#and everyone keeps pressuring me into figuring stuff out with my dad and i keep having nightmares and going around and around the matter in

[sparkles-oflight]

i had one of those days where I just stared at the wall instead of working on the things I have to.

I hated it so much and I need to get out of my house so desperately it's not even funny. But I can't do it alone, or else i'm scared I might feel bad.

I have a zoom meeting in a couple of minutes two and the fucking construction workers don't stop fucking drilling

[joels-shitty-puns]

The Key To Your Heart - Track 3

Pairing: Pedro Pascal x Musician!Reader

Gif creds to @bestintheparsec

Series Summary: After writing your feelings for Pedro into a song, it gains a lot more popularity than expected. Ultimately it brings both criticism and support, with new possibilities around the corner.

Series Warnings: 18+ only (MDNI). Potential for puns/dad jokes (name of my blog, and the fic) should give that away. This is my first fic which should be its own warning, lol. Also some cursing. Mentions of masturbation (f) maybe more smut later idk. Sadness, reader is pretty depressed. Poor body image. Rude people. Bullying-ish and just lack of support? Anxiety. Age gap! Reader is in her mid 20's, Pedro is current age (48).

Other stuff: Reader is plus sized. AFAB. Inexperienced. Also has a dog, but you can pretend it is another creature probably. Further, in case it isn't clear, italics almost always are the reader's inner thoughts!

Word Count: 2.5K

Series List: Here!

Miss last chapter? Here!

Sorry this took so long. Work :( But I hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think. :) Thanks for reading!

-Pedro's POV-

The warmth of the midday sun beamed through the window as Pedro glanced nervously at his watch. 12:55PM. Finally, he grabbed his laptop and lay down on his couch with a soft *flump*. He quickly typed in "The Jazz and AllyKat show" into the search engine and opened up the website for your interview, just in time for it to begin broadcasting live. He knew you wouldn't be visible, but he would be lying if he said he hadn't been waiting anxiously since they announced it two days ago.

He was interested in hearing more about you. Hearing your voice speaking instead of just singing. Hearing the passion and levels of expression you may portray. Do you have an accent? A high or low voice? A lisp or a stutter? A rasp? You were such a mystery to him and the world, yet your shared conversation over Instagram the other day was so heartfelt. He appreciated your candor and vulnerability, especially in show business.

He couldn't figure out why… but ever since he heard your song, he couldn't stop thinking about you. There was something about you that seemed to draw him in. He was impressed with your lyrics and swooned at your voice. That voice! But with everyone contemplating who you were and who you liked, Pedro didn't want to be another one of those people, making you feel pressured. But he was certainly curious. 

The video began and he listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word. When your voice chirped a hello to the interviewers and listeners, his heart skipped a beat. He swore it was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He was drawn to you and wanted to learn anything he could, so he listened, trying to keep his breathing as silent as possible to not miss it. Why am I feeling like this? We've only had one conversation. Why am I so drawn to her, especially when she's already in love with someone?… he interrogated himself.

The interview discussed your favorite color, animals, and books, which Pedro vowed to read as soon as he could get to a bookstore. You listed off your favorite films and shows. However, although you had a great taste in cinema, he couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment that none of his roles were on your list. Clearly it's not you she loves, so you can put that out of your head now. He should feel relief, but instead he feels hollow at that realization.

When asked who your best friend is, you gush about your guy bff. You talk about how much you love him. How cute and sweet he is. Pedro can't help but feel a bit jealous of this guy who you love so much. But he listens on, his heart perking up and bubbling over when he hears you finally explain that your best friend is your dog.

Not only does she have a dog, but he's her best friend. And the way she talks about him is so…adorable, he thinks, gushing over your shared love of the fuzzy animals. He wonders what your dog's name and breed is, but you refuse to answer that question from the interviewers, for fear that someone may recognize his name and breed, tying him to you. The interviewers make a joke on your paranoia, which you ignore and Pedro scoffs at, their lack of understanding poking a protective instinct inside of him.

The conversation suddenly rolls into celebrity crushes and his chest tightens. But before they can ask you, he hears the air horn signaling the amount of viewers. Although he's disappointed to miss the potential answer you may have given, he also feels that strange protective feeling over you again, making him feel annoyed at the interviewers, knowing your desire for privacy. His thoughts only shift into a possessive manner for a millisecond before Ally proposes the possibility of your crush potentially listening to the show. His heart and emotions are on a bumpy roller coaster and he's practically jittery at the anticipation. He's leaning in to hear your answer when the door to his house barges open and a frustrated Oscar Isaac walks in, complaining in Spanish.

Startled, Pedro slams his laptop closed and flings it towards the coffee table, nearly spilling his drink. He yells questioningly, wondering why his best friend is barging into his home unannounced. Oscar is fully in the living room now, hands on his hips and ready to rant again. But before he has a chance to continue his argument with Pedro, he squints. His eyes look to the laptop, then to Pedro, now standing and looking frazzled after jolting up from the seat. He looks at Pedro's face again, eyebrow raised questioningly, and points to the laptop. "Were you watching porn?"

Pedro is dumbfounded, and if he wasn't on such high alert, he would've thought to lie and say he was watching porn. Instead he blurts "NO, I was not watching porn." It sounded like a lie. Oscar looks again from the laptop to Pedro, noticing his flushed cheeks and giving him a once over from head to toe, looking for any tells, other than the blush and the panic. "Yeah right, you slut. Let's see then."

Oscar reaches for the laptop, and Pedro grasps for it too, just a second behind. Too slow. Pedro argues "I wasn't. Not that it should matter, seeing as I'm in my own HOME… alone. Or should I say previously alone." Pedro throws his hands up in frustration. Oscar just laughs. "Okay let's see what you're so interested in then, that you don't even hear me knocking on your door or trying to contact you." He cracks open the computer.

"You're watching…an interview?" Oscar looks at Pedro, confused at why he would be so wigged out over a talk show. "I told you," Pedro replies, pointedly. Oscar glances back at the computer again, his brow suddenly relaxing and his lips turning into a mischievous smirk. "Ohh. I see… This is that girl you defended in your interview, huh? Someone got a little crush?" 

Pedro rolled his eyes and scoffed, trying to push away the warmth grazing his cheeks. "No. I don't have a crush. I was just looking for something to do and saw it pop up on my page…" Pedro rambled on, "plus it's just curious how much she's keeping a secret, you know? Everyone is wondering about these things." Oscar listened, amused, and Pedro continued. Please stop talking, Pedro thought to himself. "Plus I don't even know her. A crush? That's ridiculous."

"She doesn't know that guy in her song either and she managed a crush… and you defended it," Oscar said matter-of-factly. Pedro rolled his eyes, and Oscar continued. "Are you hoping her crush is on you?" 

Pedro sputtered out a quick answer. "Please. She sounds young... it's probably on someone like Harry Styles. Why would she have interest in an old man like me?" Oscar patted Pedro's shoulder. "You're too hard on yourself." Pedro ignored him and continued, "plus you know how I feel about relationships." 

"Yeah yeah…" Oscar continued in a mocking tone, hand pretending to be a sock puppet while he recited, "I don't have the time to properly grow a relationship, I don't want to get hurt, I'm focusing on my career…" Pedro ignored his mocking tone and simply agreed with the recitation. "Yes… now… Why did you feel the need to barge in here unexpectedly?"

"It wouldn't have been unexpected had you checked your messages. I texted you four times and even messaged your Instagram when I didn't get a reply," Oscar defended. 

"You know I'm not a texter," Pedro disputes.

"Yeah, no shit, abuelito. How many messages are unread on your phone? 600?" Oscar banters.

Pedro hastily defended himself. "No! I call them back! And abuelito!? Really?" He tuts. "You're not far behind me, pendejo. Plus you know I never check my Instagram messages either. I hardly even log on. You should've called me instead."

"I did. Twice. Anyway, I wanted to see if you were still available to watch the kids later. Buuuut, after not hearing back, I just decided to check on you. Glad to see you're alive, and clearly just distracted." Oscar wiggles his eyebrows.

Pedro crosses his arms, ignoring Oscar's last remark. "Yes, of course I'll watch the kids. Go enjoy yourselves!"

"Thanks P. You're the best… and I know I'm picking on you, but I just want you to be happy. I think if you like this girl you should try and talk to her. Dust off the cobwebs of your Instagram and actually message her or something."

I already have… Pedro thinks, running his thumb across his bottom lip. "Thanks, man."

Oscar left with a friendly pat on Pedro's shoulder. "See you later tonight then with the kids!"

Upon closing the door, Pedro sped over to his laptop again, hopeful that your interview hadn't ended yet. Fortunately for him, it was still recording. He hoped he hadn't missed anything.

The interviewer named Ally spoke. "Nice try. You know who we're trying to find out about. Has he, the man of your dreams and star of your lyrics, contacted you at all? Will we see a romance blooming?"

Pedro's heart pounded so loud he feared he would miss your answer. If she says yes… his mind entertains, not knowing the answer to the rest of that thought.

You spoke, hesitantly, and he felt the protective urge creep over him again. He wanted to know the answer but he hated hearing you uncomfortable . "I uh… I have received a lot of messages, some of them from celebrities."

He swallowed hard, his breath catching in his throat.

The interviewers replied excitedly. "Yeeeeaaaah?????"

There's a long pause. The silence is deafening, apart from the booming timpani of Pedro's heartbeat.

You answered, so softly he almost missed it. "Yes. We've talked."

He stopped breathing. 

"Did you tell him it was him? Did you admit you love him?"

"Absolutely not. It was just a nice conversation," you laughed.

We had a nice conversation…

"Will you tell us who he is? At least a description? An initial?" Jazzy asked, desperate for answers.

Ally chimed in "anything! We're starving here."

You giggled before answering. The most beautiful laugh he's ever heard. "I won't do that much, but I will say… he has brown curly hair... Gorgeous brown eyes… And he seems really funny and nice."

I have curly brown hair and brown eyes.. maybe it could be me, his heart offered the idea. I try my best to be funny and nice too.

It could also be Tom Holland. Or Dylan O'Brien. Or some other young actor, his self-doubt chimes in. But he also knew based on your eye color descriptor, that it wasn't Harry Styles, shutting down his earlier guess.

Ally lets out a huff. "That's a pretty broad answer but I guess it narrows out a few people.."

"Well we have another surprise. A way to narrow it down a little more…" Jazz proposes.

"Oh? What's that?" You replied. Pedro could hear the nervousness in your tone.

Jazz continued "I asked our tech to work his magic, and he managed to pull a list of our viewers during the highest number of people tuning in…"

Pedro's heart picked up speed.

"Then, since he's so good at working a computer, he was able to filter it further, running the names through the web and pulling out any celebrities. We have a list here and all you have to do is read through and say if he's on the list of viewers. The only ones who would know are the three of us. Of course if he's watching, he will also know if he's in the running or not."

You stuttered out, "o-okay.."

There was a long pause on your end while you read, and Jazz and Ally filled in the space with chatter.

Pedro sat, waiting nervously for your answer.

"Uhm… no. None of these names.." you finally answered.

His heart sank. It wasn't him. You didn't love him.

"That's disappointing," Ally answered. "I had really hoped he was listening. I'm sorry. I thought when we filtered through the viewers with our celebrity listener filter, we'd have some luck."

"It's okay.. he's probably busy or something.." you answered, though your disappointment was hard to hide. "Maybe he will listen later when he has time."

Pedro was logged in on his account. His name would've been on that list, and you just confirmed, without calling him out personally, that he wasn't the one you loved.

The interview soon ended and he closed his laptop with a sigh, flopping back onto his couch. He had hoped to message you and tell you he watched the video. But now he didn't see the point in it. You already knew he watched it, and you probably didn't care. He closed his eyes and eventually decided to try and ignore his feelings. You don't even know her. Don't be stupid. It's just a crush.. a stupid, hopeless crush..

Looking out the window, Pedro noticed the sun setting outside and glanced at the clock on his stove. Realizing Oscar would be back soon with the kids, he decided he needed to snap out of it. Put on a happy face before babysitting duty. He began straightening up the house and getting things ready before finally turning on a cartoon movie just in time for them to arrive. 

Oscar greeted him, and sat the kids in front of the movie. He knew his friend well enough to see through his smile and know he was upset about something. But he also could tell Pedro needed some space to sort things out in his mind first before he was ready to talk. So he left the kids with a profuse thank you, and headed out the door, leaving Pedro alone with his thoughts and two small bundles of energy.

Unbeknownst to Pedro, you looked through the list of celebrity viewers, scanning for his name. But thanks to his friend's intrusion, at the time that they filtered the list, he was disconnected from the live video. He wasn't on the list you saw.

Kept busy with the kids, it wasn't until they were back home with their parents that Pedro was forced to think about his feelings. Maybe he would still message you either way. You probably needed more friends and allies in this business, and he did enjoy talking to you, even if he wasn't the one you loved. If you didn't want to form a friendship with him back, that was fine too. But he would try. Still, his disappointment was settling in his heart. He didn't realize how much he was starting to care about you until you said he wasn't on that list.

So with the shared belief that neither of you cared about one another, you both went to bed, you both felt heavy in your hearts, and you both couldn't help but feel light tears spilling onto your cheeks as sleep eventually took over.

Equally unknown to you, he was watching, and he planned to watch it again when the video was posted, just to hear you talk a little bit longer. Just to learn more about you. Learn the tiny personality quirks he could pick out from your voice. Things that make you who you are, until maybe he could meet you in person. 

That's all for this chapter!! Thank you again for reading and let me know what you think.

Looking for the next chapter? Here!

Taglist: (Let me know if you want in!)

@pedrotonin @starcrossed02 @lightupsketchersperson

[afinestoutlove]

things i love about heartstopper 6/?

Characters that would be stereotypes in other stories are whole human beings.

Imogen and Isaac are the best examples I think. Imogen would just be the cool girl in another story, a bit ditzy, kind of fun, mostly there for the laughs. Here she is all those things, but she's also a deeply empathetic character, with understandable motivations. Even if you don't love her, you can understand her and sympathise with her. When Nick asks her "Do you ever feel like you're just doing things because everyone else is?", you can see the recognition in her face. That's her whole story across 3 seasons. And you care about her, you empathise with her, and you love her (well, I do), even though (because) she's a walking disaster a lot of the time.

Isaac deserves a whole post to himself (I LOVE HIM) so I'll save most of what I could say about him for that. But the sweet, book-loving, nerdy friend character could so easily be a caricature, and Isaac isn't. He's closer to that in S1, maybe because he was filling the place of Aled who has a whole backstory of his own and they hadn't quite figured out his role yet? But even in S1, his personality is never just book-loving nerd. He's funny and sassy and kind and insightful, and then over the seasons he becomes so much more than that. You can see why his friends love him. You also get a sort of feel for why he's so book-obsessed, when most similar characters "just are" with no real thought beyond "well they're a nerd". I think one of the things I love about his story is that his friends sort of accidentally pigeon-hole him, too, the way other stories often do. And part of his arc is pushing back against that, and them realising they need to do better (and then they do, which is so fucking good, I love them all so much!).

You can see this humanising process with the “villains” of the show, too.

Ben Hope, the worst person in the story (imo), has his main humanising moment in 'Sorry' (I think it was done better in the show than the comic, pls don't come for me). It breaks my heart every time, when that rainbow ocean gets close to his toes and he turns and walks away I wanna cry. Because it's so clear he could have been different, he could have chosen something better for himself and everyone around him. He could have chosen not to be entitled and cruel, and to not inflict his own pain and shame onto others. And he could have chosen this moment to do that too, but he doesn't. He cuts himself off from the possibility of freedom, which means he'll keep hurting other people and himself for who knows how long. (Sebastian Croft did such a good job with this character, he's so believably awful.) It's such a perfect moment. Even though I do feel real empathy and sadness for him, that doesn't make what he did okay and the show is always clear that he's wrong and he needs to be held accountable. Yes, we see that his family and environment led him here, but he could have made a different choice. He could have learnt from Charlie the way Nick did, but instead he tried to destroy all the parts of Charlie that would have helped him. We see Darcy struggling with similar pressures throughout S2, and they make a very different choice from Ben at the end of this same episode. We see how Ben got there, we see him as a full person, and we're never asked to approve of him or minimise the hurt he caused - it's basically spelled out in Ben and Nick's conversation in 'Family':

"I was going through some personal stuff." "I don't care, you hurt him!"

Probably the weakest characters in terms of being humanised are David and Harry. David has the most punchable face, but as the show progresses you can see a little bit of what’s underneath. It doesn’t make you like him and it’s not supposed to. But he’s not just a cardboard cutout. He’s a hurt little boy who, unlike Nick, leaned into the shittiest form of masculinity to try and get the validation he desperately wanted from his dad, and then everyone else. And it shows up irl for so many families. The older sibling who was just that bit older when their parents separated often has a much harder time adjusting, and often compensates in some shitty ways - especially if one of their parents is neglectful/toxic. On first glance, it's wild that Sarah managed to raise such different sons, but the context we get makes so much sense. Yeah, the "my parents are divorced/dad is a dickhead" manchild is a stereotype still, but there is an actual person there.

Harry is similar to David in terms of character, but probably gets the least humanising attention. He and David both like to poke at people until they get a reaction that they can be angry about. Harry gets a little bit of an arc of his own, but he never really gets far from the stereotypical bully - as Tao says, a "rich bellend". There are a couple of moments where you can see a human face underneath, though, if you're looking for it. His face when Nick stands up to him, there's more than just anger there. Or, perhaps, you can see when the anger hits and what's underneath it. You can see what drives his constant poking at people to get a reaction (especially if you've had to deal with assholes like that irl). There's insecurity, and sometimes a weird sense of shock when people snap at him, as though he didn't expect it - that's so true to life as well, and often something that gets left out of this stereotype in other stories. But later on, when he tells Ben he shouldn't call Imogen a bitch, you can also see something else there, the potential to be better, even if it's just for people like Imogen who he's friends with. (Maybe we'll see more of that in S4?) Props to Cormac Hyde-Corrin for those little moments, he did them really well.

I think what’s so valuable about the humanising moments for the “bad guys” of the show, even the tiny ones you have to look for, is that you are supposed to empathise with them to some extent, but you’re never asked to forgive them or absolve them. You understand more about who they are and sometimes why, but they’re still responsible for their choices. That's how people change, right? When we see their humanity and then expect better of them. It’s so important.

[urnumber1star]

OC Deep Dive Tag!

So sorry for taking so long to get to this one @mysticstarlightduck but thank you for tagging me anyway haha

I'll do the main trio for BRS! Michael, Ray, and Talia!

What uncommon/common fear do they have?

Micheal: It’s a fairly common fear but Micheal has a crippling fear of doctors. He’s disliked them since he was a child but his dad always told him doctors were friends. That mindset changed very quickly after he became a hero.

Talia: Public speaking. She’s the least ‘popular’ member of her family so she’s grown accustomed to not being in the spotlight and when she is she doesn’t know how to act. 

Ray: Deep water. He doesn’t really know why. But if he ever has to be flying above water or visiting a lake he won't go in and it stresses him out. 

Do they have any pet peeves?

Micheal: People that think they’re better than everyone. Especially when they think they’re better just because they have money.

Talia: Sudden loud noises. Especially when she’s trying to paint something. It throws her off and then she has to take a break to figure out what happened.

Ray: Interruptions.

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom?

Micheal: His super suit, a police scanner, a little crystal Bianca bought for him (He doesn’t even like crystals but if Bianca gave it to him he’ll keep it till the day he dies)

Talia: An assortment of paper and pencils on the ground, her tablet, unfinished homework

Ray: Byte (His favorite robot), lots of computer monitors, old take out food

What do they notice first in a person?

Micheal: Their intentions. Micheal hasn't been a hero for long but he has long enough to guess if someone has bad intentions or not. 

Talia: Their clothes (She’s a bit of a fashion girly)

Ray: Their eyes. (When people are controlled by No One their eyes turn yellow. He always keeps that in mind.)

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high is their pain tolerance?

Micheal: 9/10. He grew up in a bad part of the city and gets beat up all the time as a hero. He’s used to it.

Talia: 6/10 Sheltered rich kid but is trying to go out and help Micheal with his hero stuff more. 

Ray: 3/10. He’s a sheltered rich kid who lives in his basement.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

Micheal: Fight

Talia: Flight

Ray: Fight

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

Micheal: It’s only been him and his dad. His mom left when he was two and he never met the rest of her family.

Talia: Loves her family. It’s her, Ray, and her mom and dad but she’s also close to her extended family.

Ray: He’ll go to family events when he has to. But he likes his grandparents.

Have they broken any bones?

Micheal: Yes. Many times.

Talia: No. (Somehow)

Ray: Yes. 

How would a stranger likely describe them?

Micheal: A pretty friendly kid! He’s a little awkward and looks kind of disheveled but he seems nice!

Talia: Very difficult to describe. She doesn't really give you any room to talk. She just seems to like talking about random things she likes. But she’s not rude per say. I guess she’s nice enough?

Ray: Very quiet. Lets you do most of the talking but he always seems like he’s judging you.

Are they a night owl or a morning bird?

Micheal: Night Owl

Talia: Morning bird

Ray: Night Owl

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love?

Micheal: Hates cherry, loves bubblegum

Talia: Hates peanuts, loves birthday cake

Ray: Hates strawberry, loves cheese

Do they have any hobbies?

Micheal: Other than being the city's only hero he also dabbles in the guitar! His dad got him a beat up one when he was twelve and he loved it.

Talia: She’s my painter girl but she also does some scrapbooking sometimes.

Ray: He cooks. Very well. Talia and his dad can't cook for their lives. So it’s just him and his mom.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises?

Micheal: Very very happy. May or may not cry. 

Talia: Very shocked and needs a second to recover then immediately starts partying.

Ray: He doesn't like surprises much. But if it’s just a few people that mean the most to him he’s just happy to be hanging out with them.

Do they like to wear jewelry?

Micheal: No.

Talia: Definitely.

Ray: Once in a while if he feels like it.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

Micheal: Messy.

Talia: Neat 

Ray: Neat

What are the two emotions they feel the most?

Micheal: Tired, regret

Talia: Energetic, anxiety 

Ray: Tense, Determined

Man I forgot how much I love tag games. I'll tag @kaylinalexanderbooks, @leahnardo-da-veggie, @illarian-rambling, @melpomene-grey +OPEN TAG <3

[luveline]

i recently read your bombshell!reader x spencer reid and it blew my mind how well the characters were written. i've never even watched that show, but i felt like i had. and also like i was in the au you created. it was crazy.

i found out why i like you as a writer so much. you have a way of perfectly weaving the characteristics of a specific type of person with the canon features of a character. it's like a sense you have. like because you what type of characteristics single dads can have, and you know what kind of characteristics eddie has, you know how to blend them in a way that makes us feel like we're reading a character we already know, when in reality, singledad!eddie by luveline is yours. he didn't exist in our minds before you wrote him, but we know him. we know him because someone like him has existed before, and you understand him enough to make us see him in someone else.

If you ever feel like you don't know if you'll be able to keep this up forever, or you wonder if we'll get tired of ur writing, or whatever, just know you actually can't lose your sense of understanding. The way you understand people and how they interact with each other has nothing to do with writing. That's just who you are. You write so well because you understand so much about people, and writing only makes you more versed in human interaction.

You aren't capable of writing something bad. Even if you don't like it, it's not bad. Even if we don't like it, it's not bad. And that's not a standard you have to live up to, it's just the truth. You're a writer who searches for truth in the human condition, and that can't ever be bad.

you posted that one time about writer's yips, and i always think about it when i'm reading your stuff. i understand why you experience it because everyone praises you and builds you up so much, but don't be scared. even if you do stop writing, or you get a block, or you can't feel a spark anymore, it's okay. it might come back or it might not. you'll always have the understanding, though. 🫶

also no pressure to answer this cuz ik it posts publicly and it might be too personal or whatevzies but i don't mind! i just want you to know :)

thank you 😭 you know I teared up when I first read this because I forgot all about my yips!!! It was a lot of pressure I put on myself when I first realised I had an audience to maintain it, but these days I’m lucky because people will read even my worst stuff!! I think I feel really deeply and I’m always thinking about other peoples feelings even though I misunderstand everything it feels like, it’s nice to know you think I can understand the human condition and that you get that sense when reading, I really hope I can keep writing forever and have it be stuff you like! It’s actually pretty much my favourite part of writing to figure out how a character would deal with something and why they’d experience it differently than another, so I’m even happier it goes down well with you sweetheart!! Thank you sm for reading and for giving me such a nice pep talk about it I feel very lucky and loved

[sleepywinchesters]

"Go for Kinard."

"What exactly are you doing with my daughter?" Maddie's voice was a low growl.

Tommy slapped his hand over the microphone, as if Maddie could hear his sharp inhale over the static. He turned to glare at the young woman in the co-pilot seat.

"You didn't tell your mother we were going up today?"

"Dad said it was fine."

"Chim said it was- oh my god."

If Tommy didn't need both his hands to keep them steady, he'd pinch the bridge of his nose. Someday one of the Buckleys were going to kill him and he was starting to suspect it might be Maddie.

"You know what I said-"

"That both of them had to agree."

"Tommy," Maddie's voice crackled through the headset again. "Is Jee flying a helicopter right now?"

"Technically, no."

"He won't let me touch anything yet, Mom."

"And he's not going to."

"Dad said it was fine!"

"And I'll be talking to him later too. Get back safe."

"We will." Tommy ended the communication.

He'd learned a long time ago to wait it out and he would get an explanation. It probably wouldn't be a good explanation, but it would be one. Jee remained uncharacteristically quiet as they flew over LA, Tommy narrating the controls and what a standard flight plan should look like.

"I'm sorry I lied about telling my mom."

Tommy waited, knowing more was coming.

"Just after the fires last year. I could have helped, there would have been fewer casualties. Dad's fire thing- being able to control it. I'm more powerful than he is, Tommy."

"Because it feeds you."

It shouldn't have been unexpected. Haechis were known for their ability to prevent fire, and hybrids weren't rare. When combined with Maddie's vampirism, the way she fueled herself in a way that also helped people, Jee-Yun was always going to be something special. Ever since Jee had figured out she could control fire, could gain her energy from it, there was only ever going to be one path for her. They had all known it, and Tommy hadn't thought twice when she had approached him for flying lessons.

"I mean, yeah. But I could have saved people. That whole neighborhood-"

"I know."

"I'm 18 in 3 months. Once I graduate in May I can head right into the academy. If I already have a provisional pilot's license by the time I graduate-"

"I get it. I do. But-" Tommy cut himself off with a sigh. "It's not just the technical skills. They're important. But, Jee, you also have to learn where the limits are. When you have to turn back, no matter how many people you think you can save."

"Then what's the point of knowing all this, of having this, if I can't save everyone."

"Because you can't. You can't save everyone every time. You can try like hell, but losing people is part of the job. You need to know that now and really think about if you can live with that."

"Ok." Jee was subdued, chastised in a way Tommy hadn't been intending.

"You call it when there's no chance left. You always try. But you have to come home, not just so you can try again on the next call. Because there's people who love you, who understand the risks you take, and still need you to come home."

"This is what I want. But, if I tell you something, can you not tell Uncle Buck?"

"Go for it."

"It's a lot of pressure. I mean how many times has Mom won dispatcher of the year? And Dad's done almost everything there is to do in the department- and every probie from the last 5 years is ready to marry him. Uncle Buck is-" Jee hesitated. "I don't know if I could even imagine half the stuff he's supposed to have done."

"He did it all right," Tommy said. "And half the time he shouldn't have."

Jee laughed a little. That was the common refrain that followed any story about her favorite uncle.

"How can I live up to that though?"

"You don't. Even when we're on the ground, it's different for us up here. We're involved, but we see the bigger picture." Tommy angled the helicopter, knowing they were almost to the burn scar from the previous year. "Look at it. You know what it looked like then, how the ground crews were managing the fire lines. But up here, we can see the whole neighborhood. What would you have done, if you had enough to drop one more round of supressant before having to go back?"

"Well, they-"

"I know what was done. What would you do?"

"The main street. The ground crews were so focused on the fire line they didn't notice it had jumped until there were already structures on fire while evacuations were still ongoing. No one could get out from how fast it was moving. I'd try to push the fire back over the line and do my last drop on the main street instead of the main fire."

"Good. You have the instincts for it. The benefit of hindsight sure, but yeah. You can do this, you can move the fire where you want it to go. You get the other part of it too. You gotta give yourself time, kid."

Jee smiled. "I just don't want to disappoint anyone."

"Well, you definitely disappointed your mom today. But I don't think you're going to disappoint any of them when you do this job."

"So you'll take me up again and tell Mom that it's ok."

Tommy pointed at her. "I didn't say that. You're gonna face her and take whatever punishment she doles out as an adult."

"Ok."

"I'll talk to her though. Because you need a bird's eyes view to be great. If, and only if, she agrees, then I'll teach you for real."

"Thanks. Let's head back. Better not give her time to stew."

"Good call."

[arrowofcarnations]

O’Knutzy Week Day Two let's gooo

Posting a day late because *gestures vaguely* life, but it's here! It's happening!

Leo, Finn and Logan belong to @lumosinlove <3 Written for @oknutzyweek2023 <3

Day 2: Cooking Mishaps (A2)

Dear Mama and Dad,

I’ve officially been in the UK for a month, but it feels like longer. It is SO fucking cold. Hogwarts is amazing, but there aren’t enough heating charms in the world to make me like November up here. Can you send another quilt for the bed? One of the super warm ones Nana makes?

I WON THE FIRST TASK! Even Kasey said he couldn’t have done it any better. (You know how he’s student-teaching? He actually got to come here as one of the chaperones. I’ve got other friends here too, but it’s nice to see him every day again. It’s kind of like before he graduated, except he can give detentions now, haha)

I know y’all always tell me don’t go borrowing trouble, but the tournament is intense, and the second task has nothing to do with the first one. It helps to go into it with the most points, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna win or even come second next time. Doesn’t help that I have no idea what it’ll be, so no idea how to prepare. All we have are the golden eggs from the first task, and we haven’t figured out how to open them to see the next clue yet.

We meaning me, Logan and Finn. You know how I said we agreed to a truce and were gonna help each other get through the year? I think we’re actually real friends now. We’ve been meeting up most nights (yes I’m still doing my homework) and Finn’s been showing us all the best secret spots in the castle. Although honestly, we just end up in the kitchens most of the time, making tea or sandwiches or whatever. I’ve even cooked a little. Had a few mishaps because sometimes I forget everything’s in metric, but I made some chicken & rice soup last night that was pretty good. Finn said he’d pay me to make it again if he gets sick, and Logan had seconds even though he usually just wants sweet stuff at night.

Some people are kinda pissed at me for being so friendly with them because they’re "the competition" (same thing for Finn and Lo), but they don’t get how hard it would be if we didn’t have each other’s backs. All the prep on top of school is a lot, and there’s crazy pressure to win from everyone, even the teachers. We’re still all playing to win, but it’s nice not to be alone. And I actually like them, like outside of all this. You can meet them when you come here to watch the third task in April. Maybe they can come visit this summer?

I really miss you. And Mama’s food. And the animals. And being WARM. But I’m good, so don’t worry. Kermit’s liking it too, I think, but I have to keep him away from Finn’s owl. There’s no truce in their future.

Love,

Leo

•

Cher Maman et Papa,

Je vais bien. Je travaille dur pour gagner la prochaine tâche. Simone mange trop de tartes au poisson et ronfle dans mon oreille la nuit.

Je t'embrasse,

Logan

[morganaspendragonss]

a worry that i can't place

happy holidays vera (@lutavero)!!! here is your secret santa gift, i hope you like it! i chose to focus on the superhero and fluff with established relationship prompts. sending you so much love and all the best for now and the new year! 💚💚💚

also please send me your ao3 if you have one i forgot to ask sorryyyyy

ao3 | 1.4k | au based in canon, canon-typical injury, remember that time buck got struck by lightning in 911?

title from ease my mind by ben platt

“TK! TK! Firefighter Strand, do you copy?”

“I haven’t got a pulse!”

“Do better!”

*

Carlos had grown used, over the years, to the bruises and scratches that appeared on TK’s skin every now and then. He was used to the blowing in and out, the late nights and early mornings, the unpredictability of their lives. It was all part and parcel of being married to an international superhero.

Or, officially, ex-international superhero. As far as everyone else was concerned, The Flash had gone offline years ago and conspiracy theories were left swirling in his wake; some claimed he’d died, others that he was in witness protection, others still that he was being hunted and so had to keep a low profile. 

Carlos knew the truth: that TK had been suffering in New York under the constant pressure of being the city’s salvation. There’s a longer story there, too, one that he’s not quite managed to draw out in its entirety, but he’s aware of the heartbreaking gist.

(“My dad found me,” TK told him one night, about a year into their relationship. “Drink and drugs don’t touch me anymore, they haven’t since… Anyway, they didn’t work so I went looking for trouble.

“I found it.”)

He can read well enough between the lines of nuclear breakup and everything’s just grey to figure out what TK meant.

But, TK had confessed, as much as he had wanted to get away from the spotlight, he was never going to be able to give it up entirely. He still had to do something with this power he’d been given.

So Carlos knows a second truth: that The Flash isn’t really gone. 

He worries, of course he does. It’s impossible not to when your boyfriend-fiancé-husband is off doing god-knows-what – and that’s only when he’s at work. But Carlos grows used to it, stops freaking out at the minor injuries TK sometimes sustains and starts being ready with whatever TK might need, even if it is just a warm bed to climb into and a husband to hold.

But there’s something – it got lost between Iris and the wedding and his father and work and and and, but Carlos remembers – that keeps bothering him, that’s made his fear increase of late. 

He’s anxious enough anyway, given what TK’s been through just at work, but…

“Babe?” 

TK rouses from his position on his lap, blinking sleepily up at Carlos. He’d got off shift a couple of hours prior and they’d not long had dinner; TK tends to go out like a light pretty quickly after being fed. Carlos feels bad for disturbing him now, but he has to know.

“What did you mean, three comas?”

TK’s brow scrunches up adorably in confusion. “Huh?”

“When Iris was here,” he clarifies. “You said you’d been in three comas, but only two since you came to Austin. I know about those two, but you’ve never told me about the third. Or…first, I guess.”

“Oh.” TK pats at Carlos’s arm to be let up, and once he’s sitting, he throws Carlos a wry grin. “I thought I’d gotten away with that one. Nice recall, Detective.”

“Still not a detective,” Carlos corrects mildly, but – not the point. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, TK. I guess… I worry about you when you’re out there. On the job you have people to back you up and you still got hurt enough to end up in a coma. Twice. You don’t have that the other times. I just want to know that you’re safe.”

TK smiles and leans in to kiss his cheeks. “You’re sweet,” he says. “And you already know I save the most dangerous stuff for work. But if you’re asking if the first coma was anything to do with The Flash…” He trails off and waits. Carlos nods, biting his lip. “Then yes.”

A trembling sigh leaves Carlos, but he doesn’t have time to ask further before TK speaks again.

“And no.”

Carlos sends TK a look his husband smiles, though it’s not quite as bright as usual. There’s something sad in it, something that speaks to a thousand memories, and he turns his gaze to his hand. Carlos follows it, and has to swallow a surprised sound when he spots a thin line of electricity crackle between TK’s fingers. 

He knows exactly how TK carries that electricity with him everyday, felt it the first time they’d touched in the honky tonk. He thought he’d been imagining it at the time, but… Well.

“Do you remember when I told you who I am?”

Carlos nods. “Sure.”

(Just a couple months into their relationship, it was one of their worst fights to date. It almost broke them; probably would have if TK hadn’t shown up on his doorstep hours later, vibrating with nerves until he seemed blurred around the edges – which, Carlos realised later, he was.

TK sat him down, remaining standing himself, and told him this: that, fresh out of rehab, he’d been struck by lightning; that it had given him superhuman powers; that he was the fastest man alive, the man the whole world knew as The Flash.

That his ex-boyfriend had never known the truth, that it had been one of the reasons they fell apart so spectacularly, that he didn’t want the same thing to happen to them but he would understand – really, he would – if Carlos wanted to walk away.

Staying had been one of the easiest decisions Carlos had ever made, second only to being with TK in the first place.)

“I didn’t… I’ve never told you how I became…this. I didn’t mean to hide it from you – honestly, I don’t remember most of it – but I guess I just thought it didn’t really matter. It happened and I just have to live with it.”

TK looks at him and Carlos nods encouragingly.

“Okay then.”

*

TK had never seen a storm like it. Some billionaire’s science experiment had gone wrong and now the city was having to clean up their mess on top of all the usual calls, and apparently their mess included torrential weather.

So now TK was climbing up the ladder of the truck to an apartment on the eleventh floor where an electrical surge had electrocuted one of the inhabitants. TK loved his job, but at the moment he would rather be anywhere else than out in the freezing cold. It didn’t help that his immune system was still shot and probably would be for the foreseeable.

He reached the top of the ladder and lifted his gloved hand to wipe rainwater out of his eye, useless though the action was. The sky continued thundering above him, lightning flashing every now and then, and the very air felt charged. TK went to grab his radio, managed to press the button and opened his mouth, then–

Nothing.

*

“It wasn’t a normal bolt of lightning,” TK continues. “If it had been, none of this would have happened. I was in cardiac arrest for a long time, then I fell into a coma for eight months. My heart stopped multiple times, I was having seizures, there were…things going on inside me that the doctors couldn’t explain.

“I was a mystery to them. My dad told me after I woke up that one of them had wanted to do a scientific study on me; he shut that one down pretty quick. Nothing the doctors did worked and my parents were getting desperate. So when the guy who built that reactor showed up and told them he could save me, it was kind of a no brainer.

“I don’t know what they did to me, but I eventually woke up and I stayed at his lab for a while, long enough to recover and figure out how to use these powers. They tried to stop me from leaving but I couldn’t… I hated that place. After that…well, you pretty much know the rest.”

TK falls silent and Carlos doesn’t know what to say. The story hasn’t changed anything, has neither alleviated his fears nor worsened them, but at least he knows now, he supposes.

(at least he has one more thing to add to his nightmares)

He doesn’t say anything in the end. He simply draws TK closer, and swears to protect him as best he can.

[siriannatan]

Adventures of Superlad - Chapter 2

I have to confess I am trying to write this like a storyline in a game.

Featuring new original characters, making friends and gay panic.

The next few days were calm for Conner even with all the media outlets in the city trying to figure out everything there is to figure out about him. His true identity. Where did he come from? His connection to Superman and so on. But all Conner wanted was to help people in peace. Well, according to Dad, it was normal that the media were interested. He was a new, young hero who, as far as anyone was aware, had no connection to the Justice League.  Justice League even made a statement that as long as he didn't disturb their operations he was free to act in Metropolis. Which was as nice as it was unexpected.

“Supes? Are you there?” Celine asked as he hung out on top of LexTower as he tended to do when there was nothing else. 

“Yeah, what's up?"

“We have a prototype of the new glasses and jacket and my colleague Ash came up with a solution for our police Comms issue, feel free to come by the lab whenever,” she said with a ‘sup’ in the background.

“Okay, but you two better talk to me face to face,” Conner joked and entered through a hidden entrance that led straight to the lab.

The lab was a bit quieter than last time. Less people. When he was presented with the suit there were about ten scientists present. Now there were just two.

“Where's everyone?” He asked as he exited the elevator.

“Working on other ideas for stuff to either keep you safe or give you an edge in case anyone tricky shows up and retreat isn't an option. Celine by the way,” a dark-skinned woman with impressive hair bound back with a colourful scarf greeted him  Next to her was a pale… individual Conner would not hazard a guess here. Hair shaved completely on sides leaving a brightly pink mohawk. And they had piercings, like a lot of em. “This is Ash, the HUD system is our joint creation,” she added.

“Hiya kid, sorry I wasn't here last time, had a nap after pulling an all-nighter,” Ash raised their arm with a lazy grin.

“It's okay, but I'll need pronouns, I’d hate to assume anything,” Conner grinned back. Celine did give him her pronoun preferences as he chattered to her while flying around the city.

“I'm non-binary so feel free to use any that come to mind just none of that neo-pronoun shiz, I hate it,” Ash rolled his eyes and started talking Conner through his new glasses.

Big round, tinted. Much cooler. With hidden elastic that kept them secure. Shouldn't block lasers if he developed that and fully supported his x-ray vision. The new jacket was even cooler. It had spikes. L

“Prada’s neat and all but LexTech can withstand extreme temperatures and pressure while remaining lightweight and fashionable,” Celine half joked as Conner marvelled at the team's newest creations.

“I feel so cool,” he laughed. 

It looked and felt like leather despite being made of LexCorp experimental protective material, the same as his suit, that landed as a good mix of kevlar and latex for optimal protection and mobility.

“As for the police…” Ash grinned and pulled out a small round object. “All the precincts around the town have these towers,” he spoke while starting a presentation showing one of the towers. “You'll just have to get close enough to one and stay there for a short moment aiming this decryptor and voila, we're in. It should also work to disable more rudimentary electronic locks,” he explained while swapping the slides. 

Conner nodded along. Mid-distance hacking. Like in that spy movie, he saw a couple of weeks ago as a lesson on human culture. Neat. “That's awesome,” he grinned, putting the decryptor in one of the many pockets he was equipped with. One of the ones free of granola bars. He got hungry easily.

“Well, we still need to test it against Wayne's technology,” Ash sighed before grinning. “I might have been fired by ol' Brucie himself for trying to make that system too invasive for his delicate sensibility, so this might be a bit of revenge,” he added with a shrug.

Celine just rolled her eyes. “Just go to the precinct in the Meadows and try it out,” she said, patting Conner's shoulder and slipping him a chocolate-covered cereal bar. A rarity within LexCorp's b headquarters. Conner saluted them casually and took the lift out of the building before flying off to the Meadows.

Meadows was a rich area with not that much crime. Lex's apartment was actually in one of the skyscrapers there. Meaning Conner's house was there. So he wasn't sure it was a good place to test this thing but eh. He might be a bit of a genius but he was just a bit over five months old.

The precinct was silent. No one on the roof. So he pulled the device and clicked a button to activate it. It expanded to look a bit like a looking glass but with crosshairs light up in red. It turned blue when he had the satellite lined up. With a green bar progressing around the edge of the ‘glass’.

“It's done scanning,” he said, not sure it had worked.

“Give me one second,” Ash hummed. “There's a hijacked truck speeding through the main street of the area,” he said after a couple of seconds. “Wait… I don't like the look of this, be careful,” Ash said before muttering something to Celine about having to talk to the boss.

Conner confirmed to Celine he'd be careful before approaching the truck. It was clearly breaking speed limits. And was chased by two police cars. He had to stop it carefully.

“I can't see inside the truck. It's covered in lead,” he told Celine while actively thinking on how to stop it without risking whatever was in the back. They needed this truck intact. Not to mention all the pedestrians.

“Retreat immediately if you see a green glow,” suddenly dad's voice was in the Comms.

“Got it,” he said and, in an act that challenged the intelligence Lex's DNA was largely responsible for b landing in front of the truck to stop it manually. With his own body.

“Conner!?!” He heard three voices and he struggled to stay grounded as the truck collided with him.

“I got it, I'd doesn't hurt at all, I promise,” he said, straining until the truck came to a halt. 

“What the… no Super was supposed to find us,” a thug in a black mask. Not full head covering but enough to make identification hard jumped out aiming a gun at Conner.

“Surrender and you'll land in prison painlessly,” Conner warned. He felt a rare headache building up.

“Oh fuck off, this is just the rookie, what's there to be worried about,” the other thug laughed. 

Conner sighed before knocking them both out.

“Thanks for the help. Super…lad, correct?” One of the cops approached Conner as he hovered near the truck, keeping an eye on it as his father and the two scientists talked.

“Yes, it's lucky I was in the area, they were terrible drivers,” he joked. “Would you mind if I stick around until the owner collects this?” He pointed to the truck.

“Not at all, honestly, considering it's LexCorp property it's even better you're here. Who knows what an insane breakthrough is inside.”

“Yeah,” Conner nodded before the cop joined others in securing the area.

“There were no trucks scheduled in that area,” Celine spoke as he returned to paying attention.

“Not to mention, the truck with these numbers was supposed to be decommissioned when the rogue project that made you got shut down…” Ash's tone of voice was absolutely not reassuring.

“So what about the goons? Any connection there?” Conner asked. Okay, one rogue LexCorp truck that was supposed to be scrapped into toasters or something. He noted on a mental map.

“Not from Metropolis, the only match for these masks I get is… Gotham's Black Face gang…” Celine said after some furious typing.

Gotham gang in Metropolis? That couldn't be a coincidence or good for anyone.

“Conner, once the truck is collected by our people, come right back here, we need to talk,” Lex said and Conner never heard him be this serious. 

“Got it,” Conner said without a hint of joking or mischief.

Once the truck was collected by confirmed LexCorp employees, Conner flew off right to LexTower for a talk with Dad.

Lex was still in the lab. Now with the full team present and busy looking at screens. And dad, Ash, Celine and team lead Jenkins, gathered in the middle.

“So?” Conner asked, approaching fully ready to be told they'll be calling Justice League or at least Batman.

“I know I said no big villains, but we'll have to handle this ourselves,” Lex said sternly. “So I'll need you to be constantly vigilant and careful, okay?”

“Understood,” Conner nodded, internally glad they'd not be handing this off. “So what now? We track whoever was connected to that project?”

“That won't be easy,” Jenkins said shakily. “This was… a truck assigned to the team that ended up making…. Well. You,” he added after Lex gave a nod.

“What? Then why can’t we just find them?”

“We never told you but… most of the team that was supposed to have been working in that lab was found dead surrounding the tube you were in,” Lex said quietly. “And they were dead for a while,” he added as Conner just stood there shocked. An image of a dimly lit, distorted by glass room flashed through his mind. For now, he kept it to himself.

“And the rest? You said most,” Conner forced himself to remain calm. 

“Vanished. We tried everything but couldn't find a trace of them,” Ash saved Lex from having to say that.

“Meaning they might be working with that Gotham villain? Black Mask?” Conner asked, finally having enough control of himself to sit down.

“They certainly are the type that would,” Lex confirmed as the four of them sat around a map of the city. “We have a plan that shouldn't put you at too much risk.”

Conner nodded. As much as he'd like to solve this whole thing on his own he knew it would be too dangerous.

“We’ll use the name of the old project for simplicity. Cadmus,” Jenkins started explaining. “Our main objective is to find proof they're working with Black Mask, and if possible that boss had no hand in your creation and send that to Batman so he can talk to Justice League as they won't talk to us,” he laid it out.

It was a solid plan. Black Mask likely wouldn't have too much kryptonite, a mineral Conner was warned about. 

“And if Batman doesn't believe us?” Conner had to ask. Just to have everything laid out in his brain.

“We handle it ourselves and make the Justice League look stupid for making a child handle it,” Lex huffed with annoyance.

“Indeed, and boss… ummm about kryptonite. We have a theory, purely a speculation about possible serum that might neutralise it even for a brief moment. That is if our theory is right,” Jenkins stepped carefully with his words.

“What is this theory?” Conner asked. They'd really need anything they could if Bat turns them down.

“Well, the theory is that kryptonite basically drains certain vitamins from Kryptonian bodies and by reintroducing those vitamins we can at least temporarily disable it, hopefully long enough for our young hero to escape the most immediate danger,” he explained slowly, choosing his words with great care. “It is a theory though.”

“Can we do a test?” Conner shrugged looking at his father. “I'd rather be exposed to a controlled amount of that stuff here than out there. Especially if it might help me deal with it but I won't push.”

Lex sighed. “Fine, but have a version of the serum ready by the first exposure tests the fewer we need the better,” Lex's desire to keep Conner as safe as possible was certainly in great conflict with his practical side.

“So where are we starting?” Conner moved away from uncomfortable topics.

“Those police towers. One, more crime coverage, two it might help me pinpoint where Black Mask’s goons might be hiding, even if just a small hideout will be helpful in finding their main spot,” Ash said as the spots lit up on the map.

“Okay, so lunch, then fly around, hack stuff and save people, easy,” Conner nodded. 

He asked Dad if they could eat together, but sadly he was busy with a meeting he delayed for this meeting. Conner understood. They'd have dinner together anyway. So he changed and went out to eat as Conner Luthor. A kid who had to catch up on being rich. So of course he went to the best mall in town. 

Being a Luthor, most reporters left him alone. His dad was known to not like being jumped and Conner followed in his footsteps. And while usually he would ignore reporters hounding any other celebrities or socialites when he spotted one Timothy Drake-Wayne being stuck their eyes met. And the guy was obviously in distress and Conner was weak to people in distress. So he decided to save the son of his father's business nemesis.

“How about you guys go bother someone else and leave my friend alone? Sorry I'm late, Dad just had to talk to me,” he grinned at Timothy who was silent for a second just like the paparazzi.

“I wasn't waiting that long, though next time tell me where we're meeting so I don't have to wait outside,” Wayne chuckled and Conner just shrugged as the media slowly backed out just to run as he gave them the Luthor glare.

Once they were alone it instantly turned awkward. What was Conner supposed to do now? Was he supposed to think Timothy was kinda cute? Maybe just offer to buy him lunch? But they were both damn rich…

“Sooo, Conner Luthor, right?” Timothy was the first to speak. “Thanks for the save, Metropolis paparazzi are so much worse than Gotham's,” he sighed.

“Well, your family has a reputation of liking the media, it's my dad who threatens any he didn't invite with lawsuits,” Conner shrugged.

“And you?”

“I'll wave and smile if it's an event, when I just want to have my lunch in peace I'll let them know how displeased I am to be disturbed,” he shrugged. “So how about lunch? Sorry, I suck at socialising,” he chuckled.

“What about your dad? He hates my dad,” Timothy hummed.

“I can just say something along the lines ‘just imagine how annoyed Brucie Wayne is’ and he'll be satisfied,” Conner tossed out casually and they both laughed.

“Okay, I suppose we can try being friends. Timothy Drake-Wayne but you probably already knew that,” Timothy formally introduced himself. “But you can just call me Tim.”

“Conner Luther, and I don't really like when people shorten my name. My… mom gave it to me so…” Conner really only allowed Lex to call him ‘Kon’. Though on second thought he wouldn't mind Tim calling him that…

“I get it, come on let's go before I'm needed at the freaking office,” Tim urged and Conner took him to his favourite restaurant.

“So what's the story? Lex was rather stingy with details at your… unveiling,” Tim chuckled after they had their pizza and were waiting for dessert. They chatted about their dads and being rich boys with expectations. It all went well so far in Conner's opinion. He didn't think Tim had any reason to think he was just a few months old.

“Aah, that… well there's not much of a story. I was born, my mother maybe got five minutes to hold me before I started dying from every illness in the air of that hospital. Being born with practically no immune system,” Conner said the story they have made up for the press. “Since then I lived in a completely sterile room eating astronaut food,” he tacked on as a half-joke.

“Dang, no wonder Lex never told anyone about you, whole bunch of activists would scream at him about child abuse,” Tim winced.

“It's not that bad I had cartoons,” Conner joked. He did have to speed-watch a whole bunch of stuff to make this believable and cartoons were his favourite. Worth it since now he could move his talk with Tim to topics other than his sad backstory.

“Back to the sterile room. How are you so…” it only worked for so long. “Buff.”

“It was my immune system that was bust, not these guns,” Conner laughed. Okay, this wasn't a bad take on it. He even flexed a little.

“Are you sure you're Lex's? You're too funny.”

“I guess I must have it from Mom. And cartoons,” he shrugged as his phone buzzed. End of lunch break there was a fire that needed his attention. “Sorry I gotta go, dad's free from his boring meeting with the board of boring.”

At least he got one more smile from Tim. Didn't have to argue who was paying. And most shockingly had his number.

After stopping the fire he patrolled and hacked the satellite dishes. Listening a bit in on the support office as they analysed everything they could about the Cadmus project. What wasn't wiped out before the old lab was abandoned. But mostly he just zoned it out focusing on being helpful.

Tim couldn't believe his luck. Just a few days in Metropolis and he met Lex Luther's miracle boy. And it was honestly hard to connect the two without knowing they were related. Wasn't Lex supposed to have been a ginger before he went bald? And like…

Conner was genuinely nice, friendly and funny. Like really genuinely. There was no hint of him faking it. Yes, he was sure hiding something but considering his whole story… yeah he was free to keep some details to himself.

And yeah, Conner was freaking hot sue him. The guy wore a leather jacket and probably the tightest jeans in all of Metropolis. And like… Tim was just a guy okay. And puberty was strong. And Conner's arms were a masterpiece.

And then there was the new Super flying about. In a fitted bodysuit and as of today new, cropped, leather jacket and shades. Did he and Conner go to the same stylist or something? And yes he had work but damn Metropolis was the heartthrob central of America. He needed some good coffee before tonight…

[la-principessa-nuova]

What a day, haha

For anyone who sees this from the tags, important context is that I’m a trans lesbian, on day 5 of HRT, not socially transitioned, and not out at work or to my family.

So today I went to my local Pride celebration for the first time, and I had the perfect cover to participate while not being out because I was volunteering to march for my employer and working at our booth, so I didn’t get to fully enjoy it, but I had a lot of fun and due to some interesting timing of stuff happening at work, we weren’t too bothered about actually advertising and were mostly just giving free stuff out and talking to a bunch of people.

I was so jealous of this girl I work with’s confidence because she was dancing to every song, cheering, and taking charge of everything, and I was just struggling to speak loud enough to talk to the people and trying to keep on top of handing stuff out to everyone.

Because whenever I talk in public, even if i don’t want to, it’s hard to not mask with a deep voice, and it doesn’t carry in a crowd, so I have to be louder, and then that feels way more masculine, and I just can’t bring myself to do it, especially under the pressure of a social situation I’m already struggling with, and I end up mumbling inaudibly.

But anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself, because I had originally assumed I would drive myself to the event, and I bought rainbow prescription glasses to wear for it, and I was planning on going all out. But then with parking being a pain, my mom offered to drop me off, and I realized that morning that it meant she would see my rainbow glasses and how into it I was. But she didn’t say much and dropped me off.

Then at the end I texted my mom and she was confused about where to pick me up, so she sent my dad to get me. So now my dad (who recently said “are you gay and not telling me” directly into my face with an angry/disappointed look on his face when he saw my completely normal glasses that he thought looked a bit too gay) was going to see me in my rainbow glasses and wearing multiple pride bracelets I’d gotten there.

But he was unusually calm about it and didn’t comment, so i figured my mom had yelled at him about the last time and he was now trying to be good about it. So we got back and I stayed at their house for a bit after because my dad had stopped in a drive through on the way home and gotten me food.

While I’m there, he starts “debating” about how kids shouldn’t be taught gay people exist, and surprisingly it actually turned into a productive conversation because he said something about how he can understand why women would want to be with other women (although he worded it as “because they’re emotional or whatever”) but doesn’t get why men would want to be with men because men are gross.

Which gave me the perfect opening to explain about because he only likes women romantically and sexually, so of course to him men aren’t attractive. And I said that I also sometimes feel like, “Why does anybody like men?,” because I like only women (I do like some people outside of the gender binary, but I don’t think my dad even understands what that means anyway, so I kept that to myself for the moment), but then I have to remember that the reason I don’t get what’s desirable about men is because what other people find desirable, I find undesirable, and that’s fine. The conversation continued on and I think I made some headway in explaining sexual/romantic orientation a bit.

But then later my dad brought up that I’d said I liked women and that he was confused why I wanted to be part of Pride if I liked women (which I was able to answer because I would want to go even if I was just an ally), but he then proceeded to tell me how my mom and my sister are convinced that I’m gay and told him to stop being rude about it and let me open up on my own time.

So maybe a little backwards progress that my dad is convinced I’m a cishet man and might start to comment on things again, but I did get a lot of information about what my family’s saying about me behind my back.

But I am so tired now. I really hope I can get a solid break tomorrow and just do nothing.

Oh yeah, and while I was waiting for my dad, a coworker who is one of the two people in charge of planning for Pride at work waited with me and I got to share some of the ideas I had for next year and discuss some of the things we could do better next time.

Everything went really well, but I’m wondering how this is going to pan out with my dad knowing I like girls. Like I imagine he’ll tell my mom that and then if she suspects I’m trans that might recolor things a bit, and if not she’ll probably tell my sister and then maybe she’ll realize I’m trans?

Again, what a day.

[masckarlach]

OC questions tag meme!

THANK U USER FRAY @bg3 FOR TAGGING ME!!

i will be doing only wren bc ill be so honest theyre the only bitch ive developed

under cut :3

Name:

wren!! chose virtue name harmony but doesnt use it bc she thinks its cringe (subject to change throughout game, not Quite sure)

Nickname(s):

tavernkeeps tend to call them birdie or little bird :p other than that, their older sister calls them spots a lot (due to her little boney growths along their forehead and cheeks)

Gender:

wren doesnt think about gender much other than their chest is a nuisance. they dont think abt it in the sense that being a woman isnt something they necessarily like. see themself as similarly with being a man itslike. nonbinary by virtue of genuinely just not percieving themself and not wnating to

Star sign:

copypasting frays explanation here!! im not so good at lore stuff so my answer will be... off!

this is a little difficult because realms lore has changed on this a lot, if i'm correct in my information. from people being blessed by stars or entire consellations to each month actually having a sign in more recent lore. here is a link anyone doing this for realms ocs (like bg3 ocs) can use to figure this out! the lore on stars and consellations in the realms is spotty at best, but this could be helpful if you wanna go that route!

wren was born at the end of marpenoth, a few days from the start of uktar :3 their sign is praying mantis but i dont know what this means

Height:

just wanted to show wrenlach height giff :3

Orientation:

wren themself isnt too sure of this. theyre pretty sure theyre not into men but they like... havent really explored much outside of flirting with everyone they meet. they dont know but i do. trheyre a nonbinary lesbian.

Nationality/Ethnicity:

wrens an Unspecified Tiefling with a human mother born and raised and living pre Worm Abduction in the lower city of baldurs gate

Favourite fruit:

wren likes apples and pears :3 they think they taste like sand but they like the taste of sand

Favourite season:

wren likes whenever its not too hot and not too cold and not too windy and not too polleny. consitution (8) of a sheltered victorian noble child

Favourite flower:

wren likes potato flowers :3 theyve always been more of a herb person than a flower person truth be told

Favourite scent:

freshly baked bread. when its still soft. a little luxury she afforded herself once in a while whilst in baldurs gate, occasionally given as payment for a days work. wren likes the smell of bread.

Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate:

given the lack of monster energies in faerun lets go coffee. she thinks it tastes like pee pee and poo poo but shotguns it bc it makes her buzz

Average hours of sleep:

anywhere between 1 and 24 hours. roll a dice baby.

Dog or cat person:

wrens an equal opportunities animal enjoyer. dogs maybe. bc wren likes birds and cats keep killing her friends

Dream trip:

wren would like to stay home tbh. adventuring has made them grow as a person bc if they had their way theydve stayed curled up with the artifact in an abandoned house theyd found

Favourite fictional character:

the mermaid from the mermaid smut book wyll, wylls dad and shart have read.

Number of blankets they sleep with:

ideally every blanket in existence. they can make do with 1, maybe even none but they will complain abt being cold and the lack of pressure

Random fact:

wren bites their fingers so her hands are always chapped and bleeding

TAGS!!!!!!!!!!

@bigfatlesbian @oyyokat @orkbutch @lesbianshadowheart @atomicbouquet-heart and anyone else who wants 2 :p

[wayfaringauthorofficial]

WIP EXCERPT!!!

I’m pushing tears back into my eyes as I listen to the phone ring, and watch my brother hold it to his ear. The lump in my throat throbs, head filled with pressure. With a shaking breath, I adjust so my forehead rests against the cool window, not caring that I’m jerking and bobbing along with the car as we travel. All I want is to take a nice, hot shower, and maybe not have to worry about disguising myself, being in hiding for the rest of my life.

The phone is held to my brother’s ear in silence for what I feel is a bit too long, but then I remember that my dad is probably working as well as figuring out a way to keep me from getting arrested again- or worse. My eyes are peeled for squad cars, or any suspicious vehicle that seems to be on our tail. I wonder if we should switch our car out. “Dalton, ask if we should get a different car. Maybe we’ve been in this one for too long?” I whisper, running a hand over my face.

He nods in response, greeting our father a second later. “Hi, Dad. I think Abby figured something out, and you’re not going to like it.” There’s a silence as he gets a response from Dad, one I can’t seem to make out. He won’t put the phone on speaker, but I’m too anxious to ask him to do anything about that. I can call my dad later if I want. There’s no energy in my body to think about a full conversation right now. “No… nothing like that. She’s in the back- she’s fine- but something’s off about Lana. Is there any way you could get one of the lawyers to look into her, figure out if she’s hiding something? I saw the card for a private investigator on the fridge. Send it to me, and I could call him if you’re too busy. I know you have stuff going on at work.”

My dad speaks for a long time, but I can’t make out any words. I wish I could; I miss hearing his voice, but maybe it’s best that we don’t talk until this is worked out. I’m endangering Dalton and Zander; I’d hate to bring anyone else down with us if our plan blows up in my face. We’re supposed to be cleaning up this mess- not making it worse. The problem is, I have no plan for how to do the former. The latter is easy.

The only idea in my mind is that we keep running, keep in touch with Dad. He’ll keep working behind the scenes, talking to lawyers about hypotheticals and doing research. I’ll make sure I don’t get myself arrested or worse in the meantime… and I’ll rely on the boys to watch my back. Everyone in my circle knows I haven’t done a good job of that myself lately. I wonder if I’ll ever get that thought out of their heads, and mine.

My brother continues voicing our suspicions, glancing at me in the rearview from time to time. He asks if we need to start worrying, if even bringing her into this ordeal at all is going to throw a wrench in the ever-changing plan to clear my name. I can’t hear my father’s answer, but his tone shifts drastically. I dig my nails into my palms, reminding myself to breathe. Everything will work itself out. We have already started proving my innocence, that I didn’t have a say in any of this. Hopefully, whoever receives that scrap of evidence will have mercy when they realize I’m more or less a fugitive, whether or not this was my doing or first choice.

Raking my hands through my hair in a desperate attempt to break free from the numbness, I yank so hard that tears well in my eyes, but I don’t care. What time is it? Have I been distracted for too long? Glancing around, I see no one following us, no police cars in my field of vision at all. A bit of the tightness in my chest goes away, but I fear it won’t be long before it returns.

“Okay, I’ll look out for it. Thank you, Dad.” Then, I see him shift, feel his eyes linger on my face for a moment longer than last time. “No, she’s out of it. She barely slept last night and she’s not really here right now. Abby’s fine, though, considering. We’re looking after her, she’s safe. I’ll have her call you later.” Muttering on the other end as my father gives his response. I sense the end of the conversation coming soon. “Yes, she’s safe. We’re all okay, just trying to keep moving. Could we switch the car out again? Is there a way you could send one our way by tomorrow?” Another moment of silence as Dad thinks, looks into it. “Perfect. Just let me know. Okay… yeah, I love you, too. Bye, Dad. I miss you.”

I never thought I’d hear my brother say that. They’ve been so distant these past few years, ever since he decided to start the company instead of going to law school. Am I now doomed to follow in my father’s footsteps instead? Will he use Mom’s death against me, too, when I tell him I want to do something else? Or will this ordeal finally put him in his place, realizing that we’re his children and not his replicas?

[maplefiasco]

8 Shows To Know Me

Thanks for the tag, @booksandabeer! This was extremely difficult and I look forward to kicking myself in a week when I remember some other show that's 20% of my personality but I totally blanked on when making this list.

No pressure tagging: @asmoonlightthroughthepines, @scare-ard--sleigh, @msmandapants, @blithers, @dontcallmebree and anyone else up for distilling themselves down to eight tv shows!

Okay let's do this!

Star Trek The Next Generation

TNG imprinted on me in 4th or 5th grade. I'd watch it every night before dinner and have lots of opinions about the holodeck and Data. Did I put a headband in front of my eyes and call it LaForge's visor? Yes. Did I unironically love the cheesy episodes like Rascals, The Game, and Disaster? Absolutely. It was also my intro to fannishness, pre-internet. One of my friend's dads had a stack of action figures, and a Riker uniform he'd break out at Halloween. I remember being confused by his whole deal, but mostly thinking it was really cool.

Flight of the Conchords

I saw this promo before the first season premiered and was instantly sold, it was so silly and unassuming. I was in college which is just. the perfect age to find everything about it delightful and hilarious and to be low-key in love with both Bret and Jemaine. I'm pretty sure I've thought about some lyric or throwaway line or small facial expression every day since 2007.

New Girl

I made myself limit this list to only one 2000s/2010s network comedy. New Girl edged out The Office, Parks & Rec, Community, 30 Rock, and even my beloved dark horse, Happy Endings. It's pure comfort. Every character is the best character.

Severance

I will not rest until everyone is as obsessed with this show as me. I've already watched season 1 three times, and I'll probably watch it all the way through again before season 2 comes out. It just hits all my buttons. Eerie weirdness! Sci-fi elements explored at a very personal, human level! Retro corporate dystopian branding and decor! Random moments of absurdity! Existential dread! Defiant jazz!

The Magicians

One doesn't keep up a semi-active sideblog for four years (?!!) and counting for a show without being permanently altered and irreparably damaged by it. One day, a work friend and I were talking tv and she went, "you would like this show! I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but you would like it!" For better or worse... she was not wrong. (On the fandom side, the fic for this show is just exquisite. The art, edits, and gifs are impeccable. I'm grateful it compelled me to start making stuff more regularly. Fussy, high-effort stuff!)

Better Call Saul

I know, I know *pikachu surprised face* that this one made the list. Y'know that post that makes the rounds every once in awhile, about 'ships and fictional relationships that's like, "sure they're in love or whatever. But, like... do they even like each other?" I think this silly lawyer prequel to the crime-and-drugs show accidentally became the best display of two people who like and love each other on tv. (Also yes, everything else about it is A++. Meticulous. Stressful. Exhilarating. No notes.)

Simpsons (Seasons 1-8ish)

This feels like an embarrassingly basic answer, but my personality really is just several early seasons of The Simpsons in a trench coat. It's what shaped my sense of humor. It's the foundation of my marriage. It's why I knew what Citizen Kane was at eight years old.

Pushing Daisies

Pushing Daisies was one of the first times I felt like, "oh! Someone made a show for me specifically!" Every single element was a feast for the eyes, from the saturated colors, to the quirky, overly literal sets, to Chuck's outfits, to Lee Pace's face. Baking AND knitting were heavily featured in every episode! There was a cute romance with supernatural complications. There was whimsical, fairy tale-style Jim Dale narration!

Runners up include: Tuca & Bertie, Buffy, Firefly, Freaks & Geeks, Mad Men, Home Movies, Legion, WandaVision, The Mandalorian, and Lost.

[queerstake]

I'm sorry for sending this, but I'm. In kind of a weird spot. I don't really have many other places i can turn. I figured out several years ago that i am aro/ace, and for awhile I just thought that was okay. Still okay with church. Just more open than others might be to the queer community. But it's gotten so hard as I've come to fully understand myself. That I'm non-binary. That I am pan for tertiary/alterous attraction. And now I've got a genderfluid datemate. I love them with all my heart. They aren't part of the church. I didn't tell them that I was raised LDS until after we started dating, but they realized a long while ago. They've been supportive and understanding of my position through everything.

But I have a hard time with a lot of the culture that has developed around the church, and I find I don't want to go anymore. Maybe it would be easier if I knew more queer members, but I don't. Any friends i have learned are queer have left.

My family isn't friendly to the queer community, which hurts like hell, because I want to tell them about my partner. My family means so much to me. I want them to be okay with the fact that I still believe in God and Jesus, but I just don't want to be "active".

Even being a "good active member" is mentally exhausting for me. It puts so much mental and social strain on me. Social stuff is extremely mentally exhausting for me. Doesn't help that my dad is emotionally abusive. I know it isn't like this for everyone, but I'm just so tired.

I don't have a lot of people in my life that really understand where I'm at, I'm so sorry for dumping this here. You can delete it. Thank you for what you do, hope you're safe and well.

Hi anon. Your message is about a year old as I'm answering it now, and I'm sorry for making you wait so long. I had some work to do myself before I could dedicate myself to this blog fully, and now that I'm here and ready, I want to start tackling the inbox.

Given that it's been so long, I'm sure your life has changed since you sent this message. I hope you're doing better.

Your message sounds very familiar, actually. I'm also an aroace and trans member. By the time covid came around and church meetings stopped for a period of time, I myself was worn out from struggling to keep up. I think you and me felt much the same. I used the excuse of covid to take a brief church break to figure out how I was going to make being a queer mormon work. I felt awful for having to take time off, but in the end, it really was the right choice for me. I was able to work on myself and my relationship to the church while setting aside some of the pressure I had put myself under for so long and now that I've built myself up stronger, I'm able to come back and foster a healthier relationship to the church.

I'm so glad you have a good relationship with your datemate to help you during this time! Being a queer mormon is really hard. We have to make concessions and reckon with our faith the way many straight mormons don't have to. It IS exhausting. I imagine god has put your datemate in your life in order to help give you the support you need right now.

If you or anyone else needs permission, please DO take a break. God doesn't want you to suffer, and you can't foster a good relationship with him if you're suffocating. Taking a break or not being active is not a bad thing. In fact, it was a REALLY good thing for me and really helped me come back to church even stronger than before.

I'm sorry to hear you were and are going through so much anon, and I hope some of the things I've said at least have helped you feel not alone. If you are able to take a break from church right now, I encourage you to do it! Heal and wrestle with god on your own time. You don't owe anyone anything, and god will be there with you no matter where you go. If you are unable to take a break for some other reason, know you're not alone. We understand you, we've been through the things you're going through, you're welcome to reach out any time you need support. Being a queer mormon is so hard and can be so lonely. Your queer siblings and your heavenly father are here for you.

[spaceorphanssecondbreakfastclub]

SO's Bookclub: The Stalker

Title: The Stalker Author: Joan Lowery Nixon Genre: YA Mystery

Goodreads Summary: When Jennifer Lee Wilcox returns home from the beach, she finds that Stella Trax, her best friend’s mother, has just been murdered. The police think Stella’s daughter Bobbie did it. Jennifer sets out to prove Bobbie’s innocence, but as she uncovers clues, she realizes she’s only leading herself to danger!

Review: When I was younger, the cover of this book would creep me out. I used to keep it turned over so I wouldn't have to look at it. Honestly, it still creeps me out a bit now. But it's easily the most intriguing part of this book.

I'll be blunt. This book is utterly terrible.

I have to wonder if this was an early manuscript or something - because we're back to the Christina Lattimore style of overwritten descriptions, flat characters, and really awful dialogue and plotting. I just find it so hard to believe that JLN was a creative writing teacher sometimes when she churns out stuff like this... and after her previous books being so much better, this feels like such a backslide.

The story revolves around Jennifer, and her mission to prove that her bff Bobbie did not kill her mother. Setting aside the fact that it's a bit laughable how easily everyone wants to throw Bobbi under the bus with such little evidence, the stretched to the edge of believability is not the worst thing about the novel.

Jennifer is, by far, the worst of the heroines. She is so annoying and whiny; she's obtuse and constantly getting in the way of her own interests; and she's just dumb. I found it really difficult to finish this (rather short) book because everything she did drove me crazy. She was just so unlikable that there was no incentive for anyone to care about her. Oof.

As an aside - I find it interesting that this is the first book not written in the first person. The reason being is that every other chapter is written from the 'stalker's' point of view in first person. It's an interesting idea for JLN to do this - it's the first time she's written someone outside of the main heroine's POV, and I applaud the fact that she tried to be innovative. But the whole thing completely falls flat. The 'stalker' doesn't really do much but utter 'you're next' over and over again. It just comes off silly more than anything.

Anyway... most of this novel is Jennifer doing a piss poor investigation of what was really going on. She teams up with an ex-cop named Lucas, who is trying his best, but my god - he has this idiot to deal with, and it's amazing he doesn't just give up due to Jennifer's incompetence.

There's also a side plot involving Jennifer's long term boyfriend -- Matt? Mark? He's so bland and uninteresting I can't even remember his name. Jennifer doesn't seem all that interested in him -- and the whole point is that she's choosing herself and college over getting married (oh god - we're still doing this whole women has to choose career or love in the mid-80s, aren't we?) but my god, he is just annoying as she is -- constantly trying to pressure her into sex, and telling her to give up on trying to figure out who killed her bff's mom. This guy is such a deadweight in the story.

Most of the other characters are all a bit lifeless. Jennifer has a Granny - we haven't had an older woman caretaker around in a while. And a dad who is dating a younger woman. They float in and out of the story without much to do. Meanwhile, Bobbie is all but absent for most of the book, so we never really get a sense of her. And there are a few others, like Bobbie's brothers and a couple of main detectives who pepper the characters but leave no real interesting impression.

Oh - and the ending doesn't really make a whole lot of sense? All of these books end maybe a smidge too suddenly. But I never really got a solid sense of what was going on that lead to the bff's mom's death. It just feels muddled and not fully realized.

Overall - this was the worst experience yet having to read one of these, and I'm very grateful it's over.

Rating: 2 stars

[ennaku-sirri-da]

TAMIL BOTCHES HEADCANONS!!!!! (AU)

( Plaintext: Tamil botches headcanons!!!)

Because EVERYONE.

[ ID: Closeup of Jimothan Botch from Smile For Me the game's moustache. It is large and curling upwards. End ID]

YOU TELLING ME THIS MOUSTACHE ISNT SOUTH INDIAN!?😭( sobbing emoji)

( Plaintext: You telling me this moustache isnt south indian!?😭( sobbing emoji) )

--

VANNAKA.....No one says that informally XD (laughing emote) so ..instead...

Hiiii Machi!

Eppa ennadu kadhaia kellunga! ( Now, hear my story!)

OK, first of all, Jimothan Botch isn't ACTUALLY his birth name. He changed it. Why, you ask? Well he watched a crapton of Westerns in the theatres of Chennai in his youth, roaming about with his gang. He was so impressed with those rope-slingin' cowboys, he EVOLVED INTO..

JIMOTHAN "BIG BADONKERHONKEROS" BOTCH

He thought it was cool OKAY?!!!

As for Parsley well it all went wrong when they named the dog Senthilkumaran and him Parsley. Whoops! Can't change what the dog answers to. It's a Kanni breed. His Mom really likes the silly name too so it sticks.

[ ID: Photo of a brown and black Kanni dog, a sighthound breed that is very lanky and long with a curving stomach and elongated snout. End ID]

I like to think that's like the dog in that one ingame poster but HEJDGG

Either way the dog keeps appearing around the Habiticians even if they're in different places, suspiciously before significant events, like an omen. It remains to be seen if Tim Tam and their "shortcuts"( AKA TELEPORTING) is somehow involved in this.

On account of Parsley continuing to be a difficult child for Jim to raise though, for his shark-like biters, explosive hellfire surge Moments( due to demonic heritage on his Mama's side ) as well as his thieving tendencies etc-- He calls Pars "Rowdy Ranga" sometimes, MY MOM CALLS ME THAT LMAOOOOOO

Since his Mom's a Carnivorous Ungulate Monsterthing I think it'd be SO SWEET if she called him like " attukutti " in rare affectionate moments. That means " goat kid" :] ( smile emote)

--

Yeah, Parsley had it kind of Rough too. His Mom( I'm still figuring out her 'human' name. Her real one would make mortal's tongues go mad twisting in their mouths trying to form a language they were never meant to speak ) and Dad( or "Appa" HEEHE. Hes just a. Guy. Who coincidentally keeps crushing for vampires and demons I GUESS ) really fell into a disaster of a time raising him. They could never agree on what he should do, how he should be raised, where he should go, what to learn...

An example of that is that his Mom is Extremely Stern, being a prosecutor in The Underworld Court and stuff where things are generally corrupt and sometimes draconian. She's been trying to make a change in it, and that requires that sort of strength. Jim, though, Jim is casual and forgiving to the point where his kid later grows up to be a callous ( and packed with guilt for it. You know whats in that ham's suitcase? Baggage. ) sort, having spent much time with him.

So yeah, his parents split( though they were not married), and Pars' core of self hatred due to it never quite heals fully.

--

I'm kind of getting off course but BACK TO IT

But yeah Parmesan Bunches does a lot of stuff ( forgery of papers, still stealing stuff, lying whenever, procrasinating for extremely long times to everyone's detriment, bribing etc...TBH it's not like EXTREMELY bad stuff. It's just that taking this route a lot causes problems anyway, and in this case gives him low self- confidence ) that'd make his parents Displeased in the process of trying to build his own identity through all that turmoil and be independent for himself, though he buckles under his own pressure as well. Sure he's winning every case he takes on through the shady means. But at what cost??

He's got Enemies. And Mom's one of them.

[ This is all still W.I.P BTW so as I get more info things may change!]

Jimothan at most shows his disappointment and expecting an apology through a tried and true tradition.....

"No earthquake felt in my house. The tectonic plates know very well that if they shift a little, my mom will place Rava upma in them as well."

-- courtesy of @i-hate-upma

(Plaintext: "No earthquake felt in my house. The tectonic plates know very well that if they shift a little, my mom will place Rava upma in them as well." -- courtesy of @ i-hate-upma )

That's right. BEHOLD. The only Edible food Jimbo can make.

[ ID: Photo of Upma, a thick porridge packed with vegetables, lentils, nuts, herbs etc. It looks like a somewhat solid lump. End ID]

CRY CRY. It's UPMA!

I'm kind of sad he'll never be able to taste the goodness that is Curry instead BUTTT since he's friends with Kamal, and highly likely he's visited his house-- He can get some Paro Manxho( Pigeon meat curry) there.. it's not exactly chicken but hot curry is hot curry! I've heard it is hard to make and since they're in the US, the ingredients would be harder to procure too. I'm sure Pars is flattered someone would take all that trouble, jsjsahsjsjd. Stuff like this is why him and Kam are such close friends. They aren't just hi-hello-bye. They're deep, guys. Going all the way back to when Pars was a tee-and-baggy churdidar-pants wearing stressed college student, roped in as a guitar player for ten-mice-in-a-cool-leather-jacket wearing stressed college student Kamal's band. Coming all the way back to deciding to stay longer in this creepy "self-help resort" hes definitely getting a bad feeling about Not Sueing To The Ground Instantly, because...Kamal's there. Pars calls him machan, so that should tell you everything. ;-) (winky emote)

--

I HAVE TOO MANY IDEAS JUST TO PUT IN THIS ONE POST DHJDJD

(Plaintext: I have too many ideas just to put in this one post dhjdjd)

So I'll end on some design ideas!! Not quite solid yet but here ya go.

[ ID: Traditional fanart sketch of the artists interpretation of Jimothan Botch. The style is semi realistic. It's mostly a headshot with a fading bust. He is a skinny aging man with salt-and-pepper hair sweeping across his forehead and growing down the sides of his face in a more orderly manner. His eyes are squinty and he has a long, slightly big nose. He smiles, showing some wrinkling, his upper lip totally covered by a very big moustache that curls at the tips, fanning into even more curls at their bottom edges. He wears a bartender's suit and tie. End ID]

You bet he twirls off that thing and laughs LIKE REALLY LOUDLY coughing fit fucking show off and Habit is so in love with him SHUT UP SHUT UP Even if they are good cowbuddies their level of homoeroticism is YEEHAW

BUFF PARSLEY JUMPSCARE MOTHERFUCKER

( Plaintext: Buff Parsley Jumpscare Motherfucker )

I will use He/Ham pronouns for Pars in this one and explain why later! Actually JK I'll tell you now. He accidentally said " my pronouns are he/ham" but he found he suspiciously very much liked being called a ham and not a man all the time and so it came to be!

[ ID: Traditional fanart sketch of the artists interpretation of Parsley Botch. The style is semi realistic. The main sketch is colored digitally and stops at the starting of the thighs. Parsley is a strongly built person with a stocky upper body. His skintone is a warm medium brown. Hams face is like a softly edged downwards rectangle. He has red-sclera eyes with somewhat prominent brows. Nose is similar to Jimothan's. Along with regular teeth ham has two bigger gold-plated canines. Parsleys red hair is a sticking-out bedheaded mess that falls to his shoulders. Some are cut in a more orderly way down the sides of his face. He wears a light red shirt, darker tie, dark blue business suit.

His hands are behind his back and he looks off to the side and frowns, looking dejected. Beside ham, coming from ham, emanating soft yellow waves with a red centre hold the lyrics to " heaven knows I'm miserable now" by The Smiths. It says "In my life...why do I give valuable time....to people who don't care if I live or die?"

A few more reference sketches are seen beside the main sketch, left side. One is of canon Parsley as a head saying 'bro' and a note of his head shape being a square. More below is written ' Comic book inspo" and a cut-off "mutton chops". Beside these there's Parsley's frowning mouth drawn, teeth showing, regular and gold-plated. "Smile?" is written questioningly. At the bottom is a digital exported and blurred canon sprite of Parsley. End ID]

OK weird story. Muscled Parsnip first caught my imagination with, a, um, this story where he crushed a suitcase with his abs in court or something like that. I'm pretty sure it was written as fetish stuff now( I didn't know!) but GOD was it HILARIOUS to read. So there you go. Demonic metabolism, or something. I would play the drums on his chest. Dum Dum Dum. Or smash Randy's goddamed pickle jar( actually tried this in game, didn't work).