his moral gray zone or even in his True Villain Zone, but there is actually an interesting tragedy in the fact that no one does, because it kind of highlights the point of his character--which is that he KNOWS BOTH SIDES and he CHOOSES to stay somewhere between them. He wavers sometimes in canon, moves more toward one side or the other, but so far he always returns to that gray zone, consistently, every single time.

Comics are, in a lot of ways, black and white. Questions of morality are almost always framed in what is right and what is wrong. Characters are good or bad. Things are mutually exclusive. I don't think it's impossible to find the balance, but IMO it would be much trickier to make it work, especially in canon. To find that balance and make it truly compelling would need some significant skill. We would need someone who was truly okay to live in that gray zone, but whose values wouldn't turn out to be incompatible (which is often, I think, why he and Rose don't usually work out when they're put together. Rose WOULD be that character, but I just don't think they're sustainable, generally speaking).

With that in mind, I can see why it's usually the Batfam that he returns to in search of family. He doesn't want things that are fleeting. He doesn't want "well, we can put Joker in Arkham until his next breakout", he wants the Joker DEAD. And he really doesn't want the people in his life to give up on him!! He WANTS both. NEEDS it, maybe. Even as far back as UTRH we saw this tension. Jason is holding VERY tightly to his ideals in that comic, and still he all but begs Bruce to join him so that he can have both. His origins will always be most deeply rooted in the Batfam. But maybe that brings a different sort of tension to the question--one having to do with whether a fan wants Jason to keep hold of his history, his roots, and find the permanence that Bruce promised when he took Jason in... or if they want him to give that up and forge a new future with a new family.

Jason really is, IMO, about tension. Not just in the conflict sense, though he does tend to bring tension and conflict to interactions. But thematically, his character and his arcs are filled with themes that constantly pull him in opposing directions. Even the dichotomy of the poverty he faced as a child versus the abundance of living with a millionaire is like that. In a lot of ways, canon tells us that he really just can't have everything he wants. So the question is... what does he have to give up?

i’m starting to realize there are at least two camps of jason todd fans. 

there are the ideological campers, who took under the red hood and ran with it.  the ones who believe whole-heartedly that jason todd is a character with a moral stance–counter, perhaps, to the man who raised him and the monsters that shaped him, but extant, all the same.  these people see jason shucking his ideals in canon and scoff, saying that it is a loss of integrity and a tragedy of what was good characterization. 

and then there are the emotional campers.  the ones who saw jason todd’s pain, his desire for a family who loved him enough to act as executioner.  it wasn’t an ideological purity that drove him–it was the emotional one, the familial one, and these people see jason struggling to mend bridges once burned and cheer him onward.  the ones who desperately want to see him shed his lone wolf persona and really, truly, become a part of the family.

in some sense, it ends up being a question of how faithful to the original characterization you want to be.  when jason is the villain and often when he’s the outlaw, he is antithetical to batman by nature.  he grips his pain and grief in his hands and uses it to act, same as batman, but in a diametrically opposed way.  in order to hang onto this, to keep this opposition in place, he cannot have his family.  but in order to have his family, to change from what he once became, he cannot have his ideals.

and i think it’s neat, because both of these camps want jay to succeed, you know?  but the question lies in whether they want that success to be in ‘cleansing gotham’/‘ridding the world of that which hurt him so no one else can be hurt’, so that he might save the world…

…or if they want it to be just him, reaching out a hand to someone and asking to be lifted up, so that he might save himself.

[oh-no-its-bird]

Very rare nsfw Bird au !! Pls do not interact if ur a minor or I'll fucking kill myself, and then no one will get anymore Naruto content because I'll be dead

So, you know that one type of fic that's like "Tobirama sleeps Madara in an attempt to calm him the fuck down / give him something to focus on / tie him to the village so he will be less likely to leave or self destruct" ?

Ok so THAT. but now throw Hikaku in there to help. They are teaming up to try and tie Madara down before he doom spirals

Ok so. Hikaku and Tobirama talk about how they're worried about Madara's looming self implosion / mental state

Tobirama is like "don't worry, I'll take care of this."

And Hikaku is kinda press x to doubt but also kinda "alright, good luck"

Only for a couple days later Madara to seem to calm down / have become dramatically more smug and peaceful.

So, yk, Hikaku is like "woah, Senju-sama what did you do? Whatever it was, keep it up, this is wonderful I haven't seen him so level in months."

And Tobirama is like "Hmm. Yes. Letting him have his way with me certainly did seem to help calm him, didn't it?"

And Hikaku is like record scratch car crash noises "letting him WHAT."

So Tobirama explains that yeah, he let Madara fuck him. A lot. Also he would NOT shut up during it, which Tobirama also just kind of let happen which also seemed to help...? Double time therapy, I guess

And Hikaku is like. Head in his hands. If it works it works...? He guesses...? Oh my god he wish he didn't know this tho

BUT THEN.

Tobirama is gone for a week on a mission, and Madara is looking pretty bad. Like, sharp decline, he is in a bad way. And Hikaku, panicking, is like "oh fuck what would Tobirama do" and then ends up throwing himself at Madara out of desperation

It works !! Surprisingly well !! There were a couple hiccups at first maybe, but Madara and Tobirama were never exclusive or anything (and Madara might have partially agreed out of spite for Tobirama)

Madara calms down, Hikaku is left with his head spinning and very "fuckkkkk ok, too late to back out now. It worked, we are commiting"

Tobirama comes back and is pleased, less work for him. Good job Hikaku, he knew u were a real one

Now, this is purely tactical for Tobirama (at that point) it's a strategic fuck to calm Madara down, with a bonus of usually being good for him.

So he is pleasantly surprised Hikaku backed him up. He would have thought Hikaku might try and find someone else to throw at Madara, the fact he would sacrifice himself only further proves his loyalty to the village in his eyes

Hikaku one of the real ones fr, Tobirama's trust and respect in him is on the rise

Hikaku still has his head in his hands as he digests the fact this is his life now

Meanehile: In Madara's little world, rhe senju bastard AND his hot most loyal man in the world are throwing themselves at him. He is convinced he's winning.

And like, he is, to be fair. But only because of the mental illness

Madara is sitting around creating convoluted soap opera plot lines for the three of them in his head.

Like, he's imagining Hikaku and Tobirama office cat fighting over him, one of them getting jealous over the other, competing for his attention and affection. Two of Konoha's most powerful, well respected, high ranking shinobi... and they are fighting over Madara... he's so back..

Meanwhile Tobirama and Hikaku are telling eachother ab their recent Madara interactions and going "oh good, that should keep him calm for a few days" and nodding at eachother like "we are in this mess together, my brother in arms"

So, Madara ends up noticing the vibes in that corner and then he possibly ends up getting jealous of them spending too much time alone together (they are strategizing on what to do with/to him next) and gets even more pouty and mad even after they fuck, because "I bet this bitch was thinking about Tobirama/Hikaku the whole time >:(

(Meanwhile, Madara was the one thinking about the other the whole time. Mostly in the context of them joining them)

He finally snaps and rejects one of Tobirama's advances while saying something stupid shit like "why don't u just go sleep with HIKAKU, since I know thats where you REALLY wanna be. You think I haven't noticed you sneaking around with him, huh? Huh? Whore."

And Tobirama is like "are we seriously doing this now? Is this seriously what we are doing? Ok."

And Tobirama and Hikaku now have to strategize to come on to Madara TOGETHER or smthn, or at minimum put on some sort of production to feed into his sudden insecurities so they can guide him out of them

Madara meanwhile remains suspiciously fixated on the idea of them sleeping together (without him!!!! How dare they!!!!)

All of that is to say:

Tobirama and Hikaku end up sleeping together for Madara and having to put on a big show of it just to make Madara feel like he still has the power here.

Tobirama is largely indifferent to this turn of events, Hikaku remains "oh my god how is this my fucking life" but also "well. It's for the greater good, I guess. Not like it's a horrible fate for me."

So anyways: Hikaku and Tobirama alliance to try and calm Madara the fuck down via fucking and letting him fuck them. Pass it on.

[thefemmefatalexo]

Gojo SMAU - The Art of Falling Fake

Chapter 1 - Invisible in the Spotlight

Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.

an: Welcome to chapter one guys! Feedback is appreciated as always hehe. Also, the taglists for all of my stories are still OPEN, so make sure to get tagged so you don’t miss out on any new chapters! SMOOCHES 💋💋💋

{introduction} ; {next}

taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy

࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚

Campus is chaos, as always. The sidewalks are packed with students rushing to their next class or chatting in tight little groups like they’ve known each other forever. It’s the first month of the semester, but it feels like everyone’s already found their place—everyone but you. You walk with your head down, weaving through the crowd as quietly and invisibly as possible. That’s been your strategy for years now. It works. Mostly.

You didn’t think living at home while attending college would feel so… stifling. At first, it seemed like the logical choice: save money, stay close to the familiar, and avoid the pressure of navigating both a new school and a new city. But now you’re not so sure. Sharing a roof with your parents and your step-sister, Mia, is starting to feel like you’re suffocating.

The comparisons never stop. Mia, the perfect daughter with her flawless tennis career and her endless achievements. She’s a campus celebrity in her own right—everyone knows her name, her face, her victories. And then there’s you. The one people glance at for a second before looking past you. The one who never quite measures up.

You pull your hoodie tighter around you as you pass a group of students standing by the fountain. One of them mentions Mia’s name, and you feel your stomach twist. Something about her latest tournament win, how she’s heading to the finals soon. It’s not surprising, but it still stings. She’s everywhere. Even here.

You shake the thoughts away and head toward the coffee shop near the engineering building. It’s your usual escape—a place to grab a moment of quiet before your next class. The line is long when you step in, but the familiar smell of coffee and the soft hum of indie music make it worth the wait. You tug your phone out of your pocket, scrolling mindlessly through messages you’re too tired to respond to.

That’s when it happens.

The force of someone slamming into you from behind nearly sends you tumbling forward. Your bag slips off your shoulder, and your coffee almost flies out of your hands.

“Whoa, careful there,” a smooth voice says, almost lazily, as though you were the one at fault.

You turn around, already annoyed, and find yourself face-to-face with him.

Satoru Gojo.

Of course, it’s him. Because who else would nearly knock you over and then smile at you like you owe him an apology? His snowy white hair practically glows under the fluorescent lights, and his blue eyes—hidden behind those ridiculous round sunglasses—glint with amusement. He’s tall, too tall, and he carries himself with the kind of confidence that only someone who’s never been told “no” can manage.

You’ve seen him around. Everyone has. Satoru Gojo is one of those people you can’t ignore even if you try. He’s an engineering major with top grades, an influential family name, and a reputation that precedes him. Girls throw themselves at him. Guys want to be him. He’s the king of campus—loud, obnoxious, and completely full of himself.

And now, unfortunately, he’s staring right at you.

“I think you dropped something,” he says, gesturing to your bag on the floor.

“No, really? Thanks for pointing that out,” you deadpan, bending down to pick it up.

When you straighten, his grin is still plastered on his face. It’s infuriatingly smug, like he’s thoroughly enjoying this interaction.

“You’re new,” he states, as if it’s a fact.

You glance around the room, hoping the line will move faster. “Why does it matter?”

“Because I know everyone here, and I definitely don’t know you,” he says, leaning casually against the counter like this is the most fascinating conversation he’s had all day.

“Congratulations. You’ve solved the mystery. I’m new.”

There’s a pause, and you can feel his eyes studying you, probably trying to figure out why you’re not falling all over yourself like the others do. “You don’t seem very impressed by me,” he finally says, and there’s a mock pout in his tone.

You can’t help but snort. “Why would I be?”

His grin widens, and for a split second, you see something flash in his eyes. Amusement? Curiosity? You don’t care enough to figure it out.

You step forward as the line moves, eager to order and leave before he decides to keep talking. But, of course, he follows.

“New girl, huh? So, what’s your name?”

“None of your business,” you reply, still not looking at him.

“Ouch,” he says, clutching his chest dramatically. “Cold and mysterious. I like it.”

You roll your eyes and finally make it to the counter, ordering the cheapest coffee on the menu. As you fumble with your wallet, you hear him behind you, ordering something unnecessarily complicated and way too expensive.

When you turn to leave, you catch his gaze one last time. His grin hasn’t wavered. “See you around, mystery girl,” he calls after you.

You don’t bother responding, walking out the door as quickly as you can.

But as you step back into the crowd, you can’t shake the feeling that he’s right.

Because as much as you want to stay invisible, something tells you Satoru Gojo isn’t about to let that happen.

[alewritesfics]

Bridging realities

𝖁𝕴𝕴. 𝕭𝖗𝖎𝖉𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖌....𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘

Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton x fem!reader

Word count: 4.6k

Warnings: unedited, slow burn, eventual smut/ spicy scenes, some angst but happy ending, playful banter

Hehehehe

⏮️                ⏸️                  ⏭️

You would be lying if you said you weren’t worried.

It was now the time where Anthony invited the Sharma family over to Aubrey Hall before the ball, it wouldn’t have upset you, if it wasn’t also the time which truly cemented the start of Kate and Anthony’s love story.

With Edwina, you didn’t have to worry much, which sounded cruel, but it’s written that Anthony, under no circumstances, ends up with her, both in the series and in the books, but Kate?

Kate is his destiny. And you have tried so hard to change that destiny but what if their love is so strong that it overcomes any brief affections that Anthony feels for someone else? Aubrey Hall was where they fell in love. And you hope, hope, hope, that you have gotten under Anthony’s skin so much that changes that.

You sighed as you step out of the featherington manor, slightly fed up with their daily ocurrences, you mean, seriously? Portia now is trying to get Prudence to catch cousin Jack’s attention, ew.

Your eyes brighten up as you saw the Bridgerton family getting their luggages on the carriages to leave, catching sight of one Bridgerton in particular. You walked over, crossing the street.

“Ah, Y/n, came to see us off?” Eloise said as she saw you coming over

You smiled “Yes, I didn’t know you were leaving so early”

“yes, well, we like to spend a few days in Aubrey Hall to rest before the ton arrives” Lady Bridgerton said as she approached us “lovely to see you, dear, you are coming to the ball with Penelope, yes?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything” you answered, she smiled at you, heading over to continue packing

You looked behind you before walking towards Anthony “Why are you all leaving so early?” you asked, even though you already knew the answer

“Ah, well, mother wanted to relax for a few days,” he said “and….we- uh- we invited the Sharmas over” you turned to look at him

“The Sharmas?” you say “Whatever for?”

“That is what one does when you are courting a lady” Anthony cleared his throat

You hide your wince “So….it is official then?” you asked before huffing “her sister is against you! Why are you still so stubb-“

Anthony exhaled sharply, turning toward you with a look that made your stomach tighten. His usual mask of indifference had cracked, revealing something raw beneath it—frustration, maybe even anger.

“Why do you always say that?” he demanded, his voice sharp.

You blinked. “Say what?”

“That I should give up,” he snapped. “Every time, without fail, you insist that I should walk away. Why? Why do you care so much about whether I pursue Miss Edwina or not?”

You hesitated, your throat tightening. “Because it’s obvious that this is a mistake, Anthony.”

“A mistake?” he repeated, stepping closer. “What do you know of mistakes? What do you know of me?”

Your breath hitched. The space between you was too small now, the tension too thick. “I know that you are stubborn,” you said, your voice quieter but no less firm. “I know that you think you can force yourself into a life that does not suit you, simply because it is what you should do.”

Anthony let out a bitter laugh. “And what would you have me do, Y/N? Follow passion? Risk everything for something that will only lead to ruin?”

“Ruin?” Your voice rose, your frustration boiling over. “Is that what you think love is? Ruin?”

His jaw clenched. “Love is unpredictable. It is reckless. I have seen what it does to a man, what it did to my mother. It destroyed my mother when he died.” He took a shuddering breath, as if the admission had slipped from him unwillingly. “I will not let it destroy me.”

Your heart ached. “Anthony…”

“No,” he cut you off, shaking his head. “I do not have the luxury of love, Y/N. I have a duty—to my family, to my title. I cannot afford to be selfish.”

Your fingers curled Into your palms. “And you think marrying Edwina will spare you from love? That if you choose someone who does not make your heart race, you will be safe?”

Anthony’s breath was unsteady, and for a moment, he looked at you as if you had struck him. And maybe, in a way, you had.

“You think you know everything,” he said finally, his voice quieter, but no less intense. “You think you see me so clearly, but you don’t. You can’t.”

Your lips parted, but he wasn’t done.

“I am tired, Y/N.” His voice was ragged, exhausted in a way you had never heard before. “Tired of fighting what is expected of me. Tired of feeling like I am being pulled in a direction I cannot control.” His eyes locked onto yours, dark and stormy. “And you—you only make it worse.”

You inhaled sharply, your chest tightening. “Anthony…” you scoffed “W-what I do? How am I making it worse?”

Anthony let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head as he stepped back from you. “You truly don’t see it, do you?”

Your pulse quickened at the way he was looking at you now—like you were the very thing unraveling him, like you were the storm he hadn’t accounted for.

“I don’t understand,” you admitted, your voice quieter now, hesitant.

Anthony exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face as though he were attempting to physically push away whatever war raged inside him. “You tell me to give up,” he muttered, voice low but edged with something dangerous. “You tell me to walk away from Edwina as if it is the simplest thing in the world. And yet—you stand here, looking at me like this, speaking to me like this-”

He cut himself off, shaking his head.

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to hold his gaze. “Like what?”

His jaw clenched. “Like you care.”

Your breath hitched.

“I do care,” you said, barely above a whisper.

Anthony’s laugh was sharp, almost bitter. “Then why are you trying so hard to push me away? To tell me this—her—is a mistake?”

Your heart pounded against your ribs, and suddenly the truth—your truth—was clawing at your throat, desperate to be spoken.

But you couldn’t.

Because if you told him, if you let those words slip past your lips, then there would be no going back.

So instead, you steeled yourself, meeting his gaze head-on. “Because you don’t love her,” you said. “And she deserves someone who does.”

Anthony flinched. For the first time, he faltered, his expression slipping into something vulnerable, something unguarded.

And then, just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

He straightened, inhaling sharply as he pulled himself back together, as he rebuilt the walls you had nearly knocked down.

“I have already made my decision,” he said finally, voice cool, detached.

You nodded, forcing a tight smile even as your chest ached. “Then I hope, for your sake, that you don’t come to regret it.”

Anthony stared at you for a moment longer, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. But then he stepped back, a finality in his movement, and turned away.

“I have to go,” he said abruptly, stepping back. The cold distance between you was sudden, suffocating.

And just like that, he turned, walking away without another word.

You stood there, heart pounding, hands trembling at your sides.

You had pushed him. Too far, maybe. But deep down, you finally knew—.

You rolled your eyes as you saw the viscount sat on one of the tables with Miss Edwina.

After you had arrived on Aubrey Hall, the first thing you did was look around for him. Honestly, you were starting to sound and look like a stalker but you can’t help it. It certainly doesn’t help that now that you both were fighting, there was a big chance that his affections changed towards Kate after what you think, but hopefully not, happened these last three days that they were in each other’s presence.

“ah, good, Y/n, you’re here” you heard him say from behind, you turned to look at him, surprised that he was speaking to you after the little fight you both had “i-I almost got into a little squabble with Miss Sharma over there but fortunately your presence served as a distraction. I did after all have to show my friend around”

You looked at him unamused. Why is he pretending he didn’t act like a total jerk a few days ago?

He sighed once he saw your expression “I apologize….for the fight we had” he said “I know I acted like a jerk and shouldn’t have gotten angry with you and if I hurt your feelings…I am truly sorry”

You swallowed “Thank you for your apology” you say “and…I apologize as well. I should not put my nose into things that aren’t my business”

“no, no, I-I get that you are worried, like one gets for a friend” he tried to wave off your apologies “am I wrong?”

You shook your head “not at all” you deny, finally feeling happy “Tell me then, what did I serve as a distraction for?”

He looked behind him before looking at you once again “I almost got into a squabble with Miss Sharma, over hunting” he answered “Miss Edwina suggested she goes along with us men as we hunt and I denied the suggestion. It is very inappropriate for a woman to join a bunch of men. Luckily, before the fight could progress, I saw you and decided to come over, ending the squabble”

You hummed as you took one of the drinks nearby on a table “I take it Miss Sharma is going along then?” you tried to ask nonchalantly, fighting off the ugly feeling on your chest

“She is” He nodded,

your heart sunk “oh”

“but I’m not”

Your eyes went wide, looking up at him shocked “What?” he-he steered of the script

“Yes, I should stay behind, act as a good host and show my friend around, should I not?”

You stared at him, lips slightly parted, searching his face for any indication that he was jesting. But Anthony, ever the Viscount, ever the picture of control, simply held your gaze with a steady intensity that made your stomach twist.

“I—” You faltered, unsure how to respond. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to go with them. He was supposed to go with Kate. And yet, here he was, choosing to stay behind. With you.

A slow, almost teasing smirk ghosted across his lips. “What?” he asked, tilting his head. “You seem surprised.”

You shook your head quickly, forcing yourself to snap out of it. “No, I— I just thought that you were rather set on the idea of hunting.”

“I was,” he admitted, shifting slightly closer. “Until I realized that I had far more pressing matters to attend to.”

Your heartbeat stuttered. “And what matters would those be?”

Anthony exhaled, eyes searching yours. “You, for one.”

Your breath caught. “Me?”

“Yes, you.” His voice was lower now, softer. “You were rather displeased with me before I left for Aubrey Hall. And though I cannot say I am entirely undeserving of such displeasure, I find myself unwilling to let it linger.”

You swallowed hard. “Anthony, we already apologized to each other—”

“Yes, but apologies do not erase things,” he said, cutting you off gently. “And I do not wish for us to… linger in whatever this is.”

You stared at him, heart hammering. What is this?

You had spent so much time convincing yourself that he was so stubborn, completely sticking to the script. But here he was, deviating from what was supposed to happen, his attention solely on you.

You cleared your throat, trying to mask the emotions swirling inside you. “And how do you propose we do that?”

Anthony considered you for a moment before offering you his arm. “Come,” he said. “Let me show you Aubrey Hall properly. The hunting party will be gone for hours. That gives us plenty of time.”

You hesitated. Every fiber of your being was screaming at you that this was wrong, but then you met his gaze again—earnest, unwavering.

Slipping your arm through his, you let him lead you away.

Anthony led you through the vast grounds of Aubrey Hall, his arm steady beneath your hand as he guided you through the sprawling gardens, the perfectly trimmed hedges, and the grand hallways adorned with family portraits. A maid trailed behind, ensuring propriety was maintained, but Anthony hardly seemed to notice her presence.

He showed you the rose garden first, boasting about how his mother spent years cultivating each variety. Then, the old oak tree by the pond, where he claimed Colin had nearly drowned himself as a child by foolishly trying to walk across a too-thin layer of ice.

“You mean to tell me that Colin was not born with the wisdom of a man who has traveled the world?” you teased, grinning up at him.

Anthony let out a soft chuckle. “Far from it. If you had seen half of the things that boy has attempted, you would wonder how he survived this long.”

You laughed, enjoying the rare moment of lightheartedness between you.

After a few more stops—including the stables, where he let you pet his horse, and the drawing room, where he and his siblings often played games—the two of you eventually found yourselves at the library.

“This,” Anthony declared as he opened the heavy doors, “is the most impressive room in the house. And before you say anything, yes, I am aware that I sound like a self-important fool, but I take great pride in it. My father’s library”

You stepped inside, taking in the sight of towering bookshelves, leather-bound volumes lining the walls from floor to ceiling. The scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air.

“Impressive indeed,” you admitted, running your fingers lightly over the spines of some books as you walked past them.

Anthony watched you with amusement. “Do you read much?”

You scoffed. “Of course, I do. What else is a lady supposed to do when avoiding dreadful suitors?”

He smirked. “And yet, you seem to enjoy my company well enough.”

“Are you a suitor?” You gave him a pointed look. “You are tolerable at best, my lord.”

Anthony clutched his chest dramatically. “You wound me.”

You rolled your eyes, reaching for a book. “Tell me, which is your favorite?”

He hesitated for a moment before stepping toward one of the shelves and pulling out a well-worn volume. “i-I don’t read much” he said, handing it to you.

You raised a brow. “Ah, yes, Why does that not surprise me?” you let out a chuckle

Anthony smirked. “And what of you? Let me guess—some romantic nonsense filled with foolish declarations of love?”

You huffed, shoving the book back into his hands before looking around the bookshelves, seeing if the book you were thinking about was there, you grinned when you saw it, plucking another from the shelf. “Much Ado About Nothing,” you said proudly.

His brows lifted. “A comedy?”

“A brilliant one,” you corrected. “Filled with wit, mischief, and people who bicker so much that they do not realize they are in love.”

Anthony let out a low chuckle. “How fitting.”

You narrowed your eyes. “And what exactly do you mean by that”

He merely grinned, stepping closer. “Nothing at all, my dear friend. Nothing at all.”

You glared at him but felt your lips twitch. There was something almost easy about this moment—something that made your chest warm despite the cool air of the library.

For the first time since arriving at Aubrey Hall, you let yourself enjoy his company without overthinking what it meant. Without thinking of Kate. Without thinking of fate.

Just him. Just you.

And, for now, that was enough.

Anthony leaned against the edge of a bookshelf, watching you with an expression that sent a strange flutter through your chest. You ignored it, running your fingers over the spine of Much Ado About Nothing.

“You know,” you mused, tilting your head to look at him, “if I recall correctly, Benedict once told me that you were hopeless when it came to Shakespeare. But now that you have told me you don’t read much, I believe that.”

Anthony scoffed. “Benedict is an insufferable know-it-all.”

You smirked. “So it is true, then?”

“I never said that,” he countered, crossing his arms.

You tapped a finger against the book. “Alright then, my lord, if you are not hopeless, you should have no trouble quoting something from this play.”

Anthony’s eyes flickered with amusement. “You expect me to perform like a fool?”

“Oh, I would never ask you to do something you are incapable of,” you teased, watching as his lips parted in mock offense.

“You are a menace,” he muttered.

“And yet, you choose to spend the afternoon in my company,” you countered, taking a step closer.

Anthony sighed as if he were put upon, but there was a glint of something softer in his gaze as he finally relented. “Fine,” he said, rubbing a hand over his jaw. He cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and then, with the most dramatic flourish imaginable, he declared:

“I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange”

Your breath caught.

The words, though Shakespeare’s, did not feel like a jest. Not when spoken like that—not when his voice softened at the end, not when his dark eyes held yours so intently.

The air between you shifted.

You swallowed, forcing out a scoff to break the tension. “Well, that is certainly an interpretation.”

Anthony smirked, but there was something else behind it—something unreadable. “Is it?”

You refused to let your mind wander to what that something might mean. Instead, you turned back to the shelf, hoping that he could not see the warmth creeping up your cheeks. “We should return before your mother starts to wonder if I have stolen her son away.”

Anthony hesitated for half a second before nodding. “Yes, of course.”

You turned to leave, but just as you reached the doorway, he spoke again.

“Y/N?”

You glanced over your shoulder.

Anthony was still standing in the same spot, looking at you like he was trying to figure something out. After a moment, he simply shook his head, exhaling through his nose. “Nothing,” he murmured. “Let us go.”

But as you walked back to the rest of the party, you could not shake the feeling that whatever he almost said would have changed everything.

The day went by like a flash, and before you knew it, it was already the evening of the next day, the ball taking place.

You had watched as Anthony danced with Edwina two times on a row before heading over to grab a drink. You walked after him, your steps determined.

“two dances on a row? How scandalous” you teased as you got close to him

He chuckled as he turned to face you “yes, well, what can I say? I’m a rebellious man”

You chuckled “Well, I’m sure this rebellious man would like to take me for a spin on the dance floor now? He has already shared two dances with the lady, a third one is plain inappropriate” you stated

“Just say you wish to dance” He smirked “I certainly will not deny you��

You laughed as he held out his hand and put your own on top of his, your gaze went behind him, catching the figures of Edwina and Kate, both confused on why Anthony didn’t go back to them. You held back your triumphant gaze, letting Anthony lead you to the floor.

God, you were petty.

You both stood facing each other as the music started, bowing before you started to dance. Honestly, you were surprised your body acted unconsciously, dancing along to everyone else, but after watching this particular scene so many times (ahem, ‘I am a gentleman’, ‘tell me you feel nothing and I will walk away’ jajfsjsuiejshsjsnsnsgwiwm) you had memorized the dance already.

You looked around the room as Anthony twirled you around, your heart beating fast as you remembered that tomorrow was the day in which Anthony proposed to Edwina in the series.

No matter how hard you have been trying to steer Anthony off of his choice, he is so stubborn that he isn’t completely off the idea, meaning that you haven’t managed to make him change his mind completely.

Still, you aren’t completely unaware that you haven’t changed things because you have, you have noticed many things that Anthony has done that are completely different from the show, and although you are happy about that, it still isn’t enough.

You turned back towards Anthony, your eyes flickering between his eyes, “Don’t marry her,” you blurt out without thinking.

Anthony’s eyes widened in surprise “What?” he asked shocked.

Your face froze as you registered your own words before you swallowed and decided to speak out “Edwina. Don’t marry her” you say once again, this time confidently.

Anthony’s hands let go of you as the music stopped “Y/n, you cannot ask that of me”

“Anthony-“ you start to say.

“No,” he said in disbelief before he shook his head and marched off.

You let out a sigh, your eyes unconsciously turning towards where Edwina was with Kate, both of their eyes already looking in your direction, Edwina’s filled with innocent confusion, but it was the look in Kate’s that made your heart stop. Realization.

You shook it off before walking off towards where Anthony went, already knowing that he went towards his study. You entered the study, stopping for a second at the door before deciding to impulsively lock it.

“Anthony-“ You called out, watching as he paced by his desk.

“You cannot ask that of me” He said once again, angrily.

“Yes, I can-“

“No!”

“Yes, I can, and I will!” You snapped walking towards him “Don’t ask her to marry you” you said calmly this time.

He stopped and turned to look at you, “I have to” he swallowed, his eyes furiously flickering between yours, searching.

You shook your head “No, Why are you so hell bent on marrying out of duty?” You asked desperate “Anthony, you are as deserving of love as any one of us and it pains me that you do not see it, why can’t you see it?”

“Love isn’t in my plans” He denied “I have told you many times”

“But it can be,” you stated, walking even closer “I know why you so fervently deny it to yourself, but I am sure that if you asked your mother, she would do it all over again just for the feeling of loving your father, for the feeling of experiencing love in it’s finest glory, no matter how painful it turned out”

“And- and if you still think you will end up the same, I am sure your wife, who you marry for love, will be grateful that she at least got the chance to experience your love” You say “….I know I would”

“Y/n….” He said painfully, turning to face his desk, resting his hands on it.

“You feel it too,” you murmured “You cannot deny it, I’ve seen it in your eyes. Anthony-“

“Stop,” he growled, making you freeze, thinking he was done with the conversation “stop, stop saying my name like that”

You let out a breath, your heart starting to beat faster and faster “Anthony-“

Before you could react, he had stood up, grabbing your hand and caging you between the desk and his body.His breath was uneven, his dark eyes locked on yours with an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine.

“Do you know what you’re doing to me?” Anthony whispered, his voice low and raw, as though it pained him to speak the words aloud.

You swallowed hard, your pulse hammering in your ears. “I… I only speak the truth, Anthony.”

He closed his eyes briefly, as if trying to compose himself, but when they opened again, they were blazing. “The truth? The truth is that you’ve undone me. Ever since you walked into my life, you’ve made me question everything I’ve ever known. Duty, logic, responsibility—they all crumble the moment I’m near you.”

“Anthony…” Your voice was barely above a whisper as you placed a hand on his chest. His heart was pounding as fiercely as yours, and it only made you braver. “You don’t have to choose between love and duty. You can have both.”

His hand tightened on yours, and for a moment, you thought he might give in. But then, he released you abruptly and took a step back, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“I can’t,” he said, his voice strained. “Do you think I don’t want to? Do you think I haven’t imagined it? But my family depends on me. I cannot afford to be selfish.”

“Selfish?” you echoed, incredulous. “Anthony, marrying someone you don’t love isn’t selfless. It’s cruel. To you, to her, to everyone involved. You deserve happiness, and so does she.”

He turned to look at you again, his expression torn between longing and despair. “And what of you? What are you asking of me?"

Your breath hitched. The question hung heavily in the air, the weight of it pressing down on both of you. You didn’t know if you could say it, if you had the courage to lay your heart bare. But then, you realized you already had.

“I’m asking you to choose love,” you said softly. “To choose me.”

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Anthony stared at you, his jaw tight, his eyes filled with a storm of emotions you couldn’t decipher.

His gaze flickered between your eyes and your lips. “You don’t know what you’re asking of me,” he said again, his voice breaking slightly. “You don’t know what it’s like to carry this weight.”

“Then let me carry it with you,” you said, your voice trembling with emotion. “Let me stand by your side. Anthony, you don’t have to do this alone.”

His hands tightened on the desk, his knuckles white. For a moment, you thought he might finally give in, that he might finally let down the walls he’d built around himself.

But then he shook his head, his expression hardening. “No,” he said, his voice firm but hollow. “This cannot happen. I will not allow it.”

“Why?” you demanded, tears stinging your eyes. “Why are you so determined to push me away?”

“Because if I don’t,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I won’t be able to stop.”

Before you could respond, his lips crashed against yours, the kiss desperate and full of the emotions he’d been trying so hard to suppress. His hands moved to your waist, pulling you flush against him as though he couldn’t bear the thought of any space between you.

It was overwhelming, intoxicating, and you found yourself clinging to him, your hands tangling in his hair as you poured everything you felt into that kiss.

But just as quickly as it began, Anthony pulled away, his breathing ragged as he stepped back, leaving you cold and disoriented.

“This has to stop,” he said, his voice cracking. “I can’t—I won’t”

“Anthony—” you began, reaching for him.

“No,” he interrupted, his tone final. “I cannot give you what you want. And you… you deserve far more than I can offer.”

And with that, he turned and left, leaving you standing there, your heart shattered and your mind reeling.

You lost.

That was the only thing you thought as you sunk down on the floor, burying your face in your hands as your tears fell.

⏮️                ⏸️                  ⏭️

Taglist:

@talkativecarnation

@imafangirlofeverything

@stopeatread

@smartiepants217

@magical-spit

@ifilwtmfc

@kitkat27

@electronicexpertshark

@annareidprofiler

@zestygingergirl

@noirrose21-blog

@ericityyy

@neenieweenie

@syraxnyra

[letmereadinpeace4]

I have been thinking about Stella and Striker, and the fandom's reactions to them compared to other villains in the Hellaverse such as Valentino, Mamon or Crimson. What is interesting about these two is that they're given traits usually given to victims, or at least to people in unprivileged positions. Stella is a woman, has been forced into an arranged marriage with a man she didn't love, who not only was gay but also cheated on her, and has been forced to have a child with this man. Furthermore, her (more powerful, smarter) brother has made comments about her attractiveness that are at the very least questionable. We have no idea what she felt about motherhood, whether she was in love with someone else, or whether she had ambitions outside of her prescribed role. The most we can do is make theories and infer her actual thoughts based on context clues. As for Striker, he is from one of, if not the lowest class in hell, and it has been implied that he has lost "a lot" because of the Goetias and a class system that has been rigged against him. In other stories, these types of characters would be either heroes or presented as complete victims, and I think this is why there has been so much pushback against their canon characterization.

Because despite all of these, despite all of these traits that would make them sympathetic, both of these characters are nasty people, who are abusive to the people around them. Stella has physically, psychologically, emotionally, socially and (it is strongly implied) sexually abused Stolas all throughout their marriage, despite him being theoretically more powerful than her, she is at the very best a distant, emotionally neglectful mother to Octavia and she is openly classist. Even with Andrealphus possibly (and I do mean possibly) being a creep towards her, she is not shown as fearing him or being uncomfortable with him. Actually, when Andrealphus is being aggressive at the beginning of Mastermind, she doesn't give a single fuck about it and yells back at him, making him recoil (of course, it is possible that the dynamic between them is slightly more complicated, but so far we don't have details). Striker is vocal about being superior to the rest of his kind, bullies Moxxie pretty harshly pretty much for the lols, works with the royal against his own kind, pretty much doing their dirty work, and it is obvious that his issues with the class system of hell are about how it impacts him. He doesn't want imps to be in a better position. He wants himself to be in a better position.

These two characters break the traditional dichotomy of abuser/victim, which usually implies man = abuser, woman = victim, socially powerful = antagonist, socially disadvantaged = hero, cheater = bad person that deserves to rot in hell, person being cheated on = poor victim of circumstances who deserves the best. Their presence and their characterization raise uncomfortable questions about power and victimhood; questions that we usually don't want to deal with because we like it when things are easy and well-defined, when we can easily find a good side and a wrong side. Things being muddy forces us to reexamine our own biases, to admit that easy solutions may not work, that people who would be victims in certain circumstances can be abusers, and that their lack of privilege does not mean that they should not be held accountable for the pain they cause, nor does it even justify their actions. Both Stella and Striker are terrible, rotten people. Nothing that could have happened in their respective pasts can make acceptable the pain they caused to others. It can at best justify their actions.

So where does it leave us as an audience? How should we respond to these two? Of course, everyone will have their own opinions of these characters, based on their own tastes, pasts, opinions and overall bias. No one should be shamed for liking them, making fanarts of them, and wanting to see more of them. However, my opinion is that it is not possible to fully engage with these characters without recognizing their complex relationship with Hell's social dynamics and with power, nor without taking into account that they are pretty terrible people; something that, in my opinion, makes them far more engaging, interesting characters than if they were presented as pure victims.

(seriously, people say that Stella is badly written, and I absolutely think that the show, so far, suffers from not giving us a more detailed look into the dynamics between her, Stolas, Octavia and Andrealphus, at least as far as our understanding of these characters is concerned, but from the little we have of her, we have a far more interesting picture than people give it credit for).

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

Adam can shapedhift (completely random idea)

There are places in heaven called breeding barns to keep the heaven born population up, its a place where angels go to either impregnate or be impregnated. Adam is a frequent visitor of these. He hides his identity as best he can because his shape shifting abilities are very limited to changing his body to either female or male (only from the waist down, both Lilith and Adam have this ability after death).

So once every year Adam will go to these breeding barns and give himself a pussy, at these places it's normal for someone to just hide their face during sex. Especially since it's frowned upon, but heaven needs those numbers just in case hell was to rise up.

Since angels laid eggs within a month of being impregnated Adam didn't see it as much as a loss since he could also just leave the egg with someone who really wants it.

While doing his usual thing a particular angel caught his eye, after a little flirting he got the guy to join him. The angel was quite eager saying he hadn't done this in so long, practically spilling everything to Adam about not seeing his ex or how he missed her still and hoping this might help him move on. Adam didn't care, if he was being honest he really needed a cock in him. Especially after talking with the princess of hell and losing one of his chicks.

Adam needed to get eaten out and stuffed like a pastry.

By the time they got to the room Adam practically pinned the dude to the bed, kissing him and using his hand to grope at his crotch. The guy felt huge. Adam would never admit it but he was a size queen or king however you say it.

He was surprised when the guy flipped them and immediately got to work on him, Adam never changed his body much during these little get aways. He didn't need to, it wasn't like he was looking for a partner just a quick fuck that's all.

But damn this guy knew what he was doing, the way he was already making Adam sing was almost sinful. If Adam didn't know any better it was like a demon found their way into heaven. Adam nearly screamed when the guy started eating him out.

"holy shit!! Oh god!!"

Adam was somewhere else not even noticing the guy's eyes flash red as he ate Adam out, the rooms were always dim almost completely black.

"you taste amazing, so pure~" Adam gasped and shoved the guys head back down.

"don't talk shorty, unless you're about to fuck me" Adam moaned again as his orgasm washed over him "fuck~ you're amazing"

"mmm I try to be~ Now time for the main event" Adam could feel it, feel the guys long shaft push against his folds. "I'm sure you can take me, you're definitely wet enough~" the guys voice sounded so fucking familiar but at the moment there were better things to think about.

As they pushed in Adam saw stars no galaxies, without even thinking Adam pulled them close as his hips turned against the shorter angels hips. Adam gasped and moaned as the thrusts and his rutting synced into a beautiful rhythm. His cunt making wet slapping noises as they fucked like he was going to repopulate heaven alone. And fuck Adam wanted that so fucking much at the moment.

For this dude to pump him so full of cum he's left wanting more.

"fuck I you're turning me into your bitch babe," Adam moaned and the guy stopped, Adam wanted to cry as a high pitch whine left his throat.

"is that what you want?" Adam wanted this guy to keep fucking him.

"yeah, yes whatever just keep fucking me," suddenly Adam felt like he was falling until he thudded against soft fabrics. "Huh?" Adam didn't have time to think as their fucking continued.

—

When Adam woke up he was in hell with a golden band on his ring finger, he attempted to pull it off but it wasn't budging. His eyes grew wide as Lucifer walked in with breakfast for him.

"good morning angel~ How did you sleep?" Lucifer said in a soft voice as he set Adams food down.

Adam just stared at the man, he had just had the best sex of his life and it was this fucking devil who did it. Does he even recognize him?

What is going to happen now?

YOOOO I LOVE THIS!!!

Adam would be so confused and Lucifer is just chill because he KNEW it was Adam.

You know Heaven keeps those Breeding Barns in high places that winners wouldn't know about them lol

Bonus points, Adam can't shift back once he fell.

Adam: I.... What the fuck is going on!?

Lucifer: You said you wanted to be my bitch.~ So I made your request come true.

Adam: WHAT!? That was you but.... You can't get into Heaven you were banned!

Lucifer shrugged: Anyone can walk in if the door is left open.

Adam wanted to go up there and strangle that gate keeper, Peter was so fucking fired for this.

Adam: So..... Wait, we're-

Lucifer: Bond together forever and going to likely have a baby? Yes.~ Just like you asked.

@cakerybakery @sir-tater-of-the-tot Thought you guys would enjoy this one too 👀

[tryingahandinholdingapen]

ohhhhh okay them living together at the time makes sense! also oh god thats even worse than I thought it would be with Izuna accusing Madara of homophobia nfksnfj I for some reason was assuming that was an accusation made like, in private when it was just the four of them until Tobirama went to the bathroom or something but. He would pull a hundred random bystanders into his drama just to manipulate things into getting what he wants, wouldn't he? Random strangers feeling intensely uncomfortable as Izuna starts up this dramatic wailing accusation in like, the busy town centre right at lunch time on a weekend (so it's REALLY busy) or something,,,

Excellent ideas I approve he would do that. I think it would be really funny if both parties slightly failed at Izuna's mandates at first though,,,for example Tobirama getting into uncomfortable situations because he walked into Izuna having an intense argument with someone, only for Izuna to pull the "Tobirama agrees with me, RIGHT TOBIRAMA?" and unbeknownst to Tobirama he is now going to be arguing the exact opposite side of the same argument he had with this same person like, less than 48 hours ago, because apparently Izuna's opinion differs to his own. So that's intensely awkward for Tobirama and he's not sure what to do about it; he's now having to attempt to escape being cornered/interrogated by this third party who has Questions about his abrupt turn around and ahhhhh. Izuna meanwhile imposed the "hourly check-in texts when you're not with me" rule only to be incredibly unsatisfied with it at first because I bet he didn't adequately specify the kind of information he wanted Tobirama to provide him with in said texts, and Tobirama has no idea what he wants so probably for a while Izuna gets either really bizarre texts or texts that he considers to be completely insufficient ("this is tobirama. I am alive and well. I am still not at your side unfortunately. this concludes my hourly check-in-")

okay the thing about the nudes makes me think like does Izuna reach that point and then more or less stay at that level of insanity, or does he keep escalating? and if he does keep escalating to eventually the point of actual sex/dates? etc at what point does he stop insisting "this is normal for besties" and have to switch tactics to somehow cement Tobirama as his boyfriend (or whatever title Izuna deems will most get him what he wants whilst also vitally ensuring Tobirama does not do anything similar with any other friends he may (admittedly unrealistically) acquire at any point)?

ALTERNATIVELY. Alternatively. Maybe Tobirama (...unknowingly? who can say) escalates things himself because usually when Izuna demands nudes it's, yk, via text when they aren't together at the time, so Tobirama just strips off in his bedroom or whatever when he next gets an opportunity, fulfills Izuna's latest increasingly specific demands, takes a pic and texts it over. BUT at some point (maybe because Tobirama's phone ran out of battery, and he's just now checking it after having charged it properly) he only receives the text demanding nudes whilst actually in the room with Izuna. And nobody else is there, they're in private, and leaving or waiting to be alone in his own bedroom to fulfill Izuna's demand when the man is RIGHT THERE seems stupid and inefficient so instead Tobirama checks his phone, thinks about it for approximately thirty seconds, and then stands up to start discarding his clothes and Izuna is like WOAH woah what's happening here okay suddenly I have a naked Tobirama in my room. Okay. And Tobirama goes if you want a photo you might as well take it yourself since you're here, it would be easier and likely come out better. And Izuna goes uh huh uh huh that's true...you have a point to ensure they come out better maybe you should allow me to take every photo of you from now on? And Tobirama is like yeah okay that seems logical

His litmus on 'normal friendship behaviour' is extremely far off you are right. The idea that it took until the nudes for Tobirama to realise maybe this wasn't normal absolutely makes sense for him Tobirama would just roll with it up to that point,,,but it also makes me wonder if Tobirama attempts to apply any of his 'newly learned normal behaviours' to attempting to med his only other notable relationship, i.e. his brother, which could potentially get very interesting/complicated very fast, especially depending on how specifically Izuna was acting abt the physical touch assumptions or if any form of dirty talk adjacent stuff happened prior to demands of nudes. That could cause everything to go up in flames! Bewildered and horrified Hashirama trying to figure out who corrupted his baby brother and made him think this kind of shit was normal, Izuna frantically trying to do damage control to avoid Tobirama being taken from him

(-alternatively Hashirama being into it actually which would make things complicated in a whole different way-)

(feel free to ignore that bit if you want)

UM alternatively did Izuna forsee the possibility of 'okay Tobirama has no idea what's normal except what I tell him, and he interacts with approximately nobody who could correct him, which is excellent for me, but I should probably proactively ensure the One Person he sometimes interacts with who Might correct him...doesn't' and so has to do some 'yes this is normal but ONLY AROUND ME' gymnastics

'Madara has faith in Izuna as a person (a mistake)' <- I think this is an absolutely vital, defining part of the relationship between the Uchiha brothers and if you can't accurately apply this to your depiction of them perhaps you should reconsider your characterisation of them (I am half joking but only half)

Very funny to me that Hashirama (oblivious) is happy, and Izuna (getting everything he wants) is happy, and Tobirama (getting a friend and (mostly) unbothered by the weirdness) is happy, meanwhile Madara is having a complete breakdown about his poor baby brother's safety. Poor Madara he's the only one not having a good time in this au cidbjfnf

okay so from an outside perspective people may notice some of the weirdness (Tobirama suddenly spending all his time with Izuna and always backing up Izuna even when it means contradicting himself) but that is probably more or less excused as like, understandable intensity/attachment to His One Friend The First Ever. As long as you never get hold of their phones and see their messaging history, it's excusable, pretty much. Except now I desperately want to know how Madara would react if he DID get a hold of their messaging history lmao

everything about this is so so so so good. thank you for answering all my questions!!! ...sorry for immediately flinging more at you whoops

modern au where izuna is in a tragic accident and it puts him in a coma and tobirama is like sweet, a way to practice friendship. because tobirama has absolutely zero friends except his brother, who's been pissed at him for over a year. so- he needs the practice.

so every day he goes in to visit and he changes out the flowers at izunas bedside and fixes the sheets and updates him in what's been happening while he's in the coma. with all the tact he has, which is very little.

tobirama: hello izuna. class went well today. you would've liked the chemistry lesson. your cousin hikaku broke down crying behind the school because he misses you. your other cousin obito called me a slur when he noticed i saw this and then he chased me down and shoved my head into a toilet. the cafeteria was serving cold rice again at lunch. this concludes my report. get well soon.

what tobirama is unaware of is that this is the kind of coma that izuna is actually largely aware of whats happening around him, he just can't respond or move in any way. so he knows about tobiramas daily visits and updates and weird attempts at friendship. (tobirama's consistant reports on class lessons actually means when he wakes up, he doesn't need to do too much to catch up on work.)

so when izuna finally wakes up, he decides to do his own crazy move- to lie that they've always been friends, actually. best friends. joined at the hip practically. tobirama assumes this is some kind of brain damage situation but gleefully takes the opportunity to have a friend. izuna uses the justification of them being lifelong friends to violate a number of boundaries and behave in completely inappropriate ways.

madara also assumes this is some kind of brain damage consequence and considers tobirama an evil blight on his brother's life that must be vanquished. he keeps desperately trying to prove that they didn't get along before izuna's coma, but izuna just keeps making up loopholes and excuses to disprove his evidence.

eventually izuna tearfully confesses that madara is right, there's no physical proof of their lifelong friendship....because he himself destroyed it all! he and tobirama were/are actually boyfriends, see, but he was so worried that his brother would be homophobic about it that he never kept proof of their relationship! his close call with death has made him realize the importance of treasuring the time he has with tobirama, even if.... (loud sob) even if madara is being even MORE homophobic about this than he had once feared.....(Sob)

madara: oh. uh. i. uh

hashirama: madara.....how could you.....

[swappedman]

A Retirement Trip Part 1

David Miller, a 55-year-old accountant, had spent his entire adult life working long hours, saving diligently, and dreaming of the day he could finally take a vacation without worrying about deadlines or spreadsheets. When his coworkers surprised him with a retirement gift—a weeklong trip to Exchange Island—he was both excited and skeptical. The concept of swapping bodies with someone else for a week sounded bizarre, but his friends insisted it would be the adventure of a lifetime.

“Why not?” he thought as he packed his suitcase. “It’s time to try something new.”

The island was as beautiful as the brochures had promised, with golden sands, turquoise waters, and luxurious bungalows dotting the coastline. As he checked in, the staff explained the process.

“Once you step into the transition pod, you’ll wake up in the body of another guest. The swap is random, but don’t worry—your original body will be well cared for,” the receptionist said with a reassuring smile.

David chuckled nervously, imagining himself as a young, fit traveler or perhaps even an older, seasoned adventurer like himself.

When the moment came, David stepped into the sleek silver pod. A brief flash of light blinded him, and he felt a strange tingling sensation. When he opened his eyes, everything was… different.

He looked down and gasped. His body was lean, muscular, and bronzed. His chest and arms rippled with strength he hadn’t felt in decades. He ran his hands over his flat stomach, where defined abs replaced the slight paunch he’d grown used to.

“What the…?” His voice was deeper, smoother, filled with youthful energy.

Stepping out of the pod, he caught his reflection in a nearby mirror and nearly laughed out loud. His new body was that of a man in his 20s, with a confident smile, short brown hair, and a physique straight out of a fitness magazine. The realization hit him: for the first time in years, he felt powerful, free, and unstoppable.

David spent the first day marveling at his newfound physical abilities. Jogging along the beach, he didn’t feel the usual twinge in his knees. Instead, his strides were long and effortless. He waded into the ocean, swimming with a strength and speed he hadn’t experienced in decades.

On the second day, David decided to push his limits. He joined a volleyball game with a group of other guests, diving and spiking the ball with ease. “This is incredible!” he thought as the other players cheered him on. Later, he tried paddleboarding for the first time and was amazed at how easily his body balanced on the board.

For the first time in years, David wasn’t worried about what people thought of him. Walking along the beach in nothing but swim briefs, he felt confident and carefree. Younger guests smiled at him, and he found himself chatting easily with strangers.

By midweek, David was exploring parts of himself he hadn’t touched in years—his adventurous spirit, his curiosity, and even his flirtatious side. He struck up a conversation with a woman in her 40s who’d swapped bodies with a younger guest. Together, they laughed about the absurdity of their situations and danced under the stars at the resort’s beachside party.

As the final day approached, David found himself reflecting on the experience. The swap hadn’t just given him a younger body—it had reminded him of what it felt like to live without limits. He realized he’d spent so much of his life playing it safe, saving for the future, and forgetting to enjoy the present.

When the time came to return to his own body, David stepped back into the pod with mixed feelings. He was grateful for the chance to be young again, but he also felt ready to embrace his true self with a new perspective.

Emerging from the pod, David looked down at his hands—now older and familiar. He smiled, feeling a renewed sense of gratitude. The island had given him more than just a week of adventure; it had given him a second chance at living fully, no matter his age.

As he boarded the ferry back to the airport, David knew one thing for certain: he would be taking another trip to Exchange Island in the future.

[alittlegiraffe]

Hello! Can you please write 5 times Eminem gets jealous when other men become interested in the reader? (He hasn't confessed to her yet) The reader is also very oblivious to his feelings because he is a celebrity and she is not and doesn't understand why he is acting like that.

Title: About Damn Time

1. The Time You Went on a Date with Some Random Guy

You kicked off your heels and flopped onto Marshall’s couch with a dramatic sigh.

“How was it?” he asked, not looking up from his phone.

You shrugged. “It was… fine?”

Marshall scoffed. “That bad?”

“No! He was really nice. Funny, smart, great job…”

“Sounds like a fuckin’ Hallmark movie.”

You rolled your eyes. “You asked.”

He muttered something under his breath, then finally looked at you. “So, you seein’ him again?”

“Maybe?” You frowned. “He said he’d call.”

Marshall exhaled sharply and went back to his notepad, gripping the pen way too aggressively.

“Dude, what’s with you?”

“Nothin’.”

You shrugged it off, not noticing how his jaw clenched when your phone buzzed.

2. The Time You Got Hit On at the Studio

You were at the studio, leaning against the console, when one of the engineers—some new guy—struck up a conversation.

“So, Y/N,” he grinned, “you ever think about getting into music? You’ve got the voice for it.”

You chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think—”

“She’s not here for that,” Marshall interrupted flatly.

You blinked at him. “I mean, I could answer for myself—”

“We workin’.” He shot the guy a glare. “You got somethin’ else to do, or you just here to talk?”

The engineer held up his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. Didn’t mean anything by it.”

After he walked off, you turned to Marshall. “Okay, seriously. What was that?”

He shrugged. “Nothin’.”

You narrowed your eyes, then shook your head. “You’re weird, man.”

Marshall just muttered under his breath and went back to work.

3. The Time You Got Too Close to His Crew

You’d always gotten along with Marshall’s friends, but lately, you’d noticed Proof had taken to throwing an arm around you like you were one of them.

At a party, he laughed as he slung an arm over your shoulders. “Man, you put up with way too much of Marshall’s bullshit.”

You smirked. “Someone has to.”

Marshall, standing a few feet away, clenched his jaw so hard he thought his teeth might crack.

Later, he pulled you aside. “You and Proof got somethin’ I should know about?”

You snorted. “Uh, yeah. We’re gonna start a rap duo and take over the world.”

Marshall didn’t laugh.

You rolled your eyes. “Dude, it’s Proof. Your best friend.”

Marshall muttered something under his breath and took a sip of his drink. You just shrugged, completely missing the way he glared at Proof for the rest of the night.

4. The Time You Wore That Damn Dress

Marshall had never actually choked on air before, but apparently, tonight was the night.

You showed up to an event in a fitted dress, hair and makeup done, looking—well. Different.

“You good?” you asked, amused, as he coughed into his drink.

He cleared his throat. “Yeah. You, uh. You don’t usually wear stuff like that.”

You smiled. “You like it?”

He scoffed. “Don’t matter what I think.”

You rolled your eyes. “Well, clearly it does if you’re acting all weird about it.”

“I ain’t actin’ weird.”

You stared at him for a second, then shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

Marshall took a deep breath, forcing himself to look away. If one more guy looked at you like that, he was gonna lose it.

5. The Time You Almost Kissed Someone Else

It happened at a party. Some guy leaned in, and for a split second, it looked like you were gonna let him.

Marshall didn’t think—he just moved. Before you could react, his hand wrapped around your wrist, pulling you away from the guy and out the door.

“What the hell, Marshall?” you asked as he dragged you outside.

He ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. “You don’t wanna kiss that dude.”

“…Why not?”

He looked at you like you’d just asked if the sky was blue.

“Are you serious?”

You nodded, completely lost.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. Then, before he could second-guess himself, he grabbed your face and kissed you.

+1. The Time He Finally Did Something About It

Your brain short-circuited.

Marshall Mathers was kissing you. Marshall.

When he pulled back, he exhaled sharply. “You get it now?”

You blinked. “…Wait. You like me?”

Marshall groaned. “Oh my God.”

“No, no, I’m just—Since when?”

He rolled his eyes. “Long enough.”

You processed that. Then, finally, finally, you grabbed the front of his hoodie and yanked him back down for another kiss.

When you pulled away, breathless, you grinned. “You could’ve just told me, you know.”

Marshall smirked. “Yeah, well. You weren’t gettin’ the hint.”

No. But you got it now.

[blubunz]

A DRIVE TO WORK

— older! leon s. kennedy x m! older! reader

Tags: fluff, awkward reader, flirting (mainly just Leon), reader isn't the healthiest man, um- omg happy Leon? Well, he's trying to be optimistic. This is a bit cliché.

A/N: old men yaoi.

Settling back into a normal life is hard for someone like Leon, having his whole life standing before danger to save the innocence. Well, he can't complain, really, he dragged himself into that in the first place the moment he signed up to be a cop, giving up his love life and basically his ability to experience a normal life.

But, all that doesn't matter now, he's okay, the world is okay, well, actually it's not, but they're not his business! There aren't any dangerous virus or disgusting mutant creatures that brainwash or kill people anymore!

Leon settles for a café, heading for the one near his home. It's been there for awhile, but only now could Leon get to have a chance of trying it.

Stepping through the door rings a bell on the top, the waitress greets him automatically as she's trained, he orders a simple black coffee to go, wanting to enjoy the park while sipping the bitter drink.

The coffee place is certainly bustling, usually Leon doesn't pay any mind to it, until he hears someone rushing in and falling on him.

“Oh god, I'm sorry!” You frantically said, adjusting your clothes. Leon's thankful his order isn't ready yet, or else he'd be walking around with a dark stain on his chest.

“It's alright.” Leon reassures and helps you up, he pats and dusts on your shoulder. “Are you okay?”

You nod, mumbling a few more apologies before explaining your situation to a stranger. Hell, you don't even know Leon and yet you're babbling to him.

“Uh, yes, sorry, yes—” You stammer, breathing deep a few times, old age has been catching up to you lately, you can't believe you're breathing so hard like this just from a few minutes of running. “Agh, I forgot to get my drink before heading to work, now I'm gonna be late! But, I can't risk sleeping on the job, so I have to hurry here—”

You're talking quick, and also ordering your drinks when Leon steps aside.

“You walk to work, sir?” He asks, taking his coffee in hand and sipping it, might as well try to ease you off. He wouldn't want to see anyone having a heart attack on his normal day.

“Yes, heard walking is good for your health, so i wiuldnt have to be like a tree when I hit my retirement age.” You quickly explain, foot tapping impatiently.

“Well, I can give you a ride there.” Leon offers, and you gasp in disbelief.

“What? I wouldn't want to bother you, kind sir.” You say, taking your drinks and sipping it.

“Oh, I insist.” He smiles, grabbing your shoulder and leading you out of the café. “I want to help. Besides, it's rare for me to meet a guy as cute as you.” He's flirting lightheartedly, he doesn't want to pursue actually, he's scared you'd be disgusted and he's just saying that in a joking way, he swears!

Leon sees your face flushes and his smile drops, finding your nervousness adorable for once. Maybe he should meet more new people, he's forgotten how humans could be so cute sometimes, not like the ones he used to shoot when he was still on those missions. And, your reaction just proves that he still has charms after all these years! Okay, maybe those girls didn't want him because he's appealed to boys?

“You're too kind.” You say, and finally accept his offer for a ride. You assume it's faster that way too, and you know how the saying goes: "stranger danger", they said. But this stranger is attractive, and he has the best smile.

Leon guides you to his motorcycle, helping you getting to and putting a helmet over you. He doesn't use it himself personally, he likes the breeze rushing through his skin, he puts it on you for safety, however.

“Give me the address, and hold tight, alright?”

You tell him where you work and he starts the engine, the bike roaring to life and you jolt, hugging him tight as he speeds down the streets, basically almost flying off.

“This is— too fa—Aaah!!”

Your heart beats loudly, and you're starring to believe you might die from a heart attack from the way Leon revs the bike, eyes focusing on the street and dodging cars skillfully.

You gasp each time the bike turns, making your body leans to the side and it makes you hug his waist tighter.

Leon gets you to your workplace in no time, just a few minutes left to spare. Your body is shaking and your legs are like jelly, you have to lean on the bike once Leon has set you down.

“Sorry 'bout that.” He laughs, stroking your shoulder soothingly. “I hope I didn't give you any trauma.”

You blink, taking deep breaths and shaking your head slowly. “Um, no, it's uh— it's okay. I quite like it actually.”

Leon isn't sure if you're being nice or genuine.

“I like the thrill, makes me feel young again.” You say, and he smiles.

“Well, glad you like it. Cause I'm looking forward to giving you another ride next time.” He grins, showing his pearly whites that are getting slightly yellow. “If you'd let me, that is.”

“Uh...” You look away. “I need a ride home this afternoon, and well...”

“Say no more, I'll be here. At five?”

You nod. “At five.”

He nods and waves you off, watching you enter the building before he gets back on his bike and drives off, looking forward to seeing you again. You,...

...

Wait, fuck. He didn't even get your name.

[phoenixblaze1412]

Hi! How are you? Also can I request a Reader who knows and sees Dottore being all Yandere but is completely fine with it as long as Dottore is happy.

-🦇

Dottore’s lab was, as usual, a chaotic symphony of strange machines, scattered papers, and half-finished experiments. The dim lighting and the faint hum of various devices created a strangely comforting ambiance for you as you stood by the doorway, watching him at work. You had long since gotten used to the madness that was his life. His obsession with his research, his need for control, and his cold, calculating demeanor.

But there was another side to Dottore that you knew intimately. A side that only you were allowed to see, a side that was so consumed by you that he often became a little… intense.

You’d known from the beginning that Dottore was far from ordinary. He didn’t just have a passion for science; he had a consuming, obsessive need to understand and perfect everything around him, including you. It didn’t take long for you to realize that the man you were with wasn’t just dedicated to his work, he was dedicated to you in a way that was uniquely intense.

His love for you wasn’t just the usual affection. It was as though he’d found a puzzle, and you were the answer. You didn’t mind, though. You understood him in a way no one else could. You could see past the madness, the obsession, and the darkness in his eyes. In his own way, Dottore was kind to you. He was possessive, yes, but also protective in a way that no one else could ever understand.

Today, like many others, he was at his workbench, completely absorbed in his latest experiment. His eyes were glued to the screen in front of him, the sharp glint of focus making his usual demeanor seem even colder. But when you entered the lab, his attention shifted, just slightly, like a predator aware of its prey.

“You’re here,” he murmured, not even looking up from his work. “Good. I trust you’ve come to check on me, haven’t you?”

You smiled softly at his words. There was a possessiveness in his tone, a subtle warning that, despite his focus, he was aware of everything happening in his lab, including your every movement.

You nodded, stepping further into the room. “I couldn’t stay away. How’s the research going?” you asked, leaning against a nearby table.

Dottore’s lips curled into a slight smirk, though his attention didn’t stray from his work. “It’s going as planned,” he said, his voice smooth, but with an edge. “Though, I’ll admit, it’s a bit more difficult when there are distractions.”

You raised an eyebrow at him, knowing full well that the “distractions” he referred to were likely anything that wasn’t you.

“You know,” you said, walking closer to him, “I’m perfectly happy to be a distraction if it means I get more of your attention.”

Dottore finally looked up from his work, his eyes narrowing with a flash of something darker behind them, a mix of love and something far more possessive. “You always do, my dear,” he said quietly, almost possessively. “You are my constant. My only distraction. I don’t need anything else.”

His words sent a thrill through you, and you stepped closer, now standing just beside him. “You know, Dottore, I don’t mind how much you focus on me. I like being your only focus.”

Dottore’s lips curled into a small smile, one that was all sharp edges. “Good,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Because I can’t imagine sharing you with anyone else.”

You could hear the almost possessive undertones in his voice, the way he spoke with the certainty of someone who believed you were his to protect, to care for, and to keep away from the world. You could see it in the way he watched you, the way his gaze lingered on you as if making sure no one else even dared to approach you.

“I know you wouldn’t let anyone near me,” you said with a soft chuckle, leaning in a little closer to him. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Dottore’s expression softened, just for a second, before his usual stoic mask slipped back into place. “No one else would understand you the way I do,” he muttered, almost to himself. “No one else would care for you the way I do.”

You laughed, reaching out to gently touch his arm. “I’m fine with that,” you said simply. “As long as you’re happy.”

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he turned his attention fully to you. His fingers brushed against yours in a way that almost felt deliberate, as if reminding you of his ever-present, almost possessive nature. “Do you realize just how much I care for you?” His voice was softer now, tinged with something almost vulnerable.

“I do,” you whispered back, a smile spreading across your face as you gazed at him. “And I care for you too."

Dottore’s lips quirked into a grin, though there was still a dark, possessive gleam in his eyes. He looked almost smug. “Good,” he said softly, “because I’m not letting you go. Ever.”

You leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin against your lips. “I wouldn’t dream of leaving you,” you murmured, your heart beating faster as you felt him relax at your touch.

His hands found their way to your waist, pulling you gently closer, the warmth of his body a comforting presence as he held you. “You understand me,” he said quietly, “better than anyone else. And I’ll make sure nothing ever threatens that.”

You smiled against his shoulder, wrapping your arms around him in return. “I know, Dottore. I know.”

[docwritesshit]

Hello! I hope you're doing well and taking care of yourself today/tonight. I was wondering if you could do pregnancy/parent headcanons for Sun Wukong, Macaque, and MK (separate) of how they would be as dads. Like how they would take the news of their S/O being pregnant, how they would be throughout the whole pregnancy, and what fun things they would do with their kiddos. If you feel uncomfortable with this, that's totally fine

I feel like I’ve done these guys with kids but I could be entirely wrong

ANYWAYS

The Monkey boys with a Pregnant!SO and how they are with the kids!

Wukong

This man is over the moon when he first got the news

Immediately goes overboard in decorating for the babies nursery

I feel like it takes him a few days before he goes “… wait. Shit”

Because this man has aloootttt of enemies. And they are all not above harming innocent parties

So he’s taking every precaution there ever is

Barely lets you leave the mountain by yourself. Either him or someone else has to accompany you

Is constantly holding onto you, even more than usual

Can only sleep with you in the same bed, even more than usual

When your showing more and the baby is moving, good luck going anywhere by yourself

“Wukong-“ “Shhhhhh, I can feel ‘em kicking”

Will not ever miss when the baby is kicking, he swears he will witness every single one

When the baby is actually born, he is not leaning that little angels side

I feel like he is SUCH a girl dad. Idk why

Is mesmerized by every babble and smile with his kid.

Honestly, I feel like he enjoys tea time with his daughter. Pinky will be out and proud as he sips his ‘tea’

Macaque

Do not be surprised to see and extra shadow following you around for a bit

You’re very curious so you ask him about it

“Just trying to protect my kin”

… excuse me, THE FUCK-

After an explanation and you going off on him for not telling you (legit he thought you knew already), you just let the shadow be

Be ready to just see a baby room just fucking appear in your house.

You’re not even showing yet and this dude already has a stock pile of diapers and bottles and wipes and all the things

Over prepared ass mfer/pos

As soon as the baby is born, attached to the hip this one

Cannot get this man to put yalls child down. He is constantly hold them

(I keep wanting to say her. Why are they both girl dads? Who knows)

Can and will throw hands with the baby while they are out and about

MK

Shocked. Gob smacked

He is starting at the wall for a good few minutes

Then he is all over you, giving you all the love he can

You can see him drawing in his sketchbook a lot more

His excuse? “Just trying to capture that glow”

God he is ENAMORED with your growing body. Has to always be touching you in some way or form

There’s also anxiety with him

He can only imagine how he can handle a child while also being Wukongs successor.

Is trying so so hard to be with you and the kid but GOD THE VILLAINS ARE FUCKING ATTACKING HIM

When the kid arrives, he enjoys just drawing with em in the room

Sometimes he tries to draw what they will look like when they grow up. He hopes they atleast get your eyes

King of Daddy- Kid dates while you get some me time. None of them would say no to spending time with your kid while you go and do your own thing but MK especially loves it

That’s all I got

[bone-trash]

COD Headcanons

T4T Interlude

Simon and Johnny both being trans but having very different gender experiences growing up

CW: queer/trans sex written by a queer/trans author, references to surgery (it’s not too bad I’m just nervous)

Soap’s a tomboy and the youngest of 5 girls and registers as a very differently type of kid early on for his parents

Rough and tumble, scraped knees, skateboarding, the girls football team at school, climbing up really high and just jumping off for the sheer adrenaline

Mum has to make him wear a bra and it’s a huge fight

The Mohawk also could have been a fight but she cuts her losses on that one

By 16 he’s shagging just about anyone who offers but never brings anyone home so Mrs MacTavish makes a discreet drs appointment and lets him know where prophylactics can be found; she’s a Catholic, not an idiot

He dives into transition with the same speed and enthusiasm he does everything else, within a year of finding out what a trans person is he’s on T and booked for top surgery

He’s not the type to hide anything about himself and sometimes forgets people don’t know he’s trans, this is how Gaz found out

Definitely a Top, getting fucked feels great but if you want to make that happen there’s going to be some (fun) tussling and he’s probably stronger than you.

——

Ghost was always tall and thin and kind of weird, his long straw like hair covering most of his face long before he took to wearing masks

Spent a lot of time looking after Tommy and just trying to survive his shitty home life so gender didn’t come up right away for him

Being tall and thin with a pretty small chest he got “mistaken” for a boy a lot and that never really bothered him the way maybe it should have

Got as much surgery as the military allowed him to (top surgery - keyhole) and experimented with T he bought illegally online

Has a phalloplasty and his arm tattoos conceal the scar

Demi-sexual (aka Johnny-sexual) and craves a lot of physical intimacy (not always sexual)

Needy-ass Bottom, Service Top if you want. Really likes being bossed (and tossed) around/talked through it and he bruises like a peach.

——

They clock each other immediately…well kind of (Simon doesn’t know that Johnny knows he’s trans too, at first)

To be fair Johnny is kind of a type of trans man, loud and shorter than average and well muscled and it takes a Simon a minute to realize that yes he is attracted to him, Fuck.

Simon is not as easily picked out by someone not trans, he’s been stealth a long time and his height does him a lot of favors as does his voice but he’s got a vibe that Johnny picks up on right away

Simon the kind of person that sexual assumptions are made about, he likes to think that he’s a flexible partner but usually balks when he’s approached by a stranger for down time

When they finally crash into one another Simon tries to explain that he can be whatever Johnny needs and he needs him to know that Simon’s like him and that this isn’t some fetish thing

Johnny blinks for a couple of seconds before saying “Love, why dae ye think ah’m here?” And tackling the big man onto the bed behind them and taking him apart

——

Hey! So this one is a little different I know but I had alot of fun writing it! Lots of credit needs to go @monsterpegger001 for helping me with some lovely ideas! T4T Ghoap is a force of nature and it took me days to do it justice. Love yall! ✌️💀

[munchladcorner]

Two lines greeted Sylus when he opened the small red box she had gifted him. She fidgets with her hands behind her back, anxious for Sylus’s reaction.

“Are you not happy?” She asks after minutes pass in suffocating silence.

Sylus’s face remains blank, making her bite her bottom as she waits for a response.

“I…” Sylus contemplates and takes a deep breath.

“It’s fine if you’re not okay with it…” She sinks her nail deep into her palm, “abortion is an option if either of us doesn’t want them.”

Sylus furrows his brows, putting down the box, then wrapping his arms around her waist. He cups her cheek, asking, “Do you not want them?”

She avoids his gaze, but Sylus gently puts his fingers under her chin to make her look at him, “Sweetie?”

She opens her mouth but closes it again before burying her face into his chest, “I want them, but I don’t want to keep the child if you don’t want them,”

Wrinkles form on Sylus’s clothes. He holds her trembling hand and kisses it, pulling her close as he whispers, “It’s not that I don’t want them. I’m just not sure if… I can be a good father.”

The hesitation in Sylus’s voice makes her raise her head to look at him. For the first time, she sees an insecure expression on his face. An expression so different from the usual confidence he had.

“You’re the only person I’ve ever loved,” Syslus takes her hand and kisses her palms, “and I can’t imagine what it’d be like to someone else aside from you,”

“Oh, Sylus,” She says his name tenderly, “I’m not the only person you’ve loved,”

Sylus scoffs at her words, “And who else have I loved besides you?”

She smiles at him and cups his cheeks, making him lean into her palm as she rubs his cheek, “You’ve loved Luke and Keiran. Mephisto, too.”

Sylus stares at her, “I don’t,”

It was a lie and she knew that.

“Really?” She raises a brow and flashes him a teasing grin, “Then you must be getting sloppy considering Luke and Kieran were able to prank you on their birthday.”

Sylus averts his gaze and clears his throat, “They wouldn’t stop complaining about their failed prank so I let them prank to make them shut up,”

She hums, “Is that so?” Sylus nods. “Then I’m guessing there’s also a reason why you built a room for Mephisto’s paper collection? Also, apologizing on behalf of Luke, Kieran, and Mephisto must be part of a strategic plan, isn’t it?”

Sylus sighs after hearing her point, “Fine. I yield,”

A victorious grin appears on her lips and she lets go of Sylus’s cheeks and pulls him down to kiss his forehead. “You’re more than capable of loving someone besides me. You might not see it, but you’re a man who has so much love to give.”

Sylus scoffs, “You put too much faith in me, kitten,”

She rolls her eyes, “I won’t tell you that you’ll be an amazing father, nor will I say that you’ll love our child the same way you love the twins because we can’t know for certain. But I don’t want you to doubt your capability of loving others.”

Sylus remains silent.

“I’ll let you think about whether we should keep our child. Until then, we can continue living our lives as the twins and Mephisto’s parents,” She winks at Sylus and kisses him.