#and the fact that Hyde's response is I'M NOT SAYING IT BACK

[nikkiruncks]

My favorite Jackie & Hyde moments #2

Bonus:

[randogirlo-fando-main]

Steven Hyde x Reader

Y'all I'm already halfway done with the next part so hopefully this is good

Word count:4.2k+ (Aka my longest piece yet)

Warnings, swearing, smoking, making out, slight sexual themes

Point Place, Wisconsin

April 5th, 1977

7:38pm

Location: Eric Forman's Basement

The sounds of Gilligan’s Island fill the basement from the television, smoke in the air as you all sit in the usual circle.

“It runs on water man! I swear you guys just don’t get it.” Hyde huffs, everyone kind of spacing out on their own highs.

“No we get it Hyde, we just also hear it every time we get in this damn circle.” You say, giggling at Donna playing with her hair.

“(Y/n), do you have any candy on you?” Fez clasps his hands together, begging for a yes.

“Of course Fez, someone has to keep you fed.” You throw him a pack of milk duds before throwing a second one to Kelso, already seeing the look in his eyes.

“Man (Y/n), if you weren’t always playing hard to get I’d totally do you.”

“It’s not playing hard to get if I don’t want you dumbass.” You punch his shoulder next to you as he dramatically leans back.

“That hurt!” You smile at him before flicking his nose in response.

“You know, if you’re not careful you’re gonna turn into Red.” Forman looks at you, nodding softly to himself.

“Actually I think your mom is who I want to be when I grow up. Minus the whore daughter and smart mouthed son.” Hyde lifts his arm for a high five to which you give him in pride.

“BURN!” Kelso yells, laughing uncontrollably despite the fact it wasn’t even that good of a burn, just the first time you’ve ever retaliated.

“She’s coming along nicely right? I’m teaching her everything I know.”

When you met the group, you were this quiet 13 year old that had just moved to Point Place from Louisiana. Donna had been the first to approach you, giving you a verbal invitation to join her for lunch. Ever since, you’ve been there for all the shenanigans they’ve done. Usually playing mom for the group to keep them from actually dying. You can safely say you were not there the last time Kelso fell off the water tower otherwise all the pain of a hospital trip and Eric walking in on his parents doing the nasty would’ve not been necessary. The last year, you’ve been tired of being so quiet and reserved around the general public. Hyde offered you an apprenticeship of zen, though you mostly smoke and talk.

“Only took 4 years but here she is, blossoming into a degenerate.” Donna grabs your shoulders like a proud mom, shaking you slightly. Almost instantly the door to the basement swings open, Jackie darting in and standing in front of the TV.

“Donna, (Y/n) are you two ready or not? I’ve been waiting next door listening to Bob sing.” She cringes before walking closer to the couch and pulling you both up by one arm.

“For such a tiny little thing you sure are strong.” You spat, tinge of annoyance in your voice.

“We’re supposed to be having girls night! Facials, manicures, the whole works and instead you’re down here with the boys doing god knows what.” She huffs tapping her foot.

“Relax Jackie, we just needed a circle session to prepare for this.” You say, dramatically gesturing between the girls and you.

“We better go before Jackie drags us out.” Donna gives Eric a kiss goodbye before us three go next door for a night at Donna’s.

There's a moment of silence in the basement, interrupted by Eric clearing his throat.

“Soo, my room has a perfect view of the girls’ sleepover.” Eric points upstairs before all the boys jump up from the couch to head upstairs, hoping to steal a peek at what the girls are doing.

“Donna, remind me to buy your dad pajama pants for Christmas.” You shiver recalling her dad in just a robe and underwear. You all three sit on Donna’s bed as Jackie ruffles through the bag she brought.

“Okay since I know whatever you’re using doesn’t work I brought face masks from home.” Donna pushes Jackie over on the bed as you look through the options. As you all apply the masks in silence, Donna puts music on since she was the first to finish hers.

“So (n/n), any guys? Maybe a secret lover?” Donna shimmies her shoulders in an over-the-top way causing a laugh from you as the blush spreads through your face.

“I mean, I haven’t actually had a crush since we were sophomores. There may be one developing though so we shall see.” You grab one of the stuffed animals Jackie brought, pulling it to your body to hide yourself.

“Well who is this contender? This is history making!” Jackie grabs your shoulders to look up at her.

“I wouldn’t say that-“

“You haven’t had a love life for over two years. I mean there was the one from the house party I brought you to but that was it and it was only one night.” You dig yourself more into the stuffed animal.

“You guys are gonna scream if I say though. Maybe not angry scream but definitely scream.” Their eyes widen as they look between each other and you.

“OH MY GOD IT’S HYDE!” Jackie screams, making you clamp a hand over her mouth.

“Shut the hell up please, we already know the boys are gonna try to sneak in or something like they always do.” You say in a hushed tone, brows furrowed and face bright red.

“Oh my god it is Hyde!” Donna says, grabbing your face with both hands.

“Tell us everything.” You nod as she lets go of you, about to spill all the little moments and stolen glances.

“Dude, what do you think they’re talking about?” Eric says, trying his hardest to hear through the walls.

“I don’t know but- OH JACKIE IS ABOUT TO KISS (Y/N) I REPEAT JACKIE IS ABOU- Oh she was just grabbing her by the shoulders.” Kelso had the binoculars, watching their every move.

“They’re probably talking about boys, or how attracted they are to each other. Look how pink (Y/n) is.” Fez says, eating the popsicle he grabbed from the basement.

“Wait, is- GUYS DONNA IS GONNA KISS (Y/N)!” They all scurry to get closer the window before seeing her pull away.

“Damn why do they keep doing that!?”

“Okay there’s definitely something going on. Jackie isn’t talking at all!”

“Whatever (L/n)'s saying must be really good.” Hyde looks at your side profile, taking in the pink settling through your face and how fast you're talking.

“I'm definitely not his type though, I mean you remember that biker chick. He almost ran away with her!" Donna shakes her head at you.

"Dude you're the only person he doesn't mess with."

"Because I'm the least annoying in the group." Jackie scoffs as you giggle at her.

"Oh please you run around playing mom, that's annoying enough."

"Hey I make it safe fun, you make it no fun. Constant 'don't do that Michael, you're all idiots' it's so annoying. News flash, they're still gonna do it! " She pulls your hair and before you can retaliate, Donna is pushing down to the bed.

"Okay then how about we go see what movies are on?" The redhead exclaims, dragging you both off her bed.

"What's up losers?" You say as you barge into the basement, grocery bags in hand.

"What did you bring?" A smirk comes across your face before putting all but one bag down.

"Just a little something for everyone. First, Fez here's some family size skittles." You present them dramatically before throwing the bag to the boy.

"Okay next we have Frito's, potato chips, Pringles, chocolate for Donna specifically because I love you, some Jackie approved soda since it's never here, and beer!" As everyone grabs at the pile of food, you stand there accomplished. You make your way to sit on the floor before Hyde gets up without a word and sits on the arm of the couch. Your brows furrow at him before he motions for you to sit down in his chair. You reluctantly sit, everyone freezing at the sight.

"Why are you in Hyde's chair?" Fez asks, popping a skittle in his mouth.

"More importantly, why did Hyde give up his chair?" Eric's eyes go wide as a lightbulb goes off in his head.

"Wa-" Before he could even finish a word, Donna is elbowing him in the side to shut him up.

"No way, they're doing it!" Kelso exclaims, pointing back and forth at you both. Hyde punches him in the shoulder, causing a pained 'ow' to come from the boy.

"Oh my god it's a damn chair. Hyde take your chair back." You stand up and move to the floor, arms crossed over your chest. Of course, the guys don't miss the pink flush to your cheeks.

"Nah, I'm good right here." Hyde replies shortly, taking a drink of his beer. As you and Hyde have a staring contest between you and the empty chair, the group is looking at you two like animals in a zoo.

"And here we have the female lioness, asserting her dominance as the male tries to feign attraction." Eric speaks, in a somewhat terrible accent.

"You know what, I'm going to spend time with someone who appreciates my presents and my presence." You smile as you stand up, grabbing the only item left in the grocery bag.

"Oh Mrs. Formannnn~" You yell, running up the stairs. A silence cuts through the basement as everyone stares at Hyde.

"You guys are morons." Hyde sighs, going back to his spot.

"You totally like her!" Jackie yells, a smile on her face.

"Whatever." He leans back, drinking his beer.

"Oh (Y/n) marry me and have my babies!" Fez says as Kelso pretends to kiss someone. Hyde gets up and punches them both in the shoulder before heading to his room. Once Donna hears his bedroom door close, she looks at everyone remaining in frustration.

"If you guys don't stop teasing those two, they will never get together! I mean come on we've seen this coming for a year now." Eric furrows his brows at the girl, confused.

"Wait, you knew they liked each other for a year and didn't tell me?"

"Eric, they've never admitted it. It's just obvious." Fez states, finishing the last of that big bag.

"Actually, we finally got (Y/n) to admit to it kind of. She tried to say it's not a crush yet."

"Well can't we just tell Hyde she likes him so he makes a move?" Kelso scoffs at Eric, making Eric slowly look at the dummy.

"Of course not!"

"That's not a bad idea, but we can't just tell him. After that, we have to figure out a way to get them alone together." Donna adds, trying to figure out how they can execute this plan.

You were currently driving to the Forman's to pick the girls up for a nice dinner which Jackie weirdly offered to pay for. Apparently Donna's parents have been at it again, so she needs an escape. As you park and get out you realize Forman isn't home. You go through the basement door rather loudly.

"Where's my girls?" You call out, waiting for a response. When there was none, you look around confused on their absence. You plop yourself on the couch assuming maybe they're late.

"What are you doing here?" You jump before turning around and seeing the curly headed boy you've grown accustomed to.

"Donna and Jackie were supposed to meet me here to go get dinner but I guess they're late. Or forgot?" You huff, crossing your arms across your chest.

"So that's why you're all dressed up." He decides to turn the tv on before sitting in his chair. You realize a slight shift in his energy as he stares off into the tv, not paying any attention to the show.

"You okay?" He glances over at you before looking back at screen, sighing.

"Yep. Wanna smoke?" You nod and move closer to the arm of the couch. Before long he's back to his usual self, albeit still quiet.

"I can't believe they had me wear a skirt just to not show up for our plans." You huff, leaning on the arm of the couch closer to him.

"Well you look good, we don't see you in skirts a lot." He opens the beer can he got from his hiding spot and took a sip. You feel the heat rise to your face and suddenly you can't stop staring at him.

"Thanks I guess, I usually have to be careful with what I wear around the two pervs. Ever since Kelso got a peek under my homecoming dress freshmen year, I said no short skirts ever again. And thank god Fez doesn't know where I live." He chuckles at that last part giving a nod in agreement.

"I don't think I've been to your place either." He states, looking back at you.

"I mean the only pro is smoking in my room, but that's because it's the attic. You'll have to come over sometime."

"Guess I do." Your eyes drift to his lips and you feel his hand lightly hold your knee.

"I think I want to kiss you." Hyde finally admits, rubbing circles into your knee.

"I think I want you to." He leans in as you close your eyes, feeling him press his lips to yours. You slowly move in sync, trying to lean in closer. His tongue glides against your lips and you part your lips, a sigh escaping you. His hand moves to the side of your neck, tilting your head up as he stands to move next to you on the couch. He pulls away, both of you slightly out of breath.

"Is this okay?" He whispers, you nod in response due to your words failing you. This time you lean in, bringing him into a passionate and deep kiss. He leans you back on the couch as he kisses down your jaw to your neck. A small moan escapes your lips when he lightly bites at the place your shoulder and neck meet, his hand lightly rubbing your exposed waist.

“Steven honey, dinner is ready!” You both quickly pull away from each other, praying she doesn’t come downstairs. Your breathing is jagged as you fix your skirt.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Hyde speaks up, looking at you with a smirk.

“Y-yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kisses you one last time, knocking the wind out of you before heading upstairs. As if right on cue, Donna and Jackie come through the basement door.

“Hey, you ready for dinner?” Donna asks, both trying to hide the smiles on their faces.

“Where have you two been!? I’ve been waiting an hour.” They both smile at you, a knowing look on their faces.

“Oh shoot, we must have given you the wrong time! Well doesn’t matter, looks like you had fun.” As Jackie giggles to herself Donna sits next to you, wondering how you’re blushing even more.

“What are you t-talking about? I’ve just been sitting here.”

“Mhm, and what’s that on your neck?” Jackie grills, making your eyes widen. Your focus shifting between the two girls, staring at their smiling faces. A sigh of defeat leaves you.

“Damn I’m not getting out of this huh?” They drag you off the couch, heading out the door to finally get dinner.

The next day as you stood on the driveway of the Forman’s house you grew nervous to enter. Unfortunately your new buddy on your neck was barely budging with makeup, so the boys are going to see it. Deciding you’d rather not run into Kitty or Red, you head towards the basement door. As you enter, you quickly dart to the couch with a wave. You look up and see just Donna and Eric next to you, his eyes wide.

“Hey uh (Y/n), what’s going on?” His eyes dart between your neck and eyes, trying hard not to stare.

“Not much, I slept in thanks to that dinner last night. That food was crazy.” You look at Donna, reminiscing on crème brulée and crab Rangoon.

“N-not much, cool cool. Hey what’s on your neck there?” The smile on his face is slappable as you smile back.

“What’s it look like?” You test him, waiting for him to crack.

“It looks like a hickey, now who would be giving you a hickey?” He taps his finger against his chin before pointing at you.

“Could it be our very own Hyde?” Your eyes widen slightly before you instantly go back to your smile, this time leaning in a little to meet his face in front of Donna.

“Why don’t you ask him?” You push his forehead away from you hard, earning a groan from the skinny boy.

“You guys act like siblings more than Eric and Laurie.” Donna laughs, pulling her boyfriend back down on the couch before he could go ask Hyde. Like clockwork, Hyde comes downstairs, sodas in hand.

“I don’t know why I had to go get these.” He huffs, putting them on the table before realizing you’re here. He sits down on his chair, staring at you before giving a nod. You smile at him, leaning on the arm of the chair.

What you don’t see is Forman’s shit-eating grin because he was definitely right. Before he can say so however, Kelso and Jackie are barging in already arguing. It doesn’t take long for it to stop when Kelso sees you.

“Oh man Hyde that’s gotta burn!” He laughs, Jackie stepping on his foot.

“Kelso, shut up.” Hyde tries to keep his smirk down, but it slips easily.

“Come on just a few days ago you were offering her your chair and now she comes here with a hickey!” You’re bright red at this point, begging anyone with your eyes to get him to shut up.

“Kelso think about that very slowly. The day with the chair, remember anything else that happened? Like maybe yesterday?” Donna speaks like he’s a preschooler, which kind of works. You watch the wheels turn in his head, gears shifting as he looks between everyone before gasping.

“Oh my god, they’re doing it!” Kelso jumps earning a slap on the shoulder from Jackie.

“Kelso, we’re not doing it.” Hyde huffs, annoyed with all his friends.

“…yet.” You mumble, only Donna and Hyde hearing you.

“What so-“

“Kelso shut the hell up and sit down.” He sighs and sits on the arm of the couch closest to the chair Jackie is in.

“Where’s Fezzy boy?” You ask, not feeling the usual feeling of him staring.

“He should be here soon, something about his foster parents trying to get him baptized.” Eric speaks up, clearly amused. You giggle a little at the thought before resting your head in your hand propped on the couch arm.

“You okay?” Donna asks, getting Hyde’s attention. She rubs your shoulder a little for comfort as your head sinks into your hand.

“Just tired, you think Kitty would let me go sleep in Laurie’s room since she’s ‘scouting schools with a girlfriend’ or will Red stop her?” You smile lazily at Donna, earning a laugh from her.

“With that hickey, I think she’d stop you for questioning first.” You sigh and sit up straight, trying to wake up a little.

“Maybe circle time will wake you up.” Eric interjects, shaking a brown baggie.

“Dude, anyone tell you you have bug eyes?” You giggle and poke at Eric’s face.

“And she’s awake!” He grabs your finger and puts it down, chuckling at you.

“You know, I never saw you as a hickey girl (Y/n), thought you must’ve been a prude if you didn’t want me.” Both Hyde and Jackie punch either arm, causing Kelso to jerk back in his chair.

“You started the circle without me!?” Fez sits on the floor in front of you, pouting slightly.

“Sorry man, she was totally about to fall asleep.” Donna says, braiding a small section of your hair. You giggle and pat the boy in front of you’s head.

“(Y/n) come here.” Hyde says in a low tone, everyone else talking amongst themselves. You lean in closer to hear him.

“What’s up?” You try to look at his eyes through the sunglasses with no luck.

“Why don’t you come sit with me? Just so no one’s on the floor you know?” You blush as you look at him.

“A-are you sure?” He nods and you stand, tapping Fez to take your spot. Once he sits on the couch, you sit on the edge of Hyde’s lap. Soon, he’s pulling you into him, keeping an arm around your waist while the other lays on your knee. Your friends all stare but say nothing, not wanting to scare you off like last time. It would be hard though when all you can concentrate on is the feeling of his warm skin on yours and his breath fanning your neck.

“When did this happen?” Fez asks, mostly excited but slightly sad as well.

“Last night.” Hyde responds, causing a blush on your face as you look around the room for reactions.

“We’ll still have our weekly dinners, right (N/n)?” The boy on the couch asks you, making you rub his shoulder and smile.

“You mean us going to the candy store and spending way too much just to eat it all in one night? Yes fez, I’m not abandoning our sugar addiction.” He pumps his fist and is all smiles now.

“I didn’t know you and Fez were close?” Hyde asks you, rubbing your knee.

“Yeah, gotta make sure you boys aren’t tainting him. Specifically Kelso.” He nods and leaves a peck on your cheek.

“Okay I know we planned this but did we think about us having to be around it?” Jackie asks, huffing as kelso laughs.

“Jackie how many times have one of us walked in on you and Michael smacking on the couch?” You say, shuddering slightly at the memory.

“She’s got you there babe.” Kelso smiles at her before she slaps his shoulder.

“What so are you guys official? Or just messing around?” Donna asks, before realizing this conversation is missing something.

“You know what you come with me.” Donna points at you and ushers you both up the stairs.

“Donna why did we need to go upstairs for this?”

“Is that my favorite daughter?" you hear kitty in the other room and your eyes go wide. As you’re lead to the kitchen, kitty looks at you and instantly her smile is wider and she’s clapping and laughing.

“Finally you two happened! I’m assuming the plan worked?” Kitty asks Donna, receiving a nod from the redhead.

“Wait you had Mrs. kitty help you?”

“Just had her call Hyde up so we could be alone with you for the interrogation.” You all three sit at the dining table, kitty putting out cookies that you gladly take.

“So, are you two official?” Kitty asks, pushing the cookies closer to you.

“I mean I guess not? We didn’t talk about it. We were just watching tv while I waited for the girls, and he said he wanted to kiss me.” You take another cookie.

“But he’s practically all over you. At least as much as Hyde can be.” Donna says, looking at Kitty.

“He told her to share his chair so Fez could sit on the couch instead of the floor.” Kitty gasps and claps in excitement again.

“Honey he is smitten, he never cares about the boys’ comfort.” You think about it before the pink comes back to your face again today. If you keep blushing it may end up permanent.

“I mean I know he’s not good at talking about feelings, so I don’t wanna ask. I’d rather just let it happen.” You grab a third cookie before standing up, ready to head back downstairs.

Little did you know, Jackie was leading the interrogation downstairs, knowing the boys would mess it up somehow.

“So Hyde, are you gonna ask her out or what?” She asks, the boys looking between her and Hyde.

“I don’t know man.” He shrugs, causing Jackie to stand up.

“Well you gotta figure it out. If you actually like her you have to ask her. I know Michael and Eric told you how (Y/n) feels and I may not like her but she’s better company than you and I don’t want her all sad when we’re supposed to be talking about me!”

“She doesn’t seem sad to me.” You walk down the stairs, cookie still in hand.

“I’m back!” You move to sit with Hyde again, ignoring the empty spot Donna was in.

“Wait there’s cookies?” Fez and Kelso instantly stand up, dragging Jackie and Eric with them.

“Man they’re annoying.” Hyde sighs, stealing a pinch of cookie.

“Yep, we have pretty annoying friends. And family, apparently Kitty was in on it.” You look at him, leaning his head back over the chair. He looks back up at you and draws circles into your waist.

“Oh well, wanna go to the hub?” The look in his eyes is a tad newer, slight worry and suddenly you realize he’s asking you out.

“Little cliche but I’ll let it slide. Come on.” You stand from his lap and lean down to give him a kiss as you pull him up. The smile on your face says everything as he wraps his arm around you and lead you to the door.

[yuesya]

I wonder if in the twins au that geto can sense if Shiki's piloting the body, or even if she's not. Would those two ever trust him enough to tell him?

Is that Satoru?

Suguru's footsteps falter and stutter to a stop in the middle of the street. The distinctive color of his classmate's stark white hair stands out easily against the sea of darker hair colors, particularly in the evening lighting. Somehow, he finds himself automatically turning to chase after the other boy without any real reason for it.

... Well, no, there is a reason. It's late, and while Suguru was returning from a lengthy mission. Satoru, on the other hand, has no such excuse. What's he doing out so late? Isn't he concerned about missing curfew? ... Granted, it was a rather loose curfew that was rarely enforced by the teachers, but considering how they'd just riled up Yaga-sensei the other day, Suguru would really rather not risk it.

"Satoru!"

Of course he's ignored, ugh. Suguru quickens his pace and runs a few steps, turning the corner-

Satoru is gone.

... What?

When he confronts his classmate about it the next morning, Satoru immediately laughs at him and teases Suguru about missing him so much that he's seeing him everywhere. Suguru rolls his eyes and cuffs his irritating fellow first year upside the head, but doesn't think too much about it. Maybe he was right. Maybe Suguru had just been tired-

But when similar occurrences arise on multiple other instances throughout the school year, it's clear that there's something wrong.

Eventually, Suguru manages to catch Satoru on one of his nightly outings. He slides in next to the other boy where he's sitting at a ramen booth, disgruntled.

"You know, you could've just told me you wanted some time to yourself or something, instead of gaslighting me into thinking that I was going crazy by imagining you where you're not supposed to be."

Surprisingly, Satoru doesn't respond the way he usually would. Instead of turning towards Suguru with an unrepentant retort or some other infuriating response, Satoru tilts his head as he turns towards him and-

Suguru blinks. Is it just the dim lighting here, or are Satoru's eyes a little darker than usual?

"Hello, Suguru."

Instantly, he's put on guard. Cursed energy coils beneath his fingertips, and he narrows his eyes, "You're not Satoru."

Fuck. Fuck. Suguru knows he'd followed Satoru out from the school grounds, and he knows that he hadn't lost track of his classmate, so the person sitting in front of him could only be Gojo Satoru -except he wasn't, and that realization felt like an entire bucket of ice-water being upended over his head, with Suguru struggling to keep calm through his horror.

What in the world was going on?

"I'm not, no," 'Satoru' agrees, setting his chopsticks down to the side. "My name is Gojo Shiki. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Geto Suguru."

It's only the fact that they're sitting in a busy area filled with innocent passerby and the distinct lack of hostile intent that prevents Suguru from summoning a cursed spirit or two in order to-

-wait just a fucking minute.

'Gojo?'

Suguru frowns. As outlandish as it sounded... did Satoru have an alternate personality, or something? Furthermore, using the personal pronoun 'atashi' rather than Satoru's typical 'ore'... indicated that this was a female personality, which added another level of unreal to it all.

Was this anything similar to a sort of, 'Jekyll and Hyde' situation? ... So did that make Satoru 'Jekyll' or 'Hyde?'

Wait, no, that wasn't really relevant right now.

"What happened to Satoru?" he demands.

Satoru -or rather, Shiki- smiles, and it's such a bizarre feeling to see Satoru's face smiling like that, small and secretive like there's some inside joke that Suguru doesn't know about.

"Toru-nii is asleep," she says. "He'll be back in the morning, don't worry."

That eases his worries slightly, but Suguru knows that he won't be able to rest easy until he sees that for himself with his own eyes the following day. "And... what are you? Why is Satoru- how did you- when-?"

Somehow, 'Shiki' is able to parse through Suguru's incoherent confusion, a skill that he'd previously only attributed to Satoru. "I am 'Gojo Shiki.' The Gojo Clan's taboo. Toru-nii is my brother, and we've coexisted with each other in this state for sixteen years."

Since birth? "How has no one ever noticed?"

Another twitch of the lips into a small smile; this one decidedly sharper than the first. "Don't you know? Two can keep a secret if one is dead."

Suguru tenses. Shiki laughs, in a voice that's undoubtedly Satoru's but also so clearly isn't.

"You're cute," she giggles. "Oh, I bet you'd make the most beautiful screams if I killed you... but then Toru-nii would be cross with me. Such a pity. Want to share some ramen?"

"..." Talking with Shiki makes Suguru feels like he's getting whiplash. He has so many questions. When he gets ahold of Satoru again, he's definitely going to shake the other boy down for some proper answers, goddamnit. Why had he never told Suguru about something as important as this? What the hell??

"Ramen, Suguru?"

"... Sure."

[danieyells]

I'm the anon who asked for the Taiga lines, thank you so much for sharing!

I did not have much thoughts on Taiga before, other than him being surprisingly chill despite being a lil freaky but omg seeing his max affinity line along with his line on the ditched future.... the angst is unmatched.

You're stuck with him till death do us part? Whether you like it or not? Especially in a time loop situation, imagine that either of them have a high likelihood of dying within the year. One or both of them have tried to fix it, to no avail. Maybe they were a thing in one of the loops but only Taiga (vaguely) remembers it and that would make the max affinity line extra bittersweet because he's only succeeded at freaking out MC in the current timeline lol.

Maybe Taiga was invested in saving (everyone? himself? mc?) before but no matter what he does nothing changes? iirc he was an exemplary student going on a ton of missions to find anomalies, maybe he thought one of the random anomalies out there had something to do with their situation? But at some point between then and now he stopped giving a shit.

Also I find it interesting how the ghouls are constantly destroying anomalies instead of capturing them. It could be that they just don't give 2 fucks but also can't help but wonder if maybe the older ghouls have some kinda truce like don't bring back any anomalies if you can help it, nothing good can happen by giving the academy/institute more info on these things (bc at the very least Leo in the prologue implies the people up top are responsible for whatever messed up situation they were in, and he's the most likely person to uncover a conspiracy with his skillset + Jin and Tohma want to dethrone his dad as director or whatever his position was, possibly also found out smth behind the scenes)

It's all just speculation but god they are so good a pulling me around by the nose with this mystery when I had 0 expectations of this game (I mean, it still kinda sucks gameplay-wise but the story is so good)

Can't wait for new chapter soon, tho rn I am in gacha hell with wuwa, 18trip and gakuenmas.......

Thank you for being patient about them! I love Taiga so much hahaha

Yeah, the potential is there for this to be something big and for Taiga to be heavily involved in it, or at least the person who's most aware of it so far(Jin's "i know this won't last forever" line also kind of carries the implication that he knows but that has many other explanations.) It would probably be more angst-heavy if his memory weren't garbage lmaooooo THEN AGAIN maybe he'll remember you forever now that he loves you as much as he does haha. He definitely didn't remember you before this, or he didn't show any sign of remembering, so if he knew you in another timeline or you were together in another timeline i suspect he forgot, just like with everything.

As for dying, the PC is going to die within the next year if their curse isn't lifted and the prologue shows that someone else dies in the destruction of the school with the pc still alive(so either before the year is up or after the curse is lifted). So they both definitely have the potential to die in that period of time, if nothing is done to change the future. . ."if death do us part" is something Taiga very well might know will happen eventually. In fact, if his stigma actually does allow him to see the future like I'm beginning to suspect, he might know that that's what going to happen. I mean everybody dies eventually but I mean outside of a natural death.

From what Hyde says(I checked both Japanese and English) Taiga used to play more of an active part in the past, so yeah it seems like he's lost some of his enthusiasm. . .although it's very likely he's referring to that Sinostra's on probation and he can't go on missions at all right now, considering just a few months prior he was on a mission and seemed plenty enthusiastic. But as far as operating as captain goes(he's only been captain for around 6 months as of the start of the Sinostra chapter) it seems like he doesn't put any effort in. . .according to Romeo he only cares about anomalies and gambling, but if that were true he wouldn't care to tell you about the spy because he wouldn't even know. (Romeo also says he doesn't go after humans anymore which is. . .not true, so Romeo may just be blissfully unaware since their relationship is so bad these days.)

It'd make sense if this lack of enthusiasm arose from seeing an unfavorable future and thinking it isn't worth it to try at this point. He does say he's been telling someone(likely Romeo) that things will fall apart if they keep going the way they have been but since that person's been uncooperative with making changes he doesn't see a way things will change. . . .so why should he put in work? I assume he can see the future, not travel through it--hence 'ditch this future' he's simply refusing to play any part in impacting it. Even when he jumps from the ledge in the prologue if you choose to save him, he asks what he could have done to change things. I wonder how long he's been trying.

he doesn't even talk the same was he normally does, so you know it's kinda serious. He would love to know how to prevent this.

As for ghouls destroying anomalies, I think it's a matter of safety in the situation as well as a general lack of powers that can actually capture the anomalies. Most of them have weapons with destructive powers and stigmas that are destructive. But in almost every case capture wasn't much of an option due to safety concerns.

Frostheim had human children present. Jin's stigma only seems to work for a few minutes at best even with the PC buffing him. They didn't have a means to keep the anomaly contained and keep the children safe, not to mention the last living one was about to kill the PC and one of the kids. Like Kaito said, in a situation dealing with monsters it's hard to think to incapacitate and capture them, especially when someone else's life is at stake. To ensure their survival and minimize damage to civilians, the anomalies needed to be killed.

Vagastrom's anomaly was a tulpa and couldn't be captured in the first place. If people kept believing in it it would just reappear elsewhere. People no longer believing in it took it out of existence. No room at all for containment.

Jabberwock. . .well, they know Towa's unstable. Princess Oto severely injured Haru, and Towa wasn't going to let it get away with that. The Kraken and Calamari were allowed to escape because capturing them would do more harm to the ecosystem than good.

Sinostra had to destroy it theirs to prevent the destruction of the casino and prevent harm coming to the general students, Romeo, and the PC. Also Taiga's just a killing machine so--

Hotarubi. . .I kind of think I know what happens with them thanks to spoilers and one of Subaru's voicelines, but I won't spoil it.

If Obscuary doesn't accidentally kill their anomaly because it touches Rui I will be disappointed /joke

I feel like Mortkranken are going to successfully capture their anomaly simply because Yuri wants to run experiments on it. but it does depend on what their Stigmas are. We know that Jiro's chainsaw doesn't actually cut very well(Yuri told him to get them a Christmas tree and he said that his weapon doesn't cut stuff very well) and we also know that Jiro does all of the fighting in Mortkranken, whereas Yuri is ineffective in combat. They have the highest chance of capturing anomalies I think.

so like. I think that ultimately in those situations it was kind of the safest option for everyone present, killing the anomalies. Cornelius acts like 'just capture the anomalies it's easy!' but these are life or death situations. There were so many in Frostheim's case that they had to collapse a building to reduce the risk of them getting back out to the public. On the other hand, Jin probably could have teleported at least one of them back to Darkwick before they collapsed the building or instead of them killing one, but in the heat of the moment that probably doesn't occur to him as an option--also he probably wanted to make sure the pc was okay since he'd never be able to use his stigma again if she died, so going back in there to pull one of them out wasn't going to happen. Also he may or may not be rebelling against his dad, president of the Japanese branch of the Institution.

So I doubt it's something like an agreement between the third-years. I feel like it's just coincidence.

As for what Leo says in the pre-prologue, by then he would definitely be in on the situation simply because he's paying more attention than others and Alan is about as subtle as a firework no matter how hard Tohma tries to keep things secret. But maybe he gets roped in instead, since his power would be beneficial--they just have to make sure they can trust him first. . . . He does say that someone is responsible, but I think he means that regarding that life sucks, not the catastrophe occurring? Although that very well might be referring to the people at the top of the Institute too. . .on the other hand I would assume it's referring to whoever the spy is working with, and the Institute themselves aren't bad people(although Jin's dad sounds kinda like a piece of shit.) That or the Institute is the problem, or the prophecy somehow. . .if I could see the Japanese text I could see if there's a difference lol. . . .

Jin is going to inherit the position of president I'm pretty sure. I don't think that's a matter of usurping or anything like that where "Jin becomes the new president" is like, they take down Jin's father first. Like I'm pretty sure this is a familial inheritance thing--I feel like it's a "you're the eldest son so you're expected to take on the position of running the company" deal. You see it all the time in manga with office/business settings. Even Haku is supposed to take over the shrine his family owns. I don't think Jin and Tohma are dethroning Jin's father, it's just a matter of 'we need to prepare you to be in power here, you need to learn to be responsible and better than your father so you can do better than he does.'

BUT. YEAH. A LOT OF THEORIZING AND STUFF but I'm definitely surprised by how into it I ended up getting haha. My hyperfocus said "yeah I fuck with this" and now I'm stuck here. I don't really remember the abandoned concept they originally had(afair I was more unique than the current one, which is trying to stay in line with what's popular with the industry right now) but I really still would've loved to see it. . .but I'm still enjoying the current result and looking forward to the new chapters. (One week away for Hotarubi!!! Home stretch, just gotta survive one more week of work!) I feel like it's much less of a mystery as more. . .slowly growing suspense haha like it feels like a mystery because of the investigation we do as fandom, but the story itself is gonna reveal everything eventually. . .probably. So it's just anticipation on our parts hahaha. (And yeah the gameplay elements are uh nonexistent haha. Pretty sure the only reason I'm able to keep up with the chapters is because I spent money. 🙃)

Good luck with your other gacha games tho!! Fortunately the only other gachas I play I've got pretty good units for so I'm not so worried about what pulls I do or don't get. . . . I hope all of your future pulls are what you need them to be!!!

[fanficonly]

Wenclair "Mine" - Chapter 12

"I'm sorry" was all she said for the millionth time

As if her feelings were controllable. As if she got to choose who her Mate was meant to be. As if any of this was her fault.

"Why are you sorry?" Wednesday absent-mindedly stroked Enid's hair while asking the question. Neither one of them had found the strength to leave each others grasp so instead they remained neatly placed in the middle of the floor embracing one another.

"B-because I-" she stuttered again.

"Are you afraid of me?" She moved her head to look down at the blonde haired girl.

"No" Enid pulled away from Wednesday looking at her offended at the insinuation.

"Then why are you sorry? why are you acting like this? It's making me feel concerned for you. I'm in unfamiliar territory Enid my only defense is to question you relentlessly and you understand I will do it" Wednesday explained her actions further. She had never been so openly honest with the werewolf girl before nor had she ever felt so ok with thier current position. She just wanted her to be ok.

"Because I hurt you I'm not allowed to hurt you" Enid's lip quivered as she spoke, tears threatening her eye once again. She stood up leaving Wednesday still sat on the floor illuminated by the colourful lights of Enid's window.

"Why not? If you're not fearful of losing your life from harming me then why are you so scared?" Wednesday was pushing for the fear angle. It's all she had ever known from the people around her. If it wasn't her family and their unconditional love it was everyone else who naturally feared her.

She stood up and moved towards Enid who was staring out of the window facing away from the girl in shame

"I know you won't hurt me" Enid said, very sure of this but she remained hugging herself for comfort occasionally gripping at the material of other jumper sleeve.

"Bold of you to assume that" Wednesday retorted, speaking to the back of Enid. She was still a little on edge with how nice she was being to her bestfriend. Again... It was unfamiliar territory for Wednesday but nevertheless she pushed forward. She had to make sure Enid was ok and that they were ok with each other.

Enid seemed distracted, trying to distance herself from the soon to be awkward conversation. Wednesday, having not received a reaction to her smart witted response spoke again "Did you not hear me? I said-" but her words were cut short when Enid whipped around quickly saying "I'm scared of losing you Wednesday" she blurted out unintentionally. It was a reaction to Wednesday's deflecting. Her bluntness and monotone expressions began to annoy Enid because she knew when it came to her Wednesday wasn't always like this. She had that soft spot for the blonde girl, she knew it and she wasn't ready to give it up so easily.

Wednesday again thought logically about the situation rather than allow her emotions to take presidency over the entire ordeal

"I highly doubt this miniscule injury will cause me to bleed out, Enid. I already survived a Hyde attack" Wednesday looked at her wound and smirked at the memory. Enid wasn't referring to the black haired girl losing her life just the inevitable fact that she would leave Enid upon realising the feelings she had for her were romantic not platonic.

"That's not what I meant" Enid mumbled.

"So I'm not dying, it will take more than a harmless unintentional scratch or even a near death experience with a Hyde" Wednesday assured her once again and this time Enid turned to her visibly upset

When she didn't speak Wednesday assured her once again "I survived Enid"

"Yes you did" Enid agreed, focusing on the part about Wednesday almost dying from an attack by that repulsive creature.

"Right after I went looking for you in the woods" Wednesday continued talking, oblivious to Enid's shameful expression, due to being lost in the memory of that night.

"Yes you did I'm sorry" she responded hoarsely. Was Wednesday going to get angry at her? Tell her everything she already knew? That it was her fault Wednesday was even out there at that time and if it wasn't for her she would be untouched by death's scythe.

"You also saved my life, Enid" Wednesday raised her eyebrows, after noticing her friend's solemn expression and took one step closer to the girl.

"Yeah I guess I did" her expression softened, a slight smile creeping its way onto her lips.

"Right after turning into a wolf for the first time" Wednesday continued recapping last night's events.

"Yes I did" she spoke quietly but proudly just listening to Wednesday. She also knew what the next part of the story was and tried to prepare herself for the inevitable.

"Enid?" She began to ask

"Please don't ask me Wednesday" knowing full well she was about to be questioned about what she had said to Wednesday after wolfing out. She opted for just pretending it didn't happen, hoping Wednesday would just let it go...

Wednesday took a second of silence contemplating how or even if she should say it out loud. But ultimately appealed to her will.

"Am I yours Enid?" Wednesday had moved to stand closer to Enid who wiggled nervously pulling at the sleeve of her sweater.

"W-what I - what do you mean" She gasped, not sure how to react to the way Wednesday had said it. She could have flat out just asked what it meant but instead she ... She did that?

"Am. I. yours." She paused after every word, not able to make it any clearer than this. Enid finally submitted looking down squeezing her eyes shut and then facing Wednesday... Now she was scared.

"Yes." She gulped visibly. Why lie? There was no point to it. Wednesday wasn't going to give over and Enid was now realising that either way she would lose her bestfriend. This was already causing a rift because her own stubbornness to tell the girl the truth and Wednesday inability to let things go. They would be at odds until it was out in the open. The truth. Because she knew Wednesday would not believe a lie.

"I know this may shock you but I don't subscribe to ownership of humans Enid" Wednesday really was ignoring everything she knew Enid was feeling. She had to be sure, 100% sure that she wasn't wrong.

"No no it's not like that I-" Enid stammered quickly.

"Then explain it to me Enid." She demanded "You had your first shift In front of me, I've never seen you so happy and that's saying something" she pointed out "The first thing you said to me was the word Mine" she stated fact " What does that mean Enid? You immediately panicked, you left, you haven't been the same since that moment and quite frankly it's causing me to become anguished." She said, becoming more frustrated with every step she recalled.

“I don’t mean for you to feel that way” Enid said apologetically once again, letting her face fall into her hands and pushing back her hair anxiously.

“ It’s annoying that I’m feeling anything at all Enid!” She interrupted the girl, accidentally raising her voice slightly “ It's a putrid impulse ”she quieted down irritated with her own invasive thoughts.

“This is exactly why I don’t want to tell you Wednesday” Enid explained and finally Wednesday understood. 

“ I understand” Wednesday assured the broken girl “What if I...” she swallowed back the acid in her throat and continued “ keep an open mind?” she asked. 

“ It wont make a difference" Enid scoffed.

“That’s pessimistic of you” Wednesday insulted.

“ Well let me be pessimistic for once” Enid shrugged

 ”No that’s my thing, you’re stealing my thing” Wednesday folded her arms like a child being told they weren't allowed the sweets in the shop, but her face remained still.

“Wednesday” she put her hands in her face frustrated again. She had never experienced so many emotions at once in such a broken cycle, she didn't even know what to feel anymore. 

“ Enid” She mirrored her counterpart 

“ I’m serious” she warned.

“Me too ”she warned back.

“As usual” Enid rolled her eyes.

"As opposed to what? Happy for no reason" Wednesday snarked back unintentionally.

“Wednesday” she sighed, knowing full well the raven haired girl was incapable of this whole open mind idea she had proposed.

“Enid” she mirrored again.

“ I can’t do this” she shook her head lightly. This was just another one of thier conversations that turned to arguments that neither one of them would ever admit fault to.

“ I can” Wednesday challenged.

“ You don’t want to” Enid warned her again. She wasn't ready for these feelings she knew it, look at how she was acting at the mere mention of it all.

“I assure you I do” She was met with Wednesday confident eyes.

“No” Enid said

“Yes” Wednesday opposed her once again.

“I swear to God” she lifted her arms in annoyance and let them fall to her legs with a small *slap* sound.

“You’re not religious” Wednesday reacted, tilting her head to the side.

“For Gods sake” Enid was getting really apted up now.

“ Again You’re not-” she was about to agitate the girl further but was interrupted by

“Wednesday!” she yelled, not even attempting to hide the fact that Wednesday was getting to her

“Enid” she smirked. Really what did people expect from her. To just lay down and accept this? No she was not ready to lose Enid to some stupid unexplained feeling.

“Wow” was all she said

“ Just tell me!” Wednesday raised her voice back.

“No”

“Say it!”

“No!”

“Mine!” she spat the words hoping to trigger something in Enid

“Mate!” Enid involuntarily growled back, her wolf ears and claws making a fully acceptable appearance as she lunged towards Wednesday. She knocked her back, now above her practically pinning her to the ground with hungry eyes.

“What?” Wednesday blinked.

“What?” Enid blinked, slowly becoming aware of what she had done. She started to move off of Wednesday, settling her animalistic impulses but was immediately stopped by the girl beneath her gripping elbow to hold her in place.

"Enid" for the first time ever Wednesday voice softened intentionally and she looked up at the girl with pleading eyes asking her to repeat herself.

“You’re... ” Enid hesitated “ You’re my Mate Wednesday" she stared down at Wednesday, taking in the last interaction she would ever have with her best friend "There I said it” she spoke pushing herself harshly off Wednesday, releasing herself from her grip. She stood up and walked across to her bed but not before stopping mid way to turn her head to the side and say “Happy?” finally accepting that it was over.

“Not ...usually” Wednesday admitted, sitting up from her current position. After actually hearing the words , hearing the girl admit it... she was dumbfounded. Of course she had her suspicions that Enid was hiding some kind of feelings towards her, she was doing the same after all. But her mate? Now Wednesday wasn't incredibly well versed in werewolf culture but she knew the connotations behind that word. This was far more serious than Wednesday had originally prepared herself for.

And because of this she suddenly felt this overwhelming sensation of guilt for basically forcing the girl to admit something that's probably been crushing her from the inside out.

She had to do something.

But in that moment nothing came to mind.

She panicked internally. Is this why she felt so much of that love thing everyone talked about towards Enid? Is that why she was the only person she had ever shared intimate thoughts with? Enid had seen her exposed mind, body and now soul. Was the reason she allowed all of this to happen because they were meant to be together.

But who decides your fate? Wednesday always felt separate from those at the mercy of their impulses,delusions of love and weakness. But somehow finding out that the bright, bubbly,curly haired blonde werewolf room mate she had reluctantly allowed herself to feel for was meant to be romantically involved with her, helped slide all the pieces of this neverending puzzle into place.

The question was ... What does she do about?

[quilna]

Hello! I'm the scar anon from before. I found your response to be quite enjoyable! Thank you for your input and for showing your unique view on my question, it was very enjoyable to read. I also appreciate the effort you put into writing so much, it was quite a welcome surprise to see.

I am here to ask another question! I am utmost curious to see what your view on body swapping is, more specifically body-swapping within the tgs version of jekyll and hyde. Not just jekyll and hyde swapping but jekyll and hyde body swapping with somebody else. I have seen a few fan-fictions, even a more recent one posted today which i definitely suggest others reading this post to check out, and I see many posts on this topic so I do know it isn't a less popular one than the discussion of shared scars but i still wanted to see your opinion on the matter. Personally I quite like the head-canon that when jekyll and hyde body swap with somebody else they swap over mentally but not physically. Meaning they still have the two minds but instead just have one body and the person they swapped with has the two bodies, being jekyll and hydes bodies, and one mind. I don't think it's something i've ever seen done before which is a bit sad, but i suppose they say if you want something done you should do it yourself so perhaps one day i shall write something on the subject.

Getting off-topic here, my bad. Back to the main subject of this question, I ask what your personal preference and overall view on body swap aus is?

Hello again! I'm glad my response last time was good enough! :D

Ah! Body swapping! I love that trope a lot in TGS for the unique takes you can get on it! I've seen it a few times and every time has been different and I can't wait to see what @aliens-took-my-iwa-chan's current fic (Called "That was NOT an aspirin" *cough cough for anyone who's interested in reading it*) on AO3 chooses to do! And Alien's fics have always been bangers in the past so it's certain to be good!

Your idea is very cool! Whoever swaps with them would certainly have a strange time with having two bodies suddenly! I wonder if they would change mentally at all between the two bodies - either just because of the adrenaline that Hyde's body comes with or just because of the freedom to do anything that Hyde's reputation offers?

And I wonder what it would be like for Jekyll and Hyde to be smooshed together into a single body? Would they switch mentally between each other or would it be more like an awkward mental fusion? If you do ever write that, I would love to read it, I would be very interested to see how that ends up working and what it's like for everyone involved!!!

Besides Alien's fic, there's also @perception-of-deception's Hyde and Seek au as seen in posts here

https://www.tumblr.com/perception-of-deception/661585820002713600/hyde-and-seek-au-while-lanyon-is-wrestling-hyde?source=share

and here

https://www.tumblr.com/perception-of-deception/661595109767495680/well-quilna-yes-robert-seeing-henry-would-call?source=share

which is an incredibly fun concept where Lanyon specifically body swaps with Hyde. Not specifically the body but literally Hyde's place in Jekyll's mind which is a very fun idea indeed because Lanyon's now the ghostly voice haunting Jekyll. It's a good demonstration of how unique you can get with body swaps in TGS given that there's two physical bodies but three people. Any body swap that makes use of that fact is always an instant favourite for me.

In a less public place, an RP I'm in with the wonderful @mediaeoflycan has been planning a sort-of body swap (more like mind swap) arc for a while now where Hyde gets swapped to Lanyon's head but, because he's Jekyll's internal bad thoughts and all that, he switches personalities a bit to become Lanyon's internal voice instead. His mockeries start to hit a little closer to Lanyon's insecurities instead of Jekyll's. Meanwhile, Jekyll who is lacking a whole half of himself, ends up a lot more numb and empty until the problem can be fixed.

One can also have a body swap where Jekyll swaps bodies with someone but Hyde stays with the body, meaning the other person now gets Hyde's voice in their head (probably much to their bewilderment and terror) and Jekyll gets his freedom for a while. Jekyll will definitely need to explain to the other person why they're now hallucinating Hyde (and probably a dozen other horrifying monsters too), why they're suddenly so sleep deprived, and maybe why Hyde can take over their body sometimes or, worse, literally make them change shape into Hyde himself.

Speaking of shapeshifting, I've seen people question several times what a transformation might look like if people swap bodies and whether it would be different at all or not. For example, if Hyde is in someone else's body, would they have a full transformation or some sort of half transformation where they get blonde curls and green eyes? Or would they get a completely new transformation to reflect their own 'inner evil'?

Anyway, for personal preferences, as I said, I love anything that makes use of the three minds so body swaps where someone else either lands as unhappy roommates with Hyde or where that person ends up becoming the ghostly figure in either Jekyll or Hyde's head. Besides making use of the medium very well, I just love imagining the reaction of that person when they find that their body swap has come with bonus unwanted side effects and the reaction from Jekyll when he realises that someone else is in the middle of experiencing his deepest darkest secret in full high definition. No lying your way out of that one.

[bindi-the-skunk]

More rambling from me about Jekyll and Hyde

Part of the reason I think it is so easy to woobify Jekyll well the other literature classic monsters usually get a good amount of bashing is body count (don't get me wrong there are at least two examples of evil!Jekyll (Penny dreadful and Once upon a time) but no one really talks about Jekyll and Hyde from those series so ....and I thought both where pretty bland and did nothing for the characters but that is for a later date...)

Jekyll gets ONE murder victim, Carew and one girl (who was not named and was stated to have not been hurt, only frightened) And the fact Jekyll was under the influence of a drug when he did both crimes, not an excuse, but something to at least note ) these characters are just a means to an end in the story, we only care about them as far as their respective chapter, we only care as far as "murder is bad" and "walking on a child like their a WELCOME mat is bad"

They are faceless, Utterson cares about Jekyll, so we learn to care for him too, in the end Jekyll is a drug addict who kills himself, both are reasons to also feel sorry for him, we are given just enough about him to build him up in our mind, so when we find out he did bad things, it is ultimately in the back of our heads and the fact he did TRY and quit the potion cold turkey does prove he is not a complete monster and did want to at least try and quit before it all crashed around him.

Dorian Gray caused several young women to be ruined and caused an unnamed guard boy to kill himself (back of the mind atrocities sort of like Carew and the girl, we know it is bad, but we don't KNOW them)

But we do get to see Dorian's fall from grace, we see his mind twist, the book is mostly from HIS point of view, we see him think his picture should go back to being perfect just because he THOUGHT about being good, he sold his soul for something as meaningless as beauty.

We see poor Sybil vane kill herself because of him after being cruelly rejected by Dorian, we empathize with her brother, wanting to avenge his sister's death and knowing he was so close to it, we know Dorian cried tears of JOY hearing about his death, and we know he, in his right mind, no drugs or anything, murdered his best friend Basil who we have grown to love.

Frankenstein refused time and time again to take responsibility for his actions and it led to the death of at least four people, he left his newborn creation to die (already not scoring PO points ) then refused to speak up at Justine's trial leading to her being HUNG (a pretty nasty way to die mind you and the poor girl was SIXTEEN when she was hung, and this was old time shit so she most likely suffocated to death from the noose since she would have been light (which could take over twenty minutes of her kicking and struggling for air) over a broken neck ) when just saying he had a fight with a large man who vowed revenge would have done wonders for her ) his little brother William (death of a child pity points) Henry Clerval and finally Elizabeth, both of which we learn of and grow to look at affectionately

And throughout all this, all Victor can do is bellyache how bad HIS life is (and the fact he thought "I will be with you on your wedding night" meant the monster would come to kill HIM did not win him any intelligence points either...)

But what do you think? What makes Jekyll the go-to for the lovable but flawed scientist? What put him a cut above the rest as far as being loved by so many of us? He is the main character of no less than three webcomics I'm watching and a secondary character in another (and my friend plans on drawing her own comic one day as well) Why is making the others evil not much of a consequence, but Jekyll being evil always seems to fall flat?

[power-chords]

I love my little brother so much and I would literally die for him but he was being such a brat this weekend. I'm grateful we have the kind of relationship where I can tell him he's being a brat and 24-48 hours later he will calm down and text or call me to be like, "Sorry for being a brat!" But he's the type of kid — yes I know he's 28 but he's my kid brother — where if one thing is going wrong in his life, everything is going wrong, and he sublimates guilt and anxiety into anger and cannot control the blast radius of his anger (wonder where he got THAT from lmao).

He is having a crisis because he just started a new job and doesn't feel emotionally prepared for an upcoming visit from our parents, and he wants to call it off and/or curtail it significantly — ENTIRELY reasonable in and of itself. But instead of just doing that, he's lashing out at them because he feels guilty about possibly disappointing them, and because instead of reading his mind they are experiencing the normal parental urge of wanting to see their kid, and now he has to set his own boundaries and be responsible for his own discomfort about doing that. So I spent an hour on the phone explaining to him why that part is a You Problem, Actually, and he needs to knock it off. It would be one thing if our parents were being hostile about it but they are both being incredibly sane and gracious. Like, "Oh, we get it, obviously we're bummed out if we don't get to see you, but we understand and we'll figure something else out for when shit calms down."

I'm trying to be sympathetic because I get stuck in my own head, too, and he's under a lot of circumstantial job stress and mental health stress. And it's important for me to remember that he has not repaired his relationship with our father the way that I have, so the prospect of dealing with any moods should they arise is A Lot. It is A Lot for him in a way that I am pretty sanguine about now, and while it's not quite water off a duck's back I am very good at removing myself from and/or deescalating the situation if it reaches a point I can't deal with. Matthew still feels terribly raw and resentful about having a Mad Dad and remains in a constant state of high alert over it. I can't say I blame him, because growing up with our father was a kind of Ashkenazi Jekyll/Hyde situation where 85% of the time you got the most generous, principled, intelligent, protective, funny, and genuinely loving guy, and then the remaining 15% there was rage and yelling and breaking stuff. That ratio is now closer to 95%/5%, thank god, because the man has enough emotional insight to recognize a problem and do therapy. But my brother mistakenly assumes that the remaining 5% or in fact any negativity at all is something he can control, or is a response to his own personal failings, rather than Dad just being kind of insane.

Also important for me to remember that because Matthew is the Younger Son and I am the Eldest Daughter we had distinct experiences of our dad growing up. He always was and can still be an intense, intimidating guy, but I was never discouraged from expressions of emotional vulnerability around him (a good thing and a bad thing, but mostly a good thing), whereas my brother frequently got the "toughen up and be a man" treatment in addition to like, having to endure the bomb going off whenever that happened.

With that said I have literally spent hours upon hours of my life in church basements with people telling stories about their asshole parents, and like, I'm sorry, but we still won lotto!!!! And my brother will absolutely attest to that when he's not actively pissed off, he's said it time and time again the same way that I have, so it's not like I'm trying to invalidate his emotional wounds or his need to attend to them in a different way. I understand why he wants to live way out in Colorado and see our folks a few times a year. But the absolute worst that we lived with is a fucking joke compared to kids who had their parents get drunk and beat the living shit out of them, or who threw them out of the house for being gay, whose love was conditional instead of total and frankly sacrificial.

If anything, and I mean ANYTHING happened to threaten my livelihood or my brother's, if god forbid some catastrophe occurred where he or I were in need of serious financial help or a place to go, they would never ever ever turn their backs on us. Ever! Under any circumstance! Without question! The reason my husband and I are not in like $16k of medical debt after Adam's lung collapsed in 2021 is because they said "absolutely FUCK THAT" and paid the whole bill without us even asking. This is but one example of so many where they have stepped up in ways that are above and beyond the call of duty, and not just for me and my brother, but for our friends and loved ones as well. Yes, Mistakes Were Made or whatever you want to call it and people fuck up and nobody's parents are perfect, but we are and always have been utterly adored by both of them and the good outweighs the bad by a mile. Miles upon miles upon miles.

[cryingoverspilledmilks-blog]

Kismet

Fandom: The Glass Scientists

Current rating: T

Chapter: 1

Title: Fugue

A/N: This fic is sort of a canon-divergent, wish-fulfillment drabble piece that started as a lot of different fics i wrote that i discovered had scenes that would fit better together as a single fic, and so i took snippets from those and stuck them together and whittled the whole mess down into something more manageable. Lots of late night editing sessions for something I'm doing for free, but I was motivated to finish this by someone being so very enthusiastic in the tags on the WIP excerpts I posted, which was honestly such a delight to wake up to. Thank you so much btw @greedycanine I really appreciate that boost and I hope I meet your expectations in the full chapters :)

The comic has updated several times since I began writing this, and I did add some non-canon elements (for instance, that Lanyon Knows, which is a common enough trope in this fandom and one that I enjoy immensely.)

The flaws in this one might not be as glaring as my over-anxious mind anticipates, but if you notice them, I probably have too. It is likely best read as a self-contained hypothetical with hints of canon plot woven in. It's a bit messy, but I think it may be enjoyable nonetheless.

Here is the first part of this great beast. It consists mostly of a conversation, beginning with some emblematic Jekyll and Hyde mirror-bickering. I thought it would be interesting to explore one of those moments where Hyde has something insightful to say, even if it's something of a means to an end for him.

The font changes are something of a fanfic guilty pleasure for me, but they're also a tool I love to use to show who's speaking and how, without necessarily using a dialogue tag every other line, especially when we have two characters who have the ability to communicate both in ways only they can hear and in ways others can.

Hope all of that works for y'all. Happy reading :)

Chapter 1: Fugue

“Are you ready to let me back out yet? Believe it or not, hanging over your shoulder all day does get old.”

"Not now."

“Why not?”

"I don’t want you getting involved in this. We've just made it through into the thickest of this whole ordeal. There’s still too much at stake."

“Ugh. That’s how you see every situation you can’t directly micromanage. It’s like the whole of your world is always resting oh-so-precariously on the head of a pin, ready to be upset by the slightest deviation from your expectations. Lighten up just this once, won't you?"

Henry sighed heavily at that and slid his finished page to the far side of the desk, thinking better of his initial impulse to reply. Pulling a fresh sheet of paper into view and dipping his pen into the inkwell again, he continued to write, attempting to ignore the familiar but currently disembodied speaker.

“Don’t act like you can’t hear me all of a sudden," the voice grumbled impatiently.  "You know, I’ve noticed something lately, Henry. You always insist on framing our situation as though you’re the most responsible party between the two of us, but you never seem to have any really substantial backup plans on hand, in case those delicate matters you like fussing over so much go awry. You never give yourself a real margin of error, despite the fact you're always angsting over what could go wrong.”

Ink pooled slightly on the page under Henry’s pen as he paused, scoffing at the insinuation that he’d been anything but diligent. “And you do?” he prodded back sarcastically, speaking aloud this time, his voice firm but quiet. He was rather aware of precisely how audible he was behind his office door. It was more risky to communicate this way, but he seemed to have an easier time filtering himself when he wasn’t trying to speak internally, and that was important when he was dealing with his incorporeal counterpart.

The lengthy mirror standing off to one side drew his eye when he heard the reply.

“Oh, I always figure something out, one way or another. Surely you know that better than anyone.” 

Henry rolled his eyes at the hazy silhouette that suddenly could be glimpsed in the mirror’s reflection of the opposite wall. “Abandoning every situation that doesn’t go your way and playing hopscotch all over the city’s rooftops is not a backup plan,” he muttered bitterly, composing the end of a follow-up letter for a prospective sponsor before setting the page aside to let the ink dry.

“It can be, if you’re clever enough," the shadow replied. "Also, you're one to talk about giving up easy. Just a few weeks ago I watched you nearly forfeit your whole operation just because Lanyon told you he didn't think things looked sound after you passed out mid-speech. Face it, you’re all or nothing when it comes to solving problems. What is that about?”

Another exasperated sigh as Henry spared another glance at the shadow in the mirror. "Can we not do this right now? You only ask these questions because you already know what gets under my skin. You don't really care about the answers, do you?"

When the shadow spoke next, it was with a mockery of a hurt tone, the dark shape leaning back slightly. A silhouetted hand rested against an approximation of the chest, in a gesture best described as theatrically wounded.

"Why, you insult me, dear doctor. I'm only curious, for both of our sakes, being as close as we are," came the snidely-sweet reply.

Henry narrowed his eyes. “Do you honestly expect I could believe you truly care about what happens to me? After all you've put me through? You take such joy in my misfortune. Really, you can drop the saccharine nonsense, Hyde."

Letting the name slip from his mouth was a mistake, but wouldn’t be costly this time since they were alone- and he only uttered it the one time, Henry reasoned quickly. It was mostly to try to quell the dread in his stomach at the prospect of someone in the hall happening by as he said it out loud, in an otherwise perceptibly empty room.

Hyde vanished from the glass, only to reappear, more thoroughly illuminated, in the empty air near the desk, looking slightly more like a person than an apparition now, as well as irritated.

“I’m trying to tell you that you might actually benefit from trying things my way. Be a little more spontaneous. Roll over the bumps in the road, instead of just counting on things going the right way the first time, every time. It was funny to watch you flounder at first, I must admit, but honestly it's just getting old. I wonder what would happen if you switched things up and proved me right," he paused briefly, noting Henry's contemplative expression.

"And another thing!" Hyde exclaimed, pointing at the ceiling for emphasis. "You told me you'd let me out after the exhibition, then not at all, and now here you are again running yourself uselessly into the ground. The bourgeois types you find yourself groveling to yet again are notoriously hard to satisfy. Why should you have to rush if they already know what you and the others are capable of?"

Stretching a little as Hyde went on, Henry stopped a moment and glanced out the window with a pensive look in his eye.

“That's one of the few times you’ve been right about something, amongst all those snide remarks.”

“Hey!” Hyde sounded affronted at first, then did an almost comical double-take. "Wait, you agree with me?"

“I can certainly see what you mean, even if I can't abide by that advice in the same way you might,” Henry began. “We need everyone's projects to come together smoothly if we're to maintain what good standing we've managed to acquire with our sponsors. They have high hopes and even higher expectations after the splash everyone made at the exhibition. We would need to plan for every eventuality within reach of what we set out to do, but… I do miss things while trying to account for the unexpected, don’t I? Always, something unforeseen gets in my way.” Henry turned in his seat and reached into the cabinet above, pulling out a leather-bound notebook tucked behind a row of vials. Flipping to the first clean page, he dipped his pen into the inkwell once more. "Somehow the fact you managed to worm your way back to the front of our mind to pester me once again is not one such surprise.."

Hyde furrowed his brow in displeasure, rolling his eyes at Henry's little jab. “Of course it isn't. Did you really think I could be held down so easily? You made it harder for me to take over the body on my own, but I'm still here." he paused for a moment. "How long is this going to take?" 

“Not quite as long as you seem to be concerned about. I just have to jot down some…alternatives so I remember them while the subject is fresh,” Henry spoke mildly, but his expression was disgruntled and contemplative.

Hyde rolled his eyes, and did not look at Henry's page, whose looping, slanted script looked far too dull for him to devote attention to at this hour, restless and bitter as he was.

Henry went on, "I'm still upset about that stunt you pulled on the stage, but I'm certain you figured that out already. It was cruel even by your usual standards."

“Cruelty is the very thing I'm made for, but now that you mention it, I actually did you a favor by dragging you down into the dark and the quiet," Hyde spat."You're just addicted to working until you pass out. It's a real fuckin' problem."

As he grew more impatient, the East-London drawl that Hyde had picked up since his creation was seeping further into his inflections. Beneath that, there was a slight but distinct lilt which gestured toward shared memories of Glasgow, making an uncommon cocktail of tones that were unmistakably signature to him. Like so many things about Hyde, Henry noticed, it produced a quality both familiar and foreign. It was, fittingly enough, a faintly haunting thing to witness, a reminder of just how right Hyde always was about the extent of their connection.

Henry squinted his eyes shut as if to abandon that train of thought, trying to remain bearably numb to the reality of being forever stuck arguing with a living distillate of the most confusing parts of himself. “If I'm doomed to be addicted to anything at all, as you say I am, I'd much rather it be something useful,” Henry replied coldly after a moment, the page under his pen nearly full.

Hyde paused, nose wrinkled in defensive chagrin. "I don't concern myself with counting the ways I can be used by others. At least my addictions don't rely on people telling me what to do," he muttered. "Are you done yet?"

Henry shook his head in stiff silence, much to Hyde’s dismay. He gave a frustrated groan. “You can pick this up tomorrow! It’s getting close to evening by now, and you always take so much longer with these things than you say you will."

Once the page was dry and flipped over, there was no reply but the continued, now noticeably forceful scratching of Henry’s pen. His brow was creased with irritation, a deepening frown on his face. 

Hyde growled in frustration. “Jekyll!”

Henry grit his teeth, snapping a look over at Hyde that was a mixture of anger and anxiety. "Must you be so childish?! Don't think I don't know what you're doing by now, I am not as much of a fool as you seem to think. Why should I go out of my way to let you out again, when you have proven time and time again that you don't know how to keep your excursions from ruining everything I strive for?"

He could not stop the impatient edge from entering his voice, as much as he'd wanted to avoid raising it tonight. As he spoke, Hyde's features twisted into a mask of indignation and rage.

"You don't know the first thing about ruin! Try being in my position for a change- less than nothing, a ghost of a ghost! And for what? You have no idea how lucky you really are. My entire existence is eaten up by watching another man live a life I could do so much more with if I was given the chance!"

Jekyll shut the notebook with a forceful swipe of his hand down against the desk, eyes downcast. "I would love to see you try living my life for once," he replied flatly, "If perhaps you weren't so preoccupied with immediate gratification, maybe I'd even trust you with making an attempt."

"Perhaps if we had any more of that potion of ours made, I would be able to seriously debate if I wanted to take you up on that. But I am mostly stranded now, and it isn't my fault I wound up that way. You're the one who made that call." Hyde shot back, moving phantom-like toward the doorway that led to the other portion of the office, where many of their experiments had taken place. 

Jekyll tucked the notebook into a drawer under his desk, slamming it closed in irritation. "Not your fault? I had to destroy it. You would have found some way to get your hands on it when I was needed most, because that is what you always do! You didn't give me another choice!"

Hyde's image distorted slightly for a moment, like smeared paint on canvas, before resolving itself, as if reacting physically to emotion. "There is always another choice! This is what I'm talking about. All or nothing. We are two parts of a whole, you know that. Or, at least you ought to by now."

His voice, as well, seemed faintly doubled, the translation of a will to be heard. "You need me around, you know you do, even if you can't admit it. How many times have you watched me indulge in what you couldn't? How many times have you deliberately sent me into the world to voice the thoughts you must otherwise claim to revile? How much benefit have you reaped from our cooperation? You can't keep me locked away forever. You will always need the outlet I provide."

Jekyll's head began to ache a bit the longer he considered Hyde's point. It was true, he knew, that he found a secret kind of fulfillment in watching things he could never partake in play out vicariously from behind Hyde's eyes. This was a fault, really, or at least he thought so. However, a fault that he had not managed to shake off, for the better part of fifteen years. It would take a lot of willpower to break a habit like that after so long. That was partly why he had destroyed the potion to begin with. He knew Hyde was probably right, that he was not really strong enough to resist the temptation of such freedom.

Technically, the potion could be recreated if it was necessary, though it was always an arduous process. They had needed to do that many times over a decade and a half. But Jekyll had cut himself off from that last ready-made batch as a last desperate bid for control, and had thought never to make it again.

Thinking about how much work still needed to be done before the lodgers' new project deadlines was a miserable uphill battle. Even now, deep down, he wanted to be somewhere else tonight, doing anything besides wearing himself out, cooped up in the office for the umpteenth time. Acknowledging that, even privately, felt like a betrayal of a higher caliber than even Hyde's, but the thought persisted even still.

He sighed. "Well...be that as it may, you are still an enormous liability. And, besides which- what do you even want me to do? What remained of that batch of the potion is gone now."

Hyde paused, and his expression shifted, from anger to mild disbelief, and finally into a smug, cheshire smile. "Well, I have been thinking about that, and I realized- it's not all gone," he moved toward the tall, solid wooden cabinet against the far wall of the office. It was the one Jekyll kept things that were risky to have visible behind glass (copies of the will written in his name, for instance.) It was also, Jekyll realized with dawning horror, where Hyde kept his physical set of clothing tucked away when Jekyll was in control. 

Among them was a tattered overcoat, with two stolen vials of HJ-7 tucked into the inside pocket.

Enough for exactly one last night on the town before the potion would have to be remade entirely. A final obstacle in the way of true control. A pacifying bargaining chip to buy himself more time before the pair of them would argue like this again.

Hyde seemed to recognize the way Jekyll's eyes shifted in thinly-concealed conflict, bordering on panic, and if it was possible, his grin widened.

"You remember the night I went to Blackfog, don't you, Jekyll?"

[hislittleraincloud]

Aww, did Enough is Enough’s loser ass on Twitter make their way over here to harass you? Or how about haveawish? Maybe it’s inzaynitys? Oh wait! It might be PastoD11? Idk but it’s clear they have no lives and all they do is talk about Percy and Percy fans 25/8. It’s been more than a year now. They got what they wanted - him off the show and his life ruined. Idk why they don’t just give the fuck up and move into the next person to cancel since they care so much about victims.

I just woke up and all of this is Hungarian to me. I don't know who any of these people are, and frankly, I don't care. I don't even do TwiX much after I got suspended in 2021 (long story, but it has to do with a certain pathological liar who accused President Biden of assault and her minions; I'm back now and my mouth is even bigger after she tried to sue me for making fun of her 🤣).

But as I said before in the long response, I did do some reading around. The accusatory tweets are gone. There has been nothing, no progress, no charges, nothing. 🤔 I just mentioned the pathological liar who got me suspended from TwiX for almost 4 years, but she is still going on and on and on about her accusations of sexual assault, so where are these girls? And when Masterson was accused, those accusations never disappeared. Masterson, Weinstein, Trump, etc. So I just don't know. I don't know. As an actual sexual assault survivor (I've been raped twice in my lifetime), the minute I publicly accuse anyone is the minute I keep it in the public sphere.

Anyway, I also said I wasn't a White or Wavier stan, and I'm not. I'm not a stan of anyone from the show, even though I post a lot of Ortega posts (she's the one who's super relevant to the show, but I'm highly critical/analytic of what she say/does sometimes).

My mind here for this novelization is to talk about how it relates to actual canon, and having read the book while my Wednesday loop continues, I can say firmly and without a doubt that it cannot be considered canon since it fundamentally changes what we saw onscreen.

We did not see Enid dancing with Wednesday during "The Goo Goo Muck".

We did not see Wednesday "put a finger to Enid's lips" to shush her, nor did we see Enid point out the dumbwaiter to Wednesday during the Gates Mansion fiasco. We did not see this cuntery either:

(Are you fucking serious. I think Mejia is incapable of translating visual tension (or action) from the screen to paper. The fact that Wednesday is turned into an outwardly crying (out), shuddering mess concerned with Enid is an insult to Ortega's Wednesday.)

And we certainly SAW Enid kick the living shit out of Hyde!Tyler after Donovan distracted him, but Mejia ripped that away and instead had Enid running away after Donovan fired his shot.

Now this pisses me the fuck off; taking Enid's victory away from her is probably one of the more egregious things done (for no reason! That isn't even anything to DO with Wenclair, it was just lazy fucking writing, more book report writing again).

The Wenclair kids can have their fun, but the book simply cannot be considered canon. It's severely retconned fanon.

[rickssoberjourney]

"There are tears filling my eyes right now because for a brief moment, I was able to see myself the way he sees me...through his eyes..."

I wrote this passage this morning. After a horrible night, I woke up to a very loving passage that Bruce chose to send to me. He does this often but every once in awhile something he chooses really hits the mark. This was one of those passages.

It all started about 36 hours ago on Thursday evening. Bruce, party. That meant that we would be smoking T and doing several rounds of G. High and horny all night long. Jim had to leave around 3 am Friday morning. Randy left with him so that he could be dropped off at home. That left Bruce and me. We smoked a bit more which guaranteed that we wouldn't sleep at all.

We made it through the Friday morning. In the afternoon, I started the crash and burn. I had stayed up all night long many times, but this time was different.

In the afternoon, some strange things began happening. I had be putting up with visual hallucinations before, in fact, they were are daily occurance now. The were clear Keith Haring drawings. When they first began, they were faint like watermarks.Now, they were heavier, more distinct, and were with me almost all day every day. Frankly, the are beginning to scare me.

That afternoon, things got worse. The visual hallucinations took on a frightening change. I was looking at a grid of head shots on Grindr. I'd looked at them hundreds of times before only now they were moving, as if animated. I didn't say anything to Bruce. I went into the bedroom to watch TV. Bruce was on the bed so I lay down with him.

As we watched a movie, the colors appeared all wrong and the actors looked like claymation. My skin crawled. I asked Bruce if he saw something strange and as he told me that he didn't see anything out of the ordinary, he realized what I was asking. He saw you face go white and he knew that I was hallucinating.

I was exhausted and I fell asleep. As if the hallucinations weren't enough, the usual mouth irritations, the burns on the inside of my cheeks, the burns and sores on my tongue, and severely chapping lips took over. I was miserable. I couldn't eat because almost all foods burned when they touched my injured mouth. At some point, I had some mashed potatoes, a croissant with cream cheese, and some Body Armor for hydration. All I remember from that point on is restlessness which lasted all night long until 6 am this morning. That's when I awakened to the passage that Bruce had left for me.

I read it and I cried. Actually, I sobbled. The passage said simply that he loved me, no matter what. No matter how dire the circumstances, he would stand by me because he loved me. It's a humbling feeling when someone gives you grace...a gift that is freely given you you deserve no such gift. I couldn't earn it, and yet Bruce gave it to me. That gift was unconditional love.

In my response, I told how I thought that if he loved me with the depth that he did, he was either crazy or he really loved me. He loved me inspite of the shit that I put him through everytime, I cycled down. Then, in the depths of desparir, a glimmer of hope shone through...maybe Bruce wasn't crazy or a liar. Maybe he really did love me...I wondered how long that hope would last before it was swallowed up by my darkening mind once again. Tonight, I had my answer.

I could feel myself changing. Like Mr. Hyde turning back into Dr. Jekyll, my attitude of self-importance slowly began creeping back. I began to britle at stupid little things. I asked Bruce to help me clean up the dirty dishes. I had finished making the dinner that I was going to serve to Jim and Brian that evening. He cheerfulling agreed to do the dishes so that I could work on a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache frosting and crushed peppermints as decoration. Everything irked me but I think I hid it pretty well.

Right now, I'm typing this journal entry in the dark. Beside me, Bruce is softly snoring in the dark that is lit only by the laptop screen. Surrounded by darkness, mirroring my every-darkening mood. I guess I have my answer. The glimmer of light that gave me a little hope that maybe love had rescued me was gone.

That didn't take long, did it?

It never does.

[nikkiruncks]

Fictober 1 - “This was good work.”

Dynamic: Eric/Donna (an alternate twist to 5x18)

Beginning Notes: This is a continuation of a drabble one of my best friends, @randomwriter23 did. And with a line I added in the reblog. We also did an rp for this as well, and honestly she was a cowriter for this and it means so much that we did this together!

………….................................

"Eric, we'll be graduating soon. Don't you think you should be focusing on stuff that's more mature?"

That stung more than it should've. He could take maybe Fez or Kelso saying something like this, but hearing his future wife say this is too much.

Eric scoffs, "Says the girl who claims to be a feminist yet calls herself 'Hot Donna' on the radio."

"First of all, that had been Jerry Thunder who called me that first," said Donna.

"Yeah, but you continued to use it as your brand." Eric fired back.

"Second of all, my brand isn't what we're talking about. We're talking about your interest in something that you should've grown out of," said Donna.

"'Should’ve grown out of'? So because I'm an adult, I have to stop being into Star Wars?  I have to stop liking something and doing something I enjoy. I thought being an adult had to do with how you act, not what you like. Donna, we’re graduating soon. Shouldn’t you be focusing on something more mature than policing what I like?"

"What do I like that's immature?"

"Well you like trying to get me to stop talking about something I'm passionate about, going as far as make me give you money if I keep talking about it. And I know for a fact that you like that I’m somehow always in the wrong and that you get to escape responsibility. And I know for sure that you liked that story that destroyed my reputation, yet got mad when I gave you a taste of your medicine."

"Your story hurt," said Donna.

"And yours didn’t? It destroyed my reputation, Donna. I got shoved into lockers, beaten up. I don’t care about how you ended your story. In fact, it’s just as shitty as the stuff you said about me: I was a monster who murdered your cat and forced you to wear a promise ring but despite that you never stopped loving me? You dished it out but you couldn’t take it when I responded. You’re allowed to put your perspective, but when I do it, it 'hurt'? Shut the fuck up, Donna."

"Eric, where is all of this coming from? I thought we were fine."

"I thought we were, but I was wrong." Eric shook his head. "You know I can handle when random people acting like it’s weird I’m with you, I can even handle my friends and family thinking that I’m lucky to have you, but the fact that even you think that and are trying to 'tone me down' stings a lot. And somehow we have to keep doing shit on your terms and only yours. My perspective doesn’t matter. It’s all about you.”

"I don't think that you're lucky to be with me. And we talk about things."

"Well you sure act like you think that. And name one time."

"I can't think of one right now."

Eric crossed his arms.

"Okay. What about everything with Shelly?"

"Oh when you embarrassed us at The Hub and didn’t apologize because you already felt bad, so I couldn’t express my anger with you? Or the fact that you actually believed that I'd cheat on you?"

"I realized how much of a good guy you are."

"You can't be serious." Eric shook his head. "Hyde said I didn't cheat, even Jackie said I wouldn't cheat, but it took you making a scene and embarrassing me and Shelly at the Hub to get you to believe that I wouldn't do anything like that."

"Why is all of this a big deal? It was in the past!"

"It's the fact that you act like you're above me and that you're ashamed of me. That you think I'm lucky to be with you just like everyone else, and you were the one who first brought up the stuff about the Hub, not me."

"I don't act like I'm above you! I'm not ashamed of you! I don't think you're lucky to be with me! But why is everything I've done being brought up again?"

"If you didn’t think any of that, you wouldn’t be asking me to tone down something I like. I'm fine with not saying anything Star Wars in my vows, but that is not what is happening? And the only reason I’m bringing it up because you’re asking questions that involve me bringing it up. And you clearly haven’t changed from it! Somehow it’s like I’m always the jerk in the relationship, I have to be the one to change while you’re somehow perfect."

"I thought we were fine, Eric!"

"Clearly, we're not!"

Eric shook his head, "I’m outta here." He began to head out.

"Eric, could we talk about this?"

Eric turned around, "Okay. Talk."

"What can we do to fix this between us?"

“Actually be honest and talk about everything? If we’re gonna get married one day, things have to work for both of us. And I don’t feel like you see me as your equal to be honest." Eric said.

"I see you as my equal, Eric," said Donna, standing up.

"I really want to believe that Donna."

"Well, what other things have I done to make it seem like I don’t see you as one?"

"You shut down important conversations when I try to start them. Like that day when we were imagining our futures and at first I saw you as a housewife." Eric said. "When I came to your house and apologized and tried to talk about our future, you shut it down and said we should just go for a drive."

"I had just talked to my mom, who had said that we were both young and that we might not end up together anyway," said Donna.

"Why didn’t you just tell me that? We used to tell each other everything before that."

"I didn't want to bother you with my problems at home."

"We used to talk about that stuff all the time, like when you told me they were fighting and then I cheered you up and said I always make you feel better? How did that change? Why did that change?"

"I don't know!"

"I don’t think I did anything, but if I did…"

"You didn't do anything. It's just me. I don't know why I found it to be difficult to talk to you about all of this."

Eric continued to listen.

"I guess maybe it was because your family is a family. You have two happily married parents. They have their issues, but they always solve it as a team, and they don’t put you in the middle of their fights.”

Donna continued, "I don't hold that against you. My parents set the worst example for me, and I guess I felt I had to not talk about that in order to keep the peace."

Eric sighed, "I may not completely understand that, but I still would’ve been willing to listen, y'know? We were best friends way before we started dating and I don’t want that dynamic to change when we get married someday."

"I don't want it to change either. Maybe we should go to therapy both separately and together."

Eric nodded, "Maybe we should."

"So…what about the wedding?"

"We don’t have to get married now. We don’t need to worry about setting dates, but there’s always someday."

"Yeah. I mean, we both need to figure out what we want for careers."

Eric nodded, "Yeah, but I'm glad we talked about all of this."

Donna smiled, "Me too. And I'll…stop with the geek dollar thing. But, and I say this with love, maybe you shouldn’t use Star Wars in your vows. Is that okay?"

"That's okay. I'll tone down my interests because I know it isn't just you that gets annoyed with it."

"You can talk about Star Wars as much as you want. I mean, it’s something you’re passionate about. The only deal breaker I might have is if you become a Star Wars professor." Donna chuckled.

"If I'm gonna be a professor, I'm teaching history," said Eric.

Donna smiled, "Good." She wrapped her arms around Eric to kiss him.

Eric chuckled, "Well this was good work."

Donna chuckled, "Yeah…this was."

[lonelyasawhisper]

A Day at the Races Is A Self-Made Masterpiece

Wesley Strick, Circus, 31 January 1977

IT WAS SOME WEEKS BACK, and Europe's biggest rock band had four months' studio time behind them, and two weeks ahead. "It feels like we've been working forever," Freddie sighs, "and I'll be glad to see the end of it. I think we all will, although everything's been going fine. We've even got release dates set up," he adds, optimistically.

Later, sitting comfortably on the finished product, Queen's animated lead singer takes time out to talk about the carefully delayed album. A Day At The Races (Asylum), Queen's fifth, is the band's first self-produced record. "We finally got that organized," Freddie nods, to explain the absence of veteran Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker: "We just felt that, for this one, we needed a bit of a change. We were quite confident in doing it ourselves. The other albums we really co-produced, actually we always took a very keen interest."

"It was all very amicable," drummer Roger Taylor is quick to explain. "Roy's been in and out of the country. He's heard some rough mixes. Who knows? Maybe he'll be back producing the next one! It's been tremendous pressure recording this album." Mercury, meanwhile, is quite happy with Queen's first attempt at studio self-sufficiency. "I think it turned out for the better," he insists. "Taking more responsibility has been good for us. Roy's been great, but it's a progression, really – another step in our career. We simply felt that it was now or never."

Queen fiends needn't despair, however. "There are definitely different sounds and a few surprises on the album" Freddie promises, "but we've still maintained the basic Queen sound." A Day At The Races features four songs from Mercury, four from guitar-phenomenon Brian May, and one each from Taylor and bassist John Deacon. "I feel this time that we've got quite a few strong singles," says Freddie. "It was a very hard choice, to be honest. Picking the first single is a matter of taste. We settled on 'Somebody To Love' to start things rolling. It's one of my tracks," Mercury adds, modestly.

"'Somebody To Love' is Aretha Franklin-influenced," Taylor says. "Freddie's very much into that. We tried to keep the track in a loose, gospel-type feel. I think it's the loosest track we've ever done."

"It's new, it's slightly different," Freddie agrees "but it still sounds like the Queen that used to be. A Day At The Races is definitely a follow-up to A Night At The Opera. Hence the title. We learned a lot from A Night At The Opera about studio technique." "This time out we missed Roy's cheerfulness," Taylor says. "He contributed a lot technically, and we've capitalized on it."

Each time we go into the studios, it gets that much more difficult," Freddie explains, "because we're trying to progress, to write songs that sound different from the past. The first album is easy, because you've always got a lot in your head that you're anxious to put down. As the albums go by, you think, 'They'll say I'm repeating a formula.' I'm very conscious of that."

Taylor confirms their constant testing: "We took a break in the midst of it to play three gigs. It was great to get away from the studio for a bit, and it was great playing live, again-that's a much more immediate satisfaction."

"It was difficult trying to maintain the Queen idiom," Mercury elaborates, "and, at the same time, come up with songs that were different and more interesting." Freddie Mercury offers his own track-by-track rundown on Races:

"We start off with a track from Brian called 'Tie Your Mother Down' which we've recently put in the live act. In fact, we played it at Hyde Park before we recorded it. I was able to come to grips with the song in front of an audience before I had to cut the vocal. Being a very raucous track, it worked well for me.

" 'You Take My Breath Away' is a slow ballad with a new twist. That's another track I did at Hyde Park, with just me on the piano. It was very nerve-wracking playing all by myself in front of 200,000 people. I didn't think my voice would come through," Freddie jokes, half-serious, "It's a very emotional, laid-back number.

" 'Long Away' is a twelve-string thing written by Brian...very interesting harmonies.

" 'The Millionaire Waltz' is quite outlandish, really. It's the kind of track I like to put on every album," Freddie teases. "Something way outside Queen's format."

"It's comparable to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'," Roger Taylor explains, "in the sense that it's an arranged, intricate number. There are several time-signature changes," the drummer adds, "'though not quite so many vocal overdubs."

"Brian has orchestrated it fully with guitars," Freddie says, "like he's never done before. He goes from tubas to piccolos to cellos. It's taken weeks. Brian's very finicky. Anyway, this track is something that Queen has never done before-a Strauss waltz!

" 'You And I' is John Deacon's track. It's very John Deacon, with more raucous guitars. After I'd done the vocals, John put all these guitars in, and the mood has changed. I think it's his strongest song to date."

Unlike the concept-ized Queen II with its Side White and Side Black, A Day At The Races plays, in Freddie's words, "as a unit. Side Two opens with 'Somebody To Love,' the single. We're not going to settle for less than Number One in America. We were a bit disappointed in 'Rhapsody'." Disappointed? "I suppose we're spoiled," Freddie concedes, light-hearted. " 'Rhapsody' was a strong song, and a mammoth hit on Continent. This time, we won't be second best.

"'White Man' is the B side. It's Brian's song, a very bluesy track. Gave me the opportunity to do raucous vocals. I think it'll be a great stage number.

"'Good Old-Fashioned Loverboy' is one of my vaudeville numbers. I always do a vaudeville track, 'though 'Loverboy' is more straightforward than 'Seaside Rendezvous', for instance. It's quite simple piano-vocals with a catchy beat; the album needs it to sort of ease off.

"'Drowse' is a very interesting song of Roger's. Roger is very rock and roll. It's got great slide guitar from Brian and Roger's done octave vocals. It's a very hummable tune, actually, I sing it all the time.

"The album ends with a Japanese thing, a track from Brian called 'Teo Torriatte,' which means 'let us cling together.' It's a very emotional track, one of his best. Brian plays harmonium and some lovely guitar. It's a nice song to close the side."

To graphically emphasize Races' connection with its predecessor, the new LP features inverse-Opera artwork, a black motif with a subtly revised insignia. Freddie envisions a repackaged re-release of the two albums "at some future date. But we'll have to get out of this Marx Brothers thing sooner or later."

Pre-package or not, Roger Taylor considers the new album a distinct improvement over A Night At The Opera. "The new songs are stronger," he asserts, "and the playing is quite possibly better. The writing's better, too."

For Taylor, A Day At The Races represents "a step ahead of our previous work. We tried to avoid over complication, sterility-we tried to get a more basic feel in."

Is Queen living down its reputation for studio fussiness? "Not at all," Taylor answers, "I think it's good to be fussy. You might as well make it as good as you can if you've got all the studio devices at your command. As long as the end result isn't clinical; as long as you maintain the feel of the music."

If Mercury and May have loosened up in the studio, they've failed to tighten up their legendary recording budget. Endless vocal and guitar overdubs account for the five-month sessions and staggering expense. "I'm afraid this one cost as much as the last one," Taylor admits, chagrined.

According to the British press, A Night At The Opera came in at forty thousand pounds.

Freddie Mercury, drained and despairing after months of painstaking overdubs, has a bright idea. "I really feel that, on the next album, we're going to get it orchestrated by an orchestra," he says. "I think we've really done as much as we can with guitars."

Does Brian concur? "I think he does," Freddie chuckles. "We always did it ourselves, and it was rewarding. But now, we've done it, and it's time to move on." Is Queen still staunchly opposed to synthesizers? "We've built up a terrible aversion to them," Freddie concedes, "but you never know. To me, Brian always sounds better than a synthesizer."

Finally, does Queen reign supreme in the U.K.?

"That's an awkward question," Roger laughs. "I'm thinking about it." Roger's synapses silently arrange the electrical impulses of two words: Led and Zeppelin. "Yes, I suppose we are," he concludes. "It feels good in terms of radio response and fan letters, that sort of thing. In the studio, nothing feels quite real. You lose contact with things on the street. We don't see much daylight at all."

Beginning mid-January, the band should be seeing plenty of daylight. "I've just been handed a list of tour dates," Freddie says, "and, oh my god, it's going to be two-and-a-half months in the States. I'm just hoping my voice will hold out."

Will the ultra-theatrical Queen mount its American onslaught with a whole new show? "A whole new show?" Freddie chuckles. "Bloody hell yes!"

Retrieved from rocksbackpages.com

[ufonaut]

that the existence of aro ace characters would be plainly born out of sanitized lgbt characters.-So rather than champion for better aro/ace and other lgbt+ rep overall you what want to blame people wanting ace rep for sanitized lgbt+ rep. What are you going to say all bi rep can only come from reducing gay rep. You really are crab in potting here. Also the idea that aro/ace characters are sanitized and non-aro/ace rep isn't is just a product of discrimination. Why you feeding into that idea?

i don't even know what you're trying to say! i have to assume this is in response to the part of my pride post that went like this "all the stories featuring gay couples being so utterly sanitized and so completely revolving entirely around first kisses & hesitant hand-holding that it makes moments like todd rice & damon matthews having on-screen sex back in manhunter 2004 seem like it was published in another world", in which case i'd like to inform you i'm talking specifically about -- and this may be obvious from the fact that i already said so in the post itself -- the gay couples features in the pride special, none of which include an ace character

jon kent & jay nakamura, jackson hyde & his boyfriend, the ray & his boyfriend, tim drake & bernard dowd -- all their stories revolved around chaste kisses, reluctant hand-holding, harmless little displays of affection to really drive home an unintentional point about corporate pride. let me be clear: these are all facets of the lgbt experience and the natural steps of young people figuring out their sexuality, that's all well and good but every story following these themes is cause for alarm.

like it or not, sexual attraction is a vital part of being lgbt and a vital part of many people's lives. there was a time, in a much more tangibly homophobic era, where gay characters were allowed to actually express their sexualities on-panel (todd & damon in manhunter 2004 are a good example of that still, as is john constantine or midnighter & apollo) and it's precisely this move towards an 'inoffensive' veneer that i'm talking about when i bring up lgbt characters' narratives being more sanitized than ever before.

however, you don't know how right you are about bi rep. there are, indeed, instances where characters are bi instead of gay specifically to assure straight audiences that they're still likely to end up with the 'right' gender or the label is used as a shorthand for the worst stereotypes it could possibly bring to mind. it's the same with obviously gaycoded characters being made ace, and i talked about that in relation to connor hawke quite a fair bit right here, here and here.

[motleyfuckingcruee]

Rocket Queen

1.1: Secret Visits

Henley's P.O.V

It's been a week since we all went out on that date. Not much has changed, but it sure feels like everything is different. For one, Madeline and I have been going over to the guys' apartment everyday. Duff's been teaching me how to play guitar and allows me to go on and on about my favorite bands while Steven and Madeline make out the entire time. Duff hasn't stopped flirting with me which actually makes me really happy. I really thought he would only do it for that night then forget about me.

For another thing, Jake has been avoiding me like the plague. He's really hell bent on ignoring me for going out on that date. I'm fine with it as long as he doesn't try to get "revenge" on me. Who knows what he would try to do?

One more thing is Hyde's been hangin' around me a lot. He's practically ditched his friends to hang with Madeline and I. I really don't like it. Something about it has me uneasy. I told Madeline about how I felt about the situation and she told me that it's no reason to freak out. She likes Hyde hanging around. I can't tell if it's because he gives us weed or if she genuinely likes him as a friend. A few times he's tried to follow us to the guys' apartment, but we knew that he was following us so we just led him in the wrong direction. I just feel like him and Jake are going to try something.

For some reason, we have this beautiful Monday off. Something about a pipe breaking at the school. I didn't pay enough attention while my mom was freaking out about it. After my mom and dad left for work, and Nico was taken to school, I decided to call someone up. I'm bored out of my mind.

I quickly dial the number to Duff and Steven's apartment. One of them is bound to pick up. I don't really care which one answers. Then again, there's this hope in the back of my mind that it's Duff.

"Hello?" A sleepy voice answers.

I grin, realizing it's my favorite tall person. "Hey, you."

"Henley?" Duff asks groggily. "What are you doing up so early?"

I glance at the clock. "Duff, It's ten in the morning."

"Exactly. Too early to function."

I giggle at him. "Don't you have a job?"

"Oh yeah," Duff's quiet for a moment. "I got fired for not showing up on time, so I gotta find a new job."

"I could help you find a new one," I suggest.

"Isn't it Monday?" I can practically see the confused expression on his beautiful face.

I giggle. "Yeah. Some pipes burst at school, so we can't go up there."

"Ah, a day off," Duff says, yawning. "Are you sure you're not playing hookey?"

I roll my eyes, a grin on my face. "I'm positive."

"Not that I'm complaining, but why'd you call?"

"I'm bored," I groan, falling back on my bed.

"Do you have any homework?"

"I got all that shit done in class. I'm one of the few people who know how to shut up and get work done," I respond, rubbing my face with my free hand.

"Well. . .," Duff trails off. "I could come over for a bit, if you want."

"Really?" I ask, perking up.

"Sure," Duff responds, a bit of nervousness in his voice. "I don't see why not."

"Yeah that'd actually be perfect," I say, feeling giddy.

"Oh really? And why's that?" Duff asks, a teasing tone in his voice.

I bite my lip. "I'm really bored and could use some company."

"I'm just gonna pretend like I don't hear a sexual innuendo in that."

My eyes widen. "Michael!"

"What?" Duff laughs, a bit of surprise in his voice.

I'm honestly shocked myself that I used his first name. "I did not have anything like that in mind!"

"But, I mean. . .," He trails off. I can see the smirk on his face. "We definitely could."

"Duff," I whine. "Just get off the damn phone and get over here."

"Eager to see me, huh?" Duff asks.

"I'll hang up then if you're not going to first," I say.

"See you in a bit, gorgeous."

I blush at his little nickname for me. It doesn't seem like a nickname, but that seems to be the only thing he calls me. Maybe I should come up with a nickname for him. I don't think he'll like asshole very much.

Fifteen minutes later and I hear my bedroom window open. I sit up, looking over at the window. I know for a fact the window was fixed. It shouldn't fall open anymore. I relax as I see a ball of blonde hair appear.

Duff manages to hoist himself up enough to get one of his long ass legs over into the room. I watch as he struggles to fit his long body past the small window pane. Just as he's finally about to get one foot on the ground, something gets caught, and he face plants onto the hardwood floor.

I stifle my giggle, rushing over to help him. "Are you okay?"

"My face hurts," He groans, rubbing his face.

I smile sweetly. "Why'd you go through the window?"

"I didn't want to walk up to the front door and meet your parents."

I giggle. "Duff, they're not home."

"They're not!"

I shake my head, leading him over to the bed. "Nope, they're at work." I make him sit down, tilting his head up a bit so that I can inspect his face. His hands go to rest on my hips as he lets me check out his face. "What is it with you and getting hurt around me?"

He shrugs, a smile tugging on his lips. "I guess I'm just too focused on how pretty you are." I feel the heat rise to my cheeks, dropping my eyes to look at his lap. "Henley?"

I hum in response, too scared to actually say anything. What if I embarrass myself?

"Can I try something?"

I nod, still scared to even open my mouth.

"Please look at me," He nearly whispers.

I finally look back up into his beautiful hazel eyes. I feel my breath get caught in my throat. Is he about to do what I think he's going to do? Duff leans closer, closing his eyes in the process. I close my eyes too, not wanting to just stare at him, and wait for what he's going to do. I feel his lips brush against mine. His breath hits my lips. Once again I'm overwhelmed with the smell of vanilla, vodka, and cigarettes. My new favorite smell. Duff's lips finally press against mine, causing a sigh to leave me.

Finally.

Duff pulls me closer, his hands resting on my ass. Usually I would be bothered by this, but I'm really not. I wrap my arms around his neck, moving so that I'm sitting in his lap. I feel him smile against my lips, causing me to smile as well. That temporarily breaks our beautiful kiss. Duff presses his lips against mine once more before pulling away.

"Finally," Duff breathes out.

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[lonespektr]

Oct 15th Jekyll and Hyde E 1

So there's a Jekyll & Hyde TV adaptation that I did not know about

So firstly fuck all y'all fake for not telling me

It's 2015 show set in the way the back times this is supposedly Jekyll's grandson

It's already peak white savior, he's in India adopted to an Indian family clearly in an attempt to hide... Hyde

Hyde has never been depicted as blind rage from stimulus??

To attack a little girl after trying to save her just due to.. Being amped?

The writing is bad... On purpose idk if camp is accurate term but....

If he's been here since a baby why does he only speak English why is he so British in demeanor and accent why does he walk talk act like a colonize? Why doesn't the small town know him?

Why is he reacting like he's never seen a beggar before

Holy fucking... It is hard to describe how truly racist that was

There's an ashy black man growling grunting like an animal who when the camera panned out is in fact just a head attached to a large dog, he shouts some aggressive omens and then is subsequently shot down.... like a dog... By a bunch of white men in gas masks

To be clear there have been no other black people on screen thus far or since

He said something about the old gods

Look a woman needs rescuing

Help me I'm such a poor civilized white man helpless to control my rage and violence I'm not responsible for my actions

There has been an association with violent episodes and sexual assault so that tracks but again desire

He doesn't desire to hurt the little girl so why would he?

Okay demon wraith and a British officer

Gut shot dad

She invites the guy in who sexually assaulted her

I hoped when they first showed her, her lost eye batting routine was a con and she was going to steal his coin purse

Secret fantasy security service

Look he's exempt

We do things differently here... Like assault women

She's excited about the assault so that's great

MIO zombies wasn't a widely used term at this time in Britain

She's kissing him now, please say she's a MIO agent

Odd time lapse there

Somehow remembered to tip the white bellhop but not the brown one

Pills gone

Still embodiying the racial implications the more Hyde the curly hair comes out

They are somewhat leaning into the monstrous physical form depiction

It tracks that he would refer to him as a monster and him himself identifying with it

Def gotta remind the one Indian dude what's not the British way

Surprise Hyde is interested in the sistah

Depiction is Is over the top camp

The time shifts are poor and do a disservice to the story

The sistah punched a guy for no reason

wow and now she's being ordered to kiss him to save him

Look black lady the only way to save this white man is with your sexual wilds

christ on a cracker

Very rascit Canada especially for being 2015

Negative 40 thousand stars

It's obvious I wasn't told because I of racism but really this is so racist I needed to know about it