#and look how druck is now

[divine0rdainment]

Lucifer: *minding his own business till he gets a phone call and answers* Yellow?

Adam, Druck as fuck and face timing Lucifer: Do you know how fffffuckin perfect you are?

Lucifer:... Adam are you drunk again?

Adam: *holds up a plate of ribs* You see these beautiful fucking ribs that look like heaven?

Lucifer: uh... Yeah?

Adam: I would drop these ribs for you!

Lucifer: Baby you don't...

Adam: *Drops the ribs* and they are gone! Forever! Won't even eat em off the floor!

Lucifer: DO YOU EAT FOOD OFF THE FLOOR?!

Adam: shhhh focus Lulu...I'm trying to tell ya how much I love you right now.

[calliettes-posts]

Would you rank the skam wlw seasons? and could you justify the rankings? I am interested in your opinion. sorry my english :)

Your English is fine! And sorry for the late reply, I just finished s2 of skam españa so that I can answer this properly

1. Fatou (Druck s6)- now this is me being completely biased, but watching Fatous season live honestly was so life changing, I've never seen a black main character be so portrayed in a beautiful and caring way in Germany, and I honestly adore Fatou. I love that her season didn't deal with a coming out, but that she was already an out and proud lesbian, and I honestly LOVE how they portrayed her and Kieu Mys culture. For me, when it comes to black sapphics and sapphics of colour, I feel like they always make their culture a point of conflict, but with Fatou and Kieu My, their sexualities and culture could just coexist without any problem, and that is so special to me. And I absolutely love Kieu My, I love how well fleshed out she is, how we learn more and more about her throughout the season, and how she's more than what she portrays, how she just wants to be seen and not have to be perfect and please everyone all the time, how much pressure she puts upon herself just to make everyone happy, and so much more, I also love how they used her social media to document how and when exactly Kieu My stopped performing and started ro just be herself. Also back to the culture, I loved how they referenced Fatous, Kieu Mys and Avas cultures, it felt like it was made for bipoc watchers, and not to educate the white audience, and that is what made it so authentic imo, because as a black person, I don't need explanation for certain things, like for example when ava explained how mailin behaved at the protest, I immediately understood why she was bothered by it, and so did fatou, and that was realistic, its the small things, but that made me relate to the characters so much more, or when fatou face timed her relatives and relied on her dad to translate to her, these moments are so special to me. I also love the symbolism throughout the season, from Kieu My being the axolotl and Fatou the tortoise to the astrology references to Kieu My being the ice queen and Fatou the warmest person ever, how well they complemented etc etc. Also: " Kieu My, du bist so schön. Ich hab mir ne Liste gemacht an Dingen die so schön an dir sind. Wie du zum beispiel immer deine ohren hinter deinen haaren versteckst, wie du so eng mit deiner Familie bist, und dass du so krass gut mit Horrorfilmen bist. Aber am meisten lieb ich wenn du lachst. Weil dann seh ich dich. Und wie viel liebe in dir ist."Like hello???? Also, the entirety of Sonntag, 13:28, and how they related and bonded with each other through their experiences of being a child in an immigrant family. Generally, I love how much care was put into this season, and that's why Fatous s6 and kieutou will always be on top for me. Also, it's the remake where I don't need any translations for lol

2. Anaïs (Wtfock)- now I know the writing has been disappointing since ep7, but honestly, I am sosososososo grateful to have Anais as a main character in a skam remake. I honestly love her, I love how loyal, caring, and kind she is, and there's nothing that could make me hate her, like that's my nigerian sister, I honestly never thought that we'd get nigerian sapphic rep, and I'm so here for it. As for Anobbie, I love how their development was shown from ep1 to 6, especially ep3, that ep felt like it was straight out of a rom com, from anobbie fleeing together from that Fries place and getting closer to the subtle flirting of Bobbie, to Bobbie looking out for and helping out Anais at the party and with her friends drinking away her dads alcohol, to Bobbie opening up to Anais about her dad and showing her the place where her fathers ashes were sprayed, to Anais and Bobbie getting closer, to Anais arranging a date meeting with bobbie, to Anais playing "I'm gonna make you love me" and making Bobbie dance with her, to Bobbie finally kissing her, like it was so beautiful to watch. Also, I love how anobbie complements eachother and how theyre exactly what the other person needs, Bobbie makes Anais feel free and able to stand up for herself and feel like she's herself, and Anais makes Bobbie feel safe and provide a sense of stabilty, they really adore eachother and would go to great lengths to protect eachother, and I honestly love to see it. Also they reminded me a lot of kieutou, and alone for that they're high on the list. Also, just like Kieu My, I love how fleshed out Bobbie is as a love interest, she's such an interesting character that you want to know more of, and whether you love her or hate her, you pay attention to her, that's how interesting she is and im so here for it. And after druck, they're the remake where I need the least amount of translation for lol

3. Cris- (skam españa s2)- I just finished watching it, and omg, crisana literally invented gay staring, from their first meeting their eye contact was so insane, it got me giggling and kicking my feet lol. I really liked the season, I loved how reassuring and supportive Cris friend group is, how they were there for her every single time she had problems with Joana, and generally they seem like such a sweet friend group, and now i see why they're most peoples fave girl squad. As for crisana, they were so cute, I love how much they adored eachother, and I really love how reassuring cris was with joana at the end, telling her that she won't run away and that she'll be there for her. I also loved howbwe could see just how much cris cared for joana, like she cried in almost every single clip after joana disappears. honestly sometimes forgot that this was an evak remake lol, but I think it did the OG justice

4. Lola (skam france s6)- I don't remember much from lolas seasons except that it was veeeeryy dark, and that she could never catch a break, like why did they make her suffer so much? I feel like her and Maya could've had more development because their relationship felt rushed to me, but they were really cute, and I really love the scene where Maya draws on lola while she's laying there crying, it feels to intimate and special. Also, just like Bobbie, Lola is a polarising character, and I love those types of characters, especially female ones

5. Maya (skam france s9)- this never happened, mayla are still happily together while they work on their issues through proper communication, lola never broke up with Maya, and they still have their tattoo together

But honestly, this was so disappointing, the first time a LI got a season, and then we don't even learn anything about the LI at the end, it feels they just made the season to have an excuse to break up mayla, but we already knew that

[phoenix-downer]

Zelda's Portrait

~3075 words. Zelink. Pre-BotW. Link and Zelda POV. Angst, Pining, Romance, Love At First Sight: Reincarnation Edition. Loosely inspired by the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time. For @scoobysnack1107 ❤️

Summary: As Link passes by Princess Zelda's portrait, he can't help but think he and the princess have met before.

Princess Zelda’s larger-than-life portrait haunted Link every time he set foot inside the castle.

The first time he’d seen the painting, he’d stopped and stared. The princess was beautiful. Elegant. Regal. Clad in royal blue against a crimson backdrop, she was about his age and had golden hair and piercing green eyes. She sat up straight, stiff as a board, with a wistful expression on her otherwise perfect mask of a face. 

She was alone.

That note of sadness mixed with longing sparked some faint hint of recognition deep inside his heart. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew the princess. It wasn’t rational. It wasn’t logical or reasonable. But his strange hunch was there all the same.

Link wanted to meet her. More than anything, he couldn’t get over the deep melancholy in her eyes. How aloof and lonely and so very burdened she seemed. He wanted to tell her that the burden was not hers to bear alone. The mythical sword strapped to his back said as much. He was the hero fated to guard and protect her, or so all the storybooks and castle town gossips said.

Link wasn’t sure he believed them. Was he really up to the task? He and the princess hadn’t even been introduced yet. Murmurs and whispers that the princess was unwilling to see him spread throughout the kingdom as quickly as fire through the chaff of Tabantha wheat. True or not, Link had to content himself with pining from afar until fate provided their first meeting.

“C’mon, Link!” his friend Pipit said, tugging on his arm and snapping him out of his reverie. “We gotta get to the dining hall before the food runs out.”

Ah yes, food. The King of Hyrule made sure his knights were well-fed. Link tore his eyes away from the portrait of Princess Zelda but cast longing looks towards it every now and then as Pipit cheerfully herded him to the dining hall and towards one of the long tables.

The food was delicious, piping hot bread with melted butter to dip in hearty stew. The harvests and hunts had been good this year, so everyone was enjoying the luxury that was meat. Of course, not even delicious food could stop wagging tongues for long, and the knight’s academy had some of the biggest gossips in all of castle town.

Druck, a boorish type with curly auburn hair and blindingly white teeth who chewed with his mouth open, loudly announced, “I’m gonna meet the princess and make her fall in love with me.”

Chuckles of amusement sounded from the other knights seated nearby. While in times past the princesses of Hyrule had married brave knights, the strict social strata of today’s Hyrule made that a little more difficult.

“Oh?” Pipit asked, shooting a wry look at Link as he decided to play along, his freckles practically dancing across his face. “How do you propose you do that?”

Druck smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. “She’ll want to marry me when she meets me.”

Stifled snickers sounded out from nearby, but Link wasn’t amused. Something about the way Druck saw the princess as a prize to be won instead of a person…it wasn’t the first time he’d heard his classmates speak of her this way, and something about it always rankled him.

“Oh really?” Rorn asked, arching a dark eyebrow. He was sly and cunning, the son of a noble, and Link knew he had his sights on the princess too. “The richest, most famous, and most beautiful woman in all of Hyrule with the blood of the goddess running through her veins, will want to marry you, a blacksmith’s son?”

“Sure, why not?” Druck said, shrugging. “Might as well be me. You miss all the arrows you don’t shoot.” 

“You can’t shoot any arrows, Druck,” Rorn pointed out, leading to more snickers and a good-hearted nudge from Druck. The two of them trashed-talked each other frequently, but it was (mostly) all in good fun.

“Can too!” Druck cried, defending his honor. He turned to Link. “Link will back me up on this, won’t you, Link?”

Link was silent. All he could think about was how the princess’s life must be terribly lonely. How could she trust anyone when even her own knights were arguing over who should get to win her hand as if she were some trophy to be set on a shelf? Carefully maintained like a prized bird in a cage, never allowed to fly free.

Maybe she didn’t want to get married. Maybe she didn’t want to be descended from the goddess. Maybe she wanted to be perfectly ordinary and bury herself in her studies and leave her subjects and duties far, far behind—

No, Link was just projecting again. The princess might not have awakened her sacred power yet, but it was Link who had uncertainties and fears and doubts about being the Master Sword’s chosen one. What if he couldn’t measure up?

It was a thought that haunted him and drove him to be the very best at everything he did. At first his classmates had begrudged him, had envied him and hated him. But gradually, little by little, day by day, he’d won their hard-earned admiration and even their respect. 

“Link isn’t gonna lie to make you feel better,” Pipit said, waving his spoon at Druck. “He’s honest to a fault.”

Link’s honesty had gotten him into trouble more than once, but there was no point in lying. Lying just got him into even worse trouble.

“More like silent to a fault,” Druck muttered. “You’ve been too quiet lately. It’s weird, man.” 

How could Link put it into words? The soul-crushing pressure he felt every waking moment and even in his dreams. With each passing day, it pressed harder and more insistently on his very being with each new prophecy and whisper and rumor.

He suspected the princess understood how that felt.

“The Master Sword is a heavy burden,” Rorn sagely said as he tore off a chunk of bread to dip into his stew. “Link has way more eyes on him than any of us ever will. And that pressure has only increased lately. Of course he’s watching what he says.”

There were murmurs of agreement, and Link would’ve joined in if he weren’t trying so hard to fill the role of perfect, stoic knight. So he contented himself with a simple nod and hoped it would be enough.

“If the princess marries anyone, it’ll be Link,” Pipit confidently said, grasping his friend’s shoulder. All eyes were on Link now thanks to Pipit’s declaration, and he felt his stomach twisting itself into knots. If only he’d hadn’t had that second helping of stew. If only Pipit believed in him a little less.

If only everyone believed in him a little less.

Still, he knew he wouldn’t be left alone till he gave some sort of answer. He took a deep breath and swallowed. “The princess should marry for love,” he said at last, his voice low, hoping it was the right thing to say, knowing it would be repeated over and over again, far beyond his reach or control. 

What he left unsaid was that a small part of him deep down hoped it would be him.

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Zelda felt as if she was in a cage with walls that were squeezing ever tighter. Her father’s brooding glares, the whispers of her subjects, the pitying glances from the servants. All of it closed in on her and stifled her and made it impossible to breathe.

With each passing day that came and went with her powers still unawakened, the trapped feeling got worse and worse. But nothing she did was working. Not even standing in one of the goddess springs till she passed out from cold and exhaustion was enough.

“You will meet your knight today,” her father practically growled at her over breakfast one morning. The hot porridge would soon grow cold if she didn’t touch it, but her appetite had fled her once he got into one of his moods, just like her powers kept eluding her.

“I will not,” she said, her voice trembling but defiant as she stared him down across the table. “I don’t need him.” 

“Sir Link has the Master Sword,” her father ground out, glaring fiercely at her. “Is that not adequate proof that he is fit to be your knight?”

“I don’t want a knight, Father! I don’t want anyone at all!” That wasn’t entirely true. She wanted her mother back, more than anything. Her mother could help her and comfort her. Could be her ally and confidante and mediator. Could explain how to awaken her sacred power. Without her, Zelda felt lost. It didn’t matter that her mother had died years ago. Her absence was felt more acutely now than ever. 

“It doesn’t matter what you want!” her father shouted. “You have a job to do, and you need protection to do it! You have a duty to our country, our people, and you’ve put Link off for long enough!”

“Oh fine,” Zelda hissed, her hackles rising like some wild animal at the reminder she still hadn’t fulfilled her sacred duties. “I’ll meet him, but that doesn’t mean I have to like him.” 

“I didn’t ask you to like him,” her father replied, mollified for now. “Just get along with him well enough so he can do his job…and you yours.”

Get along with him. That was easier said than done. What if he was annoying and obnoxious? What if he was arrogant and rude? What if he was bloodthirsty and cruel? What if he looked down on her for not awakening her powers yet like everyone else did?

Well, there was only one way to find out. She grudgingly followed her father to the Sanctum, ever aware of the guards flanking them like bars of a cage. The remaining family members of the royal family were far too valuable to be allowed to walk free. Some thief or bandit or assassin might get too close and attack was the ostensible reason, but it never seemed to occur to the guards that there were other ways the royals might die.

No amount of guards could’ve saved her mother’s life. Master Sword or not, this knight wouldn’t be any different. Any more capable of protecting her from certain kinds of harm.

They entered the Sanctum with its plush red carpets lining the stone floors and the banners with her family’s crest hanging from the walls. As she descended the stairs, calm and cool and collected because at least she’d succeeded in mastering that aspect of her queenly training, she spotted her future knight, already waiting for her on the great triangular seal below. 

He was younger than she expected, probably around her age. He wasn’t very tall, but even in his blue tunic, tan trousers, and leather boots, she could tell he was strong and toned. He had the same pointy ears all Hylians did, purportedly to better hear the gods, and he wore a pair of shiny blue earrings. His hair was the color of Tabantha wheat, and he wore it swept into a half ponytail, his sideburns framing either side of his face. 

Zelda supposed he was rather handsome. Their eyes met, and his were an electric blue that reminded her of the sky at midday.

I know him. The thought came unbidden to her mind, and yet she couldn’t shake it. Where had she seen this man before?

He seemed to know her too. The way he was looking at her unsettled her, like he was peeling off all her royal masks to see the lonely little girl who missed her mother, who loathed and loved her father, who was terrified she wouldn’t be able to awaken her sacred power in time. It was like he sensed her fears and inadequacies and insecurities, felt the weight of a thousand lifetimes and a million expectations pressing in on her, saw her and understood her and knew her.

No one had ever looked at her like this before, with such understanding and compassion. She felt uneasy, she felt raw and naked and exposed. No one could possibly understand what it was like to be in her gilded cage, let alone volunteer to join her in it. And yet she sensed this man stepping into it with her as he stepped forward to take her outstretched hand and then knelt at her feet.

“Your Highness,” he said, his voice soft as he bent over her hand and kissed it. The kiss was gentler and sweeter than she expected, and his voice was oddly reverent. 

When he glanced up at her again, she didn’t like the feeling his look gave her. She didn’t like it at all.

She couldn’t let him get close. She wouldn’t let him in. That would be a mistake. The closer he got, the more he would see of her true self and despise her for it. Besides, why did she need some knight who would just get in the way of her research? He was merely a bother to be tolerated to keep her father off her back and nothing more.

“Sir Link,” she said, coldly and stiffly, the loathing creeping into her voice like a Fireproof Lizard crawling along the volcanic rocks of Goron City. “You may rise.” 

If he sensed the change in her demeanor as he stood, he didn’t let on. If anything, he seemed calmer and steadier and more confident than before. Like he recognized the challenge before him and was determined to overcome it. 

Goddess curse him, where did he get that confidence from? She wanted to…she wanted to…to…knock it out of him somehow. Yes, that was it. How dare he be so confident and determined. It was going to drive her insane.

“You don’t have to look so pleased,” she told Link, earning a warning glare from her father.

“I have long awaited our meeting,” Link said, his voice polite but tinted with longing. That single note of emotion was like a drop of colorful dye, powerful enough to make an entire pitcher of water change color and send its ripples flowing through her. “Forgive me if I have offended you.”

Something about his apology irritated her even further. Maybe because he was drawing attention to the fact nothing he’d said was truly cause for offense. 

It doesn’t matter. His very presence offends me because…because…

Oh, but it was far easier to flee the truth, like a deer flees a hunter, than to face it head on.

“I am grateful for your willingness to protect my daughter,” her father said, stepping in to be polite because she was not being sufficiently courteous. The accompanying warning look made that abundantly clear.

“I will guard her with my life,” Link said, but he wasn’t looking at her father. He was looking right at her, his voice calm and unwavering, his blue eyes alight like the hottest part of a flame, blue like the beautiful Sheikah relics from times past.

And something about his look, his public declaration and quiet determination, made her waver, made her trust and hope and yearn and believe him in spite of herself. She felt safe with him. He was familiar somehow. Perhaps he could be a shelter, a refuge in the daily storm that was her life.

No, she hated him already, hated him for existing, hated him for what he represented. That was what was true, and she clung to it. 

The tension threatened to break her apart.

Link continued to regard her with the same steady, even look. Oh Goddess, it had only been a few minutes since they’d met, but he really was going to be the undoing of her, wasn’t he? She had a good sense for people, inherited from her mother and enhanced by her father’s shrewdness, and Link being compassionate and brave and good was somehow so much worse than him being cold and cowardly and evil. Perhaps because his very existence might shine a bright, glaring light on her numerous flaws and shortcomings. He would unmask and unveil her deepest self that no image or portrait could possibly hope to hide, and it was only a matter of time before he got all of Hyrule to see what he saw. 

Zelda could only hope they wouldn’t all despise her for it.

A still, small voice deep down whispered that they might love her for it instead, but that would mean that Link might—

She slipped the princess mask back on. She had a role to play, much like the knight had his.

“Well, if you’re so eager to swear your loyalty to me, then perhaps we should get it over with,” was her cool, aloof response to him baring his heart and soul to her with his vow and with his eyes. Keeping him at arm’s length kept her safe. The bars of her cage were familiar and secure. Besides, the sooner they got the ceremony over with, the sooner she’d get to return to her studies.

“The Champions will have to be called,” her father said. 

“Very well, Father.” 

Link was silent, but she felt his eyes on her. His piercing gaze hadn’t let up this entire time.

“Well, Link?” she asked, her voice icy, her irritation slipping through. 

“Yes, Princess Zelda,” and somehow his simple response sent shivers of longing running up and down her spine. It was the way he’d said her name, perhaps, unfailingly polite and yet shockingly intimate at the same time. Like he really did know her.

Well, if he insisted on staying in her cage with her, that was his choice. He would only have himself and the gods to blame for sealing his fate. She would have no part in dooming him. The prospect made her heart lurch and her stomach drop, though she couldn’t fully understand why.

A wistful part of her wondered if someday, they might ever be free.

She hoped and wished and prayed with all her heart they would be. But why "they" and not just "her?" Why care about this man at all?

Once more the nagging feeling she knew him returned. She could only trust this mystery would be revealed to her in time.

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A/N: This story is inspired by this art by jju_kkumiiii, the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, my friend advocaat's Zelink story The Conviction to Save, and a brainstorming session with my friend Liv about this story concept.

Speaking of which, happy birthday to Liv! I'm so glad we met and I'm grateful to be your friend. Thank you for everything, and I hope you have a wonderful day and a lovely year!

In the grand tradition of Groose, I took a bird's name and stuck an "r" in it to get the name "Druck" lol.

Hope you enjoyed, and thank you for reading!

[fratboykate]

Just a desperate anon, politely asking if this was ever posted 👀👀👀 or if it could be added to the potential writer-strike queue if it wasn’t. I am crossing my fingers it wasn’t eaten by tumblr or notes…

https://www.tumblr.com/fratboykate/711128923636908032/papi-we-need-the-stepmom-angst-its-a-matter-of

You must've crossed those fingers really hard because you sent this two weeks ago and are now getting it three whole days before the strike lol. Here's almost 10k of...them. Mom!AU is officially back from the war too.

///

"Do NOT bring those boots into the apartment, Ri. Off by the door. I mean it. You're cleaning it if you track all that dirty slush around."

Kate abruptly halts her twelve-year-old daughter’s hasty rush toward the entrance with a firm yank on the hood of her brightly colored parka and deftly transfers the stroller she’s pushing to Ereka. In the same single, graceful, and fluid motion, Kate skillfully juggles the diaper bag, empty coffee tumbler, and cell phone freeing her dominant hand to dig through her purse for her keys. A palpable imperativeness hangs in the air as they make their way down the hallway because Russell, who currently tries to squirm his way out of the stroller straps, is on the brink of a meltdown. With each passing second, his patience wears thinner, and Kate endeavors to avoid him going nuclear in public.

"And take your brother's boots off too, please. You know where the stroller goes. Don't just leave it blocking the door. Did momma text you back about dinner?"

"No...Any day now would be great, mom."

Kate's eyes narrow with stony intensity as she shoots Ereka a dirty look.

"I’ll leave you out here. Don’t try me."

"Top-notch parenting. I'll be sure to add that to the CPS file I'm compiling."

"Mommy, druck!"

Two-and-a-half-year-old Russell unleashes a series of frustrated hollers from within his rolling prison. His annoyance is palpable.

The boy is an undeniable carbon copy of his mother, a living reflection of Yelena. Kate has never once laid eyes on her son and seen anything other than an unmistakable resemblance to her wife. This moment isn’t an exception. Kate can't help but notice the striking parallels between them. Every feature screams Yelena, from how his nose scrunches when he smiles to his green eyes to his vibrant blonde hair to his Short King status. Even his breathing issues, which lend a raspy voice and a crackling laugh, serve as a constant reminder of the deep link that those two share. Kate could complain about the fact that he also inherited her rotten temper, but instead, she finds herself captivated by this portable embodiment of her darling wife.

"Yes, baby. Riri will get you another truck as soon as we're inside."

"I WANT RED DRUCK NOW! RED DRUCK!"

"Okay, woh. Tone, sir. You're the one who threw it out the car window. You're gonna wait until we get inside and give zero attitude because this is a problem of your own doing."

Russell furrows his brow, a visible display of his discontent, followed by an exasperated huff. The air between them hangs momentarily. This could be the moment when he finally loses his cool. Then…after a beat…

"A druck is a wectangle, mommy."

"It is. What shape is this?"

Kate holds up the face powder she's holding.

"Circle! Cuz it wound. Like this..."

The little boy traces a circle in the air with his plump toddler fingers.

"Good job!"

"Oh my god. Do we live in the hallway now? Open the door."

Kate continues digging through her purse while simultaneously turning to Ereka and contorting her face into a humorous expression. Ereka quickly mirrors her mother's mischievous look, sparking a shared moment of amusement between the two. Laughter escapes their lips, affording them a moment of levity amid the chaotic scene. As their chuckles subside, a triumphant glimmer sails through Kate's eyes — she’s finally found the keys!

"There's no reason this thing should be able to swallow my keys into another dimension. It's not that big."

Kate swings the door wide open with a determined push. Without missing a beat, she dumps the bags that dangle from her shoulders onto the table by the entrance while slipping her waterproof boots off. Once her hands, arms, and feet are free, she heads to the jacket closet to begin taking layers off.

"Ri! Come on! You're smarter than that. Take your boots off first, THEN his. Moving around and look at the mess you're making."

Kate is too busy chastising her daughter to notice Yelena's coat is already hanging in the closet.

"You said to take his off too. I'm doing that and you get mad."

"I didn't think I needed to give you a detailed step-by-step on how to do it right, but I'll be sure to next time."

"Next time, I just won't do it if you're going to scream at me either way."

"There was no screaming. Just pointing out the obvious."

"...while you screamed."

Kate offers a vexed eye roll then strides into the apartment, leaving Ereka to wrestle with the challenge of removing Russell's stubborn boots in the foyer. Kate moves with purpose, her footsteps echoing as she navigates through the familiar space. Once Ereka successfully frees her brother’s tiny feet from the damp shoes, she proceeds to unstrap him from the stroller.

"Riri, druck!"

"I will get you your dumb truck, but I need to take this off you so mom doesn't flip a lid." Ereka tells her brother while deftly unzipping the small, purple coat.

"DRUCK NOW, RIRI!"

The little boy squirms as Ereka wrestles with his jacket.

"I will hide all your trucks if you scream at me again."

A deep frown creases Russell’s face, his features contorting into an expression of displeasure and frustration.

"No! Druck Wuss!"

"Yeah, they're your trucks, but I can also put them on the top shelf where you can't reach them if you don't stop being a brat." Ereka slides his gloves off, stands, and heads for the door a few feet away. Ereka opens the closet and immediately catches Yelena's coat. She hastily hangs her brother's tiny parka, throws the gloves into the corresponding cubby, and stares at Yelena's jacket once more before turning to Russell. "Don't move." Ereka darts to the back of the apartment, disappearing momentarily from Russell’s sight. She returns to the hallway that connects the foyer to the rest of the apartment a few seconds later. "Mama's home."

From her position by the kitchen island, Kate gazes at her daughter with confusion etched across her face.

"What?"

"Her coat's in here, so I went and checked and she's in the room. I think she's sleeping though, because all the lights are off."

Kate turns to glance at the clock on the microwave. 5:28 PM. Yelena is never home before them, let alone before 5:00 PM. At least not unless she's feeling unwell. Kate closes the cookbook she perused for dinner ideas and heads for the bedroom.

"Please keep an eye on him and get him one of the trucks from his chest. Thank you."

Kate tells Ereka as she kisses the top of her head in passing.

"Come on, Russellsprout. Let's get you a truck."

Kate suppresses a smile and instinctively rolls her eyes, a reflexive response to Ereka’s talent for assigning people terrible (and often food-related) nicknames. This might be one of the most annoying traits Ereka inherited from her father and Kate can’t help but find it both amusing and exasperating.

---

Kate enters the pitch-black room, stepping closer to the bed as her eyes gradually adjust to the darkness. The air is nice and toasty, meaning the older woman must be running the small space heater she’s permanently moved to her nightstand. As Kate approaches, she can see Yelena is, in fact, in bed. Her back is turned to the door and her shoulders rise and fall in a slow, steady rhythm. A wave of concern washes over the brunette as she realizes that her wife must be feeling truly awful to be in bed this early.

"Baby...Yel..."

Kate whispers but gets no answer. She debates letting Yelena sleep but can't resist the urge to be close to her wife, even if it's just for a moment. Kate crawls into bed and nestles herself against Yelena’s warm form. Yelena instinctively responds, her body pushing back into Kate’s.

Kate's lips find Yelena's neck, leaving a trail of soft, affectionate kisses. Her arm delicately snakes around Yelena's overgrown midriff, cradling the ever-growing twenty-two-week pregnant belly.

"You okay?"

Kate whispers into Yelena's ear and places a gentle kiss on her earlobe. Yelena softly shakes her head, indicating her disinterest in engaging in conversation at the moment.

The most accurate way to describe Yelena's pregnancy thus far is: miserable. The first trimester was a nightmare, marked by persistent malaise and bouts of morning sickness that had her bent over a toilet for hours on end, leaving her feeling drained and weak. And those were the good days. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. Yelena’s body is rebelling at every turn. Run down any list of pregnancy symptoms (and add a few more most people had never even heard of), and Yelena went through all of them. Her body seems determined to manifest every ailment imaginable and magnify its intensity. The dizziness has become a constant companion. Exhaustion has settled in her bones, claiming all of her energy. Frequent nosebleeds interrupt her daily routine, keeping her perpetually on edge. There’s also the hormonal mood swings that leave Yelena feeling like a stranger in her own body. Crippling headaches punctuate her days with throbbing pangs, constantly forcing her to seek solace in the darkness…like now.

Throughout the madness of this pregnancy, Kate has risen to the occasion, stepping up as a pillar of emotional support and embracing the role of caregiving, devoted partner with unwavering dedication. Day in and day out, Kate has done everything she can to make Yelena's life easier, including taking on the lion’s share of household chores and errands. Additionally, Kate has done everything in her power to anticipate Yelena's needs. She cooks meals to soothe Yelena's queasy stomach, researches remedies and alternative therapies to alleviate symptoms, offers calming teas and massages to ease aches, ensures Yelena stays hydrated and gets enough rest, or is simply around to provide a comforting touch along with words of consolation when Yelena is feeling down about the toll that pregnancy is taking on her body. Kate has become a constant presence by her wife’s side, ensuring Yelena feels loved and cherished throughout this challenging period. Overall, Kate has made it her mission to turn Yelena's difficult pregnancy into a somewhat manageable experience.

With tender affection, Kate runs her palm over Yelena's growing belly.

"I thought we had a deal that you were going to be nice to momma, baby girl. What's going on in there, huh?"

"Your stupid genes...trying to kill me." Kate chuckles, a jovial response to their now recurring conversation. Since Yelena is carrying a baby conceived with Kate's egg and the donor's sperm, Yelena has started to (halfway?) joke that Kate’s genes must be “toxic” to her and that they’re the root cause of Yelena's endless pregnancy woes. "You drive me crazy every day. Why did I think putting a literal piece of you inside me would go any better?"

"I'm sorry. So evil of me. Bad, BAD genes. I'll have a talk with them later." Kate's lips graze Yelena's shoulder, leaving behind a trail of soft kisses. In an instant, Yelena's body surrenders to her touch and loosens up as a result. "What are you feeling for dinner?"

"The last thing I want near me right now is food."

"You need to eat, Yel."

"I need this baby out of me. That's what I need."

Yelena lets out a discontented grumble and Kate's smile blossoms against her skin.

"Three more months. You just have to cook the nugget for three more months and you're done."

"That sounds like forever. Don't like it."

"How about some Mac and Cheese? Would that make it somewhat better?"

"Kate Bishop...are you trying to bribe me out of bed?"

"Maybe. I think there's lobster in the fridge. I think I got some when I went on Monday. If not, I can have some delivered. Lobster Mac. Super ooey and gooey and cheesy and yum."

"Why are you trying to sell it to me like I'm two?"

"It's how I convince your son to eat. Figured it might work on you since you're both grumpy little gremlins." Restless and dissatisfied, Yelena grunts in discomfort and shifts in bed, struggling to find an agreeable position to no avail. Eventually, she ends up half-facing Kate, seeking some semblance of relief in the brunette’s proximity. Kate offers her a warm smile. "That's the face of someone who could do with some ooey gooey cheesy yum in their life."

Yelena's lips curl into a merry smile and she indulges in a slight eye roll.

"I hate that it's actually working."

"My job is to sell things for a living and..." Kate plants a delicate kiss on Yelena's lips. "...I'm good at what I do."

"You..."

The door bursts open, unleashing a flood of light that fills the room. The little blonde toddler charges inside with a whirlwind of energy while proudly showcasing the truck his sister procured for him.

"MOMMA, LOOK! RIRI GOT RED DRUCK!"

Russell hops onto the bed, forcefully wedging himself with determined enthusiasm into the nonexistent space between his mothers.

"Your son...he had the genius idea to hurl his truck out the moving car window on our way here. Blue truck no more."

"Russ...that's dangerous. We don't do that."

"Blue druck went...FRUMMMMMMM"

The little boy offers Yelena an animated demonstration of the flight his toy truck embarked on with uncontainable excitement.

"RUSSPBERRY!"

"He's in here!"

Kate shouts at her daughter, who promptly appears at the door seconds later.

"Sorry. I went to the bathroom and I told him to stay."

"It's okay."

"Did he wake momma up?"

"Your mom woke me up."

"WITH KISSES. It was the most gentle wake-up ever."

"Still woke me up."

Kate shakes her head, purporting to be piqued.

"Come here. There's room."

Ereka's face lights up with a broad smile as she dashes to the bed and jumps onto it, somehow also forcing herself between Kate and Yelena.

"Easy. Momma's not feeling great."

"Sorry. Hi."

Ereka settles herself snugly, resting her chin on Yelena's hip and tenderly placing her hand on the gentle curve of her mother’s stomach.

"Hi. How was school?" Yelena asks with genuine curiosity.

Ereka shrugs nonchalantly, a hint of facetious defiance in her expression.

"Same as every other time you ask."

Kate and Yelena exchange amused glances before bursting into laughter. Yelena leans closer to Ereka, a warm grin on her face.

"Humor me."

Ereka huffs dramatically, her eyes rolling with jocose petulance. A small, roguish grin tugs at the corners of her lips, giving away her underlying amusement.

"Classes are boring. Everyone is stupid. The rules don't make sense. It's always going to be the same thing. So…fine, I guess. Tolerable.”

"Oh, you're going to be a FUN teenager." Yelena responds, her tone lighthearted and teasing.

"If I'm as precocious as everyone says I am, then technically, you could assume I've been a teenager for a while now."

"Yeah, that's it. The moment you hit thirteen, I'm packing your bags and finding you a new place to live, or I'll start graying early.” Kate playfully warns while simulating seriousness.

"Wow. Threatening to rescind my housing for exercising my right to free speech? I'm sure some case worker out there is salivating at the thought of it."

Kate rolls her eyes.

"Mommy, hungwy. I has milk?"

"Have, baby. Can I have milk?"

"Yeah. Can I haves it?” The little boy insists eagerly and with a hint of distress.

Kate chuckles.

"Close enough. But we're having dinner in a little bit, so no milk right now." Kate places a final peck on Yelena's lips and starts to stand. "Mac and cheese for dinner."  

"Yesssss. Can you put bacon in it?" Ereka inquires excitedly.

"If you guys haven't gone through it already, then sure. Last I checked, there were like two pieces left, so not making any promises."

"Tell Lila to make less bacon for breakfast then."

"OR...you could do what I ask and write it on the list when you see we're running low. She already has enough on her plate with you two. You could help out more."

A few times a week, a dedicated housekeeper arrives early in the morning to help with the kids and the upkeep of the house. She quickly becomes a lifeline for the family, offering an extra pair of capable hands and a much-needed boost of organization and support. This arrangement means Kate and Yelena have less to juggle and can focus more of their time on the children.

"You also saw we were running low and didn't put it on the list, so..."

"I did put it on the list when I realized I just haven't gone shopping again. But it wasn't on my last list because YOU, the bacon fiend in this house, didn't put it there."

"Whatever." Ereka grumbles, feigning annoyance.

"Keep her busy...but don't drive her crazy. It's a delicate balance. I'll scream when it's ready. And...I might need you at some point, so don't pretend like you don't hear me calling you when I do."

Kate punctuates her words by tapping Ereka on the shoulder as she stands and walks away.

"I have bad ears." Ereka tries to play it off, but Kate doesn't let her off the hook.

"Not according to the doctor, you don't."

Ereka has gotten so proficient at selective hearing that Kate took her to the otolaryngologist to get her checked, only to prove a point.

Ereka repositions herself to lie on Kate's pillow, her face ending next to Yelena’s. She lovingly presses her head against the blonde’s.

"I like it when you're home early."

Yelena offers a faint smile while keeping her eyes closed.

"Me too."

"WUSS LIKES, MOMMA." Russell exclaims. He has an adorable habit of referring to himself in the third person, which always makes the outlandish things he says objectively funnier.

The little boy clambers up Yelena's body, unknowingly jabbing her sides with the hard plastic of his toy truck. Yelena winces and hisses in pain, prompting her to extend her arms and lift him off.

"Why are all your toys deadly weapons?" Yelena gripes, readjusting Russell so he's lying against her chest and carefully removing the toy from his hand. He immediately snuggles his cheek against hers and allows his entire body weight rest on her. Yelena lets out a groan, a mixture of mischief and genuine fatigue. "You guys are so clingy. Where are we even going to fit a third?"

Yelena fake complains, although deep down, she loves every second of it.

"She can go right here."

Ereke facetiously places her open hand over Yelena's face, covering most of it. Yelena chuckles.

"Yeah. Perfect place to sit a dirty diaper on."

Ereka's chuckles echo around the room as Yelena tries to shake her palm off her face. With a bit of effort, Yelena succeeds in removing Ereka's hand and turns to face her, offering a weak but earnest smile.

"I'm sorry you're not feeling good."

"It's okay. I'll suck it up...but I'm going to complain the entire time."

Ereka snickers and slides impossibly closer to Yelena, their bond evident in their proximity.

"Thank you for a little sister."

Yelena presses a loving kiss to Ereka's temple.

"Are you happy about it?"

"SO MUCH!" Ereka’s genuine excitement and gratitude shine through her words. "...Unless you're lying to me again and it's actually another one of these..." Ereka pokes her fingers all around Russell's body and the toddler giggles uncontrollably. "...in there."

Yelena guffaws.

"Promise it's a girl. For real this time. And she's a very lucky girl to have you as a big sister."

"I think so too."

"We have to work on your modesty." Yelena teases her daughter with a smile.

"I'm the right amount of confident. I know I'm a good big sister. Right, Russpaghetti?"

Ereka looks at her little brother for validation. The boy eagerly nods his head as he pats his tiny hands all over Yelena's face.

"Mama, milk pwease."

"Mommy is working on dinner. No milk right now. Milk later."

"Milk pwease." Russell persists, his fussiness escalating.

"No milk right now, Russ."

The boy begins to fuss and instantly works himself up to the brink of a tantrum.

"MILK, MAMA!” Russell insists, his volume rising.

"No no. Shhhhh...let's all just...Shhh...quiet time until dinner is ready. How about that? That sounds so much more fun and better for my head."

"NO!"

Ereka rolls her eyes at his protest and rises from the bed.

"Where are you going?"

"To get him milk. He's not going to stop until someone does and it'll make your headache worse if he doesn't. Just a little and he'll chill."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah."

Ereka disappears out the door.

"Milk."

"Ri, went to get you some."

“Milk. Okay." Russell acknowledges, reassured that his request is being taken care of.

"So stubborn. Definitely get that from your other mom, not me. Definitely not me."

Yelena pulls the boy close and covers his body in kisses. His sour mood instantly shifts and he devolves into a fit of giggles.

---

An hour later, the foursome sits around the table, settled into their usual seats. Russell is perched in his high chair next to Kate, who patiently feeds him his meal. Ereka is to the other side of Kate, absentmindedly moving the food around her plate, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Yelena, determined to fend off her nausea, takes slow, deliberate bites, willing herself to keep the food down.

"Can I ask you something? And you'll promise you'll at least think about it before you say no?"

"Uh oh," Kate utters.

"I'm serious, mom."

"Me too. I can't possibly see how this is good, so I was bracing."

"Momma, promise you'll at least think about it."

Ereka turns towards Yelena, her expression brimming with seriousness and sincerity. Yelena meets her daughter's gaze, responding with a warm smile that conveys her openness to listen and engage wholeheartedly in anything Ereka is about to share.

"Whatever it is, mom and I will think about it and have a fair discussion before we get back to you.”

Following Yelena’s reassurance, a brief silence fills the room as Ereka gathers her thoughts. Kate and Yelena maintain their focus on her.

"I don't want to go stay at dad's anymore...ever."

Ereka declares confidently. Kate and Yelena instantly exchange worried glances.

"Did something happen?"

"No. Yes. No. I just...it's not that I don't want to see him. I just don't want to sleep over. Or be gone for days. Whenever I'm there, I'm missing here and Russtachio and you guys. And baby sister is coming soon and I'll miss her too. You always end up doing something fun without me and I hate it. Nothing I'm doing there is better than being here."

"Ri, we can't take days away from your dad."

"Why not?"

"It would...be a problem."

"What problem?! Just tell him I can…I don’t know…come hang out during the day for a few hours and then he has to bring me back."

"It doesn't work that way."

"Why not?!"

"Because we have a court-ordered agreement that we need to stick by. He gets you 30% of the time. That's how it works."

"Fuck court."

"Ereka!" Kate and Yelena exclaim simultaneously.

Ereka responds with a nonchalant shrug, seemingly unfazed by their reaction.

"See? That's what happens when you send me over to dad's house. I learn curse words. Bad influence."

"Honey, your dad loves you. You're the light of his life and he loves spending time with you." Kate tells Ereka matter-of-factly, her tone filled with unwavering certainty.

"All they do over there is be angry, argue with each other, and drink until they make up more reasons to keep arguing. Then it usually goes to fighting and breaking things. I hate it."

"How long has this been going on?" Yelena inquires, her voice laced with worry.

"Since I was little. That's what grandma's house has always been like."

"Who argues and breaks things?"

"Everyone. Everyone is always over for dinner and definitely on weekends. Dad and Uncle Billy get into it every time they start drinking. Aunt Viv drinks even more now that she's getting divorced. Her and dad argue all the time too. And then Aunt...it's a lot of people and I don't want to sleep over anymore."

"Ereka, did something else happen that you're not telling us? Something bad?" Yelena doubles down on her line of questions.

"No. I just want to come back home every night. I want to sleep here. Always."

"You can tell us anything. You know that, right?"

"I'm telling you right now!"

"Okay...hey...let's take a breather." Kate interjects, attempting to calm her.

"Ri, look at me," Yelena asks firmly. "Did anything inappropriate happen over there and you're scared to go back? Because if something did, we will..."

"Oh my god! No one like...touched me or did anything weird! Ew. Don't go there. I just don't like them. That's it. Nothing illegal. I mean, I have seen illegal things, but...nothing illegal involving me. I swear. Truly...that's not it."

"Promise?"

"Promise. It's not that. Really."

Yelena nods, her gaze shifting between Kate and Ereka, silently acknowledging the weight of the situation.

"We'll talk about it and get back to you.“

"There's nothing to talk about. We can't do that."

"We'll talk." Yelena insists, her voice firm yet gentle. "Give us some time, okay?"

Ereka nods and Yelena reaches across the table, placing a heartening hand on Ereka's.

"Thank you."

The girl whispers and finally takes her first bite of food, her appetite slowly returning. The table falls into a solemn silence as they continue their meal, each of them deep in their minds.

---

Yelena lies in bed, her hands absentmindedly caressing her stomach. Her eyes remain fixed on Kate, who moves around the bathroom finishing the last few steps of her nightly routine.

"Yel, we can't take this on,” Kate asserts firmly.

"Why not?"

Kate walks to the doorway, rests her shoulder against the jamb, and crosses her arms over her chest.

"Because we went to court for almost TWO YEARS to get the agreement we have now. How do you think it's gonna go over if I call him tomorrow and tell him we're breaking it? Do you really wanna go through whatever that brings up? Now? In the middle of this?"

Kate's hand gestures to Yelena's stomach, emphasizing their current situation.

"My feelings aren't more important than hers. If she doesn't want to go back, we shouldn't force her."

"Yes. You're correct. Absolutely. We should always take her feelings into consideration. But think about it like this, what she's asking is for us to get full custody and he gets SOME visitation rights. Under nebulous circumstances. What is she actually asking for? She gets to see him for two hours every other weekend and then comes home? We don't know what she wants, but whatever it is, I know that we don't have legal grounds to take her away from him. He's gonna fight it."

"And we can fight him."

Kate lets out a tired groan as she switches off the bathroom light. She moves to the bed, slipping under the covers, sitting up, and leaning her back against the bed frame. Her eyes are glued on the darkened TV screen across from her, her mind seemingly lost in serious contemplation.

"You two would fight all day if it were up to you, but *me*...I'm over it. This isn't something that's realistic and as much as I hate making her do something she doesn't want to, no judge is going to take his partial custody away. We don't even have any reason to take him back to court. Nothing's changed."

"She said she's seen illegal things...We should ask what that is."

"Yelena..." Kate turns to face her wife, her expression showing both fatigue and vulnerability. "...I don't have another two years of court in me. I don't have even another second of his tantrums and his shit in my body. I can't do it. Especially knowing we're not going to win. He's been...better???"

"That's a stretch."

Yelena reaches out and takes Kate's hand in hers, intertwining their fingers, and grounding her. Grounding each other.

"It has been better. You can't deny it hasn't. Why do we want to poke the bear?"

"For her. I would poke the bear for her."

Kate's shoulders slump as she exhales a heavy sigh, the weight of their situation bearing down on her. Yelena squeezes her wife’s hand gently.

"What happens when we go through a long, miserable custody battle over this, then she's suddenly sixteen and wants to go sleep at her dad's because we did something to piss her off?”

"Nothing. She goes to sleep at her dad's. Because that's her choice. As long as it's her choice, it's fine. But we shouldn't force her into a situation that makes her clearly unhappy." Yelena takes a beat, thinking. "What if we don't have to go to court? What if we all sit down and talk about it?"

Kate lets out a bitter laugh.

"Yel, please."

"It could work."

"When have you two ever been in a room where the situation doesn't end with me stopping you from killing each other?"

"I can't exactly kick his ass right now, so...different circumstances. I mean, I probably still could, but unless I had to, I wouldn't."

"I love her and I love you, but I'm not doing it. I'm not going to detonate a bomb we don't even need to touch."

---

The next morning. Yelena finds herself perched on a booth in a bustling café, the air filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the animated chatter of the early lunchtime crowd. She grimaces and shifts restlessly, her hand instinctively soothing the spot where her daughter just delivered a formidable fighter-style kick.

"You need to cut it with that."

Yelena mutters, chastising the baby before taking a cautious sip of her decaf concoction. Her eyes remain glued on the café entrance as she anxiously awaits the arrival of the person she's meeting.

Thankfully, Yelena's anticipation is short-lived. The jingling bell above the door heralds the arrival of Tom, who enters the busy room and immediately starts scanning the patrons. Spotting Yelena, he makes his way to her booth. Their eyes meet and they exchange perfunctory nods before muffled, forced greetings escape their lips. Tom drapes his coat over the back of his chair and slides into the padded bench. Yelena's gaze remains fixed on the table, trying to conceal her agitation.

This close to him, Yelena can smell the alcohol on his breath. He doesn't appear visibly intoxicated, yet the unmistakable odor of Vodka taints the air around them, lingering like a cloud and a troubling reminder of his choices. It's barely 11:30 AM. This meeting is already off to a bad start.

"Hi. Thank you for meeting me."

"What's this about?"

"Look, I know things haven't always been easy between us." Tom remains silent and stoic, his expression guarded as he waits to see where this will go. Yelena’s attempts to conceal her unease only amplifies it. She's never been good at masking her genuine emotions or engaging in fake pleasantries, especially in situations like this. "All we've both ever wanted is the best thing for our daughter."

"MY daughter. She's nothing of yours. Ereka is MY daughter."

Yelena bites back her tongue and fights the urge to respond to Tom’s provocatory dig. If they start getting into it less than ten sentences into the conversation, this isn't going to go anywhere.

"All we want is the best for Ereka."

"I know that's what *I* want, yeah."

Yelena's phone screen illuminates, signaling an incoming text. She glances at it briefly. It's from Kate. Aware that her wife is oblivious to the current situation she finds herself in, Yelena decides to ignore the message for the time being, already anticipating Kate's displeasure when she eventually finds out.

Tom's eyes fly to the screen. His expression hardens and he locks his jaw as his eyes zero in on the background image. It's a photograph taken during the pregnancy announcement shoot Kate insisted on having. The still captures Kate, Ereka, Russell, and a pregnant Yelena standing in a vibrant field of fall-colored trees, radiating pure joy. It undoubtedly gets under Tom’s skin.

"What do you want? Why did you call me here?" Tom presses.

"We had a conversation with Ereka last night. More like she had a conversation with us where she made a request. We...I....*I* thought maybe you and I could talk like adults about it and deal with the situation. Parent to parent."

"You're not her parent, so...if there's anything going on with my kid, Kate can talk to me about it."

"Whether you like it or not, the judge granted me legal guardianship too."

"That fucking bitch judge fucked me over. I deserved full custody."

"Tom, I don't want to fight about that. That's not why I'm here."

"Then why are we here? Why is Kate not here?"

"I told you. Because I thought you and I could have a grownup chat."

"The fuck is going on with my kid?"

"I need you to listen to me. Before you respond or do anything, I need you to listen to me. That's all I'm asking for."

"If you don't tell me right now, I'm calling Kate. She'll tell me."

"Ereka wants to modify the custody agreement."

"What?"

"Ereka doesn't want to have overnight visits anymore. She doesn't feel comfortable being in your home, witnessing your family's behavior, and also just being away from us and her siblings. She made that very clear."

"My baby's twelve. She can't want or have a say in anything." Tom pounds his fist on the table violently, rocking everything and forcing all eyes in the room to turn to them for a split second. "If I find out you've been filling my kid's head with crap...I swear to fucking god I will end you."

"Ereka's happiness and well-being should be our priority."

"YOU…" Tom’s pointer finger comes within an inch of Yelena’s face. She musters every bit of self-control in order to not grab it and break it clean. "…don't get to tell me what my priority with my daughter is. She's MY kid and she comes home to me."

"That's not going to happen anymore."

“What? What’s not gonna happen?”

"I'm not forcing Ereka to do something she doesn't want to do."

"Try to take my kid away from me...see how that goes. You already stole my wife. You try to take my kid too and that's the last thing you ever do."

Yelena's demeanor takes on a sharper edge, her expression a mix of fury and defiance. Tom sneers, his eyes narrowing as he fiercely locks his eyes with Yelena.

"Are you threatening me?" Yelena asks, her tone challenging.

Tom leans forward, his voice dripping with venomous assurance.

"I'm telling you what's going to happen if Ereka isn't at my house this weekend. ALL weekend. Just a very clear warning."

"If she doesn't want to go, she's not going to go."

Yelena holds firm, unwavering. Tom's face contorts with rage, his entire body giving off menacing energy.

"If you come between me and my kid, I will fucking end you. I'll fucking kill you."

The remark hangs heavy in the air.

"That's a threat.” Yelena retorts, her voice calm and steady.

"Take that however you fucking want, but Ereka better be at my house at 10 AM on Saturday."

Tom abruptly stands, frenziedly ripping his coat off the back of the chair, and storms out of the café.

---

Kate's fingers fly across the keyboard and the rapid clacking of keys punctuate the silence of her office. She’s fully immersed, pouring her focus into crafting this proposal.

A firm knock on the door jolts Kate out of her flow. She recognizes the cadence of the thumping instantly - it’s her assistant. Annoyance flickers across her face, knowing this interruption will disrupt her momentum.

"What's up, Ash?"

Her assistant pops her head in while offering a courteous grin.

"Your wife is here."

Kate looks at her confused, with her brows furrowed in surprise.

"What?"

"Lobby just called. I told them to let her up so she's on her way. Should I let her in?"

"Yeah. Of course. Yeah. Thank you."

---

A few minutes later, a second knock reverberates through the office. Kate also recognizes this rapping without reticence - it unmistakably belongs to Yelena. The corners of Kate’s lips curl and her face lights up as she watches the door swing open, revealing her visibly pregnant wife standing there.

Their eyes meet and the mere sight of Yelena erases any trace of the stress and preoccupation Kate felt moments ago. She promptly pushes her chair back, eager to greet her wife.

"This is a nice surprise." As soon as the door closes behind her, Kate presses her lips against Yelena's in a tender, affectionate kiss while her hands instinctively come to rest on either side of Yelena's stomach. Kate steals a second kiss. "Hi."

"Hey."

"What are you doing here?"

"I did something...and I could've waited until tonight, but I also didn't know if you were going to get a call or text before that, so I figured it might be best to talk in person."

Kate's smile fades as she reads the somber expression on Yelena's face. Concern fills her eyes as she responds.

"What happened?"

"Can we sit? My back is killing me."

"Yeah. Yeah. Of course."

Kate places an allaying hand on the small of Yelena’s back, guiding her towards the two-person couch opposite her desk. They settle on the sofa and Yelena shifts her body slightly, opening herself up to face Kate directly.

"Not going to lie, I'm kind of very nervous right now. You never just show up at my office, especially not being cryptic."

A touch of humor paints Kate’s voice as she tries to ease the tension. She surveys her wife’s face, searching for answers.

"I talked to Tom."

"You did…what?" Kate asks, aghast at the mere idea.

"I called him and asked him to meet me at a coffee shop earlier. We talked about the custody situation because I don't think..."

"Why would you do that?!"

"Because I don't think she should go back if she doesn't want to."

Kate's voice rises with frustration and disbelief.

"No, no. What you want, what you REALLY want is to 'beat' him. That's what you want...You should've stayed out of my kid's custody business."

"YOUR kid?" Yelena scoffs bitterly. "Are you taking talking points from him now?"

"It was NOT your place to do that." Kate's eyes narrow as she retorts, her tone sharp and accusatory.

"He threatened to kill me."

"Yeah, I'd do the same if someone showed up talking about taking my daughter away from me. What would you do?"

"If I were an incompetent, insane drunk, I would want what's best for my children."

Kate's vexation intensifies, and she stands up, putting distance between them. She walks to her desk and starts to pace in front of it. The room feels tense, the air heavy with unspoken indignation from both sides.

"I asked you to leave it. I told you to leave it alone."

"She shouldn't..."

"You can make unilateral decisions about what kind of jelly you pick up at the store. You don't get to make unilateral decisions about custody shit, Yelena. I can't believe I'm having to even say this to you."

"I was doing what's best for her."

"No. NO, this was your chance to have another pissing contest with him and use her as an excuse. She's not a thing you use to get back at him."

"That's not what happened."

"That's EXACTLY what happened. She's my daughter and you are WAY out of line. Neither of you has claim over her."

Yelena's expression becomes steely.

"I only wanted to fill you in before I went to the police."

Kate's eyes shoot up and widen as she stares Yelena down.

"What are you talking about?"

"He made pointed threats against our family, so I'm filing a police report and requesting an emergency restraining order against him. For all of us. I already called the school and let them know he's not allowed to see her until further notice."

"If you don't wanna be signing divorce papers too, you leave this alone. I'll talk to him and this'll be done. We'll pretend it didn't happen."

"I can't do that, Kate.” Yelena’s resolve strengthens and her voice is firm.

"Yelena, I'm being so beyond serious right now. Drop it."

"I'm sorry, Kate, but I can't in good conscience leave it open for him to harm our family."

Kate's frustration boils over, and she strikes her hand down on the desk.

"WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF YOU HADN'T PULLED THIS SHIT! I told you...I asked you not to touch it. And what did you do? Go behind my back and blow our entire lives up. For what? FOR WHAT?!"

"For Ereka."

"Don't. Do not use her as an excuse. This is all on you."

Kate reaches for her phone, her fingers negligibly trembling as she taps on the screen. She brings the device to her ear, determined to undo whatever Yelena just set in motion.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling him. Controlling the situation before this gets out of hand."

"Kate, that's..."

Kate interrupts her curtly, her words teeming with aggravation.

"Don't talk to me right now."

The call goes to voicemail. Kate's impatience grows, but she tries once more.

"Katherine."

The utterance of her full name makes Kate glare at her wife, her eyes flashing warning signs that Yelena is willingly ignoring.

When the call goes to voicemail once more, Kate jumps into action. She reaches for her purse and heads to the door, her movements swift and purposeful.

"Where are you going?"

"To find him. And Yelena...if you file that report or a restraining order, you might as well also start looking for a divorce attorney because I'm not playing this game with you. I won’t. We are OVER if you do."

Without uttering another word, Kate stomps out of the office, leaving Yelena alone. The weight of their strained relationship hangs heavily in the air, thickening it with unresolved tension.

---

A few hours later. The front door to the apartment swings open with a burst of energy, and Kate ushers her lively children inside. Laughter and the pitter-patter of tiny feet fill the air, infusing the space with a tangible joy and warmth. Like a conductor orchestrating the symphony of their homecoming, Kate deftly navigates the chaos and issues detailed instructions, guiding Ereka and Russell through their tasks for the evening. As the children settle into their respective activities, Kate makes her way to the bedroom to change into more cozy clothes.

Kate turns the doorknob and freezes in her tracks. Not only is her wife already home, but she’s immersed in an intense flurry of activity. Once a sanctuary of peace, the room is now a battlefield of chaos. Clothes and shoes are strewn haphazardly across the floor, like casualties of a tempestuous storm. Before a symbol of order and serenity, the walk-in closet now stands open, its contents spilling out in disarray, mirroring the turmoil that has taken hold of their lives. The atmosphere crackles with an electric tension, as if the very walls hold their breath, knowing they’re about to witness the unfolding drama.

There, in the thick of the chaos she created, stands Yelena. Her movements are frenetic, driven by an urgency that cannot be ignored. She hastily stuffs clothes into a suitcase, the rustling fabric punctuating the charged silence that fills the room. As their eyes meet, a kaleidoscope of emotions dance across their faces. Upon seeing Kate, Yelena's hands momentarily freeze before she resumes her frantic packing. With firm resolve, the rhythmic zip of the luggage bag serves as an intransigent punctuation mark, echoing with profound finality that pulsates throughout the living quarters.

"What are you doing?"

"When it actually came down to me and him, you picked him." Yelena utters, cold and distant.

Kate explosively thrusts their bedroom door shut and charges over to Yelena, feeling a wave of anger detonate within her.

"I didn't pick ANYONE. I picked sanity and peace. For them. They will always be my priority." Kate crosses her arms over her chest and stares at the floor, mind racing. A long beat and a million thoughts later, she scoffs. "After everything...'you picked him.' If *this*..." Kate spiritedly points around their room. "If THIS is what 'picking him' looks like Yelena, then I'm curious what you think 'picking you' would entail. Because fuck...WOW."

Yelena crams one last pair of pants into the already overstuffed duffle bag that sits next to the hefty suitcase she just filled. Her tense body struggles to force the zipper halves to meet; its bulging shape evidence of her lack of thoughtfulness while packing. The fabric strains against the zipper, resisting her efforts to contain its contents. After a few firm yanks, the metallic teeth reluctantly interlock, sealing her belongings within. Yelena grabs the handle of the large rolling bag before slinging the strap of her duffle over her shoulder, and a sudden surge of adrenaline propels her forward in the direction of the door.

Before she can make her escape, Kate's hand shoots out as Yelena storms past her. Her fingers find their mark, latching on to Yelena's forearm, their grip like a vice, anchoring her in place. Their eyes lock in a fiery exchange, a tempest of emotions brewing within their depths and threatening to consume them both.

"Where are you going?"

Yelena points to the envelope resting atop the dresser. Kate retrieves it, her jittery fingers slowly tearing it open. Inside lies an emergency restraining order against Tom accompanied by a police report.

"I'm keeping them safe. At any cost." The women glare at each other. Kate takes a step back, willingly putting distance between them. Her heart pounds in her chest as she meets Yelena's gaze. They’re now locked in a battle of wills. "I'm taking him with me."

"You're not taking him anywhere."

"We're just going to the Ritz for a few nights. Until we can figure out what's happening next."

"Yelena, my son's not leaving this apartment."

A clash of emotions thunders through the room, their conflicting desires colliding into a torrent of raw feelings.

"If Ereka is YOUR daughter, then that's MY son. That's how it works, right?"

"You're being petty about this?"

"I'm being logical."

Yelena's words cut through the air, her tone shifting to cold and calculated. Each syllable carries a sharpness that slices through their relationship's already fraying threads, leaving an icy tension behind.

"You're not even in the same universe as logical right now."

"Must be pregnancy brain, I guess." Yelena bites back.

Kate’s patience officially reaches its breaking point. She truculently strides to where Yelena stands, her steps exuding steadfastness. In a display of unyielding and assertive belligerence, Kate snatches the duffle bag from Yelena's shoulder, ripping it away without hesitation. With a single speedy motion, Kate hurls the bag several feet away, the velocity causing the already tenuous hold the zipper had to give way. The contents spill out, scattering haphazardly across the floor.

"Sit." The word hangs in the air, pregnant with authority. What Kate uttered wasn’t a request; it was a command and one that left no room for negotiation. When Yelena doesn’t move, Kate's tone grows more forceful, compelling her to comply. "Sit down." Kate reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone. She dials a number with exigency. "I'm calling Landers, see if he can squeeze us in as an emergency right now."

"I don't need a therapy session. I need to go lie down."

"Bed's right there. Help yourself." Kate snaps at Yelena with a venomous undertone. "Hi Janey. This is Kate Bishop-Belova. I have a bit of a serious situation and I'm wondering if there's any way Joy can see us tonight? It's an emergency...Uhum...Uhum...Yeah. Please. That would be so helpful...Yeah. This number is fine...You're incredible. Thank you...Okay. Talk soon." Kate hangs up. "She doesn't know if tonight will be possible, but she'll talk to Landers and see if maybe tomorrow morning might work."

Yelena scoffs dismissively, her irritation evident.

"This is stupid."

"Yeah, I agree. Everything you've done today is BEYOND stupid."

"I already made a reservation."

"I couldn't give two shits about your reservation. Sit down. You are not blowing up our lives tonight. I'm not letting it happen."

"You're the one who brought up divorce."

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S BEING INSANE!" Kate screams, her voice cracking with emotion. "I can't talk to you right now, or I might say some things that I don't actually mean."

"Then let me go to the hotel."

"You're not going anywhere." Kate's words carry the significance of an ultimatum as she makes for the door. "I need to figure out dinner. What do you want?" Kate asks in an attempt to shift the focus away from their escalating argument.

"Nothing." Yelena's response is curt and indifferent.

"Pizza it is."

With that final declaration, Kate exits the room and shuts the door with a bang.

---

The sound of rushing water fills the air. Kate stands at the kitchen sink, dangling Russell in front of the open tap as she diligently works to wash away the splatters of paint that have found their way onto his tiny hands. The colorful streaks mix with the swirling water, creating a mesmerizing spectacle and carrying away the colorful remnants of his artistic escapade. Lost in her task and the words of the babbling boy, Kate momentarily forgets the apprehension that saturates the apartment.

But then she hears adult footsteps approaching from behind, disrupting the tranquil rhythm of the moment. Kate turns, her eyes widening as she sees Yelena purposefully making her way to the entrance, her duffle bag slung over her shoulder and her suitcase clutched tightly in her hand. A surge of panic courses through Kate, pushing her to act without a moment's hesitation. She swiftly shuts off the water and sets Russell down, his little feet pattering on the tiled floor as he toddles away, overjoyed that his paint-streaked hands are forgotten for the moment. Filled with a sense of impending doom, Kate compels her bare feet to glide across the kitchen tiles as she chases after Yelena.

"Hey. Hey. Was I not clear?"

"I'm not your child, Kate."

"You're acting like it." Refusing to let Yelena slip away unchallenged, Kate corners her wife in the foyer and plants herself firmly mere inches away from her. "Go back to the room. Pizza's going to be here in forty minutes."

"I'm going to the hotel."

"No, you're not."

Kate’s voice hardens, drawing a line in the sand. They glare at each other.

"Are you going to back me up on this?"

"No. You're wrong, so I'm not. I'm still not letting you leave because you're being beyond unreasonable. I'm not letting this get worse than it already is."

Yelena tries to push to the door, but Kate stands her ground, blocking her path with her body.

"Katherine..."

"I'm trying to stop you from fucking up this marriage."

"What if I don't want you to?"

They lock eyes, each searching for answers in the depths of the other’s gaze.

"Now you're just trying to piss me off. I know you too well. Go lie down. I'll send one of them to get you when food is here." Yelena doesn't move. "Who do I call to get rid of that stupid restraining order?"

"You can't end a protective order I requested."

"Then do it. Take care of it."

"No."

Yelena is resolute. Kate takes a measured, deep breath, making a concerted effort to keep herself centered.

"Yelena…”

"We've done it your way for years. It's never worked. It's about time we try it my way."

"I'm not backing you up on this. Get rid of it."

"No." Yelena repeats, somehow even more unwavering.

"You know what...fine. You want to destroy our lives this bad...be my guest." Kate finally relents. She steps back, giving Yelena all the space she needs to open the door and leave. After a beat of stillness, Yelena opens the door and walks out. Kate stands by, flummoxed, her heart heavy with incredulity and heartbreak. "I want you to be so very clear that you're the one doing this. You're the one walking away. Again. You're leaving a second time." Kate's voice quivers with a mix of anger and hurt. That stops Yelena in her tracks. "You said you'd never do that again. You promised and I believed you, so what is this? You promised."

With a heavy sigh, Kate steps away from the entrance, retreating back into the apartment but leaving the door wide open.

---

As Kate attends to the remnants of Russell's mess, the faint sound of the front door closing reaches her ears, stirring her from her thoughts. She turns her head, her attention abruptly drawn to the entrance. Her heart withers at the conclusive thud that reverberates through the air. To her amazement, seconds later, Yelena emerges from the foyer. Their eyes briefly connect in a charged moment before Yelena clenches her jaw tightly and strides deeper into the apartment, vanishing down the hallway that leads to their shared bedroom. Not long after, a resounding boom fills the air as the door is violently slammed shut, further emphasizing the growing chasm between them.

Lost in a maelstrom of emotions that threaten to engulf her whole, Kate's eyes linger on that hallway. Russell takes advantage of her distraction, seizing the opportunity to indulge himself. In a sudden burst of movement, the boy leans forward with a rascally grin and his tiny hands break the water's surface. The cold liquid splashes in all directions, showering the immediate area, including a generous dousing directly onto Kate's face. The shock of the gelid liquid snaps Kate back to reality with a gasp, her senses jolted by the sudden and unexpected intrusion. The temperature forces her breath to catch in her throat while droplets cling to her skin and drip down her face. It is a moment of undeniable clarity, a gentle reminder that life persists even in the midst of turmoil.

At least there's still a way back. It's cracked but not shattered. There's still a way to fix it.

[melikes-reads]

Hiii!! I recently saw your post about how german people think and tbh, I have been learning German for about 3 years now and I still have to make a very conscious decision to place the verb am ende, or in the second position and I don't know if that ever goes away. That's the beauty of learning languages i guess.

I wanted to ask you if you have any fic recs, or german tv show recs, I need a german thing to hyperfixate on, lmao.

Hi! I'm glad to know I'm not alone with my syntax struggles :) We will prevail one day, I'm sure!

Now, about German tv shows... If you look at my blog, you'll find posts about my recent discoveries: Tatort Saarbrücken, Polizeiruf (Vincent Ross' cases) and the last couple of seasons of SOKO Leipzig.

Yes, they are cop shows. But! The two male leads and the two female leads in Tatort Saarbrücken are highly shippable, and there's a ton of fic! Lots of AUs, too, if crime series are not your thing. The same goes for Polizeiruf: Vincent Ross is a genderqueer police detective and it's gotten a lot of attention from fic authors :)

Last but not least, my beautiful beloved, Moritz Brenner, Leipzig police detective and queer extraordinaire... Unfortunately, he mostly shows up in fic as secondary character in cross-overs with Tatort Saarbrücken and Polizeiruf. But those fics are amazing.

P.S. If you prefer teen drama, there's the German version of SKAM: it's called "Druck" and you can find it on youtube (and many fics on AO3).

[inmyarmswrappedin]

Some thoughts on Heartstopper s2:

Overall, I liked Tara and Darcy's arc, but I wish it had been set up better. I got the impression in s1 that Tara and Darcy have been dating forever, maybe even since they were like 13-14, and I just can't believe that the ilu issue hadn't come up yet. Particularly on a show like this when even platonic friends will say ilu to each other all the time. I think a better way to set up the sl would've been:

show Tara saying ilu to Darcy without expecting reciprocation, portrayed like it's something she does all the time.

show Tara longingly watching Nick and Charlie saying ilu to each other.

have Tara say ilu to Darcy now with the hope/expectation that Darcy will say it back.

everything else takes place exactly as it did on the show.

Similarly, I loved Tao and Elle's arc. I was really looking forward to their getting together after s1, and throughout the season I was 😍😍😍😍. I just didn't connect with Elle's mood after the movie date. I guess I myself would've been disappointed, but not to that extent, and so that part didn't work for me.

While I'm glad that Imogen will be wlw (more in a sec), a part of me wishes she hadn't been just to compare the way people reacted to her character in s1 vs s2. Because really, Imogen acted exactly the same in both seasons (it was the way the dude treated her that changed), but I can't imagine people would have the same reactions towards her with Nick vs towards her with Ben.

I do hope Imogen will be a lesbian, mostly because of the lesbian lighting. That being said, I wish it was Sahar who got the self-discovery arc. In the end though, I want a wlw to get the Heartstopper self-discovery arc, and I look forward to whatever happens with Imogen (and Sahar!).

I was also looking forward to Isaac's arc and it didn't disappoint. I think Isaac is the first explicitly ace character (maybe also aro?) with a self-discovery arc I've watched, and I was really interested in how it was going to be portrayed. I love Isaac's actor's smile, I think he's so cute.

Olivia Colman put her whole pussy into that family dinner scene, whew! Nick's mom's role wasn't that large, but she stole the show with her facial expressions and her whole "I just don't know wtf is wrong with this man!" attitude.

I feel sorry for Ben despite his whole evil Mark Owen thing, but I also like that Alice Oseman chose not to redeem him. I am mighty tired of bullies and abusers getting half baked redemption arcs (hi Druck s7 and s8), and it's plausible for Ben to just not be there yet. I think Heartstopper as a comic and show has people being lovely more often than not. So I think it's a brave choice not to redeem Ben, and let us give him a happier ending in our mind if we so wish.

And on that note I really appreciate that Heartstopper allows its characters to call out bullies, abusers, bad parents, and tells its audiences they don't have to forgive bad treatment if they don't want to. For a show that's been so criticized for being wholesome (i.e. sexless) and, for that reason, not ~challenging~ enough, I think allowing its characters not to forgive is actually a subtly subversive choice. I think just about any other teen show would've made Charlie allow his former bullies into the party because the ringleader had been a bit nicer in the Eiffel Tower. Imo it's details like that that show an actually queer person is behind the show, compared to the shows produced, written or directed by straight people.

[evakuality]

4 years of Druck s3 - week 3

Things of note in this episode:

1.  I know everyone says that there’s no ‘call your girlfriend’ scene in this version, but I would argue that this part operates as this moment for Matteo.  Is it the same?  Nope - it’s definitely not as charged and heightened as the moment Isak and Even share, but in this context Matteo is convinced they’re both with their respective girlfriends as David tumbles into the room with his arm around Laura and Sara is all over him and suggesting they’re going to sleep together later.  To Isak that was cool and sexy: a private moment between the two of them when they were with their girlfriends and which suggested a clandestine bond.  To Matteo it’s about the divide between them as they each embrace their ‘girlfriends’ (as he doesn’t yet know that Laura is David’s sister).  So no they don’t operate the same, but in both moments our central character experiences something that’s connected to the two girls with each of them.

2.  I’m still not over the way this group railroaded Matteo into having this party.  Kiki is of course the ringleader but they all jump on board with her.  And the thing is, Matteo lost as soon as he started to make excuses as to why he couldn’t hold it.  ‘I don’t want to’ is a perfectly fine answer, but hey I get it.  I always try to justify why I can’t do something as well.  But it still bugs me that they didn’t take his no for an answer.  Still, at least he made use of the moment to invite David to come along.  Good work there, Matteo!

3.  As a hard core Matteo fan, I generally do try to justify his actions but honestly, this right here was an asshole moment.  Probably his biggest one.  She’s unhappy and vulnerable and she even tells him that if they’re together she wants him to be all-in, so he really could have said ‘I’m not feeling it’ and walked away but he chose to string her along and that was a shitty thing to do and imo does justify her anger later when he dumps her.  Still, her posts about this were really awkward.  Sara, honey, this is an unhealthy relationship for you and your comment about rather fighting with him than being with someone else should be a real red flag.  You’re not happy, child!!!!  Cut him loose!

4.  I do love how he keeps coming back to this post but is always embarrassed if someone catches him with it.  In this case, even himself.  He looks away from the phone just after this as if he’s doing something wrong.  It’s such a normal ‘I have a crush’ way to behave and I love that it’s this that pushes him to look up the movie David mentioned earlier.  This picture is starting to become not enough and so he starts trying to find other ways to get close to David.

5.  There’s nothing more to be said here, but I can’t let this episode go without saying how much I love this part of this scene.  Everything comes together so well: acting, lighting, music, framing etc etc and this moment where he realises that weed isn’t helping his anxiety is quite powerful.  I just really love this scene and I’ll never stop saying how great it is!!

6.  Last but not least, the almost kiss of course.  I love david here - it’s immediately after he tells Matteo that Laura is his sister and it’s such an expression of ‘can we get this into your stupid head???’ like he’s very fond (of course: David is very much into this guy) but he’s so intent on getting ‘I like YOU’ into Matteo’s head.  After this, of course, they start the slow approach to letting each other know that they very definitely do want to kiss each other, but right now David isn’t quite sure.  Of course, Matteo is about to tear up at that news, which is something of a big hint :D

[wilmonsfolklore]

heyyy,

1, 2, 4, 36, 41, 46 and 47 for the fanfic asks.

hii thanks for the ask!!! i spend So much time reading fic but I never talk about it this is so exciting!!!

1.            favorite fanfic of all time

My favorite fanfic of all time is Capture by bri_ness on AO3. It's Druck fanfiction, a German remake of Skam. The description of mental health struggles is unmatched to me and the writing style just scratches an itch in my brain. It's really changed the way I think about myself.

2.            favorite writer of the fandom

This is such a hard question because Young Royals has So many awesome writers. Some I can think of right now are starrystoryteller and softwilmcn on AO3 (i dont know their Tumblr's), and @toffeelemon, @stretchoutfics, @alltoowille and @willesworld. I'm jealous of all of their work.

4.            the fanfic you would recommand for somebody not in the fandom

This is a really hard question!! It really depends on what someone is looking for. But I'd probably go with Play My Song by elin98, because it's the first Wilmon fic I ever read. And it's lovely.

36.          your favorite trope

My favorite trope is probably friends to lovers. I sincerely believe that friendship is a good foundation for almost every romantic relationship and reading about the transition between the two never gets old to me.

41.          how do you choose the fic you read

That really depends on the mood. I will probably always click on a title with a lyric I recognise. And I love summaries that are a little piece of the story. Depending on what I'm looking for either a shorter or longer word count. I don't know. Sometimes it's just vibes.

46.          did you stay awake up to an veeeery unreasonable hour to finish a fanfic

Honestly, no! I need my sleep. I do often read fanfiction when I'm supposed to be doing other stuff, so that's basically the same thing. But sleeping is the one thing I can't miss out on if I want to function lmao.

47.          WIP or not WIP

Depends on the mood. I'm trying to get better at reading WIP's but it feels like a bigger commitment since I often forget the plot and need to go a few chapter back every update. So most of the fics I read are completed. But I do know engagement on WIP's is so important, so I try my best. And I usually read WIP's of writers I've enjoyed before.

[illgiveyouahint]

Just curious will you watch the Croatian SKAM remake? I am a little hesitant as it’s been years since the Skam Remakes but also I feel like it was an era, whereas I kind of feel like it’s not anymore but also the thing is it won’t be like the thrill of multiple remakes running at the same time? Currently rewatching s2 or skamesp 🩵🩵

There is a Croatian SKAM remake??!! That information completely missed me. Gotta go find more info immediately!

You are right that it was most definitely an era but at the same time I think the Skam format will always work if done well. So like if in 10 years time someone will decide to make a skam-like show I think it will still be engaging if the story itself is done well. Because despite having many shows for and about teenagers i feel we have very little shows that are actually about teenagers. You know what I mean? Yes Skam was addicting because of it's live format but people watched it because the stories had depth and were talking about real issues kids these days deal with. Once the remakes started loosing that they started loosing people. Like Druck s7 was a disaster because the writing was so bad. Instead of focusing on Isi's gender exploration, islamophobia and learning how to not be a shitty person which I think would all be absolutely valid, interesting and relatable storylines they focused on weird love triangle that went nowhere. The story went nowhere and people turned off and stopped watching, stopped engaging with the content.

But if you follow Julie Andem's direction. If you do the work and you do talk to the teens and do talk to them about what they deal with and then decide to write a show for them? (and you're a good writer) I think that will work now and it will work in 10 or 15 years.

Anyway thank you for the info now I'm gonna go look up Croatian skam 'cause I am immediately fascinated by the idea.

[dummerjan]

Tag 9 people you want to get to know better!

tagged by @theoryofarson – thank you <333 Three ships Kim/Chay is my main one right now, they make me feel so much. I've listened to some Sterek podfics recently and yep, Sterek is still eternal. Never letting them go, no way. KP is just a momentary distraction. Sterek has everything I also love about other ships. Martino and Niccolò from Skam Italia, it's been four years since I first watched their season and they still make me just as happy.

First ever ship I think the very first one I've read fanfiction for is Brian/Justin from QaF US. I must have been 14 and it was a nearly 500k post-canon fic, though I doubt I read all of it. I still have the link but there's no way I'll read smut in German. I was also really into the gay storylines from soaps from all over the world. Maybe one of those came before.

Last Song

And for once I am actually listening to it on a Friday night - that's what the song is about.

Last movie I can't remember, I rarely ever watch movies. The next movie, though, is going to be Two and One with Paolo Pangilinan from Gaya Sa Pelikula. I've wanted to see it since it came out but couldn't legally. I finally found a file for the English subs and a download for the movie, though. So I guess piracy it is? I wanted to give them money, okay? The site just wouldn't let me.

Currently reading Whatever fanfics I am subscribed to and in theory also Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann, I like it but it's been a year and I've managed less than 1/3.

Currently Watching Gannibal - I've only got one episode left but I am being a bit of a baby about it. It's scary, ok? I am fine with eating children once a year, I am less fine with keeping them in a cave for years until it's time to eat them. Word of Honor - It took me six months to watch the second episode so who knows how long it will take me to watch the next one, but I like it so far, even though I have no idea what is going on. Just a lot of flirting in front of teenagers, that I got. I am also rewatching the third season of Druck even if that is a slow process.

Currently Consuming Consuming what? Why so unspecific? Food? None. I've eaten too much and now my stomach hurts. Does music count? I am listening to AnnenMayKantereit.

Currently Craving Again, so unspecific. Food? None. Though lately, I have been thinking about dubu-jorim a lot, or rather my spin on it. Maybe I'll make that tomorrow. And once I've eaten fried tofu, I won't stop craving it for a couple weeks. Media? I just want to see Kim one more time, okay? Just once, please, I am begging. I am so unwell about him. Existentially? Hope. A direction in life. Ways to do what I want to do. A win, I could really use a win. Creativity but also the inspiration and energy to follow through. Tagging: @skamskada @scattered-stardust @booksnchocolate @sauerland-2001 @whirling-ghost @stalkerpoetess1995 @caffelattedellequattro @silviakundera @hedgewyse I know that's not nine people but I already get anxious about tagging a single person. I made it! Nine people! I just needed to look at my followers/following lists.

[ameliawarnerr]

Evanescent, it is, then!

BUT

HEAR ME OUT!

How about a oneshot (after evanescent update, ofc) based on the song ESCAPISM? If u guys haven't heard it, here are some of the lyrics-

A little context if you care to listen

I find myself in a shit position

The man that i love sat me down last night

And he told me that it's over, dumb decision

Chorus: Just a heart broke bitch, high heels, six inch

In the back of the night club sipping champagne

I don't trust any of these bitches I'm with

In the back of taxi, sniffing cocaine

Drunk calls, drunk texts, drunk tears, druck sex

I was looking for a man who was on the same page

Now it's back to the intro, back to the bar

To Bentley, to the hotel, to my old wayss

AND THEN JAKE FINDS HER ALL DRUNK AND MESSEDD UP

(I'm adding the song if u wanna listen!)

Teeeeeellllll meeeee

Should I write ?

Nah or yay???

[all-chickens-are-trans]

for the writer thing: 💛 🥳 and 🎬

Oh heyyy!! So nice to hear from you, how's it going! 🥰✨

💛 What is the most impactful lesson you’ve learned about writing?

that any and all writing tips are more a 'take what you need' kinda thing instead of proper rules. "write what you know" will only get you so far, and also has a million ways to be interpreted. "show, don't tell" - yes, it can be more interesting to show a character being nervous than just saying that he's nervous. But sometimes, you just wanna get to the point and you don't want to spend too much time on the nerves of this guy. "don't be excessive with adjectives" - why not, if they bring me joy and they make more precise what i'm trying to say and that's exactly why they exist? "make your sentences short and clean." Okay I could do that, but I don't have to if I don't want to. Some of the biggest classics of literature have long, winding sentences, sometimes so complicated that you have to read them multiple times to get them, and yes, sometimes that can be exhausting and annoying, but sometimes, it can be beautiful, too. I guess it's different when you're a commercial writer or trying to be one, but in fanfic, why not do whatever you like?

I used to fret over my long, complicated sentences so much, but at some point I learned to embrace them and decided it's more about rhythm, and about what I'm trying to achieve with a sentence. Some things are harsh and short. Some things are longer, maybe a bit complicated, maybe someone is avoiding a topic - why not show that in a sentence structure? anyway, long story short, I guess the best lesson for me was "pick what you like and leave the rest".

🥳 Why did you start writing fanfic?

Oh because, once upon a time, I was a pre-teen with an active imagination and dissatisfied with the slow passage of time - meaning I didn't want to wait until the next episode of my favorite telenovela came out, so I started writing the plots myself, on little notes that I passed to my best friend in physics class. 😅 Also, because I once watched Phantom of the Opera, didn't like the ending and decided I could do better, so I wrote my own version. All of that was before I knew about fanfic, or that other people were doing it.

I started properly writing fanfic and sharing it online when I found out people were doing it to make characters gay who weren't gay, and make them kiss and stuff. That was almost 20 years ago now and I haven't looked back since 😅🥰

I already did the 🎬 one here but since both things I mention there are obscure German things you won't know about, how about an obscure German thing you do know about 😅

I would LOVE to see my Druck fic in living colour, especially Feels Like We've Been Living In Fast Forward because I miss my kids and I always thought that the canon had some missed opportunities with those two. It's been too long to remember the details but whenever you show up on my dash (or in my inbox like now :D) it reminds me that there's two teenage disasters that I love very much <3

[lucidpantone]

I like how they're doing the druck new gen approach and made half their characters look queer and artsy. It's only realistic lol

Also starting from a TikTok perspective makes sense. @hopetofantasy said it makes sense with the old wtfock audience graduating to Nathan's new show they can interest a new audience and try to utilize TikTok to trend and create a new crop of people and now they even have a show to graduate these characters into if they wanted too.

[aled-first]

I posted 1,121 times in 2022

That's 1,117 more posts than 2021!

20 posts created (2%)

1,101 posts reblogged (98%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@dr-drea

@local-aro-cryptid

@inthetags

@nose-bl

@for-your-modesty-dude

I tagged 325 of my posts in 2022

#druck - 27 posts

#heartstopper - 25 posts

#druck s8 - 22 posts

#stranger things - 19 posts

#druck mailin - 19 posts

#druck season 8 - 17 posts

#goncharov - 9 posts

#nick nelson - 8 posts

#unreality - 8 posts

#mailin richter - 7 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#yesss / i like the taste but i don't necessarily buy it for other reasons / yesss / nooo / brand nutella no but vegan version yes / yesss

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

"you asked me what i want. and what i want is *continues 5 minute monologue about everything but not about what she wants*"

16 notes - Posted June 30, 2022

#4

"as your token straight friend"

does that mean that neither elle nor isaac are straight? because i think elle's sexuality has not been mentioned before. and isaac is planned to be aroace (at least that's what alice said, but i don't know if you can count that as canon yet)

either way, i love all of them so much

22 notes - Posted May 1, 2022

#3

looking at ava's "you're no boyfriend material" from an aro perspective:

this is the last thing anyone of the group says to ben, this is the final mic drop

that's - at least how it's framed - the worst insult

at the same time, it says a (good) boyfriend is the best thing you can be, that's what's most important about your character

and whereas it's true that ben probably wouldn't be a good boyfriend, seeing how he treated mailin, that's not what makes him a "bad person"

he was an asshole completely unrelated to romantic relationships

and being a boyfriend (or romantic partner in general) is not everyone's goal

that druck frames being a romantic partner as the most important thing in the world, as what everyone longs to be, is definitely disappointing

the only thing that annoyed me about druck since the og generation, is that the main story was always about love interests, but it was okay because, for many people romantic love is important and i can still enjoy it even though i don't feel it, it was written well and friendship was always pictured as important even when it wasn't the main topic

but now, this season isn't written well, there were many hopes that it would bring some aspec rep, and now they follow a highly allonormative and amatonormative trope which just feels like the exact opposite of what we've hoped for

and amatonormativity isn't only harmful to aro people, nobody needs (or should need) a romantic partner to be happy, there's cool things about being single and if you're unhappy or have problems of whatever sort, having a significant other won't solve that

that druck follows potentionally harmful tropes, that also alienate aro spec people, is not what i would have expected them to do

(and i don't feel like it fits ava's character at all, but they already did ava so bad this season, this is not what surprised me about this scene)

23 notes - Posted June 28, 2022

#2

sooo, under the last clip (the mailin getting off after her controller vibrated for some reason one) i wrote a comment which i guess i'll translate now

i don't really like this season, i enjoyed the first 3 episodes and was exited for the further developments.

but, there weren't any developments, not really. like, yes, if you enjoy mastturbating, go for it, but it's not like you have to.

that masturbating is portrayed as something that's always positive, feels weird to me

for me, druck has always been a series, that tells new stories and the "masturbating can be nice"-story, we just know that story already.

this season would have been the perfect opportunity to tell something new.

at first i thought, this season would be aroace rep, which i was really exited about. then it was clear that mailin was into finn (romantically). and yes, she could theoretically still be on the aro spectrum, but it was a way to little topic, for it to be relevant.

then i had hopes for mailin being ace, but if she actually turns out being ace, it wouldn't feel like good rep. i know that asexuality is a spectrum and asexual people have different relations to sex or masturbating etc.

but designing asexual representation in a way that best fits allonormative standards? doesn't feel right to me. and if mailin would come to the conclusion that she is, in fact, ace, it would happen in the last episode. asexuality would only be a topic in one out of ten episodes. that's not a lot.

and if she's not ace, this whole season feels like a missed opportunity. then we would have followed a white, cishet, allo, young woman, who is also quite rich, for ten weeks. a woman who doesn't even acknowledge her privilege, who doesn't reflect on her own mistakes (she still thinks you can destroy books because you feel like it), who isn't good at communicating (like not being in contact with finn after small problems, or drunkenly telling him a week later that the sex was not the best idea) even though she said (in previous seasons) that she was taught to be open about feelings etc. when she had a fight with ava. and the problems that she actually has (ben, but that's it) are handled weirdly. it was only said once or twice that ben was the problem, that it was simply wrong of him to send mailin's nude (that he only got in the first place because he coerced her after she said no). instead the whole screentime was devoted to mailin and zoe fighting and finn being angry about mailin for sending the nude (that was before your relationship?! i don't think you have any right to dictate what mailin should or shouldn't do, and i honestly don't think it fits finns character to react that way).

there've been a lot of storylines, but none of them had a real ending (i wanna know who snitched on mailin and zoe, but there's a week left, so i still have hopes), none were told well (at least that's what it feels like to me), it feels like they just ignore old seasons (isi being non-binary and using all pronouns, what ava and fatou talk about in the abi prank, ava who has always promoted interscetional feminism and everything connected to it is now hyping mailin up even after mailin acts against what ava stands for)

what annoys me the most is that we have lots of cool characters in this show, whose stories haven't been told (in the series but also in mainstream media) who just get ignored

35 notes - Posted June 25, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

looking at the comments under the latest clip rn and there are a lot that are really cool

but some are just... eh

there are people saying that every victim of SA should decide for themselves how to deal with it, whether they want to go to the police etc.

and yes, that's true, but it also misses the point

because most victims are scared of going to the police, of what the police might say to them, of having to go through the traumatising events again, and then not even knowing that the abuser will get any consequences

but that's exactly the reason why we should show characters successfully reporting their abusers to the police, especially characters that are praised for "being strong" by their friends

we need to show young victims that going to the police can work and that it doesn't make the situation more traumatising

if we show a charcater not going to the police, even though they are "strong" and have the help of a big friend group, then victims will feel even less like going to the police, because if this strong character with lots of support can't do it, how could they?

71 notes - Posted June 27, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[chameleon-on-lsd]

Tatort Luzern (Der Elefant im Raum) liveblogging part 2

lmao and now blondie is freaking out. honestly what is happening xD well well she had me bamboozled too more nice lucerne stablishing shots NERO. YOU KNOW, LIKE THE GUY'S DOG!!!!! xD why did liz know that and not reto xD how many times can the mention 'durchsuechigsbefehl' this episode xD lol getting his ass with the AGBs xD honestly what the fuck is happening frederic in his gay little striped jumper xD that was a NICE camera shot of the suspect throwing the phone and the camera doing a cut-off jerky pan towards the throwing direction. idk it looked super cool WOW corinna actually got fired (well suspended) 'du weisch eifach genau, welli knöpf du bi mir musch drucke und denn machi alles' damn bitch xD oh he got suspended now XDDDDD FULLY PUNCHED THE GUY AND DESTROYED THE CAMERA RETO. FUCK SHIT UP XDDD and back to nero, to do his own illegal shit xD yeAH you don't have your Dienstwaffe, cause you have no Dienst xD .....is he gonna get tortured DAMN XD reto does just get whacked over the head a lot er het kündet? I wasn't paying attention 'dene huere behörde futzis' xD i just love how this is SRF the casual swearing <3 I like nero's jacket I wanna pet it lmao yeah that guy is hateable but yeah, they didn't make you a murderer. and not a totschläger im affekt. you did that xD never meet your heroes. especially when you are more into the cause then they are lmao whoops. killed a guy xD love how there's always a holzpfoste to strap a person too xD 'z'abig hammer en hirnwösch im fernseh inezoge' funny things to say on a tv show DAMN bitch. you gonna burn shit NOOOOO YOU'RE KILLING THE DOG? WHAT THE FUCK why was pornos und tschutte on the same level? and rindfleisch mit sauce? what the fuck are you talking about my guy xD holy shit de SEK that all black uniform goes fucking HARDDDDDDDDD it kinda sounded like someone said 'what the fuck' in the background, but it coulda been smth else xDD it is actually raining or are they just standing there with umbrellas for the mood? XDDD cause it looked quite sunny xDD and dry lmao the car accident JESUSSSS THE PRACTICAL EFFECT GOES SO HARD???? FUCKING KUDOS LUZERN DAMN adam raczek got off so light with his fucking 'leave my gun and badge behind and disappear' I mean maybe he would have liked a blaze of glory, but come on xD aww liz promotion :D XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD LIZ: 'SCHAD BISCH KEI FRAU' RETO: 'NOBODY'S PERFECT' LMAOOO AND THEY SAIL OFF TOGEHTER INTO THE SUNSET. WOW

[youmustbestrongernow]

I followed you yours ago, during the Druck height time. I even asked you for advice on numerous things. how to find out the sexuality of a person you are interested in for instance lmao but many more, what to do when you are in love with a friend.

You were like a friend to me, while I hadn't had many people in my real-life. Thanks that changed. I found nice people. But after being done with school I managed to get better and also started therapy!

And just found your blog again. Felt comforting. But also hope not being intrusive. I noticed you I think deleted some Druck fick? Especially the kids one? That was my biggest comfort back then. Did that have a reason, after scrolling way too long through your blog I had the need to reread it. (I read it so often in the past. Sometimes just 3 time a weak rofl)

But also, as my former advice guru. To relieve me figuring out my password again.

How to deal with a horrible job, that I hate but I don't have the opportunity to quit right.

Hi anon,

Firstly I'm glad you're doing well, loneliness is so tough so it's good you've found people you connect with. Also therapy, that's a big step that's so great.

I do remember those times, the advice guru days, it was nice, not that you needed the advice but just having people reach out and connecting then showing them that they're not alone

I did take down a lot of my fics, the reasons are somewhere in the depths of my blog now but I had my reasons. Still I'm glad they were a comfort for you. Nobody is my favourite thing I've ever written and I actually still have plans with that world

Not sure if that last bit is a question, doesn't quite read like it but if you are struggling with work then I would say focus on your life outside of work and try to enjoy that. work is just that, work, sadly something we need to do, but keep looking for something better and know you won't be there forever. like me I was miserable and exhausted (and underpaid) at my last job and now i'm thriving

Good luck anon,

theo