#and also tammy shes here too

[dapperbasil]

5, 13, 16

mwah

Mwah!

5. What's your least favourite clan? Why?

Oh you're playing with fire here. Okay, if we go lore as written, it has to be the Ravnos. In my opinion they just are not written very well and are much better when you disregard a lot of the... Problematic elements of their clan lore and focus on the individual. The Ravnos I have in my chronicle are fairly far removed from the clan as a whole (especially as antitribu) and they focus more on their flaw as a bigger part of their identity.

13. Do you have a comfort character? What makes them special to you?

So. I think it's cheating to pick Zacharias since he's technically not mine (but I am the one who developed him from the original concept) so to literally nobody's surprise I'm going to talk about Tammy. Surprisingly, she's not my first VtM character but she's the first who's game actually stuck around and I've become very attached to her.

She originally was a concept of "Person who has barely any qualities that would make her seem like a good pick gets embraced into clan Ventrue" and she cringefailgirled her way into my heart ever since. She tries so hard, despite the stacked odds, despite being clumsy and rash and stubborn and dumb as fucking bricks. Tammy is far from perfect, she's a terrible example of a Ventrue, yet she makes it work. She powers through every obstacle in her way, focused on her goal despite every setback every kidnapping every attack on her unlife, despite having her credit taken because a fledgling can't upstage the elders, despite losing her sense of self, despite losing her fucking EYE and not even being sure if she can achieve it. Her determination to reach her goal is beautiful, and that's all I can really say about that.

16. Do you have a character that was created from a dumb/ silly idea but now you can't imagine not having them?

And this is where I'm going to sound like a hypocrite! Because the character for this is my beloved Ravnos shovelhead Ricky Roberts. When I was creating the Dollhouse pack NPCs for my chronicle, I wanted to create characters that would compliment and fill in the gaps between my player characters. Ricky... Was not really that. Ricky was originally a concept I quite loved and wanted to execute. The luckiest shovelhead alive. Hated so much by his previous pack, the shovelhead who just wouldn't die despite how many missions he was sent on meant for him not to survive. Eventually he left that pack and joined the Dollhouse, finding a place where he belonged.

He's such a fun character, and genuinely so silly but also so important to the pack at this point. He ghouled a possum, he's a slut, he's got the lucky merit as well as nine lives, he was pre-law before his embrace. There's a lot more about him the pack doesn't even know. Yet he's the most ride or die for his new pack, the people who gave him somewhere to belong in this new, strange life.

[cheer-nympho]

Steve was always being brushed off when he asked people to read things aloud for him,

In middle school his assigned partner for their ‘Frankenstein’ project gave him a scornful glare and ignored him when he had asked them to read the passages aloud.

In his sophomore year, he’d turned to ask Robin Buckley to read a old newspaper article about the ‘Wild West’ to him, because he couldn’t make it out through the fonts and weird words. She had fixed him with a cold look but before she could respond, Tammy was tapping his shoulder offering her help.

Then, while studying with Nancy and Barb at lunch, Steve had asked for help reading study cards. His own study cards. The paper was too bright and the squiggles too squiggly. Both of them had looked at him, them each other, clearly trying to decide if it was a joke.

Barb had scoffed under Nancys pointed look and gone back to her own notes. And while Nancy hadn’t read them out for him, she had handed him her own notes on some nice blue and yellow cards. It took him a while, but he could read them. Maybe she thought he hadn’t wrote any.

After that, he went a long time without asking anyone to read him things. Turns out that once you graduate, reading isn’t much of an issue. He’d gotten by just fine by looking at his Archie comics and ignoring the swirling lines of articles surrounding them.

He didn’t need to ask again until Scoops Ahoy. For a cheap, overly themed ice cream parlour there sure was a whole lot of memorising and reading to be done. He couldn’t see the charts properly, couldn’t really make out the dates on the tubs in the freezer. But every time he asked Robin for help, her frown would deepen and deepen until she just snapped. It hadn’t been that mean, really. Just an annoyed yell followed by accusations of being lazy, her not understanding how he managed to graduate, one last comment of him being a ‘bumbling idiot’.

After the Russians, she never said anything like that to him again. And she always did the inventory and lists for him.

It takes until summer, 1987, for anyone to read aloud to Steve. They were laying across Eddie’s new bed in comfortable silence.

Steve had his legs dangling off the edges as Eddie leant back against him, legs pointing up against the wall in a way he swore was actually comfortable. He had been reading a new book called “Spellfire” and he couldn’t seem to put it down.

“Eddie?”

“Hm?”

“What’s your book about?”

“This? Well I…Not sure it’s really your thing, man.”

“Maybe.” He goes back to reading. “I could see if it’s my thing?”

Eddie twists his head sideways to look up at Steve with a slightly confused face. “You wanna borrow it?”

“Was thinking you could read it.” He fiddled with the pocket of his jeans in a hopefully casual and not freaking out way. He didn’t look at Eddie as he waited, but after a few moments he responded.

“Sure. That’s fine, yeah. Want me to start over or go from here?”

“From there is good.”

And it was good, it was really really good. Steve hadn’t been able to read a book since middle school, hadn’t really tried again after that. But as he lay back and let Eddie’s voice wash over him he couldn’t help feeling that he’d been missing out.

Sure, it actually wasn’t really his thing, but the way Eddie read aloud painted such a clear picture that Steve enjoyed it anyway. The other would change his voice slightly for different characters and added emotions into his speaking. If it was a tense moment, he’d go slow and add gaps in just the right places. If it was fast paced he’d speed up and get more and more manic until the action cut off. He felt like he was reading along. Felt like he could see the pages in the book, but also the characters and the dungeon they were combining through.

So, for the first time Steve hadn’t been brushed off. He had probably found the only person he knew who could turn reading a book into a performance. One he would happily be seated for every night.

From then on, new books turned up at the trailer every week, Steve not far behind.

[shrimpyjackal]

For your villian peri au, do tammy and tommy exist? If so how does peri feel about them? I can kinda see him being extra possessive if irep tries to get near them. Like talk to them and I will kill you or something like that, they are technically his niece and nephew after all.

Does dale try and get dev to get closer to them as an excuse to see timmy more in private?

And what about dev, what does he think of the twins?

In short: yes. They DO exist , but theyre living in different city. Ya know, its a bad idea to move kids & wifey with him im Dimmadelfia when kids are in their first grade. But Timmy have work in Dimma-city, so he like 80% of the month is not home.

/ yea i want to keep the theme from swap au of Tammy & Tommy being younger than Hazel & Dev, cause we have enough of interesting characters of THEIR age already /

And Timmy doesn't mention his family at all that much ( Also he tries to not bring work at home and vice versa), so that was quite a surprise for everyone!

The second Peri get the info abt the he tries to make sure Irep doesn't know any of that, but that was a stupid attempt, Hazel is hella exited to meet em if there will be an opportunity, she liked Timmy, so his kids must be cool too! Our girl can`t contain her exitement!

so Irep was unaware not that long, haha

Dev feels conflicted, cause like... theyre not here, he doesnt even know what they`re look like, but Peri is a godPARENT, and these are TiMmYs KiDdOs, and Peri was sad that Timmy didnt metntion em yet. But looks like Dev doesnt need to worry about at least one parental figure in his life-

[goldengroovy]

have some of the step 4 qiu design predictions i doodled!! yapping down below

okay okay so!! i think in terms of fashion, qiu would stay somewhat similar maybe? experimenting with different styles here and there but like.. i think i can only pry away that puffer jacket from their cold dead hands

their fashion is pretty consistent over all, actually!! dark jeans + sweater (in step 2 + step three, its a white sweater with a pattern thrown on) and that bomber jacket once more

i think the factor of their appearance that they experiment with the most is with their accessories and hair!!

their hair is very, very important to them. in all steps, it's never goes above their jaw. and in step 3, it even goes somewhat down to their stomach!! most of their hairstyles however are very low effort, something you can do quickly (high pony, low pony, half up half down)

i imagine in step 4, they'd try to change it up with something that takes a little more time. maybe pins, claw clips (inspired by this). i think it wouldn't be too far to say that maybe they'd dye it a lighter color, or add some highlights!!

honestly, their accessories seem pretty consistent too. fingerless gloves, chokers / necklaces, earrings! maybe they would borrow some of their mom's jewelries (she's seen wearing rings and earrings!!) her accessories are gold, which is nice because its their favourite, but i can see them leaning towards silver jewelry as time goes on!!

i can also imagine that they would try out riding a motorbike instead of their usual bike (inspired by this). black or grey helmet with accents of gold!! it just makes sense to me -- its a way for them to clear their mind without having to use their phone and its something they can do alone!

although gold is their favourite color, i thought it'd make more sense to add it little by little instead of putting it everywhere. less is more yadda yadda

i wanted to do tammy in the same post but honestly she is not as predictable as qiu </3 but i love her and i will struggle for her

[ttshihiro]

pspspps.. totally not golden groovy woops

ANYWAYS HII!! heard u were open for requests. may i request tammy + qiu with and an artist reader :00

requests of my favorite fandoms are my catnip good gof woa who could this be‽‽ my reqs and my ask box are like always open btw >◡<

extra note/s: I refer to step 1 Qiu as he/him. Uhhh take this as platonic or romantic, I'll add an indicator for romance (𐙚) ^^

more under the cut > o

✧ At 10 years old, QIU's fascinated. How he discovers your interest and skill in arts varies but his reaction doesn't. He's impressed! Whether digital or traditional, Qiu would love to participate especially if you asked him yourself.

For this reason, he carries an extra pen and even those colored ones just in case you get bored or if you're suddenly struck by creativity when you two are playing :3

✧ The first time you show him one of your doodles you made during class, he's compelled to do the same whether or not you actually give him it. And ever since, you two've been exchanging these sketches during class. It's the cutest scene to walk into.

✧ URGH AND THE THINGS HE DOES WHEN YOU TELL HIM ABOUT ART BLOCK DEPENDING ON HOW AND WHAT YOU DRAW

You're into drawing sceneries? Trust that he starts telling you and Tamarack about more "special things" in the forest and/or the town.

Like the sky? There's this clearing a lot further into the forest at your backyards. Stargaze, watch the clouds and the sunset together?

✧ It's also necessary for me to mention that unlike his notes, lazily pressed against eachother and constantly on the run, anything you give him goes to a safe space probably in between a books pages, under the the matress of his bed or inside a drawer/container.

"They broke into my backyard accidentally, 'cause they were on a crazy investigation about a paper airplane. Plus, they got here a day ago and they're already looking out for me. Normally, I'm the one doing that."

"Besides, they're pretty. And they make me pretty. Look! Look how they drew me!"

✧ As for 10-year-old TAMARACK, she's curious. The things you draw, are they based on actual places? Actual people? Oh, you draw based on your imagination? Elaborate.

✧ At some point in the prologue, she says "All the forests in the world are different, and some places don't even have forests. I can show you good spots to find things since you're newer to this forest than me."

And I can't not think of her running up to you to give you all of what she gathered for you to draw like omfg

With all those leaves and tiny branches sticking out of her hair and sweater, she smiles brightly with her hands filled with her treasures. AUGH SHE MAKES ME SO SICK I LOVE HER

✧ Like Qiu, she has her own safe spot designated for only your drawings if you've given her any.

She shows off all of them. Especially if you've drawn her?? It'll be the only thing she talks about during literally any time for the rest of the month and the few months after.

"Out of all the friends I have here, you're the best one. We came to the same exact neighborhood, almost at the same time, and are he same age. You have fun outside and I do too."

"I think you're pretty. How you draw me is pretty! I've never met a kid who was just like me. That's important. That's serious."

✧ Now, 14-year-old QIU's pretty much no different. They're even more impressed when they see just how much you've improved. Nonetheless, they treasure your old drawings just as much as they do they new.

They take the liberty of providing you with both a pen and paper to draw on when you're together, in case you don't bring your sketchbook (if you own one).

On those days where you two just sit in silence in their hideout, their gaze drifts to your side quietly a few times to watch your progress. After a while, they settle with sitting right next to you and watching the stroke of your pen against the paper as the scene forms with each hatch.

✧ As a teen, they've actually been a tad bit farther off the town when they feel like taking a ride on their bike. They've seen many sights and burn the route into their brain for them to tell you about. They'd even be happy as to bring you there themselves.

✧ If you ask them to be your muse, good god you'd need to tell them what to do.

It's almost a funny sight. Qiu, the kid who knew what to do their whole life asks you, "Should I pose? Where do I look? Ah- what's my good side?"

𐙚 They can feel their breath hitch under your scrutiny. Suddenly, they're concious of every single thing about them. Where do their eyes go? Should they move their hands? Is their hair in the way?

They avert their gaze flusteredly, their head ever so slightly moving to the side when they do so.

And good god do their hands clutch the fabric of their pants when you tell them to look at you properly.

✧ Same goes for TAMARACK at 14. She's as intrugued as ever to hear about your work. She admires (you)r style from then till now and has learned to appreciate the time gone into things as simple as this, whether or not you've made it with her in mind. BUT GOD IF YOU TELL HER IT IS, it's always sitting on her desk and she thinks constantly about what you've done for her.

✧ And while she doesn't exactly bring you a pen, she's more than glad to hand you hers when you need it.

✧ Unlike before, she'd now be at your side when you two hung out at her backyard. She'd be sitting across from you, practicing the cello. The hum of her instrument accompanied by the sound of nature and the scratch of your pen against paper gives her a sense of calmness.

This may also be when she realizes she's been your muse! Her fingers trace over where your pen has been and boy appreciate isn't even enough for her to describe how she felt. It was definitely happy, but that wasn't the word either.

𐙚 Her heart pounds alarmingly as she admires your work. It's almost concerning to you that she sits silently with a blank expression as she held your sketchbook in her hands.

But that concern washes off you as soon as a warm smile curls the corners of her lips, tender adoration displayed all over her face.

[asexual-shelly]

In honor of lesbian visibility week, I present a full list of female characters from Total Drama who have canonically shown no attraction to men! (as far as I'm aware)

Staci - Only present for one episode and only spoke for one episode, having no lines in the finale. None of these lines hint at Staci displaying any interest in men.

Dawn - The closest thing I could find was the "I didn't know you were a beetle whisperer!" scene, but even then, that could easily be read as platonic. Svetlana - Similar case to Staci in that her lines are pretty limited due to being actively suppressed by Mike or Mal. However she has not, in fact, said anything that hints at her liking men in those few lines.

Sammy & Amy - Other than that one "Topher thinks you're fat" line of dialogue (which could easily be played off as Amy trying to mess with her), neither of them have shown any on-screen interest in men.

Scarlett - The only extensive interaction she has with men are Max, whom she DESPISES, and their alliance is only romantically framed for the sake of a gag.

Sugar - Nothing in canon hints at her liking men. She admires Leonard, but this is most likely due to his perceived magical abilities rather than any sort of attraction as she displays a similar interest in Max later on.

Tammy - Similar case to Staci, she only had a very brief speaking role in episode 1 and never in these lines was it implied she was attracted to men.

Mary & Ellody - Only here for a short time (with Mary only having dialogue in the episode she was eliminated in rip), but neither of them express interest in guys.

Laurie & Miles - Same deal as Mary and Ellody, they go pretty early overall but haven't been shown to like men.

Jen - You'd expect someone of her character archetype to mention looking for 'cute guys' or something similar, but surprisingly no? The closest thing she has would be her friendship with Tom, which is treated as 100% platonic by the show even if you don't take into account the fact that Tom is gay.

Taylor - Another surprising one imo, it's never stated or implied that she likes guys in the show, not even a passing mention from what I've seen which I could've sworn happened on first watch. Mandela effect I guess 🤷

Josee - Similar deal to Jen as far as I'm aware, being that her closest relationship to a guy is with a gay man and treated as platonic throughout the race.

Sanders - Pretty clear-cut, no scenes of her expressing interest in men or romance in general.

MacArthur - "What about Brody?" The only time she's shown to return his affection is during the finale and she's actively trying to throw him off his game by using his crush against him. She only asks Brody to call her in the Surfers ending, which she doesn't do at all in the Cadets ending implying that she's most likely only in it for the money.

Scary Girl/Lauren - While she does hold an interest in Damien, nothing in canon says she's attracted to him, only to the sound of his screams.

Nichelle - Too busy having no lines to talk about boys. seethingwithrage

Millie - Zero attraction to men in canon, the most interactions she has are with and about Priya. She's sorta friendly with Damien, but it doesn't rise anywhere above platonic (probably because she shoved him into a meat grinder but who knows) and actively seems to be disgusted by or otherwise pretty averse to most of the male cast.

MK - Has never been shown to be interested in guys or even romance in general. In fact, she actively seems to dislike it as seen in the episode where Caleb and Priya kiss where she goes “Yeah, that was sweet, but it’s also how you get mono” (this is ace mk propaganda btw). There was also Nichelle's intro in season 1 when she was looking at her starry-eyed, clearly a joke but yk still noteworthy.

Julia - My favorite lesbian <3 zero attraction or hints at attraction to men in canon + listen... we all watched season 2 you know what I'm talking about don't lie. The closest things she has to romantic interactions with men in canon are at most one-sided and always with her actively disliking said man on the other side (Wayne + maybe Ripper in season 1).

[shamachan]

Hey-hi ray-ray!! If i may be so bold to request, Qiu and Tama christmas headcanons? Since its around the time for it :3

Tamarack + Qiu Christmas headcanonsꔛ

step 1!

Qiu

— I feel like he's a big fan of this kind of holidays - everyone's happy and smiling and enjoying themselves. and he's not an exception.

— He'll also make sure that he's house is decorated properly. Tinsel, a Christmas tree, all hung with multi-colored lights, mistletoes here and there, nice garlands in the house and outside of it... Isn't his house looks the best for upcoming Christmas?

— Qiu will surely come to your porch and be like "hey, how're you feeling about building snowmans in front of our houses?"

— and if you agree, it may end up with a little snowball fight. why? well, it's just entertaining to be all covered with snow, as if you're real snowmans here. and plus because he just adores the thought of spending as much cool and funny time as he can with you!

— I think he'll be into going snow sledding, whether on sleds or snow tubes! he might also take you, Boy's club and Tamarack for a ride on them with him.

— Qiu can also give you a small sleigh ride if you want! He'd be so-o-o smug about it.

— Autumn will also prepare a small gift for you, his favourite neighbour, you absolutely deserving it. Guessing it'll be a small drawing of you, according with a fairytale book and some candies like candy cane.

— ...don't know why, but i can imagine him wearing a Santa's hat while gifting you his present and he saying things like "you witnessed a real Santa Clause, now that's our shared secret. don't tell anyone!"

Tamarack

— Oh! Tamarack is the most excited one beyond anything in Golden Groove about Christmas!

— I'm sure she'll make a plenty hundred of snow angels on the ground, - be careful not to step on them! - and will invite you to come here to her house and do that with her! if you want to, you can do that in your house yard too! Tammy bets you'll have so much fun!

— If you get cold, Tamarack will offer you to drink tea with her and share her gingerbread cookies with you. She will give you some cookies to bring them to your home to eat them later too, if they're to your liking that is!

— her favourite element of this special day is a Christmas tree. like, "a piece of nature we can bring in our house and decorate it? yay!"

— wishes to Santa Clause for everyone who she cares about to feel nice and safe and sound all the new year. this is important!

— Tama loves to ask Omi and Opa to turn on some cheerful Christmas music, to the point that she knows the lyrics of all songs.

— she will sing a couple of her favorite songs to you too and ask if you like them. and if you answer her question positively, she will be so-so giggly and later show you other songs from her Christmas songs collection!

— Tamarack would prepare a gift for you too. Feeling like she'll give it straight in the morning of the Christmas celebration day, and it'll be a small Santa Claus and a Christmas tree figurines that you can hang on your own tree at home or let it stand in your room! both ways are working with her, Tammy's just happy to celebrate this day with you.

A/N: OMGG HEY HII REGULUS!! I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU! i absolutely LOVE the idea of this request sincerely thank uu!! <33

though the headcanons r kinda small, I put a little bit of my heart into this, ahaha^^ that was fun!:33

[maddie-dog-story-blog]

The Playdate - 2

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

It only took a few more minutes before Mia emerged back in the kitchen holding Sasha's hand and looking like a toddler ready to go to church. Mia's face was as red as a tomato.

Lisa gasped in delight as her girlfriend walked into the room. "Mia! You look absolutely adorable!" She exclaimed.

Sasha raised the hand holding Mia's and twisted it, forcing the other woman to twirl and show off all sides of her outfit to the room.

"What do you think, Tammy? Isn't Little Mia beautiful?" Sasha asked Tammy who, Mia noticed to her chagrin, had a purple ring around her mouth from the grape juice she had drank from a normal, plastic cup.

"Yeth, Mommy! Mia's sooooo pretty! She lookth wike one of my baby dollies!" Tammy yelled out enthusiastically.

"Little Mia even agrees with us, don't you Mia? You were just telling me how you want your Mommy to buy you more pretty dresses just like this one, right?" Sasha said.

Lisa raised her eyebrow. That didn't sound like her Mia, who would refuse to wear anything that looked like it was meant to be worn by anyone younger than a kindergartener. But, to her surprise and delight, Mia quickly confirmed Sasha's statement.

"Yes, Miss Sasha. This is a very pretty dress. I would like to have more just like it," Mia said reluctantly, blushing at having to speak the words.

Lisa stopped and pondered the statement for a moment. Was this Mia's way of telling her she wanted to regress further without outright admitting it?

Sasha spoke next, "Well, that's perfect! Since this dress is too little for Tammy, you can have this one to start your collection!"

Lisa beamed in delight. "How wonderful! Mia, what do you tell Miss Sasha for her generosity?" Lisa asked as Tammy took another messy drink of her juice.

Mia turned to Sasha, looking up at her, before politely saying, "Thank you for the pretty dress, Miss Sasha."

"You're welcome, little one! Now, let's get you some juice! You were thirsty when you got here; I'm sure you're parched now!" Sasha said as she headed back into the kitchen.

Lisa stopped her short, though. "Don't worry, I already have it handled." She reached over to a counter and grabbed, to Mia's horror, an extra-large baby bottle full of milk, not juice.

"Mommy! No! I'm a big girl!" Mia cried out in horror as her girlfriend offered her the bottle. Sasha had to cover a giggle as Mia, now looking more like a toddler than Tammy, had yet another emotional outburst.

"It's this or nothing, Mia. You already proved you aren't ready for a big girl glass with your little spill. You also lost juice and sippy cup privileges by having a temper tantrum and lying about your accident. Do you want to make your punishment worse by throwing another one?" Lisa asked as she lectured her partner.

Mia stomped her foot once before getting control of her emotions again. "But, I'm not a baby," Mia muttered timidly, taking the offered bottle from her Mom's hand.

"Mia's a big baaaby! Not wike me! Me's a big giwl! I dwink wif a big giwl cup!" Tammy said, unhelpfully. Mia wanted to cry.

Sasha, of all people, surprisingly came to Mia's rescue.

"Tammy, that was not nice! Mia is just a little girl who had a little spill and a temper tantrum, that's all. You've had plenty of both. Tell Mia that you are sorry, or I will make you sorry, little miss!" Sasha said, rounding on Tammy.

The large baby-woman immediately backtracked. Lips stained with purple juice, Tammy immediately apologized. "Sowwy, Mia!" she chirped out.

Dressed in a baby dress and holding a baby bottle full of milk, the apology did nothing to fix Mia's wounded pride.

Sasha continued though, turning to Mia. "You know, the bottle's not that bad? It means you can take it to the playroom without having to worry about making a mess! Why don't you go play? I bet your Mama might even let you use your little tablet while you calm down," Sasha looked expectantly at Lisa as she spoke the last sentence.

Mia looked up expectantly at her girlfriend as well. At this point, she wanted nothing more than to go hide away with her tablet and pretend she was anywhere but here.

"I guess that's alright. But, I expect you to finish that bottle in the next 45 minutes. You aren't going to go into the playroom and conveniently forget to drink it. The bottle is a punishment, after all," Lisa said.

That affirmation was all Mia needed. "Okay, Mom," she responded before grabbing her tablet and headphones in the hand not occupied by the bottle, palming a piece of bubble gum, and running off to Tammy's playroom.

Once in the room, she found a large, pink bean bag chair to settle into. She puffed her skirt out so she could comfortably sit down and popped the gum in her mouth. She put her pink, cat-ear headphones on and turned on her favorite show, My Little Pony. She started to blow bubbles with her bubble gum and let all of her attention be drawn into her tablet as she shut out the rest of the room. Mia was so enthralled in her own little world that she didn't even notice Tammy come into the room shortly after her.

Mia finished a whole episode of her cartoon before she remembered she was supposed to be drinking her bottle. She let the second episode start playing as she reached for the cursed container, put the nipple to her lips, and started suckling. Mia didn't really know what to expect, having never used a bottle as an adult, but actually getting the milk out of the bottle was much harder than she had anticipated.

Frustrated with how slow she was drinking, she set the bottle back down, moved the gum out of the back corner of her mouth, and started mindlessly watching her tablet and popping her bubble gum again.

During this whole process, Mia never looked up from her tablet once, failing to pay attention to her surroundings at all. Unfortunately for Mia, if she had been paying attention, she probably would have noticed Tammy staring at her malevolently from another corner of the playroom. She also probably would have noticed the larger woman slip off her pull-up. Had she been paying even a modicum of attention, Mia definitely would have noticed the large woman advancing on her. Mia wasn't paying attention though, so, when Tammy grabbed Mia by the leg and dragged her off of the bean bag, Mia was taken completely by surprise.

As Tammy grabbed Mia, the bubble of gum the smaller woman was working on popped, getting all over Mia's face and effectively sealing her mouth shut. Tammy immediately sat down on Mia's crotch once the smaller woman was on the floor, easily pinning Mia down. Mia struggled against Tammy's weight, but quickly discovered she couldn't move.

Once Mia was detained, Tammy ham-fistedly grabbed some of the gum off of Mia's face and smeared it into one of the other woman's long, braided pigtails. Mia struggled to reach for her hair, still unable to open her mouth to protest due to the rest of the gum, as she felt a warm, wet sensation growing from her crotch. Mia's eyes widened as she felt Tammy pee directly onto her crotch.

Tammy looked down at Mia, laughing maniacally. "Oh no! Did Little Mia have an accident in her pretty little party dress?" Tammy asked rhetorically, letting her overgrown toddler act temporarily drop.

Mia stared up at Tammy with pleading eyes. What was happening? Why was this happening? Unable to speak, she tried to let her eyes do the talking. Tammy didn't respond to the panicked looks. Instead, she grabbed Mia's wrists, pinning her down further, scrunched her face up again, and let lose another stream of hot piss.

"Oh no! The little baby pissed herself again! And here I thought you were such a big girl! So much bigger than and superior to gross little Tammy? You don't feel so big now, do you now, Baby Mia?" Tammy continued her taunt her prey before grabbing the remaining gum from Mia's face and rubbing it into Mia's other braid.

Tears started to form in Mia's eyes as she finally found her mouth free. She started to wail. Tammy quickly climbed off of the smaller, crying woman, leaving her lying in a puddle of urine. She then ran over to the dry pull-up laying on the floor of the playroom, pulled it back on, and sat on the floor, pretending to play with her dolls.

It only took moments for Lisa and Sasha to come running into the room once Mia started crying. The small woman was sitting in the middle of a puddle of urine on the floor, pulling on the gum in her hair. The once white petticoats of the toddler dress she was wearing was yellowed from the urine to match the rest of the dress.

On seeing the mess Mia was sitting in, Lisa immediately put her hands on her hips and glared down at her charge.

"Mia Eileen! What is going on here?!" She yelled as she stormed across the room. Sasha remained in the doorway, looking at Mia with a knowing smile.

"Mommy!" Mia wailed as she pointed at Tammy, "I didn't wet my pants! She did! Baby Tammy did!"

Lisa reached down and grabbed Mia by the hand, forcefully pulling the small woman to her feet. She looked at the puddle on the floor, then bent Mia over at the waist, easily exposing the woman's drenched cotton princess panties, dress, and sewn-in petticoats.

"Tammy wet your panties?!" Lisa said incrediously, "TAMMY wet YOUR panties?!? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?"

Mia straightened up and looked her caregiver directly in the eyes. Screw emotional regulation, she wasn't taking the fall for this. She stomped both of her feet as her tears dried up, and she started yelling.

"BUT, SHE DID! SHE PINNED ME DOWN AND PEED ON ME!" Mia screamed at Lisa, willing her caregiver to believe her.

"Baby, you are clearly lying. Tammy come here," Lisa said, waiving Tammy over. The large woman stood up and made a show of waddling to Lisa's side.

"Yeth, Mith Lisa?" Tammy asked, now fully playing the role of the perfect adult baby girl again. Mia glared at the woman's act.

Lisa pulled up the hem of Tammy's sundress, revealing a slightly wet pull-up underneath. "What happened to Mia, baby girl?" Lisa asked softly like an adult talking to an actual two-year-old.

Tammy shoved her thumb into her mouth as she spoke. "Mia wath blowing pwetty bubbles wif her mouf. She blew a weally big one, and it popped! Da bubble got all in her hair, and Mia gots scared and went pee-pee!" She explained behind her thumb, giving Mia a dumb grin as she finished.

"That's a lie! That's not what happened! She pulled me off the bean bag, pinned me down, and…" Mia's rant was cut off when Sasha's hand wrapped around Mia's head from behind and shoved a giant pacifier into Mia's open mouth. Mia then shook her head as she felt a leather strap being tighter around her head, restricting her from spitting the pacifier out.

"Sorry, Lisa. I just couldn't take any more of Mia's naughty lies," Sasha said as Mia stomped both of her feet and balled her fists in frustration.

"That's totally okay, Sash! I agree with you. I don't know what's happening, but it looks like you were right on the phone the other day. Mia wants me to make her be my diaper filling little baby. I mean, obviously Tammy didn't wet Mia's panties. She's wearing a soggy pull-up for god's sake. How would Tammy even get the pee onto Mia's panties when she's wearing her, um, protection?"

Mia raged behind the pacifier gag as Sasha held her in place. Lisa continued to talk to her best friend over Mia's head as if she wasn't there.

"And Tammy's version of events make since," Lisa grabbed Mia's pigtails, "These cute little pigtails are covered in bubble gum! I think they'll have to be cut short."

Mia's eyes grew wide. She did not want to lose her hair. The bubblegum was so high up in her braids, she would only have a few inches left if Lisa cut it all out. She tried to protest through the pacifier, but couldn't form any words with the giant bulb pinning her tongue down.

"That'a exactly what it looks like to me too, Lisa. What are you going to do about this?" Sasha asked.

Lisa lowered her head to make eye contact with Mia. The stern yet caring look in her girlfriend's eyes made Mia start to tear up again. She started to cry.

Lisa grabbed Mia by the back of the head and drew it closer to her. Quietly, she whispered, "If you wanted this, you could have just told me. I'd have let you be my little baby. Secretly, I've been dying for you to ask. But, if you wanted to brat your way into being my baby, I'm happy to help with that too."

The tears were flowing at full force now. Mia was desperately trying to say something, anything, to alter the direction of her impending fate. However, the bulb of the pacifier in her mouth was so large all she could do was drool and babble incoherently around it.

Plus, at this point, Mia was almost certain anything she did would just be interpreted as her being an obstinate brat in an attempt to get regressed back to diapers. Given the look in Lisa's eyes and the seriousness in her tone, Mia wasn't even certain that safe-wording would work to stop what was about to happen, even if she could.

Lisa stood straight back up. She let her tone get more hostile and stern as she spoke, playing the role of the angry mommy she thought Mia wanted her to play.

"Mia, I am so disappointed in you. I thought you were a big girl who could do big girl things. Instead, it turns out your just a naughty little baby who lies and wets her pants. It's time for me to start treating you the way you've been acting!"

Lisa grabbed Mia's hand and dragged her to a nearby couch, leaving a trail of urine on the carpet with each step. Lisa sat down on the couch and pulled her charge face first, over her lap. She pushed the wet skirt and petticoats of Mia's dress up towards the small woman's head, exposing the soaking wet princess panties on her ass and effectively blinding Mia to anything that wasn't directly in front of her. Unfortunately for Mia, the only thing in her line of sight was Sasha and Tammy. Both women stood there, looking at Mia with self-satisfied grins.

"This is going to hurt me worse than it will hurt you," Lisa said.

Mia shut her eyes. She had never been spanked by her girlfriend. She'd be sent to her room, ordered to write lines, not been given desert, and grounded from anything but school and work. But, until today, she had never been spanked. That changed as Lisa dealt her first blow to Mia's pert little ass.

"This! Is! For! Lying! To! Me!" Lisa said, punctuating each word with a smack to Mia's butt. "You! Never! Lie! To! Mommy!"

Mia sobbed in shame and closed her eyes. The pain of the spanking was one thing, but the shame of being disciplined like a child, while wearing this dress, while wearing soaked panties, was too much. She'd been thoroughly beaten and humiliated by Sasha and Tammy. She couldn't watch them laugh at her as she broke down.

The spanking didn't last long. Soon, Mia felt her girlfriend stop stroking her and slide her wet panties down her legs. Mia didn't resist, she knew she had lost.

Lisa took the panties and hung them in Mia's face. "Say bye-bye to your panties sweetheart. Babies who wet themselves and lie about it get put back in diapers."

Mia let her sobs start anew.

"Look at this dress, too! Completely ruined! What are we going to do with you?" Lisa asked as she pulled Mia's skirts back over her now bare butt.

"Well, I do have one more outfit that would fit Little Mia here, don't I baby?" Sasha said, addressing caregiver and charge at the same time. Mia physically cringed, remembering the pink onesie from the closet.

"Really, that's wonderful. Stand up, baby. Let's go get you into something more appropriate for a pants wetting, little liar," Lisa said as she helped her gagged girlfriend off of her lap.

As Lisa stood up, Sasha immediately noticed a problem. "Lisa, sweetie, it looks like you got a little of the baby's potty on your pants," she informed her friend.

Looking down, Lisa immediately realized her friend was right. "Damn it. I guess I'll just smell like pee for the rest of the day," she responded.

"Don't be silly! I have all sorts of outfits you can borrow. Go down the hall and find something you like. I can get Little Mia here changed quick! I am an expert in this sort of thing," Sasha winked at Lisa. Mia, desperate not to be left alone with Sasha again, tried to beg Lisa not to follow Sasha's plan. The gagged woman's unintelligible prattle fell on deaf ears though.

"Thanks Sash! You're a lifesaver as always," Lisa said before turning to Mia. "I know you're acting bratty today, but please listen to Miss Sasha. She isn't your Mommy and shouldn't have to deal with your naughty behavior!"

With that, Lisa left the room, leaving Mia alone in the playroom with both Sasha and Tammy. Sasha strode up to Mia like a tiger coming up on it's kill.

"You heard your Mommy, baby girl. You need to listen to me. Let's go."

Sasha grabbed Mia's hand and dragged her back to the nursery for her first of what Mia truly fear was going to be many diaper change.

NEXT CHAPTER

[peppermintmagicianlynn]

TimBer Week 2024: First Sleepover

TimBer Week 2024 Day #7: First Sleeepover

Last one of the week. We made it!

It was amazing how casually it had come about.

They’d been dating for six months, officially boyfriends for only a few weeks. And yet…it felt like they’d been together for years. Bernard came by almost every day, they shared meals and swapped clothes, then bickered over whose turn it was to do laundry. It felt like they were sharing the boat as a home together and that filled Tim with delight that he couldn't fully express.

But the one thing they had yet to do was spend a night together.

N-not like that! Just…you know, sleeping in the same space. They’d done that a lot in high school, when they’d stay up late playing video games or watching movies, then crash at one person’s house. They’d make pallets across the floor or just collapse on top of someone’s bed, where parents would drape them in individual blankets.

It wasn’t a new thing… but this was a new thing!

One bed. One blanket. A pre-planned slumber party.

Granted, it had come about for a very non-romantic reason.

--

“Fumigate?!”

Bernard winced at his boyfriend’s outraged exclamation, setting the phone aside while he struggled to fold his clothes into his duffel bag.

“Yeah, some idiot called the health inspector on one of the neighbors. I don’t know what they found, but they gave us all an hour to pack up and get out. They said it won’t be safe to come back until tomorrow.”

“And where exactly do they expect you to go until then?”

Bernard wished they were on video chat so Tim could see his deadpan look. “Tim, babe, this is a low-income district. They don’t care if I sleep on the street as long as I don’t come back until they give the go-ahead.”

Tim squawked over the line while Bernd packed some underwear. “I’ll just sleep at a friend’s house. It’s fine. Jared has a pull-out couch and as long as Toby didn’t get kicked out of his girlfriend’s place again, I can just-”

“Stay here.”

“Huh?”

“Here. At the boat. With me.”

“Uh, are you sure about that?”

“Am I- Bear! You just told me you’re going to be homeless for a night. Why wouldn’t I want you to be here with me?”

“Well, when you put it like that, sure. I have a work shift for the next few hours, but I’ll come around sometime after 8. That cool?”

“Sure, that’s perfect. See you then.”

“Love you.”

Tim was quiet for a moment. Bernard was patient. Then, “I love you, too. See you later. Bye.”

Bernard grinned. It was a tactical risk pulling that on him. It hadn’t been that long ago Tim could call them boyfriends without stuttering. And now, they were going to have their first sleepover together since high school.

Bernard looked at his clothes as he packed them up, particularly his pajamas. They were hand-me-downs from Toby, and while Bernard liked them well enough, would they be a little too ratty for this? And moreover, would showing up there in Batman pajamas be a little too on the nose? He loved teasing Tim about his secret identity but that might actually get him suspicious that Bernard knew the truth. He’d need to pick up something else after he was done with work. He would not show up to his boyfriend’s boat looking like a slob!

--

Tim was a slob messy person. His mind was sharp, his deductive reasoning unparalleled, and his skills across various fields were masterful. But like most geniuses, he thrived in chaos of his own making, and there was no clearer sign of that than his houseboat. Once, his neighbor Lauren had stopped by to ask him to have dinner with her and Tammy, and nearly killed herself walking down the stairs when she slipped on a discarded takeout bag. Not Tim’s fault, though Tammy’s wrath after that incident said otherwise.

So while Tim definitely had to clean up any evidence of his Robin activities - case files, hardware, suit pieces, gadgets - he also gave the space a proper cleaning. Like on-the-floor-with-a-scrub-brush, window-washing, dishes-put-away kind of cleaning. The laundry… well, that went under the bed. He only had so many hours!

The fervor with which he cleaned his living space surprised even him. He had ignored it when his siblings talked about his junky boat; Bernard had already seen it this way from the very start. But he still wanted to make it shine for him. Make it just a little bit better for his boyfriend’s first night over.

--

Bernard arrived in the evening, with his necessities and valuables he didn’t want to leave behind where strangers might rummage through his drawers. A Gothamite born and raised. Tim tried not to linger over the idea that his boyfriend's whole life could probably fit in just three bags and met him on the dock for a welcoming kiss. They had been sharing a lot more kisses since officially calling each other boyfriends (though apparently, Bernard had been calling them that way longer). When they finally pulled back, Bernard was beaming with unrestrained glee. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” Tim returned, picking up one of the bags and bringing it into his home.

Bernard gawked at the place. “Uh, did you buy a new house without telling me? Because I swear I haven't seen the floor of your boat since the day before you moved in.”

“Ha-ha,” Tim said, setting the duffel bag down on his clutter-free floor. “If you wanted to sleep in a Five-Star hotel, you should have spoken up sooner.

Actually, his back-up apartment over near Crime Alley might qualify. If Bernard was really uncomfortable sleeping on the boat, maybe he could bring him over there instead. He’d have to be extra careful about the access points to the Nest but…

“No way!” his boyfriend declared, sounding offended at the idea. “I love your boat. It's so cozy and homey and so totally you. It’s perfect just as it is, even when it’s messier than a frat-boy’s dorm!” He just couldn’t resist that last dig.

But Tim appreciated his words all the same.

--

They ordered delivery for dinner, a local Thai place that they both adored. While sitting around Tim’s table, Bernard brought out his laptop to show him his latest discover: a fan-made Green Lantern movie. Tim was genuinely impressed by the flick and was already plotting how to get Bruce into a situation where he couldn’t escape watching it. The aroma of green curry and spring rolls, Bernard’s theories that the filmmakers were actually part of a Lantern Corp splinter group wishing to sway public opinion and take over the universe - all of it felt right. For them, at least.

“It just makes sense,” Bernard insisted between bites of his curry. "By hiding in plain sight on YouTube, they can secretly influence galactic events and just blame it on the more famous members!”

Tim laughed, urging him on. Bernard's eyes sparkled when he was passionate about a new idea.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, weaving through topics of jobs, school, family and anything else they wanted. There was a lightheartedness to it all, but also a deeper connection, an unshakable comfort and safety that let them be as unfiltered and silly as they pleased. As the night went on and their movie ended, they were still talking, ignoring their food that had long gone cold. Bernard leaned back against the bench, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. "This is what I like most about being here. It’s just you and me. It’s nice.”

Tim smiled, reaching out to squeeze Bernard's hand. "I love having you here.”

--

Bernard’s yawning told Tim they’d stayed up long enough. He had already called off of patrol for the night but the other still had work tomorrow, so they couldn’t burn the late-night oil like the might any other time. Tim insisted Bernard could head to the bedroom first and get changed while Tim cleaned up the mess.

“He’s already mending his ways,” Bernard wiped a fake tear from his eyes. “I’ve never been more proud.”

He ran to the bedroom, closing the door fast before the couch cushion could hit him.

--

Bernard felt far less sure about his choice of sleeping clothes now that they were on his body. He’d only allowed himself thirty minutes after his shift to dash into a store and grab a “respectable” set of pajamas off the shelf. No garish logos, no quirky patterns; just something nice and neat for when he shared a bed with his Significant Other.

But seeing himself in the light blue, pinstriped flannel, he looked...wrong. Like he was trying to hide behind something "presentable" and fake his way through. A harsh reminder to his teen years, causing a rush of those old insecurities he'd tried to hard to shed. He shouldn't have bought this. He was proud of who he was and what he liked. So why did he keep having these moments of doubt that made him do things he would end up regretting?

Tim knocked on the door, politely refraining from barging into his own bedroom. Bernard would have given anything to rewind, hit pause, and change his life’s decisions. But he couldn’t.

“Come in,” he said, his voice as steady as he could manage.

Tim pushed the door open, took one look at him, and smiled. “Cute.”

Usually, that word from Tim would make him happy, but this time it hit a little wrong. “Yeah, I know it’s… it’s stupid.” He gripped the offensive fabric between his fingers, hating it more with each passing second. “I should have worn the Batman ones instead.”

“Well, that would be very much your style, you fanboy,” Tim said, coming closer. He wrapped his arms around Bernard’s waist, pulling their bodies together, then murmured into his ear, “But these are nice, too. You're a handsome guy, Bernard, no matter what you wear. These look good on you."

Tim’s boldness was unusual, but his ability to read Bernard's insecurities and immediately sooth them was commonplace. Bernard hugged his wonderful boyfriend in gratitude for those words. He then left the room so Tim could change into his own pajamas, which were a lot simpler: basketball shorts and an oversized T-shirt.

Bernard didn’t let their dissimilarity of outfits bother him a second time. He chose to savor the moment; brushing his teeth together in Tim’s tiny bathroom, hip-checking each other for space in the mirror, and trying not to choke on foam amidst their laughter.

--

Tim’s bed wasn’t small, but it was compact. Enough for one person comfortably and two if they didn’t mind touching in the middle. Bernard waited to see which side the other preferred climbing under the sheets with him, taking the spot closer to the wall.

Was that intentional?

The dock lanterns outside shone their light through the windows, the only illumination they had. Bernard was 80% certain Tim could actually see in this dark, so he felt a little more self-conscious than he might have otherwise. A calloused hand found his beneath the blanket and squeezed it, offering silent reassurance to what he must have read on Bernard’s face.

Finding the right sleeping position was hard; Bernard was used to a much firmer (and lumpier) mattress, so his body was a little unsure how to work with Tim’s memory foam. For his part, Tim couldn’t seem to settle on what part of the bed he actually wanted, going from the very edge of his side to taking up a good chunk in the middle. There was a lot of shifting limbs, sometimes kicking each other which provoked retaliation, but that was a familiar part of their old sleepovers too. It was nostalgic.

“Fair warning: I’ve been told I snore,” Tim whispered.

“That won’t bother me. My roommates are like grizzly bears trying to harmonize with one another in an all-night concert. When my eyes are closed, I’m deaf.” Bernard paused, considering, before adding, “But, um, I might wake up in the middle of the night. I get nightmares sometimes.”

Tim was quiet; Bernard wished he could see his face. Then warm arms came up around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug that always felt like a safe place to hide. “I’ll be right here if you do,” Tim promised, soft yet unyielding. “I’ll be here when you get up tomorrow, too. You're safe, Bear. "

Bernard bit his lip to keep the tears of gratitude at bay. How had he found someone who care so much, who actually paid attention enough to see the fears he’d never admit to. Bernard shifted until his lips found warm skin, trailing them across Tim’s cheek until he could properly kiss the man he loved. It was gentler than what they’d had outside, but twice as meaningful. Simple but perfect, just like this moment. Just like every moment they got to share in this comfy houseboat.

The night dragged on, their attempt to sleep interrupted by whispered comments and gentle touches. Snuggling under the blankets was the best part by far, feeling heartbeats and gentle breaths, the warmth and safety of having a lover’s arms to hold you tightly through the night.

The bond they shared was already strong, but taking a step like this made it feel like they were truly unbreakable.

---

I wonder if you can tell how tired I was after a week of writing. Still, I gave it my best to end TimBer Week 2024 on a good note. That said, I might come back through these on a later date and do some editing. Not for a while, though.

Thank you to everyone who read even one of my posts and a special thanks if anyone joined me in this project!

Let's see what next year brings!

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Sweeter Than Revenge

Steve sighed as Nancy and Jonathan walked into Scoops Ahoy, yet again. He was pretty sure they were coming in here to mock him.

"Your ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend are here again," Robin said.

"Yeah, I know that. Thanks for the update," Steve scoffed.

"Just trying to be helpful," Robin said.

"I don't think you are," Steve replied.

Nancy and Jonathan were in the back of the line. Every so often, they'd look at them and then turn to each other to laugh. Jesus. Could they drive the knife in even further? Wasn't it bad enough that she left him for Jonathan? Why did they have to go out of their way and rub it in? He could feel Robin watching him as he served another customer. They were one step closer to him.

"Pretty sure, they'd stop coming in here if you tried to flirt with Nancy again," Robin said.

"That's the worst revenge plan yet," Steve said.

"No, the worst revenge plan would be me pretending to be your girlfriend," Robin said as she took the next customer.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because I don't date jocks even if it's pretend," Robin said. "Nothing personal."

"Well, Nancy left me for Jonathan. Wouldn't it be funny if I tried to steal Jonathan away from her?" Steve asked. "Ultimate revenge."

"If you're into that sort of thing," she said, looking at him strangely.

"Please, you know that I am," Steve scoffed.

"Uh. . .no, I don't. Last time I checked, you were a notorious ladies' man. Or at least I thought you were. You seem pretty terrible at it," Robin said.

"Robin," Steve said, lowering his voice. "You caught me with that dude on my break out back the other day. You seemed cool with it.".

"Okay. . .I thought that had been a woman," she said, blinking at him, and she also lowered her voice. "So, you're. . .?"

"Bisexual," he whispered after he served another customer.

Nancy and Jonathan were even closer to the counter now. He sighed.

"What?"

"Babes and non babes alike, Robin," he explained.

"Oh. Thanks for telling me," she said softly.

She looked at him as if she wanted to tell him something, too. She got choked up, though, and couldn't seem to find the words.

"Are you okay?" He asked and then turned to the customers. "Give us a moment."

He dragged her to the break room, where she slid to the floor. Steve sat down next to her.

"Just the babes for me," she said.

"Yeah?" He said with a smile.

"Yeah. . .Tammy Thompson. . .Mrs. Click's class. She couldn't stop staring at you, and I wanted her to look at me," Robin said.

"Tammy Thompson. . .doesn't she sound like a muppet?" He asked.

"Shut up, she's got dreams!" She exclaimed. "At least, I'm not hung up on my ex and her boyfriend."

Robin and Steve both burst into laughter. They fell into comfortable silence, Steve smiled at her.

"Fair point," he replied. "I'm pretty sure they're coming in here to mock me and this outfit."

"Then all the more reason to steal Jonathan, and if that doesn't work, then it will definitely make him uncomfortable," Robin said. "They'd have no choice but to leave."

"Alright, let's do this," Steve said.

They walked out the door to find that it was only Nancy and Jonathan were at the counter.

"The others got impatient," Nancy said.

"I guess they really wanted that cream," Robin said, and Jonathan said.

"Welcome to Scoops Ahoy, I'm Steve Harrington, I'll be your captain. Would you like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me?" He asked as he leaned against the counter, winking at Jonathan.

"Uh. . .we know who you are," Jonathan said.

"It's company policy now," he said smiling. "Your hair looks different today. Did you do something?"

"I brushed it out of my eyes?" He asked in confusion.

"Well, it's a good look. . .I can definitely see your gorgeous eyes a little better now," Steve said, smiling.

"Steve?" Nancy asked in confusion.

"So. . .what do you want?" Steve asked Jonathan, ignoring Nancy. "You look like you know what tastes good in your mouth."

Jonathan choked, and he could hear Robin gagging in the background.

"I mean, I like the USS Butterscotch," Jonathan blushed. "I know everyone does. . ."

"It's a great choice. Personally, I like the mint," Steve said.

He scooped up a sample cup and grabbed a little spoon. Steve dug in and put the spoon in his mouth. He slowly ate the bite of ice cream, his tongue wrapped around the spoon and licking up every bite. Nancy and Jonathan both watched him. Steve put more ice cream on the spoon and held it out for Jonathan.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"Go on, taste," he said.

Jonathan leaned forward and took the spoon in his mouth. He ate the ice cream, with confusion and also a little bit of darkness in his eyes. Steve smirked.

"It's good," Jonathan said.

"You know, my tongue had been on the spoon, and then you had the spoon in your mouth. . .almost as if my tongue had been in your mouth," Steve said. "Isn't that crazy?"

"It's not crazy at all," Jonathan said.

"Steve!" Nancy exclaimed, snapping out of her daze.

"What?" Steve asked. "Do you not like me flirting with your boyfriend?"

Nancy scowled at him before dragging Jonathan with her past the counter. Before he could tell Nancy off, she was dragging both him and Jonathan into the break room.

"He's taking a break!" Nancy yelled to Robin.

"You aren't the boss of us!" Robin yelled back.

Nancy dragged them into the storage closet. It was small, so it was a tight fit. Steve was surprised when they both shoved him up against the wall. He felt something hard of Jonathan's pressed up against him. Oh. He was more surprised when Nancy and Jonathan both pressed their lips to his neck. Steve let out a shocked, but not unpleasant, moan. Was this really happening?

"You have no idea what this outfit does to us," Nancy said, pulling away.

"I'm starting to have some idea," Steve gasped. "I thought you were teasing me."

"Oh, honey, you haven't seen us tease you quite just yet," Nancy said, cupping his face.

"But you will," Jonathan said as he also pulled away.

"You both want me?" Steve asked.

"Always have. . .we just didn't know how to tell you," Jonathan said.

"Sorry, it took so long," Nancy said.

Steve pulled Nancy into a familiar but, somehow, new kiss. She smiled against his lips. Steve pulled away and turned to kiss Jonathan. It was a good feeling to have their lips touch his. . .it felt like it was something that was always supposed to happen. When he broke the kiss, Jonathan was smiling at him in amusement.

"I definitely liked the taste of that in my mouth," Jonathan said and Steve laughed.

"Oh god, I don't want to ruin this," he said.

"What?" Nancy asked.

"When I thought you were coming in here to make fun of me, I got this idea in my head to steal Jonathan from you as revenge," Steve said. "I know, I'm better than that now. . .but I guess not really."

"You're an idiot, Steve Harrington," Nancy laughed. "I wish I could have seen that play out."

"You're beautiful, Nancy Wheeler," he said with a relieved sigh. ". . .and you're okay to look at, Jonathan Byers."

"Fuck off, asshole," Jonathan laughed.

Steve giggled and pulled them into a hug. Yeah, this was sweeter than revenge.

[laurentidal]

Mama Bear

Sequel to Report to the Office.

Emily's mother stormed into the office in a huff.

"What has the Benson boy done now?" she demanded of the principal. There was a strange smell in the air. It was almost familiar, but she couldn't place it. The principal sighed heavily from behind her desk.

"I'm afraid this one may have just been a misunderstanding," Tammy said. "I apologize that I called you in, but we've done some checking and I don't think there's actually been any wrongdoing."

"Nonsense," Mrs. Dinny huffed. "You said that the Benson boy was harassing my Emily. If he's involved it's sure to be true. Now I want to know what happened."

Mrs. Dinny's hands were idly playing with the collar of her shirt, pulling it deeper and showing more skin. It also felt very warm in here. Very warm.

"I'll let him explain himself," Tammy said, and for the first time, Mrs. Dinny realized they weren't alone in the room. She hadn't even looked in the corner beside the door, where that damn Benson boy sat quietly. She blushed hard, realizing what she'd said about him.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Dinny," he said, eyes to the floor. "I didn't mean for all this to happen."

At least he seemed remorseful for whatever happened. She'd pulled on the collar of her top so much that her breasts were in danger of exposure. Huge as they were, she struggled to find a top that could contain them on the best of days. And today she'd been rushed getting here, and fuck why was it so hot in here?

"Emily asked me for a favor and I did it for her. Mrs. Redmond saw it and assumed the worst," Paul said, eyes finally raising to meet Mrs. Dinny's. "I didn't do anything Emily didn't want me to."

Mrs. Dinny was absently groping at her own chest now. "And what did she ask you to do?"

"She asked me to 'Squeeze her melons until she came.' I have to say Mrs. Dinny. I see where she got hers. Yours are exquisite."

"Thank you, young man," she said through a long low groan. "Please call me Beth."

"You want it too, don't you Beth?"

Beth pulled her top all the way down letting her tits spill out.

"Ask me."

Tammy was sitting on her desk, fingers back inside her slit.

"Ask me, Beth."

"Squeeze my melons until I cum."

"Gladly!" Paul got to his feet and filled each hand with tit. "These are even nicer than your daughter's."

"Thank you…"

"Tammy why don't you eat Mrs. Dinny's cunt. I'm sure it's soaked by now."

"Okay," the principal replied happily and she dropped to her knees in front of the mother. She never had this much fun at parent conferences. And they still had one more lined up today.

Continue the story in A Pattern of Behavior.

[xoxo-sarah]

What about a Robin x reader and Tammy Thompson is readers ex and Tammy cheated on her and Robin met reader In The bathroom crying and that’s how they first met but reader never told Robin Tammy was the one who cheated on her so when Robin gets her crush on Tammy reader is like really like sad and like depressed about it until Tammy comes up to reader not knowing Robin is there to and start to like ask reader for forgiveness but reader is like no or something like that you can change it however you want to

Here for You

(this is a very old request. Apologies...)

↝a/n: clearing out my drafts~ I didn't have a good idea on how to write this, so I just threw some words together. I changed it just a little, I hope that's okay.

↝pairing: Robin Buckley x fem!reader, ex!Tammy Thompson x ex!fem!Reader, mentioned Steve x Tammy

↝warning: angst, heartbreak, cheating, Tammy, mention of highschool party, crying, slightly proofread

|| Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Buckley, or any character from Stranger Things. I only own y/n and any characters I create with my own brain. ||

↝⎙ 7.29.24

You were sitting in the school bathroom, tears streaming down your face. You could hear the kids in the hallway, feet scurrying to their next class.

Tammy Thompson, the girl you thought you’d be with forever, had cheated on you. It wasn't even the fact that she cheated, it was more about how a year and a half was thrown down the drain over a guy at one of Tina's parties. Seeing Tammy hanging off of the Steve's arm in the school hallway didn't help. It all became real– too real. You wanted to hide from her, from him, from everyone else in the world. The betrayal stung, and you felt like your world was falling apart.

The door creaked open, causing you to internally panic, contemplating hiding in one of the stalls, but you were already going to be late to class. Looking up, you saw Robin Buckley walk in. You two weren't that close, only having a few classes together. You mostly hung around Tammy and her friends, who were a grade ahead of you. You didn't have time to make friends in your grade.

You quickly tried to wipe away your tears, but it was too late. She noticed.

Robin stopped short, hesitating closing the door behind her, "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

You shook your head, unable to speak. Robin walked to stand next to you, leaning against the sink, offering a comforting presence. And you let almost everything out. You told her that what happened at the party, leaving names out.

A few weeks passed, and you and Robin became close.

She never pried into who had made you were cry that day. That day became a distant memory, the start of your friendship.

One day, you noticed Robin acting differently. She seemed distracted, her mind elsewhere.

"Are you okay?"

Her eyes flicked up to you, before closing the notebook she was supposed to be reading. She pushed herself further up her bed, sitting against the headboard.

"I need to tell you something," she said, her voice shaky.

Your heart started to race, sensing her anxiety. You eyes flickered between her own, looking for an answer, "What is it, Robin?"

She took a deep breath, avoiding eye contact. "I... I have a crush on someone."

You tried to smile, but your stomach churned with unease. "Oh? Who is it?"

Robin hesitated, then finally looked at you. "It's Tammy Thompson."

The name hit you like a punch to the gut. You felt your chest tighten, and your mind raced with memories of Tammy's betrayal. You tried to keep your composure, but the anxiety was overwhelming.

"Tammy?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," Robin said, the nervousness still on her face. "I know it sounds crazy, but I've liked her for a while."

You forced a smile, trying to hide the pain and anxiety. "That's... great, Robin."

Over the course of the next few weeks, you had pulled away. You didn't want to ruin Robin's hopes about who Tammy was, but you also didn't want her getting hurt. She was your friend, even if you felt more. You couldn't let her know that. You also couldn't let her get hurt like you did. One night, you finally decided. After weeks of avoiding Robin, you were going to show up at Scoop's Ahoy and give her a heads up. She deserved to know.

Spring break was finally here, giving you a newfound freedom, it felt like.

You made your way to the mall, in awe of all the different stores and people spending their free time with their friends.

Walking toward the corner of the mall, you saw the big sign about the entrance. Scoop's Ahoy in big, bold letters, contrasting the light blue background, red lights boardering it. The tiles were checkered, blue and white. The wall were a darker blue with white, but striped Vertically. Tables and booths littered the checkered floor. It was cute little ice cream shop.

"Ahoy, matey-" As soon as the monotone voice hit your ears, you looked up. Steve paused, pursing his lips as he took you in. He had figured out about you and Tammy after the fact. He felt bad, but couldn't bring himself to face you. He looked around, making sure no one was around to hear you two, before you stepped closer. You tried not to blame him. He didn't know you were together. You'd like to think he wouldn't have touched her if he had known. "Listen, about Tammy-"

"It's...fine, Steve." You wanted to put that behind you. Why dwell on it when Tammy didn't give it a second thought? "Is Robin working today?"

At the mention of her name, Robin opened the class windows, smiling bashful at you. "Y/n," she acknowledged. "I got it, Steve." She walked around the wall.

You thought seeing Steve in the sailer outfit was entertaining. As you stared her down, she noticed the smirk making it's way into your lips. "Hey, don't even- I have to wear this." She crossed her arms. "Are you going to order ice cream or what?" Her words had no bite behind them. The playfulness was refreshing after not talking to her for a few weeks. You figured she would atleast be a little mad at you- if she was, she didn't show it.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you–If you have a moment." You looked around the store, only 2 people were in the store, and they were deep in conversation, enjoying their ice cream.

Robin nodded, leading you to a booth. You slid in, watching her as she slid in in front of you.

She waited for you to continue, her eyes betraying her curiosity.

"I've kinda been distant from you-"

"I haven't noticed."

You stared at her, knowing she was just kidding. It didn't dull the sting in your heart. Had it really effected her like it did you?

"As you know, I got cheated on...I guess it just kinda stung when you said you had a crush on Tammy. I shouldn't have pulled away-"

"What-what are you saying?"

"Me and Tammy used to be together. It didn't end well, obviously. I wasn't even sure if I should tell you, but I didn't want you getting hurt like I did."

" I always thought..." She trailed off, looking over her shoulder at Steve, who was handing an ice cream cone over to a customer, fake smile plastered on his face.

"Yeah." You weren't stupid. You now saw the way Tammy looked at Steve in class, hung onto his every word when he spoke. She was infatuated with him, as you were with her. As you were with Robin now.

She turned back around, glancing up at you. "I'm sorry she did that."

"It's fine."

"No it's not. You didn't deserve that, y/n." Her words held such honestly, your lips parted, words lost on your tongue for a minute. You couldn't help but wonder what she truly meant by those words. Did she see something in you that others didn't? "Maybe she didn't realize what she had infront of her." Her eyes left yours the second the words tumbled out of her mouth, eyes widening like she hadn't meant to say that aloud. She immediately started fidgeting with her fingers, cracking her knuckles to distract her from the situation.

"And what's that?" You smirked, bringing your hand on the table and leaning your head on them, watching as she became sky, her cheeks and ears reddening.

•2021-2024 by xoxo-sarah on Tumblr•

•My work is not to be translated, copied, modified, and/or reposted on any other site without my permission. [I don't give permission!]

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @steddiesongfics.

Diamonds on the Soles of His Shoes

May Prompt: Song Released in 1986 | Word Count: 2000 | Rating: T | Characters: Eddie, Steve, Robin | CW: Language | Tags: Post S2, Pre S3, Eddie POV, Pre-Steddie, Pre-Platonic Stobin, Eddie & Robin From Band, Graduation Party

For a song released in 1986, I picked Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon.

Partially hidden behind the trees, Eddie looks at the house, large and looming. Sure, he's been by it before, did a bit of trick-or-treating here in the rich neighborhood, but he's never actually been inside Steve Harrington's house. Never stepped foot over the threshold, beyond those red double doors.

Said doors are standing wide open tonight, inviting the whole world inside. 

Steve Harrington's graduation bash. Everyone's invited. That's been the mantra all week. 

Everyone. 

Eddie's not so sure that everyone really includes him, and he didn't even graduate, anyway. Not even on his second try, and he's dreading the idea of spending a third senior year at Hawkins High. He'd be able to run Hellfire Club for one more year, but that's about it. The silver lining, small and weak, compared to the dark storm cloud that is the prospect of another year in that hell hole. 

He sees a girl from band, Robin Buckley, also lurking and lingering at the edge of the driveway. 

"You goin' in?" Eddie asks, sidling up to her, making her jump.

"Uh, maybe?" she says, but doesn't sound sure about it. 

"You know Steve Harrington?" Eddie asks.

"Only the back of his stupid head," Robin answers, snarkily. 

Eddie laughs, agreeing, "Yeah, same."

But she doesn't move, and he doesn't either, "Why are you here, Robin from Band?" he asks, like that's her legal name.

She doesn't seem to care, just saying, "Reasons," and it's just cryptic enough that he's curious.

"Do you have a crush on Steve Harrington? Gonna make a move before it's too late and he's off at Harvard or Purdue or wherever daddy's money bought him a spot?"

"More like Roane County Technical College," Robin mumbles under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," she says, then turns and looks at Eddie, "just. I saw him applying to Scoops Ahoy, you know, the ice cream shop in the new mall? I don't think he's going to college."

"Maybe it's just a summer job," Eddie says, but that doesn't sound convincing even to his own ears. Why would Steve Harrington need a summer job selling ice cream?

"I don't think so," Robin says, and she's holding back. He can tell.

"Spill it, Buckley."

She cuts a look back at the house, then back at him, "Like, okay. You cannot tell anyone I know this, because, like, I took an oath–"

"You took an oath?" he asks.

"Okay, I didn't take an oath. But there was a lecture. A big lecture, about not repeating anything about what I saw cross the guidance counselor's desk, you know? I was her aide, fifth period."

"Okay, well, what did you see?" Eddie asks, because now he's curious. Very, very curious.

"Steve Harrington didn't get in anywhere. Nowhere at all. And now he's trying to sling ice cream all summer. With me."

"No way," Eddie breathes out, loving that he has this dirt on the little rich boy. Harrington's crown has been repeatedly tarnished this year, and Eddie's enjoyed watching the fallout from afar. 

"You didn't answer my first question: Do you have a crush on Steve Harrington?"

"No," Robin says, and Eddie follows her line of sight. Oh, ew. 

She's looking at the instigator of at least ninety-seven percent of the fallout King Steve's suffered, as he's holding court at the front door, like this is his party instead of Steve's. Billy Hargrove, surrounded by girls. Some freshly graduated, like the perpetually tone-deaf Tammy Thompson.

Eddie rolls his eyes. If he had to choose between the lesser of two evils, he'd take Harrington. 

"Hargrove?" Eddie asks, not even trying to hide his disgust at her bad taste, "I don't even really know you, Buckley, but you can definitely do better."

Robin laughs, but it sounds kind of sad, "I'm not interested in Billy Hargrove, either."

Eddie doesn't get it, then. If she's not here for Steve, and she's not looking at Billy, she's looking at…oh. 

No way.

He should have realized, should have seen himself mirrored in her or some shit. But he says nothing. If he's right or wrong, he'll never know, because it's just not discussed. 

"Glad to hear it, Robin From Band," Eddie says, and offers her his arm. "Wanna go in with me, then?"

And he's surprised when she slides her arm through his elbow.

Robin finds some girls she knows from her own class, and Eddie slinks off towards the pool. He can smoke a cigarette and see if there are any customers out there, so he can make a little bit of money, selling off his shittiest weed.

No such luck, it's strangely empty. Pool drained, even if it's getting warm enough for swimming, especially if it's heated. 

Eddie walks over to the diving board, and tests it, making sure it's not too bouncy. He doesn't want to take a header into the empty concrete, that's for damn sure. It seems safe, so he shuffles out until he can sit on the edge.

Lights a cigarette, and swings his feet.

The party inside is loud, and jam-packed, and Eddie is sure coming here was a mistake. There's nothing for him here, not at Steve Harrington's house. He should have rounded up Jeff and Goodie and found something else to do tonight. He's sure Gareth would have hung out, if he could get his mom to extend his curfew.

"What are you doing out there?!" The question comes, so sharp and hard, that it startles Eddie so much he nearly topples into the waterless void.

He grips the edge of the diving board, but loses his lit cigarette into the pool. Into the pile of dry leaves from last fall. Shit.

"Um, trying to burn your house down?" Eddie teases, and when he looks back, Steve Harrington is standing there, annoyed.

"Get off of that," Steve says, arms crossed across his chest like he needs to protect himself. From Eddie? In what world?

"Well, since you asked so nicely," Eddie taunts, batting his eyes.

"Please get off that," Steve says, dry as dust. No humor to be found. Which is odd. Eddie went to school with Steve for a long time, he is funny, as loathe as Eddie is to admit it.

He crawls off it.

"Just let me get my cigaret-"

"Leave it."

"But-"

"Don't go down there, Munson, are you stupid?" Steve snaps, and Eddie takes a step back. He's not stupid, but he's pretty pissed off now.

Eddie narrows his eyes, "Yeah, I have to repeat my senior year for a third time, Harrington, we all know that already," Eddie snaps, but rapidly loses steam. Steve Harrington's face says he didn't know that, not until Eddie told him. 

Fucking idiot, opening his own goddamn big mouth.

"Uh, well, um…" Steve trails off, "I'm sorry? I didn't get into any colleges if that makes you feel better. I was probably one D-minus in Mrs. Click's class from joining you."

"Ms. O'Donnell is the one torturing me," Eddie answers, off-kilter that he's even having this conversation with Steve Harrington.

And Steve smiles, "Yeah, I hear you. I think she only passed me because of my last name."

Eddie is taken aback, Steve Harrington is aware he gets special treatment? Aware of the diamonds on the soles of his shoes, as well as the noses so far up his ass they'll never see sunshine again?

Well, hell. It isn't good ammo to know Steve Harrington can't get into college if Steve's willing to tell him that himself. Kinda takes all the fun out of it.

"Heard you might be the new King of Scoops Ahoy," Eddie teases, and it is teasing, now. Not taunting.

And that must read, because Steve smiles.

"I'll look great in a sailor suit. I hope we get tips, because I'll kill it," Steve says, hands on his hips. But he doesn't look aggressive, he looks amused. 

And Eddie did that. Hot damn.

"What's up with the pool?" Eddie asks, and wishes he hadn't, when the black cloud passes over Steve's face.

"You know, Barb," Steve says, so soft that Eddie almost doesn't hear him.

Eddie's only heard rumors and gossip. That she went missing. That she didn't, and was instead found killed by everything from monsters, to Steve himself. The former seems more plausible than the latter, and isn't that ridiculous? 

"Did she die in your pool?" Eddie asks. Maybe she drowned.

Steve just kind of shrugs, "I don't know. Maybe. Where you were sitting was the last place she was seen alive, though."

"You're shitting me?" Eddie asks, but he's pretty sure Steve's not kidding.

Steve shakes his head. 

"Sorry, I didn't know," Eddie says.

"I know you didn't," Steve says, "it just scared me, seeing you sitting out there. All alone. Sorry if I was a bit of a dick about it."

And hell has frozen over, Steve Harrington is apologizing to him. 

"Um, you weren't. It's okay. Sorry I just made myself at home."

And Steve laughs, "Well, that's fine," he says, waving his arms around, "look at everyone else."

"And why aren't you with everyone else?" Eddie asks.

"Like who? My only friend these days is thirteen-years-old."

"Say what now?" Eddie asks, because that sounds creepy. Is Harrington, like, a pervert now? He'd heard rumors last winter about Harrington hanging around Hargrove's little sister, but he hadn't given them much credence. He knows the rumors that go around about himself, and the vast majority of them have no basis in reality either.

"Long story," Steve says, "long, long, story. I'm, like, his babysitter? Him and a bunch of other street urchins, I guess?"

"You're a babysitter?" Eddie asks, disbelieving.

"It's as shocking to me as it is to you. I'm not bad at it, though," Steve says, and he smiles.

"You're not like…messing with underage girls?"

"Jesus Christ, no, what kind of freak do you take me for?" Steve says, and he sounds so disgusted that Eddie's sure that's the truth.

"Sorry, I had to ask."

"Unless you mean, like, Nance?" Steve asks, brow furrowed, like he's really thinking this through.

"I do not," Eddie says with a laugh, "I thought you were broken up, anyway?"

"We are," Steve says, "definitely. We are. What about you?"

"Am I broken up with Nancy Wheeler? Yep, have been for as long as I can remember, anyway," Eddie snarks, and Steve Harrington laughs. An ugly, open-mouthed bray.

It's dorky, but real.

And Eddie's heart does a thing that he definitely didn't give it permission to do in his chest. Flipping and flopping, all willy-nilly.

He's not supposed to like Steve Harrington. 

Harrington's a rich boy, who doesn't try to hide it. And Eddie's poor as a pocket, with nothing to lose. 

But right now, standing out here in the near dark, he does like him. God help him.

"Word of advice, from one freak to another, stop saying it like that, or people will think you're a perv. Lead with the babysitting part."

Steve nods.

"If none of these people are your friends, why have a party? Why spend money on assholes that don't deserve it?"

Steve shrugs, "Habit, I guess. Won't be like this much longer, though. My dad's pretty mad about college. He's cutting me off."

Eddie blinks. That's…unfathomable, really.

Steve keeps talking.

"So, I got a job at the ice cream place in the mall. To learn my lesson. Earn my keep, whatever. You should come by, I'll hook you up," Steve offers, and Eddie feels insane. That can't possibly be a thing that they'll ever do. 

Then, Steve tries to sweeten the pot, "Pretty sure I'll be wearing a funny hat."

"And working with Robin From Band," Eddie says, and Steve just shrugs, like he doesn't know who that is. 

Poor Harrington, Buckley'll eat him alive, given half the chance.

And maybe, just maybe, Eddie will swing by to see that happen, live and in person.

Free ice cream and a show. 

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddiesongfics and follow along with the fun! 🎶

Notes: Oh, these kids. If they only knew how important they'd all be to each other just a short time later.

[citizensun]

Queerness and the House of Usher (spoilers!)

See I just added these Thoughts to the tags in @quecksilvereyes 's post but now I have Feelings too

TFotHoU (or HoU, as I will refer to it here), as expected from a Mike Flannagan show, has a bunch of Queer Rep™ to talk about. HoU is, also, about remarkably evil people - amoral capitalists who'll step over anyone if it means they'll get something from it. And look! Some of them are queer! Kinky too!

That's bad queer representation... right?

The show isn't that clear when stablishing sexualities, but we see that at least three of the Usher kids - Napoleon, Camille and Victorine - have same sex SOs/assistants with curious job descriptions. Prospero's taste for orgies probably implies queerness too, but honestly I don't remember if he gets it going with any guys in the story. I honestly have no idea about Tamerlane's voyerism thingie and Frederick is the only one with a "traditional family" going on.

Unrelated, but: Leo is definitely cheating on his bf Julius. Completely dismissing about his worries for him too. And for his cat. That's objectively evil, clearly. Vic literally killed her fiancée Alessandra, though she didn't stuff her under the floorboard, which is an L when compared to Poe's original. Cam doesn't believe in true love. Perry blackmailed his sister in law. Mean. He's also got a surprisingly high kill count for the family's disappointment, but since unlike Roderick he only killed rich people, we stan. I don't belong in Kinky spaces so I haven't got a big take on Tammie, only that - well, she's completely dismissing of her husband and sees him as a prop, just like the sex worker she hires.

Huh.

See, the nature of a story called "the fall of X family" is that X family is going to be the main character. The title kinda implies that they're falling for a reason, ergo, they're despicable fucking people. And they're queer! They're very queer. Many flavors of gay. They're the main characters, and they're monsters, and they're gay.

No, that's not bad rep.

Queerness as a movement, a community and a theory is very focused on scaping a cisheteronormative society's binaries (ie man/woman, husband/wife, public/private) and creating living conditions to those who fall outside of these categories - mlms and wlws, the trans, the nbs, the aros and aces... we are all queer, strange and estranged from this weird and limited worldview. And so we create a community for ourselves. It's very focused on care and anti-stablishment. Since a cisheteronormative society tends to be very white, rich and western, it's also focuses on anti-racism, anti-capitalism, anti-imperialism. Y'all know that, this is Tumblr and we love leftist Discourse.

I also know many, many gay people irl who are not like that at all. Libertarians, anarcho-capitalists, terfs, completely apolitical people and the like. Sexuality at it's core is personal, not political, so there are gay people out there who are perfectly comfortable with their sexuality on an individual level but do not see the point of getting involved in the broader context. They're queer, but are they...?

Well—

Not to mention there's lots of asshole gays out there! Don't you have a shitty ex? Have you never been almost run over by a drunken butch who blew cigar smoke into your face? I have! Life experiences are just like that. Maybe you should touch more grass. You'll probably find a lucky gift from your neighbour's dog, who is an astrology-obsessed bisexual and also really hot but stopped making out with you at a party once she found out you're a pisces (the neighbour, not the dog).

(Granted, none of this is as bad as implanting an experimental heart contraption into the fiancée you just killed because she dared to have ethical principles and then being so consumed with grief you stab yourself in front you'd your dad but you know how it goes. We're not the 1%.)

My point is, queer people are people. We are complex. We fuck up, and sometimes there's still times to fix things and sometimes... there isn't. We're consumed by jealousy and regret and sometimes we're so locked into our own head we stop believing the rest of the world is real too. Just like any other people, because unfortunately, queerness isn't a sign of morality.

And even if queerness does mean community, kindness and acceptance, tell me... Where the hell would the Usher kids get those from? The people around them are not really peers – they're ass-istants, blowjob-giving apartments, orgy mates, heart surgery providers, hired fitness moneybags, perfect housewives. Even if the partners are all shown to care for the Ushers, there's still a distance, a power gap, that makes the relationships fundamentally wrong.

And the partners? Arguably they're the good queer rep in the show, but look – even when Julius and Alessandra are shown to be good people (or at least people with an ethical boundary), they're not the good gays, they're simply the good SO's to a family of psychos. Exactly like Bill and Morrie, who afawk are straight people.

Which leads us to HoU's parameter of morality - Auguste Dupin. He refuses to drink the Amontillado, symbol of all the Usher opulence over the years. He got screwed over by the Usher twins and by the Raven herself, but he refused to cave in (except for the informant part, admittedly). He's not a good gay guy; he is gay and he is a good man.

The fundamental difference between our show's main tragic yaoi couple isn't that Auggie is a happily out gay man (and therefore is good) while Roderick is a sad divorced hetero (and therefore is bad). Auggie is the richer man because he is a good man; he has a spouse and children and grandchildren he loves with all his heart. He has a family and a community and he has found a sort of happiness no money can buy. Roderick owns the world – but what does he really have? What do his children even have? How could they ever build communities for themselves if they were never in one? Their father made them compete for his love. He never nurtured their bonds, he just showered them with money and excess until it was too much for them to handle. Juno herself pointed out - they were never a family. The House of Usher was only that. A house. It is empty and soulless.

What is queerness without a community? How could the people who represent the relentless corporate normativity and cutthroat capitalism ever be good queer rep? How can they even be queer?

Hear me out: on the most individual, simple level, being queer is still about not fitting in. These kids are bastards. They are are PoC and women in a predominantly male and white dominated space. They're on top of the world, but they're still outsiders to their own House. How could they not be queer?

And yes, I know this discussion takes a different turn when it comes to representation in media, but it's not like Flannagan fell into a Hays Code-era flamboyant villain trope. Queerness is just there. Just like Victorine and August are both black people in (arguably) the opposite ends of the morality spectrum, there are queer characters of many kinds here. The story just happens to be about the fucked up ones.

HoU is a poignant critique of capitalism and a surprisingly funny adaptation of Poe. We'll judge it by that. It happens to be queer – more things should be.

[silverryuan]

Lookism with a Paper Star reader

Paper Star is one of the antagonists in the Netflix series Carmen Sandiego. She is works as an operative from VILE and is Professor Maelstrom's favorite student. She uses origami paper as a form of weapon when fighting against Carmen.

• I'm gonna name them Tammy Origami here since I think the alias is fitting. You are definitely from Daniel's old school and transfered to Jaewon High just like him. His first impression of you is pretty vague. He always sees you skipping your way to class and humming a creepy tune as if your reputation isn't scary already. While he never encountered you directly, he heard rumors of you from his bullies and Logan Lee himself. The tattooed fat man seems to be afraid of you for some reason Daniel didn't know until you transferred.

• You actually transferred to Jaewon High because your work is closer in the city. The students from your department actually find your aesthetic great but not when it comes with an intimidating aura. The first person that got a taste of your origami art was Vin Jin. He encountered you one day, thinking you were some kind of push over because of your quiet behavior, however his attempts of intimidation didn't put you off one bit. Vin got mad at how unresponsive you are and decided to punch you, but you beat him to it. Not only did he fall back from your attacks, he also got robbed and received paper cuts from you. And that's when the rumor in Jaewon High started...

Random Student A: "Hey, did you hear? There's a creepy student on campus that does weird origami art-"

Random Student B: "Ugh, Girl, shut up. What's so special about a weirdo that does paper folding? It's not even a talent."

Random Student A: "Yeah, but this weirdo actually uses it as a form of fighting! They actually managed to scratch Vin Jin from the Vocal and Dance Department to the infirmary! And they only used another student's notes!"

Random Student B: "What? No way, girl, stop lying."

Random Student A: "It's true though!"

Zoe: "OMG! That's one scary guy, right Daniel?~"

Daniel: "H-huh? Um, yeah..."

Teacher: "All right guys, settle down now. Bring out your assignment from last week."

Random Student B: "WAIT WE HAD HOMEWORK?!"

The Entire Class: "....🤦🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️, Seriously, this gossiping bitch...."

Zack, thinking: " Great. As if the new guy is already a problem, there's another one."

• Zack's impression of you... Not so great. You were just strolling around campus, turning to the corner of another hallway, and bumping into Mira who was carrying several books. Zack was there to helping her...

Mira: "Woah! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

Tammy: " Ugh.... It's fine. What are you doing with all that paper?"

Mira, picking up the books: " Oh, it's just textbooks for class. Sorry again, I should really look at where I'm going next time."

Tammy, helping her pick up the books: "... Oh, it's a shame~ these pages are made of high quality paper, you know?"

Mira: "...W-what's a shame?--"

Zack, also helping Mira: "Mira! I found the rest of the books! Let's head to the classro... Hey! Aren't you that weirdo everybody was talking about?"

Mira, hitting his shoulder: "Zack! Don't be rude! I'm sorry, he's just curious that's all."

Tammy: "... Okay, see you. La~ la~ la~"

• As you skipped past the couple, Zack was on his fighter mode the entire time. Mira scolded Zack on the way on how his rude attitude scared you off just because you were helping her. Sitting on their respective seats, Zack started to notice something... His wallet is missing! Did you pickpocket him?! Forget what Mira said, the next time he sees you, he'll beat you to a pulp!!

• Vasco most likely heard the rumors too. He's just sitting in the Architecture department, talking to Jace, he heard it from one of the Burn Knuckles member. He then asked if you were a bad guy and his eyes widen at how notorious you are for your creepiness and your ability to fold paper into a weapon. He made a reminder to himself that if he meets you someday, he'll ask you about your fighting technique.

• Jay's impression was through Daniel of course. He noticed how fidgety Daniel is whenever you make eye contact with him... Almost as if you know something about Daniel that Jay doesn't know. Daniel explained to Jay about how he met you in the hallway, folding small paper soldiers. Your humming stopped after noticing Daniel and suddenly you asked if he has extra paper. Daniel assumed you need more paper to make more soldiers and gave you a few of his note papers, complimenting on your expertise on your paper folding art. You didn't reply and just continued folding the given paper. Daniel just watched, unsettled after you folded his paper just to behead the tiny soldiers, giggling to yourself... He gets uncomfortable every time he recalled that memory of you. Jay also made a mental note to protect Daniel from you just in case.

[shamachan]

step 3 mc not taking care of themself, what do qiu and tama do?

Tamarack & Qiu x gn!MC not taking care of themself headcanons.

step 3.

Qiu Lin.

— It’s immediately clear that Qiu will be so worried. So worried about you that every day they will ask how you are doing and just smile sadly, looking at all the mess on your head.

— They are unlikely to try to know why are you so uncaring about yourself because they don’t want to violate your personal boundaries.

— But, nevertheless, Qiu came to the conclusion that then they will take care of you as best they can, if you can't do it yourself.

— Depending on why you don't take care of yourself, they may compliment you frequently, support you, or do some things instead of you. Or maybe even all together. They just want you to feel better about it.

— They will carry snacks in their pockets that you might like, just in case you are hungry and offering them when there is a sign that you want to eat. If you refuse a snack then it's alright, but they'll still carry it with them.

— If they ever come over to your place for a sleepover several times, these nights Autumn will try to do something with your hair if you let them. They will comb it carefully, distracting you with conversations.

— They will also make sure you ate well and that you were hydrated, but they do not force you in any way. And despite all the fun you had there, Qiu will also make sure you go sleep first before falling asleep too.

— They'll make extra sure that if anything happens, you know that at any moment you can come to them and ask for help or support. Qiu will always be here, looking out for you.

— In general, they will do everything they can while trying not to cross your comfort in hope that your inattention to yourself will soon end. And not because they will get tired of caring, but because the best care is caring for yourself...

— ...and their dear neighbor deserves only the best.

Tamarack Baumann.

— From my impressions, she won’t be as sad about it as Qiu does, it's just that still you and your trait. But she will be worried too about your attitude towards yourself.

— Tama won't think for long, she will immediately move on to small, but caring actions.

— Tamarack will gently dust your clothes with her hand if you have any, while you are not looking, will also treat you to food, and probably not only snacks (I think she will be an excellent cook, I don't know why).

— And Tammy will simply be a shoulder on which you can fall asleep or which you can confide in.

— If you ever go with her to the forest and maybe even have a picnic there, Tama will definitely take everything that might be useful - more food, drinks, the softest and warmest blanket she has and even possibly small pillows, if any of you want to lie down comfortably. Because... Why not? But be prepared to walk with her a lot at first!

— After such a day with Tamarack you probably will be the most rested from all the hustle and bustle, or at least she will try to make it so! These walks will also repeat often, as she invites you anytime she can.

— Also based on my headcanon that Tamarack cooks greatly, I think that she will often pass ready-made meals to you, and not necessarily when you are at home. She will definitely try to make this food your favourite! So yeah, you'll be the most well-fed person thanks to the chef Tama.

— I can say that she will be so caring as the one who truly accepts you. She won't try to change you, because she believes that everything will come in its own time. As well as self-love and care for yourself.

— Tama will live through this with you. You are her favourite neighbor after all, so it's not difficult for her at all.

a/n: as someone who faces kinda the same problem thank u for a request! it was comforting to write.

also I'm sorry that it took such a time :(