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sevs-corner · 2 days ago

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Tf 141: Mafia AU!

Chapter 4: Its Happy Hour for them, Not for you

A/N: Link to masterlist is here ! And under is the prev chapter epilogue~

Preface:

Finally at a place where you can bunker down, you'd think that sleep would come easy-- but nope, that also seems to evade your grasps.

A life away from trouble seems to do the same, when you find yourself regretting again the choices you've made under the pretense that the old man was a poor ol' guy looking out for his kids, and you happened to be the most convenient person to help them out.

In actuality, you wonder if its vice-versa, when you see them helping you more than you are with them. Especially in the moment of being held at gunpoint, barrel right between your very eyes that went cross looking at it.

'The past two days were a blur. '

You realized this, staring up at the popcorn ceiling, arms spread out and your legs dangling over the edge.

Your life, as you know it, didn't quite make sense-- even after taking a long shower to calm yourself down. Though it was to mostly rid of grime that stuck to your skin and crevices for two days now.

That's besides the point, the more important one being that it kind of seemed like you just signed yourself to some cursed contract. Again.

You weren't surprised by actions anymore, just appalled at how easily you made did them without even a single thought crossing your mind of the future consequences it would bring you.

Balance out the pro's and con's? Nope, didn't do that.

Think before you speak? Nope, didn't quite do much of the former and more of the later.

Decide that getting a job and some food in your stomach was more important than getting involved with people that does crime?

Yes, you at least weighed the most important factor and agree to yourself that it was the priority-- well, at the moment in the least, because hearing that dreaded country twang past your co-worker's apartment door was making you think twice of putting food over your livelihood as a person.

"C'mon sugar! Nonno and Nonna are waiting~!"

If you didn't know this man as a mafioso, you would definitely think he was some rich bastard that tries to act normal by "doing" regular things, even when his palate doesn't get placated by the food that he ate.

Sadly, you do know him and ever regrettably so.

If only he wasn't a mafioso, you would have already threatened him awhile a go and have a go at where-the-sun-don't-shine spot. Alas, you do, and in addition to that, the son of your bosses and part of the contributor to your payroll-- so you'll play nice.

For now.

The raps on the door seems endless, and at this point, it was futile to try and sleep past the mumblings of a dead person (in your head, which you stabbed and kicked multiples as he writhes in the ground.)

"Waiting for who-- for me?" You shout a reply back from all the way the bedroom, quickly putting on a more suitable outfit and combing out the nest that seemed to form on your hair.

"Yes!"

You could hear his eyeroll from him so you quickly shouted a quick, "Ok! Be there in a minute!" before returning to the rest of your morning routine.

"That took more than a minute, shortcake."

The teasing grin Graves gave you as he leaned by your doorway made you sneer, unable to hold back the initial reflexive reaction to both his jab at you and the nickname.

"Well," you huffed, "you kind of just stopped by my place out of nowhere."

Shoving him with your hip, it puts him off balance and reflexively catch himself by the wall. It makes him react with a 'wHoA!" that made you giggle while closing the door to your co-worker's apartment. Turning the knob again to check if its properly locked, you hummed happily when it did because of the state the place was in. It was nothing short of being dilapidated, you only hoped last night- in your tired and sleepy stupor- that no one would go to this corner of the city and check out an abandoned building (as mentioned by Gaz) and ransack your place. This thought, of course, kept you slightly up as well- besides the ever looming issue that you are now tied to the mafia.

Although...looking at the easily frazzled state Graves was in, you wonder if it is that much of a concern you lost sleep over it.

"That's some strong hips you got there, sweets." He pointed out, now fixed up again from his mini-disaster of being caught in surprise. (He swears to himself that he has to watch himself and be on guard with you more often.)

You gave him a grin behind your shoulder, "thank my hula-hoop skills that got me the number one spot in kindergarten."

This gets a bark of laughter from him again, and he just has to curse himself for acting such a fool with you. Yet, at the back of his mind, he doesn't mind it.

"Right," his left-over laughter lingers, "thank God its still transferred after all those years!"

"Hey!" You whipped your head around to glare at him and poke at his chest, "I'm very youthful mind you." You pressed and continued, " especially when compared to you."

You watch him let out an offensive gasp, hand on his chest and the other over his own mouth.

You only managed to maintain the stare down for a couple moments before breaking down in fits of giggles and questions of like, "kindergarten really?" and you replying with, "its was the best thing I could come up with!"

"You better awake now?" He asks, breath finally stable and eyes wiped of all the tears that came out, and you nod in response-- still recuperating yourself.

"It's just so silly," you sigh with a smile, "but yeah, feelin' more up at 'em-- ready to take on the day!"

You threw an enthused fist in the air then turning to give Graves a confident grin of your own, which he returned in kind.

"Good to hear that then," he approaches the car in front of your apartment and opens the passenger car door, "shall we?"

You give him a look that made him rolls his eyes, quickly ushering you in.

"Nonna told me to pick you up," he explains once inside the car as well, "said that they were worried you'd get lost and mugged along the way."

You crossed your arms, denying the claim, "I wouldn't."

"As much as I don't want to say this," Graves begins as he turns out to the street, "but they are right."

You toss him an offended glance, "you think I can't handle myself? I'm an adult-- I've taken care of myself this far."

You hear Graves sigh, waiting for him to reply but only the sound of his fingers tapping on the wheel occupied the air.

"Its..." he bites his lip, ".. its not that I- or we to an extent- think you can't handle yourself."

You nod, letting him continue.

"This city," he clicks his tongue, "its just different from where you came from.”

“I know,” you quickly chipped in, “its nothing new for me.”

You could see how his eyebrows raised on his forehead, but as quickly as it came, it was gone; and instead, substituted with a furrow.

“I’m sure you know all about petty crime,” you hear him grumble and was about to retaliate until his next words stilled you, “but you’ll be seeing scums who wouldn’t even blink at shooting someone who just looked at them wrong.”

The light hearted tone he had posed onto you earlier was gone.

Now, it was cold, devoid of any emotions.

His eyes, previously reflecting the early shine of the light now looked dim, muted. Flat.

‘Ah..’ you think to yourself, ‘so this is who they are.’

You kept your mouth shut after that. Realizing, once again and reality slapping across your face.

These were not silly sons in a make believe found family, under one happy scene at a fun family-run bakery.

These were men--

Men with experience of being involved with the deepest darkest depths of seeing humans at their worst.

Men who are willing to shoot someone without batting an eye.

Men who aren’t opposed to killing those who go against them.

Men who can be brutal but choose not to.

And that to you, seemed scarier than someone who openly did so; because, when you think about it, ‘why were they being nice to you right now?’

"Hey sweets?"

You barely register Graves' voice but unconsciously hums in response.

“Hey,” he pokes again, “look here for a second.”

You didn’t realize but the car already stopped, parked just a block away from the bakery and you see the grip Graves’ had on the wheel. It was trying to hold back— they all were… but, why?

“Up here sweets.”

You finally make eye-contact with him and you see the color back in his eyes, the iris slightly dilated, and the crease on his forehead now furrowed in concern, rather than… irritation? Frustration? A mix of misunderstanding of both you’d presume.

“Did I scare ya’?” He asks softly, smile crooked with the tilt barely convincing you that it was one of being genuine honest with you, but you put that aside— it wasn’t your business to know why he did so.

You shook your head, “just…” you pause, trying to frame your words in a way that showed him that you weren’t afraid— just stunned of the situation you’re in, moreover how much its changed the past week.

“Shock,” you finally answer, “you saying that just made everything clicked.”

“Clicked?” He asks, “what did?”

“My life,” you slump on the reclined chair, eyes now diverting to the sleeves of your jacket and your hands that were fiddling with it. “How everything just came crashing and changing so much in such a short time.”

He nods and you hear him open and close his mouth for a minute before sighing, combing a hand through his now slightly messed hair.

“I get that feeling,” you hear the empathy seeping through his words, “so, my bad for pushing that onto ya’.”

You shook your head, “‘s not your fault.”

“But I triggered it, yeah?”

You see his hand reaching out to you and for a moment, you think again if you should.

Should you be closer to these mafiosos?

Should you be closer to their family?

Should you work their parents at the bakery?

Your actions opposed your thoughts, deciding for you as it tentatively reached halfway before you see Graves connect them himself, intertwining it in such a gentle way that made your thoughts halt for a moment. His thumb slightly stroking the side of your hand actually made you felt at ease, breathing less intense.

“See,” he chuckles, “you’re affected— now don’t tell me you aren’t.”

You roll your eyes but squeeze his hand in appreciation for his offer of comfort.

“Not saying I wasn’t,” you defended, “just that it isn’t entirely your fault— you damn opened the gates, that’s what you did.”

He laughs again more lightly, and somehow you wanted to see this Graves more than the other a moment ago.

“I did.” He admits, crooked grin more believable now.

“But its fine,” you reassure him by squeezing his hand, “might’ve needed it.”

You mutter lowly, still unsure of the reason why yourself but you don’t blame Graves. Like you admitted, he just opened pandora’s box in your head, it was already there and you were just keeping it. Denying the reality you were in, just because facing it was too much.

“Gotta ask something tumbstone,” you had to ask him why they were taking care of you so well. For fucks sake, you guys just met— its just not connecting!

“What is it?” He hums patiently, squeezing your hand back.

“Why…”

“…’why’ what..?”

“…why.. ugh- you’re gonna think its weird.” You try letting go of his hand but he doesn’t let you, pulling you in closer right to his nose.

His gaze, more hardened than before but you can tell that he’s encouraging you.

“C’mon sugar,” he urges, “I promise I won’t.”

You squint your eyes, your voice- thinking it was coming off confident- was more withheld and vulnerable that Graves knew he had to tread carefully.

“Pinky promise?”

He chuckled and links his free hand’s picky with yours, “well, you got me wrapped around ya’ pinky so a promise it is then.”

Your mouth tilts slightly upward at that.

“I…just wanna know…why- why you guys are so quick look out for someone like me?”

You see his eyes widen but mouth still shut, so you continue— trying to explain yourself.

“Its just,” you fumble trying to tie coherent words together, “I-i’m just figuring why I’m being treated so well?”

He stares at you for a moment before smiling, continuing to rub his thumb on your hand.

“What? You think we can’t be nice to people?”

You shook your head at his insinuation.

“No its not that! Ugh- feelings are so hard to explain—.”

“Then don’t,” he shrugs, “I can wait.”

He finally lets you go and you stare at him, contemplating, trying to ingest the meaning behind his words.

Maybe it was too early for this.

So, you nodded, going for another deep breath.

“Ok,” you sigh, “yeah- i’ll sort out my head first.”

You feel him pat your head, “that’s good.”

You feel your face heat so you looked away, grabbing the door handle to leave the car.

“I’m going then!”

He waves, “see you sometime then.”

You turn back to that, “you’re not coming with?”

He couldn’t help the coo that came out and pinched your cheeks.

“I’ve gotta job to do sweets,” he then subtly pushed you out of his car, “so don’t miss me too much, yeah?”

You huff, seeing yoursef caught slacking by him of all people, so you slammed his door.

“Never in a million years!!!”

You walk away with a middle finger in the air, and you can just hear his cackles echoing down the street.

You see the bakery in a couple of steps, and the lights signaling that it was open is still closed.

The plants, oh dear you should personally add that to the list yourself really, were still wilted as much as you saw it the first time.

The windows, all caked up with uncleaned water droplets, were foggy and unclear— another thing to do on the list.

The trash, the pile never ceased really— another to thing to do on the list.

You decided that you should take your mind off the issue you brought up with Graves for later— now, you gotta earn the money their pooling into you. (Another thing you wanted to ask them about as well.)

“Cara!”

You turn around and smile at the old couple, arms hooked by their elbows and covered head to toe in warm clothing.

And you realize its freezing from the way you were just in some shorts, a shirt, an old flannel over it, and some old sneakers.

No wonder they looked so concerned and rushed over you to wrap a scarf and beanie around you.

“Aren’t you cold, dearie?” Nonno asks, fixing the scarf around your neck. “I can hear your teeth chattering from all the way down the street.”

You chuckle, “just now- I swear I wasn’t a moment ago.”

Nonna clicks her tongue, getting the bakery door open to push you two inside.

“You’re gonna get sick wearin’ that!” She scolds as she sits you down in front of their fireplace that Nonno was trying to start, “don’t you have warmer clothes?”

You shook your head, offering to help Nonno but was forced to sit again by the pointed glare Nonna had you as she stared you down.

“I-uh…” you swear you were already sweltering from the heat of her gaze, “…never thought I needed it, never grew up at a place that became this cold.”

She nods, sighing with a rub to her temples.

"I'll check if the boys have their old warmers around their rooms."

You stand to protest but with a hand raised from Nonna, you clamped up and just thanked her.

Nonno sees this and chuckles, strolling up to you to pat you on the head.

"Don't worry," he reassures, "she's just worried."

This makes you question him, "why though?"

"why, what?"

You place your head in your heads, fingers tangled up in your already messed up hair.

"Why are you all worrying about me so much?"

Even if you couldn't see it at the moment, Nonno smiled sadly at the fact of seeing react to their worries. He wonders what happened to you that made you question the kindness and care people show you. Were you so unused to being exposed to it that you suspect that there's always an underlying intent behind the niceties people show you?

Or were you questioning it because of them being involved with the mafia?

"You think we can't worry like normal people?" He jokes and he sees you perk up in recognition.

"No-!" You were quick to deny and feel frustrated being misunderstood but, you knew you weren't explaining things properly on your end either. "Its... not like that."

"Well, why don't you think about it like this for now." he stands in front of you, making you look up at him finally, and he tuts, rubbing those unshed tears at the corner of your eyes.

"We're just your bosses worrying about our only employee," he pats your cheek, "and we don't want to them to skip work because they got sick."

You bit your lip and take your time processing his words-- yeah you could look at it that way, but wasn't it unnatural to care that much? Or were you just looking into it too much?

'No, remember what Graves said.'

Just... give it time, no need to get to an answer right now. If he can wait for your answer, then you'll wait to figure out one for yourself too. You'll metaphorically hang it at the hanger called the back of your mind and focus on the now.

The now being the list that started from your head to toe.

"Hey Nonna," you hear a hum from the cash register as you stand in front of the pin board, "why is the list as long as me now?"

"Well, new day new list of things to do!"

"Fuck."

'I should've just maybe thought about it a little more.'

The day goes by quickly, faster than you thought as you accomplish one task to the next, barely taking breaks unless it was an offer of food or drinks from Nonno and Nonna.

From tackling onto that trash pile bit by bit to send it off with the guy who's quite disappointed to see you again, cooking dishes with Nonno and serving the tables during lunch rush, cleaning up all the dining areas and the kitchen, washing the glass at the front, clearing out all the dead plants, bake some pastries with Nonna, to serving once again during come merienda time.

"Hey, lovie."

You sigh, seeing the usual four at their regular table but surprisingly in more casual outfits. You don't know why but you smile at how comfy they look compared to their constrained suits you saw them in twice.

"Hi," you greeted tiredly, "how's it going?"

"You look worse for wear."

"Is that you're tagline for me Ghost?"

This gets a round of chuckles from them whereas Ghost huffs, but from the slightly crinkle at the corner of his eyes, you could tell he was smirking from under his mask.

"You really do this time, nest-head." Suds points out and you huff, turning to Grickky.

"I don't look that bad, right?"

He frowns then sends a sympathetic glance, "well..."

"Have you recuperated yet?" Price asks and you nod.

"Just lots of things to work on 'round here."

They all nod sympathetically.

"Thanks for helping them out-- we know how much it can get a lot with them." Price explains, offering a hand and you stare at it.

Mind buffering at how... similarly they acted and you just, did what your instincts told you to do and hold his in yours.

Price stares at you in shock and you did now as well.

It then clicks in your head that he was just talking with his hands.

So you try to retract it but he keeps a firmer grip in yours-- not letting go.

"I-i'm so sorry Price- it's been a long day and I thought you guys do this for comfort and I just assumed---"

"Shh," he hushed you and rubs his other hand on top of both of yours, "breath."

You take a shaky breath in and out.

"Guess that answer's your question boss." Suds chuckles, hands behind his head in a lax position.

"I'm okay."

You say such but none of them are convinced.

"Right," Ghost quips, "and I'm the Queen of England."

You glare at him, "you think you're so funny huh? Mr. I'm-the-clown-of-my-own-circus."

The tables explodes into laughter once more but this time Ghost isn't as amused as you, grin now plastered on yours instead.

"Why don't we bring 'em with us boss?" Gaz asks, once his laughter died out and wiped the invisible tears from his eyes.

"Bring where?" You ask, a bit curious. You turn to look at your tugged hand to Price who subtly pulled your attention to him.

"Just a social club down the street," he explains, "similar to a club but less of the party aspect and more of the drinking, snacking, and chatting part."

"Ya' 'tis not too stimulating and more like chillin' like its a game night," Suds adds on and you nod in understanding as you let out an interesting, "ooh~."

"Maybe it'll help you wind down," Gaz offers up his one cent as well and you nod.

"I think it would." All of them perk up, "but my shift's not over."

"Its over now!"

"Oof-!" You suddenly got hit in the back by a bag which made you stumble and Price catch you so that you wouldn't fall flat on your face. Again.

"Go have fun!" Nonna bids farewell while you look at her all offended, seeing just how easy it is for her to just use you and throw you away with a flick of her hand.

"You're just going to make the list longer!" You complain and try to go back to her and confront her, but the unexpected lift by the armpits from Suds made you all the more hissy.

"Hey!" you try slapping but he laughs and dodges. "you're not even letting me choose if I want to go or not!"

Gaz slides into your peripheral, booping your nose and instantly stopping your struggles like your mind just halted from the metaphorical button that switched it off. (The three are highly amused by discovering this about you but try their best to keep their giggles to a minimum.)

"You already did by saying, "I think so!'" He copies your voice and you just had about half a mind to whack him if Soap didn't haul you over his shoulder, exiting the shop with his other mates while they all said their thanks to Nonno and Nonna.

"I can't believe I'm getting kidnapped by mafiosos," you grumble, "what a time to be alive."

Ghost, who was walking behind with Price, ruffles your hair.

"first time?"

You swore you swacked him so hard that it echoes in the alleway you guys were passing by and the comedic echo of it made the others just crack up and die.

"You're my drinking buddy?" You ask Suds who sat across from the loveseat you were sitting on at the side of the room, where it was a bit secluded from the main hall where there was some games going on at the moment.

Soap shrugs, taking a swig of his drink before replying. "Just happened to see your lonely ass brooding."

You frown, taking a swig of your own beer before gagging at the taste.

He sees your reaction and offers his hand, and this time you don't take it so readily- and Soap connects the dots.

"Your bottle," he chuckles, "if ya' don't like it then let take it out of ya' hands."

"Oh," you embarrassingly handed it to him, "thanks. I kinda like more fruity or spritz-y type-a drinks."

"A zeltzer?" he asks cackles loudly and you snap at him.

"No! Yikes- hate those."

You continue watch him bellow and you notice how his face was more relatively red than usual, and you think that he's less put-up about his walls once the alcohol was in his system.

"Why don't I try and get you something then?" He offers, finally calming down and you cross your arms in suspicion.

"... What's in it for me?"

He shakes his head, an obvious smirk on his face. "A free drink on me of course."

"Hmm," you hum and fake-think about the proposition, "sounds tempting, good sir."

He catches on. "No need to pay a pretty price for a pretty person like ya'."

You both giggle and you just relent, letting him get you one as a surprise.

As he left though, you decided that sitting here made your bowels act up from the two bottles you already had in you. You bought your first one and regretted it so you downed it immediately, not wanting to waste it, so Price- thinking you really liked it and needed another- offered to get you one himself.

You couldn't deny the man when he already slotted another in your hand, and so you did the same thing- downing it like a champ but this time, Gaz catches you right as you finished it, watching the whole spectacle.

Hence, that's how Soap found you in the corner, inebriated with a pleasant buzz but almost puking at the taste of your third one for the night.

And all of that is begging to go out another way.

So, you try your best- with crossed gait- to get the bathroom as fast as possible.

Until you bump into some guy who was blocking the restroom, you thought he was gonna stand aside once he saw you but no-- he just stood there like a wall.

"what the fuck dude," you mutter, holding onto your forehead where you made contact with his hard chest. "can you not block the toilets?"

The man, hidden behind a mask quite similar to Ghost, stared down at me.

"Occupied." This behemoth simply says and this makes you irk.

"Look," you poke at his chest, "I need to go."

He stares down at you before looking at his companion, a mask covering the lower half of his face as well with sunglasses covering his eyes, said partner shook his head.

"No."

"No?" You scoffed, "you think you can control my bowels?!"

The man besides him sighs, "its occupied alright, there's another down the other hallway."

You whip your head at him so fast that he flinched.

"I fucking said," you stalked up to the guy and shouted-- "I NEED TO TAKE A SHIT!"

"what the hell is going on out here?!"

The bathroom door slams open and the two immediately step aside to bow to this man, gruff with whites in his hair. The man was busy fixing his clothes, whereas the girl in his arms was so giddy that she didn't care that her bra was literally slipping off both her shoulders.

You gagged.

"Nothing sir, someone just wanted to use the bathroom--" The tall guys explains but gets cut off the man screeching out orders.

"Then take fucking deal with it quickly!"

"yes sir."

Both of them then turn to you, who almost gagged at the second time seeing the girl turn around with the man, barely able to catch up with him with her panties hanging and... dripping.

"Leave." They both commanded and you rolled your eyes, about to leave until Soap appeared down the hall- asking for you.

"Where are you pretty-? What the fuck?!"

You see him running and by the time you turn around again as you hear the click of something familiar--

a gun was in between your eyes, straight at your forehead.

So close that your eyes went cross-eyes, made you dizzy and gagged for a third time.

Even worse so, that went Soap tries pushing you out of the way, it pushed you forward and land on the behemonth- taking him off balance and throwing you in another dizzying spell.

This time, confirming that the beer did come out of your system one way or another.

Right.

On.

His.

Suit.

"Konig!"

Note to self, never buy beer again.

A/N: Well, this one was in the drafts for a while but-- we finally get to put some special peepo in this chapter hehe~ Next is the epilogue with it featuring two POVs this time, as always- will be cookin' up the next one soon ~

Taglist! <3

@astreaaaaaa6 @accidental-obsessionist @sunshineistoofuckingbright

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re4rlyr4e · 1 day ago

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‘Adore me, hold me and explore me’

Daisuke x Fem! Black! Anya’s intern! Reader

⚠️Warning!⚠️ : this has smut in it but I won’t say mdni because I am minor too

You were Anya’s intern. Helping her in every way you could! You weren’t the kind of girl to fall for people quickly so when you got on the tulpar you weren’t expecting much. It was just an internship….right? Wrong. The other intern on the ship, the mechanical intern…you knew him, but didn’t know from where. So, you were going to ask his name. There was no way he was who you thought he was. “Excuse me? Sir?” You tapped his shoulder and looked up at him playing with your braid ��oh hey! Reader, long time no see, I’m kidding it’s been like 4 months, how are ya?” He asked, IT WAS HIM, your high school crush Daisuke was really on this ship with you, for the 382 days you would be in the same ship as him. That was a dream come true.you couldn’t wait to see what would happen!

It had been 3 months on the ship, everything was going great! You were talking to Swansea about Daisuke because you didn’t want to wake him up yet so you were waiting for him to wake up “sooooo Swansea, how’s I been working with Daisuke” you questioned wanting to know if he was a sweet as you remembered “good if he would shut up about you, he won’t stop taking about ‘how pretty you are’ or whatever” he replied. You would have been bright red if it were visible. You felt something you hadn’t felt since you had math right next to Daisuke, who would ‘accidentally’ grab your thigh mid class. That’s when you felt a pair of warm hands on your hips, Daisuke had come from behind you and hugged you “what are we talking about?” He asked with his usual smirk, go that smirk made you wet….Wait what? Was he making you horny on purpose?! It’s fine, but god damnit you wanted him to make you Juno, isn’t that a song? Whatever you didn’t want to think of anything other than Daisuke “nothing Daisu…” you giggled while playing with your braids. For once you wanted to get them messed up, as long it was because of him. You wanted him so bad… wait…you felt something on your back…..were you crazy? " daisu can we talk for a second.... outside?" you asked him like he was being demanded, did guys like that as much as some girls did? you didn't know but the question couldn't wait. "Daisuke do i make you hard or something?" you asked up front and strong, you knew he would probably deny it and be all rude about you even asking about tha- "yea. you kind of do..." in any other instance you would have blushed like crazy. But you were horny so you did something you would normally never do. You kissed him..hard. In the middle of the hallway and he pulled you into a nearby room. “Daisu….i need you” your reached to try and take off his shirt but he stopped you. “Wait…how long have you been waiting to do this?” he giggled with that stupid smirk, you loved it but it was still stupid . “a while now fuck me or I’ll do something stupid” you kissed him again you could feel how hard he was through his stupid pants, you just wanted them gone at this point. He started kissing down your body, he was trying to make sure that this was perfect for you, even if you were in a closet. He was playing with your ass as he kissed you, he wanted you badly “take your pants off” you demanded him. You wanted him to be rough but you wanted a little control “what?” “Take them off” “that’s so hot” that’s the last thing you heard before you felt him…he wasn’t being gentle at all ”fuck baby! Right there! YES! FUCK YEA!” you were already on the edge and you both knew it….thats when he pulled out, flipped you over and made you look at his cock, what you did to him. You were so excited you grabbed it and….licked it…was this reality? Were you dreaming? Or were you really giving your crush of 4 years head in a closet…? Yea, and you’d do it again “I want you to knock me up…I like myself and all but two would be better right?” You bent over and let him go at it. As he did so his hands were roaming you, exploring every inch of you. “Fuck I’m so close baby!~ “ at that moment, you both came. Panting and sweating, you were shaking and he was just chuckling and grabbing his pants “come to my room after dinner, we can cuddle and talk about what we are from now on” that was a offer you couldn’t resist, “okay see ya?” You said unsure “yea, I love you” he had said it. He said the L word. “I love you too, Daisuke “

#Spotify #mouthwashing #daisuke mouthwashing #daisuke x reader #smut #mouthwashing smut #daisuke smut #don’t like it #give feedback

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cillianmesoftlyyy · 2 days ago

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Moth to the Flame Pt. 2 | Dr. Crane x Reader

summary: Dr. Jonathan Crane isn't the only 'crazy' in Gotham City and he's about to meet his match. When confronted with an unpleasant secret from his past, he's skeptical to trust the strange young woman who calls herself Victoria Vale, the rightful heiress to Arkham Asylum (and maybe his downfall).

warnings: mentions of attempted suic*de and an insanity plea (follows the plot from the movie Batman Begins).

A/N: I really enjoy using the original DC comic lore so if you've been following me for a while, you'll recognize the backstories in this but I've tried to make a completely different plot line.

Choke- I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME 🎶

A few days pass but they feel like weeks. You’re expecting Dr. Jonathan Crane at the precinct to conduct Falcone’s psychological examination, and shift impatiently in your seat. You check your watch routinely, having assumed Crane would be a very punctual person and arrive right at 4:00. And you’re right.

Crane saunters down the hallway like a black cat, his dark hair combed back against his head and his glasses perched perfectly on his button-like nose. You stand as you see him, pushing your chair back from your desk. You step out to meet him, keeping one hand securely on your hip to ensure your gun stays there and doesn’t get picked up by this handsome criminal mind. Dr. Crane smirks softly when he sees you and gives you a curt nod.

“Detective Vale,” he greets you and sticks out his hand. You give a professional nod back and shake his offered hand, surprised to find it so warm.

“Dr. Crane, thank you for coming on such short notice. One of the men we have detained in the precinct attempted last night, I’m sure you understand that we have to follow protocol- get him checked out before his trial in case there’s a more serious issue here.” You explain, knowing Crane can see right through you and your speech (just a matter of routine).

“I’m always… happy,” he takes a breath, “to help law enforcement when I can.” The smile he gives is false, a lie, but one that you share. You nod and open your mouth to speak again when you hear Rachel Dawes’ voice splinter the conversation.

“What’s he doing here?” Dawes stands beside you, crossing her arms over her chest in her crisp suit. You watch Crane suppress a scowl as he sees Dawes appear in front of him in her annoyingly professional suit. Though he’d be lying if he didn’t admit to having a thing for powerful women.

“Ah, Miss Dawes. To what do I owe this… pleasure?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Dawes retorts, her nose scrunched in distaste.

“Dr. Crane is conducting a psychological examination on Falcone for the department,” you turn to Dawes, putting your hands casually into the pockets of your pants.

“Is he? Then perhaps he can also explain why so many of Falcone’s men end up in Arkham because of his diagnosis.”

Crane holds back a sigh and gives his best charming smile. “Miss Dawes, I’m simply giving professional diagnoses and my most honest clinical opinions about each of Falcone’s men. They end up in Arkham because that is where they belong. That’s hardly my fault, if criminals have a certain association with the insane.” Dawes begins to level a threat at Crane when you cut in.

“Rachel, we’re going to get him on this one, I promise you. I’m going to oversee the examination with Dr. Crane.” You speak softly to Rachel, meeting her dark brown eyes.

“Well I’m glad you're overseeing it, some people need it,” she glances over at Crane who looks back without speaking. You look between them before clearing your throat softly.

“Let me know what the results are, Victoria. The judge wants to meet with Falcone on Monday,” Dawes directs her words to you and then turns to Crane again. “Falcone has no history of psychiatric problems. He got a hold of a blade and claims he wanted to hurt himself. I think he’s faking it.”

Crane nods once, still cool and clinical despite the unspoken accusations launched at him. “We’ll see.”

Dawes and Crane scowl at each other before you nod once again and gesture down the hallway.

“I’ll be there to watch, Rachel, and I’ll let you know what the decision is. We all want a conviction as much as you do.” Your words sound truthful and sincere. Rachel’s pager buzzes and she looks down at it, frowning. She turns and nods at you in thanks before walking away, her black stiletto heels clicking angrily. You look again at Crane whose eyes are already on you, examining you silently.

“Very interesting…” he says coolly. You raise an eyebrow and cross your arms over your chest.

“How’s that?”

“It’s interesting how you interact with her. You deal with her so casually.”

“I have many talents,” you answer distractedly and turn down the hallway, beckoning him to follow, “shall we?”

“Lead the way, Miss Vale.” His voice feels close to your neck, prickly and hot like a hand. You close your eyes for a moment and sigh, allowing yourself to dissolve in the riptide of his voice. Then you’re back, you glance around to make sure that no one has seen your “friendly” interaction and continue walking, your steps wide apart and fast. Crane follows easily behind, his gaze unfazed and silent. You stop in front of one of the soundproof interrogation rooms in the precinct where Falcone has already been placed. You step inside, Crane just behind you, and close the door, locking it and pulling the blinds.

Falcone is sitting at the table with his wrists cuffed, though there are thick bandages between the steel and his skin. He has a cigarette placed between his purplish mouth that reeks of sour milk. He raises a bushy eyebrow when he sees Crane and looks between you, unimpressed.

“Geez doc, I gotta get help. The voices… blah blah blah,” Falcone looks around for a lighter and then turns his eyes up to Crane’s. “Got a light?”

Crane’s jaw clenches and he sighs deeply through his nose before he pulls the lighter from his breast pocket. He flips open the cap with his thumb in one swift movement and leans over the table to light Falcone’s cigarette. You watch as this moment passes between the men, your eyes following the silver lighter as it returns to Crane’s pocket. When Falcone leans back in his chair, his cigarette lit, that’s when Crane finally speaks.

“Now Mr. Falcone, I’m going to ask you a few questions. Answer… honestly,” Crane clears his throat and sits at the table, opening a file folder of Falcone’s medical records.

“Sure, great,” Falcone mutters and looks at you, narrowing his eyes. “Are you staying? Is she gonna stay?” He turns back to Crane who looks up at him, frowning.

You regard Falcone coolly and nod once. “I’m here to observe.”

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to get started, Mr. Falcone,” Crane cuts in, his patience thinning quickly. Falcone grumbles and nods, waving his chained hands to prompt Crane to continue. Crane takes another file from his briefcase and opens it on the table. You can sense Falcone starting to get irritated, Crane’s lips pull into a small smile.

“I was just looking into your medical record. You’ve got a bit of a history with drug use, don’t you, Mister Falcone?”

Falcone looks over at you for help, confused by Crane’s line of questioning. You shrug and remain silent, your arms crossed over your chest. Falcone thinks for a moment before answering.

“Oh… yeah. Meds and stuff.”

“And stuff? In your file it says that you’re taking a prescription for a severe anxiety disorder. Is that true?” Crane raises an eyebrow, a plan brewing behind his blue eyes. One that neither you nor Falcone can predict.

“Say, doc, what kind of question is that? You’re supposed to declare me insane and get me out of here. We had a deal.” Falcone’s tone is low and sounds slightly scared but he tries not to let it show.

Crane pauses for a moment, the statement hangs in the air like a cloud of smoke. You look between Crane and Falcone, your curiosity piqued. Crane maintains a clinical tone as he continues slowly as if he were talking to a child, “I know we had a deal, Mr. Falcone. Our deal was that I’d keep you out of jail, not out of my line of questioning…” Crane smiles, his heart beats faster with adrenaline, “I’m curious. Are you taking any anxiety medication?”

“Sure, of course…” Falcone stutters and furrows his eyebrows. “I take all that stuff. I’m crazy…”

You can feel the tension in the room build, and it sets your teeth on edge. You try to keep your focus on Falcone but the dull throbbing between your legs reverberates whenever Crane speaks. He reaches into his briefcase and removes a vial containing one singular pill.

“This is an anti-anxiety pill. Quite powerful, actually. Do you know the name of this medication, Mr. Falcone?”

Falcone’s face is a bright red now and he strains against his handcuffs. You regard Crane curiously, asking yourself why he’s asking all these strange questions. Why not just declare him insane and let that be the end of it? Crane feels a deep sense of satisfaction as he watches Falcone struggle, and you notice it evidently on his face and the way he holds his body, taut like a coiled wire.

“Well? I asked you a question, I do expect an answer. I’m not going to declare you insane until I know for certain that you’re not faking. So, what is the name of this anti-anxiety medication?”

"I... I don't know! Why are you asking me all of these questions? Just declare me insane already!” Falcone lowers his voice, “You know damn well I don't take any of that..."

Crane sighs deeply and puts the vial back into his briefcase. He clasps his hands together, pleased. He smiles menacingly and lowers his voice too.

“Here’s the thing, Mr. Falcone- that pill I was holding? It’s not anti-anxiety medication…”

When he says that you turn, your brow furrows. Where is he going with this? Falcone rolls his eyes and stubs out his cigarette angrily.

“You see, this medication isn’t used to treat anxiety. This medication is a powerful hallucinogenic, an extremely potent, mind-altering drug. It’s my most recent concoction, a fear toxin.”

Falcone freezes and narrows his eyes at Crane. You feel yourself match Crane’s smile, a knowing excitement creeps into your body, your fingers flex. When he sees Falcone start to struggle even more, Crane’s smile widens. Falcone goes white and begins to panic, resorting to a feeble attempt at blackmail.

"I'll tell everyone that I was working for you. I'll testify. I don't know what kind of drug you had us moving but I know it was something dangerous!”

Crane lets out a small, humorless laugh and leans back in the thin plastic chair, his eyes never leaving Falcone.

“How? You don’t know anything. And even if you did, who would believe you? You’re a delusional psychotic criminal with hallucinations. No one’s going to believe you if you tell them you’ve been moving drugs for me.”

“Get me away from this madman! I’m not fucking crazy!” Falcone shouts at you, pulling at his cuffs. You stare back, a small smirk pulling at your lips.

“Not yet, but you will be. You see, if you want people to believe that you’re crazy, wouldn’t it just be easier to be crazy?”

“What-what are you implying?” Falcone tries to push away from the table but the chains binding his feet prevent him from making it very far. Crane smiles and looks at you, his gaze giving you permission to contribute.

“Mr. Falcone, I’d suggest that you shut your mouth before you say anything else you’ll regret. You’re in no position to make threats here.” You lean forward, your palms fisted on the table. Falcone looks between you and nods slowly, a slimy smile appearing slowly on his lips.

“Oh, I see. You’re working together, aren’t you?” Falcone laughs.

Crane’s smile drops and he turns back to Falcone, his steel gaze sharp enough to slice right through the mobster.

“It seems we’ve reached an impasse, Detective Vale.” Crane’s voice is rougher now, more sadistic. Your whole body shivers, your cunt throbs with morbid excitement.

“Might I make a suggestion, Dr. Crane?” You cross your arms over your chest and rock back and forth on your heels. Crane looks you up and down briefly, discreetly. You can tell by the way he’s looking at you that he likes how your body looks in your dark slacks and a green blouse.

Don’t get too distracted, Crane.

Crane’s struggling to control his breathing as he watches you, his eyes lingering on the way your body moves. He tears his gaze away from you as he answers.

“A suggestion? And what might that be, Detective Vale?”

“Well if he isn't going to be able to convince anyone that he's as 'crazy' as he says he is, maybe we should help him out. Make it more believable…” You shrug, your voice light and misleading. Falcone looks between you, his eyes wide as he tries to understand what you mean. Perspiration dots his forehead but he doesn’t wipe it away.

Crane raises an eyebrow at your proposal but his eyes remain on Falcone, shaking in the seat across the table from him. There’s a dangerous tone in his voice as he murmurs.

“And how exactly do you propose we do that?”

“Don't you have anything else in that briefcase of yours? Maybe something that could make him a little more... convincing?” You tilt your head towards the open briefcase, your eyes saying more than your words. Crane looks over at you, he swallows and nods, another soft smile on his face. He glances down at his briefcase and a slight shiver of excitement passes through him. Crane glances over at Falcone and feels a cruel grin spread across his face as he realizes what you’re implying.

It’s like you’ve given him permission. You don’t need to tell him twice. Crane removes his glasses with a sigh and folds them neatly on the table beside him. Falcone watches him warily, his eyes dropping to the glasses then back up to Crane.

“As a matter of fact, I do have something else that would… help.” He slowly reaches into the briefcase and pulls out the burlap mask, his hands holding it with an almost reverent excitement. “Would you like to see my mask?”

Falcone doesn't even respond. He's gone silent and dumb with fear. In his lack of words, You smile kindly at the man, giving him a false sense of safety.

“He uses it for his experiments, you know. It's probably not very scary to someone like you but to the crazies in Arkham… they can't stand it,” you trail off, backing away in preparation for whatever the hell Crane is about to do.

Crane’s voice remains low as he leans forward, the mask still gripped in his fist.

“But for you, Falcone? This isn’t just something to fear. For you… it’s going to be a nightmare.”Falcone struggles in his plastic seat, the chains shaking and clattering against each other as he tries to escape. You release a euphoric sigh as Crane pulls on the mask and gestures to the front of its burlap facade.

His voice is no longer gentle, no longer friendly, no longer even remotely human as he continues to speak, “You’re going to spend the rest of your life in Arkham, Falcone. That’s a promise.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth his finger presses a button inside his briefcase, releasing a narrow cloud of fear toxin. It hits Falcone squarely in the face, his eyes bulge and lose their focus as some horrible nightmare overcomes him. Crane’s mask morphs into a real scarecrow, something uncanny and deranged. Falcone screams and Crane laughs, rising up from his seat and letting his palms rest on the table.

“I did warn you, didn’t I, Falcone?”

His voice is barely audible over Falcone’s frantic screams. Crane rips off his mask, smiling contently. His hair is tousled and crazy about his head, your thighs throb. He looks over at you and you nod back, only allowing him a smirk.

“He certainly isn't going to testify now. Dawes won't be able to argue with you either.” He looks more psychotic without the silver glasses that you’re so familiar with seeing. There’s almost a ring of red in his eyes. “Impressive, Dr. Crane.”

Crane tosses the mask aside and runs a hand through his hair as he tries to catch his breath. His face is flushed with excitement and adrenaline, and he can’t help but smile wider at you, the adrenaline making him bold.

“Thank you, Miss Vale,” he chuckles and shakes his head, looking back at Falcone, “That went well, didn’t it?”

You both look back at the screaming Falcone, smiles on your faces. A match made in hell, you and him.

“I'd stay and savor this moment with you but people will get suspicious. I'll go and arrange for his transfer to Arkham but first I need you to tell me that he's not faking it and that we need to move him to a secure wing in Arkham for treatment. I just need to hear you say it, legality,” you wave your hand about your face briefly. Crane raises a surprised brow.

“You pick and choose the laws you follow now? How interesting,” Crane says in a soft sarcastic manner, his eyes still wide with pleasure.

“Technically you are the expert and we brought you in here to diagnose Falcone…” you roll your eyes playfully.

“Fine,” he takes a deep breath which is more attractive than you’d like to admit, “No, he’s definitely not faking. I believe he’s actively having a psychotic episode and will be in no position to testify. I recommend moving him to a secure wing at Arkham Asylum immediately. He’s a danger to himself and others.”

“Thank you, Dr. Crane,” you smile and turn towards the door.

“So what? I do this favor for you, Miss Vale and then you leave me alone with the deranged?” Crane chuckles and puts on his glasses, looking you up and down. Your hand is on the doorknob but you turn and regard him, a sly smile on your face.

“I thought you liked being around the deranged…”

Crane raises an eyebrow back and turns his back on Falcone who continues to scream in the background. Crane’s nice dark gray suit shifts as he shifts.

“And what does that mean for you?”

“You’re the psychologist, not me,” you whisper back and open the door. The door closes sharply behind you but not before Falcone’s screams can be heard echoing down the hallway. You pull an officer aside.

“Tell Prosecutor Rachel Dawes that Falcone needs to be moved to Arckham. It’s true, he’s insane too. He’ll need to be moved immediately, he’s already becoming violent. Dr. Crane is completing the paperwork and I’ll see to the transfer myself.”

…

It is late at night when you finally finish Falcone’s transfer. You had shed your quilted jacket days before because Gotham City was in the middle of a miniature heat-spike after weeks of cold, damp weather. You check your watch and look off into the city skyline, thinking. You had followed Crane for weeks before you decided to speak to him, so you know his schedule just as well as your own. He would be in his lab at the university, working on his own projects in the secrecy of the night. His students would never know what their strange professor was up to. You make a rash decision and change directions, your feet taking you a few blocks to the left, to Gotham University.

Gotham University was not the type of institution that most students strive for but it still offered a good education for those who could pay. The buildings on campus were all dark and gothic, like orphanages set against a city scene. Students walking home from the library walk past you, speaking softly to one another. Some mention Professor Crane, some don’t.

The science building is silent and empty when you break in, using the door with the broken sensor (your doing). You find Crane’s lab on the third floor, the only source of light in the dark hallway. You go to the door and open it slowly, silently. Crane has his back to you as he makes notes in a notebook with a red pen. He’s wearing a white lab coat that nearly makes his shoulders look broader, stronger. You stand by the door, watching, and waiting to see how long it takes until he notices you’re there. You pull the string that closes the blinds with a soft snap.

“Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?” Crane's voice rises from the opposite side of the room. Your eyes widen only slightly in surprise, but then you smile and approach his lab table slowly, eyeing him up and down. His gray-blue eyes remain fixed on his work.

“Did I frighten you?”

“Oh no, I’m not scared of anything, remember?” Crane retorts with a distracted smirk as he finishes writing a line in his notes. When he finishes he finally turns and leans against the lab table, looking you up and down. “So, what are you doing here, Miss Vale? Why’d you close the blinds?” His smirk widens, the fact that you’re both completely alone excites him. He nearly shivers.

“No one can know that I was here. I'm sure Dawes is already suspicious of me because I 'oversaw' your evaluation and approved the transfer when the three of us all know he was fine when we walked into the examination room the first time.” You smile and mirror his posture.

“Mmm yes, I’m sure Dawes has already had a few choice words with you,” Crane nods and looks up, remembering the exchange the three of you had earlier at the precinct: two smart, powerful women in one room, amazing.

“I can handle her, don’t worry.”

Crane looks back at you and shakes his head, “Oh I don’t doubt it. You’re a highly intelligent woman, I’m sure Dawes doesn’t pose much of a problem for you.”

You smile, flattered though you don’t need Crane to tell you what you already know. You ignore the way Crane’s eyes continue to trace the length of your body, imagining what he’d find beneath your blouse…

“No, but I'm concerned that she'll prove to be a bigger problem the more she finds out. Which is why I'm in charge of the case... or at least until she kicks me off. I'll make sure she doesn't learn too much about the 'operation' you're running here. But I need something from you first.”

“And what do you need from me, Miss Vale?” Crane’s voice is low, husky, and short, like the response was second nature.

You look him up and down, a smile growing on your lips. You can tell that he wants you and it's exhilarating to be wanted by such an attractive man... but first, you need information from him. It must be so frustrating for him but hey, that's life. You walk around the lab table and put your hands over his, gripping the edge of the table. You lean forward only slightly, leaving some distance between your bodies.

“Tell me about your plans for Gotham, Crane.”

His jaw clenches but he keeps his voice calm, composed, and his eyes evade yours. “What do you want to know?”

“If I'm going to be an equal partner in this, I need to know what you've been doing with Falcone and his men.” You look down at his lips as you speak.

Crane’s breathing gets heavier, more ragged. His eyes are still avoiding yours, but he knows exactly where your gaze is fixated.

“I know that Falcone has been moving shipments of your fear toxin into Arkham and I noticed that the military’s microwave emitter happened to go missing recently. Did you have anything to do with that, Crane?”

Crane can smell your pheromones like perfume and he stifles a frustrated sigh. He rolls his eyes and shrugs slowly.

“Perhaps.”

“You could have made Falcone take the fear toxin pills you had in the box but you didn’t. You used a different form, gas. The microwave emitter vaporizes water… Your fear toxin doesn’t work in water, does it? It’s water soluble. It needs to be in a gas or powder form, correct?”

“You’re clever, pet.” Crane smirks and moves his hands away from yours to cross against his chest. “But the pill I showed to Falcone was just a sugar pill, a placebo. Here’s a little lesson in Psychology: the body’s sense of smell is the fastest to recalibrate. By putting the toxin into gas form, the subject inhales it and reacts much faster. It’s all about speed. Water washes the toxin out.”

“So the microwave emitter?” You prompt him to continue.

“Yes, you’re right. If it works, it will dry up the main water line on the island, then I can release the toxin into the air… Every man, woman, and child in Gotham city would be paralyzed with fear.”

You let your lips inch closer, exhaling against his lips. Crane almost believes that you’ll kiss him until you pull away at the last moment and smirk.

“I’ve read everything you’ve ever written about the chemical components of fear. I’ve tried recreating your ‘recipes’,” you look back at the experiments on the table, “but I can’t get the same results. There’s something important missing from your original research isn’t there? What’s the final ingredient? It has to be exotic, something you could only recently get access to. Maybe you met someone with connections. Someone who also read your research and offered to fund your project….”

Crane is still recovering from your little trick and sighs tightly, impatiently. He looks up at the ceiling, the fluorescent lighting reflecting off of his glasses. “Is that right?”

You hum once in confirmation and reach your hand out beside his left arm, brushing his sleeve. He keeps his gaze averted, still pissed that you teased him. While he pouts, you pick up a small petri dish from the lab table. A bright blue flower is preserved inside.

“Blue poppies?”

Crane raises an eyebrow, finally looking down at you. He wets his lips and sighs, rearranging his arms to rest over his chest.

“You can recognize obscure botanicals now?” He nearly snaps. You flick your eyes up to his, meeting his icy gaze.

“That was a lucky guess.” You shrug and smile, “I’ve only read about these. So how did you get these? Who are you working for?”

Crane’s body reacts strangely to your smile, his navel warms. Your smile is so wrong… he loves it. He’s still slightly wary of your skills of deduction. He looks down at the petri dish for a moment, his mind trying to get back on track before he answers your question.

“I came into contact with someone who has strong connections. He’s agreed to fund my research and supply me with all the necessary equipment and ingredients.”

“Who?” You ask with a little less patience. Crane enjoys witnessing one of your rare moments of impatience and smiles, getting the upper-hand. Crane’s smile only widens as he leans back against the edge of the lab table again, his hands gripping the edge in a white-knuckled grip to keep his body in check.”

“Oh, I’m sure you know him… He’s quite the controversial figure….”

You lick your lips and you try to think. Surely it wasn’t Bruce Wayne- Crane would never work with him. Not Falcone. Not Gordon. What criminal would have both the money and power to operate something like this. Someone in the League of Shadows?

Crane’s eyes focus on the way your tongue moves across your lips. His mouth waters and he feels himself start to get hard. Instead of shying away, he steps closer, one of his hands fixing the bridge of his glasses.

“I’m honestly impressed you haven’t figured it out yet…” he tuts patronizingly.

“Are you going to tell me or are you going to make me figure it out myself?”

Crane laughs and shakes his head.

“Oh, this is just too good. You’re clearly bothered by the fact that you don’t have a name yet, Miss Vale.” He leans closer to you, his head tilting to the side as he continues in a low voice, “I wonder what you’ll do to get me to answer your question…”

You scowl, Crane getting on your nerves now. You push him back gently with a few clicks of your tongue against the roof of your mouth. “It hasn’t come to that yet, Crane.” You think for a few more moments and then something you read randomly comes to you, “the blue poppies grow in South Asia… Bhutan.”

“Ding ding ding, good girl. The blue poppies are indigenous to South Asia.”

“There’s only one man that I know of from Bhutan, he has a warrant out for his arrest in multiple different countries… Ra’s Al Ghul.”

Crane’s smile widens into a crazy grin. He claps softly and then takes the petri desk back from you. “Correct.”

“Does Al Ghul know you plan to lead Gotham when it’s all said and done?”

Crane nods slowly, looking away for a moment, his lips pursed. “He believes that my methods are necessary in order to bring about the change that the city needs. We already agreed that I will have control of Gotham when my plan is successful.”

“Then what’s in it for him, Crane?” You ask with a raised eyebrow.

He steps even closer to you, until there are only a few inches of space left between you. His voice is lower now as he continues to speak to you.

“He gets to auction off the city back to the government, he gets the money, I get the power. Oh, I’ve also promised him a certain number of…let’s say…highly skilled individuals for his cause.”

“People you’ve locked up in Arkham?” You clarify, thinking it all through.

Crane nods and turns back to his research, his hand moving once again to the pen to write something down, putting his arousal to the side for a moment. Work will always come first to a man like Dr. Jonathan Crane.

“Do you trust him?”

Crane looks at you, surprised by your obvious question. He scoffs finally and turns back to face you. “No, I don’t trust him. But I see our partnership as a mutually beneficial arrangement. And honestly, I wouldn’t be able to continue my research at the same rate without his financial support and his access to the poppies.”

“Something about him gives me a bad feeling…” you mutter, crossing your arms beneath your breasts and tucking your head slightly to think.

Crane tilts his head to the side in curiosity, as if he’s studying you. “Why do you say that?”

You shake your head and furrow your brow. “I don’t have a reason exactly except that it’s just an instinct. Something tells me not to trust him.”

Crane clenches his jaw slightly and his eyes harden as he starts to take you seriously. He raps his fingers against his elbow and lowers his voice slightly, almost like he’s trying to be kind.

“When have your instincts ever been wrong, Miss Vale?”

You look up at him and shake your head finally, confident. “Never.”

Crane takes a final step closer to you, his chest nearly touching yours now. He can’t help himself from being drawn even closer to you, like a magnet. His voice is even lower than before as he looks down at your face.

“So, what do your instincts tell you now, Miss Vale?”

You look up into his eyes, heavy with desire. You feel the same desire, the same unquenchable and animalistic urges. Your noses are nearly touching as you exhale softly against his lips. You swallow and then speak.

“This...”

________________________________________________

@m0thh3ad @sl-newsie @strangeobsessed @cillamity

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dcdreamblog · 3 days ago

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How many types of kryptonite are there? I know this isn't quite history, but you seem incredibly knowledgeable and there so much misinformation. The wiki page is constantly vandalized, people making nonsense up; crazy stuff like plaid kryptonite ruins Kryptonian fashion sense and then it's cleaned up and locked. Even when it seems normal it gets messed up. Someone once edited blue kryptonite from "only hurts Bizarros" to "only hurts Bizarros, will mutate normal people into Bizarros and then hurt them"

Ah yes, the green stuff. So in the public imagination, seemingly omnipresent despite the fact that there's never been enough of it in one place for study to fill a gym locker. Yes, I would like to set this particular record straight because for god's sake I'm sure Superman would to.

(A brochure of the 6 types of Kryptonite on display at the opening of Metropolis' Superman Museum)

So, groundwork for those of you who may not know. Kryptonite is a radioactive element that was created when Superman's home planet Krypton detonated due to a chain reaction in its unstable core. The detonation irradiated the planet's crust and mantle as they were flung outward into space and various aspects either of that radiation or the material irradiated formed it into different kinds of kryptonite each manifesting a unique form or effect.

To cover up the first and biggest misconception. No it is not "everywhere", nor is it actually that common.

The amount of Kryptonite, all told that exists on Earth at this point in time is theorized by STAR Labs to be less than 10 tons. Which sounds like a lot but is less than what 2 elephants weigh.

Krypton was a large planet, larger than Earth by orders of magnitude and even then the amount of Kryptonite that would have naturally made its way to Earth probably wouldn't have fit in a coffee cup. Most of that weight hitched a ride on the warp engine the brought baby Superman to Earth and all of the exotic stuff has been brought here intentionally by alien villains and gotten lost or confiscated.

There are 5 "Core" varieties, two that have been seen in a few prominent instances and a few that are know to theoretically exist

About 95% of the Kryptonite mass on Earth and the universe is standard Green Kryptonite, made up of the standard, stable earth elements flung outward in Krypton's explosion. Metal, stone, etc. It is radioactive, giving off "K Radiation" that is highly damaging to the solar energy held within Kryptonian cells. It causes weakness, fatigue and a weakening of Kryptonian powers and over prolonged exposure can be lethal.

Misconceptions Debunked: It is still radioactive, if you keep it around you WILL get cancer. No, Superman is not instantly helpless to it. Better men than you have tried. No, technically it is not illegal to own but unless you own a mid sized country you can't afford any and none is legally for sale anyway, G Gordon and Alex Jones lied to you.

The next 4% of Kryptonite mass is Red Kryptonite formed by the already radioactive elements within Krypton when it exploded. Uranium, Plutonium, etc. The mingling radiations created a truly dangerous and unpredictable material that has wildly mutagenic effects on a Kryptonian exposed to it. Literally anything can happen, good, bad or indifferent. The same chunk also cannot effect the same Kryptonian twice. It's theorized that once the mutation is corrected for, the hyper effective Kryptonian immune system is able to stamp it out if it ever crops up again.

Misconceptions Debunked: This one is even MORE radioactive, it will kill you FASTER. Yes, all of the stories you have heard are true. Yes, even that one.

The final 1% of natural Kryptonite mass is Gold Kryptonite formed when standard Green and Red K, still molten from Krypton's explosion, collided, alloying together. It causes a chain reaction that destroyed the Kryptonian ability to metabolize solar energy, destroying their powers. Permanently.

Misconceptions Debunked: This one is the MOST radioactive, time until lethal radiation poisoning at arms length is lower than the elephant's foot under Chernobyl. Every single ounce of this stuff is accounted for, we know how much of it is on earth down to MICROGRAM and where every one of those micrograms is at every second of every day.

The final of the varities that exist in any quantity are artificial or do not exist on Earth in any permanent amount.

Blue Kryptonite was created to ward off Bizarro, only Superman know how to or has the resources to create it. Only a single sample of it exists for study and use in emergencies, all extras made in those emergencies are destroyed for the sake of them not being used against the Bizarro race accidentally or on purpose

White Kryptonite is lethal to all plant life on any world due to is radiation basically melting Chloroplast it has only been seen in a single large meteorite that Superman averted, no one knows for sure what he did with it and most people do not want to.

Jewel Kryptonite is formed only from the shards of Krypton's Jewel Mountains it has some ability to manifest connection to the mysterious Phantom Zone. Because of this security risk it is not allowed to exist once discovered. All other varieties quickly listed below are either fictional, theoretical or have never been studied because they existed for times measured in minutes or less.

Black Kryptonite: Causes violent psychosis in Kryptonians, created on Apokolips.

Artificial Kryptonite: You would have better luck atomically turning air into gold bars but yes, we do know what it's made up of so we could theoretically make some.

Silver Kryptonite: Might exist in the form of magically altered artifacts? Historicity unclear.

Pink Kryptonite: In your AO3 fanfics only, you know who you are.

Kryptisium: ULTRA theoretical, would allow for the increased absorption of solar radiation. The creation of this material is a green energy holy grail and the main reason Kryptonite is actually studied.

Slow Kryptonite: Some dingbat artificially decreased Kryptonite's atomic mass. To "effect humans the way K effects Kryptonians". What he had done was "invent" Plutonium.

Anti-Kryptonite: Kryptonite from the Antimatter realities. Does not exist for very long for obvious reasons.

Blood Kryptonite: You are in a cult, please, grieve and move on. Its what your loved one would want.

Looks up

If that is not the whole shebang I don't wanna know what is.

#dc #dcu #dc comics #dc universe #superhero #comics #tw unreality #unreality #unreality blog #ask game #ask blog #asks open #please interact #worldbuilding #superman #clark kent #kryptonite

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sophsicle · 2 days ago

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haha so like who is jack hughes he’s all over my fyp

oh my god.

thank u so much 4 this ask.

lets talk about it.

let me paint u a scene.

SO. Jack Hughes. he is, first and foremost, a middle child. this, i feel, is important information. he also looks like a lil doll.

WHICH. is a complicated thing 2 look like in hockey. because, on the one hand, u have mass appeal amongst teenage girls (boys and theys) but you automatically have the hatred of all old men who watch hockey and young men named some variation of Brayden who "would have made it if they didn't break their pinky finger in juniors" or whatever. and now they look at jack hughes who is both pretty and talented and they hate him. so sad 4 them. they should probs get over that tho. also he is 5'11. which he will tell you. agressively. is not small. but average. AVERAGE HEIGHT. SO. just - jot that right down, okay???????? (again, 4 context, anything below six ft. in hockey is small TM)

ANYWAY SO. Jack Hughes, pretty lil boi that he is, goes first overall in the draft in 2019 (i think) at age 18, because the nhl is a cradle robber, and, if u don't know how the draft works, the worse the team the earlier they get to pick, so he goes to one of the worst teams in the league (the new jersey devils) and in a SHOCKING turn of events this teenager does not manage to save this team immediately and therefore is attacked.

youtube

(sad jack hughes edits are my JAM i'm gonna be real)

HOWEVER, Jack Hughes's super power, and i say this with the utmost love and affection, is that he is. dumb. and he simply never once stops believing in himself. like truly, the dumber u are the less anxiety u have. one time. his team was not that great but they were winning games somehow and a reporter asked him about it and he was like "yeah we're just too stupid to lose. like we don't know we're bad so we don't know we're supposed to lose" which. tbh *inspiring*

being dumb also means he is unintentionally one of the funniest players in the nhl.

ALSO, idk how to explain this. but like. there's a whole thing where he didn't know how to cook broccoli one time, and it haunts him 2 this day and it makes me laugh.

BUT the most important thing to understand about Jack Hughes is that he loves his brothers. he has an older brother, Quinn, who is A GEM. a gift. the sweetest hockey play 2 ever hockey. and a younger brother Luke, who plays on his team. and these boys do nothing but support each other 24/7 it is truly HEART WARMING. and precioussss.

"my brothers are good hockey players, but they're better people" - Luke Hughes

Last, but not least. Jack Hughes is a member of the NHL boy band known as Trevor Zegras, Cole Caulfield and Jack Hughes. All pretty and very good players who were on the same juniors team and are now in the NHL

AND THAT is Jack Hughes lore 101 I feel

#soph talks hockey

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amara555555 · 19 hours ago

Text

I got an idea:

Lookism x reader:

Something was wrong. Why you look more…….sharp? Why was there a drastic difference in your appearance? Your skin glowed like a lamp, a smoothness of a baby’s bum, a your lashes longer and acute,your lips even more glossier and your hair BOUNCY????????what in the cinnamon toast fuck is this?

On your way to school in the winter semester you donned a gigantic puffer coat as you met up with your Friends from J high but……where were they? Your meeting point was 7 am sharp, did they leave?

A hand on your shoulder jolts you out of thoughts and you see…………………….who dis?

What stood before you was a boy with the same smoothness of skin and lashes, but his hair….was Bouncier. Lucky hoe. His locks dyed silver and his face looking sharper, his eyes narrower, his lips glossier- the fuck is this?

“Y/n? You ok?”

You knew that voice.

“……Elsa- I mean…..Eli?”

He blinked.

“Yeah, you’re checking my hair- oh yeah I gave it a change.”

Gave it a change? Your hair follicles will give you a change at 25-

“Why do you look like that?”

He blinked at your blunt question.

“Like what?”

You gestured everywhere.

“Like THAT?”

He laughed.

“Little too much energy in the morning no?”

He pats your head all fatherly and calls the rest over as apparently they all waited for your arrival. You peek over his shoulder and see people you have 100% never seen before heading your way-

“Who are they-“

“Your friends- you didn’t forget this big coat but you forgot your Brain huh?”

“Eli this isn’t a joke- who is th-“

You get enveloped into big hulking strong arms and look over your shoulder too see a man bun.

“Goo morning!”

Vasco??????????

You were put down before a cereal bar was handed to you, you look up questioningly to see a blond boy with covered eyes. Ah. Jay. You take it with a mumbled thanks.

“Thanks to your dumbass were already late.”

You glared at……..is that Zack?

“You look like a digimon.”

He scoffs offended before mira put him in his place, who by the way- cute as fu-

Jace just shook his head and walked ahead, he looked the same. Thank god.

You looked over at…..Daniel?….Zoe looked identifiable but Daniel-…….had hair again.

“Hey Y/n! Finally got out of bed?”

You blink and he and Zoe passed you with knowing smiles.

ok what the actual manifesting shits are we going through? Is this puberty? Are we going through our 4 puberty? You didn’t know. Neither did you have time to know as Vasco snatched you up and ran to school because you were late.

Bonus:

You sat next to a bbg Daniel and stared at the black haired imposter who identified as a refill for James Lee. You look over at Daniel.

“If 5 plus 5 is ten and 2 plus 2 is four, what the fuck is this-“

That cashmere cat looking imposter looking fake DG smiled and you physically recoiled before toppling off your chair.

(Someone better check on my baby Crystal. And also Eli mentioned her, are they still talking??????? Why’s that kinda cute? Btw this is you waking up and being suddenly transformed into the new art style and tut hella confused while everyone’s normal. It was supposed to be a self aware reader💀)

#lookism #lookism webtoon #lookism x reader #lookism comic #lookism daniel #lookism Zack #lookism Jay #jay hong #daniel park #Vasco #zack lee #eli jang #zoe park

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peachhcs · 2 days ago

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https://www.tumblr.com/peachhcs/768160196490117120/need-to-know-if-sammy-ever-finds-out-about-what

lowkey want sammy to go off and kevin and break up with him and make sure he deletes the video

part 4! keep in mind that in the other wonder years fics + the fics before will and samy get together that samy genuinely doesn’t know how she feel and doesn’t really figure it out until her and will go to her senior prom together — just to clear up if there’s any confusion about that!

i also totally made this way too long at 2.3k words OOPS but enjoy!! lowkey also gave kevin a small redemption arc bc it just kind of came out as i was writing lmao

au masterlist | previous part

the things will told samy replayed in her mind on a loop like a broken record. she tossed and turned all night thinking about how kevin literally punched one of her best friends all because will tried standing up for her when kevin's friends started saying shitty things. she had an idea of what was being said because she's heard it a few times before in passing and rumors circulating around the school. usually, those things would just roll off her back, mainly because her brothers taught her to not let that type of thing mess with you too much.

and that's what samy did. she always thought tyler was a gross person anyway because of how he was always trying to hook up with a new girl each weekend. the thing that was bugging samy the most was kevin and will getting into a fight over her. their relationship had been a bit tense the past month. kevin kept saying things and samy kept trying to ignore him and denying all of it, but now she wasn't so sure anymore after finding out him and will fought about the one thing that's been making her and kevin's relationship so strained.

"bye guys!" samy exclaimed as she walked the guys out. all of them plus marcie and kevin just finished their semi-bi-weekly friday moving night. it was kevin's first time being invited after him and samy had been talking for awhile. she was excited for him to start bonding with the people she was so close with.

once everyone was out of sight, samy trailed back into the living room where kevin was. the boy smiled a bit, opening his arm up as samy sat back down next to him. the warmth of the blankets returned after standing in the doorway for so long.

"so, what did you think?" she asked nervous but excitedly.

"they were cool," kevin nodded.

"i think they liked you, too. hopefully we can all hang out again soon, or you can come with me to some of their games," the youngest hughes grinned as she squeezed kevin's arm a bit tighter.

"yeah, for sure. you know, i had no idea you and will grew up together," the boy hummed, his tone a bit too light to pick up on any envy yet.

"oh, yeah. we go way back. i've known will since we were babies. he's one of my best friends now," samy grinned and she missed the way kevin's jaw clenched listening to her say that.

"yeah, you two are really close," this time the envy did slip out through his tone. samy caught wind of it and snapped her gaze in his direction.

"what? are you jealous or something?" she laughed a bit, tugging on his arm and still trying to find amusement in it.

"should i be?" his green eyes pierced into her skin and samy slowly understood he was being serious. she dropped his arm.

"no? we've been best friends our whole lives. i've never even seen him that way," the soccer player couldn't even begin to think of will as something other than a friend and she was confused on where this idea was coming from.

"you better tell him and everyone else that," kevin muttered.

"oh, come on, kev. our friends have been teasing us about this since they met us. it's just a joke. we've never even done anything. he's like a brother to me," samy continued laughing in hopes to ease up some of the tension building. although, she did fail to mention how her and will kissed in her bathroom back in april and how something in her hadn't been the same since.

"i'm just saying, hughes. guys can tell and guys can feel when there's other feelings going on," with that, kevin looked at his phone and stood up. "i gotta get going anyway. mom wants me back home."

samy didn't have anything else to say. the thoughts in her mind were confusing her along with her and will's kiss from april and then again at the beginning of the school year. those were all just for fun though, right? she made it clear she was joking and will did too. it wasn't even serious.

"see you later," kevin mumbled before leaving out of the same door everyone else left from ten minutes ago.

since then, samy and kevin kept getting in little tiffs about what was going on between her and will. something would happen that would set the brunette off and he'd bring it up after the fact. samy would just deny it all and tell him he was overthinking it—because it was true. right? there was nothing going on between her and will.

there never would be.

but then there was homecoming. the night samy and kevin went public with their new relationship and the night samy started wondering if things really were changing.

she kept noticing the way will took every chance he got to look at her. his eyes were quite literally glued to her and it sent a funny, but good feeling through samy's chest. she kind of liked the way he was looking at her. and then when the guys jumped in for a few photos, she felt the tight grip will had on her waist and how close he was to her and she also saw the way kevin looked like he wanted to snap will's head off from where he stood off to the side.

and that's when samy started wondering if there was something more there and maybe kevin was right.

but he couldn't be. she didn't like will. he didn't like her. they were friends. nothing more, nothing less.

ryan mentioned something to her that night after she got back. they didn't really talk about it, but he hinted something and she understood what he was trying to say. still though, samy chose to firmly believe that there was nothing going on between her and will.

the youngest hughes was at kevin's house the next day. she knocked a good three times on his front door and then crossed her arms waiting for him to come out. there were heavy footsteps before the door swung open. kevin paused in the entryway, surprised to see samy on his porch.

"oh, hey. i didn't know you were coming over," he smiled a bit, but his smile disappeared when she didn't reciprocate it.

"we need to talk."

kevin glanced around like there were other people around, but when he only saw samy, he slowly shut his door and stepped onto the porch with her.

"okay," the two sat down on the bench his mom had outside. samy knew kevin probably had an idea about what she was gonna say, so she decided to just rip the bandaid off and stop beating around the bush.

"i know you punched will the other night at the game," she began.

the boy's eyes narrowed and then he jumped up like he was gonna take another swing, "did he tell you that? i'm gonna fucking—"

samy grabbed his arm to bring him back to reality, "i was gonna find out sooner or later, kevin. you really thought hiding that from me was gonna work?" she sneered.

"who the fuck told you?" he snapped back.

"why does it even matter who told me? why the fuck did you punch him? if you didn't want him standing up for me, you should've done it first," the girl snapped right back at him. kevin's face twisted.

"well in case you wanted to know, he did confirm he liked you because he'd fuck you too if he had the chance," the brunette grumbled and hearing that made samy's insides twist but not in a bad way.

"so what? that gave you the excuse to punch him?"

"it confirmed what i've known all along and what you've kept denying since we got together," the boy pulled his arm away.

"you could've seriously hurt him, kevin. i don't care how you feel, you don't fucking punch someone because they aren't making you happy. would you punch me?" the soccer player stood up so they were face to face.

"he punched me back just so you know. he actually tackled me to the ground if that makes any difference."

"why are you so obsessed with this? why not just break up with me if you think i like him?" they were going in circles at this point.

"because i wanna keep thinking that i'm wrong and there's nothing between you two. i wanna believe you like me. you keep fucking denying it so i'm choosing to believe you, but every time i'm around you guys i'm told otherwise. why can't you just fucking admit it to yourself, samy? why can't you admit to me that you like him?" now kevin was just pleading for some honesty and as much as samy was supposed to hate him right now, his words stung.

"because i don't like him! i've never liked him!" she yelled at him.

"there it is again. you're lying. i know you're lying. i can see it in your eyes. your tell is that you get defensive when you're lying," kevin pointed his finger right in her face which she pushed away.

"well maybe it's because he's my best friend and has been my best friend since we were kids and i'm just so terrified to lose that! and maybe i just kept making myself belief he didn't like me because then it would save all of us so much hurt in the long run because dating your best friend always goes bad. have you ever liked someone that's so close to you that it just scares you more than anything because you don't wanna do anything that will put you into a position to lose them? i like you, kevin. that was never fake. i think it just..i just tried pushing away other feelings too in the process and it didn't end well," everything all just spilled out and samy dropped back down to the bench while hiding her face in her hands.

a beat of silence passed between the two before kevin sunk back onto the bench next to her. he hesitated for a second, wondering if it would be the right movie, but ultimately placing his hand on her back.

"shit, i'm sorry. i-i didn't mean to.."

"no, i'm sorry. i shouldn't have snapped. i shouldn't have punched will. i shouldn't have done a lot of things," kevin shook his head. "if the feelings were really real, then hurting one another wouldn't be a question. i know it's scary, but i don't think you guys would put one another into a position to lose the other."

"i don't even really know how i feel, but all i know is that i don't wanna lose will just because of some stupid feelings. i also don't wanna lose you either, but i just don't think we work in a relationship. i think i just need to be by myself before i even think about a serious relationship," she met the boy's gaze. it was sad, but he slowly nodded.

"i get it, really. friend then?" the boy wondered and samy nodded. she hugged his side.

"just a few things. don't punch my friends ever again, okay? and can you please delete that video?"

"yes and yes. i promise i won't. i'm sorry i did," kevin sighed as he pulled his phone out so samy could watch him delete the video.

"i'm not the one who needs to hear that apology," she watched as he found it in his camera roll and pressed delete and then went to recently deleted to permanently delete.

"yeah, i know. i doubt will would wanna hear me out though," kevin and samy exchanged a glance.

"if i talk to him, do you promise to apologize to him?" the girl asked and kevin nodded.

—

kevin caught will a few days later at a community soccer game samy was playing in with her club team. the blonde caught kevin coming towards them, his face twisting a bit but the brunette raised his arms as a surrender.

"i'm not here to punch you again if that's what you're wondering," the brunette mumbled.

"if you're here to start anything you better turn back around right now," ryan cut in because he did not want to deal with another fight.

"i'm not, i swear. i was hoping will and i could talk?" kevin looked over at the blonde who stared at him for a good five seconds before slowly nodding.

"yeah, sure," will said and the two walked a bit out of earshot.

"first, i wanna say i'm sorry for punching you. it was uncalled for and i shouldn't have done that, so i'm sorry. second, the video is completely gone, so you don't have to worry about that anymore," kevin explained and apologized.

"i guess i shouldn't have punched back either," will nodded.

"can we just call it even? samy and i aren't together anymore so you don't have to worry about that anymore," the brunette stared at their shoes.

"i'm sorry you guys broke up," the hockey player rocked on his heels and kevin just shrugged.

"it's whatever. we're still friends and it's not weird or anything. we're good though?" kevin held his hand out as a truce. will stared at it before shaking it and the boys patted one another's backs.

"sorry again, will. thanks for talking," the blonde nodded and the two finally parted ways. will went back over to ryan and gabe who were curiously listening in.

"what was that about? gabe wondered.

"just..apologizing for real. i guess him and samy really did breakup," will explained and he watched his friends' gazes widen in surprise.

"oh shit. i didn't think she was actually serious," ryan mumbled.

"yeah, i guess. at least we don't have to deal with him anymore," the blonde shrugged a bit.

they were right though. kevin wasn't an issue for the rest of the year which meant samy and will were left to figure out what really was going on between them and how long samy could keep denying the feelings she had anytime her best friend was around.

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bomber-grl · 1 day ago

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hi! I’m the anon who sent the naruto headcanons and I wanted to say that I loved them! I was wondering if you could please do more of them, always with team 7 and how the act at the beginning of a relationship/how they keep courting the male/gn reader, maybe how they act when they’re feeling jealous. Thank you again!

Relationship + Jealousy Headcanons

Pairing: Characters x Gn!Ninja!Reader (teammate)

Character(s): Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha

A/n : I’m glad you loved the first ones and I hope you enjoy these too :]

Naruto Uzumaki

Once you start dating he’s in between these two categories: clingy and shy

One second he’d be the hyperactive person we all know (and love) him to be

Going on about Hokage stuff, ramen or honestly anything that comes up in that empty brain of his

Then he’d suddenly become like weirdly self aware, stiff up, turn to you, and continue but with a blush and be more quiet about his interests than before

You could assume it’s him being insecure but he really just gets bashful sometimes

I mean cmon

He’s probs had a crush on you for years and when you get together- you’re like the only person who would even consider him as a potential partner (in his mind)

Especially with how people treated him

Gradually he does get comfortable again, I mean at one point you guys were friends and he was really open about everything

Well eventually it gets to that point again

Just that this time whenever he’s being bold, he turns to you all bashful and turns back away and continues rambling

He’s really stupid but in an endearing way

Naruto is obviously pretty strong, head on and stubborn- we all know that

So imagine some idiot bumping into you and spilling all your stuff

Well Naruto ain’t letting it slide and confronts the person

Whatever stage of life you guys are at, this will go sorta different

Yet weirdly the same-

If you guys are younger, like when team 7 is still the og team 7

Then he’d be stubborn and be really confrontational- going as far as insulting the person and ordering them to help pick your stuff up (whether they do it or not- I can’t say)

If you’re older/mid teens then he’s the same honestly 😭

No matter what he’d still have this “dumb” air around him and don’t think I’m saying it as a bad thing

Because it really is endearing

He’ll always have your back

This was all to say that he’s pretty protective of you

Not when it comes to fighting all that much cuz you probably have it covered (though he’d still be there)

But mostly just when someone disrespects you

Also he’s so sweet

He��ll try to bring you traditional gifts like chocolates or substitute that with something else you like

He’ll always present it to you bashfully and hope that you’ll accept

Despite the fact that you’re literally with him?? Hello?

Also please just indulge him when going to Ichiraku ramen for dates or lunch

Most times he does try to make it up to you if you don’t like those types of dates

Also when it comes to affection, it does take a while for him to fully accept it

He’d definitely be surprised by it and fluster a bit

Eventually he does like physical affection- quite a lot actually

He’ll specifically scout you out for a hug or even to ruffle his hair

Just do it, we all know how touch starved he is

Jealousy wise I’d imagine two different scenarios too

The first is that it’s super obvious that he’s jealous 😭

It’s all over his face and he’s being mean (?) to the person that’s all over you (or not, maybe just someone attractive that’s around you a lil too much)

He’d be pouting too

During this time Sakura or any onlookers at all really, would tell him to cut it out cuz of his more than obvious attitude (second hand embarrassment 4 them)

He’d be sort of immature too

Mocking the person and wondering if they’re really better than him

This is all obvious to you so you’d probably be the first to bring it up

Not that Naruto is bad at communication just that he didn’t think of it

The other way he acts is not jealous- that’s only because he’s oblivious to the other persons advances on you

So he’d be all chill w this person and nice and stuff

And this person is just confused on why blud is okay with it 😭

Sakura Haruno

She’s literally the best person to date ever

She’s also really shy when you start dating

Not like she’s afraid to be affectionate because she really does want to be, but sometimes she gets a bit bashful at the idea

When she decides to be bold and hold your hand or even goes for a hug -

If you even slightly tease her she’ll definitely give you a serving of her iconic punch- straight to the face too 😭

Scratch that, she’ll throw an uppercut

Despite this comedic scene, once you hug her back she’ll feel touched and it just becomes a sweet moment for the two of you

Most moments with her tend to follow the same pattern as above

Gift wise she’ll definitely be the type of person to make you sweet home made stuff or even goes as far as buying treats or stuff she knows you’ll enjoy

Shed be flustered when she gives it to you and maybe a bit tsundere if Naruto or Ino is there to tease her for it

She’d likely give it to you later in the evening when she knows you’re not too busy

Despite the fact that you’re lit together

And that’s when she gives it to you

The only way to react is being overjoyed at the gift and hugging her or giving her some affection, I don’t make the rules

And if you decide for this to be your first kiss? Inner sakura would definitely be there totally pumped up while irl she’s acting all like a “shy” girl 😭

After having been walked home by you and closed the front door, she would definitely celebrate the new achievement

Now when it comes to what Sakura expects of you, just be the bare minimum

I swear I can’t emphasize this enough, just be a decent person

Even though we all know she deserves more

Make sure to gift her stuff in return too, not just lousy stuff but something you know she’ll cherish

Doesn’t even have to be expensive just something you know she’ll like, even then it wouldn’t hurt for it to have been costly

She’s always thinking of you too

You’re on her mind literally every waking hour

She walks home after a busy day and walks by a stall/store window and sees something you might like? She figures it wouldn’t hurt to buy it

She’s deciding what to eat? She’ll go out of her way to get something you can both share/ something of bigger portion just to have an excuse to sit with you

Not even something she has to do since her presence alone is a gift

She’s so beautiful too

And when you tell her, either by just slipping up because you were too entranced by her- she’ll be super flustered and try to play it off as a joke or you being “weird”

She’ll definitely go to sleep thinking about it though

Twirling her hair and kicking her feet and all

Eventually dates are in order

I won’t lie, Sakura would definitely want you to take her out first

She’s not even opposed to taking you out for a meal and paying either

She just prefers for you to first

Whether it’s for reassurance or preference- well it’s really unclear

Anyways, you end up taking her to a nice restaurant with plenty of choices

She doesn’t mind if it’s a small or quiet one either

Just as long as it’s with you

I do think Sakura would be the jealous type, try to hide it, but then fail miserably

Let me explain

Let’s say a person comes up to you- or even someone you’re assigned to protect is being awfully flirty

Well she’ll be as calm as she can be but it’s so obvious with her harsh actions that she’s fuming

Inner Sakura definitely shows that too

She doesn’t blame it on you or anything so that’s good but she’d still be pissed

It’s super funny too because Naruto would be terrified of interacting with her because then she’ll just take it out on him

And Sai? Yea he doesn’t gaf, he’ll still approach her

Even if it ends in him be wrangled and Naruto joining in

Naruto just because he was nearby*

This behavior doesn’t stop until the person leaves

Afterwards Sakura just doesn’t like the person at all 😭

Sasuke Uchiha

Og nonchalant

Or not???

Really depends with him because he sort of has mood swings

On one hand he’s really focused on his goal of restoring his clan and yknow the whole Itachi bit

(Not really a mood swing)

But he can’t deny that you’ve captured his heart

Plus, with him and his behavior- you’re likely super stubborn or hella in love

Probably both

I mean you’re already dating at this point but nothing really changes much

He’s pretty straightforward but with information that’s private- he keeps it that way

It’s pretty sad (?) in a way

At first it could definitely come off as him not liking you point blank

But when you really think about it you know that can’t be the case

You’re like the only person he’s ever even slightly been nice to

Honestly I’d believe it if you’re the only one amongst the Konoha residents that has seen sasuke laugh or smile

Up to a certain point)

He may be cold and distant but he doesn’t mean to be

He realizes that too the more you go into your relationship

So he tries not to be so emotionally constipated and tries to show you in subtle ways that, yes, he actually does care

Quite a lot honestly

Not really subtle though because it’s a stark difference between how he normally acts

By the time sasuke has the courage to hold your hand- it’s by the time where couples would normally have been doing much more

Honestly really depends when you date him too

Because if your relationship starts at teams 7 era

No it didn’t, he’s too clouded by getting revenge to actually act on it

Maybe, just maybe during shippuden

Even then he’s extremely difficult and hard to be around sometimes

And if you’re together, his behavior could definitely be a dealbreaker and cause some fights in your relationship

Patience is definitely required if you wanna go down the sasuke route 😮‍💨

I know I said previously that sasuke is really distant for a good while even with you

but eventually, gradually, he does open up more

Like about his past, his motivations, private and more vulnerable stuff like that

Now without the angsty-ish hcs, interacting with sasuke affectionately also has varied reactions

More often than not he’ll be, what can best be described as, tsundere

You could try and hug him while he’s overthinking but he’ll just shrink away

- a reaction that shows you he doesn’t feel like being touched

Obviously it’s a boundary that’s respected by you but it could also cause you to feel upset too

Then, after he shrinks away you look up to him

more specifically his face

Immediately you can see blush dusted on his cheeks

He gets easily flustered by interactions like this, I mean I can’t even imagine how touch starved he is

Now comes the rare occasion where he’s fine with it

Even leans into your touch

It’s pretty rare but sometimes he’s just exhausted and craves your touch

What can I say

Jealousy wise he’s terrible

He’s extremely jealous but tries to act like he isn’t bothered by what’s happening at all

Might even distance himself even more from you if he feels jealous

Could even spiral to him overthinking and feeling like his attachment to you is a weakness

Which quickly disappears because then he goes over to you and yanks you away from the person in question

Also did I forget to mention? DONT TEASE HIM

I can emphasize this enough

Hugging him for the first time in a while and he accepts? Don’t say anything

Same with this

I know people usually like to tease their partners with “awww you’re jealous?” But that’s just antagonizing him

Causes him to trust you less too so a definite ‘not’

Also extremely possessive over you

Like he’s usually hostile to others for no reason but if you’re being targeted then he’s definitely pissed off

Especially if someone thinks they can even try to make moves on you

Definitely takes a lot of patience but just dont pity him I guess (?) 😭

If you’re caring or try to be sympathetic with him he’ll mistake it for pity so yea

He gets more comfortable as the relationship becomes more serious

A/n: actually did get carried away this time 😭

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fishmech · 3 days ago

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The biggest problem that piece of shit has is that they are using the exact same CPU as the regular PS5, and didn't increase usable RAM (they only ticked up to a slightly faster iteration of the same RAM type). The only thing they "improved" is the equivalent of dumping a moderately nicer GPU into a PC you've already had for 4 years.

This is incidentally quite different from the difference between the PS4 Pro and base PS4, or between the Xbox One X and the base Xbox one: for both of those mid-generation consoles you got sizable improvements in RAM, CPU, and GPU all at once which made for much better improvements in what games could do. But for the PS5 Pro, Sony entirely half-assed it and being stuck on the same CPU capability from the launch model means a lot of things you could theoretically do with the improved GPU don't really work!

though I have to point out once again that "people can't see 8k over 4k" is just a lie again. much like people used to say "you can't see 4k over 1080p" 10 years ago or "you can't see 1080p over 720p" 20 years ago. We're nowhere close to exceeding the limit on what people with normal vision or standard corrective lenses can see, but I can tell you this: the PS5 Pro isn't really able to generate 8K imagery that is meaningfully much different from its 4K output, cuz its 8K output to the few displays that handle that right now is almost entirely scaling up from 4K or less actual generated resolution. So of course you're not getting much in the way of real 8K detail.

The human eye can’t really tell the difference between 4K and 8K resolution. Video game console manufacturers, who have built their businesses selling increasingly powerful machines every few years, are grappling with a future where performance improvements are becoming less dramatic. Sony Group Corp. launched its PlayStation 5 Pro console in mid-November. The $700 upgraded version of Sony’s 2020 gaming machine uses AI to improve games’ frame rate while maintaining exceptional image quality — at least for 82 games that have been enhanced to take advantage of the new specs.

Article goes on to say the new PS5 Pro isn't really worth the extra $200 price tag, because it delivers an only incrementally better experience despite piling on all that extra horsepower.

We have reached the point of diminishing returns in gaming hardware. It's become impossible to add more polygons, resolution, or effects. And when they try, nobody notices.

Maybe it's time to, oh I dunno... create games with compelling stories?

Unpaywalled article here.

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beauty-grace-outer-space · 1 year ago

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People sure do be testing my patience today.

#I've got an ongoing power struggle happening with an outside company we work with #and we recently had a meeting (with a mediator) because another rep realized that I was being spoken to very poorly and not listened to #so they took it upon themselves to schedule basically a supervised call #and it went exactly as I expected it to #at one point I had to step away to assist a patient and when I came back #the other party didn't realize I had returned and I just listened to them basically badmouth me and call me stupid for several minutes #while they listed out everything 'I'm doing wrong'#(even though we'd already confirmed I hadn't done anything wrong)#the mediator got in touch with me today and was basically like 'I really didn't like the way she was speaking to you are you ok?'#and like 'she was just trying to railroad everything you said and I did not care for it'#so now I get to draft up some emails and cc some folks and try to explain that the exact same issues are still happening #the issues that I supposedly made up #but I'm forwarding on emails as proof that yes this is happening and no it is not my fault #and I'm already frustrated and dreading the inevitable spin that it's somehow something I'm doing wrong #meanwhile the phone will not stop ringing #and it's the same 4 people over and over again

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givehimthemedicine · 1 month ago

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time for my big lumax rantpost. I used to be way more of a shipper but upon reexamining some of my GA-era assumptions, I'm here to tell you why it sucks, and why I don't look forward to lumax endgame if it's the same lumax we've been getting.

lumax has fantastic potential, but needs lots of work to actually become the ship most of the fandom thinks it is.

I get the sense most on here consider lumax ST's darling perfect ship which is sullied by weak and/or racist writing. while I wouldn't argue at all that the writing does right by Lucas, I do think it's important to recognize lumax as an intentionally-written badly flawed relationship, NOT a poorly-written perfect relationship. (the writing for 5 has a lot to prove so we'll see)

lumax is obviously happening. no ending to Lucas's story makes sense other than him getting the girl. however, I don't like that from either character's standpoint.

from hers - Max is not a prize. and from his - Max is no prize.

Max is a pretty shitty girlfriend.

we've never seen her show Lucas any interest in learning anything about him. I can't remember a time she's complimented him, said anything nice about him, or done anything purely for his benefit. virtually all of their serious conversations have been about her, and the scant few that are sort of about him are inevitably just a lead-in to him offering support to her.

Lucas and Max's relationship - pre, during, and post dating - is 100% about what he can do for her. he's the one making 100% of the effort.

it seems like most of their interactions are him walking on eggshells trying to placate, reassure, or convince her, all for the reward of.... what. being allowed to continue existing near her? like yeah, she's a cool girl, but. that can't be it.

what good is getting the girl if the girl doesn't really offer anything?

. . .

through the seasons, semiquickly:

season 2

Lucas and Dustin both like Max, so they invite her trick or treating, offering to protect her from bullies and show her where the good candy is. in other words, the first Max / Lucas interaction is him offering something to benefit her. Max returns no appreciation or even response to the invite, yet still shows up to reap the benefits.

that pretty much sets the tone.

Max wants to be included, but that's a sensitive subject, so she puts on aloof airs to protect herself. it's an act, but nonetheless it's all Lucas receives.

the facade slips on multiple occasions though; Lucas is permitted to see her vulnerability, and we can see she's actually more desperate to make the connection than he is.

Dustin seeks Steve's manipulation tactics to use on Max, but Lucas wins her over by treating her like an equal and offering her genuine friendship.

he risks both his place in the party and his safety/life to include her, gives his undivided attention when she talks to him, asks questions that show his interest and concern, he reassures, uplifts and compliments her, and physically protects her.

in return, Max. uhh. well she does apologize for being a jerk, although she doesn't exactly stop, lmao. this is one of only two moments I can think of when Max reveals any regard for what Lucas thinks of her.

lumax is off-balance before it even starts, although s2 is when I think that dynamic is most permissible. since Max is a newcomer, Lucas has the advantage in many respects, and it makes sense for him to be the one extending a hand to her.

when Billy attacks Lucas for hanging out with Max, he could be gravely hurt if not for Steve taking the beating instead. Max joins in the momentary group hug but never says a word about this. (I suspect the writers mean for Max's bus apology to have proactively served as a veiled "sorry my stepbro is racist" but more felt needed in that moment.)

then they go to the dance and she kisses him and it's cute and everything is happy for ten whole seconds.

between 2 and 3

even though the summer of '85 is "the good days," this relationship is already careening downhill.

we learn that Max has dumped Lucas five times - such a regular occurrence that he takes it in stride and is well practiced at winning her back as a result.

unfortunately it's Lucas taking to heart the "happy wife happy life" policy from his dad that's set up lumax as something that seems to serve only Max. her awareness of the policy means she holds all the cards.

season 3

Max has secured her place in the party and the relationship, and now it's time for her to bring something to the table, but I honestly can't name one thing. it's still Lucas bending over backwards and Max sometimes being a bit of a jerk. (another act. we'll come back to this)

from the start of 3 we see an excessively secure Max and an obsequious Lucas. she doesn't show him any of the vulnerability that made her endearing in 2. they share fun moments, but we can infer that she doesn't treat him very well in ways that matter.

at one point she even plays mad just to watch him panic. you get the feeling this boy can never feel secure in his relationship. yeah she's just teasing, but do you think Lucas is allowed to tease too?

when El comes to Max for advice, she tells her that "boyfriends lie all the time" and this is before we see Lucas lie to her.

when Mike comes to Lucas for advice, he confidently schools him on how to get back in El's good graces by buying her a present - making clear he's been following his dad's advice all summer long and it's been working:

L: Dad? When Mom's mad at you, how do you make her not mad? C: First, I apologize. Then, I get your mother whatever she wants. L: Even when she's wrong? C: She's never wrong, son.

the mall confrontation is the first time we see Lucas really lie to Max, but even then, the girls don't actually have proof Nana isn't sick.

it's telling, actually, that Lucas's loyalty goes to Mike instead of Max in this moment. in s2 it was the other way around (Lucas pissed off the whole party by including her in the group and telling her the truth - a technically banishable offense). but now he's back to his s1 bros before hoes policy, and not only backs up but expands on Mike's lie. after dating almost a year, his loyalty to Max should be even stronger, but here we see the opposite. if Max had been at least as good a friend to him as Mike, I'm inclined to think he would at least have tried to be noncommittal here.

Max is so confident Lucas will have nothing on his mind but winning her back, as always - meanwhile who we actually see Lucas apologizing to is Will.

she may have had Lucas wrapped around her little finger all summer, but we're seeing that start to uncoil. if Lucas apologizes, it's offscreen.

when Billy tries to break out of the sauna to kill Max, Lucas slingshots him and body shields Max during the fight. next thing you know, Max is back to being cliquey with El in the bathroom (making fun of Mike even though he was the only one who did anything to save El's life?? girl you're being shitty to boyfriends that aren't even yours)

they seem to be a couple again by the end of 3, but the relationship is weakened...

between 3 and 4

..which sets the scene for how the two apparently drift when Max ends it once again. she's not playing this time - she uses the term "break up" instead of "dump" and Lucas has accepted that it's over.

depression makes it hard for Max to connect with him, but the way she treated him in 3 has likely also eaten away at his insistence on prioritizing her. if you push someone away over and over you can't be too surprised if they stay further away each time.

so Max withdraws socially and Lucas apparently doesn't go to his usual lengths to pursue her.

he's still making effort though! the "stalking" comment makes it clear he's been trying to approach her. we know he's been inviting her to his basketball games. him already knowing her favorite song as of 4x4 is more evidence of him taking an interest in her between seasons.

he clearly still cares a lot about Max, but good for him for pursuing his own hobbies and friendships as well.

season 4

Lucas finally asks Max to do something to support him for once (come to his game), but she shuts it down hard.

we know Max still cares about him, but that's just it - WE know. he doesn't. to his face, it's bristling rejection even while he literally begs for the chance to support her.

saving Max's life is a group effort, but Lucas knowing her favorite song is the key that saves her life, and it's only after that that she's friendly towards him again.

the only time I can recall Max expressing any concern for Lucas's wellbeing is when she asks if he's okay in 4x6 - and he only gets a few sentences to process Patrick's death before it's time for him to turn it into an apology to her. sigh.

Lucas is the only one of Max's friends to voice any objection to her suicide mission of a Vecna plan, and pitches for them to gamble a stranger's life instead. he once again risks his life to hang out in the Creel house with Max, personally taking on the huge responsibility of making sure she doesn't die.

Vol 2 Max finally shows Lucas some long-awaited appreciation ("you might have been there" and "I'm glad you're here") which is very nice to see.

I'm conflicted about the movie invite scene, but we'll talk about that later. textually: he asks her out, she accepts, it's totes adorbs.

unfortunately, Max being tranced out by the time Jason walks in means it's time for Lucas once again to get attacked by an older, stronger guy who's wrongly convinced he's a danger to her. (again not her fault, but kinda because of her)

everything goes sideways, Max gets Vecna'd, and Lucas holds her while she dies. we end on a bruised Lucas sitting loyally at Max's bedside, reading to her just in case she can hear it inside her coma.

Lucas hasn't been perfect but he has spent yet another season physically protecting and emotionally supporting Max at great personal expense, and with little appreciation and no support in return.

. . .

the movie doodle didn't fix lumax

Max has had an epiphany, but a change of behavior has scarcely begun. being nice isn't the same as making amends. they've resolved zero of the old issues, plus 4 (even if the plan had worked) has heaped a ton of new shit on both of them.

she's still a grieving, neglected, depressed and passively suicidal child of a triply-broken home. dating doesn't fix that. they already broke up once under the same conditions.

plus Max has new catastrophic emotional traumas, some of which which explicitly exacerbate those very issues. she has catastrophic injuries and disability to cope with (and this is a girl who withdraws under stress normally). with a shred of realism, she's waking up in less a mood for dating than ever.

Lucas has also taken on new traumas, between the basketball team stuff, getting beaten up and almost shot/strangled, and watching Max get Vecna'd and die. he already has a history of guilt about not being there for her enough, so he's going to have a lot more about failing her in that moment (definitely not his fault but he'll still feel bad) and will likely be even more focused on her.

to me, this all sounds like a recipe for the same old dynamic except worse than ever. if they get sleeping beauty'd directly back into lumax, it'll be a disservice to both characters.

. . .

now let's talk about why Max treats Lucas the way she does 🔬

she's not a conniving bitch, she's just a scared kid from a toxic home. that doesn't excuse her behavior but it does make it understandable.

Max CAN be a great friend. she's just not to Lucas.

Max absolutely showers El with the good qualities she'll barely show Lucas. in fact I could loosely say Max is to El what Lucas is to Max.

Max is suspicious and disparaging towards Lucas, even while trusting that he can be counted upon to grovel. meanwhile El never apologizes for intentionally hurting Max both physically and emotionally, yet the moment El acknowledges her (only because she wants help), Max is instantly forgiving, kind, gentle, caring, generous and supportive towards her.

she throws her loyalty behind a friend of 1 afternoon over her boyfriend of a year who's been the only person in Hawkins to show her any true kindness and emotional connection.

if Max was half the friend to Lucas that she is to El, she'd be a decent girlfriend. why isn't she?

we can name a few reasons why Max IS so nice to El, but why she ISN'T to Lucas is a separate question. kindness isn't zero-sum.

she told us why. boyfriends lie.

and it's ANY boyfriend, not just hers. Nana's sick? more like Mike's a lying piece of shit! Suzie from camp? fake! Dustin's obviously lying! the only one of the boys Max has never accused of lying is Will - the only one who's been single the whole time.

just. the state of being a boyfriend (or even just liking a girl is close enough), makes any boy automatically a liar.

Max believes "friend" and "boyfriend" are mutually exclusive

"Friends don't lie!" "Yeah, well, boyfriends lie all the time." <- it's all right there.

back in 2 when Lucas was her friend, she was more open and trusting. she gave him the benefit of the doubt that monsters were real and he knew a girl with magic powers. starting to date flipped the switch, and now she doesn't trust him about mundane stuff.

now they're not friends, they're boyfriend/girlfriend, and she expects to be treated in a whole different way, including all the baggage that comes with romantic relationships in her mind.

what baggage?

Max's childhood is full of examples of awful, manipulative men and abusive, broken relationships.

her dad: I'd only be speculating about why her parents' marriage failed, but in 2 Max misses California because her dad is still there, then by 4 acts like it's doubtful he can even be tracked down for delivery of what's basically her suicide letter. it's clear she desired a relationship with her dad but was abandoned. Neil: abusive asshole who rules the household with an iron fist. I'd be shocked if he hasn't abused Susan, and see little reason he wouldn't do it in front of Max (after all, we see him verbally and physically abuse his first wife in front of his son, in a bad fight over suspected lies/infidelity). in his grief over Billy, Neil and Susan have "bad fights" and he leaves the family. he's not missed, but it's still a second abandonment by a father figure. Billy: Max's peer example of guys in relationships: a sleazy, two-faced asshole who treats girls like trash and completely changes his persona to manipulate them for sex or whatever else he wants (Max appears to be all too aware of his sex life and is disgusted). abandonment issues with him too: a good relationship with a big brother would've meant the world to her, but he rejected and probably abused her for years; her letter at his grave reads "ever since you left" - same word she used for Neil.

Max desperately hopes Lucas is an exception to the rule, but these are the behaviors she would naturally fear from any guy she dates.

Max is especially terrified of being abandoned (and that she deserves it)

to be abandoned over and over can naturally leave a kid wondering if it's their fault, if this is the treatment they deserve.

Lucas is overall quite honest, and there's not an abusive bone in his body. the most realistic one of Max's fears to apply to him is that someday he'll leave her, too.

and that's the worst fear Vecna chooses to voice in Lucas's form: realizing he's been wrong about her, that she's fundamentally bad and he's glad she's going to be killed. a gutting abandonment from the guy she most wants to trust.

Vecna-Susan also tells Max that she deserves what's going to happen to her, that she's "broken everything" and that her letters can't make things right. because he's in full Vecna mode when he says it, I just took those as very general condemnations at first. but they hurt even worse when I remember they're still coming from "Susan" - revealing that Max feels she has broken her family.

she wanted Billy to die, and she figures Neil left because Billy died, so that's two of the abandonments being "her fault". if that's true, Max would also feel responsible for destroying her mom's life - having cost her her marriage, home, and financial security.

in her addictions Susans has, in an emotional sense, abandoned Max just like all her other family members - and Max fears she deserves it. how desperate she was for this hug... :(

anyway, back to lumax: let's reexamine those s3 dumpings

what exactly did Lucas even do? we never find out.

on first watch, I took "boyfriends lie" at face value and assumed Lucas got caught fibbing. but that doesn't fit so well.

he's maybe the party member most invested in "friends don't lie". honesty to his friends is a pillar of his character. again, he caused friction in 2 because he so strongly prioritized honesty to Max. to assume based on one line from an unreliable narrator that he randomly became a huge liar over the summer is unfair.

via their counseling of Mike and El, Lucas and Max tell us what's been going on with lumax

Max tells El:

He'll come crawling back to you in no time, begging for forgiveness. I guarantee him and Lucas are totally wallowing in self-pity and misery right now like "ohh, I hope they take us back!"

I think we all clocked that one: Max thinks that because El followed her technique, Mike will come crawling back - because Lucas has come crawling back to her several times now.

but I haven't seen much discussion about how the spying scene (which "he'll come crawling back" is paired with) shows Lucas assuring Mike that he's been dumped for an unfair and illogical reason because that's what Max has done to him several times now.

M: I just don't understand what I did to deserve this. L: Nothing. Nothing. That's my whole point. You are the victim here. Stop asking rational questions. M: I know, I know, you're right. Because women act on emotion and not logic. L: Precisely. It's a totally different species.

Max is pissed. but has she been irrational, acting on emotion and not logic, and dumping him for no apparent reason all summer? signs point to yes.

and I understand Lucas saying this. it's not pure misogyny out of nowhere; he's been told that his mother expects gifts and apologies even when wrong, Max acts that way too, and now so apparently does El. all of his examples concur that this is just how women in relationships are. (Charles Sinclair how many relationships will your advice destroy lmao)

both Max and Lucas are bringing preconceptions from home.

Max acts this way on purpose

I don't think she's dumped him over truly nothing (although that's how it looks to him). I'm thinking she blows real, minor missteps out of proportion.

any time Lucas does something slightly insensitive, it looks like the first red flag to her, and instead of communicating in a constructive way, she just throws up this "boys aint shit" force field and dumps him. of course she doesn't truly want to be rid of him, she's just sorta snapping the leash.

I think Max knows what she's doing. I think she wants to keep Lucas always on his back foot, because the relationship isn't as scary if she feels like she holds all the power.

she's always trying to cover up fear/sorrow with anger, because anger gives an illusion of control. and she's been conscious of that anger, and the fact that it's unfair to Lucas, since the beginning - that's what she apologized for on the bus. "I guess I'm angry too, and I'm sorry."

she was mature enough at 13 to see the error in her behavior, but still not mature enough by 15 to fix it. every season has just been a slightly different flavor of "leave before you get left".

so, that's my take on Max's relationship behavior. but again, explanations aren't excuses. Lucas deserves to be treated well, and that's not happening.

what needs to happen?

simply maturing more will help them both a lot. being 15 is a terrible condition in of itself.

I don't see Lucas dumping Max's ass, but she should take her own advice before the relationship continues: explain herself and fix the garbage parts of her behavior.

before Max can be the girlfriend Lucas deserves, she needs a substantial period of physical and emotional healing.

she needs renewed connections with her friends and family, and a lot of general growth in the area of communication and processing her feelings.

in regards to Lucas, she needs to work on her trust issues, and learn to extend him the treatment warranted by his behavior, not the behavior she fears from others. she needs to learn that "friend" and "girlfriend" aren't mutually exclusive, that real friendship is the key to their relationship, and is a two-way street.

any Billy racism/assault acknowledgement would be better years late than never, especially if grieving Billy continues to be a focus in front of Lucas.

Lucas could also use a little work

the relentless positivity doesn't serve Max well. often it turns out to be empty reassurances which make her feel let down (so, a soft version of the lies she fears). she let him know in 4x4 that this hurts her, but he kept doing it for the rest of the season.

but the big one is that "happy wife happy life" doesn't serve him well, and rewarding unfair treatment perpetuates the problem. yes, the ability to compromise, swallow pride, and be the bigger person are healthy parts of a relationship, as well as the willingness to extend grace to your partner/friend when they're struggling. but it always being on one designated person is a recipe for dissatisfaction and resentment.

Lucas should voice to Max that he, too, has struggles and needs support. I'd like to see him pursue outside interests unapologetically.

no, this isn't an exhaustive list, and I don't expect to see everything fixed at once, or explicitly processed onscreen. but I sure hope we get some evidence of change, and that this has all been part of an arc.

for instance, I'd love for the final lumax reconciliation to be Max asking Lucas to take her back.

I kind of hope not to see them officially together until the very end. in fact I'd so much rather see ST end on a good Max / Lucas friendship with an implied romantic future than jump back to the status quo.

l don't want to see lumax until it's a new lumax, based on real, reciprocal friendship.

#even with the length I rambled this is still oversimplified and left out stuff re: both. but. just to get the conversation started.#you don't want elm*x because lucas. I don't want lumax because lucas. we are not the same #I think people fawn over lumax because they're kind of a milkvan foil and therefore must be perfect?#lowkey seeing lucas date someone else for a bit would straighten 4 max out. girlie careful acting like you're the only fish in the sea <3 #the more I think about it the more I'd like lumax to completely break up and live in different towns and then try again as adults #if the max waking up scene has a kiss in it I'm turning off the tv #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #lumax #givehimthemedicine analysis

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