#and bring it to the attention of this community

[amalg-em]

Okay, I think there is, though.

Let me explain it this way: having children is a thing people do sometimes, that some people find rewarding/enriching. It's not for everyone, but neither is, say, running an animal shelter, or traveling all over for rock climbing, or working the night shift. However, like all those things, if someone wants to do it and can do it responsibly, they should be allowed to.

If reproducing/raising children is a behavior that some humans seek out for enrichment, then there should be an available outlet for them to do so. Yes, less people are having children now, and largely that's people who wouldn't want to have children anyway - but it also includes people like me, who WOULD like to have children, but are prevented from doing so.

You can't just look at the statistic "people are doing x thing less." You also have to check whether people are WANTING to do the thing. And, in this case, many of us do! I would love to be able to help support & shape the next generation of humans. I have valuable wisdom and experience to pass down and I enjoy working with children, so I would be an attentive and enthusiastic parent.

However, I also grew up in a toxic and sometimes abusive home, and I've seen the factors that contribute to that: isolation, poverty, fundamentalist religion, untreated/unmanaged trauma and health issues, etc. Most of these factors are present in my life, meaning that it would be unwise for me to have kids, or at least not until the issues are mitigated.

All of the factors I listed aren't unique to me - trauma is common, doctors not taking chronic illnesses seriously is common, isolation is common, poverty is common. There's also current or impeding climate disaster, spreading global fascism, and uncontrolled capitalism. All of these things are going to make it less likely for people to want to have children, even if they would otherwise, because they rightfully don't want to bring a tiny, helpless, fragile new person into a horrible situation.

My point is, looking at the data that shows people aren't having kids is useful if you're following it up with the question, "WHY aren't people having children?" Because if something is a normal human behavior that a certain percentage of people will want to engage in, but they're not doing it, that's a potential indicator that society has broken down somewhere and people aren't getting their needs met. And this is factually true in this case.

From what I've read, many people have concerns like mine, where they don't want to bring a child into a bad situation. Also, lot of research that polls people of reproductive age comes up with the answers "It takes too much time" and "it costs too much money." And these, too, are red flags for society not functioning as it should be. Does it really make sense to dump the entire childrearing process onto one or two people? Especially when that's not the only option, and communal childrearing has been the norm in other places and times? If children are the future and necessary for the continuation of society, doesn't it make more sense that the entire community should be pitching in to help raise children, both monetarily and otherwise? Why DO we make things so expensive for parents? Why does every parent have to spend so much money buying new baby gear, new clothes, new shoes, etc for every child? Why are parents saddled with exorbitant daycare costs when it's in the vested interest of an entire community that it's next generation reach adulthood successfully? (The answer to nearly every one of these questions is capitalism, BTW. Exhausted and isolated people spend more money and are easier to exploit.)

"you shouldn't care about x" isn't really a useful sentiment. We can get all kinds of information about what's going on in the world humans have created and how to fix it by looking at data like this and asking questions. That's the entire basis for critical thinking, in fact; asking questions like: what is happening, why is it happening, what are the mechanisms driving it, who benefits from it, who suffers, etc. "There is no progressive way to care about this topic" is just as reactionary and counterproductive as "Oh No, Women are become Actual People instead of Baby Factories, This Will Detroy Society"

Sorry not sorry but there's no "liberal" way to care about collective fertility rates

[honeybunnyale]

Cucked l J.M. & T.M.

w.c.: 11.6k

t.w.: Dark-ish fic, Smut, Breeding/Pregnancy Kink, Pervy!Joel, Themes of cheating and infidelity, set in Jackson (after season 1), slight violence, Tommy! He's taking your wife!

a/n: Please read warnings for all of my works before reading. 18+ only!

Summary: You want a baby so bad you fail to realize how it might affect your marriage. Joel impresses with his skills as a father and you catch yourself imagining him in your husband’s stead.

Tommy had introduced you to Joel, he thought you two would get along well. He just didn't expect you to get along that well. The first time Joel had laid eyes on you his face brightened, he tipped his head down at you, shaking your hand for a second too long. 

Then, Tommy wrapped his arms around your waist and Joel had swallowed so thickly his adams apple bobbed.

He was happy for his little brother, he had a partner. He had a safe home to live out the rest of his life if he wanted to. There was a whole community that cherished him. Depended on his knowledge.

Tommy had even shown him the ring he had found and later surprised you with in an abandoned shop, on a route you two would usually patrol.

He was happy for his little brother.

That was until you started popping up all the time. You’d knock at his door in the morning, asking him to accompany you to breakfast at the hall or the Tipsy Bison.  You always asked Ellie too. But in those moments, as you leaned against the doorway with your arms crossed, in jeans that fit you perfectly and a gun holster at your hip,  with a smug smile and a raised brow, he felt as if you were only speaking to him. 

You wanted his company.

Joel had the urge to ask you if he could help around Jackson more, he's sure he could do what Tommy does, maybe even do it better. But since he's so new, they have him working around town, gauging his skill sets. You already knew he was destined to be a patrolman, maybe help with construction and expansion of the town in his free time. 

You would see his similarities to Tommy, definitely. Respectful and yet demanding respect in return. Although you knew Tommy was capable of great violence, it seemed like Joel was more willing to submit to it. 

His gruff and closed off personality served as a warning. He was warming up to the town though. You like to think you were a great help in that.

The clatter of plates and cutlery clang around the hall consistently. You pick at the eggs and sausage, chewing slowly and sipping from your mug of coffee as you listen to the conversations around you. Your mind was wandering. 

Joel nudges your elbow resting on the table gently with his. You shrug and sigh. 

"Tommy's busy in the mornings, either on patrol or helping build something."

He hums as a response, fighting the urge to bring mouthfuls of food into his mouth to eat it all quickly. Instead, he places his fork down and passes a hand over your shoulder empathetically. 

“Well that’s… Tommy.” He struggles with finding the right words for people in need of emotional support. He’s more of a man of action. Of course, you would never expect to discuss negative details of your relationship to Joel. They were brothers. 

His attempt did lighten up your mood though. 

Ellie had no shame, she wasn't paying attention. You patted the back of her hand whenever you noticed her scarfing down her food. 

"You'll get a stomachache, babe," you scold softly, a hint of a smile on your lips. Joel looked at you appreciatively when she slowed down. She never listens to him, unless it was serious. It seemed as if a gentler approach was needed. Something he didn't think he could provide either. 

Ellie had just finished eating, so quickly you hadn't even finished your own plate. You watch as she drapes her coat over herself, practically bouncing with energy to meet up with her new friends. Joel's expression softens when he sees the way you stare at her, a knowing look on your face, an eyebrow raised. 

"Be careful, don't go running around by the gates‐"

Ellie says nothing, pursing her lips and wincing as if she were ready to ask for leverage. Joel straightens up and gives her a pointed look. You were part of the council, along with Tommy. Technically, you had power to kick anyone out of the town. Everyone knew you would never do that. 

Despite the friendliness, the authority stayed prominent in your role in town meetings, even among your council members, most notably with your husband. 

Ellie sighs and responds in a bored tone.  "I won't. Promise."

You hum, skeptical. You had seen her the other day, along with her group. They were always up to something, most of the time just causing slight annoyances to the townsfolk. They were good kids but had low survival instincts.

You worry about her, as if you were her own mother. Joel is taken back to the night you had come over for dinner, Tommy busy being part of the patrol that evening. Ellie had confessed to you first about her crush on a girl she met in school. 

"She's so fucking cool. She has all these tattoos‐"

Joel was washing up the dishes, Ellie was showing you around her bedroom, explaining every detail and knick knack, having stopped to explain a sketch pinned to her cork board.

"You have a crush on her?" you had asked simply, accompanied by a teasing grin.

She was nervous to discuss this aspect of her life, admittedly. To express it openly, if at all. Her face fell, growing paler by the second. She didn’t know how to bring this up in a conversation, especially not with Joel. 

"Don't tell him..." She winces as she says it. It felt awkward even thinking about it with you. You cross your arms and narrow your eyes as you hear a shift from outside the bedroom. Joel must have come up the stairs, used to being quiet in his steps. 

It had broken his heart. An axe pressing down the side, twisting and pushing so hard he thought he couldn't breathe for a second. 

"I won't," you reply, smiling softly at her. 

The beating organ in his chest seemed to plummet to his stomach.

"But..." you had pushed her hair back, pulling her to your side, your hand squeezing her shoulder and arm reassuringly, "That man cares about you so much, he would rather die than make you feel as if he didn't."

Ellie had told him in passing a couple of days later, then asking how to ask girls out, her eyes flickering from where he stood and the hallway every few seconds. 

Of course you were there, sipping from one of his mugs, enjoying the coffee he had offered to share with you.  He smiled at you so gratefully you thought another man was staring at you.  He’s sure if you hadn’t reassured Ellie she would have never mentioned a thing.

It was sweet, watching him try to explain how to impress a woman, turning to you for help but only being met with a shrug and a smirk. You liked watching them communicate, live, just be.  He really did care about her like a father, a good one, even if he asked too many questions about this mystery girl named Kat.

You were starting to see her as a daughter too, although you don't think you'll ever confess that to anyone, not even Tommy.  If anything the closest thing you could be with Ellie is her aunt.

You sigh when she leaves the dining hall in a rush now. You briefly glance down at your lap, feeling your disappointment flare in your mind once again at waking up to find out you were going through your cycle that month.

…

A month ago, Tommy had told him how you were trying. He finally felt safe enough and sure of the town's own wellbeing. He was starting to look towards settling down. With you.

Joel got quiet after that conversation, letting him talk on and on about how you two were reorganizing your home, gathering supplies for the baby or babies if you were lucky enough. Tommy had winked at that, a smirk firmly planted on his face mentioning offhandedly that he remembers their uncle having twins, as well as their grandparents having a pair as well.

Joel had excused himself afterwards and you had caught him at the door of your house just as he was stepping out.

"Hey, Joel," you had greeted, pulling him into a hug. 

You wrapped your arms around him tightly, your hands sliding up his sides and onto his back, accidentally going under his jacket. Your chest was flush against his, he could feel your breasts squeeze and compress against him. 

He reciprocated all too willingly, you gave a surprised chuckle as he squeezed you close. His chin rested against your head for a second, he caught a whiff of your aroma, a hint of lavender from the soap an old woman makes and sells at the butchers from animal fat and herbs. 

Tommy must have bought you some. He swallowed thickly and kept you at an arm's length. 

"Mrs. Miller."

You chuckle, he'd call you that and it would sound as if he himself had given you the name to keep. You vaguely remember the time a newcomer had asked where your husband was, Tommy sitting right next to you. 

You gave them a weird look, then they clarified, "Where's Joel?"

Tommy had chuckled it off, ignoring your growing frown. It was funny to him, but it wasn't to you.  He hadn't thought of the implications of the misconception like you had. It had become a running joke, one you didn’t really appreciate as much as the rest. 

When you thought about it, you and Tommy are only ever together at night, when he is done with his day. Most of your activities now included fucking or sleeping. It felt as if you barely even spoke a full conversation nowadays. 

You had glanced inside the house and a glimmer of hope filled you as you saw Tommy. 

"How are you?" you ask, your attention visibly diverted elsewhere but at Joel. You glance back at him, in front of you, smiling politely at your brother in law, hoping he might leave soon. 

Joel nods, pursing his lips, hating the way you had stepped back and your warmth left him, your hands resting on his forearms so that you could have a small courteous chat before he left.

"Good,” he purses his lips and sucks in his teeth. He had half a mind to tell you to mind your manners at your indifference. 

“Heard you were thinkin' of adding a Miller to the family."

Your face scrunches in what looks to be embarrassment and some form of annoyance.  Tommy loves to go around town and run his mouth, you glanced behind Joel to catch Tommy leaning against the doorway, you narrowed your eyes playfully before your face fell a little, seeing that he had his boots on along with his pack on his shoulder, ready to leave again.

You focus back on Joel.

"Yeah, hopefully. It's taking a bit."

You look down to the ground, trying to hide your disappointment.  When he turned back, he could see Tommy's own look of slight despair. Your relationship was at a strain, despite himself, he started to find elation in his heart at the fact.

Especially when you started to talk to him about it. 

…

"How are you?" Joel muttered, still sitting next to you at the hall, an hour after Ellie had left. A question was echoed back to you for once, since you always wanted to know about everyone else's day.

You nod, followed by a small "Good," which he didn't believe at all.  He reaches a hand across the table, and he wonders how Tommy never understands why people mistake you and Joel for a couple. You flip your hand, slowly as if you were hesitant. Your fingers twist together with his tightly in confidence.

"Is it Tommy?"

You sigh, breathing out shakily and attempting to smile and brush off the sadness that envelopes you.

"It's not… he's working. I know I shouldn’t be selfish- it's just, I wish he would stop playing hero so much.”

You sigh.

“It just feels as if he's not here with me anymore."

Joel knew all too well how Tommy gets when he sets a goal. He came all the way to Wyoming from Boston all by himself for god's sake. He tends to leave his family behind. Joel would never. Especially not if he had a wife at home, ready to build a family with him in a prospering community. 

You look around the room and find that only you and Joel were there. No food was being served at the moment, not until lunch. You finally let yourself break.

Your eyes fill with tears, your lips start to wobble and you try to hide your face with your hand. 

"I just‐ I feel so lonely sometimes."

His arms go around your shoulders, you’re enveloped in his scent and warmth. Shivers go down your spine. When was the last time Tommy had held you this way? His head atop yours, squeezing you tightly and pressing you against his chest as he cradles your head. It's been too long. 

"Hey, darlin'. I'm here, it's okay," he whispers. He pulls back to see you so broken, so beautiful and vulnerable. He hates the way his heart beats wildly at the hopeful way you look up at him with half lidded eyes.

"You're not alone, baby. I'm right here with you."

He looks into your eyes deeply, his hands cupping your face. It was wrong, he knew it was. It should be Tommy in his place, he shouldn’t have started leaning in, his eyes shouldn’t have flickered to your lips, prompting you to do the same.

Something desperate had built in your chest, aching to be released.

You grip him by the lapels of his thick jacket, pushing yourself to meet his lips with your own eagerly. He reciprocates with a deep groan, as if he had been holding it in since the day he met you.

You don’t stop when he has coaxed your mouth open, his tongue sliding past your lips and caressing your own. You don’t stop when you give a high whine, feeling your core pulse at the way his hands travelled to your waist, dipping into the denim of your jeans to grip the fat of your hips.  

You don’t stop when your hands run over his hair, feeling the roots and lightly tugging.  But you realize his hands were different, his lips and his hair weren't what you were used to.

You stop when you realize you weren't kissing Tommy. Your husband. The man you wear your ring for. 

You push away quickly, leaving Joel leaning towards you as if he couldn't get enough.  He genuinely couldn't, your taste was intoxicating, the feel of your body against his so intimately made his mind blur.

“Shit-Joel-“

He attempted to kiss you again, but you leaned further away, standing and shaking your head in shock.  He watched you leave, rushing to put on your jacket, taking big strides.  

You glanced at him one last time as you passed by the window, catching his stare, how his mouth hung open and he licked his lips when you had stopped slightly only to continue forward, flustered.

One thing was for sure, as he watched you go to the stables, shaking your hands vigorously and slamming the doors forcefully, you were like a drug to him.

…

You had acted as if nothing had happened, you hadn't gone to his house for dinner, you hadn't invited him to get breakfast with you and you haven't been alone with him since. 

It was just a kiss, he thought.  A kiss and he lost you for who knows how long. He watches you closely when Tommy invites him over for dinner, how you talk to Ellie most of the night, how you keep a hand on Tommy at all times like a message. 

You were Tommy's and you wanted him.

He could see through the facade easily. He wonders if you think of the kiss often. If you imagine Joel instead of Tommy when he fucks you. He thinks of you often, almost every night when he jerks his cock in his fist, imagining your whines and whimpers, how wet you must get and how you crave touch so intensely. 

He imagines you under the layers of clothes you wear, how he would peel them off slowly, make you squirm under his gaze.  Some nights your stomach is as it normally is, soft and healthy, others it's swollen, so much so your breasts rest atop it like a shelf. 

He likes those nights, when he imagines himself giving you the baby you wanted, which Tommy seems to be lacking on. He'd stave himself off, letting go of his cock or squeezing so tightly his orgasm is lost.  He'd have a vision in his mind, your big puffy tits in his mouth, sucking at a constant rate to get your milk going down his throat and falling heavily into his stomach. 

He wanted to be full of you, satiated by what you provide.  He wanted you to be full of him.  Fucking twins. You had told him the other day, before you had started avoiding him entirely, how twins run in your family.

Two beautiful babies. Healthy and chubby because you two would take care of them with so much love and care. Beautiful babies he would watch grow and become beautiful people.

He would hug you goodbye and it would make your skin crawl, in a good way, debating by the way your breath hitched and goosebumps would spread over your arms. 

What really made him know you felt a thrill go down your spine was the fact that you smelled different. 

Joel had dropped off a gift for you as an apology, soap. Milk and Honey. Tommy delivered it right to you after they had done a patrol together, not knowing its true intention. You even sent a half hearted note in thanks back to him, of course Tommy serving as the middleman. 

You smelled so warm now, homely. Motherly. 

…

You started feeling sick a couple months later and the next few months were filled with celebrations and gatherings all for the growing Miller family.  He started seeing you more often, his desires increased tenfold. Each time he would see you, your belly would be slightly larger, your body softer but your eyes were starting to dull.

Tommy's appearance was becoming less and less prominent and you would be surrounded by mothers and parents, elderly and children, all trying to ensure that you were doing well. 

Your eyes only ever brightened when Ellie was around, which wasn't often anymore.  She was growing into a young adult and to be completely honest she didn't find anything worth talking about with you anymore, not since your condition had impeded you from riding on a horse comfortably, let alone help patrol or keep up at the stables. 

It felt as if everyone was slowly starting to avoid you.  At least the people you cared for. Tommy picks up any job and task he could get his hands on, and Ellie is off with her friends, worrying the whole town.

Recently, they had made their way out of Jackson, taking some of the horses from the stables without telling anyone. You remember the look on Joel's face when a patrolman found them out and drinking alcohol, he was so red and his brows were so furrowed deep he looked cartoonish. 

Your heart had warmed at his sigh afterwards, shaking his head and most likely having counted to ten in his head to keep in his anger. A pat on the back is all he did, telling her to go to school and that when she came back they were going to discuss some things.

His eyes connected with yours afterwards, catching you staring and for the first time in a while you kept your gaze steady. Your hand had gone to the now prominent swell of your middle, wondering how Tommy would have reacted to the very same situation Ellie was in. 

Would he shout and scream or would he collect himself and give a stern warning? Now that you thought of it, he didn’t really interact with children all that much. Joel was so patient with children, Tommy had told you about Sarah, how Joel had stepped up to be a single parent and was amazing at it.  

Tommy talks to Ellie, you suppose, but that was because Joel would bring her around all the time. Would he even be a good father?

You stop yourself before you could think about it more. Thinking about wanting Tommy to be like Joel was mean. This was his first time being a dad, Joel had already done it before.  It wasn't fair to judge so quickly, especially if the baby wasn't even in his arms yet. 

But wouldn't it be nice... you imagine Joel with a baby in his arms, swaying ever so slightly, smiling down at the bundle of warmth. Then he would look at you, his eyes softening when you smiled softly at the scene. 

In that moment, as Joel smiles at you and you smile sheepishly back, he took it as a sign that he could get close again.

Joel isn't the type of man to let an opportunity go to waste.

...

You waddle, you waddle now, and it was exhausting. There was no one to complain to, no one to even talk about these problems you have been dealing with because Tommy was tired too. 

He would come back home, finding you half asleep with a book in hand on the rocking chair he had been able to get by trading with a grumpy old man arguing about which was worse, back pain or a seven pound baby weighing down on your hips. He had barely spoken a word before he went up to shower and ultimately go to bed for his morning shift.

He didn't hear how you shifted in bed, trying to find a comfortable position, how sometimes you would wake up nauseated and puke when he was still asleep. He wasn't even there when you felt the first kicks, when you had dropped your laundry basket to the floor and stood in shock when you had finally felt something shift. 

The event was announced in passing, a comment about having felt the baby, and it was shrugged off, a passing hand at your shoulders and a peck to your lips before he left.

It was disheartening and disappointing. Things were so good before, then you had asked to build a family with him and you regret it now. You had just gotten married and you were so desperate for how things were before the outbreak that you didn't realize how hard things would be to even get ready for such a monumental step in your life.

Tommy wanted you to be as safe as possible. He wanted the baby to be as safe as possible. According to him, the only person tasked with being able to complete those goals was him. He was taking the lead in patrols, taking the lead in council meetings and interventions, oftentimes taking your place and not even calling you in for a hearing. 

‘You’re pregnant, you can't be walkin’ much. The stress will hurt the baby, let me take care of it.’ 

You were hoping to talk about it in the evening when you knew Tommy would be home. He had taken a morning and night shift, having midday to rest. You hope it meant you would see him more, to stop thinking about other men in his stead.

A bell from the door startled you, and when your head turned sharply to the clock by the wall your heart started pumping with joy. The door opened and Tommy was met with a bright smile. 

The hug had made him take a step back, almost losing his balance from how you threw your whole body in his arms. He held you as tight as he could, slightly swaying and sighing from the way your head fell almost perfectly into the warm junction of his neck and shoulder.

Your bodies radiate happiness, your minds turning blank at each other's touch. His hands gripped yours tightly when you had started roaming, your lips already working over his exposed neck after a few seconds of inhaling his deep musk. 

It's been months since you've been this close and your body needed some release.  You were already wet, your pussy clenching at the thought of him taking his jacket and flannel off and exposing his broad chest and shoulders in the tight thermos you knew he wore all the time to keep from the winter's cold. 

You held in a moan at the taste of his skin, your tongue peeking from your lips teasingly and your hand moving to the front of his pants that you felt slowly becoming firmer with each passing second. 

You groaned in frustration when he had stopped you, pulling back to look in your eyes, his brown orbs full of playfulness and slight disappointment. 

"Joel and Ellie are going to stay awhile, we can't right now, honey."

It took a minute, you were licking your lips, shifting uncomfortably as he stepped back and let go of you. Then a couple feet from your front porch Joel Miller comes striding in, a small, soft smile on his face as he trudges up the steps, carrying a pack with him. 

"Mrs. Miller," he greets, humor in his voice. Your eyes narrow at his confidence as if you hadn't made every move to not be in his presence alone for the past few months.

Tommy's hand caresses up and down on your arm, trying to soothe the mounting disappointment and discomfort at his arrival. His hand gently sweeps over your belly as he kisses the side of your head. 

"The generator doesn't work, tried to fix it, but looks like something's off with the wiring."

You eye Joel and Tommy, squinting between the both of them in disbelief.

"I- I know I haven't asked the woman of the house yet." He chuckles nervously, expecting you to chuckle with him. You just stare, his face falls slightly, "But I had already offered them the guest rooms and a Miller always keeps their promises."

...

Tommy learned how to cook for you.  It was rough the first few times, when he would give you either burnt food or half cooked and raw meats but with each dinner he had gotten better. Staring at his back, you watch him gathering ingredients from cupboards, turning to ask if you knew where certain things were and smiling when you just motioned with your head in annoyance.

You stand with your back against the kitchen island, sighing loudly from the company. You remember the night he proposed, he pulled his hair in a bun, like he did now to cook, and wore an old dress shirt. He found a record player, brought it home and played some slow songs.  His eyes looked so deep into yours that night, it felt like you fell in love all over again.

Tommy turns to you, crossing his arms and giving you that gigawatt smile and it feels as if your chest was starting to combust, the memory of that night suddenly coming to fruition again.

He doesn’t want you to be upset at him. He misses you too. So much. He takes a step towards you, his hand reaching out-

"Can I?"

Joel's chest blocks your view, you stand up straighter. He didn't ask again when you looked up at him in confusion, his hands already at your stomach, roaming. His fingers prod at the end of your shirt- Tommy's shirt, and pulls up to reveal a sliver of the skin of your stomach.

"Your niece has been growing," Tommy adds after a few seconds, going back to focusing on the stove. He was oblivious to the way you shifted on your feet uncomfortably.

"Niece? You think it's a girl,” Joel asks, looking down at you, his brow quirked.

"Know so, I can feel it," Tommy responds.

Joel smiles softly when you do, glancing behind his shoulder, to look Tommy with a lovestruck look. Tommy deserves a good life; he just hates that it had to be with you.  Maybe if you weren't already together when he arrived, he would have swooped in and taken you first. 

Maybe then he would be the one telling Tommy that his niece was growing in your belly instead of the other way around. He turns to you.

"Have you gotten any cravings yet?"

He stares down at you, his eyes moving to your lips and staying there. Tommy couldn't see the glint in his eye, the way his thumb moves in circles on the skin of your belly, slightly pushing up your shirt further. 

"No, not yet,” you respond quietly.

You swallow thickly when he hums, it vibrates from his chest to yours, you throb at the feel of his warm palm, riding up your stomach, the smirk of his lips widens.

"It'll happen soon enough, makes you crazy I think, especially now when you can't have what you really want."

The shake of your head makes him chuckle, you glare at his shoulder. 

"I'll give her whatever she likes, she's never been without, not with me around."

You purse your lips, quickly finding the irony in your husband’s words. Joel barely turns his head when speaking back to him. He hums again, considering his words.

"You sure?"

Tommy glances back for a second, confused, not quite catching on, still focused on the pieces of steak on the stove. Joel's hands start to drag down lower, moving to your hips, his thumb at your hip bone and digging closer into the front zipper of your jeans, held together with a hair tie. 

"What cravings we talkin' about?" Tommy’s voice was unsure, as if he had caught onto something suspicious. Your breath stutters, Tommy's head turns from where he was cooking at the pan. 

"I don't know Tommy, maybe I'll want some ice cream."

You interrupt, seeing Joel's eyes squint and his mouth purse.You weren't sure he was going to say what he wanted to, but you knew it was on the tip of his tongue. He was bold and it made you anxious.

"Maybe some pickles with the ice cream,” you reiterate, attempting to lead the conversation to a lighthearted end.

Tommy laughs and Joel frowns when you step away, moving to get a glass of water from the water jar on the kitchen counter. With a kiss to your head, his hands still busy on the sizzling pan and wooden spoon, Tommy chuckles.

"I'll get you all the pickles you want, darlin'."

He winks and swats your ass gently, you scoff, swatting his arm. What concerned you was the fact that Joel had scoffed along with you. Tommy laughs, pointing at Joel with his spoon. 

"Sorry, can't take my hands off my lady, maybe you'll get what I mean soon, since you got all them women pecking at your feet."

You expect the conversation to end there, you almost sigh in relief at the seconds of silence afterwards.

"I got my eyes on someone, I'm sure you'll like her Tommy."

"Oh really?"

"Yep."

"Can I meet the lucky gal?"

"I'm sure you already know her since y'know, you've been here longer and it's a pretty small town."

Tommy smiles. He was happy for his older brother, finally settling in. He glances at you beside him, knowing that you had a big part in assimilating him into the town. You glance behind you as if you knew something he didn’t. 

His heart swells at your close friendship. He had hoped his brother would have accepted you and the other way around, especially with the stories he had told you about his past. 

You knew everything about Joel and he had told Joel everything about you.

"I'm sure I do,” he responds seconds later, arching his brow in your direction.

Your ears burn hot, you don't dare turn around, knowing Joel was grinning right at you.

Lunch was awkward, Tommy had sent you both to set up the table and you had tried to hide your displeasure despite the way Joel's hand on the small of your back made you want to jump out of your skin. 

It wasn't horrible, it was a good feeling, especially when he had made you sit down while Tommy finished up, massaging your shoulders, then moving down to your lower back, his fingers grazing over the top of your ass.

A moan had escaped you accidentally, making him stop his movements momentarily and continue with more vigor over the stiffness of your muscles. 

"Such pretty sounds coming from a pretty mama," he mutters. 

"Joel-“

“It’s ready!”

You shift away a little too quickly, standing and facing Tommy at the doorway. Your hiss from the ache in your back, the sudden weight pulling you down. Tommy immediately goes to your side, urging you to sit back down, barely noticing how close Joel had been seconds before. You eat in relative silence, the dinner lasting longer when Ellie had come in, just coming from her friend’s house. 

You only had a few moments with Tommy the rest of the evening, he held you, swaying in the middle of your bedroom, about to put on his boots to leave for patrol. It was always nerve racking, watching him leave now, especially since you used to accompany him all of the time before and now you physically couldn’t. At least he had Maria looking after him. But the worry was still ever present.

“Just a few days and we’ll have the house to ourselves.”

You nod against his chest, gripping his waist tightly. He cups your cheek, feeling your hands shake, trying to keep yourself from crying. 

“Hey, I’ll come back, I always do, yeah?”

You nod again and he frowns at your lack of eye contact. His lips soften you some, coaxing your mouth open, making your legs turn to jello at the feel of his hands gliding over your body and pushing you to sit on bed.  Your shirt comes off quickly, and he stares in amazement, for the first time in a while seeing your breasts bare. 

“They’re bigger, honey.”

You huff a short laugh, watching his hands hesitantly cup them, squeezing and making your nipple bulge from between his fingertips. You moan, your lips parting, your thighs shifting.  He looks mesmerized, his tongue flicking outward, his knees shifting closer to you. You spread your legs, already unbuttoning the front of your makeshift maternity jeans, his torso already slotting against the insides of your thighs. 

You smell good, he’s been able to get some scented oils for you, mostly for your growing body, to help soften your skin. The things that he’s given up to make sure you were well off.  It made him miss these moments with you.  He was still amazed at how much the baby had grown. 

Then his eyes started flickering, moving to the side as his eyes narrowed. The clock was glaring at him, making him groan in irritation and startling you. He stands, picking up your shirt and helping you put it on.

“Gotta go…”

You barely reciprocate the kiss before he leaves.

…

The stomach makes things more complicated. Your balance is off, you could barely see your toes and you weren't as flexible as before.  Your arm had to curve to even reach your pussy, which normally shouldn't have been a problem since you had Tommy around. But you were aching, you barely had any time alone with him and considering Joel's generator had decided to stop working entirely when your schedules were finally aligned you don't think you ever will.

You groan in frustration, your head pressed against the pillows and your eyes closed shut to imagine his scent, his taste, the softness of his hair. You move your hips, imagining his thrusts, your hands running down his bare chest and counting all of the freckles and marks on his skin whenever you rode him.  You missed his cock, uncut, thick, hard.

You moan even without touching yourself, imagining him on top of you, his lips at your throat, his teeth biting at the skin of your neck. You didn’t think to lock the door, or pay attention to the way the wood creaks.

"So beautiful…”

You stop your movement, not being able to sit up quick enough and cursing yourself when all you could do was cover yourself with a thin blanket from the side. You stare at him, standing by the door, watching and walking in slowly only to close to the door. The bed dips when his knee connects to the mattress, crawling towards you in your shock.

“He doesn’t take care of you does he?”

You scowl, glancing at him and the door.

“Joel, what are you doing?” you hissed.

His hands reach to cup your face.

“Let me. Please.”

Your eyes were swollen in unshed tears of frustration, your hands were shaking in nerves. He imagines he’s in his home, and you were laying on his bed, naked and so damn horny you could cry. He kisses you softly, cupping your face unexpectedly and dipping you to lay down again.  You lean into it helplessly, feeling your hands grasp onto his shirt and grip so tightly it twists. You were the one to take it further, to make sure he stood still when your tongue started dipping in between his lips.

You were so desperate for touch, for any sort of skin on skin that you had momentarily lost yourself, moaning into his mouth, swallowing his groans down and pressing your hands wherever you could to feel him against you. Your hormones were going insane, raging through your body in pulses of pleasure when you sat up again only to push him down and straddle his lap.

His hand runs over your stomach, pressing slightly on the newly formed firmness. 

“He hasn’t touched me, not since…”

You motion to your stomach and press further into his chest.

“He’s depriving you, needy thing. You needa cock in you every night, don’t ya. Need cum to fill you to the brim.”

Your hands grip onto his shirt tightly, unbuttoning the front and revealing a white undershirt. You make him groan, teeth nipping harshly at his bottom lip and grazing down his jaw and throat.

“You make me feel good, Joel,” you whispered. Your body was a mess of hormones, you were already dripping by the time his fingers pressed your underwear to the side, making you gasp onto his neck.

There was barely any resistance at his cock, entering you quickly in a thrust.  The mattress creaks with each press of your hips, your belly kissing his with each undulation. Your breasts bounce and for a moment his eyes are stuck on the movement, your head thrown back and your hands tightening over his shoulders as you raise your thighs and slap them down again. His hand cradles your belly, his thumb running over your folds and grazing your swollen clit.

He’s amazed by the growth of your stomach, each time.  He pretends it’s his, you do too, even if for a moment.

“You're so full of me, sweetheart.”

His cock was stuffing you repeatedly, stretching you wide every time you bounced and your cunt met the base of his shaft. You arch your back, your hands leaning back on his thighs. His head leans forward and his mouth reaches the peaks of your breasts, tongue flicking your nubs in time with his suckles. 

“Does Tommy fuck you like this?” He murmurs against your skin.

Your eyes widen, you gasp when he bites down lightly.  You clench tightly, the thought of your husband finding you fucking his own brother made your body stiffen and tremble. 

“N-not anymore.”

Your wetness covered his lap, smothering the insides of your thighs in slick. His hands grip your hips tightly, lifting you and pressing you harder than your pace. Your body stiffens, your head filling with a pleasant and euphoric fuzz. 

“So fuckin' tight, so wet-“ he groans, “how could he resist you, mama?”

Your back hits the mattress, despite the initial discomfort of having your legs spread to either side of your chest, your knees meeting the sides of your breasts, the press of his hips against yours makes your body turn soft and pliant. 

The bed creaks, the frames slamming against the wall.  Your breath leaves you in puffs, his body over you and his lips attached to your neck, leaving a thick trail of spit from your chest to lips. His hands entangled in yours, his groans next to your ear.  You couldn’t think of anything else but him, anything but the way his cock slid into you, making your slick squelch against each slap of skin.

“Tommy doesn’t know the first thing about taking care of a family,” he groans.

He stills, making you whine, your pussy tightening and your hands gripping over his strongly.  His head lifts, staring deeply into your eyes, one of his hands cupping your stomach, his thumb smoothing over the gravid swell soothingly.  He whispers promises on your lips.

“I’m going to take care of you. You and the baby.”

His thumb presses hard against your clit. You whimper, closing your eyes tightly, nodding lightly.

“Gonna give you more, as much as you can give me.”

He gets lost in your face, brows furrowed in pleasure, lips wide open in ecstasy.  His hips move slowly, the tip of his shaft meeting your lips and sinking in, building you further into your climax. He closes his eyes, grinding his pelvis against yours, feeling your legs start to shake, your moans getting higher in pitch. Louder.

You gargle a scream when you lose yourself, making him groan against your chest, holding in a growl at how tight and wet you had gotten. His cum spurts inside you, you groan from the feeling, missing the heat that warms you. You pant, delirious and wiping at your forehead as your legs start to relax, almost cramping from the position he had put you in.  His arms wound themselves around you, mouth open in exertion. 

You chuckle, almost forgetting how much older he was compared to you.  His chest is in sync with yours, his hands roam around your belly when you turn towards him, leaning your heavy stomach against his soft one. The pressure on your back is relieved and you sigh deeply, head burying into his shoulder.

He chuckles, pressing his lips on the side of your head and for a second you thought Tommy was beside you, caressing your stomach in circles, breathing in the scent of your hair.  Your finger had stopped tracing patterns on his chest when you had felt a mole on his collarbone, pausing at the unfamiliarity.

Then your heart leapt from your chest, you felt as if you couldn’t breathe. You sit up quickly, tears already springing in your eyes at the man beneath you, sitting up with you to hold your face in his hands.

“What’s wrong?”

You almost scoffed, but you shake your head instead. Your heart drops, Ellie, the bed was banging against the damn walls, you had screamed for god’s sakes.

“Oh god- Ellie- she must have heard everything-“

“She’s not here, she’s with a friend tonight.”

That didn’t stop the tears from falling.  You had deceived your husband, you fucked his brother.  You were disgusted with yourself, your actions, the thoughts you had been fighting for months now.

He grips your face tightly, hearing you mutter Tommy’s name over and over again in a quiet whisper, trying to push yourself away from him. He surprises you with his lips against yours, he swallows your gasp, pulling you impossibly closer. Your lungs burned, your head cradled in his hands, his eyes closed tightly willing you to stay put.

You hate how you reciprocated, feeling your heart thump quickly in affection, something you used to only feel with Tommy.

…

Joel was with you every night, waiting until Tommy had left, when Ellie was in deep sleep or gone off with a friend.  Sometimes he would take you in the morning, which was becoming an even more common occurrence. 

You smile more often, you haven’t felt so doted on in what felt like a year. You didn’t need Tommy anymore, not when Joel was always with you, taking jobs around town now, mostly at the stables and with the cattle where you were usually set to supervise.

His presence was accepted by you again, you were practically at the hip, Ellie tagging along every now and then, sometimes giving you a strange look when he would sit too close and his hands would twitch to yours when you were walking.You’d always ignored it. All of Tommy’s time was at work, and when he didn’t have anything to do it would be spent with Joel.

Your sudden indifference to his attention made him worried. It was wrong, wanting your wife to be miserable when you were gone, but so was he.  Tommy hated every minute apart from you and now that he saw you so content with the situation, a complete change from your sad looks and tired but grateful gazes whenever he came home to you, he knew something must have happened.

He confides in Maria and she gives him hours off, reassuring him that the whole community was willing to help him and his wife raise their child. And that meant keeping them safe from whatever was outside Jackson’s walls. 

She felt pity for you both but Tommy was one stubborn man, he didn’t want anyone else’s help, claiming it was unfair to the other members of the commune. She could see the strain, how most of your pregnancy was spent alone.

“There’s an event… tonight…”

Maria raises a brow, eyes full of mirth. She turns to him with a small smile on her lips.

“Everyone will be there, I’m sure you could surprise her there.”

He nods slowly, his eyes flickering as if already imagining how he would swoop you off of your feet.  A smile rises on his face, his chest fills with excitement.

“Dancing?”

Maria chuckles. She gives him a look.

“What kind of monsters do you think we are? Of course there’ll be dancing.”

He smiles so wide his teeth seem to glimmer in the moonlight. 

“Shower before, I doubt she’ll be too happy about your stench.”

He scoffs, his horse trotting ahead to make it to the settlement quicker. She watches on, his slumped shoulders now straightened and his chest puffed. He glances behind him gesturing for her to hurry it up.

…

You and Tommy used to attend these things all the time. There was cause for community celebrations all of the time.  Even if the same songs would keep playing, and at times there was the same foods and beverages being served, Tommy had always managed to bring you out to dance. It was always exciting. 

Now you’re here with Joel and Ellie, Joel nursing a beer, and Ellie talking your ear off.  His hand was on your thigh under the table, occasionally moving over your belly and rubbing. Your hand would caress over his forearm, fiddling with his sleeve, tightening whenever you had caught yourself throwing your head back in laughter. 

You lay your head against his shoulder, chuckling along to whatever comment he had responded with before sipping his beer smugly. Ellie had been bothering him about his love life, commenting on how much of a loner he is, hanging around a fifteen year old and a heavily pregnant and married woman. He had eyed you, a smirk in place. You shoved your elbow into his ribs and he winced.

The door had opened to the hall and he turned, minding the way you laid your head against his shoulder, your nose pressing against the fabric of his long sleeve shirt.  His face fell, and his hand patted your thigh, caressing over your stomach one last time before shifting away. He wasn’t hiding anything for himself, if anything he wouldn’t mind the whole world knowing you were his, but you would. 

You still loved Tommy, the yearning was still there and when he saw him standing at the doorway, his eyes roaming around the hall, he knew you would go to him. You turn to where Joel’s gaze was directed, your eyes brightening. Tommy shouldn’t be in town. His shift should have ended in a couple hours more.

“Tommy,” you whisper. 

Joel’s hand meets your back when you attempt to stand, taking in a sharp inhale from the sudden exertion.  You were wearing a maternity dress Tommy had found during one of his patrols. It was early in your pregnancy and you had joked about dreading the day it would actually fit.

You wave him over, and his face brightens in a smile, striding over to the table quickly.  His hands move to your waist, his body slightly hunched to lift you against him as he hugs you tightly. Your head buries itself in the curls kissing his neck, your hands landing on his back.

“Hey darlin’, missed me?”

You had pulled him down for a kiss and those around you had fawned over quietly at the scene. You two were the success story. You were the model for a new life in Jackson. Everyone knew of the two council members who would shamelessly flirt with each other, who had developed their relationship among the work of helping the community. 

The rest of the night he was clinged to you and in turn you to him.  He had asked you to dance and Joel had protested, saying you shouldn’t be on your feet too much, and you would only get achy.  It had only stopped Tommy momentarily, until you had dragged him to the floor in a slow song. 

Joel helped you off of the bench, his hands on your lower back and Tommy’s hand on yours. Their eyes connected, and he threw a look of confusion in Joel’s direction, especially when he noted his barely hidden scowl.

You lightly sway, Tommy’s hand holding yours over his heart. 

“I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered against your ear.

His eyes were filled with ardor, one of his palms roaming to the curve of your ass. His head buried itself next to yours. You only slapped his shoulder, kissing his cheek when he groaned playfully.

Your head lays against him, you inhale his scent. The song was slow, enough so that you didn’t have to leave the interlocking of your bodies, looking as if you were just standing in a hug. Your arms move under his pits and over his wide back, his arm wraps over your waist, a hand over your bump protectively.

Members of the community stare at you both, some smiling in his direction, others nodding. They could see how much happier you are, how you smile so pleasantly against his chest. It brought Tommy pride, showing off his pregnant wife.  He did that.  He put that baby in you. You were his beautiful wife. He was so lucky and he had been so close to losing everything.

“I’m sorry.”

Your head rises, looking up with brows arched in surprise.

“What?-“

“I know I haven’t been here, for you, for the baby.”

His eyes well with tears, he looks down on you with a sad smile.

“Maria gave me some time off- well not some- a lot.”

He cups your face, your eyes widening at the affection.  This is what you wanted, for the longest and now you have it.  

Why do you feel your heart sink? Not at the fact that he was going to be around longer but at the fact that you had to let Joel go. You glance in his direction, he was turned away, Ellie still talking to him about something passionately judging by the way her hands move frantically. 

He would be fine, you thought, he had his own family.

You smile brightly, the brightest you have in a while and Tommy’s heart expands. It was almost as if Joel could sense your eyes from a second before. His heart plummets to the floor, you were stomping all over it, you and Tommy. He watches Tommy kiss you delicately, your hands gliding up to the back of his neck to keep him there. You moan against his lips, deep and throaty from the way his tongue swiped over your bottom lip.

“Missed you, baby.”

You rest your forehead against his, feeling his warmth closer than ever. You hold him tighter, resting your head against his shoulder when you pull yourself up against his chest.

“Missed you too,” you mutter.

The last thing you see before being dragged away, your coat being placed over you in a rush, was Joel’s deep frown, staring until you had made it out the door.

You ignored it.

…

Your legs shake, thighs jiggling with each shift. Tommy was underneath you, his lips smacking, savoring your taste and his hands on either side of your hips helping you stay up and balanced against his face.

“Mmmh fuck baby, haven’t been taking care of this pussy in months. She’s so goddamn needy.”

Your hands tighten over the headboard. You nod, moaning out his name when his tongue flicks up to your clit. Then his hands tighten over you, pressing you against his face, not letting you up.  His head swivels from side to side, his tongue out and his nose rubbing against you relentlessly. He makes you grind on him, and you lose yourself.

“Joel,” you moan.

His hand loosens slightly, your body freezes for a moment, and for a second your heart stops, beating wildly afterwards when he had continued with more fervor.

You had forced your mind to blank, focusing on the way his tongue flicked over your clit repeatedly, tonguing your slit afterwards and pressing his nose up to pull your hood from your sensitive nerves. You think of the way his cock is probably throbbing, aching in his jeans, straining against the zipper. He rubs almost too harshly against you, and you cum with a surprised yelp.

He licks up the mess slowly, helping you come down in waves. He lifts you gently and when you try to reach for his crotch, wanting to palm him he stops you. He helps you lay down afterwards, minding your shaking thighs and your sweat soaked skin. He stares for a moment, getting lost in your state. You give him a questioning look.

“Did you-“

He’s at a loss for words. He swallows thickly and tries again. 

“Did you say someone else’s name- just now?”

You pause, you stop breathing for a moment. You had hoped he missed that, that he would dismiss it quickly.

“You said Joel.”

You shake your head slowly, wiping at your forehead, flicking the sweat from your brows.

“I said oh.”

It was said so confidentially, it sounded genuine and his eyes immediately softened in guilt. How could he accuse you of such a thing?The bulge that was at the front of his pants was now gone. You sigh.

“I’m sorry if I ruined the mood-“

“No. No, it’s fine, I just uh- I shouldn’t have been thinkin’ of my brother when I was between such pretty legs.”

You chuckle, your face warming but not at the vulgarity of his words or his try at a joke but at the fact that he had been so close to the truth and you were such a great actress. You feel a great shame when he joins you for a bath, helping you lean back against his chest and caressing over your skin with a sponge.  As if he could wash away the past weeks when you used his brother to feel good about yourself.

You cling onto him, and he savors it, not knowing that your over affections came from guilt.

Coincidentally, the same week Tommy had managed to fix Joel’s generator, now having enough time to look it over. Joel and Ellie were now gone. Now you and Tommy could finally have some time alone despite them coming over every so often, Joel more than Ellie.

…

“Gonna give you more, look so pretty like this, stretched out on my cock and swollen with my baby.”

Sometimes Joel would invite you over for breakfast, he could afford the food now, especially since he’s taken some shifts for patrol lately and the pay was always good. He loved having his meals with you, especially before Tommy’s shift ended and his began. His belt buckle clinks loudly with each thrust, his hands fisting your dress tightly.

The breath is pushed out of your lungs each time his cock plunges into you. You moan wantonly, head lolling between your shoulders.  Your palms almost slide off the kitchen island, your legs spread wide from where you stood. You whine when he slows, closing your eyes tightly, honing in on his grunts and the sound of your ass meeting his pelvis.

He grunts loudly and his warmth fills you. His head meets your shoulder, his breath wet and hot on your exposed skin. His hand moves to grope over your breast, you lean back against his body, breathing heavily, cunt still throbbing from your loss of release.

“Fuck, baby, made me finish early, got you squeezing my cock so tight.”

He slips out of you and you groan, his spend sliding down your thighs. His fingers place your panties back, tapping against your mound and pulling his hands away when you buckle forward only to smooth down the skirt of your dress.

“I could take care of you another way, sweetheart.”

He pulls you against him, his arms wrapping around your waist, cupping your belly and holding the weight in his hands. You relax further against his hold, sighing in slight relief. Your eyes wander around the room, and your back straightens, you gasp, eyeing the clock.

“Tommy’s almost home.”

“Jus’ a few minutes, promise.”

“Joel-“

He turns you in his arms, his hands roaming over your sides.

“One more taste, please.”

You lick your lips in contemplation and before you knew it he was guiding you to sit at the dining room table.

He was kneeling, hidden under your long summer dress. Your breasts had looked amazing in them, you were developing a bigger cleavage and you had decided to show it off. You looked so pretty sitting down in the recreational area, smiling during conversation, a hand on your bump, running circles over the soft fabric of your dress.

You lean back on the chair, you could see his head from beneath, a lump at your front and with the lacy ends of your skirt delicately splayed on his broad back. He was going slow, taking his time, hovering his mouth over you so that you would squirm in impatience.

“Joel, please.”

How could he ignore your whines, the way your hips twitch to his mouth. He eats like a man starved, ever since he first arrived he ate as if his meal would be swiped from under his nose at any second.  He feels that way with you, waiting for Tommy to take you away, only having you when he was gone. He yearns to keep you, to just cup your face and kiss you at any given moment and not in the confines of a locked room.

He still didn’t understand why you didn’t let him, he was obviously a better choice for you, he could be a better father than his brother, a better husband. Your back arches, your palm smoothing over the head covered in fabric. His nose nudges your clit repeatedly, his tongue laying flat against your slit, the tip running over the insides of your cunt. He could barely breathe but he didn’t care.

He drags you forward, the back of your shoulders meeting the back of the chair. You stare up at the ceiling, trying to keep your breaths in line. He kisses up the insides of your thighs, shifting on his knees every so often.  He was deliberate in taking his time and you chuckle when he continues again, slurping and licking to his heart’s content.

You glance out the window, mouth wide open, sweat collecting on your brow and eyes so hooded it looked as if you were on the cusp of a moan. 

There he is. Your husband, watching with cold eyes, his pack on one shoulder and a rifle on the other. He always comes in from the backyard. How could you forget? 

Your eyes widened, you slapped the head between your legs and the chair scratches against the floor from how quickly you shifted away.

Time seems to slow for you, you refused to answer any of Joel’s questions, your body already shaking and tears falling down the sides of your face. You stare at the floor, hearing the doorbell resound around the house. Joel ignored it, his eyes frantically roaming over your face.

“Did I hurt you? What-what happened?”

The walls shake from how hard Tommy pounds at the door.  You seem to collapse over yourself, standing quickly and lifting up your underwear after taking a breath.

The knocks continue, each time getting louder. He calls out your name, yelling at you to open. 

“Open this goddamn door!”

Your breath catches in your throat, you choke on a sob as Joel stands, opening the door hard enough for it to slam inside. 

You could briefly catch the hint of betrayal in his eyes. He stares at Joel for a few moments, his mouth open in shock. Then his face changes to a look of realization. All of these months wondering about the looks, the sudden happiness while he was gone. 

Deep down he felt shameful. Was he not enough for you? Was his older brother better than him? His face twists in indignation. It makes your stomach turn. You’ve only seen him like this once before. On a patrol where you had confronted a hoard of infected. 

One was on top of you, your knife having been skidded across the floor from a fall moments before. In the span of a second, you could have been bitten, your neck ripped to shreds. 

He thought he lost you. He wanted to rip the world apart. It felt that way too now. 

Tommy’s hands make it to the lapels of Joel’s jacket before you could even push past the doorway, pulling him out to the porch and down the steps.

Their faces were inches away, practically snarling and snapping like bulldogs. You watch, your legs stiff, as Tommy pushes him on the chest, screaming in his face and glancing in your direction every so often. Joel barely reacts. Tommy directs a dirty look towards you and your heart sinks.

“Is that even my baby? How long has she been spreadin’ her legs for you?”

You gasp, hands pressing to your bump protectively. Joel finally reacts, his own hands pressing against Tommy’s chest and pushing him back a couple feet. He points an accusing finger.

“You watch your tongue, boy, I won’t let you talk about her that way.”

Tommy scoffs, voice rising.

“You’re sleepin’ with my wife!”

“Someone has to!”

You rush down the steps when Tommy swings, already having straddled him on the ground by the time you reach their wrestling forms. He slams a fist down Joel’s face. You yell out. 

“Tommy, stop it!”

He grunts, ignoring your yells. He was reaching for the rifle now dropped across the ground and covered in snow. 

“Tommy stop-“

You reached for his shoulder, Joel’s face was already split, his teeth covered in his own blood. Tommy pushes you away and you fall on your ass, yelping and slipping from the snow.  He stops almost immediately and Joel pushes him away, crawling towards you.  The fabric of your dress was getting wet, your legs starting to sting and numb from the cold.

You weakly push the rifle away and it thunks against the wooden fence, far away from either man. 

You sit up with a groan, the impact of the ground making your hips ache. You keep your head down when you stand with Joel’s help, neighbors having come out of their homes from the commotion. Tommy stares as if he wanted to help, his hands twitching in your direction.

“Get inside.”

“Joel-“

“I said get inside.”

You follow his command, but not before lifting your head to catch Tommy’s stare, his eyes narrowed and flickering from your stomach to your face. Joel spits red on the snow inches away from Tommy’s boots. You couldn’t hear what they were saying, but you kept your gaze out of the window, catching Tommy’s eyes moving to the house every so often. He leaves with a scowl and Joel’s heads inside with his shoulders slumped.

You tend to his face, his hand at your bump, not leaving it even when you had made him stand to make him take a bath. You fall into his arms that night, staying in his room and sobbing the rest of the day, knowing that you had just lost someone you loved.

…

"The baby's yours..."

His eyes flickered to his hand tightly fisted at the table and back to you, sitting down in front of him, scared out of your wits and rubbing small frantic circles over your stomach.

"That's not‐ I know."

He ignores the tears falling from your eyes, he sighs.

“I know she’s mine. I do, sweetheart.”

His softness made you sob, your palms covering your eyes and your lips quivering to keep in the sounds of your cries.

“I’m sorry, Tommy.”

You sit in silence, until you catch your breath. It’s been a few days and you had decided to go back home, alone. Joel didn’t even know you were there.  He didn’t want you to see Tommy anymore, claiming he didn’t deserve you and that he could raise the baby all fine with you. You still wanted Tommy in your life, in your child’s life.

“I think it will be best if you move over to Joel’s for now, I… I need time.”

You wanted to cry again, to heave yourself off to bed and just collapse into the mattress. You just nod solemnly.

“When the time comes, I’ll be there for her, for you. I love you, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.”

He chuckles sadly, his eyes watering and threatening to spill. He reaches for your hand, standing and kneeling to kiss the side of your head one last time before he went to work, leaving you to pack up.

“I love you too,” you murmur.

He hums, nodding against you before inevitably letting go.

…

"So... you and Joel."

Small town gossip doesn't escape anyone, even in the post apocalypse. If the teenagers somehow knew, you don't doubt the adults did too. You stay quiet, festering in your guilt and embarrassment. She was going to find out eventually, you’ve been staying over for a few days now, you were sitting on the porch to their backyard at the moment.

"I mean, you could move in with us... he's kind of already like a dad..." To me, she might have added, she's not quite sure she'd ever specifically call him that outwardly though.

"Might as well complete the nuclear family, two kids and two parents. Could get a dog too..."

You fight a chuckle, she's been on and on about wanting a dog recently.  Even in a serious conversation she brings it up.  What really piqued your interest was the fact that she had included you in her nuclear family, the other parent. 

It tore your heart in two and stitched it back up again.  She saw you as a mother figure, maybe even your unborn child as a brother or sister. Your face falls, thinking of Tommy, how he had told you he needed time.  You have doubts on whether or not he would love the child, it's not like there were any paternity tests anymore. He might think Joel was the biological father. Why would he believe a cheater anyway?  Why would Joel even care about the kid either, knowing the truth of their paternity?

"The kid's not his..."

"I'm not either," she snaps at you. But he still cares about me like his own. You could see it in her eyes, she was stern, not wanting to leave any doubts in her argument. You sigh not wanting to intrude in anything, not wanting to get into a family when you didn’t know the outcomes of the one you had just put in pause.

She rests her head against your shoulder, watching as Joel works on the small garage she was going to call home soon. Joel wanted to get the baby’s room ready. Ellie offered to move out. He was excited.

You didn’t have the heart to tell him about the conversation you had with his brother.

--------------------

Taglist: @aurorawritestoescape @mrs-hardy-hunnam-butler-pascal @mirandablue1

Thank you for reading! Comments and reblogs help motivate me and other authors! FYI ☺ Cucked is one of my favs but I think I kind of want to leave it as a one-shot. Let me know what y'all think.

-Alejandra 💋🐇

[talon-the-hawk]

Yandere! Batfam x Neglected Streamer! Reader

Previous

Chapter 2: Entertainment

TW: I mean...kinda yandere behaviour...but it's a yandere fic so like if you're not into that why are you reading this far into the post? 🥲

It started off small.

A hushed giggle from Garfield as he watched something on his phone just out of Dick's line of sight.

An amused snort as Roy scrolled his phone in boredom when chilling at one of Jason's safehouses.

Konner and Jon commenting on "a new stream they saw" while over at the manor, leaving Damian and Tim confused and oblivious.

Your popularity in the content creation community was growing rapidly by the day, with your range of viewers extending out of Gotham and moving world wide. You gained a steady community of fans, with some even sending you gifts and letters. Of course, you made sure to use a P.O box to conceal your address in case someone somehow linked you to your past life as Bruce Wayne's child. Through maintaining a semi-regular streaming schedule mixed with uploading to youtube every month left you with quite a chunk of cash in your pocket. So much infact, that you soon decided to drop the couple of college courses you were taking to pursue your content creation career full time.

With the added fame came opportunities to collab. Soon enough you were streaming with the people you used to idolize. It was almost a power trip, the way you ended up being a figure that was adored so commonly.

Adored. Shown affection, unlike when you were with them.

Surprisingly enough, Damian was the first to find out. Damain: the little brother who had taunted you endlessly, mocked you in front of everyone, and showed little remorse for any of it.

Jon was giggling on his phone, eyes stuck to his screen as he watched a youtube video of some sort during one of their many hangouts.

" Tch, can't you put that device down for one moment?" Damian huffed, looking over at the boy.

"Aw, lighten up. Come watch with me." Jon chirped, motioning for Damian to sit down next to him. He reluctantly agreed, posture still slightly too stiff as he sat down on the couch next to Jon. The youngest Kent propped his phone up in his hands, eager to show his friend the newest content creator he had found. His finger hit the play button, and it only took a couple seconds for Damian's eyes to narrow in recognition.

Surely not.

It sounded like you. There was no mistaking it, the same soft timbre that he would make choke up with tears now rang out confidently in an enrapturing way. Each word seemed to catch the complete attention of everyone who watched, bringing a sort of comfort that settled itself in his ribs.

When did they get so popular? Does Bruce know his child is building a reputation anonymously?

It was clear to Damian when he looked over at Jon that the youngest super had no idea it was you, and he supposed that made sense. Often times when Jon came over Damian made a bigger show of ostracizing you from the rest of the family. Now that he really thought about it, he realized that Jon had never really heard you speak in person. You had always tried to get out of Damian's vicinity whenever you spotted him, especially when he was with Jon.

Jon clearly saw he was lost in thought, snapping his fingers in front of Damian's face.

"Hello? Earth to Damian?"

Damian's gaze just slowly returned to the small device.

"I need to go find someone, I'll be back."

For Dick, he was doom scrolling on instagram one night after patrols when a certain reel made him pause. It was a clip one of your viewers had taken from a stream a while back, one where a fan of yours had made a huge donation. The donation requested you to share some sort of talent you had, and as per your usual antics you focused your camera on your new bedroom (still wearing a mask and sunglasses to keep yourself as unidentifiable as you could) and prepared.

"God, this is embarrassing. I actually learned how to do this a while back in order to try and impress some of my family, but that's a story for another time-" You snorted, before flipping over to walk on your hands. You did a little lap around your space before eventually standing back up, pushing the glasses back up the bridge of your nose to make sure they didn't fall.

There was no mistaking it was you, he'd recognize his baby bird anywhere. But what he wasn't prepared for was your small show of talent. He tried to recall any previous instances of you showing an interest in any sort of acrobatics, but his mind came up blank. Matter of fact, he was struggling to come up with a recollection of any of your hobbies.

Surely you've talked to him about something you were interested in before, no? He was your older brother, he should know about your hobbies.

Dick racked his brain, trying to come up with any memory of even holding a proper conversation with you, and his guilt seemed to increase every time he came up empty. He vaguely recalled a time you had asked to show him "something you thought he would like", but he had brushed it off as it was close to the time he was set to patrol.

He bit down on his bottom lip in guilt, clicking on the caption of the reel and trying to see if the person had tagged your official account. They hadn't (which honestly he found insulting, the clip was your hard work and this pathetic internet leech couldn't even be bothered to give you credit-) but in the hashtags he found what he assumed to be the same you went by on most platforms. He quickly typed it into his search bar, letting out a gasp at just how popular you seemed to be.

His baby bird was really taking after him in the entertainment industry. Although it wasn't really the same thing, Dick couldn't help but feel like he was part of your inspiration to become a famous personality.

He spent the next couple of hours carefully combing through your content, memorizing every reoccurring joke you held with your audience and how you acted as a safe space for your community.

God, he really needed to go find you and tell you how proud he was of your success.

Author's note:

Hey y'all! Dw, dw...Jason and Tim's reactions are coming soon lol :p hope you guys enjoy the chapter and please lemme know what you think! Ooh, also if you have any title recommendations for this fic, that would be baller because I've been really struggling to find one hehe!

Taglist: @vanessa-boo @jjsmeowthie @cxcilla @itsberrydreemurstuff @trashlanternfish360 @starsswaggy @legolas-the-homeschooled-elf @nickithearticorn @hallahella @lettucel0ver @kittzu @cssammyyarts @ryuushou @welpthisisboring @neverdead2 @mallowryblog @lingxio @the-dumber-scaramouche @oxionsworld @raini-sanchez @jellyedkazoo @alishii @bellethesleepypotato

[solmire]

Deaf!Gojo had everything before that stupid car crash that left him to be in complete silence.

No more loud music, big friend groups, pretty ladies around, just him and strange girl from his chemistry class.

He knows what it is like to be around a lady that will do anything to get his attention, but it was never about learning sign language together.

You are trying your best to make him feel comfortable, to see that pretty sheepish smile again. Everyday bringing him homemade food, some books to learn how to communicate through sign language, notes of lectures and the heart full of love.

His friends are always too busy to visit him, maybe they are scared of the person he became, or maybe they were never good friends from the start.

His girlfriend of seven months blocked him everywhere, claiming that she will never date a disabled man. That a woman like her needs to have a real man around, not someone like Gojo.

Your hands are always warm and your touches are full of love and admiration, he can feel it every time you guide his hands to make a sign right, thumbs are making little soothing circles on his palms.

And when he starts to do the same to you, holding your hands in a firm grip making you to shift a little bit closer just to leave little peck on your lips, you know this is going to end badly for both of you.

[starsinthesky5]

I've been watching videos of Taylor at the children's Hospital from last year and all I'm thinking about is songbird doing that in a Cincinatti hospital and it being so sweet. She's the first lady of Cincinatti your honour

a/n: this might have been one of my favorite things to write out. this concept is so :(

───────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───────

she's is absolutely serious about her charity work and philanthropy. giving back to her community is one of the most important things to her, especially now that she’s in a position to do something about the causes she’s always cared about. she doesn’t just post the links or sign the checks—she shows up, rolls her sleeves up, and works.

she’s deeply involved in youth mental health advocacy—funding school programs, hosting quiet music therapy sessions, personally partnering with child psychologists to create resources for kids navigating grief, anxiety, or trauma. she’s a soft place for so many to land. the kind of person who will read through every letter sent to her team from a worried parent or a hurting teen, and figure out a way to respond, to help.

and food insecurity? that’s close to home for both her and joe. they’ve seen what hunger does to a family. they remember. and she and joe put real money and heart into community food banks, his foundation, student lunch programs, meal kits for families during the holidays—always quietly, always intentionally.

her name's on programs and articles now, sure. but it’s also on the mouths of the kids at the shelters who light up when she walks in.

because she goes. regularly.

like to the children’s hospital in cincinnati—where the nurses and staff just smile when they see her name on the visitor log. she usually shows up in a soft cardigan, no makeup, her hair up with a bow. guitar case over her shoulder, tote bag full of handmade care packages in hand. she brings notes for the parents, bracelets and stickers for the kids, books for the rooms.

and it’s not a media event. it’s never performative. no press, no announcements. she doesn’t let her team record it. the only footage that exists is a few grainy phone videos from starstruck nurses or overwhelmed parents who post about how kind she was, how she remembered their kid’s name weeks later, how she sang lullabies to the babies in the NICU.

she sings for them, but more importantly—she sits with them. cross-legged on the floor beside hospital beds. reading storybooks aloud with funny voices. letting a five-year-old decorate her face with butterfly stickers. holding hands with a scared teenager and asking, what’s your favorite song right now?

sometimes when she’s at the hospital, the kids ask her about joe in the shy, giggly way kids do—“is he really your boyfriend?” or “he’s my favorite quarterback ever!” and she just beams, leans in like she’s telling them a secret, and says, “mine too,”. they light up when she pulls up a silly picture of him in her phone—usually something where he’s got bedhead or a grumpy face—and they all giggle together like it’s the funniest thing in the world. one little boy once asked if joe could come visit too, and when she said maybe next time, he asked if joe liked fruit snacks, so he could save him some. she texted joe immediately. he showed up two days later with a whole box.

speaking of, when joe comes with her? it's so special.

he doesn’t like attention. but he loves her. and she’s the one who got him to be more hands-on with his foundation in the first place. more than just a name or a face—she inspired him to show up. to go to the shelters. to play catch with the kids from the food programs. to give the teens at the mental health center someone who listens, not just someone who donates.

when they go together, it’s not a spectacle. joe’s quiet in the background—handing out juice boxes, playing uno, helping a little kid build a lego castle while she sings a lullaby across the room. they leave with drawings tucked into her tote bag and little friendship bracelets on both their wrists.

and yeah, cincinnati knows.

they call her the first lady of the city with so much love it doesn’t even feel like a nickname—it feels true. like she’s theirs, and they’re hers. and joe? joe just grins when people say it. because she wears that title so naturally, so gracefully, like she was always meant to.

because even with all the fame, the shows, the stadiums full of people screaming her lyrics. this is who she is. someone who shows up. someone who gives. someone who cares.

and she brings him with her. and teaches him how to care even louder.

[honey-bitch]

♀ Venus in the Moon Persona Chart - Signs ♀️

ᡣ𐭩 Please support me by following me, liking and reposting my posts. Venus in the moon persona chart can tell you what you need to be nurtured and ultimately what your moon likes and values. Knowing this can bring further understanding to your soul. As again these posts I make are general and may not resonate with everyone.

For 0º - it doesn't have a delegated sign and therefore it will take the qualities of the sign it's in.

♀️ Aries (1,13,25°) - Emotional fulfillment comes from independence, action, and assertiveness. You feel valued when you're able to take charge and pursue your goals with confidence. Emotional security is found in your ability to act quickly and decisively, and in relationships where mutual independence and respect for personal freedom are important.

♀ Taurus (2,14,26°) - Emotional nourishment is tied to stability, comfort, and the enjoyment of the material world. You seek security through a strong connection to the physical and sensual aspects of life—whether it’s through a cozy home, good food, or physical touch. You feel most emotionally fulfilled when surrounded by beauty, luxury, and harmony in your environment.

♀️ Gemini (3,15,27°) - Emotional comfort comes from communication, curiosity, and mental stimulation. You seek fulfillment through learning, sharing ideas, and engaging with others in lively discussions. Emotional security for you comes from having an open, flexible approach to life and maintaining a network of connections that allow for constant growth and interaction.

♀ Cancer (4,16,28°) - Emotional nurturing is deeply connected to home, family, and emotional bonds. You seek security and comfort through your relationships with loved ones and in familiar environments. You feel most valued when your feelings are understood and cared for, and you may find emotional fulfillment in providing care and support for others.

♀ Leo (5,17,29°) - Emotional nourishment comes from recognition, love, and self-expression. You feel valued when others see you for your unique qualities and when you're able to shine in the spotlight. You seek emotional fulfillment in relationships where affection and admiration flow freely, and you feel secure when you are able to share your heart and be celebrated for who you are.

♀ Virgo (6,18°) - Emotional comfort is tied to service, practicality, and attention to detail. You feel emotionally nourished when you're able to be of help to others, whether in work or in daily life. Your sense of value is linked to your ability to contribute and improve situations. Relationships that offer support through mutual service and care for everyday needs bring you emotional fulfillment.

♀ Libra (7,19°) - Emotional fulfillment is found in relationships, harmony, and balance. You seek emotional nourishment through connection, cooperation, and creating peaceful, loving environments. Emotional security comes from partnerships where beauty, fairness, and mutual respect are prioritized, and you thrive when surrounded by people who can appreciate your need for harmony and connection.

♀ Scorpio (8,20°) -You feel most fulfilled when you are able to experience intense emotional exchanges and heal from past wounds. Security comes from knowing that you are emotionally understood on a deep, soul level, and you find nurturing in relationships that challenge you to grow and transform through deep connection.

♀️ Sagittarius (9,21°) - You seek nurturing through exploration—whether that’s through travel, philosophy, or expanding your mind. You feel emotionally secure when you're able to grow, explore new ideas, and engage in a larger worldview. Emotional nourishment is found in a life full of possibilities and a connection to freedom and adventure.

♀ Capricorn (10,22°) - You seek fulfillment through work, success, and establishing a solid foundation for the future. You feel valued when you are respected for your dedication, discipline, and ability to create tangible results. Nurturing comes from knowing that you are on the right path, building something lasting, and creating a legacy. Relationships that respect your need for structure and long-term goals offer the emotional support you crave.

♀️ Aquarius ( 11,23°) - You seek value in friendships, groups, and progressive causes that align with your values. You feel emotionally fulfilled when you are able to express your uniqueness and contribute to a larger community or collective goal. Security is found in relationships that celebrate independence and offer mutual respect for personal freedom. You thrive in environments where ideas are freely exchanged, and where you feel like you’re part of something greater than yourself.

♀️ Pisces (12,24°) - Your sense of value is linked to your ability to love unconditionally and to offer emotional support. You feel emotionally secure when you are able to give and receive love in ways that transcend the ordinary, whether through art, spirituality, or deep emotional connections. You find comfort in creativity and moments of solitude that allow you to reconnect with your inner world and intuition.

©️ 2025 honey-bitch All Rights Reserved

DISCLAIMER: this post is a great generalisation and may not resonate with you. I would recommend buying a reading from a professional astrologer (me) to get more insight

Dm for Paid Readings

[phantom-z0ne]

Tags were too long to fit so heres my (stupidly long) ramblings, excuse how disorganized this is ^^'

Yikes. That would NOT be pleasant.

This could be an au where the GIW have been rounding up anyone that was even slightly liminal, including some of Danny's classmates, and Valerie was nabbed quickly bc her suit integrated with her body and gave her minor ghost abilities, much to her horror. I imagine she was one of the first the GIW took, and they sort of lured her with a ghost sighting when they figured she had a (weak) ecto-signature.

For the GIW itself, the agency is one that locates and investigates the supernatural. It is still technically part of the government, but is very very close to being axed due to their last audit notifying the government that they cost more than they bring in. The agents were growing desperate when their repeals to stay open were rejected, so they set their sights on providing hard evidence of the harm supernatural creatures, ghosts in this case, pose and issued an illegal martial law of Amity Park. They fabricated the Anti-ecto Acts and silently shut down communication between Amity Park and the outside world before nabbing those with higher than average ectoplasm levels. (Great plan, right? Nothing could possibly go wrong, right??)

Back to Valerie, with her body already changing and weak from the invasive experiments she's been through and Dionesium being added to the mix, she's slowly being converted into a halfa. There could be some side effects depending on if the Dionesium is pure or not. Liminals can't absorb excess amounts of ectoplasm without being harmed since they are technically still alive, so since concentrated halfa blood IS still ectoplasm, she wouldn't be able to properly absorb it. Where and how the excess Dionesium goes/effects her is up to the writer since there's so many ways it can go.

Even worse, if the halfa blood is mixed with additional metals and/or contaminants(its rare to find uncorrupt Dionesium according to the wiki), there's no way there won't be any consequences for her body, let alone her SOUL, absorbing that. It simply should not be in there!

I doubt the transformation on its own would be a painless experience either, much less a natural transition from liminal to halfa. Her growth could be mutated, stunted, have long-lasting negative effects, etc. With all the elements listed above combined, there's little chance she'd turn into a healthy(ish) halfa with a normal/healthy core.

(or, if her body is under enough stress and weakened severely, she could've skipped the halfa phase and jumped straight into being a full ghost? how would the CoO manage to control her in that form?)

Valerie is obviously not taking the whole situation very well, what with being imprisoned, experimented on by two separate organizations, and figuring out she's turning into something she harbors a deep hatred for (assuming she hasn't got over her hate of ghosts and wasn't let in on Phantom being danny). The mental toll of her body changing in unexpected and horrifying and otherworldly ways while she's unable to do anything to stop or even alter its course would be HEAVY. Of course, that's only if you choose to go down the body horror route (which i would love to see explored <33)

Still! She wouldn't be Valerie if she didn't even attempt to fight back or escape. And if one of those times she managed to kick up a fuss large enough to garner some attention, who's to say she wouldn't be getting some help from the local vigilantes?

OR! OR! The CoO DO successfully turn her into a Talon despite the Dionesium not mixing too well with her body and send her on her first mission, where she has to take out a high profile individual (Bruce??)

Naturally, she catches the interest of the Bats(or any non-bat hero in the area). Maybe she does still have full control or even some semblance of control of her mind, but ultimately the CoO have command of her body. The most she can do is abuse some loopholes in the orders she's given to leave clues of her situation.

That begs the question, who will be the first to figure it out, the heroes who would save her or the villains who control her...?

DPxDC Prompt #18

Dionesium is Halfa blood.

The Court of Owls has bought a new asset off a failing government agency. They intend to turn it into a new, perhaps superior kind of Talon. However, the asset's body is reacting strangely to the Court's Talon serum.

[jazeswhbhaven]

So late to the party and have no keys or seals or cards.

So what's the deal with Asmo being like, the disliked demon in the Hell verse? I don't meant fan community btw. But just no devil seems to liek Asmo? If it's because he's lustful and stuff that's kinda hilarious considering how everyone including MC is grossly freaky af already. I'm just confused of the logic. Y'all are all horny already but clutching your pearls when Asmo shows up? really?

Hey anon! I'm happy to shed some light on that. This is talked about in his selfie card, so I'm putting the explanation under the cut for spoiler purposes

The main reason that no devil enjoys the company of Asmodeus is because while yes, Hell is kink central, anything goes, nothing is taboo and you can be as sexually depraved as you want...there's something unnatural and frightening about being around Asmo as a lower devil.

They literally cannot recall their sessions with him, their minds going blank, and feeling mostly displaced and beside themselves. Once an older devil explained that his experience was one moment he was telling him off and the next minute he's naked and having lost all sense of time and place. He even hates having to bring it up. Asmodeus makes everyone his plaything, and that's his problem in Hell. No one wants to indulge in that or run into him or nab his attention.

The only ones who crave his attention and affections are the Abaddon citizens which is no brainer because they're locked up in that country for a reason. They are quite literally the only ones who can handle their majaesty's powers.

The angels don't even want to fuck around and find out often avoiding him and finding ways to keep him out of range by any means. Asmodeus never seems that bothered about it, though he does have a tiny tantrum when he's horny and frustrated like he HAS to get off once riled up. The Kings seem to be unaffected by his powers of persuasion/temptation. (mostly annoyed and disgusted by him, especially Lucifer lol) It seems the only King who isn't bothered being around Asmodeus is Belphie. In part 1 of the recent event he's comfortable letting Asmo carry him. Also in Ronove and Dantalian's event, it's mentioned that Belphie was around Ronove helping with a battle at some point. These two instances lead me to believe that Belphie is just comfortable around Asmo because he simply just doesn't give that much of a damn. It also seems like during the interaction in the recent event, Asmo isn't hitting actively on Belphie but he's still excited to have him on his back.

Now this isn't to say that Asmo does this ALL the time. Clearly he has self control and can get himself off on his own. But, he'd very much rather experience this with another or an entire group. I mean he did have a wife and many children. Dude's just got a bad rep unforunately.

[forsaken-headcanons]

Considering the Collab skins and forsaken being a game celebrating Roblox's communal lore(digital folklore)(Mythos, legends, games, events(official, hackings and such), ect.), with me being a total sucker for crossovers, I've decided to bring a touch of Omniverse(Fandomverse, multiverse for fandoms and their aus) to my interpretation. =]

Roblox is a gaming platform, thus it's more of a hub area for characters from and outside of said area and 4th wall entities(players/viewers/users like you and me). The one thing that Specter didn't expect, nor knew, is how easy for stray characters to appear. Those appearances also brought the Omniversal Authoritarian department(OAD)'s attention, so the Specter's world's being on constant observation and support by the interdimensional government.(Lore wise I'm also apart of OAD, simply because we 4th wall entities are higher beings to them).

With all of that in mind, some things are clear:

Players are helping the survivors while looking similar to them.(Me included)

Sans and disbelief Papyrus did appear in rounds(The actual ones) and the rest of the UTDR multiverse also can.

Chance is friends with Gamblecore stickman.

Earthbound characters appeared.

At some point there was a tree parasite and two Mafios0s

^ Nash and Euinoia were there back then, along with you know who.

Elliot has met Pepino.

This realm is super accessible for game parasites, like that tree and 2011x.

The darkness is alive and tired of this shit

^[ "heyy, I just wanna get this out - some dumbass put a boy from 1995 in this place without knowing how dangerous it is for him, and by proxy everyone else. Why? You'll eventually see. If you see a brown haired, cartoony looking, 90s pajamas wearing kid in any of the maps, PLEASE TELL ME. He wouldn't understand any of what's happening. Alternatively - scream into any pitch black area, you might get a response. Anyways, stay safe out there. - Insert" ] this was a note/notice I wrote when some bastard idiots brought Orion into here.

And if you couldn't tell by the last point - other fandoms, who don't have an in game reference, can appear.

Anyways, that's it for my crossover ramble -

no, we do not know who /silly

first of all holy shit this is so good oh my god??? we do NOT regret @/ing you on that one post for the inbox opening /silly /pos /pos

HELL YEAH yoinking these,., delicious crossover hcs yummers. especially love the chance and elliot ones LMFAO– he WOULD be friends with gamblecore. they both bemoan the rigged 77X machine, sad emoji /sillier

[butchpeace]

Apr 24 trans man anon here.

To answer your questions, I genuinely enjoy the company of men. I find them funny and smart and real. That does NOT mean that women aren’t also funny and smart and real, it just means that this is how my brain personally perceives the sexes, subjectively. Even trans women I enjoy the company of, probably because of that good ole male socialization/male biological factors they retain. I know they are men and tbh I think they know it too, they just don’t like hearing it. Which is fine, I can play along, I don’t believe anyone should be forced to but it’s my choice to do so.

As for other trans men, I typically don’t enjoy their company. Just like with their trans women counterparts, they tend to retain their socialization and some biological factors. It feels like just another edgy countercultural group of women who still expect to be treated like women (with care and fragility) while not wanting to actually be called women. Of course, there are outliers! It tends to be the trans men who aren’t eager to out themselves, who want to be treated the same as men. I feel like I’m kinda in this category, as me outing myself in your anons here is a rarity for me. The ones who are eager to be seen as a “twanny uwu soft boi fag”, they enjoy the thrill and attention of feeling like they’re in the cool trans kid club, not out of actually relating to men as a sex.

I love women sometimes. Sometimes. It just is becoming less frequent. I guess I came here originally to try and see if you could get my perspective, but the more I think, the more I respect yours. It’s just not my path. Maybe I’ll come around someday. I just don’t feel the magical radfem female solidarity and I’m worried I never will. I enjoy the rough and tough of malehood, not just surface level aesthetics of it, but the actual lifestyle, where you kind of just have to take life by the balls and wrangle it to fit your vision. Womanhood feels more like waiting for someone else to do it for you, even women who feel like they’re special and against the mold. Other women kind of expect me to perform for them, to watch my every word, to minimize myself. I can be myself with the dudes. That’s just how it is, for now.

Sorry for ramble. Might as well send this after I wrote all of it. Don’t have to respond, your choice. Good luck on your path, I bet it’s great.

I respect that you've come to different conclusions about yourself and that you're currently identifying as a man, and I'm glad to hear the respect is mutual.

Here's what I think though:

Whether you feel some "magical female solidarity" or not, you are still female. Just because you're different from other women and you genuinely relate better to men due to differences in personality and socialization doesn't mean that you're not a woman. Other women's expectations of how they think a woman should act don't mean that you're not a woman. It means that they have unreasonable and anti-feminist expectations, and you're just a different kind of woman.

Your difference isn't wrong or weird and it doesn't mean you don't belong in women's community – It means you have a unique role to play and valuable skills to bring to the table that most women don't have.

"Womanhood feels like waiting for someone else to do it for you"...According to who? Not according to me. Not according to other butch women who have always had personalities like mine and yours.

What's happening here is that you're placing borders on yourself, based on what you think "womanhood" is. You fall outside those borders, and that made you decide you're not a woman.

This is why people call trans ideology misogynistic. It's not because you're a misogynist – It's because your understanding of gender is based on the misogynistic norms that we've all been taught by society.

And this is why being a masculine woman and being visible is so important. Women like you are growing up not even knowing that the way you are is an okay and actually not that uncommon way for a woman to be. So you're all transitioning.

At the end of the day this is what I want people to take away from my blog. Identify however you want, live your life however makes sense for you. But be good to yourself and take care of your female body. Look through my Medical Research tag and make sure you're actually informed as to what you're doing. If you are informed, sit down and seriously question why you're still on testosterone.

You only get one shot at life. Take care of yourself.

[kpop---scenarios]

What Happened To Forever?

Pairing: Lee Know x Reader

Warning: Sadness, Possible Death?? Fighting, Angst

Word Count: 848

A/N: I'm in a mood. So here's a sad Minho blurb. Thank you to @mint-yooxgi for helping me decide which skz member to use!! My birthday is in 3 (almost 2 days) so if you'd like to commission a story or donate, you can do so HERE !!!

“For christ sake, Y/N.” Minho huffs, dropping his bag onto the floor before running his hand through his damp hair. His face was red, but you weren't sure if it was from his dance practice or because he was mad at you for picking a fight about his late nights, again.

“I don't fucking like these fights either, but you don't seem to take my feelings into consideration here!” You yell.

“I'm doing my fucking best! Between concerts, recording, practices, performances, promotions and you, I'm spread pretty fucking thin here. I don't know what else I can do! I'm fucking trying here and it's never good enough for you.” He yells back.

“I just want to see you more.” You whisper. You don't even try to hold back your tears at this point. You were frustrated. You supported him and his career and you loved that he loved what he did but It felt like you and he were slipping through the cracks. You were lucky if you saw him for more than an hour every 3 weeks. “I just miss you.”

“You don't think I miss you too?” He asks. “You're all I think about, you're on my mind from the time I wake up until I go to bed. Every fucking day.” He says.

“But you're not here.” You say. “You barely come home even after whatever you're doing finishes. We barely see each other.”

“Because I'm exhausted and I have to get up early to do it all over again! You knew what things were going to be like… I told you all about it and you said you were all in.”

“I'm still all in! I'm proud of you, I love you and support you but I feel like I'm being left behind.” You tell him.

Minho rolls his eyes, picking his bag back up. “I can't keep having this same goddamn fight everytime I come home. Like you said we barely see each other and when we do all you wanna do it fucking fight about it.” He sighs.

“When else am I supposed to bring it up? Through text? Yeah that'll go over well.” You scoff.

“Is it going well now, huh?” He snaps. “I can't fucking do this anymore.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” You ask.

“It means I'm done. I can't do it. I just can't fight anymore. We're done.” He says.

“You're breaking up with me?” You gasp. “What happened to forever?”

“I guess forever was shorter than we thought.” He whispers. He turns around, opening the door and walking out, slamming it behind him.

You're left there, stunned, your body and mind unsure of how to react. You feel frozen, your mind racing at a million miles a minute.

He left.

He left you.

He was gone.

You didn't know how long had passed when you overcame the shock. Instead of figuring it out, you ran out of the apartment, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You needed to find him. To apologize. You didn't want to fight anymore. You were the problem, not him. You had to figure out how to make it work and communicate properly instead of picking a fight, which was just the easiest option. You loved him. You needed him. You had to find him. You rushed out the front door of the building, into the pouring rain. You look both ways, seeing him walking down the other side of the street and ways up.

“Minho!” You scream, running down the sidewalk. You can hear your shoes splashing in the puddles, your entire body is already soaked. “Minho!” You scream again, trying to run faster but he doesn't seem to hear you over the rain. You needed to get onto the same side of the street.

“Minho!” You screamed one more time.

You didn't look.

You should have looked.

You were so focused on getting his attention, you b-lined towards the road, passing the parked cars. You didn't see the headlights. You didn't hear the car speeding down the water covered road. You didn't even know there was a car there until it had hit you. Your body slammed into the windshield before sending you flying onto the road.

Minho had heard your last scream. He saw you heading towards the road. He also saw the car speeding down that road.

“Y/N, don't!” He called out.

The rain was too loud.

You didn't hear him.

He watched the car hit you, screeching to a stop right after it hit you. He ran towards your lifeless body. Dropping his bag in the process. He drops to his knees, his heart shattering seeing you like this.

“Y/N, please.” He cries. “I didn't mean it, baby. I love you. Please don't leave me.”

“Someone call 911!” He hears someone yell. He holds you in his arms, crying and begging for you to stay with him. You desperately wanted to. You wanted him forever, and more.

“Please don't die baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Forever isn't over yet.” He whimpers.

Or is it?

[lethisfleshnotbetorn]

Dear whump community,

I have just finished watching LA’s finest 2x07 and 2x08 and I am honestly shocked that the whump community hasn’t discovered this show yet because I think 2x08 is the best whumpy episode I’ve ever watched and everyone should go and watch it right now

[shalom-iamcominghome]

I think the difference between myself and other religious people is that I don't see saying "oh my g-d" as being disgraceful to His name. I see saying "oh my g-d" like you're trying to get g-d's attention so you can do this:

[capydoodle]

have compassion for yourself and for others. it seems hopeless but any small amount of good you can do is just that much more love in the world

[darkartcorner]

Also figure I should add some flavour text. Although there's no changes from his original entry, I think few moments still need to be pointed out/explain:

His puppet is taller than average Iterator puppet: it mainly due to disproportionately longer legs and arms, while body and head maintaining "average" size

Both antennas can unfold in V-shape format, but one of his (left) is stuck in unfolded position due to malfunction, but continue maintaining it intended function (auxiliary short range communication. Mainly in case of loosing connection to Overseers through normal means)

His typical appearance is fully cloaked, removing the cloak mostly to interact with something or if it being removed by external factors (like working process within 0g environment. In which he's also mostly static, opting-out to bring the working data pearls to him instead of moving around (like Five Pebbles does))

The Seniority Crown (here being Secondary Senior, for the Primary is the leader of the group, Azure Nebula). Based on Luna's ask block by shkika. Just though it would be neat addition

(His working state is depicted below. Eyes closed, arms stretched to the sides, being static in place and bringing data pearls to him instead of moving towards them)

(Art by rustyemporium)

Although not depicted here, he operates 2 types of overseers: His original ones ("Legacy". Sharing body colour) and improved by him using parts and materials from one of the observatories on top ("Upgraded". Better quality of image both ways, ability to transmit sound both ways, ability to closer cooperate with other overseers to create a more complex hologram (essentially allowing Stars to have an "active presence" everywhere there his upgraded overseers are). "Upgraded" are in minority and valued, so if one observing something or watching you - the blue Iterator shows interest and paying a dedicated attention

and "Pathfinder". A slightly bigger than Overseers and partially based on both it and Inspector, a more independent unit, created specifically as assistance to scavenger "Herald" to act as a guide and assist with search of valuables (data pearls, technology, any sort of information), and perform initial cataloging (that was found, it brief content, exact location and time of discovery)

And lastly his can with it communications spire. As was mention his construction place was chosen quite far North and in remote location, so an additional construction of the communication array/spire was required, but his creators decided to just make it a feature of his can, saving on ground work and unifying the local maintenance efforts. The only other users of his communications spire is his closest neighbor and member of their workgroup - Whispers of Shimmering Stars, locating even further North(-East)

The 4 main observatories located on 4 ends of the can. Him being old (1.5 generation) is quite limiting and displayed through the inclusion, mostly, optical means - the classical observatories. Despite later refit with a small array of radio telescopes is still not nearly enough. (That is also the reason why Whispers was constructed nearby - to compensate the lack of quality and quantity of research Stars can provide, even before switching to work on Great Problem (for which he isnt well equipped either, despite receiving state of the art Experimental Wing per refit)

UPD: Gazing Upon the Stars refsheet

Nothing major changed for him, just wanted to update it in beautiful artstyle of @dexivela (again, many thanks for this!)

and to add few extras, mainly to make it more clear how disproportionately long his puppet (making him quite noticeably taller than average puppet), one of his antenna being stuck in unfolded V-shape and, ofc, the can with it unique feature of built-in communications spire (the remote location required a new communications array, so they just jammed one straight onto the can)

[kiisuuumii]

@kiisuuumii (a pair of hummingbirds)

from my debut collection the means to an end, which you can get for free on ko-fi !