#and i know i have struggled with this before about a pretty wide variety of other things

[girlscience]

hng rgg aaaggh. maybe confronting the possibility that perhaps i might have sexuality and gender related ocd tendencies and i really don't want to *lays down and cries on the lab floor*

[genderqueerdykes]

I really really appreciate the posts about fat acceptance and stuff. I used to be pretty underweight but I've definitely gained weight (and muscle too I'm sure) on HRT, the way it sits/distrubuted on me is something that is hard to see sometimes and there's a lot of parental commentary about fat people that needs to be worked on.

hey, you're welcome! i'm glad you agree

gaining weight isn't always bad, in fact for many people, it can be an outright blessing. people can have a wide variety of conditions that can lead them to being chronically underweight, and putting on even a few pounds was seen as a huge accomplishment and a safety net. my best friend is this way

even if it's not required for one's health, putting on weight isn't inherently bad. every person's body has a range in which it attempts to naturally sit for their baseline weight. this will vary greatly from person to person based off of activity levels, hormone levels, genetics, individual dietary needs vs. dietary intake, digestive issues, eating disorders, allergies, food intolerance, neurodivergence, developmental disorders, and more.

the way i see it is it becomes very obvious to a person when their weight has actually come to negatively affect them. this will be marked in a decline in energy, feeling fatigued and malaise most of the time, headaches, difficulty getting out of bed, increased chronic pain including pain while standing or walking, breathing difficulties, difficulty walking/moving long distances for reasons not due to joint or connective tissue health, becoming pre/diabetic suddenly if one was not before, and/or other health complications that were not present before the amount of weight was gained

most fat, chubby, etc. people are sitting well within the healthy range for their body without realizing it. our bodies are great at telling us what they need it's just hard to listen when we're busy, exhausted, and/or neurodivergent. many people have a good idea of what their body needs but get talked or shamed out of doing what's right for them. parents, like you said, are especially uptight and strict about weight for seemingly no reason.

i've always been fat my whole life. once i reached my teen years i began to hover around the 300 lb range and that's where i've always been. my mom was fat and so was my dad, and both of their families. my mom projected so much of her fatphobia on to me it was unreal. she would critcize me any time i wanted a snack by asking "you're eating again?" and other dumb shit. children are growing and active, they need a lot of food, especially for good brain function (yes, our brains need fuel, revolutionary concept, i know)

i don't understand why parents desperately NEED their children to be physically attractive to them. can we talk about this? i know it's uncomfortable but this is a huge parental issue. i am SO tired of hearing parents go ON AND ON about how "beautiful" or "handsome" their children are. it's extremely creepy, there's no reason to focus on their appearance like that. some parents become SO distressed when their children are not conventionally attractive, as if it makes them less attractive by proxy. it's insanely creepy. a child's conventional beauty or lack there of should be of no concern to a parent- why do some parents obsess over this? it gives the child severe body image issues and it's not a good level of vanity to project on to a kid

anyway, it's okay to be fat, especially if you find you're not struggling with pain or mobility. some people will have pain and mobility issues no matter what weight they're at. everyone's different. someone's weight is their own concern and nobody else's, unless there is medical significance in which case it is between them and their medical team. not every fat person has health issues due to their weight, in fact, most do not. it's okay to let your body be the weight it wants to be

nobody should have to constantly feel like they have to be fighting their own biology just to look "more attractive". people are attractive when they look the most like their real, natural selves. it's way more flattering and it's better for the individual. don't expect other people to go through hell just to look "good". just let people be themselves. let people feel good, and feel good about themselves. worry about yourselves when it comes to appearance

anyway, thank you for the feedback, i really appreciate it! i will always be here for other fat folk because i've gone through many interesting situations with diet and health and my weight always sits around the 300 mark give or take 20 lbs in either direction. my lowest weight as an adult was 260 lbs. my highest was 360. muscle tissue plays a huge factor in this right now for me. i have clothes in my closet that range from literally Small all the way up to XXXL and they all fit me just fine. weight isn't as big of a deal as people think it is, it's a very neutral thing most of the time

[steddieas-shegoes]

Request: the party is at the Hopper-Byers house for the July 4th celebrations and Steve has a really bad nightmare caused by childhood trauma/abuse mixed in with Upside Down horror. He wakes up but is still lost in the nightmare + PTSD from the fireworks. Eddie can't calm him down. Nobody in the party can calm him down, he isn't fully awake. Its terrifying. What calms him down is Wayne, speaking in low tones about Garfield, and the weather and Eddie. He refuses to talk to anyone about the pleas and desperate sobs of "no..get off" & "leave me alone" but is extra clingy to Eddie & Wayne once he comes out of the flashback. It's also the 1st time he calls Wayne 'dad'

MY LOVE!!!!!! Sometimes I make myself cry so hard that I have to add the most ridiculous fluff to make it better. That's what's happened here. It's sad, it's hurt, but then it's so so so much comfort and fluff. I can't resist and I can't apologize. Plus you know supportive Wayne is like MY BRAND. Steve calling him dad? Jesus the tears I let out. I'm actually a pretty firm believer that at some point over the years, Eddie started calling him dad because he was a better one than his own ever was. Hope you all cry in a good way with this. - Mickala ❤️

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

Steve went to bed a while ago, his head hurting a bit too much to handle the fireworks show that Hopper and Jonathan were putting on. Eddie went with him, though he wasn’t tired, at Robin’s insistence.

She’d given him a look that said enough.

They’d all been dreading this day, at least a little, because of Starcourt the year before.

Steve was asleep in Will’s bed, curled up against Eddie’s side, breathing even.

Until it wasn’t.

Until his hands were gripping Eddie’s shirt like it was a lifeline, his feet started kicking like he was running from something.

He was whimpering in his sleep, clearly terrified of something, but Eddie couldn’t be sure what.

Steve tended to have a wide variety of nightmares: reminders of his childhood traumas, reminders of the Upside Down and Russians, and terrible visions of something that would hopefully never be the future.

They all caused him to struggle to wake up, and usually he was crying uncontrollably for hours when he finally did.

Eddie tried to prop himself up slightly, ready to try to hold Steve as still as he could.

Steve fought him off though, mumbling something in his sleep.

Eddie let him, knew better than to actively attempt waking him up during a nightmare.

He kept a hand on him, adjusting as Steve shifted in the bed. Trying to talk to him quietly, barely whispering reassurances that he was safe and loved and everyone would protect him.

Sometimes that worked. It wasn’t quite enough to wake him up from it, but he’d calm down and drift back into a mostly dreamless sleep.

Not this time.

He started sobbing, tears streaming down his cheeks from his still-closed eyes. He wasn’t quite tossing and turning, but he was moving enough that Eddie didn’t want to stay too close just in case either of them ended up hurt.

It killed him, but he put space between them.

“Eddie, no!”

Eddie flinched at the despair in Steve’s voice.

He heard a knock on the door, but couldn’t pull himself completely away to open it, so he yelled for them to come in.

Robin and Max were at the door with wide eyes, Dustin and Will standing behind them.

“Is he okay?” Robin started as she walked in.

“He’s having a nightmare.”

“Why can we not just wake him up?” El asked curiously.

“He wakes up on his own. If you try to wake him up he could accidentally hurt you.”

“But he is hurting,” she said, deep frown settling on her features as she watched Steve moving in bed.

Robin sat down on the edge of the bed just as a firework went off in the backyard, making her jump.

Steve’s eyes shot open, and he stopped moving.

But he wasn’t awake.

“Please stop. I can’t-“ Steve’s voice was pained, like he was being tortured.

“Hey, why don’t you rugrats go get Joyce or Hop or something?”

The kids hesitated, clearly not wanting to leave Steve even for a moment, but finally all turned to grab an adult from the firework show.

Joyce came in only a minute later, eyes wide and searching.

“Steve?” She asked as she got close to the bed, watching his open eyes crying silently now. “Sweetie, can you hear me?”

“This only happened once when I was around. He’s like, lost in the nightmare. He says when this happens is when he can physically feel what’s happening instead of just picturing it.”

“Bless his heart,” Joyce sighed. “Do you know what the nightmares are?”

“They’re different all the time,” Eddie said quietly.

“No, not her! I’m the one you want, right?” Steve yelled suddenly.

Everyone jumped and Steve and Robin shared a long glance.

“Maybe the Russians? We’ve had a lot of reminders today.”

Joyce placed a hand on his face to wipe his tears, but Steve flinched and curled himself into a ball.

“No, no, no,” he repeated.

“It’s okay, honey. It’s Joyce. We’re all gonna keep you safe,” she said softly, her hand still stroking through his hair.

She was trying to comfort him, but it seemed like the touch just made things worse. After another minute, she pulled her hand away and Eddie could see she was fighting back tears.

He put his hand on her shoulder as he heard a few more people come in.

“It’s okay. When he wakes up, he’ll be happy to know you tried,” Eddie said, though at this point, he figured if Steve knew that everyone was watching him have a nightmare, he’d be embarrassed at best, ashamed at worst.

“Maybe we should give him space,” Max suggested from the corner.

She suffered from terrible nightmares, too. She hated sleepovers now, usually chose to take the guest room of Steve’s house instead of on the floor in the living room with everyone just in case she had one. El would sometimes go with her, but most of the time, Max preferred being alone.

Steve was similar in that he usually hated anyone trying to take care of him, but Eddie and Robin usually didn’t give him a choice.

“Max is right,” Hopper said from the door, though he looked just as concerned as Joyce. “If he wakes up to all of us standing around him, he’s just gonna feel worse.”

“Let me get in there,” Wayne mumbled from behind Hopper.

Wayne had never seen Steve’s nightmares firsthand, just heard recounts of them from Eddie, but he’d felt terrible for the boy. He had his own share of nightmares from the war, and wouldn’t wish them on anyone.

Eddie and Wayne shared a look, one that had Eddie moving so Wayne could sit on the bed with Steve instead.

“Alright, everyone but Wayne and Eddie out!” Hopper said just loud enough to make a point.

Wayne wasn’t paying attention to everyone leaving, too focused on reading the situation at hand and preparing for whatever it might take to get Steve out of it.

“He ever punch when he’s in a nightmare?” He asked Eddie as he sat down close to him.

“Only once with Robin, then she learned to leave enough space that she could get up if he started throwing his hands around. It’s happened to me a couple times because I don’t want to leave him alone.”

“Alright, just stay right there for a few minutes. I’m gonna try to hold his wrists so I know if he’s gonna punch.”

“You aren’t restraining him, right? He doesn’t like to be restrained,” Eddie started nervously chewing on his hair.

“No, son. Not restraining. I’m gonna let him go if he starts to push against me, but it’s just so I know when he’s gonna start throwin’ his hands around.”

Eddie nodded and watched as Wayne sat back against the headboard of the bed and pulled Steve completely into his lap.

Steve wasn’t fighting it, but he was letting out little “no, no, no”’s until Wayne got him completely settled with his head against his chest, ear pressed to his heartbeat.

“Alright, bud, we’re gonna get you through this. You and me, kid. Just us. I’ve got you right here, you hear my heart? I got you.” Eddie watched as Steve’s crying continued to get worse. “Oh! You know that stupid Garfield mug? Broke the handle on it again. Damn thing seems like it’s giving up for good. I’ll have to steal the one you keep at the house.”

Steve’s whimpering was a bit quieter, his body relaxing a little more into Wayne.

“Tomorrow’s s’posed to be nice, maybe we should head out to the lake and fish. Leave Eddie behind, he scares the fish,” Wayne smirked over at Eddie, who was only holding back a comment because he was still too worried about Steve.

Steve was now silently crying, and Eddie knew he was probably closer to awake than asleep.

“I know you’ll probably say Eddie’s welcome, but that kid don’t shut up. Don’t know how you put up with him. Of my two boys, I’d much rather take you fishin’ and take Ed to a bar.”

Eddie bit his lip at the implication that Steve was one of Wayne’s boys. He knew Wayne adored Steve, but didn’t realize he was ready to adopt him as his own.

“There you are, bud. You awake?” Wayne was talking softer than Eddie had ever heard, and when he looked at Steve, he realized why.

Steve had finally managed to wake up completely, and his whole body was shivering, more from fear than being cold.

Eddie still found a blanket at the end of the bed and covered him, watching as Wayne mouthed a quick thank you over Steve’s head.

“You want me to keep talkin’?” Wayne asked.

Steve nodded.

“You got it, though this is more what Eddie’s good at. Ya know the first night he lived with me, I couldn’t get him to even say hello? Poor kid was like Bambi, didn’t trust anyone or anything, big brown eyes watching every breath I took until he was in his room. The next day I woke him up with pancakes, the recipe you like most with the cinnamon apples, and he hasn’t shut up since.”

Steve let out a breath that could have been a laugh if he wasn’t coming down from one of the worst nightmares Eddie’s seen him have.

Wayne’s hands were running along his arm and back, comforting and keeping him warm.

“Maybe we can head back to the house, I can make us those pancakes in the morning before we go fishin’. That sound good, kid?”

“Yeah, dad.”

Eddie’s eyes widened, and he saw Wayne’s hands freeze.

Then Steve was trying to pull away, his eyes shining with unshed tears that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

But Wayne pulled him back, held him against his chest and placed a kiss to the top of his head.

“I’m not lettin’ you go yet, son. Not unless you would rather be with Ed.”

Steve shook his head.

Eddie didn’t take offense to it, he was with Steve all the time and he knew Wayne was the best at giving support in times like this.

“You wanna talk about it?”

“What?”

“Anything.”

Steve shook his head.

“You ever talk about it with anyone?”

Steve shook his head.

“You think you should?”

Steve nodded.

“I ever tell you about when I got back from Vietnam?”

Steve shook his head.

“Is it okay if Ed sits down on the bed with us? Maybe you can hold his hand.”

Thank every god for Wayne Munson. Eddie was practically crawling out of his skin with the need to have his hand on Steve, make sure he was really okay.

Steve nodded.

Eddie sat down on the other side of Wayne, letting his head rest against his shoulder while Steve propped his legs in his lap.

“Everyone cozy?”

“Mhm,” Steve said.

“Yeah,” Eddie replied.

“When I first got back, I couldn’t sleep at all. Sometimes I’d drift off in my chair when I got too tired, but I’d usually wake up so quick my body didn’t even know I fell asleep. That went on for months until Jim got back. He was so much younger than me, ya know? Didn’t seem right that he had to go through what I did. We met for lunch a few times, we talked. He didn’t have much to say, neither did I, but sometimes we had a story to share. And ya know, dammit if it didn’t help.”

Eddie remembers back when he first started living with Wayne how he would sometimes have Hopper over for dinner, but never explained how they even really knew each other until he was older. Even then, he didn’t say much except that they had a lot of similar war stories.

“Didn’t have the time or money for professional help, but sometimes just gettin’ stuff off your chest can help. Ya know, I cut back my hours at the plant. Don’t need to work all that overtime now that the government bought us a house and pays the bills on it. Kinda nice to just have some time for doin’ what I wanna do. Maybe we could start takin’ a few hours a week to go fishin’. Maybe have lunch at the diner and chat.”

Eddie could feel tears running down his face at Wayne’s offer, at how much he cared for Steve.

“You’d wanna do that with me?” Steve’s voice was shaking, and Eddie didn’t have to see his face to know he was crying.

“I’d love to, bud. You’re my kiddo, ya know? Just as much as Eddie is.”

Steve let out a sob, and curled further into Wayne’s chest. Eddie squeezed his knee, letting him know he was there if he needed him.

“I love ya, kid. You’re gonna be just fine, alright? Not gonna let anyone or anything hurt you.”

“Thanks, dad.”

“Anytime, kiddo.”

They stayed there for a while, probably close to an hour, Steve holding Eddie’s hand while Wayne talked to them both.

Eventually, everyone was heading home and Steve decided to head back with Wayne and Eddie instead of staying with the Byers as planned.

“Get some rest, honey. We love you,” Joyce wrapped her arms around him and squeezed as he said his goodbyes to everyone.

The ride back was quiet, Wayne driving them both in his truck, the radio playing old country the whole way home.

When they got home, Steve decided to take a quick shower before he went to bed, said he didn’t feel clean.

Wayne furrowed his brows, but nodded.

Eddie kissed him once on the forehead before letting him head to the bathroom.

Wayne turned to him when they heard the shower turn on, his face pained.

“Has he ever talked about his childhood?”

“Not much. Said he used to spend summers with his grandparents and cousins when his parents didn’t wanna take him with them. He hated it, but didn’t say much about it.”

Wayne looked, somehow, worse.

“Has he ever been scared to be touched? Even just a hug? Outside of the nightmares?”

Eddie nodded.

“I mean, not so much with me or Robin anymore, but sometimes with the others, yeah.”

Wayne put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sad smile.

“It’s not my place to make assumptions, but I think he had plenty of good reasons to hate staying with his grandparents and cousins. Just promise me you’ll listen if he talks to ya? No interruptin’ or judgin’.”

“Of course. I love him, I don’t want him to hide stuff from me,” Eddie responded.

“I know. I love ya, kid.”

“Love ya too,” Eddie was slightly confused, but didn’t ask. Steve would be done soon in the shower and he wanted to make sure he had some of his clothes to wear to bed.

Wayne made his way to his own room, giving a quick knock to the bathroom door and yelling that he loved him. Eddie heard a “love you, dad” in response.

Eddie had viewed Wayne as his dad for years, had called him dad sometimes when he let his guard down a bit. Wayne just had the natural protective, caring personality that a good father has, and Steve wasn’t immune to it.

When Steve made it out of the shower, Eddie was pulling the extra blanket out of his closet for Steve to wrap himself in like he did anytime he had a nightmare.

Steve walked over to him, towel wrapped around his waist, and leaned against him.

Eddie let his hands rest on his hips, right where the towel rested.

“Doing okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

“Thanks for sharing Wayne with me.”

“Oh, angel, I don’t make that call. Wayne pretty much adopted you day one and I just had to let it happen,” Eddie smirked.

Steve giggled and kissed Eddie’s collarbone.

“I’m gonna talk to you about it all someday. I will. I promise.”

“No rush, sweet love. When you’re ready, though, I’m right here. So is Wayne.”

“I know. Love you.”

“Love you so much.”

As they fell asleep in Eddie’s bed that night, he realized what Wayne was alluding to and his heart broke into a million pieces. If he was right, then Steve had horrors unimaginable even before the Upside Down.

But Eddie would be here to listen to it when he was ready. He knew it would be hard to hear, but not nearly as hard as it had to be for Steve to live with.

And they both had Wayne, who wouldn’t let either of his boys hurt if he could help it.

[fluffystevefest]

Steve's birthday month started yesterday and we're off to the races! Thank you so much to everyone who shared their creations or showed their love and support. Make sure to show each other your affection with likes, kudos, reblogs, shares, and comments! 💙

THEME ★ AFFECTION

Mission — Heat by @buckys-wintersoldier ★ Fic: 6.7k, E ★ Pairing: Steve/Reader ★ Your best friend and you are on a mission but when he finds out about your heat he doesn’t let you do the mission — but one night in one bed is still enough to confess the real feelings.

Day 01: Steve's Affection by @mercurial-chuckles ★ Fic: M ★ Pairing: Steve/Reader ★ Knowing Steve Rogers, one can easily bet Steve cannot for the sake of anything in the world, do casual dating. He was possessive, an age-old man who can't let go of that streak. His commitment and love are so deep it becomes too evident.

You, Next to Me by EiraLloyd ★ Fic: 4.9k, T ★ Pairing: Steve/Bucky ★ “About,” Bucky started, “what happened in Siberia... before the bunker.” “What about it?” Steve asked, trying to keep his voice steady. This was Bucky. Just Bucky. They were going to be okay, no matter how this conversation went. Steve might’ve been scared before, but… he could trust this — trust the two of them and their friendship. “Why did you let me kiss you?” Bucky asked so quietly Steve almost didn’t hear him, super-soldier hearing and all. (Or, Bucky kisses Steve shortly before they walk into Hydra's secret bunker in Siberia. They don't talk about it until much later.)

Fluffy Steve Fest Rec List Day 1 - Affection by @bulkyphrase ★ Rec list ★ Pairing: Multi ★ Welcome to @fluffystevefest week! The theme for Monday is affection, and while I cannot promise that every list this week will adhere to the themes and prompts, this one mostly does!

Fluffy Steve Fest Rec List: July 1: Affection by @ephemeralbutterfly ★ Rec list ★ Pairing: Multi ★ Hello everyone! I am doing daily themed rec lists for @fluffystevefest. The fics are related (some more loosely than others) to the daily prompts. The number of fics for any given day and prompt varies, but I have at least one fic for each day. There's also a wide variety of fic types and ratings, so I hope there will be something for everyone. The lists are vertically long, so I've put them behind a cut. Our first day features fics with both romantic and platonic affection.

PROMPT ★ HANDHOLDING

Walking Home in the Rain by @darthbloodorange ★ Art: G ★ Pairing: Steve/Thor ★ Steve and Thor walk home in the rain after a date.

PROMPT ★ TOUCH-STARVED

Clipped Wings I was a Broken Thing by @16woodsequ ★ Fic: 5.8k, G ★ Pairing: Steve & Tony ★ Captain America is supposed to have beautiful, strong wings. But after the ice, he keeps them covered, never exposing them or showing them to anyone. Tony finds out why. In the process he learns that no one has preened Rogers since before the ice. That needs to change.

His Favourite by @darthbloodorange ★ Fic: 200, G ★ Pairing: Steve/Thor ★ Steve shouldn't have a favourite Avenger, but he does.

The Shield Bearer by @gfawkesphoenixchokingonashes ★ Fic ★ Pairing: Steve/Bucky ★

PROMPT ★ KISSES

Red Lips & Rosy Cheeks by @ijustreallylikecaptainamericaok ★ Art ★ Pairing: Steve/Scott ★ “I’m never gonna get over that,” he said, his warm gaze sweeping over Steve’s face.

Kiss It Better by @darthbloodorange ★ Fic: 400, T ★ Pairing: Steve/Scott ★ Steve struggles to tend to his wounds after a battle. He knows he should ask for help, but he doesn't want to be a bother.

Sweetest tradition by @americas-ass-writing ★ Fic: 311 ★ Pairing: Steve/Reader ★ Steve's favorite way to wake up in the morning.

PROMPT ★ AFTERCARE

After Mission Recuperation by @darthbloodorange ★ Fic: 500 ★ Pairing: Steve/Bruce ★ Steve returns from a mission tired and dirty. Bruce is there to make it better.

meet me in the afterglow by @meidui ★ Fic: 1.2k, M ★ Pairing: Steve/Tony ★ As someone who has slept around New York a whole lot and thought he knew Steve Rogers pretty well by now, Tony is surprised when he finds out that Steve has been having intermittent one night stands in the two years or so since coming out of the ice. That doesn't stop Tony in the least from getting Steve into bed the first chance he gets, and that chance happens to be after his birthday party when he's looking at Tony, glowing from laughing and drinking all night.

[defectivevillain]

tolerable

pairing: aizawa x professor!reader

reader’s pronouns are unspecified.

Aizawa has no idea what to do with you, and that much is incredibly obvious within your first few interactions. You try to be nice without being pushy, and it seems to be working out... sort of. You can’t quite tell what the pro-hero is thinking. He often raises his capture scarf over the lower half of his face when speaking to you. You idly wonder if he’s annoyed at your presence.

Regardless, your conversations with Eraserhead are often short. You exchange greetings in the halls and occasionally talk in the teachers’ lounge, but that’s about it. You think Aizawa is pretty damn cool, and you’d like to get to know him. You just don’t exactly know how to go about it. 

Your strategy of remaining present but not overly so seems to be paying off, though. As the days pass, you notice Aizawa’s responses to your greetings becoming less stiff and more relaxed. One time, you even think you see him wave. You quickly rid yourself of the notion, however. You’re likely just seeing things. 

At least, that’s what you think. You think you’re overanalyzing things. You’re thinking about Aizawa as you walk down the hallway and, in your distraction, someone sneaks up on you. 

“Heya, teach.” You exhale slowly and turn around, refusing to admit that your student’s sudden presence caught you off guard. Kaminari Denki stares at you, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes.  

“Hello, Kaminari,” you sigh, struggling to keep the suspicion from your face. Nothing good comes from Kaminari’s conniving smile, and that’s a lesson you had to learn a few weeks ago. 

“I was just wondering why Aizawa-sensei likes you so much.”

“Excuse me?” Your voice sounds a bit strangled, but you can’t exactly control it. Kaminari’s eyes are burning into your skin and you’re beginning to feel as if this conversation is really an interrogation. You struggle to find something to say, other than the misguided stammering you’re currently doing. 

“Yeah, I even saw him smile when he was talking to you,” Mina pipes up, casually popping out from the hall around the corner. You take a deep breath and pinch the bridge of your nose, manifesting the patience for what is to come. 

“Alright, everyone else, come on out.” To your bewilderment, Kirishima, Jirou, Sero, and Hagakure are all listening in. They have a wide variety of expressions on their faces. Jirou, for one, looks strangely satisfied. Sero and Kirishima have guilty smiles on their faces. Hagakure... Well, you’re not sure what her expression is. “What is this?”

“We just wanted to ask you about Aizawa-sensei, promise!” Kirishima seems to be the person to take one for the team. Sero pats him on the shoulder reassuringly, before chiming in himself. 

“Aizawa-sensei seems to actually tolerate you,” he shrugs, fiddling with one of his elbows. The others exchange nods at this. Jirou doesn’t say anything, but the smirk on her face suggests that she knows something you don't. You take a moment to collect your thoughts, before shaking your head in disbelief.

“While I admire your enthusiasm, my relationship with Aizawa is none of your business,” you explain, crossing your arms over your chest. You raise an eyebrow at the smirk that grows on Kaminari’s face. You don't realize your blunder until it’s too late. 

“Relationship?” Kaminari is wearing the biggest, most shit-eating grin you’ve ever seen. You resist the very tempting urge to expel the entire group of students standing before you. 

“Wait, no, that’s not what I meant,” you scramble to explain, but the students are too far gone to notice. They're all wearing assorted expressions of satisfaction and knowing. You take a deep breath. “Alright, that’s enough, everyone.” You shoo the students away, pretending not to hear the excited whispers and gasps that echo throughout the empty hallway. Once the group is gone, you lean against the wall and close your eyes for a moment.

“Hey.” You open your eyes, shocked to find Aizawa himself standing before you. His hands are shoved in his pockets and his gaze is cast aside, but he’s standing in front of you nonetheless. You’re so surprised by the sudden greeting that it takes you a moment to respond. 

“Hi,” you eventually say. “What’s up?” Surely, the pro-hero must need something. That’s evidently the only reason he’s standing in front of you right now. Aizawa isn’t fond of small talk. 

“You seem troubled,” Aizawa squints at you and you just barely prevent yourself from withering under his gaze. It takes you a moment to process his statement, but when you do, you’re a bit shocked. In all honesty, you thought Aizawa disliked you. Apparently, you were wrong. 

 “Your students are very… persistent,” you answer, struggling to hide your coexistent amusement and humiliation. The pro-hero across from you, however, seems to settle for contemplating his life decisions. 

“What did they do now?” Aizawa grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. You resist a laugh at the dramatic gesture. You’re well aware that Aizawa cares for his students. He just pretends that he doesn’t. 

“They kept asking me about you,” you recall. You think about what to say for a moment, before deciding on simply telling the truth. “They seemed to think you find me tolerable. I told them that was ridiculous.”

Aizawa is uncharacteristically silent. You wait a few moments for his response, but it never comes. Chancing a glance at him, you find him to have a conflicted expression on his face. It’s perhaps the most emotion you’ve seen him express. “Is it ridiculous?”

“Well, I mean, it’s not true,” you choke out, avoiding eye contact. You’re feeling increasingly embarrassed throughout this interaction. Somehow, Aizawa doesn’t seem to notice. Instead, he seems to be thinking about something as he frowns. 

You’re not sure what you’re expecting him to say next. Maybe he’ll remain silent and simply walk away. You’re expecting a death threat, a punch in the face, anything. What you’re certainly not expecting is his next statement. “What if it were true?”

“What?” You’re sure your voice cracks as you speak, but you can’t find it in yourself to care. No, you’re focused on what the pro-hero just said. You could’ve sworn you heard him say-

“I tolerate you,” Aizawa clarifies, his hand coming up to his scarf habitually. You watch as his fingers twist in the fabric. He seems restless. His gaze, however, hasn’t strayed from your face. You’re beginning to feel intimidated. 

“Oh, ha, that’s good,” you eventually say awkwardly. You’re starting to feel secondhand embarrassment too- in addition to your own personal humiliation. 

“I more than tolerate you,” Aizawa says, his eyebrows furrowing as he takes a step closer. You instinctually back away, only for your back to hit the wall behind you. Aizawa doesn’t cage you in, but he does look at you with a smoldering intensity.

You’re not quite sure how it happens. The question falls from your lips and, before you can comprehend what the answer is, Aizawa is tugging you in and kissing you. You tangle your fingers in his hair and pull him closer to you. His hands fall to your waist and you’re starting to feel robbed of breath when you’re rudely interrupted. 

“I win the bet!” You recognize that voice. Desperately hoping your thoughts are wrong, you look behind Aizawa’s shoulder and stiffen. Sure enough, Kaminari, Sero, Mina, Jirou and Hagakure are standing behind him. Aizawa’s hands fall from your waist and you swear you see his eyes glow red for a second as he turns around. 

The students don’t look the least bit embarrassed, instead grinning victoriously. You resist the very strong urge to curl up into a ball on the floor, instead glancing at your coworker. Aizawa is glaring at them with enough force to take out their Quirks, despite the fact that his eyes are a warm brown. 

“New assignment for you all, due tomorrow,” Aizawa orders. “Write two pages on the concept of privacy when it comes to pro-heroes.” The students scramble away, letting out assorted groans. 

“I don’t think that dissuaded them,” you huff out a laugh. You can’t help but find amusement in Aizawa’s students and their investment in your relationship. Clearly, the group cares for Aizawa.  

“Probably not,” Aizawa sighs, pulling his capture scarf up to cover his mouth. “I’m getting coffee. Care to join me?” You nod and fall in step next to him, smiling to yourself. 

snippet + endnotes after the cut :)

Aizawa, eyebrows furrowed: They’re so... tolerable. 

Present Mic, sitting next to him: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY-

I wrote this in bullet format and then got rid of the bullets... lol. I think I write better without them.

Anyway. Love Aizawa. Sobs. The only man ever. 

[coffee-writesthings]

I made a headcanon about Scout and Spy both having EDS, soooo here's a fic i wrote expanding on it a touch. Warning for some internalized abliesm but it's dealt with pretty quickly

WC: 1k

MannCo recently sent a shipment of a variety of things: food, weapons, ammo, and a large roll of tape which Scout ordered specially for himself. It was sticky, and would look very similar to his skin-- the perfect thing to hide his slippery joints with.

He went to look through the boxes the moment he heard that the truck left. It had to be in there, and he had to get it before anyone found out. There was no way he'd be allowed to stay on the team in this sort of condition!

With a little searching, he found the right box. It was marked in large, egregious letters, "DISABILITY STUFF". He cringed at how the words glared up at him, practically shouting out to the world how 'broken' he was.

Broken or not, he needed the help, so he dug into the box-- with the help of a pocket knife. Though, what he found wasn't just his tape. There were braces of various kinds, pairs of glasses, and several bottles of what he assumed were medication.

He was dumbfounded, and at the same time wanted to kick himself-- of course his other teammates were also disabled. Medic needed glasses, Pyro needed stuff for their burn scars, Demo only had one eye for gods sake! Had he really just not considered that at all?

Really thinking about it as he dug through the boxes to find his tape, he realized that, no, he'd never thought of his team as disabled-- and they probably didn't either. They were just living life and had found things to work around whatever they were struggling with.

Underneath a sort of brace he'd never seen before lie his tape. It was a massive roll, far larger than what he'd ever used before, maybe as wide across the circle as his forearm?

With new complaints from his hips starting up, he abandoned the boxes and got to work 'fixing his life with duct tape'.

Under the dim light in the bathroom-- jeez, they really need to change that bulb out sometime-- he was able to put down some strips of tape where he felt it was needed most at the moment. Two strips starting just above his hip and trailing down to his inner thighs already helped so much. But with that out of the way, he started on his knees-- he made a sort of x shape from a little above his knee to the side of his calf with a strip of tape for each side, for each leg.

"Thank fuck, my joints are actually jointing now--" he muttered before bumping into Spy.

"Merde, what are you doing up at this hour?"

"I should ask ya the same thing."

"If you must know I'm looking for my new brace. Medic suggested it specially for my Ehlors-Danlos. Tell no one. Please."

"Oh hey, I have that same problem! Yeah, my joints are all wonky, I basically tape em together."

He winced in a way that was almost unnoticeable.

"Somethin' wrong?"

"No, nothing."

"Alright then. Make sure you get some sleep for your old bones then!"

It hit him in the face when he woke up, Ehlors-Danlos is inherited... They'd be around the same age, right? 26 and late-40s, early 50s. It's not unreasonable. He would've been... Somewhere between his age and somewhat younger.

It's not... uncommon for someone to have a kid at that age.

And there were other things too, other things that were shared between them. Their faces were incredibly similar, now that the thought about it-- one thing that the Director's visit helped with.

Something his Ma talked about once or twice came into the mental conversation with a steel chair-- his dad was french. Like, it was significant enough to warrant having a favorite french thing to watch on tv.

Damn, stuff like this had him feeling like an idiot for never noticing.

"But, what about Tom Jones--" he muttered to himself, "No. No wait. Hang on." He cursed loudly, remembering that Spy can use disguises.

That warranted a knock on the door from Engineer, "Everythin' alright in there?"

"Spy's my dad."

"Huh?"

"Spy, the 10,000-euro-suit-wearing asshole, is my dad."

"Have you... Considered talking to him about this, perhaps?" The voice that came out of that mouth was patiently off, too French for Engineer's Texas background.

"Your accent is slipping."

In a cloud of smoke, Spy dropped the disguise. "You caught me."

"So you admit it? You're my dad-- how freakin' long did you know?"

"About a year after you joined the team."

"Y'know the hell of it all? I can't even blame you, it's not like you were there most of the time. Didn't even get you for the big moments."

"I am sorry, I couldn't be around in ways you were aware of-- it would have put you in more danger than it was worth." his gaze moved downwards with his frown, "The few times I was able to, I had to be invisible. I didn't want you to become entangled in any of this."

He held back the insult, thinking better than to kick a man while he's down. "I'm still angry, but.. I guess it's at least good to know. Thank you."

Silence hung in the air for the next few seconds, not quite tense, not quite calm, but a third unknown thing. Spy broke the silence, "Do you want to see what I use for my joints?"

"Sure, maybe I can teach ya something."

"Don't get too cocky, I don't see anything you can teach me when it comes to your post-battle scores," he took a gulp of his cup of coffee.

"Oh you ass. Hey, why'd you dress up as Engineer by the way, you planning on taking him out sometime?"

"Who's to say I'm planning?"

"Well damn-- does this mean I'm getting an extra parent out of this?"

He choked, taking a few seconds to regain his breath, "You heard nothing."

[ciaossu-imagines]

Again, loving up some underloved fandoms here on Ciaossu-Imagines, so throwing out some headcanons I have about The Mighty Ducks characters! I hope anyone familiar with these movies will enjoy them!

Starting with Averman, he’s definitely Jewish. I think he and Goldberg are really good friends because both of them are Jewish. They attended Hebrew school together, their parents are good friends, and honestly they really rely on each other around the holiday season. Neither boy is ashamed of being Jewish or anything, but especially around the time period those movies are set, Hannukah was not as popular or as talked about as Christmas was. And when all your friends are talking about Christmas and their plans and the gifts they’ll get and all the celebrations you hear about are Christianity based, it’s hard not to feel a little left out so both boys’ kind of really like having another friend they can talk to about their Hannukah plans who will get it. Bonus headcanon but I think Averman has a bigger love of hockey and was the one to get Goldberg into the sport.

Hot take on Adam – I don’t think he’s this abused kid trying desperately to please Daddy. I think that while his father might have high expectations for Adam, his father isn’t really abusive. I think a lot of the pressure that Adam feels – and boy, does he feel a lot – is pressure that Adam puts on himself. I do see Adam as having some issues with perfectionism, with being way too hard on himself, and he struggles with anxiety and a need to be perfect but it’s because Adam himself knows that he’s got a lot of talent and he doesn’t want to waste that talent.

Charlie’s actually got a few hidden skills but the one that ends up surprising most people is that, at one point in his life, Charlie got really into magic and he’s pretty good with a couple of tricks, mostly sleight of hand stuff.

Tammy did enjoy playing hockey, I won’t pretend that she didn’t. But I think when it came down to it, she enjoyed figure skating a lot more. There was more pageantry in that sport, more creativity and more glamour in her mind and I think she left the Ducks before the second movie because she really did want to focus on figure skating and competing in that area. She did win several medals, but I think she largely left the sport around the time she started college.

Julie reads…for fun. While she loves being active and has various hobbies and interests, she’s been a life-long bookworm. She learned to read early, and gobbles books up. She normally gets through at least a book a week and does read a wide variety of things, though she has guilty pleasure reading that she’d be embarrassed if anyone found out about, such as romance novels and the Hardy Boys books.

Guy hates carrying change around with him. There’s just something about the weight of it and the clinking sound it makes in his pocket as he walks that drives him insane. He prefers to carry bills for cash and usually lets the salespeople keep his change wherever he goes.

Surprising thing about Goldberg…the boy is not only gifted with a green thumb, but he genuinely likes taking care of his plants. He only got them because his parents wouldn’t let him get a pet…they didn’t think he was responsible enough for a pet so they bought him a rather high-maintenance houseplant to take care of first so that he could prove that he could be responsible for another living thing. Turns out that he enjoyed caring for the plant so much, even giving it a name, that he ended up wanting more plants instead of an actual pet.

Jesse has a tendency to argue just for the sake of arguing. He legitimately enjoys arguments and I have this headcanon that he found the debate club during high school and it’s the most at home he’s felt since playing with the Ducks. Like, those are his people, that’s where he belongs. He gets really involved with debate throughout his high school career and I think he wants to go to law school after graduating.

Terry Hall…still hasn’t gotten the grasp of gum honestly. Not saying the kid is stupid, because he certainly isn’t. It’s just that he cannot, for the life of him, remember that gum is for consistent chewing, not eating, especially if the gum in question is a really fruity, sweet flavour.

I really do think that Karp is someone who is really easy to take advantage of. He gets bullied a lot as a kid and he’s someone who just naturally is the kind of person who really wants to make others happy and to have others like him. He’s a very generous friend but the fact that he’s willing to do almost anything to have his ‘friends’ like him means that he gets put into some pretty brutal situations and gets used throughout his childhood and teen years.

I think Peter’s an army brat, or something along those lines. Something tells me that this kid is someone who moves around a lot throughout his life because of his parent’s careers. He’s used to never staying anywhere really long enough to form completely solid relationships. He’s used to always being the new kid and needing to impress and be tough enough to both make friends and avoid bullies. I also think that while he really would like to settle down in one spot long enough to make serious friendships, the idea of doing so kind of scares him.

Luis taught himself how to juggle when he was a kid. He’s also really skilled at hackeysack.

Connie has the habit of pacing around when she’s deep in thought. There’s just something about moving that helps her think better and if she really has something on her mind, she tends to go running or jogging. The tougher the problem is, the faster and further she tends to go as she loses track of where she is or how far she’s gone.

Dean can burp the alphabet. Forwards and backwards. He’s really quite proud of this.

Fulton’s worst habit? He’s really bad at sitting and staying still for long periods of time and he starts fidgeting when he has to do so. He’ll stretch, move around in his seat a bit, crack his knuckles, but the worst is his leg because he’s definitely one of those guys who bounces his leg when he’s bored or restless, almost aggressively so.

Dwayne really likes to sing. He’s not horrible at it by any means, though a little tone-deaf. He’s a huge fan, because of how he was raised, of any older country, with Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Conway Twitty being favourites of his.

Russ has the tendency to get cold really easily. It can come out of nowhere too, with no real reason for him to have a chill or to be cold. He just is. He tends to always carry an extra layer with him as a just in case.

Ken has weird eating habits. He has to eat all of one thing before he can allow himself to eat the next thing on his plate. For example, if he has fries and a burger, he’ll have to eat all the burger before he’ll start eating the fries. He can’t bring himself to mix and match his food and not even he knows why.

[wpdarlingpan]

Hey, how do you think an Yandere Batfam would deal with an s/o or someone with eating disorders? Sorry, I’ve struggled with them all my life and was curious. Thank you!

Hi! Thanks for the question, and don’t apologize, it’s completely okay and a good request.

Ima do a mix of your request and do Dick and Jason as s/o’s to the reader then everyone else is platonic.

Also with eating disorders I feel it is personalized in an individuals way and it can be different for everyone. So sorry if this isn’t completely as you were thinking and I tried my best to build off of experience.

Please let me know if there’s anything that should be changed.

Let’s try headcannons again shall we?

No specified pronouns

▸You had a eating disorder for a long time before meeting Dick and Jason; and them being detectives picked up on the eating habits pretty quickly

▸ They wouldn’t just blurt it out and force you to tell them why you weren’t eating, or not eating as much. They had too much respect for you to do that, well unless the situation arises where they are forced to confront you.

▸They gently encourage you to eat, but not overwhelmingly, but just enough to get a couple of bites. They take notice and see what safe foods you prefer and what ones are a little more overwhelming.

▸It was odd for you, your family didn’t understand it and just thought it was something you could easily get over, but Jason and Dick? They knew what to do, and if they didn’t they’d gladly research it and figure it out.

▸ Dick and Jason met you at the same time, it was a rather odd interaction. Almost like every typical romance story; running into them. Literally.

▸They had both felt the impact when they looked down and saw the most precious person they’d ever seen. Both became instantly attached, although Bruce and the others were concerned. How could a person draw in the boys who couldn’t be anymore different than the other, other than their vigilante life of course.

▸Which led to dinner at the Wayne’s Mansion. Alfred of course made a wide variety of foods, each dish was one of your favorites or at least ones you preferred at the request of the two men who easily became the most important people in your life.

▸Bruce and made everyone be at dinner that night, including Tim and Damien. Both complained, Damien more than Tim, but they couldn’t deny their curiosity. No matter how much they acted like they hated each other, they wanted what was best for them.

▸They knew a little bit about your eating habits but Jason and Dick wanted to wait for you to tell them yourself. They just wanted to make sure they wouldn’t make any comments about it or anything of the sort.

▸When the doorbell rang, Alfred opened it with a comforting smile. The two men stood on either side of you with a comforting hand somewhere on your body. Alfred welcomed you inside and you became slightly overwhelmed at the humongous mansion. But Dick and Jason accounted for it and easily talked to you and eased your fears.

▸Walking into the dining room was stressful as Alfred had announced ‘Master Bruce’ and the boys were already seated.

▸ The three of them were not prepared to see you. They expected someone a little rough in the edges like every other person in Gotham. But there was just a lingering spark in your eyes as you were introduced by your boyfriends to their family.

▸They had all became instantly attached, each seeing someone who was now apart of their disfuncional family.

▸Damian and Tim saw a new favorite sibling, Bruce saw ‘kid’ that was different the others. Someone who wasn’t ruined by Gotham.

▸ You sat at the head of the table, facing Bruce. Bruce had Tim and Damien on either side of him while Dick and Jason were on either side of you. Alfred had excused himself to go out tonight so it was just the 6 of them, leaving his seat empty.

▸ You were hesitant as you watched everyone pile food on their plates. Big portions of anything and everything that was on the table. Before even having to reach Jason and Dick had put food on your plate. Small portions, allowing you to try a little first.

▸After dinner that night you were officially apart of the family, you were invited over practically every day. Hanging out with everyone in the Batfam as if they were yours from the beginning.

▸But you were theirs. They were extremely protective and cautious about your health but they did approached it the right way, the way that would make you the most comfortable

▸Everyone contributed a little, helping build you up day by day, patience never wavering. They wanted you to feel comfortable and healthy with who you are and you eventually felt more confident with their support and love.

▸The Batfamily would never stop taking care of you, They would help you Whenver you needed it, cause they loved you no matter what.

[gwiyeounsonyeon]

Everyone(Neuro divergent Writers)

i wanted to share some tips that really helped me with my writers block so hopefully they help someone else who is like me. for the longest time i thought i just forgot how to write but i didn't and i get to see myself improving every day.

this is a pretty long post, its entirely word vomit and i go on a little spiel at the end about ai

Medication.

The biggest and most unexpected thing that helped me was getting medicated for my ADHD. Before taking Adderall, i never thought that my ADHD might be why i was struggling so hard to write and it was the same with everyone else too. Id get family hovering over my shoulder every time i came to them to express my fears about my rapidly declining literacy and writing skill, all saying that if I'm struggling that bad i just need to eat better or go on a walk or get some sunshine, like my brain works like everyone else's.

I was scared at first because id been on Adderall before and it just made me miserable but I'm super determined to continue writing and when i tried it, things started getting better. i found myself actually enjoying my writing process and getting excited to wake up. I'd sit at my desk and write for hours, yeah it would take me a few hours to just write a thousand words but that didn't matter because i was writing.

Changing What I Write On.

I write most of my stuff in google docs, sometimes i dabble with notion but there's too much to customize and i just get carried away. i was reading articles to help improve my basic writing skills because i retained absolutely nothing from school besides one wale fact i learned in science in like grade six and the entire bill nye song.

if you write on a computer or phone, a lot of the times you cant think of something might be because of the blank screen and the flashing cursor. i can come up with a thousand speculations as to why but i know that trying to write on a notebook sometimes makes things go smoother. i know its a hassle transferring that but for lazy writers who don't like reading through their work its actually really helpful for editing.

Changing Where I Write

One of the biggest reasons i gave up on writing was while in school i was a fountain of ideas, constantly writing in my notebook and not paying attention to the teachers.

this is probably the weirdest one but it worked for me. usually i try to find something on youtube like an informative video or a nature documentary, hate all you want but recently i found that asmr works too. find things where there isnt a lot of stuff happening, slow talkers, David Attenborough, one of those roleplay asmr's. hide the video, especially if you have adhd. i found that when i try writing in scilence, i get more bored and overstimulated, and when i write with music too often i get overstimulated. putting on videos like these are a great middle man, its not quiet and the sounds arent too high pitched or repetitive.

ill leave you with a few of the channels i like to use.

penguinz0

theweeklyslap

[ASMR]nara_나라 shes a korean youtuber, i like putting their k-pop idol make up roleplays on. they speak korean and its really nice to put on in the background when im brainstorming ideas.

Tingting ASMR another really good youtuber, they make a lot of roleplay videos, some of my favorites are the videos with the wigs. they have a wide variety of videos so its easy to jut click play all and not get overstimulated or annoyed.

Stimuli

things like pressure or fidget toys. i absolutely can not wright unless i have my headphones on, it doesnt matter what i try or if i do something else that usually works, unless i have my headphones i cant do anything.

i personally like hyperX cloud II, i have the wireless ones. theyre light and they have a long lasting battery. theyre on the more expensive side so i apologize but they are worth every penny.

i also sort of like MOVSSOU but i dont use them a lot, they're a Bluetooth headset with a noise cancelling feature that i like to have when i sleep, but i like the pressure, i just dont like the roundness the over ear speakers have. these are still a little expensive but not as bad as the other ones.

i also found that wearing pants inhibits my writing process, as weird as it sounds, its really comfortable to just lounge and write in my underwear.

i know its different for everybody but for neuro divergent people the little things matter the most. pay attention to what you do when you wright; what time of day do you usually write in, where do you write at, what are you wearing, what are you looking at, did you eat, did you shower before. if you need to write these things down and experiment; try writing at a different time, try writing in different clothes or in no clothes. don't be embarrassed about what helps you, as long as you're not hurting yourself or other people it should be completely fine.

Drafts

like a complete moron i forgot about drafting. i didn't really forget, it just seemed pointless, i wasn't writing much so what's the point.

there is a point and its a life changer.

for some people writing is hard or it can become a burden or a chore, especially for people who share their works because theres a lot of pressure. you can say you dont care and you might not but you have to admit its a little daunting trying to figure out if your sentence is legible or not.

next time you write, i want you to stop thinking about everything else. all that matters right now is getting your thoughts on the page, fuck grammar, fuck spelling, it doesnt matter.

how do you write? do you picture the scenario? to the words just come to you? do that. if you picture things when you write just sit back and watch it like a movie, type what you see. don't worry about realism, don't worry whether or not your character has four limbs. just write what comes into your head and when your done take a break. get up and walk around, drink water, eat a snack, move away from your computer or notebook or whatever else and take a breather. when you come back read it out loud, shout it, murmur it, it doesn't matter. edit as you go, if something doesn't sound right rewrite it, if you stumble over your words try to simplify your sentence.

outside help

i really struggle with this because i dont have anyone im confident in sharing this stuff with but if you do ask for help proofreading.

if you're like me and you don't try ai. don't rely on it to do everything for you, that's lazy and youre not really writing.

use it to help simplify your run on sentences or help with grammar, if theres a sentence in your story that needs to be changed but youre blanking get an ai to help rework it.

especially if you struggle with ideas and need help, roleplaying with bots is also a good way to help get ideas organized and help visualize a situation. i know a while ago when i was struggling with feeling pressured and the stress that i felt like i was carrying the brunt of everything and i used character ai to help me visualize ideas and work out storylines i had no idea how to put into words or continue.

especially in areas where im really weak in, like plots and story pllans, ai is really good to help get your jumbled ideas out when you dont have another person to rely on for assistance. not only that but their messages are concise and organized and its less overwhelming sorting through the information.

ive been using

Creative_WritingsE on poe.ai to help me write the story guide and plot lines for the sanji fic im working on.

and i just started playing around with sudowrite to help me edit my drafts and help with my awful grammar and punctuation.

but please remember to be conscious when using ai, if its for writing or drawing. people work hard to develop these skills and get to where they are today and when people come along calling themselves artists or authors when all they did was pay for a program and type a few words into a box that most likely stole work from other people, it feels degrading.

imagine you're in school and you were assigned a project that you are really passionate about and you work really hard on, pouring over it tirelessly. not just for the grade but because its something you genuinely like and it makes you happy. then when you go into school the next day you find out one of your classmates snuck photos of your project and all they did was change how it looked but nothing else and they get the recognition for it. it feels shitty and honestly it takes the joy out of doing the thing you love.

[glasshouses-and-stones]

✨️ writer questionnaire ✨️

Thank you @agirlandherquill tagging me!

✨️My ao3 is tagged in the pinned post on my blog!✨️

-

About Me:

When did you first start writing?

I've been writing stories since I could string sentences together, and we always had to write creative stories in school, but I didn't seriously start to write until I was in about the 6th or 7th grade. I started out writing kpop rpf lollllll.

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

I write mostly romance in different forms, which I do love to read, but I also read a wide variety of genres. I enjoy reading classics that expand into things like tragedies and adventure, and I also love reading horror and murder mysteries, which I haven't written before. I might one day, though...

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you're often compared?

Not that I can think of. I probably pick up different styles of writing as I read, but I don't have specific names in mind when I write. Though, it really depends on what I'm writing. All of my novels have different styles of writing depending on who the narrator is. And if I'm writing a fanfic based off of a book, I'll try to emulate their style to the best of my ability. I think it's really fun!

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

My writing spaces is wherever I can strike up the motivation to write. In class, when riding in a car, when chilling at home. Though, most of my writing happens when I'm laying in bed, trying to sleep or just waking up.

What's your most effective way to muster up some muse?

I get ideas when I listen to music, read others' writing, and watch TV. Songs often give me ideas for stories, especially by artists who make great pining songs like Conan Gray and Taylor Swift. But I can get inspiration for stories from literally anything. Too many ideas and not enough motivation to write them.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

I would say a little. Most of my ideas take place in cities, unlike the rural town I live in. Though, my characters often have upbringings like that: homophobic parents in a small town. And most of my characters also live in suburbs, so.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

Yes, pining. All of my characters pine after someone at some point, whether in my original stories or my fanfics. And no, it doesn't surprise me because I'm someone who pines a lot. I have a gf, and I still pine after her, so I'm pretty much a lost cause at this point.

-

My Characters:

Would you please tell me about your current favourite character? (Current WIP, Past WIP, Never Used, etc)

It would have to be Christian Laine, the main character from my current WIP Soup of the Day. He's a single dad struggling to get his life back together a few years after his divorce. He's awkward and terribly repressed and possibly autistic. He just wants to get out of his house and make friends who aren't his four year old daughter, but he was always bad at that, and he definitely does not know how to do that now as a 34 year old. He'll figure it out. Eventually.

Which of your characters do you think you'd be friends with in real life?

I'd love to be Christian's friend! But probably Marquis from my last WIP Neighbors Can Be So Hostile, Right? He's friendly and a little snarky and very gay. I'd make him cook for me, but I'd sit and let him tell me all about his plants. I think that's a fair trade.

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

Uhhhh, probably Evan in Soup of the Day. He's kinda rude and probably wouldn't like me anyways.

Tell me about the process of coming up with one, all, or any of your characters.

I usually start stories in my head, and the characters evolve depending on what personality fits the plot the best. I always treat my characters as real people and try to come up with the most realistic person I can—someone who could be encountered anywhere and is relatable. I try to give my main characters traits that are interesting and distinctive, and my love interests are usually complements to them (but are able to stand as their own characters). I love instilling my characters with things that will make them lovable, and I think they're all somewhat an extension of myself.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

Almost all of my main characters are men, which needs to be changed. Oh, and most of them have at least one parent who don't support them/a difficult childhood. Other than that, not really. Oh, well, they're all queer.

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc)

I picture them all as real people. I struggle a little imagining their faces (but I can describe them), but the rest of them I can see clearly. They have their own characteristics and styles.

-

My Writing:

What's your reason for writing?

I write because I love it. I love bringing ideas and people to life, and I love sharing them with others. Even if I never write anything down, I'll always create stories in my mind. I might as well capture them.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

Anything, really! All of it means so much to me.

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who "gets" the human condition; as a talented world builder, as a role model, etc)

I just want my readers to think I write stuff for their enjoyment because that's a part of why I share my work.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Coming up with ideas is by far my greatest. I have docs and docs of ideas. My inspiration comes from anything and everything.

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

Writing feelings and injecting them into my stories. I'm glad they come across correctly!

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question)

I enjoy my writing! I tend to write what I like to read, so you can find me rereading over my own stories often. Sometimes I wish I had a more elegant style, but most of my stories don't call for that, I don't worry about it.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Absolutely. Otherwise, the ideas would plague me, and I would never get anything done. I'd probably get more writing done, to be honest. I have to keep myself fed, after all.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? if it's a mix of the two, which holds most influence?

It's a mix; I write what I like and hope others enjoy it, too. But ultimately, I write what I enjoy. I tell myself stories to past time and entertain myself, and then I might write them down. That's usually my process. But I always think about how there's probably at least one other person that would enjoy this, too, so I share it.

Thank you for tagging me, again! This was super fun :)

Tag list: @floweryprosegarden, @charlesjosephwrites, @riveriafalll, @willtheweaver, @chayscribbles, @willowseed, @zackprincebooks, @dyoniawrites +Open Tag

(Sorry if I've tagged you and you've already done this. I'm kind of late to the party.)

[distortedclouds]

You're so pretty... Left Behind/filler BW Set: Somewhere between chapters 20 and 21 Rating: G Wordcount: 1.2k Tags: Flufff

Her eyeslids still feel like they’re sticking to each other when she finally manages a firm grip, one on the doorknob and the other around the key, turning the two with a low click. She should’ve taken the time to light a lamp because the street lights around here are a pathetic excuse.

The insistent knocking lasts to the very last second the wood of the door is within reach. It’s not like Annie could’ve slept through it.

“Took you long enough,” Hitch elongates the words in a way Annie would’ve found as endearing as always if it wasn’t one of the first things to hear being ripped out of bed without even the brains to fetch more than a light cardigan.

“I found it!” Armin yells out triumphantly and with a wide smile to match the flush on his cheeks. He yanks his hand almost violently from his coat pocket, fingers grasping a shiny key, while his other is firmly in Hitch’s and around her shoulder, where she’s, very kindly, making sure he doesn’t fall face first into the muddy street at this hour of the night. Alas, his joy doesn’t last long when he’s dragged inside, having missed the opportunity to actually put it to use.

“I wouldn’t have minded if you’d borrowed him for the entire night,” Annie mutters, a hand rubbing over her face and shoving her hair out of the way. She still steps to the side and lets them in, counting their steps until she could shove the door back closed to keep most of the cold out. 

“Oh, no, no, no~ I couldn’t possibly do that to you, Annie dear,” Hitch says, face adorned with a similar flush and voice lacking much structure as she delegates the task of keeping Armin upright to the stair’s railing. She instead leans back against the wall, appearing fully unbothered by the smell of alcohol that wafted in with the both of them. “Also he wouldn’t stop talking about you. It was kinda annoying.” 

“I try not to take everything he says while drunk seriously,” Annie says, watching him struggle to take two more steps up the stairs before she finally catches up with him, replacing Hitch under his shoulder. He complains, but she ignores it. The last thing they need is a run to the hospitable for a concussion in the middle of the night. “You can stay the night in the spare room. I’ll fetch you another blanket.”

Hitch waves her hand at her like she’s swatting away a fly, a tiny hiccup almost erupting from her throat. “No, don’t worry about it. I’ll just head home.”

“You sure?” Annie stops to look at the Hitch from over her shoulder, Armin almost missing the railing at the abrupt change of pace.

“Yeah, yeah, sure. Just some water.” 

“Kitchen,” Annie nods the knock opposite the stairs and trusts her to know the rest. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time, really” she giggles stupidly and pushes herself off the wall and towards the kitchen.

Continuing on up the stairs, Annie hears the distinct sound of water, and it’s not unaccompanied by glass shattering or dangerously clattering, so it’s probably fine. Dragging Armin up the last few steps and into their room proves significantly easier once her body joins her mind in being somewhat awake.

“There!” Annie lets him drop down on the bed, and she almost falls on top of him when he proceeds to lie down instead of sitting, legs hanging off the edge of the bed. His arms feel so heavy that she can’t tell whether he tried to hold her to him or if that was simply their weight on her waist. “Don’t sleep in your clothes. They stink.”

She pulls out one of his shirts from the closet it and chucks it at him. He moves to catch it a couple of seconds too late, but he gets up and begins to wrestle his way out of the many layers he put on in the morning, starting with his military green coat. Annie’s glad she never got to wear this variety of uniform; it looks even more uncomfortable than the leather harness.

“I’ll go check up on Hitch,” she announces, leaving after he hums in understanding. Back on the ground floor, she finds Hitch still in the kitchen, making her way into what could be her second or third glass of room-temperature water and looking progressively more sober already. “Did you have to get him this drunk? You know he’s got the tolerance of a toddler.”

Annie takes the glass from her when she gestures that she’s done, putting it in the sink. No one needs to be doing the dishes just past midnight.

“If I didn’t, you would’ve had a wishy-washy—probably sobby, even—Armin on your hands right now. You should be thanking me, actually.” Annie doesn’t say anything, continuing to stand with her arms crossed by the sink. “Well, I should get going,” Hitch declares a little too loud and a little too cheerful as she untucks and pulls the collar of her coat higher around her neck. Yeah, it’s probably cold out there.

“You sure you don’t wanna stay the night?”

“I’m sure.” She pats Annie’s shoulder on the way out.

Annie doesn’t press or object, faring her goodnight and locking the door behind her, not sticking for long to hear her footsteps fade into the quiet of the night that now seeps into the corners of the house.

She hates it when things are this quiet. She should sleep until there are more signs of life to rouse her ears. Upstairs, Annie isn’t sure whether she should be surprised or not that Armin is still on the third layer, struggling greatly with the undoing of the tiny buttons of his shirt even when he seems to be giving it his all—judging by the frown wrinkling his brows and forehead.

“Here, let me,” she grumbles with a low sigh that draws out softly near the end.

Annie sits next to him at the foot of the bed and proceeds to undo the remaining two thirds of the buttons. He doesn’t attempt to get in her way, but she can feel his eyes on her; the quiet sound of his breathing not far from her face, and it pleasantly tickles her ears whenever it overlaps with her own. She’s yet to find anything better to interrupt the silence than the sound of his voice.

“I can feel you staring.”

“You’re so pretty,” he says in a low murmur, almost a whisper.

Annie makes a point to yank at the last button, making him flinch when she throws the two sides of his shirt open around his chest. “Get dressed,” she stressed, shoving the clean shirt into his hands. Annie goes back down the stairs and into the kitchen, filling an empty glass to the brim with room-temperature water and trying not to take anything he says while drunk seriously.

[hornsketch]

hey there! ive finally made an art blog! im going to try post more just… stuff, as usually i reserve my art posts for either special occaisions or specifically public-oriented works, and it kinda bums me out to not just have a place to dump my art anymore, so here you go!

(more details and helpful info below!)

who are you?

in hopes of providing some relevant lenses to view my work through, ill give some personal details here. if these lenses dont suit your interpretation of the work, thats alright! view as you please, though i do still think these will always be important context in said viewings.

my name is zelda (she/her) and im a queer jewish 20something who struggles quite a bit with illness both physical and mental.

ive always been kind of enthralled by impressionism and what it really means to use suggestion and spirit as a stronger tool than portrayal and form.

i have a particular draw to fantasy and magical aesthetics, especially the world-building within.

i am a serial overthinker, and tend to see alot of meaning and symbolism in things that plainly do not have them.

while yes i am jewish, my relation to faith is complicated. if you see me type “god” im using it in a turn of phrase with no meaning. if you see me type out “g-d” i am being religious. yes i know thats not how its supposed to work. its meaningful to me.

what will you post?

as previously mentioned, here im trying to make a concerted effort to post a broader variety of things with a wide selection in quality and topic, so unfortunately here the only real uniting theme is going to have to be that i made it. still! to help navigate the space, listed below will be a list of tags i will try to keep to, all of which this post will also be tagged as, since i know tumblr search can be finicky.

#the self and the other

these will be about me, my friends and loved ones, or possibly both

#differing mediums

these pertain to other works or universes, as well as fan content

#harsh tones

this is gonna be the rough stuff. topics will be tagged as needed.

#jaunty doodles

funny business. shenanigans, even.

#lesssfw

listen this blog is for a wide breadth of content, so please if you do not want to, or otherwise should not be seeing mild to moderate nsfw content (i dont rlly plan on posting straight up porn here) block this tag.

wait— is there anywhere you do post more direct nsfw?

maybe, yeah. but before any of that i would like to set some ground rules. these are my spaces for me to share my work for others to see. if you arent a fan of what i post, ill make no attempts to dissuade you from that. your discomfort is your right. I would however request that you dont make your discomfort an issue i am epxected to remedy. ill have no harsh feelings if you arent a fan of my less safe for work content, or even anything it may tangentially relate to, and need to take the necessary steps to curate your experience in those regards. i will be far less than happy if people cant behave because i post content that is not to their personal tastes, within reason.

all of that being said, yes, if you are an adult fan of my other work, feel free to check out @shinyspadetiptail

do you take commissions?

yeah, usually. im not really at the point where i have to close and open them for availability reasons, so shoot me a dm and ill usually be able to give you a response pretty quick on.

price tends to vary by project, and i always set $20 per hour of canvas time as my baseline, but generally simpler stuff like limited detail icons and emojis run in the $20-$30 range, while fully detailed halfbodies tend to run in the $40-$50 range, and fully done fullbodies range more $70-$80. aside from that, backgrounds are a little too context dependent to put a full price estimate on and extra characters can and will cost extra.

usually whatll happen is after laying out the basic price range we’ll talk, and ill thumbnail until we have smth we can agree on, and once weve got an idea of what were going for ill give an estimate that ill try to stick close to, barring any major changes or complications. from then on ill try to send updates whenever i work, and then when im relatively close to finished ill ask for the payment either through paypal or cashapp, after which ill send on the finished piece and any expected variations. in some cases, this may be changed, and payment may be done half at the start, and half when relatively close to completion.

[ambriel-angstwitch]

So weird AU idea I got that literally came to me in a Dream.

Sofia the first My Hero Academia AU. Though after I continued to come up with ideas it began to turn into a Tangled the series MHA AU as well

So the premise is Sofia is in a way the Midoriya of this story she is born quirkless. Before the series starts her mother marries Roland the Second who is the Owner of the most successful support item industry, and as well as a pro hero (quirk- steel like TetsuTetsu) though he’s mostly retired from hero work to focus on his kids. Her two step siblings are James whose quirk is steel which he inherited from his father and Amber whose quirk is jewel shields (like Rarity in EQG). Amber inherited her quirk from their mother who died in a fight against a villain when they were very young. James is pretty nice to Sofia off of the bat but Amber is a bit quirkest and is mean to Sofia (similar to her being mean to Sofia when they first meet in the original series, and her reasons for being mean to her in the original series still stand, she doesn’t like what seems like an intrusion on their family.)

She is a big Fan of the Pro-Hero Cinder, who is actually in a way this stories version of All Might. Cinder (Cinderella) was born with a simple spark quirk which was relatively useless but combined with another vestiges power of energy she was able to make flames. (I know with recent reveals about OFA her having a quirk would be slightly problematic but this is an au and it makes sense for the backstory I have in my head)

The other Vestiges with their quirks are (in no particular order):

Belle - Energy - (Used it for healing)

Tiana - animal shapeshifter

Snow White - Snow powers

Aurora- Anivoice

Jasmine - Size changing

Mulan - Super Strength

Ariel - Mermaid transformation and water control (like Cleo from H20 just add water)

Elena is the original vestige

Obviously with the different powers the plot will take some different turns. But I wanted to give Sofia powers that she uses in the show instead of just making her a gender bent Deku of sorts.

Now for our UA staff. I kind of want Cedric to be our Version of Aizawa, first of all because I adore him but also because he has that disgruntled vibe where he pretends he hates kids but is willing to die for them. The quirk I’m going to give for him is called the Wild Card. I came up with the idea for it based off of the fact that his spells often don’t go to as planned. It means that he has a wide variety of powers which are activated through card tricks. When he was younger he struggled with control and things blew up his face (often literally) he had to learn what certain combinations and types of cards meant and would produce.

Merida is a pro hero and her quirk is Predator Vision (a real MHA quirk that) because I wanted her to have a cool quirk that would assist her but I still wanted her bow skills to be her own (though I did for a bit consider making her like Lady Nagant). I love Merida so I had to include her and she just didn’t fit as a vestige so a pro hero it was. Sofia interns under her.

Princess Ivy is our version of Shiggy. Her black and white dragonflies which she produces are able to consume anything (instead of erasing memory like they did in STF) similar to how Shiggy can decay stuff.

Vor is All for One. She has the same powers and everything. I’m tempted to make her related to Elena somehow because I kind of like that aspect of the AFO/OFA struggle. It’s my au I could do whatever I wanted I could make them sisters if I desired and I am kind of tempted to.

Rapunzel’s backstory is that she has been held by Mother Gothel who is part of a mafia (Zhan Tiri). She has the similar powers to what she has in the show/movie her hair glows and reverses damage. She is sort of this story’s Eri. Mother Gothel can produce black or blue rocks that are unbreakable, as can her daughter Cassandra.

Cassandra was adopted by a policeman after a raid on a quirk trafficking ring by some hero’s. She resents her mother because she abandoned her. When her quirk came in her father was surprised to realize that she was Mother Gothel’s daughter but loved her nonetheless. The same could not be said for the others around her most people her age started ignoring her or antagonizing her from that point on. She decided she wanted to follow in her fathers footsteps and help people so she enrolls in the hero course. Eventually her and Sofia are part of the mission later to save Rapunzel

(This has been in my drafts since my Sofia the First hyperfixation. I wanted to make it more fleshed out and I kind of have but I’ve decided just to post it as is. If anyone is interested I can elaborate on parts of it but right now this is it. Also though I doubt anyone would anyone can use any concepts I present here as long as I get credit.)

[snarkythewoecrow]

Truth or Dare Tag Game

Okay, I am totally avoiding all my wips right now, so doing this instead, thanks @underwaterninja13

Which friends/mutuals would you call to hide a body?

@buckybeardreams I feel they would help without too many questions, and probably those would only be where and when, and if I needed a shovel

How many user subscriptions do you have on Ao3?

eh, more than some, less than others, but it's in the 4 digits

Do you have a crush on someone? OR If you're with someone, tell us one thing you love about them.

my hubby cuz he's ride or die, and didn't get all cranky yesterday when informed him in had spilt an ice coffee on the spare clip to my gun, and then kinda forgot to tell him for two days, and it had like caramel in it, and yeah, it was sticky and gross, but he cleaned it all for me, and still loved me after, and my bestie denim cuz they know all the right things to say when shit is extra shitty

What does the last DM/text you sent say?

(we were discussing tommy/buck lol)

totally, like all his other relationships were shit shows waiting to crash and burn, and like it showed, hence needing to talk to bobby every time about them, but like, yeah, with tommy it's different, it's a whole different vibe, mature and safe, for once his relationship isn't chaos and built on some weird and unhealthy foundation, like what he has with Tommy is just so different because if you think about it, he is the first person that doesn't want Buck to be something he's not, doesn't want anything from him other than to be part of his company, Tommy is patient and just wants him, wants Evan, and like there is no drama attached to it, they are equals and meeting with mutual understanding of careers, like they can just be and Buck doesn't need to struggle against what he'd faced in the past, partners only seeing him as a hero or a slut or as an object of death to study, like he really can just be himself with tommy

List the three friends/mutuals with the best takes.

@kittyneedsbetterhobbies @buckybeardreams

Share one of your favorite fics of all time.

yeah, I just went and stared at my bookmarks and then closed the tab cuz got overwhelmed, seriously, it's so all mood related for me, but there are some that are memorial for me, for sure, so maybe a few randoms that i recall enjoying but might be lesser known:

Jar of Hearts by Cupcakemolotov -- Caroline/Klaus (Vampire Diaries)

Of Old Soldiers and Missing Wars by NonchalantxFish -- Steve Rogers & Tom Riddle (MCU and HP)

of stitches and first meetings by buckaroos -- Buck/Eddie (911 but kinda crossed with supernatural)

List three of your favorite content creators.

wrinkling my nose at "content creators" being used as a term here, but anyway, definitely @voxofthevoid and um, pretty sure I don't have any others that stick out

Write one thing you love about yourself.

that i'm getting much better at being myself, no matter how weird that may be to some

Which fandom of yours (past or present) has the best fics?

idk, depends what you want to read, some fandoms are smaller, some focus more on wholesome shit, some are more big enough to include a wide variety of fuckery, so best depends on what's best to you at the time, but the bigger and older the fandom, the more likely the writers have life experience and actually had anal before which, my god, unless you like a finger in your ass for foreplay, my god, what is with the one-two-three fingers, you're all stretched, now let's go, shit? like every time??? anyway, continuing on......

Which creation of your own are you the most proud of?

Came back to edit and scratch that answer out, I really like and maybe not the most proud of, but definitely up there:

a little dented (but definitely not broken) by snarkymuch --this was important to me for many reasons, but proud of how it turned it, and of the emotion it captured

uh... not me forgetting everything i've ever written rn, um, i like a lot of the self harm ones, with buck/eddie, the emotion was nice to write, the build and tension, tbh, i'm blanking--i mean, the pikachu one was cute, also can't remember what it's called rn though, something like, I choose you pikachu (and other ways two idiots say i love you) <--could be way off on title there

Have you ever read RPF?

not really, though kinda suppose that's what I do with my friend by accident all the time when talking fic ideas

Tag the mutual(s)/friend(s) most likely to get away with murder.

probably myself, or like me and @buckybeardreams

Tag the mutual(s)/friend(s) who know(s) the most about you.

@buckybeardreams and weirdly, pretty sure @plotbunnypettingzoo has picked up so many random facts from reading my posts and talking to me

Now tag some friends to play!

@plotbunnypettingzoo @buckybeardreams @kittyneedsbetterhobbies and anyone else interested

[calithecretin]

Hey everyone! I still don’t like most of my art well enough to post it, so here are some Mistress-specific headcanons for now! I’m genuinely surprised how many I have lol

-In contrast to the warden’s noodley physique, the mistress is actually pretty dang toned and enjoys working out

-She can actually shapeshift and alter her appearance just like the warden, just does it less often and for more practical matters (such as changing clothes and making herself look nice)

-Honestly a pretty nice person once you get to know her, and even a little quirky, though before Stingstress she covered it up with her cold and stern persona

-Like the warden, she had a very bad childhood that led to her completely leaving reality and building “the greatest prison in the universe”, maybe I’ll write her one someday lol

-Was born in 1965, due to the same age regression as the warden she appears to be in her late 20s

-Is a lesbian and was never really attracted to Stingray, warden or Bruce (except for that one time with the bees but we don’t talk about that)

-Had a LOT of bad past relationships (hence the line “eh, I’ve been called worse things than a thing”)

-LOVES Pixar movies, but refused to tell anyone until after she changed into a peace-loving hippie

-Similar to how the warden suffers from nightmares, she struggles with sleep paralysis and gets it several times a month

-5’8, slightly taller than the warden

-Listens to a wide variety of music, but her current favorite is 60s-70s psychedelic rock due to being a hippie (duh). She also enjoys heavy metal and lofi.

-Since warden has a real name, I feel like a name that suits her is Lucy :) still working on a HC last name

That’s all so far! She’s genuinely one of my favorite SJ characters, even though I think she was kinda done dirty by the writers and I wish she had more screen time ^_^

[le-amewzing]

Two Minutes for Two

Am I desperately hoping for Starling to be upped to series regular (for a variety of reasons)? You bet. ;w;

Fic: "Two Minutes for Two" [FFN] [AO3]

Pairings/Characters: Starling/Jake Madden

Rating: K

Words: ~1,230

Additional info: romance, angst, 3rd person POV

Summary: Officially, Jake and Starling have broken up. But they still live on the same planet, in the same country, so they're bound to cross paths as regular people do. So Starling exercises her powers for a moment to live like a regular person, even if briefly.

      The Hero League demands a lot of its superheroes. Fight crime. Be a good role model. Always be spotted smiling.

      Starling has juggled a full schedule for years without trouble, and those first two items have never been a problem. But that last one? That hasn't been a struggle until after ColossaCon brought her to Valley View—and all the heartache that's followed.

      Whenever Valley View and a certain resident come to mind, Starling takes a breath, centering herself on whatever task is at hand. Yesterday was an episode of her show. This morning was a commercial before the League contacted her, reminding her about taking her turn to patrol her assigned quadrant.

      Yeah, patrolling is a great distraction. Patrolling is one of her easier tasks, and it's something Starling handles with ease. Dropping in on a bad guy mid-crime spree? Just her average day at work. Stopping to take selfies with her adoring fans? Work, too, but that's the icing on top, that's the fun stuff.

      …it's a little less fun when a young, teen couple asks her to take a selfie with them. Starling obliges, but her mind once more wanders to Jake and to her brief time spent together with him.

      After she passes the phone back to the couple, Starling shoots back up into the sky, trying to get her head straight again. She's got to finish her patrol duty before this evening, since she's meeting her manager at a new company that wants to ask her to shoot yet another new series of commercials.

      But Starling's patrol takes her to the edge of the community parked right beside Valley View, and she hesitates.

      The young superhero glances around her. No…the skyline's clear. No one's around for miles…

      Temptation beckons, so Starling hovers a little higher—and then she takes off, including Valley View in her patrol just for today. (It'll be a little secret between her and her cape; no one else will ever know.)

      She kind of wishes she'd had the time to explore the place when she last visited. She and Jake couldn't exactly go out and about, and the convention schedule before that barely allowed Starling time to breathe let alone go adventuring. But, seeing it now, in autumn, she rather likes it. Valley View's a pretty place, well deserving of its name.

      Flying above this place nearly scratches her itch. Starling zips around for a couple minutes, thinking of doing a full loop before heading back to her assigned quadrant, when someone catches her eye.

      Jake.

      He's coming down the street, casual and by himself, without a care in the world. He takes a right (her left) into a quaint, neighborhood supermarket, disappearing amongst the other shoppers coming and going.

      Starling chews on her bottom lip. She caught a glimpse of him—she should be satisfied with that, shouldn't she? And yet she hovers, ignoring her duties just a bit longer.

      A couple minutes later, Jake emerges with a small bag dangling off his arm. Then he glances left, ready to head home—

      —but Starling gives in to her want and lands safely beside the building before concentrating and freezing time.

      She takes two shaky breaths and nears the mouth of the alleyway. She didn't even have to go peeking, really, because Jake, a fellow super-powered being and not one of her many targets, comes jogging around the corner, his eyes wide and searching. His eyebrows jump into his hairline when he spies her.

      "Hi," she offers with a strained smile (strained because it's been too long, strained because this particular power is exhausting).

      His shock doesn't fade even as he closes the distance. But, actually, Starling reads some fear in his charming looks once he's within arm's reach. "I can't believe— But—" Jake whips his head around and glances behind him, too.

      Starling's smile softens as she tucks him into a blind spot, behind the large recycling bin that blocks the store's frozen security camera's view. "I won't get in trouble if I don't get caught. But I don't want you or your family hurt, either."

      Jake inhales and exhales; it's a big, steadying breath, because he's still wrapping his head around the reality that Starling is here, she's really in front of him. "I don't want any of those things, either…so why, Starling?"

      "I thought we could have a moment together."

      He frowns.

      And Starling knows exactly why. She has all the left-on-read text messages that she couldn't bear to delete as a reminder. "…I miss you," she says, finally confessing the words she's refused to admit until now.

      Unfortunately, his frown deepens to a grimace, and he pulls his arm—still loosely in Starling's grasp—away. He shakes his head. "Star, look. I…I don't want to jeopardize my family. I don't want to hurt my sister, either," he adds, referencing Havoc's epic tantrum the last time she encountered Starling. Then he musters a weak smile for her and tucks his hands into his pockets. His right hand clamps down on something. "…despite that, it feels as if my phone's been burning a hole in my pocket, not texting or calling you anymore, let alone seeing you."

      His words light a spark of hope in her chest that she knows is one thing: dangerous. But that's the hero in her talking. The plain and simple girl behind the mask feels her eyes growing damp with the threat of happy tears. And then Starling falters.

      Jake catches her. "Starling!"

      She shakes her head, though she's glad for that super strength keeping her steady. "It's all right. I'm still practicing this power and I don't have nearly enough stamina to use it for too long." She looks up at him and brushes some hair out of her face. "Our time's almost up."

      His grip on her tightens, for a fleeting second.

      "Thanks for not ignoring me or running away the moment you saw me…" She laughs at herself a bit, but she can't help looking up into his eyes again. "I really did just want to see and speak with you again, Jake."

      Jake nods and lets her go. He stays put and watches as she takes a few steps backwards in the alley.

      …but she can't leave him, looking as lonely as she feels, so Starling walks forward and sinks into Jake's arms instead.

      Jake wraps his arms around her. There, in his arms, time stops anew for another moment. Then he kisses the top of her head, and time gets moving again.

      It's easier to go this time. Starling backs away still looking at him as if committing Jake Madden to memory, and they make no promises to meet like this ever again.

      He doesn't even try to hold on to her hand when she begins to levitate off the ground, but her heart skips a beat that last second when their fingers are linked.

      High up above, Starling watches as her temporal power diminishes and regular life resumes. Shoppers keep coming and going, traffic picks up at this time of day, and Jake heads out on the sidewalk, melding in with the crowd as if nothing happened.

      But…something did, in a way, and Starling watches his back fondly, contemplating that maybe she ought to train harder so she can extend the duration they can meet in the future….

SO. Some hcs thrown in here, about Starling's time-freezing power mostly (I'd still love to know exactly where Centropolis is and how far from Valley View it is), but I like to think that, the more the creators develop the lore (and hopefully they do it well TT-TT), the more interesting things will get and the more hope Jarling will have, bc I do think they're cute. ;w; Altho, *lol*, as I type this, it's still mid-October and I've only watched thru e13, so I'm waiting to be fed more Jarling moments to soothe the soul (esp since we're getting Hartmy feels in spades). -w- I s'pose, in the meantime, it's time to draw Starling?? She's adorable. XD

Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave an anon/unsigned review via the FFN link or comment via the AO3 link at the top of the post, especially if you enjoyed this!

~mew