#and it’s such an interesting dynamic to play with

[fox-guardian]

[ID: Five digital drawings comparing the original crew of the Tulpar from Mouthwashing with their Anti-Tulpar versions. Each have lists of traits next to them.

First image is Curly. Regular curly is standing plainly and smiling off to the side. Anti-Curly is facing the viewer directly in a wide stance. He is wearing gloves, boots and spurs, and a hat, as well as a gun holster, and he has a cartoonish smile and "pie eyes".

Text reads:

Curly: laid back leader, prioritizes morale, friendly, non-violent, unsatisfied as captain.

Anti-Curly: follows policy closely, rules with an iron fist (+ spurs), hostile, cartoonishly violent (oops), being a captain is All He Has.

Second is Jimmy. Regular Jimmy is facing the viewer with a bored expression. Anti-Jimmy is smiling, slightly hunched in and waving with one foot raised. He's wearing soda jewelry, his clothes have green and pink patches, his hair is dyed and in a ponytail, and he has slash scars across his face and is missing his middle finger.

Text reads:

Jimmy: Plain, not very expressive, deeply insecure, quiet, silver-tongued, short-sighted, doesn't consider consequences.

Anti-Jimmy: Expressive + accessorizes, secure in his identity, Loud, struggles in conversation, overthinker + hates to cause harm.

Third is Anya. Regular Anya smiles softly with one hand over her chest. Anti-Anya glares at the viewer, slouching with one hand on her hip. She has glasses, a ponytail, a black turtleneck, and is wearing crocs.

Text reads:

Anya: Tries to see the best in people, Fawn response, Stubborn and hardworking, Cares about health and safety, kind.

Anti-Anya: cynical, fight response, gives up easily, careless, cruel.

Fourth is Daisuke. Regular Daisuke has one hand in his pocket, the other waving as he smiles. Anti-Daisuke is partially hunched with his hands clasped anxiously. His hair is plain and he's wearing a burgundy cardigan and white vans.

Text reads:

Daisuke: Outgoing, Directionless, Helpful, Yapper, People Pleaser.

Anti-Daisuke: Reserved, Driven, Doesn't like being asked to help, hates small talk, spiteful.

Last is Swansea. Regular Swansea is frowning to the side with his hands on his hips. Anti-Swansea smiles with a hand behind his head. He's wearing suspenders, work boots, has leather patches on his knees, and rosy cheeks.

Text reads:

Swansea: Just keeps saying shit, teaches through his experience, rough around the edges, knows he's not a good person, gets groovy when drunk.

Anti-Swansea: man of few words, "fuck around and find out" teaching style, sweet exterior, thinks he's a good person, gets wallowy when drunk.

end ID]

~~~~

THE ANTI-TULPAR CREW ARRIVES!! hopefully they were worth the wait uwu

idk exactly how most other anti-aus work, but to gather my general thoughts together, basically i'm flipping several Core Traits (the lists in the pics are by no means comprehensive, just enough to get a vibe) to flip their personalities. this ends up flipping their dynamics quite a bit as well, ofc. anti-curly is a very.... Dramatic antagonist. the setting, however, stays the same. i'm not flipping pony express or anything like that, it wouldn't be as interesting to me to change Everything. i mostly made this au to play around with character designs and swapped dynamics and stuff and to see how things would go if the people were different while their circumstances aren't.

also. it turns out when you take a generally shitty person and make someone who is the Opposite of those things, you get someone generally pretty pleasant.

So Expect More Anti-Jimmy AJSHDADJHKASJHKD

[alexandra-erin]

I loved the episode of Adventure Academy where Sam is the guest and they talk about their comic dynamic in terms of Brennan as Daffy Duck and Sam as Bugs Bunny, but I struggled watching it because my initial reaction -- as someone who identifies with Brennan -- was "But how can Brennan be the heel when HE'S RIGHT?"...

Then I heard how those words sounded and realized that's a very Daffy kind of declaration, in the context of any scenario outside his control (which includes any second banana situation with Bugs), and now I really want to hear someone good at voices record Brennan's climactic Game Changer rants with Daffy's voice and delivery.

Vic's performances on stuff like Game Changer and certain Make Some Noise minigames is interesting because I think a lot of it comes from a place of deciding that if the game in front of them doesn't suit them, they will find their own game to play.

Like the celebrity photo challenge... Mr. Lou Wilson is constantly meeting celebrities as part of his regular day job, so Vic might as well win a game of their own devising than inevitably come up short in Sam's game. Same deal with the remote photo challenge, and punting on getting the most followers for the sake of the gag where they only had followers they knew personally.

Then by contrast you also have stuff like the voice mail challenge, where Vic went through incredibly elaborate lengths with the resources available to them in order to deliver the most unremarkable message, something completely anodyne except for the alluring anomaly of not being Vic's voice, baiting an opening for the reveal of how far they'd actually gone to deliver that anticlimax. It was a shaggy dog story in real life. Doing the most to deliver the least. I can't think of anything else like it.

It's fascinating because I think Vic might have a fear of failure that they deal with by being aggressively okay with failure as long as it's on their own terms, like crafting their talk show host persona to be both unlikeable and pathetic.

Brennan's ethos is that he doesn't care about winning as long as his performance is judged fairly and he does his best, but Vic asks the question "...best at what, exactly? And who decides?" Pitting them against Lou, who absolutely does his best without being as heelishly didactic about it as Brennan, worked out beautifully.

After watching "One Year Later" I had an idea for an alignment chart calibrated on the positionality of Sam, Brennan, and Vic along two different axes and then plotting other Dropout personalities on it, but I don't remember the actual idea beyond that. Maybe Machine to Gremlin ratio on one line, and Do Your Best to Do What Thou Wilt on the other.

Or maybe just sort the contestants into columns of Anything For A Game, Game For Anything, and The Game Can Be Anything.

Saw a post about how Sam is Brennen's foil but Vic is Sam's foil

[honeyhotteoks]

yunho's fromm messages this morning.......... (and some extended thoughts on this man and his very obvious dom vibes, we've got a brand here at honeyhotteoks and i need to talk about it again before i die)

the messages in question:

🐶: yes, yes, you're such a greedy one (a little selfish one) 🐶: be mine, you're mine. 🐶: yes, yes, i'm yours.

transl credit to @/jyhcomfort on twt, i know there's a few alternate translations floating around that say "i'm greedy" or "i'm a greedy one" / one of my friends said via context it makes more sense to be "i'm greedy" but for delulu purposes..... either way..... my feelings are the same under the cut

cw: nsfw discussions about dom/sub dynamics and various connected kinks. as always, i am not being so delulu about this that i actually think i know him. this is all fun and speculation and at this point he's just my muse for the romance novel version of him. okay.....

i tweeted the below the other day (video link here) but like seriously he just keeps proving me right and i have thoughts i gotta get off my chest before i combust.

so i've just been thinking about this whole thing since someone on twitter made a little joke about him being a bitchless kpop idol, which like... i know people got upset, but i'm sure that was just a joke, and that's not really what this is about i've been seriously cooking on the duality of this man for the past few days and have things to say.

first of all...... i've talked about this a million times, but when i say this man is a dom what i mean is that he has the potential for all this stuff, i have no idea what he's actually doing in his private life. he could literally be waiting for marriage for all i know, but i do think you can tell in someone's personality who would kind of be good at something 'naturally' if they got into it / went that direction.

something yunho's been doing a lot recently is showing more of himself physically / showing more skin / being a little more suggestive overtly in his content which is something pretty new for him. he's always been hot and has been sexy on stage, but as far as his personal content, this is pretty new for him. this to me is classic like.... he's gained confidence in the past few years, gotten into his mid twenties where you start to get a little more self assured with your own body or expressions of sexuality, etc. BUT the way that he's sharing this content i think is interesting and indicates to me that he knows what kind of reaction this is going to get from his fans, and he enjoys it.

he's been burying sexier pictures within his ig albums as not the first picture, with the first one being a little cute or just regular idol style pics. prime examples below --

in both of these cases, these are the "sexy shot" but he puts them in the middle of the albums. then when fans freak out or ask him about it on live/fromm his responses are usually something along the lines of "ohhh it wasn't too much was it? ah, no ofc i'll keep it just to that" etc. it would not surprise me in the least if he enjoyed the thought that we're all losing our shit when we swipe to these pics / our reactions online after not only give him a bunch of compliments but shows how riled up we are. that is CLASSIC dom behavior.

in a sexual context, this might look something like..... a dom casually touching or implying sex to their submissive over the course of a day but not really acknowledging it / playing off their submissive's reactions as cute/funny or in a meaner context, ignoring it all together. at the end of all that teasing though is the dom in control and verbally messing with their sub while finally, finally delivering the pleasure they were hinting at. this is something i am so positive yunho would excel at with the right partner.

that combined with the way he talks to hotteoks in fromm really gives the impression that he knows they enjoy being teased, and i truly don't think he would act like that if he didn't like it. he's been in the idol game long enough, if he wanted to set different boundaries or speak to his fans differently, he absolutely could. meanwhile he's out here playing straight into the delulu trends with birthday lockets and wedding flowers and boyfriend-y pics all the time on ig. not to mention the zayn song.... like he knows what he's doing.

he often teases hotteoks about being so flustered over him, plays into how 'jealous' he can be, and overall just leans in hard to d/s dynamics in a way that tells me it's quite natural for him. even just how often he says things like 'you're mine' / 'i'm yours' / 'you know you're mine right?' / 'yes you belong to me' etc. in his fromms just reads completely as a dominant establishing and reinforcing those ownership dynamics.

when it comes to other parts of his personality, i've talked about that at length in other posts (eye contact, natural leadership, body language, active listening, etc.) but i've really noticed a shift in him recently and can't get it off my mind.

on top of that, there have been a few moments on stage or with other members lately that really ring dominance. i'm very specifically thinking of the way he interacts with mingi and wooyoung, which i've written about before, but...... he's consistently holding eye contact with them lately, teasing them in ways that are platonic yes, but also just part of that natural part of him that wants to mess with someone who will break. like.... did yunho have to hold wooyoung's jaw while they were kneeling during halazia? probably not, but he did it. and the smile afterwards when wooyoung got a little flustered was clear satisfaction with the reaction he got.

generally i think there's an impression that some people have that because yunho's so "nice" or so goofy/dorky/sweet/thoughtful/bashful etc., that means he doesn't have as much rizz or like wouldn't be into dynamics like this or harder kinks. i have to say..... that to me always reads like inexperience, with men potentially, maybe sex, and/or these dynamics in particular. in my experience, it's often the sweet guys who can switch it up in bed, and i would even say they often make better/safer doms because they are caring/considerate/attentive to their partner's comfort and pleasure, not just their own or if they're being perceived as sexy. it's not a hard rule of course, everyone's different, but i'm just saying, yunho being a nice guy doesn't mean he couldn't or wouldn't enjoy teasing the fuck out of his partner.

all of this is to say........................ if hasn't figured out his dom potential yet, i sincerely hope he does because i think it's such an obvious fit for him.

[sukumna]

@DominantSirRyo has sent you a message . . .

triggers. ryomen sukuna x fem!reader. cnc. bdsm. kidnapping. asphyxiation. drowning. rough sex. degradation. fear play. d/s dynamics. MDNI

word count. 2.7k

authors note. i never thought i would finish this fic yall,,its been sitting in my docs collecting dust. i lowkey hate it but whateves. NOT PROOFREAD!

“See, your account’s been verified. Now, just select the kinks you’re interested in, and within a few weeks, someone will match with you. If no one’s available, the app will notify you.” Your friend hands you back your phone, where the list of kinks is laid out.

“And what if I match with some creep? This whole thing feels sketchy.”

“No, you’ll only meet professionals. The app was created by a BDSM club owner, and he makes sure the professionals match up with people who don’t know what they’re doing,” your friend says with a roll of her eyes. “So, it’s not like you’re meeting just some random guy who likes choking women. These are people who are well-versed in kink.”

“I don’t know…” you mumble hesitantly.

“Why do you think this app hasn’t blown up on social media or any kink sites? It’s invite-only. My sister’s boyfriend helps run it, so he slipped me the invite code. Trust me, you won’t get murdered, and you don’t even have to meet up if you don’t want to. You were the one who told me none of your past doms did it for you.”

She raises an eyebrow. She’s got a point. You can rarely get off during safe sex anymore. You’ve only ever reached climax while reading taboo smut or on the rare occasions you’ve had kinky encounters.

“I just want you to be satisfied. You’ve been kind of a bitch without sex.”

“Oh, wow!” You feign offense, clutching your chest.

“Hey,” she laughs. “I’m just being honest! Try it out! Let me know when you match with someone.”

“If I do it.”

“When you do it!” she insists.

—

You scroll through the app, clicking the kinks you’re open to.

Piss kink – No | depends | if forced | yes

Necrophilia – No | depends | if forced | yes

You click ‘No’ for both and scroll further down the list. Yes, you’re doing this. You’re tired of being sexually frustrated. Like your friend said, you’re a bitch when you’re not getting satisfied.

Primal Kink – Yes, please

CNC – Yes…

Unprotected Sex – No, not with a stranger

Kidnapping – Yes, no explanation needed

Dom/Sub – Yes, obviously

Coercion – Yes

Pregnancy kink – Yes, don’t judge

Waterboarding – Yes…

Asphyxiation – Yes!

Fear Play – Yes…

Rough Sex – Yes, a must

You continue scrolling through the lengthy list, considering whether or not you want to try these with strangers. After finishing, you’re led to the next page.

‘Please describe your ideal roleplay scenario. Be thorough, leave nothing to the imagination.’

You bite your lip, thinking of the fanfics you’ve saved. You type your fantasies out, each detail more intense than the last. After clicking ‘next,’ you’re taken to a final page.

‘Click submit to put your profile live. Once you do, you’ll be matched with one or several kinksters. You can decline any offers you don’t find appealing. All profiles are verified, and you’ll only be matched with professionals. Be patient and have fun!’

You hesitate for a moment before clicking ‘Submit’ and hurriedly tossing your phone to the other side of the bed.

—

Two weeks later, you receive a match.

Lying on the couch after a long day at work, you’re reading a smutty fanfic when a notification pops up. It’s from the app. You forgot about it for the last few days, thinking no one would be interested in fulfilling your deepest, darkest fantasies. You sit up, heart racing as you click on the notification.

It’s from @DominantSirRyo.

‘Hello, Y/N. We matched 100% in kinks and interests. I’d like to know if you’re interested in meeting, or if you’d prefer to chat first.’

100%? That means every single one of your wildest fantasies. You click on his profile, scrolling through his photos. This has to be fake. There’s no way someone this attractive matched with you. He’s tall, muscular, with a strong jawline and a dangerous vibe. He looks like he could crush you with one hand—but also like he could hold you close, protect you from anyone who dared touch you.

You click on his “About Me.”

‘Hello, I’m Ryomen Sukuna. I’m 42. You will address me as ‘Sir’ during playtime. My kinks include but aren’t limited to: D/s dynamics, CNC, rough fucking, asphyxiation, primal play, and master-slave relationships. You can learn more about me if I deem you worthy. Goodbye.’

Okay, he’s got an ego. But you can work with that. You shamelessly like that in a man. You type out your response, hesitant but intrigued.

‘Hey, I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you… i guess?’

‘I know your name, silly girl.’

‘Oh… right.’

‘Sorry, didn’t mean to come off as rude. You have a beautiful name.’

‘Thanks… I don’t really know what to say…’

‘Do you want to get to know me or would you rather jump straight into building a scene?’

You hesitate, thinking about the choices. Do you want to get to know him better, or just dive straight in? You already know the basics. If this was an app like Tinder, you’d be planning a hookup by now.

‘I think we should build a scene and maybe get to know each other while we’re doing that?’

‘That works for me. I read your fantasies, and I’m thinking of building on that by…’

—

You sit in your car outside a secluded bar on the outskirts of town. Only two other cars are parked in the lot. It’s pitch black outside, and you haven’t seen anyone since you arrived. You’ve been texting Sukuna, or as he prefers, ‘Ro,’ for the past few days, fine-tuning your scene. You’re restless, your panties damp from the anticipation of everything he promised.

‘Stand outside your car and face the wall. Leave everything except your keys. I’ll hold on to them for you,’ Ro texts.

You squeeze your legs together, breath hitching. ‘Yes, Sir.’

‘Don’t play with me, little girl. Do as you’re told.’

You get out of the car and walk towards the bar, keys in hand. You look around, but see no sign of him. You think he’s in one of the other cars, but the place feels deserted. You turn around and stare at the wall. You can feel your pussy getting wetter by the second. The scene you’ve fantasized of since forever is about to come true.

After a few minutes, you start to feel ridiculous. No sounds, no movement. Maybe he stood you up. You scoff. Of course, a guy this perfect would be too good to be true.

You turn to walk back to your car when someone grabs you from behind. Your breath catches as a large, rough hand covers your face. You scream, but it’s muffled as you’re dragged toward a car. The trunk pops open, and before you can react, you’re thrown inside. The trunk slams shut, and you hear a car engine start.

You gasp for breath, your mind racing. What if this isn’t Sukuna? What if it’s someone else? But you don’t have time to question it—your body is humming with arousal from the sheer intensity of the moment.

The car lurches forward, and you feel heat spreading between your thighs. It’s really happening.

By the time the car stops, you’ve stopped trying to track time. What if he’s not the man you thought he was? What if he doesn’t treat you like he said he would? The worry gnaws at you, but it’s swallowed up by the overwhelming desire that’s been building since he first grabbed you.

The trunk opens and blinding light floods your vision, forcing you to squint as you take in the towering figure above you. Sukuna. Your breath catches in your throat. The pictures didn’t do him justice—tall, broad, built like a man who could break you in half and enjoy every second of it. His sharp eyes rake over you, lingering on your trembling thighs.

He’s looking at you like he can see how horny and worked up you are beneath the trembles.

“Out.” His voice is firm, leaving no room for hesitation.

Your legs feel weak as you climb out of the trunk, body buzzing with adrenaline. The moment your feet hit the ground, he grabs you by the chin, tilting your head up to meet his gaze.

“Dripping already?” His thumb brushes your lower lip, and you can’t stop the way your thighs press together. He smirks. “You’re a nasty girl. Perfect.”

You swallow hard, waiting for instructions.

He steps back, rolling his shoulders, the moonlight catching the ink on his arms. Beyond him, an empty field stretches out, the tree line dark and endless in the distance. The wind rustles the tall grass. It’s eerily silent—just you, him, and the stars.

“Here are the rules.” He crosses his arms, watching you like prey. “You get five minutes to run. If I catch you in twenty, I fuck you right here in the dirt.” His eyes darken. “Fight me, scream, beg—I don’t care. But if I catch you, you’re mine. Your safe word is banana. Understood?”

Your stomach flips, nerves and arousal tangled together. You nod.

“Words.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl.” He checks his watch. “Run.”

Your heart leaps as you spin on your heels, sprinting toward the trees. The field stretches on forever, your lungs burning as you push forward. The night air is cool, but your skin is burning with anticipation. You don’t hear him following yet, but you know he will.

You duck behind a thick tree, chest heaving, ears straining for sound. A minute passes. Another. You peek around the trunk, and…

Nothing.

Maybe you ran faster than he expected. Maybe he really won’t find you. Your pulse pounds in your ears as you step carefully along the riverbank, watching the moonlight glint off the water. If you can just cross—

“Thought you could hide from me, little girl?”

A scream rips from your throat as you’re tackled to the ground, Sukuna’s heavy weight pressing your chest into the dirt. Your hands claw at the grass, nails digging into the earth.

“Let me go!” you snarl, your breath coming in ragged gasps.

He chuckles, the sound dark and indulgent. “Oh, you’re adorable.” His hand clamps around your wrists, pinning them above your head as his other grips the back of your neck. “Say all the right things while your cunt tells me otherwise.”

Your leggings are yanked down in one rough motion, cool air licking at your soaked panties. He pauses just long enough to slide his fingers along the damp fabric, feeling the proof of your arousal.

“Fuck,” he murmurs, more to himself than you. His fingers press harder, rubbing slow, teasing circles over your clit through the fabric. “So fucking wet. You wanted this, didn’t you?”

You shake your head, but your body betrays you, thighs trembling, hips arching into his touch. He laughs, voice thick with satisfaction.

“Liar.”

The sound of fabric tearing makes your stomach flip—he didn’t even bother pulling your panties down, just rips them clean off before shoving two fingers inside you. A gasp catches in your throat, your walls clenching around the sudden intrusion.

“Yeah,” he groans, curling his fingers, dragging them along the soft spot inside you. “That’s what I fucking thought.”

Your body tightens, instinct warring with pleasure as he pumps his fingers in and out, slow but relentless, pushing you toward the edge. Just when your breath starts coming in broken little pants, he pulls away.

“No—”

You don’t get to finish you plea before the thick head of his cock presses against your entrance, and then—fuck. He drives into you in one harsh thrust, forcing your walls to stretch around his size.

A strangled cry tears from your throat. Your fingers curl around the hand that’s still holding your wrists. It hurts, it’s too much, you can’t handle it—

“Stop struggling slut,” The hand holding your wrists go to your hair as he pushes your face into the shallow riverbank. Cold water and dirt fills your mouth, a cruel contrast to the heat between your legs. He holds your face in the water so long that you start to feel he might actually kill you right here. your hands claw at him and he yanks you up. “Fuck, this cunt is squeezin’ me so tight.”

His hips roll, dragging his cock out until just the thick tip remains inside before slamming back in. The force of it jolts you forward, your breath leaving you in sharp gasps. You can’t catch your breath, you feel like you’re dying on his cock.

“Fuck, that’s right,” he growls, his grip on your hips bruising as he sets a brutal rhythm. He fucks you like he owns you, like he’s waited his whole life to ruin you, each thrust forcing a choked whimper from your lips.

“I-i, it’s—”

You writhe beneath him unable to form a single coherent thought, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. His free hand slides between your bodies, finding your clit and rubbing in tight, punishing circles. Your thighs shake. The pressure builds—sharp and unbearable.

“That’s it,” he breathes, feeling you tighten around him. “Come for me, you fucking slut.”

A sob rips from your throat as you shatter, pleasure hitting you like a violent wave. Your body spasms, walls clamping down around his cock, dragging him deeper. He curses, his rhythm stuttering, and then—

Heat floods you as he buries himself to the hilt, groaning as he spills inside the condom. His hips twitch, riding out the aftershocks as your body trembles beneath him.

For a long moment, the only sounds are your ragged breathing and the distant rustle of the wind through the trees. Then, Sukuna chuckles, low and satisfied.

“Told you I’d catch you.”

He pulls out slowly, savoring the way your body clenches around nothing. His fingers trail down your spine before he’s rolling you onto your back, his gaze drinking in your wrecked state.

“Look at you,” he murmurs, brushing damp hair from your face. “All fucked out already?” You try to open your mouth but you can’t.

Sukuna hoists you up like you weigh nothing, one arm locked beneath your knees, the other supporting your back. Your head lolls against his chest, too spent to do anything but cling to the fabric of his shirt, fingers curling weakly into the material. His heartbeat is steady beneath your ear, strong, unbothered, like he didn’t just fuck the fight out of you by the river.

“You alright?” His voice is rough, but there’s something almost amused beneath it.

You hum, too dazed to form words. Your body feels boneless, tingling from the aftershocks, your thighs still slick where he’d ruined you.

He chuckles, the sound reverberating through his chest. “That good, huh?”

The night air is cool against your sweat-damp skin as he carries you toward the car. With each step, you feel the effortless strength in his arms—the way his muscles shift, the easy control in his grip. He’s not even winded.

“You went limp so fast,” he muses, squeezing your thigh. “Thought I fucked you unconscious for a second.”

You manage a breathless laugh. “Almost.”

His smirk is audible. “Cute.”

By the time he reaches the car, you’ve half-melted into him, your body pliant in his hold. He nudges the passenger seat open.

“In you go.”

He sets you down gently—surprisingly so, given how ruthless he was moments ago. The contrast sends a strange heat through you. Your legs are still shaky, barely able to support your weight, and he notices.

“Tch.” He grips your chin, tilting your face up to meet his gaze. “Still floaty?”

You nod, licking your lips.

Sukuna hums, eyes dark with something unreadable before he leans down, pressing a kiss to your jaw—slow, deliberate, entirely different from the way he’d just handled you. It makes your breath hitch.

“Good girl,” he murmurs against your skin. “You did perfect.”

Your chest tightens. Before you can respond, he pulls back, shutting the door and sliding into the driver’s seat.

The car hums to life, the vibration sinking into your spent body as you stare up at the night sky through the open window. Your body still throbs with the memory of him, your heartbeat syncing with the rhythm of the road as he drives you back—back to where it all started, already knowing this won’t be the last time.

Not even close.

[stvrnioloslvt]

Prompt 57 + 87

Boyfriend matt x girlfriend reader

(Perhaps gf reader getting shipped w Chris. Matt is upset about it and ready to risk it all and show everyone that she’s his)

57. “have you seen the things the fans write about you and *other celeb*?”

87. "how about we give them something to talk about?"

matt wasn't the jealous type. not as much as one would think, at least. it wasn't that he didn't care about you, he was just... secure. in himself, in you, in the relationship.

he wasn't the type of boyfriend your friends were used to, controlling and overbearing. you didn't have to ask permission to go out, to wear a short skirt or do something new with your hair. he was a normal guy, really. unfortunately, what should be the normality is actually an exception. a shame, really, considering people loose themselves in toxic dynamics.

anyways, matt was not like that.

however, there was something hitting a tender spot just right in all those ship edits of you and chris. and he couldn't even pinpoint what was actually bothering him. he knew chris wouldn't do him like that, and he knew you wouldn't either. most importantly, he knew that you loved him as much as he loved you.

so, what was it?

-matt, baby, you're going to break the phone in half if you keep gripping it like that-

-hm?-

the boy rose his eyes from his phone, taking in the appearance of you curled on the sofa in front of him like a cat, one hand holding a book, the other a fuming mug. your eyes caught his before dropping to the phone in his hand, silently pointing at it.

-oh,- murmured matt, quickly releasing the device from the death grip he had it trapped in. he didn't even realise how hard his hand was cramping until now.

-what's got you so worked up anyway?- you asked, sipping from the mug slowly as to not burn your tongue (it didn't work). matt groaned, throwing the phone at his side. he ran a hand on his face, almost trying to wipe away the discomfort that certain posts brought him. -have you seen the things the fans write about you and chris?- he blurted all of the sudden, peeking at you to see your reaction.

the scene in front of his eyes was almost comical with the way you completely froze on the spot, eyes wide, lips scorching red because of the heat emanating from the hot drink. -what did you just say?- you asked incredulous.

matt sighed, slouching against the couch. -I just... apparently there are many people who want to see you with chris and it's making me loose my mind-

-oh, baby,- you cooed, leaving everything on the coffee table before straddling matt's lap on the ground, hugging him to your chest. -my sweet baby, did you really think that what these people are saying would mean anything to us?-

-I don't know,- he replied, his voice coming muffled from where his face was buried in your chest. his arms wrapped around you tightly, almost like he was fearing you would dissipate in thin air.

-silly boy, I would never do anything like that to you, and your brother wouldn't either... how about we give them something to talk about?-

at that, matt's interest spiked. he lifted his head to look up at you, curiosity written all over his face. a mischievous smile appeared on your face, and you bent back to retrieve his abandoned phone not too far from you. you unblocked it, then opened the camera.

-just a few seconds, nothing obscene, enough to make a point. you in?-

matt's jaw hung open at that, not expecting such idea coming from you. yet, he couldn't deny that he was definitely intrigued by it... and turned on, too.

he took the phone from your hands, setting it up against the couch cushions. he made sure both of you were in focus, then set play.

you giggled, clearly satisfied by your small "victory", and immediately leaned in to kiss him. what started off as a casual kiss, soon turned into a makeout session, and the camera picked up the sloppy noises of your tongues dancing together and the soft moans and pants leaving your mouths. your hips ground down on his, and he reciprocated by thrusting his hips up in sync with yours, making you feel just how bad he needed you.

you moaned his name, whimpering softly when his thumb gently swiped against your clit. -baby the video,- you managed to choke out, grabbing his wrist before he managed to make you crumble under his touch.

matt hummed, leaning back as he took the phone in his hands and pausing the video.

-keep touching yourself, baby, I have a video to post.-

© stvrnioloslvt

I hope you enjoyed it! you can find other works under the tag #© stvrnioloslvt [pick&choose] or you can request in my asks following these instructions! thank you for reading ♡

taglist: @shadowthesim237 @sturnioloszn @marrykisskilled @x0x0bunny @izzylovesmatt @gabrielaperez11 @ivysturnss @watercolorskyy @bluestriips @sllutty-sturniolo @mattsturniolover @emely9274 @boomshakalaka12381238 @lovergirl4gracieabrams @sturnsrecord @strnilolover @wastelandzella @sturnslutz @harmonysturniolo @mommymomm @mattsbrowser @chrislova @courta13

divider credits to @saradika-graphics

[ancelineonline]

Look I’m An Old. I’ve been voraciously devouring books for a good 30 years. The « oh my god literature is dying!!! Look at all the trash these dumb woman are reading » has been a widespread social panic at least three times I can remember. It’s definitely been more than that, those are just the times I remember it clearly. Like. Chill. Literature is not dying. People just like to read fun trashy books sometimes. And also, just because it’s romance doesn’t necessarily mean it’s trashy.

This has also been a widespread social concern *since the invention of the novel.* It was a great concern in the 1700s and early 1800s when printers started printing serialized novels and pamphlets. Authors like Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters whose books we now rightfully consider classics were part of the « oh god look at all these women reading trashy novels » panic of their day. And the novel is much, much older than them. Also, people used to be horrified about the other trashy entertainments of the masses at various points in history and two of the biggest examples of the « trashy society ending entertainments » that some people were horrified by are Shakespeare’s plays, and Mozart’s operas. And like Austen and the Brontë sisters, both of those are pretty roundly considered High Classical Literature/Music today.

It’s not new, and it’s not a big deal. Society just doesn’t like it when people like things and have free time to enjoy things. I don’t think A Court of Thorns and Roses is going to be the next Wuthering Heights and Fourth Wing probably isn’t going to be the next Pride and Prejudice. But they also aren’t the downfall of literature. They’re just books women are enjoying reading. That’s fine, people can enjoy things.

Personally, I don’t have that much interest in the dynamic that comes from women who are into Kylo Ren writing romance novels. OP is right. Harrison Ford is right there. Ewan MacGregor and Liam Neeson are right there. John Boyega and Oscar Isaac are *right fucking there!!*

But that’s my personal preference and ultimately there’s nothing wrong with someone having a different preference. (Although it’s not a bad idea to take a minute to think and reflect on why the whiny villainous white man is more appealing to you than the infinitely more heroic men of colour, but that’s a post for another time.) People are also allowed to have preferences that don’t align with mine or yours. It’s fine. It’s not the death of literature OR society.

it’s so funny when people online act like women reading trashy romance novels is like. a new phenomenon and a sign of the downfall of society bc this has never been a thing before. this has been an extremely popular genre of book for ages. the only difference now is that they’re written by women who wanted to fuck kylo ren. which i guess is annoying. out of every man in star wars like be so serious. they had harrison ford in those movies

[cryptocism]

Do you ship BartKon or Timkon or something else? Really, who do you ship Kon with? Maybe I want to hear all your ships

Just say as much as you want really

there's evidence for both my bartkon and timkon affinities on this blog (and the much rarer, most refined of timbarts)

the truth is i like pretty much any ship as long as its got an interesting dynamic to play off of (and usually comedy potential) and kon is a great character because he has an interesting dynamic with basically everybody

the yj crew in general has kind of a perfect blend of defined characters and interesting dynamics that could create all kinds of cool story potential, romantic or not. but vis a vis Romances Specifically..... hold on you've got me thinking about this now im gonna do a thing one sec

ok now that ive successfully pepe silvia'd this

cissie and anita are such perfect foils for each other man.... if yj 98 picked back up where it left off, i think anita's parents should be aged up again pretty quickly, but in the interim i would love to see these two forced into a caretaking duo

anita + slobo, self explanatory. nobody knows whats going on with them except for them and i think that's beautiful. matching each others freak 4ever

i think most of them should have unrequited crushes on each other bc it would be funny namely the slobo>thad>kon clone crush conga line + the kon>bart>tim pining isoceles

greta queen of unrequited pining she is out here stalking she is out here threatening perceived romantic rivals she is ending the world she does it all and not having powers would not stop her

tim dating bernard is canon but i think it would be funny if they're both also into kon (plus ideally steph would lowkey be dating tim too + dating cass but that's batfam shit Whatever)

medium hot take i think kon and cassie should date sometimes bc they're best friends and love each other. just constantly walking the line of platonic/romantic and changing statuses every other month

love cissiecassie but i also think it's funnier if they've never kissed and just thought really hard about it and there was never a right time

cassie + rose self explanatory they should invent new and fucked up ways to murder each other romantically

i also want cassie chronically fumbling a rotating cast of civilian/villain/hero side characters bc she's got that peter parker syndrome where she can pull anybody and everybody but the universe is not on her side when it comes to being a good girlfriend (especially now that dc seems committed to tim no longer fumbling all of his relationships. gang we need a fumbler and cassie is right there)

i realize now i made a chart for romance but the only two i have actually dating is tim/bernard lol. the rest are either unrequited or "it's complicated"

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I feel like Unparalleled Aeons and Far Out songs stands out to me is how both members were given equal screen time (Given they are two). Because I guess the issues with the songs is how they have small amount of time for some. Well I don't blame some not just the number of members but also how some of them aren't professional singers like

Notice how the rest of the songs, the way housewarden sings like being the main singer (make sense on who is twisted version they are) the rest being like back-singers but still have some good solos. Meanwhile, the way Idia and Kalim sings doesn't feel like Jamil and Ortho are back-up singers nor them being main singers but like partners with equal parts. When I listened to the other songs, I can't tell who's who while the Ignihyde and Scarabia I can tell.

I don't hate the songs, but you can't help but notice that makes it interesting. Overall, I love all songs that have their motifs, themes, and lyrics. It's kinda sad these songs couldn't be use in modern Disney that much.

[My personal ranking(s) of the dorm songs here!]

I definitely feel like Far-Out and Unparalleled Aeons had the most evenly distributed lyrics of all the songs. As you said, maybe it was more challenging for the composer to balance larger groups, or maybe the composer was limited in how he could write the songs due to some VAs being less skilled with singing. However, I also have to wonder how much of this was intentional??

These are dorm songs, right? And the VAs are singing in character. So to me, it feels like the songs are storytelling too, telling us about the dynamics of the group through their performances.

Looking back on it, the two most balanced songs belong to the dorms where its members are the most deeply intertwined with one another. Kalim and Jamil are locked into a toxic codependent relationship due to their families' history. Kalim relies on Jamil to do practically everything for him, while Jamil is stuck in a servant position he wants to break free from and always forced to play second-fiddle to Kalim. Idia is constantly haunted by Ortho's death, and Ortho plays a huge role in providing support for his older brother's mental faculties (encouraging him to get out of his room and mingle with peers). Ortho is very reliant on Idia for much of his own identity and presence at NRC (prior to book 6), only allowed to be there because he was registered as Idia's + Idia provided tech support for the school. Idia also designed many new forms (gears) for Ortho.

Many of the songs are structured to feature the dorm leader--which I'd argue is thematically appropriate, as I will soon get into. I have a pretty bad ear too, but I was surprised at how many of the voices I could distinguish. The card soldiers, Silver and Sebek, and Epel and Vil were the only ones I couldn't quite make out. There was enough variation for me to tell the others apart, especially Savanaclaw (no way would I mistake Ruggie for Jack or even Leona for Jack).

Every song not only has its own genre, but also its own vibes. I like that Twst can be its own thing and not necessarily kowtow to Disney's more traditional musical roots. I personally wouldn't want these to be incorporated into modern Disney film or TV productions. When Disney tries to do this, it ends up sounding so tonally dissonant or mismatched with the rest of their OST(s). ... Anyway, here's a very brief analysis of each song's arrangement + some lyrics and how they're divided up-- (MVs not taken into consideration; I unfortunately don't have the time to analyze every frame and how it lines up with the lyrics.)

Heartslabyul's Obedience is interesting in that it is very symmetrical with its vocal pairings. Cater and Trey sing with one another while Ace and Deuce sing with one another. The third years are deliberately paired with each other, while the first years are deliberately paired with each other. Trey and Cater, the original loyalists, have lines about "[playing] your cards right" and how their ruler is looking righteous and smug. Meanwhile Ace and Deuce, the rebels, sing about not being "caught" by their dorm leader's gaze. It's not until the second half of the song where they mix things up (Deuce with Trey, Ace with Cater), but it's still very predictable with the blends (always a third year with a first year). Trey and Deuce, the more level-headed duo, bring up setting the table, while Cater and Deuce, being more of the "hide your true feelings"/"avoid responsibilities" duo, "[hide] behind a smile" and warn to not "get caught with your tongue sticking out". This goes along with the song's theme of following the rules to a T; all the card soldiers are in place! You can even say that the song starting off with the rhythm of a military band indicates the song coming up will be regimented and structured. The only part I would say outright "breaks" this rule is when Adeuce sing with Riddle (around the middle of the song?) but in a way, that also makes sense given that those first years rebelled against Riddle in book 1, but eventually come around in book 7 to become his supporters. Then they of course all chant together for the English portions ("Yes, your Majesty!", "My pleasure, my Queen!", "As you wish, my Queen!") where they express their devotion to the Queen, indicating that these phrases are something "[the Queen wants] to hear". (Riddle chants with them too, to show respect for the rules.)

I think the true chaos of the song comes in the second half. Trey and Cater mention running through a maze and how the Queen's righteousness breaks at that moment, then Adeuce elaborate it scatters like cards. Riddle remarks how this--the twisting maze--"[hides] the true colors of [his] heart". This parallels how there was an elaborate chase through the rose maze in the depths of Riddle's book 7 dream, obscuring his loneliness.

You definitely get the vibes that although everyone has their little solo, Adeuce, Cater, and Trey are there to support their dorm leader. Riddle gets about the same amount of lyrics as the others, but his parts are more embellished and have more vocal flair to them. The lines specifically assigned to Riddle also feel like he's the Queen welcoming you to his territory full of his followers ("This is the path to the Queen's rose garden", "The cards are lined up and awaiting their (next) orders", etc.). The lines assigned to the card soldiers seem intentionally designed--as if the cards are reminding you of the rules so you don't upset the Queen.

DIADEM is reflective of the relationships between its dorm members too, but the relationships are very different than Heartslabyul's. The song begins with Jack singing, followed by a line in which he and Leona sing together. Then Ruggie has a solo line, which is also followed by a line in which Leona joins him. It's only AFTER Leona has already shared lines with Jack and Ruggie that he belts out his own solo, which stresses that they will continue to roar, no matter how many times it takes for their message to be heard. This gives the impression that he swooped in to support Jack and Ruggie with their own parts, just like a benevolent king or mentor figure/senpai might do for his people or mentees/juniors. This is also what Leona essentially does for his dorm in book 2. Then once Leona makes his own declaration, they're all able to sing together, united as one. It's like he uplifted Jack and Ruggie to join his rebellion.

There's an interesting part in the chorus where Ruggie and Jack break away to sing (without Leona) about fate and laughing through the hard times which. Has some heartbreaking implications when you consider that Leona expressed as late as book 6 (and is strongly implied in his book 7 dream as well) that he sees hope in others, but not himself. So??? Him NOT joining Jack and Ruggie in singing about laughing through difficult times seems pessimistic. Around the middle of DIADEM, Leona shouts out commands ("howl" and "roar", respectively), each of which is punctuated by Ruggie and Jack joining him with the English phrases "BEAT DOWN" and "DO MORE". These come off like a leader rallying his allies, and those allies responding with chants for their cause. This is especially the case because right after we get Ruggie declaring that his blood is boiling (ie he's pumped now) and he's eager to destroy a future that has already been decided for him. Then Jack enters, saying that he, too, wants to tear down an unjust world. There is NO Leona in this part, it's ONLY Jack and Ruggie, who have been newly emboldened by his words. The song really highlights how much the juniors are motivated by their strong leader.

In Heartslabyul's song, you get the sense that everyone else exists to prop up the Queen/Riddle and try to keep each other out of trouble by reciting the rules. In Savanaclaw's song, you can see how Leona encourages his dorm members and they react by taking to the words that lift their spirits. Both dorms' members are showing deference to their dorm leaders, but in different ways.

Entanglement opens with Jade imploring the listener to spill their secrets to him. Then Floyd comes in, continuing the charade. Azul takes over from there. This framing makes me think of Octavinelle's usual schemes--that is to say, the twins advertising Azul's "services" and then finally introducing us to him, this supposed "wish granter" (a procedure described to us in book 2). The order of the characters' presentation slots in nicely with this: we start with the more polite and unassuming twin luring us in. Once Jade has set the bait, Floyd, the more conspicuous brother, feels safe to step in and really talk up what Jade laid out in the beginning. Only after both twins are pitched Azul does Azul actually show up to make his offer. Jade and Floyd make up the majority of the chorus, singing together to coerce the listener into making a decision, even framing it like the decision is being made exclusively based on YOUR free will ("It's all up to you"), when really, it's not. Azul shockingly says very little solo in the chorus, only "Now, go on, we're all ears", before the twins join him and they urge you to share your wish with them.

The latter half of the song gives Poor Unfortunate Souls energy; it features Azul telling the listener they won't find a better bargain than this, then Jade saying they're drowning in their own desires and finally Floyd putting on the pressure to close this deal. Azul then mentions paying a price and how his rules are reasonable, which is very similar to how Ursula demands her a toll be paid (how it isn't "asking for much", etc.). The twins also very characteristically warn you what will happen if the contract is broken ("punishment", "squeezing", "no escape"), like the potential consequences if Ariel cannot get the kiss of true love from Eric. Overall, Entanglement reads as the extended experience of you being roped into a Bad Deal.

Far-Out opens with Kalim (the dorm leader), with Jamil (the vice) following. This pattern of Kalim first, Jamil second (which reflects their dynamic in general) also occurs when they speak English in the song; Kalim gets his verse about the magic carpet first, Jamil gets his verse about treasure later. The dual nature of Kalim and Jamil is also made apparent here: Kalim is allowed to fly "whenever [he] wants", while Jamil is only allowed to "dream" about "treasure whenever [he] wants". When the two sing together, this duality persists: "good and evil intertwine", "[falling] into a sea of ecstasy", the part where they list several people of different social standing, etc. The one time when Jamil sings before Kalim is at the beginning of the second verse, before Kalim mentions a scarab flying in front of him. This comes off as if Jamil is leading the way for his dorm leader, like some puppetmaster dangling his puppet and tugging it along by the strings. I think it's very telling that Kalim's opening line is about describing the scorching heat of their homeland but Jamil's opening line is about... TEMPTATION??? Hilariously on-the-nose, seeing as how Jamil is the one with the literal mind control UM and he describes a serpent in the night with sharp eyes in the lyrics to Far-Out (literally describing himself). Meanwhile, Kalim's UM chant seems to be referenced, as he talks about singing and dancing. Both Scarabia boys sing about "giving in" together, but as the song goes on, the framing of the lyrics makes it clear they're "giving in" to different things. For Kalim, it's "the heat" (a stand-in for Jamil's mind control), which is made apparent by Jamil immediately saying "indulge in this feeling until it takes over" and Kalim later says he is "captivated by the heat". For Jamil, it's "treasure", something he repeatedly indicates as wanting to take throughout the song. For example, Kalim sings about endless riches, and then Jamil has a solo line where he says "if you desire it, take as much as you want"--and his dream in book 7 shows him taking all that was once the Asims'. They're both venturing to a metaphorical oasis to seek relief, but seem to be distracted by things along the way ("heat", "treasure", etc.).

Kalim mentions a golden scarab crossing his eyes in one line, and while this is an obvious Aladdin reference, it also makes me think of Jade's one golden eye interrogating him in book 4; this would be another time in which Kalim is taken advantage of by others. First by Jamil, then by Jade. At the very end, Kalim sings about undoing shackles (most likely referring to Jamil's) while Jamil sings about a party (of which Kalim throws many of) that will eventually exhaust. The other Scarabia character is at the forefront of each boy's mind, and it is also where their respective desires (friendship for Kalim, freedom for Jamil) derive.

La Volonté is French for "will" or "willpower", which is a huge theme in the song. Unlike the other songs so far (which open with a solo or duet), La Volonté begins with all members of Pomefiore singing about their "one and only wish", and how they intend to immortalize their beauty. This is fascinating in that all three of them have very different personal goals (Epel wants to be strong, Vil wants to be seen as a "hero", Rook wants to pursue beauty), but they sing in unison anyway, because this validates all of their goals as being "beautiful".

Rook, the most secretive of the trio, mentions a heart locked away in a box, then Vil joins him in speaking of a truth entering his ear--like in book 5, when Rook convinces Vil to go with the more unconventional picks for the VDC/SDC auditions. In one of Epel's solos, he tells of sweet poison dyed in crimson, which is wording that is very close to his UM name. When Vil joins him, they sing, "A little more, a little more...", which makes me think of how Vil intends to "perfect" Epel into a weapon to use against Neige in book 5. The fact that Rook sings about their goal "[being] within reach" is ironic, given that it's ultimately his vote that decides NRC's loss.

Though this song starts off with the Pomefiore boys together, this is definitely one of those songs that centers the dorm leader over the others. There are many parts where it's just Rook and Epel singing ("Let all freeze", "[...] grant eternal slumber", etc.) and Vil joining in later or getting a solo after them. The first "waltz upon white snow" invokes the image of Vil standing over the cold body of his fallen rival Neige, but later on Rook and Epel join in singing about this. I wonder if that's an intentional callback to book 7, when they delved into Vil's dream and found Neige... dying. It's Vil singing somberly about all the hands that seek to pull him down (all his haters, all the people who assume he is as evil as the villains he plays), not knowing "the worth of a true star" (ie himself). It's Vil issuing the order for your breath to still (as if your breath has been stolen away by him; this is also the beginning to Epel's UM chant). And, most importantly, it's Vil vocalizing to end the song--a song which, need I remind you, started off with ALL of Pomefiore singing. Now Epel and Rook have stepped back, allowing Vil, the "true star", to command the stage.

Oftentimes fans—and even the Twst characters themselves—will compare Riddle and Vil on the basis of strictness. This also holds true for the compositions of Obedience and La Volonté. Both songs have their respective queens front and center, but La Volonté is definitely moreso than Obedience. Maybe it’s Vil’s celebrity status that has him commanding the spotlight? It could also be that Rook and Epel are simply more inited under a common front (“beauty”) whereas the card soldiers are more selfish and follow Riddle’s rules as a means to avoid punishment for themselves rather than truly subscribing to his strictness.

Unparalleled Aeons has Ortho starting us off, and it's framed kind of like the middle of an argument between the Shroud brothers?? He seems to be addressing Idia, asking if he will shut himself away again, only for Idia to respond that "[he's] just one soul" and that "[he's] the problem". The fact that the song begins with Ortho and not Idia--the dorm leader--makes me think it's symbolic of many of Idia's social problems "originating" with the original Ortho's death. This would go well with the theme of persisting despair in the early verse. In any case, they continue to have this back-and-forth, with Idia stating that he has known dreams are hollow for a long time (likely a reference to his backstory and how he's destined to be Director of S.T.Y.X. one day, whether he wants to be or not). The two later on talk about sulking in the Underworld, which is something Idia notes is a common trait between him, his father, and his grandmother--previous or current heads of S.T.Y.X., and what awaits him too.

The chorus has both Shrouds singing, and it is very much structured around the book 6 disaster in which they attempt to open the gate to the Underworld, unleash Phantoms upon the world. They reference their "happy end" and Cerberus's engine revving up--perhaps to call attention to Phantom!Ortho, the third "head" and sibling to the Shroud brothers. Idia sings about how his loneliness spawned into genius (could he mean how his grief led him to invent a new Ortho?) too. In another verse, the Shrouds declare they will "rearrange the cosmos" and Ortho jeers about heroes that arrive too late to stop them. They're almost gleeful in the "whirlpool of {swirling) souls", full of despair and chaos as they finally realize their shared dream. Hilariously, Idia and Ortho shout "FEVER TIME", a special state that grants temporary advantages in games--indicating that, at least to the Shroud brothers, they see this all as one big game.

At one point, Ortho has a solo line about how a happy ending with tears is crueler than being forever alone. Is he talking about bittersweet endings here? Does this not describe book 6's conclusion--an ending in which Idia is forced to say good-bye to one brother, while also embracing another brother? Idia gets his own line about having all of the cheats and going at full throttle, which paints the image in my head of him putting together that cheat tool and delivering the weapons + armor to Silver and Sebek via magiwheel in book 7. Ortho's solo line in the chorus mentions entertaining trials and tribulations, which I think calls back to book 6, when he tested each of our little groups with mini games. Unparalleled Aeons is simply packed full of internet lingo and gaming slang, all being weaponized to taunt the listener.

The Shrouds lament about how they've been "forsaken by [...] Fate", then make reference to the Fates cutting a Thread of Life, sending them crashing towards "The End". They also later call to attention knowledge of past, present, and future, which are concepts associated with the Fates too. The cut life might be the original Ortho's death, or it could be Phantom!Ortho finally moving on, and thus Idia pushing past his grief. The chorus wraps up with Idia whispering "Welcome to the Underworld"--very fitting, seeing as I recall him uttering a similar line when welcoming the OB boys to S.T.Y.X. HQ (the domain he will rule in the future) for the first time.

Unlike Far-Out, which has an insidious vibe due to the clashing nature of Kalim and Jamil’s parts, Unparalleled Aeons allows Idia and Ortho to be on the same page. It really feels like a Final Boss and his top-ranked henchman scheming together to destroy the heroes.

Capricious Calamity is technically another song which centers the dorm leader, but not in the same way that La Volonté does. In La Volonté, Vil has many solos, whereas in Capricious Calamity, Malleus is the subject of the song, the one being praised and worshipped (using archaic terminology). Given that Diasomnia seems to be a cult of personality around Malleus, this direction makes sense--and the choice to open with Sebek, THE Malleus fanboy, singing about his master's radiance shining brightly in the night, also makes sense. Sebek also closes off the second verse, declaring "unending tribute" to Malleus.

The first verse slowly evolves with a new character added per line. First there's only Sebek, but then it becomes Sebek and Silver together. It gives the vibes of wandering into an old castle and running into the ruler's guards who are evaluating you before you may be graced with their lord's presence. Lilia (the eldest and most experienced of them all) then gets a brief solo before making way for Malleus. It feels like Lilia showed up to announce their prince's arrival, and how all should make way for him. And of course the first thing Malleus says is that he "knows not of celebration"... This is followed up by Silver mentioning that Malleus "wishes for a miracle" (to be invited/included). Then Silver, Sebek, and Lilia speak of this as a transgression which warrants judgment. Again, Lilia concludes this verse with the line about judgment, which harkens back to earlier, when he seemingly "announced" Malleus.

Malleus leads the chorus once Lilia has summoned him. He calls himself an omen that comes with the lightning (his signature), then his dorm members chant that all shall kneel before his green light. Disembodied voices join in, echoing that the listener should give their entire being to the thorns. It paints the image of loyal knights kneeling before their king and beckoning others to do the same in order to quell his rage. This is also the note that Capricious Calamity concludes on, which just further drives the message home.

Silver starts the second verse, noting Malleus reflected in the dark skies. (Sebek begins the first verse, and Silver he second; the two youngest in Diasomnia are also the "start"--the start of, perhaps, a future where fae and humans can live in peace together.) When Sebek joins Silver, they sing about how Malleus, even at his lowest, burns brightly. These phrases paired together, said by the first two of Diasomnia to "awaken" in book 7, make me think of them staring up in horror as Malleus's draconic form takes to the skies. They're terrified and in awe of his might. There's a part where Malleus and Lilia share a line, commenting on a commotion and the cries of the weak ringing out. These two, the strongest in Diasomnia, remarking on this... It calls to mind their battle within Lilia's dream, or even Lilia intervening when Malleus (as a dragon) intends to strike Silver and Sebek down.

At the very end, Malleus announced another omen, this time harkened by spreading thorns rather than lightning... thorns, like the very ones he summons to drag us all into a deep, deep slumber--the trap he sprung in book 7. I think it's telling that it's Silver that joins Malleus in song before the entire dorm sings together. This duo sings about an aurora that is overtaken by the abyss. Is this meant to be a reference to Silver and Malleus's final confrontation, and how Silver refused to slay Malleus at the crucial moment?

It’s really interesting to compare this song to DIADEM, the two performances featuring a prince. In Capricious Calamity, Malleus is propped up by his dorm members—but in DIADEM, Leona is the one propping up his dorm members. This really speaks to (and feeds into) the idea that Malleus and Leona are opposites of one another. A prince worshipped by his people and promised the throne. but still left lonely and emotionally unfulfilled… versus a prince scorned by his people and forbidden from having the crown for himself, yet he’s surrounded by people who look up to him and trust him to lead them… OTL

[akanemnon]

Hey, it's me again! Remember i asked you that question about Kris and Player? Here it is bye the way:

Back then you just said it wouldn’t happen in your AU, but I was wondering — what do you actually think about the idea in general? Like, do you like the concept of Kris and the Player interacting, or not really? Would you want to see something like that in Deltarune? Basically, I’d just love to hear your thoughts on it.

It depends on the execution. In most takes I've seen, the Player is a character instead of... y'know... YOU. And I'm personally not interested in that dynamic. I want to be taken accountable for MY actions towards Kris. Not a Player stand-in.

Though that is the curse of the medium that is mainly used to tell these stories. In this case, comics, fanfictions, etc... It is, in theory, possible to pull off, though it is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

Honestly, the only medium this CAN work efficiently is through a video game. Idk if Toby is going to do something like that, but I believe he can pull that off if he is.

I want to STRESS that this is BY NO MEANS a knock against the people who make these kinds of stories and those who enjoy them. I, as a writer and artist, am simply not interested in them. If you like them, that's awesome! I'm glad you enjoy them. And I'm rooting for those who make them! You rock!

All in all, you'll never see me do anything like that. Because I don't make video games. I make comics. And because I'm more interested in hitting YOU, the Player, with the cold harsh reality of what these characters are thinking of YOU. Whether you want to hear it or not. I absolutely understand that you want to defend yourself when you feel you are unjustifyably criticized. But I am not giving you the chance to argue with them. Because WE as Players have the choice to simply not play the game. These characters don't get that choice.

[andreablog2]

I think the conversation around Addison Rae not being authentic is so corny it reminds me of like “she’s not real emo she’s fake emo” anyway. I think that’s so besides the point and conceptually it’s cool for what she/her team are going for…but it doesn’t always land. But I’m excited to see more music from her. I wish the fan base and the haters took it less seriously in terms of image and marketing but more seriously creatively…which at this time only Addison/her team are capable of. I think it really interesting to see how this plays out. My hope w her is that she converts a lot of would be kkkoquettes into her sort of Lo fi Kesha business that can easily be translated into woke. Idk how ambitious that is but my whole thing is that her journey from lowest common denominator tiktoker to niche pop star….she seems to be distinguishing herself from that everytown America maga culture and attitude and is trying really hard for a more dynamic and creative world which requires diversity ..so maybe all the young women who are bored with clean girl aesthetic can see how easy it was for Addison to make that jump? Then try to adopt the same mentality. Democrats need to keyleighs and tanners to vote for them.

[nquesoxlies]

https://www.tumblr.com/nquesoxlies/780567152604463104/let-people-be-upset-about-their-favorite?source=share

tbh there's also something a loooot of ppl need to learn calling "setting realistic expectations." i personally wouldn't want eddie back without an on-screen conversation between him and CHRIS about what CHRIS wants, otherwise his entire plot in texas would feel kinda moot with a throwaway "yeah chris is fine with coming back to LA :)" since this plot was big enough for eddie to drop everything to go finally make things right with his son. i didn't expect for him to show up for the two-parter. meanwhile, everyone i saw who was momentarily disappointed bc no tommy was like "ah well, we know we're almost definitely getting him next episode bc of leaks" and went on to enjoy the episode as a whole

its genuinely fine to go "aw no eddie? :(" its Not fine to review bomb an episode and repeatedly bitch about the director not putting ur favorite man in the episode when it makes 0 sense for him to come back so quickly and without showing us that he IS still working on being a better dad to chris. hell, go write fanfic about it where eddie IS back instead of review bombing!!! that's probably a way more fun use of time than review bombing!!!

honestly, these fans make me dislike eddie more and more ngl which isn't even the actor or the writers faults at all. if he leaves the show then it's not going to impact me that much unless his ending is fully unsatisfying, and that'll be more of a "cmon, writers, you knew this was where this was going, do better." i have never watched the show only for eddie like these people have. came into the show expecting to love madney + henren and ended up very emotionally invested in bathena while enjoying buck and eddie as well. i'm on the same page as a lot of ppl who have been here longer than i have been: we love the entire show rather than just eddie. honestly, i think half of these people don't even like buck. i already know most of them don't give a shit about the rest of the show from insulting ravi over him distracting buck with tommy to turning josh into the "number 1 b*ddie cheerleader" to ignoring henren unless they can use them as a "gotcha!!! you don't actually care about queer rep!!!" like.

@ BoBs: do YOU? because every time there's queer rep that threatens ur fanon ship, u actively get homophobic about it down to, what, 600? of you PROUDLY admitting you would commit a hate crime to make your stupid ship canon--including both real men and fictional characters like josh and tommy in your "i'd hate crime for them teehee!" bullshit.

idk queso its just wild to me how often i also see the "eddie diaz pretty pretty princess who wants to paint his nails!!!" like. painting ur nails isnt gendered, the fuck? BoBs see anyone gender non-conforming and goes "wow, inherent sign of queerness, i am very smart :)" while feeding directly into toxic masculinity with the idea that if you don't adhere strictly to what's deemed masculine, then clearly you're queer. even if you say you're straight and know you're attracted to women and only women, you're gay because you (checks notes) have emotions and cry over your friends and did ballroom dancing when you were younger.

anyway if im being petty then i kinda hope that eddie leaves to focus fully on chris and making a life for the two of them in el paso and ravi takes his place on the team so that we get indian rep permanently on the show for a bit! i think he could bring some new life into the team (regardless of whether the show goes on for one season or more) and it'd be nice to see buck in a mentor position to him. plus i'd love to see his dynamic with the rest of the team <3 i am still available to play his love interest who is there for a single episode before being relegated to one-off mentions <3 /hj

Yes to alllllll of this, Annie!!!

What's ironic to me, based on something you mentioned, is the nail painting. They want sooooo hard for RG to actually be gay yet an actor who does paint his nails (for self-harm reasons) they call a slur and tell him to die.

Like???? Wtf are we doing???

(I know your ask is about the characters but that shit will always rub me the wrong way about Ryan stans)

[buried-in-the-archives]

Absolutely love that.

Kayne would be delighted i think, to see another mortal playing host to a god, one old, one new, gold and infuriatingly not blue.

I think Kayne would extend an offer to the Jon and John, if they help him, perhaps move against the fears so rudely trying to take a bite out of his turf, he'll give them their own bodies.

I don't think Martin or Arthur would exactly be thrilled by that - but imagine the suffering for the John's - to be reduced to nothing more than eyes. Especially for Jon.... if Martin started to take on scars and wounds....I don't think he'd abide by that.

Jon certainly shares Arthur's tendency to throw himself away. I think that would be an infinitely interesting dynamic to play to. For them to be on the same page more often, while John and Martin groan - Martin would be a complicating factor for Jon at least, as he's shite at manipulation and requires Martin to willfully move them.

SO. MUCH. ANGST.

@hemi-demi

"Jonathan Sims couldn't do Malevolent" "Arthur Lester would kill Jonathan Sims with a rock" Correct but. You know who could do Malevolent? Martin Blackwood. Martin Blackwood would rizz up every eldritch being in Malevolent like he did with everyone at that stupid little institute.

[lovelybucky1]

6. The Confrontation

wc- 3.4k // main masterlist // go greek! masterlist // tw: mentions of alcohol, mentions of sex

“And then I said, 'baller?' I hardly know her!” Johnny said, laughing at his own joke like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. He hasn’t asked you a single question about yourself in the last fifteen minutes, having been talking about whatever shenanigans he and his frat brothers have been getting up to. 

Listening to Johnny monologue like this is torture, but you know this is all part of your and Wade’s plan. Johnny is only here to make the SAE guys jealous, and you don’t have to be truly interested in him for that. He just has to be hot, and he certainly checks that box.

It was surprisingly easy to get a date with him. It turns out being a frat sweetheart makes you a hot commodity, and maybe the whole good-girl/frat-guy dynamic does it for them. You met him for coffee in the student lounge, which is the perfect first date spot, especially for your plan. Casual enough because he has as much personality as a matchstick, but it's also public enough to show him off.

“What did you say your major was?” he asks, snapping you out of your daze. 

You carried on the dull conversation, deciding to focus more on his biceps under his shirt sleeves to keep yourself interested. To your surprise, he turns things around and starts to ask you some questions. Eventually, you find yourself somewhat enjoying your conversation with him. He’s still an asshole, no doubt, but maybe he will be tolerable enough to fake-date for a while. 

After a while spent at the cafe, you tell him you have to get going, and Johnny asks if he can walk you home. It’s a simple gesture, but you think it’s nice that he wants to spend more time with you. In the back of your mind, you wonder if he’s just buttering you up so he can sleep with you, but you’ll deal with that issue if it arises. For now, you’ll think of him as a gentleman.

As you walk, he points out his favorite places on campus. “This is where the guys and I play Spikeball. I’m really good if you ever want to watch me play,” he says. “And over here is the tree we made that pledge sleep in for the weekend.”

By the time you reach your building, your cheeks hurt from fake-smiling, and your neck aches from nodding along. 

“Are you busy tonight? I’d like to see you again,” Johnny says. Just as planned.

“Actually, my frat is throwing a party. You’re welcome to come if you’d like.”

Johnny raises an eyebrow. “You’re inviting me to an SAE party? You know those guys don’t really like us,” he says, referring to the Pike brothers. 

“That’s just because they don’t know you,” you say, inwardly cringing at how you sound. 

“I’d love to come. Show them how to really party,” he smiles. If nothing else, he has a pretty face. 

“I’ll see you then. You have my number,” you say, returning his smile before turning to scan your keycard and disappear into the building.

Once away from Johnny, you take a deep breath. It wasn’t as bad as you thought it was going to be. He’s not really your type, but he’ll be good enough for what you need him for. You feel a bit guilty for playing with him like this, but you suspect that he wouldn’t take it too personally if he found out. Being used as arm candy is like every guy’s dream.

You hurry up to your room, and as soon as you flop onto your bed, you give Wade a call.

“Hey, sweetcheeks,” he says.

“Hi, Wade. I just got back from my date with Johnny.”

“And when’s the wedding? What color should I get my tie?”

You roll your eyes. “Hilarious. I invited him to the party tonight, so hopefully, everything will work out the way we want it to.”

“I really don’t know why you’re going through all this trouble. There is a perfectly eligible bachelor right here who would love to fake-date you. Or real-date you. Whatever you’re down for.”

“You’d never be able to look at me the same,” you laugh.

“Not even friends with benefits?” 

You ignore his poor attempt at flirting. “What’s the next step here?”

“You need to really play up our relationship at the party. The guys won’t care that you barely know each other. All they’ll see is their girl getting a little too up-close and personal with a Pike guy and they’ll lose their shit.”

You sit up on your bed and put your phone on speaker so you can rest your head in your hands. “Okay, but Wade, I don’t want there to be any fighting. They can get jealous and mad and whatever, but I don’t want anyone to fight with Johnny just because of me.”

You can picture it now. Bucky getting in his face, Steve rushing to protect you, Frank and Logan willing to punch that douche bag for touching you. It would turn ugly quickly, and you doubt Johnny could take on at least four guys at once. You’d hate to see him get hurt just because he’s a pawn in your little plan.

“I’ll cut Bucky off after three drinks, then,” Wade responds. “So what are you wearing tonight?”

The theme for the party is sports, and everyone will be wearing a jersey of their choosing. A lot of the guys in SAE are on sports teams, and you were having a difficult time picking which one of their jerseys you would wear, but Johnny solves that problem. 

“I texted Johnny, and he said I could wear his soccer jersey,” you tell Wade.

You can hear him suck air through his teeth. “That’s like a dog pissing on another dog’s fire hydrant. Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Now it’s Wade’s turn to question this plan.

“I’m really trying to sell it.”

“You’re really trying to get Johnny skinned alive.”

You sigh. “Am I crazy? Is this a bad idea?”

“Crazy, maybe, but guys are stupid and if you want them to make a move, they need a kick in the ass.”

You nod even though Wade can’t see you. You know he’s right, even if it does make you feel a bit guilty.

After you hang up with Wade, you spend the rest of the afternoon catching up on homework so you can fully recover from the inevitable hangover you’ll have this weekend. Then you shower, taking extra care to shave everything and style your hair perfectly so you can be as irresistible as possible to Johnny. 

You’re putting the finishing touches on your makeup when you get a text from Johnny telling you that he’s outside your building. You quickly gather all of your things and rush out, not wanting to keep him waiting. You throw on a t-shirt, not caring what it is, because you’ll be replacing it with Johnny’s jersey.

When you get outside, you find Johnny leaning up against the wall, scrolling on his phone. He looks up and grins when he sees you. You know you look good, and he tells you so.

“You’re gonna make all those guys jealous,” Johnny chuckles. He’s more right than he could know.

He hands you his jersey, and, boldly, you change in front of him. You take your t-shirt off, exposing the pale lace of your bra. Johnny tries to be respectful and not look, but you saw him catch a glimpse as you pulled your shirt over your head.

“How do I look?” you ask, adjusting the jersey.

“You already looked great, but you look even better wearing my number,” he smirks.

He slings an arm over your shoulders, and you start to walk towards the SAE house. As you walk, Johnny talks about something, but you’re too busy thinking about the night to come to pay attention. You feel giddy imagining the reactions of the guys when they see you.

Time seems to stop when you walk into the house with Johnny, wearing his name on your back. Frank is the first one of the guys to spot you. His eyebrows are furrowed in confusion as he takes in the sight in front of him, but he doesn’t say any of the rude remarks that are surely brewing in his mind. 

“Hey, sweetheart,” he says instead. 

“Hi, Frank!” you say cheerfully, ignoring the sour look on his face. “I want you to meet Johnny!”

Frank gives Johnny a curt nod but doesn’t extend his hand for the other to shake. You can tell he’s getting possessive, which is exactly what you were hoping for. You excuse yourself and move further into the party, looking to get similar reactions from the others.

You find Wade next, but he doesn’t approach you. He gives you a smile and a thumbs up from across the room, which makes you giggle. Turning your attention back to Johnny, you look up at him.

“Could you get me a drink?” you ask, yelling over the music.

“For sure,” he smiles back.

He leaves your side and heads into the kitchen, allowing you a moment to talk to Wade.

“You’re going to get that poor boy killed,” Wade says.

“Relax, everything’s going to be fine,” you reassure. 

“Really?” he asks, “Because Sam is on his way over here and he looks pissed.”

You turn to see Sam, dressed in jeans and a football jersey, approaching. When you look back, you find Wade missing. He left you alone to deal with Sam yourself.

“Sam!” you greet.

“What the fuck is Johnny Storm doing here?” he asks. 

You blink up at him, trying your best to play dumb. “I brought him.”

At that, Sam’s eyes trail down your body, taking in the sight of Johnny’s jersey on you. His face twists even more.

“He’s from Pike,” Sam says. “Those guys aren’t allowed at our parties.” It sounds incredibly petty when he says it out loud, and you get the sense that he feels the same. 

“I didn’t know,” you lie. “Sorry, Sam.”

“Hey!” you hear Johnny call. Saved by the bell. “I got you some punch.” Johnny joins you at your side and hands you a cup of blue punch that smells more like alcohol than fruit. “Hey, man,” he says, now talking to Sam. “I’m Johnny.”

“I know,” Sam replies shortly. 

“Sam,” you say, urging him to be kind. “He’s my date.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Date? Does Steve know about this?”

That makes you want to throw your drink in his face. This is what you wanted to happen, but you didn’t realize how much it would get under your skin. “I didn’t know I had to get Steve’s approval.”

Deciding you’re done with the conversation, you grab Johnny’s hand and drag him away, ignoring his questions. You end up in the living room, and you grab a spot on the couch where you can enjoy your drinks in peace. You stretch the truth and reassure Johnny that Sam is just protective. The peace only lasts for a few minutes before the good-cop, cop-bad cop duo interrupts.

Your attention is brought away from Johnny when you hear Steve say your name. He and Bucky are standing in front of you, towering over where you sit. They both have their arms crossed and scowls on their faces, clearly trying to intimidate your date. You find it funny how quickly word of Johnny’s presence traveled throughout the house. 

“What’s wrong?” you ask them. 

“Don’t play dumb, sweetheart,” Bucky says. “Your little date needs to fuck off.”

“What?” you scoff. “You can’t kick him out.”

“Our party, our rules.”

Finally having had enough, Johnny stands up and steps into Steve and Bucky’s space. “I don’t know what the fuck your problem is-”

“You’re our problem, pal,” Steve says. “Last year, you and your Pike brothers did $400 of damage at a party and refused to pay up. You think we forgot about you and Maximoff crashing through the glass door?”

Johnny laughs in their faces. “You’re icing me out because of a door? That’s fucking ridiculous.”

“Laugh about it all you want, you’re still not staying,” Bucky says, refusing to back down. You feel bad that you brought Johnny here, knowing this is how it would end up. 

“If he goes, I go too,” you say, standing up to join the confrontation. 

“What the hell are you doing with him in the first place?” Steve asks you. Now you’re in the hot seat, and you have three people eager to know your intentions. 

“We were having fun before you guys decided to be dicks.”

“Fun? Sure, let’s go with that,” Steve starts. “How long until fun ends with you on your knees?”

Suddenly, it felt like all of the air was sucked out of the room. Even Bucky looks shocked at what Steve said. You’ve never heard Steve say anything like that before, never would have expected it. Maybe from Bucky, but Steve has been nothing but kind to you. Steve’s nice to everyone.

“Don’t fucking talk to her like that,” Johnny says, his defense of you unexpected. 

“Don’t bullshit me and try to say you’re looking for anything else,” Steve says, doubling down. “Leave her the hell alone and get out.”

“Steve-” Bucky tries to interject, but Johnny and Steve ignore him.

“Oh, I get it. You’re jealous that I’m getting what you’re not.” Your eyes snap to Johnny, and your shock is evident on your face. It’s like you’re watching a game of tennis and the ball is digs at you.

“We’re just looking out for her.”

“Nah, you’re pissed that I have her all to myself. Next time she is on her knees, I’ll be sure to send you a picture so you can see what you’re missing.”

You have no idea where this is coming from. You and Johnny have been on one date, and you’ve certainly never had sex. Maybe this is just what happens when douchebags feel threatened. You didn’t think Johnny was a bad guy, but maybe you’re not as good at reading people as you thought. Maybe the same applies to Steve.

Bucky steps forward and grabs Johnny by the collar. He pulls him close and says something you can’t hear, but you can tell from the look on both of their faces that it wasn’t kind. Bucky lets go, shoving him back and sending Johnny stumbling.

He looks over to you, face twisted in an angry expression. “Fuck you,” he says before storming out. Who knew Johnny was such a hot-head? You don’t blame him for blaming you for this. It is your fault, after all. 

After Johnny leaves, the attention is on you. They both stand, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation. 

“What the hell?” Bucky asks. “Out of all people, you pick that asshole?”

You roll your eyes. You didn’t come into this looking for an argument, but that’s where this is headed. “Like you two are saints. I can date whoever I want, and you two don’t have a say.”

“So you’re dating him? Because it seems like you might have just broken up.” 

“Why would you even want a guy like that, anyway?” Steve chimes in. “You deserve so much better.” His words could be kind if he didn’t say it like he was lecturing you.

“Oh, like you? Or maybe Bucky, or Matt, or Sam, or Joaquin. All the guys who flirt with me but who will never actually date me? Yeah, that sounds so much better.”

Bucky’s expression softens, but Steve’s jaw stays clenched hard. “Sweetheart,” Bucky says. It seems like there’s more; there should be more for him to say, but he doesn’t.

“You two need to figure your shit out,” you say. “Because I’m not going to let you string me along forever.”

With that, you turn on your heel and leave the room. As soon as you turn your back on them, you feel your cheeks heat up with embarrassment. That was way more of a scene than you wanted to make, especially with you at the center of it. You didn’t mean to say that they’re stringing you along, didn’t want to expose your feelings this way, but you suppose the cat is out of the bag now. You just hope this won’t have lasting effects on your relationship with everyone, but you have no idea how it wouldn’t.

You make your way outside and sit on the porch where you had your humiliating drunk night a few weekends ago. As you scroll on your phone to distract yourself from the racing thoughts and the tears that threaten to spill, you’re startled by a hand on your shoulder.

You look up and find Matt standing over you, a concerned look on his face. “I heard all the commotion. Are you okay?”

You sigh and, sensing that you want him to stay, Matt sits down next to you. “Bucky and Steve are assholes.”

Matt chuckles. “Yeah, they are.”

You look over at him with narrowed eyes. “Don’t act like you’re much better.”

He raises his eyebrows in surprise, but he smiles. “What are you talking about?”

“You flirt with me just as much as they do, and I don’t see you acting on it either.”

“Are you saying you want me to?” He asks with that head tilt that always infuriates you. He’s joking, teasing you, trying to get a rise out of you. There’s no way he’s serious, but you find you have the urge to test how far he’ll take this.

“What would you say if I was?”

“Well,” he inches closer to you. “I’d remind you that you have a boyfriend.”

What? Oh. Johnny, right.

“Not my boyfriend. We’ve been on one date,” you tell him. “ And I doubt he’ll want to see me again after this.”

“Good to know,” he says with a smirk. “But I’m not really the rebound type.”

You roll your eyes and even though he can’t see it, his laugh tells you he got the vibe you were putting off. “Don’t bullshit me, Murdock. You’re the biggest slut here.”

“Slut?” he questions with a laugh. “Is that what you think of me?”

“It’s what I’ve heard. I’m just wondering if it’s true.”

The energy between you two has shifted from teasing to something more serious. He is so close to you, and you’re certain any passerby could tell what was happening just by seeing you two. Your eyes trace his plush lips and your fingers ich to reach out and touch him.

“You’re not worried about being with a slut?” he teases.

“Doesn’t bother me,” you say.

The slight smile on Matt’s lips falls as he leans in to kiss you. His fingertips brush against your cheek, holding your hair back to give him room to press his lips against yours. You allow yourself to get lost in the soft feeling of his lips on yours and the thoughts of Bucky, Steve, and Johnny completely melt away.

The hand that’s not cupping your jaw travels over your thigh, teasing but respectful. It’s clear he’s waiting for you to escalate things, not wanting to take advantage of you in your vulnerable moment. Right now, you want nothing more than for Matt to make you forget about everything else.

“Matt,” you gasp when the kiss breaks to allow both of you a breath. 

“Talk to me, sweetheart. What do you want?”

You sigh against his lips, debating on weather to take the leap with him or do the responsible thing and go home. In the back of your mind, you wonder if showing up with Johnny tonight had anything to do with Matt making a move on you. You have to remember to get Wade a fruit basket or something.

“Take me upstairs,” you say, your voice barely more than a whisper but Matt hears you loud and clear.

He grabs your hand and this time he is the one leading you to his room. He pushes through the crowd of people in the living room and you don’t even notice Bucky, Steve, and Sam watching your ascent up the stairs. You giggle as you stumble up the stairs, holding onto the railing to prevent both of you from tumbling down.

When you reach his room, he kicks the door shut behind you and quickly has your back pressed against it where he resumes kissing you, though this time with more fervor. His hands grip tightly on your hips, keeping you upright as your knees threaten to give out. On the other side of this door is a complicated, messy hell of frat boys and drama, but this room is a sanctuary of Matt Murdock. 

@fandomsrlove @baby-im-urs @runt-behavior @foxherder @s0urgrapesss @burningwitchprincess @abriefnirvana

[chebyshevptera]

What do you think about Jaya dynamic in this season?

ok. honestly? i liked it…….

i’m a sucker for jaya and they’re acting exactly like I thought they would. jay being reluctant to receive help and companionship, and nya butting heads with him and being stubborn and not taking no for an answer, and jay caving because wow this lady is so annoying, there’s no point in arguing with her ? Yeah that’s them to me

yeah yeah, I know, the “i will always hate you” stuff floating around, maybe it’s weird to see jay behaving like this with nya, but I don’t mind it. they could play around with it in part 2, for all we know , but even if they don’t, idk, that makes sense to me? his eyes turned red in that moment, it was probably the influence of shatterspin lol

and it’s not like Jay has warmed up to her. he “let her” help him down the stairs, but then in the next scene, we see that he’s walking on his own with nya close by. I have a feeling he pushed her off when she finally would let him go . he’s only at the monastery because he needs treatment , he wouldn’t have gone with them willingly otherwise. he doesn’t LIKE the ninja, doesn’t ask them permission from stuff, he avoids them, says rude things to them. He probably tones it down with Nya cuz… she’s Nya. She already punched him once, he’s probably not looking to get punched again

I liked their bickering too. the “why do you wanna help me?” / “because I know who you are, you big dummy” is just…. Ohhh it’s so perfect. Literally exactly how I thought they would act. Nya isn’t taking nonsense from Jay because she knows him, he’s not some big tough mercenary with a cold heart, he’s just a guy with a lot of feelings that are pretty hurt right now 😭

but also, important to remember, Jay still retains a lot of his interests, even if he doesn’t have the memories that relate to them. You don’t have to remember stuff to have emotional reactions to certain things . there’s probably something about her that makes him feel warm and fuzzy, even if it’s underneath anger and frustration. after all, he still loves video games, he’s been inventing… and he’s still got that perpetually uncomfortable demeanor 😭

but yeah. idk. I should wait until p2 to say more about them, but so far, I LOVE them so much… Jaya you will always be real to me

[poorsallystitches]

A newbie's guide to The Lost Tomb franchise/Dao Mu Bi Ji/The Graverobber's Chronicles

I have seen people all over the internet asking questions on posts about DMBJ such as, where to start, what it is, and who are those cutie pies? You may have seen images similar to this

I, as someone who has watched a lot of the franchise and read at least half of the books (which if you knew how many there were, that would be impressive), I want to take a moment, or many, to explain to anyone who wants the answer to these questions. This will take a while, I cannot shut up, especially about them.

Spoiler free!

Now, first things first, what is Lost Tomb/DMBJ/Graverobber's Chronicles?

Lost Tomb is a Chinese Franchise comprised of a multitude of dramas and movies over the course of a decade that were all made by different people and actors to tell the story written in the novel series, The Graverobber's Chronicles, or its original Chinese title Dao Mu Bi Ji, written by Nan Pai San Shu.

This means that popular characters people will refer to will have many different faces. Such as all of these being Wu Xie

You may recognize any of those actors if you watch popular Cdramas, 1st Zhu Yilong who plays Shen Wei in Guardian, 2nd Zeng Shunxi who plays Xiao Bao in Mysterious Lotus Casebook, and 3rd Hou Minghao who was recently in Fangs of Fortune as Zhu Yan.

But, what is it about?

Lost Tomb as a franchise is loosely about a man named Wu Xie who is the last in a family line of graverobbers, but he himself has been kept out of the loop by the family. He has had his grandfather's journal since he passed away, which makes him take an interest in the family business. This leads him to force his uncle to let him tag along with him on tomb raiding adventures.

I feel it is important to tell people what they may encounter just in case they have sensitivities, so this franchise as a whole contains supernatural themes of ghosts, zombies, gods, etc. There will be blood, BUGS, and some body horror in a lighter portion, if you have any questions about specifics feel free to ask.

Now, let's skip to who those cutie pies are before telling you about the options for where to start.

The characters you may have seen around that got you interested may be

Wu Xie, the main character who is played a little differently in every iteration of the story but mainly think of a man with a high level of intelligence, but the worst luck in the world and some bitchy attitude (said with love) and you'll have him. You saw some of the most popular actors to play him up top.

Zhang Qiling/Xiao Ge (young master)/Menyouping (Poker-face), one of the main characters who is the strong, emo, silent, tatted sweety of the story. He is mysterious on purpose; you're not meant to know much about him at any given time. Him and Wu Xie are very close and with the next character, they form what is widely known in book, show, and fandom as the Iron Triangle. Just meaning the three are a package deal and won't be separated.

Wang Pangzi, the chubby, stylish, tough, bitchier than Wu Xie, lovable bastard. His name actually translates to Fatty, so that is what you will see everyone call him. It's not mean, just accurate. Pretty much everyone has real names and nicknames they go by. Remember, they are doing something illegal.

It's less likely, but you may have seen my personal favorite boys Hei Xiazi or Hei Yanjing (black glasses or black blind, you'll see why) and Xie Yuchen or Xiao Hua (little flower). They are the black/pink dynamic of the century for me. Hei Xiazi is a merc for hire and Xiao Hua is Wu Xie's cousin who has become the patriarch of his family at a young age.

Now, last question that people ask the most, where do I start?

There is no right or wrong answer, you can start chronologically with Mystic Nine, release order with Lost Tomb 2015, a mixture of both, leave out the ones you aren't interested in (*cough* Time Raiders movie), or just jump in in the middle. Each adaptation is aware of the fact that people will not have seen the others, and they will try to speed run the story to you, which can confuse people, but if you just want to experience the story with familiar faces, it won't be too bad.

To share my experience. I started with the Lost Tomb 2015, continued with Lost Tomb 2 2019, skipped Explore with the Note 2021 because I didn't vibe with it, Ultimate Note, started the prequels with Mystic Nine, which is a prequel with our character's ancestors, watched The Hei Xiazi and Xie Yuchen movie, started Reunion, watched a prequel movie and just started reading the books. I was never super confused because I had the set-up of the first 2 to build upon.

If you are a completionist like me and want to read the novels go to Merebear's blog. She is phenomenal and she has translated pretty much everything for your reading pleasure and laid it all out in an easy-to-follow way. I cannot give her enough gratitude. I absolutely adore her and all of her efforts as well as all her helpers along the way.

Now just a little gay propaganda about Lost Tomb franchise. The novels and shows are not canonically gay, but I mean... they are giving something.

[thisisnotthenerd]

a few clarifications for those of you wondering about the timeline:

i, a human being, do need sleep occasionally. i also have things to do. thus, any time i was watching was usually condensed to free time or while i was completing other work, including studying for midterms and practicing for presentations. i did not watch while in class or attending anything; i strictly watched at home. no dips into the podcast either.

the caveats of my nein bender: 2x speed for the adhd, skipping breaks, jumping to the intro, skipping recaps because i was consecutively watching episodes. otherwise it was a pretty straight shot. i watched the ads sometimes, but usually took them as bio breaks if i needed it.

i started on march 24 and finished on april 16, pretty much precisely the 23.5 (12 hours a day) days it takes to watch all of c2 at 2x speed. without breaks or the intros it cuts that time down to 21 days, so i had time for a few off days.

thus, if i kept the episodes running throughout my day, at 2x speed, i could hit an average of 6 episodes a day, with an absolute maximum of 8 given that some of them run a tad bit shorter.

anyway, some threads:

they really stumble into a bunch of potentially world-changing items on a whim, especially early campaign. the beacon, the cloven crystals, calianna's bowl, shards of the star razor, the happy fun ball, jester's paints, etc.

the flavor of their combat descriptions are really unique and fun, even from the beginning. while their versatility means that they have the potential to really just hone in and get the job done, they play with interesting complications and make their fights dynamic.

leadership is a curious thing. i don't think there's a singular leader, but they pass the mantle and keep clear direction.

fjord is their captain/face, taking command on the sea and taking the lead on social engineering and strategy. he took on a lot of moral guidance early on, but then received it from caduceus

beau is an investigator, guiding their interactions with the cobalt soul and seeking out information about everything. despite being reluctant initially, she grew into her role in a way that significantly aided the group

caleb is the brain behind a lot of their plans, much like beau, with more of a personal focus. his sense of loyalty to his homeland and the nein serves as a binding keeping the group together.

veth tends to let caleb take the lead, but offers advice and is often the first person out in their explorations, despite her fear.

jester also works within the realm of social engineering, but keeps her faith in the traveler first and foremost, and thus sows chaos in a bewilderingly kind way.

molly played in social engineering, with minor moral guidance.

caduceus holds wisdom in faith and takes up the mantle of moral guidance even as he changes throughout the journey.

yasha, being away for much of the time, did not tend to lead as much, but she made herself a stalwart defender, a source of inspiration and strength for the group. she served as a bouncing point for the group to achieve clarity.

they have a great mix of melee, range, dps magic, and support that's uniquely targeted to making them effective and coherent. part of that comes from molly dying; they really tightened up because they didn't want to see anyone else die. caduceus coming in is a critical aspect, because grave clerics are incredible in that respect.

it's much easier to track the influence of the chained oblivion throughout the campaign when watching it this quickly.

it's also interesting to track the theme of corruption and the different ways it can be dealt with.

i know matt talks about the decision to go to xhorhas throwing some of his plans out the window, but i think molly's death and the pirate arc did more in that respect. i do think it served the story better that they spent time on both sides of the conflicts and as outsiders looking in, because it exposes new facets in all respects.

finished my mighty nein speedrun. four weeks. all 141 episodes. no talks because i don't have the time to go looking for it. i feel like i've been on a bender.

but i've noted a few things about them that powered my hyperfixation:

they're so conversant with each other. every person talks to every other person either in one on one or in group conversation and they do so with regularity. for a group that was very hesitant to share their backstories at first they really read as close friends in a trusted circle.

how strategic they are. sometimes they're chucklefucks, as all adventuring parties tend to be, but they try to hit the ground running. sometimes it takes some talking through, but they make complex and unexpected decisions that change the course of encounters in seconds.

their even distribution of skills. they have good INT (caleb, beau, veth), good WIS (caduceus, jester, caleb, beau), good CHA (fjord, caduceus, caleb), good STR (yasha, jester), good DEX (beau, veth, molly), and good CON (fjord, yasha, jester, beau). they cover all of their bases and specialize where they need to in order to get the most out of their checks (caduceus with perception, caleb, beau and veth on investigation, fjord on persuasion/deception, yasha and jester for athletics, so on and so forth).

the strong motivations that drive them. each one of them has individual goals that they're pursuing that drive them both to conflict and to forward trajectory. fjord, finding out about his patron and choosing between the paths offered to him. jester, sowing chaos in the name of her god as she explores the world. caleb, fleeing from his past until he turns to seek justice in the name of his homeland. veth, seeking her family and her body back. yasha, seeking redemption and an end to the violence that defined her life. molly/kingsley, living life to the fullest and making something of the fragments he was left with. caduceus, serving his god to save his home and family. beau, finding direction in seeking the truth. even when they're pursuing a goal that only pertains to one of them particularly, they all are still present and progressing through their own goals, i.e. travelercon

there's more but i'm tired and can't process more right now.