#and they resort to other things because of that…

[taelophone]

Luigi M; A Look ⋆˙⟡ — A Luigi Mangione Analysis ⋆⭒˚｡⋆. A/N: I am not claiming to know or understand him as a person lol. I simply wanna do a lil surface dive on him as a person to try and shed some light on what I think he's like!

Please note; All links are tweets Luigi himself has reposted, or are things from his mouth that he has typed. VIA Reddit, twitter, etc etc. All retweets will be marked with *

⟡ Luigi as a person (good, and bad)

⋆ After many many hours of scouring this man’s socials and any sort of archive of him I can find, I’ve gathered a handful of interpretations and ideas as to what Luigi was like prior to his surgery. And I say that last part specifically because he showed a v drastic change directly after his surgery, and literally went M.I.A.

Luigi is a very empathetic and intelligent man, this is a surface level fact that we can all agree on. He’s been shown to go out of his way for other people even when he doesn’t have to. But please don’t let that fool you this man is a KEYBOARD. WARRIOR.

⋆ He LIVES for the debate. In fact, he fucking loves debating. I wouldn’t go as far as saying he loves arguing, but if there’s a point being made and he feels strongly about it, he will type pages upon pages of text explaining in great detail exactly why you are wrong.

He’s said time and time before in a retweeted post that freethinking* is a very important part of life, and here’s where I say he’s…a bit of a hypocrite. His love for debate kind of keeps him from seeing another person’s POV, which makes for a hell of a storm when disagreeing with him. In short, he’s stubborn. A very stubborn man, but he is open to hearing the other person out versus not listening to them at all.

And I have a strong feeling his stubborn demeanor coincides with the fact that he knows he’s smart. Don’t get me wrong, he seems like he usually knows what he’s talking about, but that’s the problem. If you tell him about something that’s been bothering you or going wrong in your life, he will spit out 99 solutions for you. He’s the kind of guy where he will probably resort to both comfort AND unsolicited advice, although its likely he got better at the latter later down the line.

⋆ Shying away from him being stubborn, there’s another key part of this man that I DONT SEE BEING TALKED ABOUT ENOUGHHH OMG. SASSY MAN. SASSY SASSY SAASSSSYY MAN.

You can expect shade, eye rolls, silent treatment, head shakes, and possibly even a snarky comment from him. He’s all about becoming a better person and stuck on self betterment, but he is not afraid to show his visible disdain for something. He has very dry and unexpected humor, but he doesn’t realize it. He’s funny in a way where he doesn’t mean to be.

But when he’s trying to make a joke? Oh god help me he’s so so so cheesy and so corny that it makes you just wanna curl up and die (but no seriously, he’s so corny that it’s funny). His sense of humor is so cheesy, think old vine and 2018 humor.

⋆ Another key part about him is his love for travel, and being a “geek” by nature! This man loooooovesss his Pokemon, let me tell you. Was in a whole subreddit dedicated to Pokemon go, word committed for half a page about backpacking essentials, and was almost always posted up somewhere that wasn’t his house. I can’t say he’s the type for spontaneous trips, as the only time he has been known to take was during the beginning of his breakdown.

Because of this, I feel like he’s more likely to be a marvel and MCU fan. He also read a couple of the Harry Potter books, and we can assume that he liked the series enough to rate them 5/5s lol

⟡ My takeaways. Deeper analysis

⋆ Luigi gives me massive INTJ vibes. Contrary to popular belief, I feel he’s more introverted rather than extroverted. He’s expressed clear comfort in solitude, and aligns perfectly with the personality category.

INTJ description;

“INNOVATIVE,INDEPENDENT, STRATEGIC, LOGICAL, RESERVED, INSIGHTFUL. DRIVEN BY THEIR OWN ORIGINAL IDEAS TO ACHIEVE IMPROVEMENTS.”

However, I could see him being an ISTP, who are characterized as

“ACTION-ORIENTED, LOGICAL, ANALYTICAL, SPONTNEOUS, RESERVED, INDEPENDENT. ENJOY ADVENTURE, SKILLED AT UNDERSTANDING THINGS.”

⋆ He’s a very big geek! More than likely has a soft spot for nostalgia content or things that remind him of childhood. We can expect him to be into things like Ben10, Cartoon Network, old Nickelodeon, and other shows such as The Office, Law & Order, true crime, and philosophy content!

⋆ Expect him to be a giving lover. Would absolutely love words of affirmation, quality time, and acts of service. He’d be more than willing to give you gifts and shower you in lavishes, but it’s not his main love language as he believes love goes beyond materialism and who can spend the most on who. Handmade gifts are a go! Expect 3D printed trinkets, pictures, cards, etc etc.

⋆ Absolute communication god. He’s stubborn, but he’s not stubborn enough to not tell you when something is wrong. It’s just not his speed and he thinks it’s pointless to not tell someone, especially your partner, when he’s upset or what’s got him in a bad mood. He also expects this same behavior from you as well. The whole “I don’t wanna tell you what’s wrong” shindig would annoy the FUCK out of him. FAST.

⋆ He doesn’t give possessive or jealous lover type ngl. Growing up with two sisters and being absolutely showered in female companionship, he understands how that could possibly make you feel and doesn’t even blame you for it. As a result, he’d be extremely understanding if you were friends with men.

⋆ Please don’t ever get in an argument with this man lmfao. That is one battle you cannot and WILL NOT win. If it’s petty and a matter of “I didn’t say so and so,” he WILL show up with receipts. Would very much start busting out his big boy words just to confuse you. Catch him throwing old English into the mix. But if it’s a legitimate argument, and you have a reason to be upset, he will apologize before it can even get off track.

⟡ Luigi’s Brain

⋆ Alright kids here’s where we get a little controversial. What’s going on in Luigi’s mind?

I just wanna start this section off by saying I am not a licensed psychologist, nor do I major in psychology. I have no ties to this topic whatsoever, and am just speaking from what I’ve seen in myself, and what I’ve seen in him.

Neurodivergence. Luigi has a habit of exuding very neurodiverse behavioral patterns that I could tie to one of two things. Autism, or OCD.

⋆ Luigi openly expressed a lot about his wills and wants on his various social media platforms, and one thing I’ve noticed is his strong need or drive for self-improvement. Please don’t get me wrong, it is incredibly important to want to improve yourself and that is a perfectly healthy goal to have. However, Luigi’s drive for self-improvement and ‘getting better’ had a direct impact on his relationships, lifestyle, and more. This is likely what influenced his 6 month period of self-isolation and cutting off his family members.

Perfectionism “type” OCD is a branch of the umbrella term of OCD in which can be identified by repetitive behaviors, such as excessive exercise, something he continued to engage in even with a bad back, insistence on specific routines or ways to do things to achieve perfection, and occasionally rigid and inflexible thinking patterns, as I described him being likely to have above.

not everyone experiences OCD the same way, and me and Luigi are obviously going to experience it differently considering we are two completely different individuals. As someone with perfectionism OCD, I am just calling what I see in my eyes.

⋆ I saw someone make the argument a while back that Luigi could possibly be a narcissist, and while I don't necessarily deny that he can come off as pompous in some of his tweets, I do not think this is the case.

For Luigi to be a narcissist means that he wouldn't be able to make meaningful connections with people around him. Every person that has met or come into contact with Luigi only had good things to say, but I'd like to focus on his...straightforward or out-of-touch* tweets.

Luigi is a no-nonsense man. He's very left-brained and thinks as such, literally. He demonstrates a tendency to solve and think and plow through anything he registers as a problem. Have you ever asked "well, why can't we just print more money?" when told about the cash crisis? That's exactly whats going on in this tweet.

His first instinct when faced with the topic of Japan's birth rate is to try and solve it. Luigi may be hyperfixated on stats and data, which would clarify why he allegedly word-vomited to the hoes about birth rate data. He's not trying to come off as rude or ignorant, and frankly, I don't really think his tweet is that crazy either, he just might not know that this isn't something considered a social topic.

I feel like we're ignoring a lot of his more out-of-touch* (re)tweets, though. Scrolling through Luigi's page, I can understand what he's trying to get at, though lol. He's made it very clear that he's an intense supporter of complete equality*, he doesn't want anybody to be undermined in their contributions to society. Regardless of gender, sexual identity, race, etc. But again, he's thinking so literally and has trouble effectively communicating that in a way that is "neurotypical." This paired with the way he word vomits, and just his overall typing style and cadence, It just feels like he may be on the spectrum!

I do not have a link for this as his Reddit account was fucking obliterated, BUT, I do remember it being rumored that Luigi was apart of several neurodivergent support groups and subreddits!

I hope I helped humanize him a bit more for you guys! Lmk what you think of this little summary as it’s my first time doing something like this EVER lmfao😭

[lilghostiequinni]

Was Never Just You

Main Masterlist Lando Masterlist

Pairing: Single Mom!Girlfriend!female reader x Lando Norris

Warnings: Fluffy,

Summary: Somethings just start in a crisis, but it's not always a bad thing.

Requested: NO / yes

When you met Lando it was by complete accident.

The day started out normal and then later turned into a disaster.

Your sons, well, they wandered off.

It was the first winter vacation for the ski lodge you normally go to that they could come with, the boys were 3, having turned three the day you left for the trip.

But your mom didn't ski or snowboard and volunteered to watch them while you, your siblings, siblings-in-law, and your father had hit the slopes.

You snowboarding and racing two of your three older brothers, both also snowboarding, down one of their bigger slopes, you won, of course, maybe using some blackmail tactics, maybe.

When you got to the bottom of the slope after the fourth or fifth time, you went to see your boys and also got a warm drink.

You found your mother and your eldest brother's wife, who ended up staying behind because she wasn't feeling good, searching around the lobby; when your mom saw you, you could see the panic and fear in her eyes.

When you asked what was wrong, she told you that they and the boys were playing hide-and-seek, but they couldn't find the boys, and they had searched the whole inside of the resort.

When she told you how long she had been looking for your two sons, over an hour and a half.

You shred your winter gear faster than ever, leaving everything in the lobby, running around the hotel in just your socks, and having no shoes or slippers in the lobby to wear from leaving your boots there.

You ran through every floor calling your sons' names, "Theodore. Sebastian." You would knock on doors, holding up a photo of your two trouble twins if someone answered the door, asking if they had seen them.

You went from floor to floor and back down again.

On you, probably the third pass on the third floor, you ran into someone, expecting to feel the floor but instead feel the body of the person you ran into.

"I'm so so sorry." You apologize as you stand up, before trying to help the person you knocked over.

"It's okay," The man says as you help him stand and he takes off his hat and goggles.

"No, it's not, I'm sorry. I'm just looking for my twins, Theo and Seb. They were playing hide-in-seek with my mom and they... Well, they hid a little too good, and they have been missing for a couple hours." You explain, worrying even more when you realize the time.

"Maybe I can help. Let me change, and we will look together. Two sets of eyes are better than one, I can even get my girlfriend, she's just in this room." The man told you.

"You want to help me?" You were so distraught that you couldn't fathom that someone other than your family would help.

"Yeah, it's just kids. And I'm sure that my girlfriend will say the same. Just breathe and give me like ten minutes." He says, then goes into his room, and you start to take a few deep breaths, trying to calm your overactive mind.

Before the ten minutes are even up, you hear the door open and look up, it's a blonde woman who comes out and gives you a hoodie.

"This is one of our friends, I'm Pietra, and this is Max." She says as Max comes out of the room.

"Everyone just calls me Cookie. My boys, they're only 3." You say as you show the two a photo of them from your phone, tears in your eyes.

Max's eyes widen a little. "I think I know where your boys are."

"Really." You ask, your eyes widening.

"Yeah, I think they're downstairs with my friend, in the restaurant," Max tells you as Pietra grabs hold of your hand as MAx leads the two of you downstairs.

When you do get back downstairs and into the restaurant, you look around and then see Max pointing in a direction that you follow with your eyes and you see your boys.

"Theo! Seb!" You cry out and run toward them.

Your boys whip their heads around and yell out, "Mommy!" getting up and then running to you, not making it far from the table, though.

The friend of Max's following behind, just in case.

You fell to the ground to hug your twins, tears in your eyes as you hugged them.

"Where did you go?" You asked them.

"We was play seek with Gramam and Celi."

"Then we was hungry an fogot."

"Den Lanwo saws us and we gots food."

You knew their explanation was too little to be something for them to be missing just shy of three hours.

You must have looked in the restaurant three times.

But you just smiled at them and hugged them again, before standing up.

"Hi, thank you for looking after my sons." You say to the man who had also been at the table with them.

"It's no problem. I saw them on my way to my room from outside, and I figured that their mom would be with them soon. When I came back down for some food, I saw them close to the door looking out the window. One was trying to open the door, and I stopped them from going outside and offered food until you got here." He explained himself.

"Thank you again...."

"Lando. Norris. Lando Norris." He said as he offered his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Lando, everyone calls me Cookie." You said taking his hand.

That's how it started.

One singular mishap that had led to the best years of your life.

The fans were skeptical at best at first, but when they seen the smile that your sons brought to Lando's face, that you brought to him.

How you helped lift the weight off his shoulders.

At the end of the 2025 season, you basically jumped over the barrier to get to Lando after he won the championship.

He picked you up and spun you around.

He had to leave to go to the podium and do other after-race debriefs and media duties.

During December, not long after the end of the season, you and Lando both post a post on Instagram with two photos, one an engagement photo, the other a pregnancy annoucement.

Just like the year before with Max, there were retirement rumors the year before.

But when Lando came back in 2026, the rumors died out.

Life continued on, and the season was one of the best for him, only after his first wins.

A/N: First in the 100 Follower Cele Driver poll, I feel like I wanna redo this and make it longer but at the same time, most of my celebrations are usually just drabbles. But let me know if you'd want a longer fic using this idea

Tags: @poppyflower-22 @samantha-chicago @barcelonaloverf1life @tallrock35 @ellen3101 @llando4norris @mcmuppet @issi-loves-dannyric @1800-love-me @barcelonaloverf1life @scopeiguess @01rrdbull @charli123456789 @smashcrabsblog @hadids-world @amz824 @taetae-armyyyyy @watermelonslut @gigicisneros @hellothere9597

If you want to be removed from a tag list, let me know so I don't keep tagging you. If you are striked through, I don't know if you want to be tagged, but just let me know if you want me to continue or stop

[creatingblackcharacters]

Re: this post

Could you tell me which slur is it? I'm not very familiarized with these words in english so i get confused when people vaguely refer to them

I get it why if you wouldn't like to, though

�� yeah ngl, I kind of don't want to tell you, because the last thing I need is for this slur to get resurrected and violently used against Black people, though people practically say it without saying it atp.

But on the OTHER hand, if people are resorting to "affectionately" calling raccoon furries "Coons", a conversation is desperately needed in these furry spaces and beyond.

The coon caricature is one of the most insulting of all anti-black caricatures. The name itself, an abbreviation of raccoon, is dehumanizing. As with Sambo, the coon was portrayed as a lazy, easily frightened, chronically idle, inarticulate, buffoon.

Read the whole thing!

[starlost-mochi-x]

hello 🙊 for the prompt list thing may i request 17 + 28 with lino or jisung pls 😌 excited to see what you'll come up with heheh

i had fun with this request, anon. it's kind of sad so maybe i'll write a little part 2 to it but ig we all need some angst from time to time. i was actually going to write jisung for this fic but i'll save him for another ><

rose - lee minho

pairing: lee minho x reader

summary: you and lee minho, the smartest student on campus, get unexpectedly paired up to work on an assignment

genre: kinda angsty ngl, escalates quickly, college!au, mutual pining, mentions of being thrown out a window (it's a minho fic what do you expect)

a/n: this isn't really how i saw it going but fuck it we ball. dividers by @kodaswrld

⛓️ prompts: 17. "Why are you looking at me like that?" / 28. "You're looking at me like that again."

skz prompt list | skz masterlist

"It doesn't make sense," you groan, dropping your head into your hands. Giving up completely, you drop yourself further into the mess of books and papers scattered across Minho's low desk.

Today, the sun is watery and filters weakly through the wide windows of Minho's dorm bedroom, making everything seem pale and slightly colder than usual. You rub your feet together under the desk, your fluffy socks providing some comfort, before it evaporates as you turn back to the part of the assignment you've been struggling over for the past hour.

Minho is sitting across from you, embedded in his own section of the assignment; his head is bent and he sits with his back straight, his elbows positioned so that they just touch the edge of the table. He is pale in the weak sunlight and the only movement he makes comes from the slight flicking of his wrist as he neatly scribes down notes, apparently unaware of your predicament.

He looks like a statue, you think.

"Hey, Minnie," you hum lowly, resorting to annoying him instead of re-attempting your part of the assignment. "Help me out."

"No. And don't call me that."

You groan, pressing your fingers down onto the table and pushing several miscellaneous papers his way. A couple of sticky notes go flying too, and Minho sighs irritatedly as he plucks one off of the collar of his pristine white shirt.

Your eyes follow the trail of his hand as he lowers it, before it creeps back up. His top two buttons are undone and you can see the attractive glint of a necklace, a sleek chain perhaps, against the perfect porcelain skin of his throat-

You sigh. Of all people, why him?

You wish you'd been allowed to choose your own partner for the project. But your professor had other ideas in mind and decided to pair up random people 'to facilitate teamwork and spark new connections' or whatever. Something like that.

Much to your disappointment, you'd been separated from your friends and teamed up with Lee Minho. You knew of him but had never actually talked. Unless you counted that one time where you'd run face-first into him as he'd been coming out of the college library. And all that had been was a rushed apology from you and a slight, huffy glare from him.

He was kind of strange, you thought. He always sat at the front of every lecture, always finished his work way before it was due and scored perfectly every time. Without missing a beat and without breaking a sweat. It was so incredibly irritating.

On top of that, he was popular, usually swarmed by friends and other students whenever he walked the halls. Not that he seemed to notice most of the time. Or maybe he just didn't care. Maybe he was a robot. It would explain his behaviour.

A really attractive robot at that.

You crane your neck a little, peering over the stacks of books between the both of you and see that he's almost done writing up his notes for his section. All without even so much as a glance in your direction. Your page isn't even half-full and you're stuck.

"Why'd you ask me to come to your dorm if you were just gonna ignore me?" You whine.

"Because," he says calmly, "it's easier than having to do it over the phone."

Little shit.

"What about the library?" You retort. "We could have just gone there."

Minho doesn't take his eyes off the paper and he doesn't reply either. Faint colour rises in his cheeks but you're too wrapped up in your own current problems to notice.

"Minho, come on. We're supposed to be working together." You tilt your head and fix him with a pleading gaze, half-despair, half panic. You're not dumb, and maybe not incredibly smart like Lee Minho either, but this assignment is difficult. And it's harder when he's refusing to help.

You don't take your eyes off of him, deciding to keep your gaze fixed on his face until he chooses to acknowledge you. You wait almost ten minutes before he looks up again, and he jolts slightly, like he hasn't realised you've been fixated on him all that time.

He stiffens. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because. I need help."

"You're clever. Figure it out on your own."

Your heart flutters from the rather direct compliment but you choose to ignore it. "Minho, please."

He smirks suddenly, a short bout of apparent confidence, teasing as he imitates you. "Minho, please."

You swear and lift a fist but he doesn't even flinch. He looks at you quietly and his smile disappears, then he gets up and crouches down beside you, poring over your page.

He hums. "You didn't write shit."

You groan. "Yes, I know. Thank you for clarifying."

"You're welcome," he murmurs, unfazed, eyes fixed on the page.

It's then that you realise how close he is; he's not sitting down fully, leaning on the balls on his feet, a temporary sitting position. One hand is on the desk and he's leaning in a little, his mouth moving slightly as he exhales out words, skim-reading your page.

He smells good, you think.

Minho is there for what feels like hours but is probably a few seconds, and then he leans back, fixing you with a stare. You feel the unusual warmth of his presence near you fade, like a mug of hot tea gone cold, and a bitter feeling rises in your throat. You open your mouth a little, maybe to prepare for whatever insult he's concocted, but it doesn't come.

What does come is an unexpectedly gentle explanation of your section of the assignment. He moves a little closer to point things out on your research papers, so close that if you turned your head, the tip of your nose would brush his chest. He's looming over you a little but you feel strangely protected, and you find yourself relishing in the almost-contact of Minho being there beside you.

So much so that when he leans back to clarify that you've understood what he's been saying, you find yourself as a loss for words. All you can do is gaze up at his stupidly perfect face, mind whirring with many thoughts but none as present as the fact that you hadn't been listening and now he will probably throw you out the window.

"Y/n."

You blink once, slowly, stupidly.

"You're looking at me like that again."

And maybe it's the fact that this whole thing feels unreal, or that the assignment has you so dazed, or that you're working with Lee Minho of all people, but you suddenly find your hand reaching up to brush a strand of soft hair out of his eyes. It trails down until your thumb rests gently in the middle of his plush bottom lip. You expect him to move back, chide you, glare, push you away.

But he doesn't.

Later, you will be embarrassed by this memory, and the fact dimly registers somewhere in the back of your mind.

It seems to register in Minho's mind too, because his eyes widen a fraction and suddenly you find yourself falling off the soft, ethereal cloud of fantasy into the real world, where consequences and rational thoughts exist, though they didn't several seconds earlier.

You jerk your hand back and he looks almost disappointed, but you don't notice. A strand of fumbled apologies leaves your mouth as you stand, almost tripping, and quickly collect your belongings.

Minho has his hands out, seemingly trying to stop you, but his face is burning and unsure and you brush past him, fleeing as your eyes sting with tears. You rush through the unfamiliar setting of his dorm and eventually find the door.

"Wait," Minho gasps, seemingly out of breath. From what, you don't know. He still has his hands out, but he doesn't move to touch you, maybe afraid that he might scare you or cause some sort of unwanted reaction. Not that you're not already having one.

"Please," he says, quieter. You're still fumbling with the lock on the door, back to him. And you're not listening, too dazed and afraid to turn and face him. Humiliation washes over you in waves.

You feel so embarrassed.

But Minho has yet to throw an insult or a glare. He's just standing there, his hands out, almost reaching, and an expression of near-worry on his face. It looks strange, like he's not quite sure how to move his features to express it. In other situations, you would have laughed. Now all you want to do is cry.

The lock on the dormitory door finally gives and you rush out, disappearing down the hallway in a blur. Minho lets out a last, frantic 'wait' and considers rushing after you, but his rationality tells him it would just make things worse.

He pushes the door shut in a haze and sinks down against it, his hair ruffling against the smooth, white wood. He finds himself out of breath again, like he's been running, though he hasn't, and his stomach feels funny. Like something is leaping around inside it.

It's not unpleasant, almost a nice feeling, but it's unfamiliar and Minho has learnt to recognise that unfamiliar is usually not a good sign. He's supposed to know things and the feeling won't stop, so he puts both hands on his stomach to try and press it out, maybe.

But it doesn't work. Flashes of you run through his mind and the feeling only intensifies. His face feels like it's burning and he is bewildered, rosy in the weak sunlight. And he has a sudden, strange longing, yearning, maybe, to see you again.

Is it because you touched his face like that and he kind of liked it, maybe? Is it because he enjoyed having you around even though you're not a friend, or is it because you're a familiar face at college, and familiar is good and familiar is safe? He doesn't know.

A rather raw feeling surfaces in his chest and he almost gags at the unexpectedness of it. Suddenly he's on a stormy ocean, waves ravaging and lightning flashing all around him. He falls off his boat and loses his grip on the anchor and sinks into the cold, dark sea.

It runs down his cheeks, staining them wet and salty. And he's not one to be overemotional or show much of it in the first place unless there is a real reason, but he can't stop.

Minho puts his head in his hands and cries.

a/n: part 2?

[utilitycaster]

I am curious if you think the campaign wrap up will perhaps address some of the campaign shortcomings or challenges the cast faced in trying to land this campaign narratively, especially in comparison to previous campaigns? Not that they would disparage the whole campaign - but like a little “yeah this didn’t work as well as we wanted at times?” 

It’s odd because I find myself weirdly optimistic about CR as a whole despite this campaign’s possible lackluster ending, so I guess I’m hoping the campaign wrap up acknowledges that this campaign didn’t always play to their strengths in hopes that their next long form venture does more, idk.

I don't know if it will but. that's precisely the tenor any question I send will have: I don't think the fundamental concept is the issue - hell, I don't even think killing the gods is actually a problem if you appropriately set up a scenario where killing the gods has a motivation other than "mortals were mean to me in their name" [thing that happens irl all the time in a world with zero proof of divinity, in my religiously observant ideologically agnostic and skeptical opinion] or "I have issues with my parents I never worked towards so I've projected this onto The Ultimate Parents instead of like. being fucking normal." But it needed a lot more scaffolding at the VERY least in the prep for this campaign, and actually, to be blunt, if you want to make this a balanced issue you needed to seed this concept through prior campaigns in a meaningful way. There's a reason pretty much everyone who defends this campaign as Extremely Good, Actually is either doing some form of wildly revisionist history of the fandom and the past campaigns that's demonstrably false if you were like. there; or else they started with C3 and decided they were an expert despite being of below-average literacy and deeply below average personality and have to resort to such miserable efforts as "arguing that canon isn't real" and "posting an out of context Le Guin quote over and over in the hopes we won't notice they're actually 511 mice in a trenchcoat who can't actually read". So yeah I hope Matt is like this was an ambitious project and I'd have done many things differently.

I do wonder what's next for CR, because as I mentioned, it feels like the cast is stronger in shorter form; that even the other longform shows are moving to shorter form right now; and that WBN and C3 kind of show the limits/failings of longform. I hope they do another longform campaign at some point in the future, but it might make sense to take an extended break and play in the space for a while. They only took about 4 months between campaigns for the past two and maybe it would be good to take longer and focus on Daggerheart, Candela, and EXU for much of the year and if they do longform wait 8-10 months, especially with the comparatively extensive touring schedule this year.

I also hasten to add, and I mentioned this briefly in talking about CRPGs, but I think there's a Third Campaign Dip that's not inevitable (NADDPod didn't really have it; TAZ switches systems enough that it's not an issue) but definitely hit here, that doesn't apply to a fourth one. Like, for CRPGs (girl who's played Veilguard twice and gotten through the first day of Disco Elysium voice) it feels like the first run is following what seems most fun to you and then the second is playing around with other choices that maybe aren't as appealing just to see what happens, and then for the third and future runs you kind of know the full lay of the land and what you'll like while still allowing for a range of choices. For class-based TTRPGs, the first is the self-insert/thing that's fairly comfortable and easy/character you've dreamed of; the second is what you do now that you know how this works; and then the third can be...an overextension, shall we say. I think after that you figure out, again, the bounds of your comfort zone, how much you can stretch it, and what you don't like, you're in a much more consistent footing.

[icarusredwings]

Carly Crocker

(Not to be confused with Carly Boothe, That's Al's girlfriend, This is Beast's wife, Story of Wade meeting her at the end)

The beauty and the beast episode pissed me off, so let's go, In finding home AU Carly Anne Crocker (aka the ex blind girl) shows up later to the mansconfesses her feelings to Hank. This time, Jeans words ring in his head about letting a girl decide how much she wants to risk and can't turn her away. If anything, he is overwhelmed with joy. I mean, come on, it doesn't take a genius to know he struggles with romance so the fact that he loved her so much and let her go, and she still came back to him? It's enough to make his entire face purple and spin her around. And if you're wondering, 'Do they replace Scott and Jean as the mansion 'lovebirds' ?'

YES. Yes, they do. Because there is not a word that describes how utterly whipped he is for her, and she sees no one else the way him, even before the operation. She can still recognize him by scent and foot steps alone.

Now that I fixed that, here's some head canons.

Carly, now that she stays at the mansion, can quickly be unnoticeable, especially if you don't go in the basement or the lab. Most people only first meet/ notice her when he comes upstairs with her on his arm.

She is mainly seen talking with Jean, but she has no distaste for any of the others. Anyone can come talk to her, and she would be more than happy to talk. She does occasionally ask questions that might seem personal, letting her curiosities of her new friends get to her.

Asking Kurt why his tail wraps around peoples legs when he hugs them, asking Kitty what would happen if she accidently got stuck in a wall, asking Ororo why she was claustrophobic, asking Logan what it was like in the 1800s. Asking Remy what it was like growing up on the streets with his type of powers. She once even asked Charles if he had regrets about opening a school.

Some things she just stook to asking Hank about. Like why Rouge didn't have a very strong trust in other women other than the ones on the team. Or How Scott delt with all the preasure of somehow representing the X men when the entire world seemed to dislike them until a time of crisis when heros are needed.

For the most part, he'd quote something at her or give her a simple awnser. "My dear, Rouge has had a hard life, and not a great time with her mother. I would steer clear of asking her this directly seeing as you dont wish to upset her, do you?" Its asked in a genuine stand point. Never trying to shame her into not being curious.

Of course, she doesn't wish to upset her friends. But there is so many lies on the media and they hold struggles she couldn't possibly understand without asking.

Hank is very chivalrous, between opening doors, taking her hand when they go up the steps, writing her notes, looks away when he feels shes indecent (dispite them having gotten married almost asap) Brings her small gifts of flowers and cakes, anything really he finds she might enjoy.

Being practically attached to the hip, she learns a lot of things and becomes somewhat of an assistant type, bringing him things, scolding him for staying up too late, forcing him to take breaks in order to eat, teasing him as a last resort. It's very Pepper Potts of her really.

Except Hank isn't like Stark. He listens (most days 🙄) seeing as he finds Carly can be very.. distracting.. when she wants too.

Mainly, She dosn't call him beasts unless she is saying "My Beast" or "Youre the only beast in my heart." Sappy stuff like that drives Hank insane. What also makes him a bit looney is when she refers to herself as "Mrs. McCoy." Or calls for him with a sweet low "Oh, Henry~"

Other than that, it's either Hank, Dr. McCoy or just Sweetie.

Carly also doesn't mind him hanging from things. She finds it cute and often teases him about Spiderman kissing her. She also simply adores when the bed dips down low and she can cuddle him like a huge teddy. Who needs a blanket when your husband was covered in the softest fur you've ever felt?

Sometimes Carly brushes him out, to save the drain later you know? But also it felt nice to get him to finally relax and lean into her. She would kiss his face and tell him how handsome he is, dragging the brush across his arms and chest, giggling at how love drunk he looks.

Other times, when Carly got cold she'd just come to him and he'll hold her while working, walking around with her in his arm, her snuggled up on his shoulder. Something Carly has learned is that Hank is very touchy. Almost starved for it so she dosn't mind being carried or held.

He rubs her back, pecking kisses onto her head while he types up something or reads. Sometimes the children make fun of him, comparing carly and him to when king kong grabs that girl and climbs the empire state building. It makes Hank a bit upset but Carly giggles because they have no clue just how safe she feels in his arms.

I wanna assume that during her periods he carries her extra and wraps one of those travel heating pads around her, gives her pain meds and makes her food. Domestic stuff that really just makes you wanna AUUUGGHH when you think about it cause god damn hes a romantic.

At first, Hank, being so gentle with her was sweet. How gently he'd hold her in bed, how softly he'd be sure to grip her when carrying her. But Carly gets a bit frustrated when Hank acts like she's made from glass.

I can see him humming Mozart to her, calling her Dear 24/7, quoting poetry to her, being sure to kiss her before he leaves on missions, etc.

He is OBSESSED when she wears his white coat because its so big on her. He thinks its adorable and cant help but stare when ever he sees her walking around in it. (Even though she lowkey looks like the pope) Carly likes wearing it when its cold in the lab or when shes taking a nap in his library chair because it smells like him. Hank has many pictures of her but one of his favorites is when you fell asleep in his chair while wearing his coat and you can clearly see in the picture that you dozed off while reading. He thinks its absolutely the best thing in that stupid cellular device.

I can definitely see their first night together- TOGETHER being something difficult. Hes too gentle with her and it takes her riling him up to get him to fuck her properly. She fully understands what shes getting into and they have plenty of time and lube, so why not?

"Henry my darling, I love you very much, and I know you are scared but I am not damaged, I'm not going to shatter if you touch me. I'm not an old vase, I am your wife. One who is capable of deciding when it's enough. So please.. stop treating me like im a pricless artifact."

"B-but you are priceless-"

"Henry-" she gives him this look of 'quit the bs'

"O-okay... I suppose I can try.."

Once she breaks his whole "I can't be too rough or ill hurt her cause shes human" bullshit mindset, It's insane.

No, they aren't rabbits but it is quite frequent and its a shock how they haven't gotten pregnant yet.

If anything its like they both cant get enough of each other, between the whispers she does in his ear to his hands around her waist all the time.

Sweet jesus. Poor Logan. He has to hear all this. He (both old logan and worst logan) is very happy for his friend but GOD he didnt ever think he'd hear someone moan 'Oh fuck- Henry!' before as loudly as Carly does. Jesus sometimes he wishes he didnt have super hearing.

It's not until Storm mentions that Hank has a wife during orientation, in which Wade finds out, and clearly, he has to go tease her about it.

Sliding onto the stainless steel work place he smirks. He's in his regular clothes today so he fully expects her to scream. She dosn't.

"Oh.. Hello. Dr. McCoy is out at the moment." She says, like an assistant does.

He smiles all big and leans forward. "So you're married to big blue huh?"

Quite proudly she smiles. "Yes. I am."

"Wwooww good for him. Actually, it's no good for you." The first part seems normal, but it's never normal with Wade. "Does he bend you over that table over there?" He blurts out. Well shit- that was suppose to stay inside.

But Carly already is smirking. "Yes, he does. It's deeply sanitized."

Wades eyes widden as if he had hit jackpot. Everyone in this stuffy place was all stuck up and prim and proper. So to hear Carly straight up admit this felt like immediate friendship.

"Wooo look at you girl. Get it. But I gotta ask. Why?"

"Why the table or why did I marry him?"

"Oooh... Both!"

"Well, A. It's fun. B. He's a good man. He's very sweet to me, even when I was blind I knew there was something about him. He cares for me so much more then anyone else has."

Wade feels like he can relate. He wants to say something honest like 'Yeah, He is a pretty good guy isnt he?' But instead his brain had other ideas.

"What? You into weird lookin mutants or something?" He makes a face that would have been wiggling his brows, if he had any.

It makes Carly shake her head, giggling.

"Well, not particualry but... You know what they say about guys with big feet.."

This made sense about wolvie actually..

He gasps loudly, hand coming to his mouth. "You naughty gal!! So it is true. You know, I've always wondered myself."

"Mmh. Now that I awnsered your questions, you have to awnser mine about the Wolverine."

"Ooh smart. Did your research I see. Who warned you I was coming?"

She gigles again. "My husband."

"Ahh that snitch. So. What do you wanna know? Im an open book but I do have a lying disorder. Full warning."

"Is it true what they say? That canadians make good lovers?" She asks, leaning on the table that Wade was now kicking his feet on.

"Unless...y'know... if you're into that sort of thing." This last bit is a whisper as Wade daintily flashes the tags around his neck while trying to give her a flirty face. "I'm owned, baby! You can't have me. Im too expensive."

He gasps again, putting a hand to his chest. "Woah woah woah! Ladies! Calm down. Im a married man!!"

COUGH engaged. Actually COUGH

Again, Carly shakes her head, giggling. Goodness. What a character this one was. "No, unfortunately, I am not. And im sure you are."

"Well, good! Cause if you break my friends heart ill rip yours out." He says, smiling, but you could tell behind those moonstone eyes that there was no joke about it.

"If I ever break his heart, I'll rip it out myself." Carly says, staring him dead center. She wasn't afraid. Should she be? Yes. But she wasn't. Because she knows the only way Hank was getting rid of her was if he cheated or hit her.

Just as he was about to say something else, he turns, hearing a "Wade?" In which suddenly he gasps again, drimatically. "Woah!! Stay off me lady! You're married!! What would ol hanky panky think about this!?" It's loud, over the top, and he even holds himself like carly was just trying to strip him all while she stood there, crossed arms, hip out and only a slightly entertained smirk.

"Really?"

"Wade what do you need?" Said blue guy asks, coming around to set down two lunch trays.

"Your wifes tryna get dirty with the poole Hank!" He says and now theres two people giving him a stupid look.

"Yeah.. riiigghhhtt.... anyway. I believe Logan is looking for you. Shall I tell him you're busy?"

Wade grins widely as he jumps off the table. "Nope. Have a wonderful day. Great meeting you. You're nothing like my roommate's girlfriend Carly, though. She's polish. You dont look polish-"

"Wade.."

"Bye! My HUSBAND is callin me!" He says, practically skipping away, out of their hair and into someone elses.

".. What a weird man." She says, watching him go. "Indeed..."

[pokemonshelterstories]

Happy Holidays Charlie! I hope everything is going well for you and your family this jolly season :)!

I recently finished renovations for my backyard, which included a pond for small Water-types to be able to live in! I was thinking on getting a Lotad, but most of the available Pokedex info doesn't talk about husbanry, mostly behavior. I live on a fairly warm zone (Unova, near but not inside the Desert Resort)and before commiting I'd like to know if that would be an issue/good option. And if it isn't, are there any other good water-types you'd reccomend?

it sounds like you're in a great location for a lotad! these guys need access to both full sun and shady areas, and they prefer a warmer environment. the main thing is making sure that your pond a. isn't too deep and b. stays very clean. lotad thrive in calm freshwater ponds, but it doesn't take much for them to decide that their water is too dirty and leave to look for other water sources. as long as you're committed to regular cleaning and filter changes, you should be good to have a lotad!

just make sure with your pond that there's an incline for your lotad to get out of the pond with. because their leaf is so heavy, they can't pull themselves out of water easily without a gentle slope. it will make your new buddy a lot more comfortable if there's an easy way for it to climb out of the pond if it wants!

[faelorelia]

👆🏻‼️

Even though Will did kind of lie to Mike during his monologue in the van, it wasn’t with the intention to deceive or gain something for himself. Instead, it was an act of selflessness – a way for Will to make Mike feel better about himself, to make him feel valued, and, above all, LOVED.

Will lied during that monologue because, for someone like him, it wasn’t safe to openly express his feelings. He knew he could never speak up the way others do, so he resorted to the closest thing he could do to express his feelings – he hid behind El. He did this not only to comfort Mike but also to “save” Mileven’s relationship. Will sacrificed his own feelings and his chance at happiness for the sake of the boy he loves. Throughout S4, Will’s focus was entirely on supporting his best friend (aka the love of his life).

El never did that for Mike. Sure, they care for each other and have saved one another from danger, but that’s not what romantic love is about. Apart from their shared experiences fighting monsters, they have little in common. Who does Mike truly share so much with? Will.

“Stranger Things” has shown us time and time again how Mike and El are incompatible and unable to give each other what they truly need. On the other hand, Mike and Will constantly support each other, share deep common ground, and are always there for one another.

It’s clear which pair is meant to be together. Byler endgame!

"and he doesn't deserve that."

aka the line that confirms byler endgame for me

why is will the one defending mike?? why is will the only one thinking of mike's feelings here?? why should will have to remind el that mike deserves better than to be lied to for 6 months and counting???

will is the only one thinking of mike's happiness and wellbeing. el did not consider this at any point, she only cared about mike blindly believing her lies. it's not important to her that mike knows the truth, meanwhile the opposite is true for will. he is honest with mike even if he feels it'll hurt mike's perception of him. because he loves mike too much to lie to him, especially to his face.

and even after the milkshake incident happened and el had lots of time to realize will was right, that mike did deserve to know the truth, and that mike was trying to come after her, she STILL asked angela of all people to lie straight to mike's face.

will was pissed of with mike and very hurt by his actions, and he was still the only one looking out for mike that day. because that's how much he loves mike.

so if el and will are both in love with mike...but mike is only in love with el....and mlvn are soulmates and are going to be together forever....why are the writers showing us that will cares for mike in ways el doesn't and is clearly the better match for him in terms of being treated well?

short answer: byler endgame

[andre-and-cal]

Do you got any scary Andre and Cal HCs?

Yes, I’ve got a few scary headcanons for em !! Enjoy :3

Scary Zero Day HCs.

Sometimes, Cal steals little things from Andre. He feels he gains a sense of control over Andre from it, knowing he has Andre’s stuff and is “close to him” when he’s not around, especially when he or Andre are out of town. He plays dumb whenever Andre asks Cal if he’s seen where his chain necklace went, or that old shirt of his he just can’t find anywhere. And yet Calvin puts on a small, believable smirk, teases him for losing such a belonging, and denies having seen it, all the while clutching whatever item he stole from him in his pocket. He rarely snatches clothing items, since it’d be hard to get away with that.

Not to say he hasn’t, of course, but he’s only stolen one of Andre’s shirts and a pair of sunglasses from him. Andre had to get new ones as a result. Cal doesn’t want to risk Andre catching him pulling off a shirt from his hanger in his closet, doesn’t want to amp up the anxiety he already faces from stealing something miniature. So, his go-tos are rings, necklaces, pencils, etc. Yet, he leaves Andre’s dog tag necklace alone— since their dog tags are a matching symbol of their unspoken suicide pact. And after Zero Day, when Cal’s parents were cleaning up his room and preparing to get rid of certain items of his, they discovered a small box in his closet stashed behind board games and old VHS tapes of him and Andre in middle school. This small box containing some of Andre’s goods, which Cal had carefully pocketed or shoved into his overnight bag when Andre was in the bathroom or not looking his direction.

Cal does like to watch Andre change, whether he’s aware or unaware of him watching. One time, Calvin took the camcorder and barged into Andre’s room while he was changing, having pretended he was in the bathroom, and he walked up to him, filming him half naked— he was only in boxers and socks, to be exact. But he didn’t stop recording, even though Andre quickly grew embarrassed and visibly pissed off and demanded for him to put the camcorder down. Since Cal was refusing, Andre pushed him out of his room within a couple seconds. And later, alone in his bedroom, Cal extracted the camcorder footage and put it on a more personal tape of his, if you catch my drift.

Cal shows very little emotion when someone, often Brad, provoke him into boiling with rage. Typically, he’s not a verbally explosive individual, because he’s more of like a quiet “I could kill you right now and nobody would find your dead body”. And it isn’t uncommon for him to resort to subtle antisocial behavior or outward violence. After all, if you poke the bear, he’ll wake up. For example, before he and Andre egged Brad’s house, Cal wanted to slash Brad’s tires or break a couple of his house windows or car windows. While Andre wanted to agree as well, he also knew he had to be rational and calm Cal down, since he knew they would both get arrested for vandalism if they followed through with that.

In addition, he harbors shallow empathy toward other people, especially those he isn’t close to. Though, due to his shy personality, many of his peers remain oblivious to this. Andre can tell how he cares so little even when something rare— like a medical emergency or an accident— happens to someone in public or to a peer at school. He just doesn’t care, and hypothetically, if he had to call the police for someone, he’d take his sweet ass time doing so. He’s not very sympathetic, he’s not panicky that their life may be at stake. Andre has to scold him and tells him to least pretend he cares so nobody grows suspicious of his indifference, for which Cal responds with, “But it’s hard since nobody is at our level, you know?”, which is basically Cal’s way of saying other people don’t matter, except him and his comrade, Andre.

Andre can go from 0 to 100 pretty fast. When he’s enraged, he’s enraged. It’s usually hard for him to calm down until he acts out and takes his anger out on an object… or someone. A few times in the past, he’s seriously punched Cal when they were fighting, but Cal always made it equal and punched him back. Andre has gotten into a few fights with Brad before, too, but he doesn’t win any fights against the guy. A student on the track team is not winning against the captain of the wrestling team. Sometimes he imagines himself pulling out a shotgun and blasting Brad’s brains to bits.

Andre and Cal are around each other so much that it feels like a part of Andre’s brain is missing when Calvin isn’t around. So the nights Cal is busy, for example with Rachel or his family, if he tells Andre where he’ll be gone, sometimes Andre will drive to the place Calvin is at and park a good distance away from the building so Cal doesn’t notice him following him. Andre doesn’t get out or anything, just sits in his car. He wants to make sure he’s okay, in his mind. He worries about Cal, after all. Too much, even. He needs to know he’s alright, because to Andre, “Anything can happen”. He only stalks Cal once in a while; he doesn’t do it all the time, because he knows how not-normal it is to do such a thing. Moreover, he doesn’t want Calvin to find out about him doing this.

Andre knows some areas in New Stratford where you could bury a body and get away with it, where it would truly never be found. His mother, with her maternal protectiveness toward her son, often mentioned the places where it would be best to hide dead bodies in town, referring to what she’d do if someone ever hurt Andre. Now, at the time, Andre didn’t really understand what she meant and he had no idea where these places were. But now, as an older teen, he knows, and he still keeps them in mind. But Andre doesn’t want to kill anyone yet— not until Zero Day. He knows he’d be too clumsy and anxious with handling a corpse. But for him, it’s still good information to mentally note.

Andre isn’t just fixated on the concept of violence within the military; he’s also focused on the sheer devastation, message, and the impact war leaves behind. That’s why, from what I could see, he was focused a little more on the aftermath of Zero Day in the film. He wanted to leave him and Cal’s mark behind, like the paths warfare leaves behind between countries. He even tried to mimic some army poses with his guns during the massacre. He wanted to “declare war” on him and Cal’s school during Zero Day and hopefully witness the effects of the planned tragedy after traveling cross-country to do the same to other schools. But obviously, this didn’t end up happening, as they cut their lives short during the shooting. However, he and his comrade still left a greater, more sorrowful influence than they anticipated, even in death.

[cosmicjoke]

Ackerman Relationships and Why Comparing Them is Invidious and Pointless:

It really, really pisses me off when people say the relationships between Kenny and Uri, Levi and Erwin, and Mikasa and Eren are "the same", that they're meant to parallel and mirror each other, because it's always this agenda driven stupidity of trying to "prove" some preconceived idea that they've already decided is the objective truth. They love to claim that the "Ackerbond" is real, that it's their blood that makes them loyal, or some magical bonding process unique to Ackerman's that makes them this way, all as a means of proving that either, a. Levi was "in love" with Erwin and put him above humanity, or b. Mikasa was really the hero all along because she was able to "let Eren go", while Levi supposedly wasn't able to do the same with Erwin.

I mean, never mind that Levi very literally let Erwin go. They never consider how it was this moment in the story, Levi letting Erwin die, that set the example for Mikasa to eventually be able to do the same with Eren. God forbid they acknowledge that Levi served as a mentor figure for all of the 104th and that they all learned from him, including Miksasa, and became better and more enlightened people through their association with him. You know, like any young person should from their association with an adult. These people also never seem to be able to answer what it is about letting Erwin die that actually benefited Levi, but I digress.

They always do the same, stupid thing, resort to the same, idiot argument, quoting a single, vague answer given by Isayama in a random interview about how Levi and Mikasa are like "knight" figures, and using that as some kind of irrefutable proof and evidence that Levi's relationship with Erwin is meant to be exactly the same as Mikasa's relationship with Eren. The thing about this claim that's so irritating is that, as usual with these sorts, they completely ignore this little thing called context, again, to push their agenda. They quote Isayama, and think that alone is all one needs to understand the dynamic between these six, different characters, completely foregoing consideration of the actual events of the story, or the fact that Kenny, Levi and Mikasa are all distinctly individual, characters, who's reasons for being loyal to their respective "people" are unique to them specifically. They completely ignore their individual personalities, they completely ignore the unique circumstances and reasoning behind their loyalty, and simply reduce it down to "Ackerman bonding, lol". It's so fucking stupid. Not only has Isayama himself debunked this notion in an interview (one which these people conveniently ignore when talking about this), but it was debunked within the story itself by Zeke. There is no Ackerbond. There is no magical link or bond between Ackerman's and anybody that's dictated or related in any way to their heritage or blood.

Levi, Mikasa and Kenny have individual, unique relationships with other characters, and those relationships are defined by their individual personalty traits and the unique circumstances surrounding the formation of those relationships. It has nothing to do with any of them being Ackerman's. It has nothing to do with their blood.

So I'm going to go over each of these situations, and lay out why it's an invidious comparison between all three of the Ackerman characters, and how it leads to misconceptions and wildly off the mark interpretations when one approaches analyzing these characters with the assumption that they're meant to "be the same".

Let's start with Kenny and Uri.

People love to present this idea that Kenny was "in love" with Uri (lol), again because it pushes their agenda of trying to prove Levi was in love with Erwin, either because they're incapable of viewing Levi through anything but a shipping lens, or because they want to paint Mikasa as somehow superior to Levi by claiming she was able to let go of the love of her life, while Levi wasn't. Kenny wasn't in love with Uri, though, and wasn't beholden to Uri through some magical bonding process driven by his Ackerman blood, the same way Mikasa wasn't beholden to Eren and Levi wasn't beholden to Erwin through any such magical connection, either. Kenny was "loyal" to Uri because he considered Uri to be the ultimate embodiment of power and believed it was that power that allowed Uri to be compassionate. Kenny knew he himself was a bad person, and he wanted to know what it felt like not to be. He wanted to know what it felt like to care about other people. He mistakenly believed that what made Uri a compassionate person was his power, and so he decided his own, best chance to become like Uri was to do his bidding in the eventual hope that it would present him with a chance to become a Titan himself. That's literally the reason Kenny worked for Uri. It wasn't because he was in love with Uri. It wasn't because "Uri was his person". It wasn't even because he cared about Uri. Kenny didn't care about anyone but himself. Something manifest in the very fact Kenny sought a way to feel compassion. Because he couldn't. And his inability to grasp on any level what compassion actually is or where it comes from is proof of this in and of itself. Kenny aligning himself with Uri was because he knew if he worked for the royal family, he would be able to get closer to finding a way to steal the power of the Titans. That's it. That was Kenny's reasoning. It's why he continued to work for the Reiss family even after Uri died. He was pursuing his goal of becoming the ultimate power in his misguided attempt to be a better person. Do I even have to lay out how the reason behind and nature of Kenny's relationship with Uri is completely different from Levi's with Erwin, or Mikasa's with Eren? I shouldn't have to.

Okay, now onto Levi and Erwin.

I've talked enough about Levi's relationship with Erwin that I don't have to go into great detail here. But just like people love to do with Kenny and Uri, and for the aforementioned agenda, they also love to say Levi was "in love" with Erwin, and they often use this claim to paint a picture of Levi as a selfish person who was willing to "sacrifice humanity" for the love of his life. Blah, blah, blah. I've gone over this a million times, so I won't do it again. I'll just lay out the actual reason Levi was so loyal to Erwin. It wasn't because he was "in love" with him, it was because he believed in Erwin as a leader. He saw Erwin as a superior person to himself because he believed Erwin was able to see something he couldn't, that he had a vision that Levi didn't, and that, as a result, he was someone worth believing in and following as a leader. He saw Erwin as capable of leading humanity to victory over the Titans. It's important to make this distinction, though. He didn't see Erwin as essential to saving humanity (we know this because Levi was twice willing to let Erwin die to save Eren), but he saw him as someone capable and important in that fight, as someone worth following because he had what it would take to make victory possible. He let Erwin die, he felt safe in making that choice, because he also believed in Armin the same way. He believed Armin had the capability to become a leader for humanity. Levi's loyalty to Erwin had nothing to do with love or personal, romantic feelings. It had nothing to do with obsession or blind devotion. It had nothing to do with a personal dream or desire to be with Erwin. It had to do with trusting in Erwin's judgement as a leader and believing that following him could both lead humanity to victory and also allow Levi a means by which to help people himself. Erwin showed Levi a path by which to help others, and so Levi chose to follow his lead and allowed Erwin to utilize his strength toward that end. That's it. That's Levi's relationship with Erwin in a nutshell. That's why Levi was loyal to Erwin. Again, I shouldn't have to explain further how totally different this is to either Kenny's relationship with Uri, or Mikasa's relationship with Eren.

And finally, Mikasa and Eren.

Mikasa is in love with Eren. That's the nature of their relationship. Mikasa feels this way about Eren because he saved her life and gave her a new family after she'd lost her own. Mikasa followed Eren, not because she believed in him as a leader, and not because she thought being around him would gain her power or help her become a better person, but because she had a personal dream of them ending up together in a romantic relationship. She had a personal dream of Eren returning her affections and them getting to live happily ever after, as a family. It's that simple. Mikasa joins the Survey Corps because she cares about Eren more than anything or anyone, and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect him, including imperiling her own life by joining the most dangerous division of the military. Mikasa's relationship with Eren is what so many people mistakenly think Levi's relationship with Erwin is. Mikasa is willing, for almost the entire story, to kill anyone or destroy anything if it means keeping Eren safe. I've already laid out how entirely unlike Levi's relationship with Erwin this is. Levi was always willing to let Erwin die if it was necessary to the mission of the Survey Corps. Mikasa wasn't able to do the same with Eren until the very end of the story. Why? Again, because unlike Levi with Erwin, Mikasa prioritized Eren over humanity. Levi joined the Survey Corps to fight for humanity, not Erwin. He fought for humanity under Erwin's guidance, to be sure, but it wasn't for Erwin. It was for humanity. Mikasa joined the Survey Corps to keep Eren safe. She joined the Survey Corps for Eren. Again, I shouldn't have to explain further why this makes Mikasa's relationship with Eren incomparable to either Kenny's relationship with Uri, or Levi's relationship with Erwin.

It completely takes away any complexity or individuality from these characters when you group them all together and say they're all meant to be alike, or meant to be a mirror of one another. It robs them of their individual personalities and motivations and reduces them down to some monolithic avatar on which to project your own, personal desires and fantasies. It ignores their individual characterization and circumstances within the narrative of "Attack on Titan" all in the name of confirmation bias. You want Levi to be in love with Erwin, well, then, you have to compare his relationship with Erwin to Mikasa's with Eren, or Kenny's with Uri, and say all three were rooted in the "blind devotion" of love. You want Mikasa to be "the real hero" of AoT, then you have to also claim Levi was in love with Erwin so that you can then compare his supposed failure to let Erwin go with Mikasa's heroic sacrifice of Eren in the end. These people aren't looking at these characters with any kind of objectivity. They approach their understanding of them with their minds already made up about who they want them to be and what they want to personally believe about them and the story, and then twist their actions to fit their preconceived notions, instead of assessing these characters on an individual basis, considering their individual personality traits and motivations, or their circumstances within the context of the story itself, and then forming an opinion on them.

You can't compare any of their situations, because all three situations and all three characters are completely different to each other. Kenny's relationship with Uri is nothing like Levi's relationship with Erwin, or Mikasa's relationship with Eren. Levi's relationship with Erwin is nothing like Kenny's relationship with Uri, or Mikasa's relationship with Eren. Mikasa's relationship with Eren is nothing like Levi's relationship with Erwin or Kenny's relationship with Uri. Why? Because these three characters aren't the same people. They have completely different personalities from one another, completely different motivations, completely different outlooks and completely different circumstances they're facing. It's not fair to any of them to claim they're all alike, all driven by the same thing, or the same purpose. It reduces all of their characters to something they're not when you do that. It robs all of them of their essential core as characters. It makes them boring.

You have to assess all of these characters individually, on their own terms, with consideration to their unique personalities and motivations and circumstances. If you can't do that, then you aren't ever going to be able to form an accurate understanding of who any of them are.

I'm sure that one moronic Mikasa stan that keeps coming into my inbox will see this, so I dedicate this post especially to you, asshole. Maybe one day you'll learn to love your favorite characters objectively and without having to tear other characters down or grossly mischaracterize them in some pathetic attempt to make your fav look better. But I kind of doubt it. In the meantime, have fun continuing to delude yourself.

[pikahlua]

I wanna know about Bombshell!! and if no one else has asked, Breach, too! >:D

Bombshell was a fic I conceived the first time I was in the MHA fandom. It was an alternate canon where AFO had been following All Might's movements since he went into hiding and knew the moment he picked Izuku as his successor, so he booby trapped Izuku with another quirk. The quirk goes off and leads to a major event the day before Izuku would have started at UA where villains take control of a portion of the city and it becomes a lawless zone, so Izuku doesn't make it to school. The kids all wonder about him so they send him his homework assignments and turn in the work he finishes, and eventually they try to go into the lawless zone to get him out. They bug Katsuki a lot when they find out he knows Izuku too.

Breach is the working title for what I wanted to be my MHA Mer-May fic lol. Very loosely based on The Little Mermaid, the premise is that Izuku is a merman who makes a friend on land, Prince Shouto, and wants to help him with his problems because he's Izuku, so he makes a magical contract to become a human, with all the trappings that come along with it--i.e. if he doesn't get the prince to fall in love with him, Izuku will lose his freedom. Well, Shouto's not really interested in romance and is completely oblivious, so Izuku's friends in the know try to help him out. Things get beyond their handling and they resort to informing Katsuki, also a merman, about what has happened. Katsuki goes to give Izuku an earful and to get him out of his mess, and he tries to find a loophole in the contract. Yes, that's right, this merman fic is about Katsuki being Izuku's magical lawyer 😂 Katsuki determines that the loophole in the contract is that it states nothing about what would happen if the prince isn't capable of delivering--the contract should go void if the prince doesn't exist. So Katsuki resolves that murdering Shouto is the best option and uses magic to go on land to get the job done. Hijinks ensue. Shouto eventually catches onto the shenanigans but mistakes Katsuki's behavior for being in love with Izuku, so HE starts trying to get Izuku and Katsuki together and Katsuki is like "THIS IS JUST MAKING EVERYTHING WORSE AAAAAAAAAAAAA." Other stuff happens but I may actually write this someday so I won't go into the ending. Basically, Little Mermaid AU fic where Katsuki is both the crab and the love interest in the end lol.

[bunnyboowrites]

Can you do more Luffy x black female reader

Sorry it took a while and I hope you enjoy! Xoxo Bunny boo

Warnings: P in V sex, female reader, ooc Luffy (because cannon Luffy having sex is very unlikely)

Being Straw Hat Luffy’s girlfriend has its perks. Life with him is an endless whirlwind of excitement—crazy adventures across the Grand Line, indulging in delicious food, and being surrounded by the most loyal and unique crew you could ever imagine. Every day feels like a new chapter in a story you never want to end. The camaraderie, the laughter, and the thrill of facing the unknown make it all feel like a dream.

But, as with any great journey, there’s always a downside. The constant danger lurking around every corner, the relentless pursuit by enemies and bounty hunters, and the sacrifices that come with chasing the One Piece can take their toll. Being with Luffy means embracing the chaos and uncertainty of a pirate’s life, where every moment is unpredictable and safety is never guaranteed.

Luffy’s bounty had just skyrocketed to an unbelievable 3,000,000,000 berries, and, true to form, he did what he always does—insisted on celebrating a job well done. With his boundless enthusiasm, it was impossible to say no. The Thousand Sunny docked at a lush island that felt more like a luxurious resort, and soon enough, the whole crew was running wild, each indulging in their own version of fun.

Usopp, Franky, Brook, and Chopper were tearing through every daredevil slide they could find, their laughter and excited shouts echoing across the resort. Zoro, as expected, had stationed himself at the bar, steadily draining it of its supply while challenging anyone daring enough to keep up. Luffy was practically glued to Sanji’s side, pestering him for food with the wide-eyed persistence only Luffy could manage.

Meanwhile, you, Jinbei, Robin, and Nami had opted for a quieter kind of indulgence, lounging in the cool shade near a massive pool. The tranquil setting was a welcome reprieve after your recent adventures. As you stretched out on the comfortable lounge chair, the sound of splashing water and distant laughter blended into the background while you exchanged stories with the others, recounting the chaos and triumphs of your latest journey. It was one of those rare moments of peace, where the weight of the Grand Line seemed to melt away, if only for a little while.

“You ladies look absolutely radiant!” Sanji gushed, his heart practically floating out of his chest as he addressed you, Robin, and Nami. His eyes sparkled, but Luffy’s attention suddenly snapped to you.

You were stretched out in a white bikini, your brown skin glistening under the sun, misted with sweat that only accentuated your natural beauty. Luffy stared openly, his grin widening as if he’d never seen anyone so dazzling.

Robin and Nami, unbothered by the usual antics, each requested drinks, and Sanji immediately sped off to fulfill their every wish, leaving the three of you with Jinbe still reclining in his spot.

“So,” Nami began with a sly smile, leaning in slightly, “have you and Luffy done any couple things yet?”

The question hit you like a tidal wave, and you felt the warmth of embarrassment rush to your cheeks. “I, um…” you stammered, glancing nervously between them. “We’ve only been dating a couple of weeks, and, well… Luffy can be a little clueless sometimes.” You gave a small, nervous laugh, scratching the back of your neck as their curious gazes lingered on you.

Robin chuckled softly, her calm demeanor adding a gentle ease to the conversation. Jinbei, however, spoke up with a knowing smile. “You’ll have to be direct with our captain,” he said wisely. “He may be strong, but when it comes to these things, he’s… not the brightest.”

The group laughed, and you couldn’t help but join in, the tension easing slightly. You glanced toward Luffy, who was now bouncing up and down in front of Sanji, pleading for a snack. Maybe Jinbei was right—subtlety would probably never work with someone like him.

As the afternoon stretched on and the festivities began to settle, Luffy, in his usual energetic fashion, bounded over to you with his signature grin. “Hey! Let’s go explore!” he said, grabbing your hand without waiting for an answer. His enthusiasm was infectious, and you didn’t even think to protest as he led you away from the group and into the thick jungle surrounding the resort.

The sounds of the crew’s laughter and chatter faded as the dense foliage engulfed the two of you. Luffy’s grip on your hand was firm but gentle, his excitement radiating with every step he took. He didn’t have a destination in mind, but with Luffy, you didn’t need one. Just being by his side was its own adventure.

After some time weaving through vines and ducking under low-hanging branches, you both stumbled upon something unexpected—a natural hot spring nestled in a clearing, steam rising delicately from the crystal-clear water. The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting a golden glow over the serene oasis.

“Whoa!” Luffy exclaimed, eyes wide with amazement. “This is awesome!”

You couldn’t help but smile at his childlike wonder. “It’s beautiful,” you said, stepping closer to the edge of the spring. The warm steam kissed your skin, and the bubbling water looked so inviting after the day’s heat.

Without a second thought, Luffy started stripping off his sandals and unbuttoning his shirt, tossing it aside. “Let’s get in!” he said eagerly, already wading into the water.

“Luffy!” you laughed, turning away as he plunged in, fully embracing the soothing heat. He surfaced a moment later, shaking his head like a dog and grinning at you.

“Come on!” he urged, holding out a hand. “It feels amazing!”

You hesitated for a moment before giving in. Sliding into the water beside him, the warmth wrapped around you like a comforting hug. You sighed in contentment as you sank deeper, the tension melting from your body.

Luffy floated nearby, his carefree smile never fading as he glanced over at you. “This was a good idea, huh?”

“Yeah,” you agreed, meeting his gaze. “It was.”

The two of you stayed there for what felt like hours, talking about everything and nothing. The jungle seemed to stand still around you, the moment entirely your own.

Luffy’s grin widened, his brown eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and something deeper—something that made your heart race. There was an intensity in his gaze, a desire so pure and earnest that it left you breathless. Slowly, he swam closer, the gentle ripples in the water giving way to his presence until he was right in front of you.

His wet body pressed lightly against yours under the warm water, and you could feel the heat of his skin blending with the soothing heat of the spring. The firmness of his muscles was undeniable, a testament to his strength and determination, but his touch held a softness that made you feel safe, cherished.

“Hey, Y/N,” Luffy said softly, his voice dipping into a rare tone of vulnerability. “You’re so beautiful… and really pretty.” His shy smile stretched across his face, and you noticed the faintest blush dusting his cheeks—a rare sight for someone usually so confident and carefree. “I like you. A lot,” he added, the words tumbling out in a way that felt so completely him—honest, simple, and straight from the heart.

Your breath hitched as he lifted his hand, the rubbery texture of his fingers unusually gentle as they caressed your cheek. His thumb brushed lightly over your bottom lip, the touch so soft and intimate that it sent a shiver cascading down your spine. The world seemed to fade, leaving only the sound of water bubbling around you and the rhythmic pounding of your heartbeat.

Luffy’s gaze was intense yet unassuming, filled with an innocent longing that made the moment even more profound. His eyes searched yours, as if trying to read your thoughts, before he leaned in just slightly, his lips parting with anticipation.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, the hopeful edge tugging at your heartstrings. His question hung in the air, tender and raw, as if he was offering you his entire heart in those simple words.

You could feel the warmth of his breath, the proximity making the steam swirling around you both seem even heavier, like a dream you didn’t want to wake from. His presence was magnetic, drawing you closer as his hand remained on your cheek, his thumb now tracing small circles on your skin.

Unable to find the words, you nodded, your lips trembling slightly as you tilted your face toward his. That was all the encouragement he needed. Luffy closed the small distance between you, his lips brushing against yours with a hesitancy that surprised you—gentle, almost testing, as though he wanted to make sure he got it just right.

The kiss deepened as you leaned into him, your hands finding their way to his shoulders. His lips were soft and warm, moving against yours with a sweetness that left you feeling lightheaded. The innocence of his touch mixed with the quiet passion he poured into the kiss made it clear just how much he cared for you.

When he finally pulled back, his face was flushed, and his grin was even wider than before. “That was awesome!” he exclaimed, his excitement breaking through the intimate stillness. His joy was contagious, and you couldn’t help but laugh, your own cheeks warm with both the heat of the spring and the lingering warmth of his kiss.

“Yeah, it was,” you replied, your voice soft but full of affection as you looked at him

“Luffy I wanna try something” you stated, hands moving to pull the tie of your bikini top and bottom. Letting them float away you grin. The water is covering your body as you press yourself into him. Luffy's eyes widened in surprise, and he stumbled backward, his hands instinctively reaching out to grasp your waist. His face turned bright red as he struggled to process what was happening.

"W-what are you doing?" he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper. The water around you seemed to amplify the sensation of your skin touching his, and Luffy's eyes darted back and forth, as if searching for an escape or a distraction. Despite his initial shock, a sly grin began to spread across his face, and he leaned in closer, his voice taking on a more playful tone. "I-I mean, I'm not complaining or anything..."

“I want to take our relationship to the next level Luffy, I love you and people in love do these things” you toy with the strings of his bottoms. Your naughty hands exploring his hard abdomen.

Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he let out a nervous chuckle, his hands tightening around your waist. "O-oh, I see," he stuttered, his face still flushed with embarrassment. As your hands explored his abdomen, he couldn't help but let out a slight moan, his body responding to your touch. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against your ear, sending shivers down your spine. "I love you too," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water.

His hands began to roam, tracing the curves of your body, and he pulled you closer, his lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss. The water around you seemed to fade into the background as you both lost yourselves in the moment, the only sound being the beating of your hearts and the gentle lapping of the waves.

A gasp left your mouth, your body was so reactive to his touch. You hadn’t done this before and you also assumed he hadn’t as well. Your hands slipped under his trunks and moaned feeling him, your fingers could barely wrap around his length. Luffy's eyes widened in surprise, and he let out a low groan, his body tensing up as your hands wrapped around him. He had never experienced anything like this before, and the sensation was almost overwhelming.

His hands tightened around your waist, pulling you closer as he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring your mouth. As you moaned, he felt a surge of excitement, his body responding to your touch. He couldn't help but move his hips, subtly thrusting into your hands, as if seeking more of the pleasure you were giving him. His voice was barely above a whisper, but he managed to stammer out, "Y-you're... really good at this..." His face was still flushed with embarrassment.

“Take your trunks off Lu, I wanna feel you for the first time.” You pulled yourself away from his body and turned to lean over the rocky edged wall of the spring. Your ass peaking out of the water as you arched and wiggled your ass to entice him “don’t you wanna feel me around you?”

Luffy's eyes went wide as he stared at your arched back and the enticing sight of your ass peeking out of the water. He felt a surge of desire and his face turned an even deeper shade of red. He stuttered, "Y-yes... I wanna feel you..." His hands trembled as he reached down to push his trunks down, his eyes never leaving yours.

As he stepped out of his trunks, he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He had never done this before, but he couldn't wait to experience it with you. He took a step closer, his eyes fixed on your ass, and his hands reached out to grasp your hips. He leaned in, his lips brushing against your ear, and whispered, "I wanna feel you so bad..." His body was tense with anticipation, and he slowly began to push himself closer, his tip brushing against your entrance.

“Come on Luffy let me show you how much I love my captain” you spread your pussy lips open as invitation. He took a deep breath, his face still flushed with embarrassment, and slowly began to push himself into you. As he entered, he let out a low groan, his body tensing up with pleasure. He felt a sense of wonder and excitement, as if he had never felt anything so good before. His hands tightened around your hips, pulling you closer as he began to move slowly, his body adjusting to the new sensation. "A-ah... I can feel it... I can feel how much you love me..." he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. As he moved, he felt a sense of connection and intimacy with you, and he knew that their relationship had reached a new level. He leaned in, his lips brushing against your ear, and whispered, "I love you too... so much..."

The sensation of him filling you up was intense, the painful pressure was mixing with the pleasure of him inside of you, you could barely moan out a response “I-i love you too captain” you knew how much he loved to be called that, especially by you.

Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement as he heard you call him "captain", and he felt a surge of pride and pleasure. He began to move more slowly, trying to savor the sensation of being inside you, and his hands tightened around your hips, pulling you closer. "A-ah, say it again... say it again, please..." he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. As he moved, he felt a sense of ownership and possession, as if he had claimed you as his own. He leaned in, his lips brushing against your ear, and whispered, "You're mine...my love... you're all mine..." His movements became more gentle, as if he was trying to make the sensation last forever, and he whispered, "I'll always protect you, I'll always love you..."

“Please captain, faster please” you preened, the feeling in your belly was so intense and you didn’t want it to end too early but you needed him to fuck you like there was nothing and no one else in the world but you. Luffy heard your plea, and he felt a surge of desire to fulfill your request. He began to move faster, his hips thrusting into you with a newfound intensity, and his hands gripped your hips tightly, holding you in place.

"A-ah, like this? Like this, Y/N?" he whispered, his voice hoarse with passion. As he moved, he felt himself getting lost in the sensation, his mind consumed by the thought of being inside you, of being the only one who could make you feel this way. He leaned in, his lips brushing against your ear, and whispered, "I'll give you everything, I'll give you all of me... just for you..." His movements became more frenzied, his body pounding into yours, as if he was trying to merge their two bodies into one. The sound of the water, the sound of their heavy breathing, and the sound of their skin slapping together filled the air, creating a symphony of passion and desire.

The knot was so close to snapping, you reach down and play with your clit and push yourself over the edge. He felt a surge of pleasure at the sight of you bringing yourself to orgasm. He moved faster, his hips thrusting into you with a newfound intensity. As you moaned out his name, he felt a sense of pride and ownership, knowing that he was the one who had brought you to this point. He leaned in, his lips brushing against your ear, and whispered, "I'm coming too,Y/N... I'm coming with you..." His body tensed up, and he let out a loud groan as he reached his own climax, his seed spilling into you as he held you tightly in place. The two of you remained there for a moment, frozen in time, as the waves of pleasure washed over you, and the sound of your heavy breathing filled the air. Finally, Luffy collapsed against you, his body spent, and his lips brushed against your ear as he whispered, "I love you, Y/N... I love you so much..."

The hot spring remained still, its warmth wrapping around you both like a gentle embrace as the quiet moment lingered. Your heart was still fluttering from the confession, but you managed to steady your breath and offer a playful smile.

“We better get going back to the Sunny,” you said with a soft laugh, tilting your head toward the direction of the jungle. “They might actually leave their captain and his girlfriend behind.”

The word “girlfriend” slipped out naturally, and you couldn’t help the small blush that followed. Luffy’s reaction, however, was as simple and heartwarming as ever. His signature kilowatt smile lit up his face, his eyes gleaming with unbridled joy.

“Yeah!” he said enthusiastically, nodding like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “But first, I’m hungry! Let’s get some food from Sanji!”

You laughed, shaking your head fondly as Luffy climbed out of the water, his movements as carefree as ever. He held out a hand to you, helping you out of the spring with surprising gentleness. As you both gathered your belongings and started making your way back through the jungle, Luffy kept your hand firmly in his, swinging it slightly as he led the way.

The journey back was filled with Luffy’s chatter, mostly about what he was planning to ask Sanji to cook and how much he was going to eat. Every now and then, he glanced back at you, his grin never wavering, and you couldn’t help but feel a warmth bloom in your chest.

By the time you emerged from the jungle, the sounds of the crew’s laughter and chatter reached your ears once again, and the sight of the Sunny docked in the distance brought a sense of home.

Luffy turned to you as you walked up the beach, his expression as bright as the sun overhead. “I’m glad we went,” he said simply, his voice filled with sincerity.

You squeezed his hand, smiling up at him. “Me too, Luffy.”

[woozisguitar]

happy 200 followers : )

I have a prompt for reader and seokmin, so the reader has parents in almost their late seventies and she is 25, they hope to see her get married but they never pressure her to do that because they like whatever she does.

so, she one day overhears them talking how they like her and are content with whatever they get, she bursts into tears. next thing YK, she tells her best friend seokmin about that and he decides to help her out.

so, yeah, seokmin decides they both can get marry because they both are best friends and he also likes her but never told her and type.

I'm sorry it was so longgg.

jayyyyyy :(((( thank you so so much im so sorry this took far too long but I hope you enjoy!!!

requests for 200 celebration post: open (but closing soon!)

ps: shoutout to @sherlyscatcafe for proof reading this lysm pookie <33

warning: fluff, hints of angst, mentions of weddings

one of the biggest perks in your life was growing up with siblings older than you because not once did you ever have to worry about taking over the family business or continuing a legacy. while they had everything already decided for them, your parents were a lot more lenient when it came to you. they were supportive when you told them that you wanted to take a gap year and go backpacking across europe to find some inspiration. they were also supportive when you got back and announced your interest in theatre, especially playwriting, and that this was your preferred major of choice for college. that's where you first met seokmin.  

it was the first day of freshman year, and it had been a while since you were last in a classroom setting. your parents dropped you off at your dorm, wishing you the best for class and leaving you alone to set up. your parents gave you a fair allowance which, when added to the little money you saved up working jobs, allowed you to opt in for a solo dorm. for the past year or so, you had little to no interactions with strangers who you'd see for a long time, and this made you worry that your social skills were perhaps rusty.  

you saw seokmin near the back of class. the seat next to him was empty, and he was reading a copy of hamlet. you made your way over to him and cleared your throat, announcing your presence. he looked up, pushing his glasses over the bridge of his nose, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. you smiled and pointed at the seat next to him. 

“is this taken?"

he shook his head no and smiled, moving his bag to let you take a seat. he went back to reading his book in silence, and you took this as a cue to pull out your own copy of comedy of errors.  

“what's your favorite work of shakespeare?” he asked, after a moment of quiet.  

“oh, me?” he nodded. “it's either hamlet or this,” you said, nodding at the book in your hand.  

“what about you?”  

“either romeo and juliet or a midsummer night’s dream,” he answered instantly.  

“a big romance guy, i see,” you teased him, to which he giggled shyly. “what other books do you like?”  

“not a lot by shakespeare, but i do enjoy other classics like pride and prejudice, persuasion, sense and sensibility, and you get the idea. what about you? big on romances?”  

“hmm, i don’t know. i don’t have a specific genre i enjoy; i’m more interested in the setting of the book and the background highlights of it, you know?”  

seokmin nodded in agreement, and you felt a soft glow in your chest. you barely knew this guy, let alone his name, but already liked being around him.  

“i’m y/n, nice to meet you,” you said, holding your hand out for him to shake.  

“seokmin, and likewise,” he said with a charming smile, shaking your hand. “so, what made you join intro to theatre, y/n?”  

you hesitated to tell him about your gap year. you weren’t particularly ashamed of it, but you noticed that people didn’t react well to it, often resorting to comparing you to your siblings’ success. but your subconscious argued that this guy knew nothing about your siblings and family, so you decided to tell him the truth. to your surprise, seokmin had also taken a gap year to work as an actor in a local play and decided to go to college after wrapping up to polish his skills further.  

your similar past and even more similar taste in hobbies instantly made you take a liking to him. from asking each other to be partners, taking up almost all the same classes, matching schedules, late-night binge-watching tv, attending (and performing) plays in theaters big and small, you had seokmin by your side. you had seen every possible side of each other: sad, heartbroken, vulnerable, raw—you name it. he had seen it all and still decided to stick by your side. when you told him about your plans to do an mfa in playwriting and direction rather than performing on stage, he had given you utmost support and joked that you should cast him and give him his big break.  

and much less to your surprise, you found seokmin sitting there in your postgraduate class for creative writing. when questioned about his sudden plan to pursue the degree, 'i’m just following where my heart takes me,' was all he said.  

years passed, but your friendship with seokmin only grew. he was one of the closest people in your life, your best friend, and you knew you were his too. he met your family, who accepted him as one of their own and often teased the two of you about romantic ties. he had been your date to all your siblings’ weddings, saving you from sticky situations with pesky relatives, and at this point, everyone was convinced the two of you were endgame. however, whenever someone asked, you’d just politely smile and decline, saying you’re just friends.  

but now that you were twenty-five, and your parents were well in their seventies, they started to bring up the topic of you hopefully getting married. they never pressured you into going on dates or meeting their friends’ sons, not even once, but they did express how much they’d love to see their youngest daughter get married. that was until one night, when you were staying over at your parents’ house, you overheard a conversation.  

“i’m worried, you know,” your dad said. “i’m scared one day we won’t be around, and she’ll be all lonely.” 

your mum made her way from the vinyl shelf to her husband, taking a seat next to him. “she’s capable of taking care of herself, you know.” 

“i know she is, but still, as her father, i worry. i just really hoped to walk her down the aisle to a man i know will always keep my daughter happy. i would die a happy man.”

“yes, but she’s happy now. let her be. her happiness is all that matters, after all,” your mum patted your dad’s hand and squeezed it, giving him a small smile.   your dad nodded, accepting your mother’s words.  your heart absolutely burst into parts. with tears streaming down your face, you decided that you would fulfill their one wish in return for all the love they gave you.  

“i want to get married.”  

seokmin spit out the drink he was nursing at your sudden confession. after leaving your parents’ home, you called seokmin and asked him to meet you at your regular coffee shop.  

“so... so suddenly?” seokmin asked after wiping the corner of his mouth, his drink now forgotten.  

“yeah, it’s just—” you stopped. you knew he wouldn’t judge you, but you weren’t sure yourself. part of you wanted to wait for love like everyone else, but the other, much stronger part of you wanted to fulfill your parents’ wish. you told him about the conversation you overheard and looked back at seokmin to say, “it’s just that i want them to be happy, you know? they’ve done so much for me and let me explore myself into being this person with no pressures. i just want to give back to them.”  

seokmin nodded solemnly, and you could almost hear the gears in his head turning. after a moment of silence, he quipped, “we... could get married.”  

now it was your turn to stay quiet. marriage? with seokmin?  

in hindsight, it wasn’t a bad thought. you trusted seokmin with your life and knew he would never do anything to hurt you. your careers aligned, so you wouldn’t have to worry about what the other does or how it will affect them, and he had spent over enough nights to know the two of you could coexist very peacefully in the same space.  you slowly looked at seokmin and nodded. “are you sure, though?”  

in return, he just gave you his trademark smile and said, “yeah, i’m just following where my heart takes me.”  

the two of you decided to announce your ‘engagement’ to both your families by the end of the month. you tried to be more affectionate in public, in front of your friends especially, so the sudden marriage announcement wouldn’t come as a shock. you even started to show a more romantic side of each other on your social media. seokmin took you to decide on a ring, one that he had saved for, and booked the two of you a dinner cruise with his planned proposal. all he said was, “can’t let the romantic in me die now, can i?”  

now, in the car seat outside your parents’ house, with a ring on your finger, you were worried about how they would take the news. your entire family, siblings and their spouses too, were present for this dinner, and you couldn’t think of a better place to announce it.  seokmin opened the door for you and held your hand throughout. his presence felt like the comfort you desperately needed. your family welcomed the two of you with warm hugs and kisses, no one noticing the ring. when dinner rolled around, you and seokmin shared a look, deciding this was the right time to announce it. you clinked your glass with a fork, standing up and waiting for the room to quieten.

 “we... have an announcement,” you looked over at seokmin, who gave you an encouraging smile. “seokmin and i are getting married,” you smiled in your parents’ direction.  

the whole room erupted into cheers, your sisters fighting over to see your ring while the men patted seokmin on the back. your mom hugged you tight, a small tear sliding down her cheek, and you saw your dad discreetly wipe his own. in that moment, you saw seokmin and realized maybe he was meant to be yours all along.  

the next few months passed in a blur of wedding preparations. both your and seokmin’s families were excited at the news of their youngest getting married and pressed the two of you to plan the wedding of the decade. getting over your initial hesitance, you decided to fully enjoy the planning, and seokmin’s forever-positive outlook made even the tedious tasks seem enjoyable. one night, when you finally had some alone time with no deadlines to finish and no wedding meetings scheduled, you decided to look through your old photos and videos, backing them up and sorting them. you were honestly surprised at the amount of photos and memories you had with seokmin, some of which you didn’t even remember, and you were glad to have them saved digitally. looking at the picture of seokmin you took during freshman year, you felt your heart skip a beat and small butterflies erupt in your stomach.  

he looked so much younger than he does now, yet so much the same. he gave this signature toothy grin, posing with a bagel. you giggled to yourself as you saw more silly pictures of him, and you thought to yourself, ‘what if i like him more than a friend?’ you quickly shook it off because this was seokmin for god’s sake! he had seen you get drunk and throw up in front of your long-time crush, all while trying not to get sick himself. he was your closest confidant, but now that the thought entered your mind, you couldn’t help but wonder if it’s really such a bad idea to love seokmin more than a friend.  

the wedding planning was of no help to your already tumultuous thoughts and feelings that were growing for seokmin, and spending all your time with him, along with the romantic acts he did to come off as the perfect fiancé, took a toll on your poor heart. one week after you first had the thought, you had now realized that you may have been in love with seokmin all this time.  

you remembered precisely when it started: during your second year of undergrad, when your boyfriend broke up with you, and only seokmin was able to comfort you. he held you as you cried, got you ice cream, and binged cheesy sad romance movies with you. he was always there, just a call away, and you now realized that the adoration you held so dearly for him was actually love. no wonder you barely had any successful relationships after that, because all you searched for in them was seokmin, subconsciously comparing them all to your best friend. hell, when the two of you announced your engagement on your socials, everyone from your old university, including your exes, joked that they always knew you’d end up with seokmin. it has truly always been him.

seokmin wasn’t doing so great either. when he first proposed the idea of marriage, he thought he could keep his romantic thoughts to himself. but soon, seeing you in such a romantic and domestic light, all the feelings he had spent years suppressing started to bubble over the surface. he’d catch himself staring longer than a friend should and mentally reprimand himself for slipping. thank god you were always distracted by something to notice. sometimes he felt like he was betraying you by not telling you the truth, and these conflicting emotions led to him making a very stupid decision. or perhaps a great one, his subconscious argued.  

seokmin decided to confess everything during your rehearsal dinner party, finding it harder and harder to keep his feelings under wraps. he arrived at the venue beforehand to decide on the spot where he would confess. he figured if you accepted his feelings, it should be a moment that lived fresh in his mind for all his days, and if you were to reject him, he would at least like to be rejected in front of a pretty view. always such a romantic, your voice rang in his head, and a smile formed on his face. seokmin gave himself a small pep talk, texting you to meet him by the bench around the back of your venue.  

he saw you walk out, looking around in awe at the empty courtyard, with fallen cherry blossoms from the trees scattered around. your eyes met his, and you gave him a shy smile, making his heart skip a beat. you made your way over to him, and his heart started to beat faster.  “what's up?” you said, giving him a questioning smile.  “i—” seokmin’s words were stuck in his throat. for a second, he was so mesmerized by you, just you, that he forgot what he had prepared and just said, “i love you.”  

now it was your turn to be at a loss for words. seokmin took your silence as a cue to continue.  “i... i love you. and i’m not saying this now, just two days before our wedding, for the sake of it. i have been in love with you for so long. years, if i’m being honest. you own every corner of my heart. hell, you are my heart. my everything. that's why i felt compelled to be closer to you, to have you near me. you were the one my heart made me follow, y/n. i just don’t want to marry you, if you still want to marry me, under a fake guise that i am doing this to help you, and i couldn’t help but feel like i was betray—”  seokmin’s spiraling rambling was cut off by you softly pressing your lips against his.  

seokmin’s eyes grew wide, and he froze. when you felt him try to pull back, he grabbed the back of your head and kissed you back. his lips moved slowly against yours before you pulled back to take a deep breath, a smile gracing your face.  seokmin mirrored your smile and dived back in to kiss you again. this time, the kiss was filled with his desperation and longing for you.  “god, i fucking love you, you cheesy-ass romantic,” you whispered breathlessly when the two of you separated.  seokmin giggled and kissed your nose. “not as much as i love you, pretty girl.”  

when you stood at the altar with him by your side saying, “i do,” you realized that this was your destiny all along. like a theater play, the two of your lives were written to play out this way. and while everyone wants to have the romantic interest who follows his heart all for themselves, this one will belong to you, forever and always. 

[buglass]

Lonely Man - Chapter 2

Summary: After consoling Elvis on the beach, Jackie can hardly get him out of her mind for the remainder of Christmas day. She feels guilty for even considering him in a lustful way when the diamond-laden ring on his ring finger is so apparent but doesn't expect to see him ever again. The two of them run into the other at their resort, to Elvis’s elation, but Jackie is not as sure.

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Jackie!Black!OFC

WC: 3.7K

Chapters: 2/?

Warnings: Elvis touches himself, suggestive and foul language, age gap, fluff, and mild angst.

A/N: Didn’t expect to want to write another (long) chapter for this but here we are. I planned to have this jump to New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day but then Jackie and Elvis took on a life of their own. Enjoy!

Read Chapter 1 here.

Even after returning from the beach to his real life, Elvis can hardly get her out of his head. Jackie’s presence brought solitude and peace he thought he would find in the crashing waves and chilled sand. Elvis tried to remain normal when he returned to his vacation villa, joking around with the Memphis Mafia and kissing his little daughter hello. The same with Priscilla, he attempted to remain completely attentive in his husbandly duties. But, he was thrown off kilter.

When Elvis excused himself later into the night to shower, he got the worst idea and impromptu ache of his life--the untended mass between his legs. He grunted his dismay as the warm water washed down the front and back of him. He pursed his lips as he tried to mentally talk himself out of it, lying to himself that he was stroking the foreskin back to wash himself, but when he closed his eyes all he saw were perfectly full lips that he wanted to see wrapped around his cock. Elvis sucked in a sharp breath as he bucked into his calloused palm, thinking of Jackie and her all-too-straight teeth and the smoothness of her voice. Would she sing for him if he fucked her in just the right spot? 

Elvis wanted to be disgusted with himself but he couldn’t. Looking at other women and cheating generally were his forte. When he wasn’t caught, he could bask in it, giving another piece of himself to another woman. There were worse things he had done in life. He clenched his jaw again as his head reeled back and he pictured grabbing a fistful of Jackie’s long, thick hair from behind. That little bathing suit and skirt of Jackie’s barely left anything to the imagination. Then he was cumming, quicker than he wanted, because he didn’t want to be in the bathroom or shower embarrassingly long enough for anyone to ask questions. Elvis shuddered and grunted as the evidence was washed away from the tiled floor and down the drain.

“Fuck,” he whispered.

How long did Jackie say she was staying in the Bahamas? He couldn’t remember nor should he have been seeking her out. For the benefit of them both, he hoped she was leaving soon. 

ꜜ

At twenty-one, Jackie was still the baby of her parents. She was their only child and thus they spent the holiday season in Bahamas after a successful year of running their family-owned business back in Virginia. When she returned to their beachside bungalow, she spoke animatedly about running into Elvis Presley himself. She boasted that it was true while her parents looked at one another, entertained by how excited she was.

“I was startin’ to wonder what took you so long,” her mother chuckled.

Then Jackie, being the fantasist she was, daydreamed while she made herself a late lunch. She shivered thinking about how close the two of them sat together and when Elvis put his arm across her shoulders. He always seemed to need to be touching and holding or gently pressing his lips into her palm and staring into her eyes. It was no wonder he had people that adored his company. After about an hour, she insisted that she leave him alone so that he could have time to himself.

“Let me walk you back,” Elvis grumbled, displeased by the idea. 

But he was still a gentleman. Jackie’s face felt hot, tingling with sweat as her nervousness pitched a fit at the idea. Elvis’s hand brushed hers, sending sparks up her arm until their fingers latched and curled around the other’s. Elvis saw the bungalow she was staying at with her parents, not so quick to let her go until she pulled away, staying down the beach as she walked inside.

By the following night, at dinner, her head was a little less full of Elvis as she came back to reality. Jackie was convinced that the fluke encounter was a once-in-a-lifetime ordeal and they wouldn’t see each other. She deluded herself into believing everything she felt was likely one-sided. Jackie had never seen Elvis date a Colored girl before. Sure, he hung around Colored folks and was friendly. That never equated to that sort of interest. Wasn’t he also married? The guilt chewed away at her for having such unholy thoughts about the man. 

Her parents paid for the resort’s evening Christmas spit roast meal, a variety of people spread out table after table. Music played gently in the background over a speaker, the chatter of everyone at a decent level. Jackie scooted her chair up some more, thanking her server as their drinks were brought out. She crossed her legs at the ankles, slipping her bare feet from her sandals. Directing the straw of her fruity drink to her lips, she hummed as she scanned over the groups of people. Her eyes darted as there was some movement in the distance at the corner of her eye. Jackie was coughing as her drink went down the wrong pipe spotting Elvis.

Elvis was laughing at something that Joe said, shuffling in with his gang of men. Priscilla wasn’t feeling too good and bringing Lisa would have been crossing over into her bedtime. He was grateful to let loose if he was honest. He smoothed down the front of his button-up as they were led to a couple of reserved tables. Elvis drew looks, of course, but the people there were mid-stuffing their faces. Jackie picked up her napkin to dab at her mouth and her mother patted her back to help her slight choking. 

The sound drew Elvis’s eyes in her direction and his stomach dropped and twisted as he looked in Jackie’s direction. His lips parted thoughtfully, admiring the flower in her hair and the way her dress cupped her breasts. Elvis directed his eyes back to Joe who was talking about something he missed. The waiter pulled his attention away again, settling for water and glancing back across the grassy seating area to Jackie. Jackie excused herself from the table once she noticed how much of her lipstick smeared. 

“I’ll be right back,” she smiled at her parents. 

Elvis’s eyes trailed after her, his brows pinching together. He breathed out harshly through his nostrils as he tried to rein in his impulses but he was muttering something about being back in a few. When one of the guys tried to follow after him, he waved a hand for everyone to stay seated. He pinched the front of his trousers, attempting to fix the growing tightness there. Jackie was rounding a corner by the time he caught sight of her. She sighed as she pushed open the women’s bathroom door, shuffling in. She took in her reflection, pleased she didn’t smear as much makeup as thought. 

A couple of minutes passed and she was stepping out of the bathroom, slowing to a stop as Elvis stood there outside of the door. He was leaning against the opposite wall, lifting his head at the sound of the creaking door. Jackie’s heart rose into her throat and she smoothed out the front of her dress self-consciously. Elvis gave her a crooked smile as he pushed away from the wall to close the distance. The bathrooms were tucked away in their own hall, as empty as the rest of the resort was during the height of the holiday season.

“Did you follow me?” Jackie squinted.

“Would it be bad if I did?” Elvis said, his expression flirtatious.

“It’s one way to get a woman’s attention,” Jackie licked her lips, chuckling. She was happy to see him, naturally, but she was so sure someone like Elvis was too busy to be seen somewhere normal such as at dinner. 

“I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about the things you said to me. How sweet you were about all’a it. I… I wanted to thank you for earlier today. I don’t let people see me like that often.” Elvis stammered, reaching for Jackie’s hand as he had done that afternoon.

“You must be used to not being seen,” Jackie spoke easily.

“It’s like people just look right through ya, the human standin’ there. I can’t take it sometimes. Then, you… You don’t seem impressed with a lick of me.” Elvis said gently, looking down at their conjoined hands. 

“It’s not that I’m not impressed,” Jackie breathed, stepping out of the bathroom doorway. “It’s this.” She tapped at his wedding band, her thumb grazing over his knuckles. 

“Oh,” he hummed, pulling her toward the wall he had been leaning on. “That’s stoppin’ you from bein’ my friend?”

“You talk sweet to all your friends like this, huh?” Jackie asked, pressing her tongue into her cheek. 

She needed to get back to her parents. It was rude to keep them waiting for a married man she didn’t know from Adam. Elvis’s eyelids lowered, scanning over her as he tried to gauge his options. She didn’t seem to be fraught with disgust or worry per se. Elvis brought her knuckles up to his lips at last, dragging his lips along them. Jackie’s breath caught in her throat as she watched.

“This alright?” Elvis asked, his voice deeper.

“Mhm,” she mustered.

Elvis turned her hand over and pressed warm lips into her wrist. He lowered a hand to her waist to draw her closer. Jackie let out a sigh and he directed the same arm up over his shoulder. They were borderline nose-to-nose. 

“And this?” Elvis whispered. 

“It’s, um… It’s nice. I have to go.” Jackie whispered back. She was no prude, but the older man couldn’t swindle her into being a floozy. Not really. But, he was Elvis Presley. Her heart was hammering in her throat as she could smell every trace of cologne and deodorant on him. His natural scent had her head spinning too. Elvis shook his head slightly at her and she wanted to ask what he meant by it until his lips met hers. Elvis didn’t press too much, gentle and testing. If she wanted to pull away, she could. Jackie groaned softly as she returned the kiss, her nervousness peaking again. Someone cleared their throat as they passed by, a woman entering the women’s restroom behind Jackie. She pulled away like she touched a hot stove, touching her fingertips to her lips.

“I have to go,” she repeated, embarrassed. She stepped away from Elvis, rushing out of the corridor and back into the lobby. Elvis caught her arm to slow her down.

“Whoa, whoa, honey,” he said sweetly. “I didn’t mean to scare ya. I-I can’t be the only one feelin’ this too. Am I wrong?” He kept his voice low.

“No… But, I am not like that woman who came up to you on the beach, Elvis. I’m the goin’ steady type where the man has to meet my father and get his approval. Not this girl that,” Jackie glanced around anxiously. “That comes onto married men.”

“It’s an arrangement,” he lied. “You aren’t doin’ anything wrong that she doesn’t know about.” Elvis’s brows came together. The latter was partially true. Why else had he been in the hot seat with Cilla before?

“An arrangement?” Jackie asked, skeptical. They were starting to draw attention to themselves for more reasons than one and she wanted to get back to her parents. She sighed, tilting her head back to hold Elvis’s gaze.

“One where a married couple agrees to let the man…dabble. I’ll tell you what, as your newly appointed friend we can just talk,” he said, finally releasing her arm. “One of the men I was seated with has a separate room here in the resort we were going to later. Why don’t you come on up after dinner?”

“To do what exactly?” Jackie narrowed her eyes, looking at the hand that fell away. Elvis had a few things in mind about what he wanted to do but he didn’t like having to convince a woman into wanting him. Jackie might run off if he confessed to her how he wanted to make her writhe under his touch.

“It’s mostly singin’ and listenin’ to records usually. We only brought guitars, so I guess it’s that and singin’. Usually becomes a little party.” Elvis said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What room?” Jackie bit down into her bottom lip, contemplating.

“Five-O-three. Think on it.” Elvis said, stepping back out of her way. Jackie raised a brow at the superstar, surprised he was letting her go. She kept her eyes on him until she was unable. Elvis watched her go, enjoying the momentary relief of being left alone. A worker soon caught his attention, asking for an autograph on their notepad. “And who am I making this out to?”

Jackie appreciated the rush of air on her face as she returned to the seating area outside, the wind whipping against her, touching and curling around her in the same places Elvis touched. She could taste him on her lips. When she was seated, her parents were giving her a look as if asking where she had been again for the second time today. Jackie averted their eyes as she took hold of her much-needed cocktail again.  She wanted to tell herself she would be good but her mind kept swirling around the idea of going up to see Elvis. Maybe the ache between her legs would go away, too, if she just gave in.

Elvis came back out, gently dismissing the fans who followed him out to the dinner. The hotel staff didn’t allow it anyhow, blocking off the dining area to alleviate the responsibility. Elvis sat back down, leaning forward onto the tabletop as he jumped back into his role. Jackie was watching behind the rim of her glass, soon meeting Elvis’s eyes from across the way. He winked at her before giving his boys his attention for the rest of the evening.

ꜜ

Why was she standing at this hotel door? Jackie turned to leave and came back, then turned away again. She could hear the tempered rowdiness inside of guitars strumming, glasses clinking, and songs being sung. The invitation was extended and it was her responsibility to show face and politely exit after a few minutes. Jackie swept her hair out of her face, hesitating to bring her curled fist to the door. She let out a breath as she knocked and forced herself to be content with knowing there were too many people there for Elvis to act on his wants. 

A red-headed man answered the door, bracing his hand against it as he smiled. He raised a brow before speaking, “And who might you be?” He asked.

“Um, I think I have the right room. Elvis asked me to stop by…?” Jackie offered.

“Hey, E, you’ve got a visitor,” the man called back over his shoulder.

“Who’s at the door, Red?” Elvis called, the guitar playing coming to a stop.

“You tell me, man,” Red answered, scoffing. He stepped back from the doorway, replaced by Elvis. His face lit up as he took Jackie in, taking her by hand to pull her inside.

“I’ll be damned,” Elvis laughed. “You actually showed. I really thought I might have scared ya off.”

“I can’t stay long, but I thought it would be rude to ignore your invite,” Jackie answered shyly, following Elvis inside.

The hotel room was simple but big enough to fit the substantial number of people there. The seating and kitchenette area were separate from the bedroom, the door to the unlit room ajar. I recognized some of the women from downstairs behind the desk and others seemed to be the average tourist or Bahamian. 

“Boys, this is Jackie. Jackie, these are the boys. Everyone else is…mostly new,” Elvis explained, placing a palm on the inside of her arm. “Want somethin’ to drink?”

“No, one was enough for me at dinner. Can we talk?” Jackie suggested boldly. 

Elvis’s lips parted as he peered down at her, unsure if the question was meant to be as suggestive as he would have liked. With all of the eyes on them, especially Elvis, Jackie wanted a second alone without the pressure of being performative. 

“Yeah, yeah. Sure thing, honey. Y’all go 'head and turn up the music. We’ll be right back,” Elvis said casually. Jackie tried not to acknowledge the disappointment and grimaces on some of the faces of the women. Elvis led her to the dark bedroom, ushering Jackie inside first. He shut the door behind him and squeezed past Jackie to round the bed for the lamp.

“Shit,” he swore after bumping his knee, grumbling. When he reached the lamp, it clicked, and he turned back to face his company. “You’ve got me all to yourself. I think this has got to be a record.” He smirked, lowering onto the bed. 

Jackie didn’t take the insinuation lightly. He would have been correct to infer where her mind wandered off to. That wasn’t why she wanted to speak alone. Jackie sighed, moving to sit on the very end to keep some space between them. Elvis moved down the bed, hopping until he sat on the corner of the same end. He thought he was so clever. Thirteen years between them and his flirtatiousness carried on with ease. 

“G'on, what do you need to talk to me about?” Elvis nodded encouragingly.

“I… I wish I knew. I came here to say that I find you interesting. I find what’s in your heart,” she pointed at his chest. “And what we talked about to be a conversation I will remember for the rest of my life. I don’t like when men make me another notch on their belt. It’s boring, if I’m truthful, and you’re not boring but I thought you might like that someone isn’t trying to rush you into bed.” Jackie’s mouth set into a pout, huffing as the words came rushing out.

“That’s part of why I am rushin’ to get you into bed,” Elvis brows went up, pursing his lips in thought. “So, what would make you feel better? Waitin’ to see if I fall for you? I don’t want to put on a ruse that will make you feel better in the moment, then worse off later. You’ll come ta hate me either way, won't ya?” Elvis spoke honestly.

It was the most honest he’d been with a woman in years. The truth hurt Jackie all the same and she kept a stony expression to hide behind it. Elvis Presley was not a man a woman courted hoping to find love. She wanted to pull her hair out for thinking highly of him when he didn’t regard her in the same light.

“You don’t know what I would come to feel,” Jackie grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Oh, quit bein’ ugly with me, Jackie. I’m only playin’,” he said lightly, reaching over to pull at her arms. “Would you like to know a secret?” 

“What?” Jackie answered stubbornly.

“I’m plumb tired as all get out. So, would you lie with me for a while? We can talk. I promise to keep my hands to myself.” Elvis said, realizing he was touching Jackie. He pulled his hand away, holding up both to show just how serious he was. Even if they didn’t sleep together, he planned to keep in touch with her. She was the sort of woman he could bounce ideas and thoughts off of. Jackie took in a deep breath as her walls crept down and she looked back toward the pillows.

“Just talkin’?” Jackie asked.

“And some old fashioned cuddlin’. Okay?” Elvis smiled. 

Jackie hated how much she was leaning into what he wanted. It was one of the few topics they spoke of on the beach and how his entourage came to be. He really didn’t do ‘lonely’ very well at all. Jackie slipped her sandals off, dropping them to the floor and started crawling up the bed. Elvis waited until she was settled to join her, sidling up next to her. She was stiff as a board until he brought an arm around her shoulders and tucked her against his chest. 

Elvis started the conversation about philosophy and various laws of ethics he had been reading on. Jackie related it back to religion and how people often used it as their guideline for remaining a good person also. They continued on like that for another hour and sank lower until they laid flat, facing the other. Elvis was holding Jackie’s hand in front of their faces, watching her as she spoke. Jackie felt it too in their lethargy but she refused to break the tension. Elvis felt his fear tick up at taking the chance as if he were a teenage boy again. He didn’t want to fuck it up by crossing a clear line she had set.

“Can I kiss you?” Jackie broke. Because life was short and they both knew that from the conversations they were having. She was in the Bahamas, in a bed next to Elvis and giggling about life and death. There was nothing more outlandish that had occurred in her short life.

“Yes, please,” Elvis rumbled. 

His eyes dropped to her lips and he wrenched their hands down out of the way. Jackie’s eyes went half-lidded and Elvis knew he had an in. The worst part was knowing that he was far from putting on an act about her. Jackie was bringing out the best and worst of him; the best because he wasn’t only fucking her and the worst because he enjoyed her company and wanted to fuck her. Elvis closed the distance, sighing as their lips met for a second time that night. He kept his hips far away from her as his cock sprung to life.

Jackie shivered at the touch, pressing forward to deepen their kiss. She hated how he made her feel. The feeling of Elvis’s lips against hers sent a zing down her core and she was inching forward with her hips toward his like a magnet. She swallowed, breaking away before she made a decision she couldn’t take back.

“Do me a favor?” Elvis breathed, his voice thick and wanton.

“Mmm?” Jackie groaned.

“Write down your address in Virginia for me.” Elvis exhaled.

[poreyneel]

If you're comfortable sharing, what is Yirliyen's backstory?

FINALLY SOMEONE ASKED!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU it's going to be a long post... also, there are A LOT of things I wrote for my Rook specifically even if it goes contrary with canon feel free everyone to ask something else!! so, let's begin

Yirliyen Mercar (he/him) city elf from Tevinter mage (evoker)

BACKGROUND

Yirliyen was picked up on the streets of Minrathous - he is the only child in a foster family of Soporati. Their relationship is very strained due to their differences (mage elf in a non-mage human family). His parents were military and devoted servants of the Imperium: disciplined, straightforward, demanding, and in fact they raised simply a very convenient and useful weapon for them to use. Yirliyen tries not to remember the past associated with them, because for some time he was engaged in dirty and menial work such as helping magisters in their rituals or cutting up corpses and disposing of the remains (mostly they were elven slaves). There were moments when he wanted to cut off his elven ears, or when he didn't understand “what was wrong with him” and why everyone, even his parents, hate him. Seeing elven slaves on the streets of Minrathous was horrifying - he was afraid that he can end up like that, too. It was around that time when the Shadow Dragons, one might say, saved him.

The Shadow Dragons did not become his family but they helped him to get through the darkness and escape his family's grasp. For Yirliyen, Minrathous is a city that causes a storm of internal conflicts. He doesn't hate the city, or innocent people - he hates rulers and authorities. Yirliyen wants to help making Tevinter better - at any cost, with which he has many similarities with Dorian Pavus. Dorian is kind of his role model or even father figure, I think, alongside with Maevaris Tilani being his beau ideal.

PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER TRAITS

wears a lot of masks and doesn't let people know his true nature (he has a hard time trusting others, so it's easier to him not let people too close to him)

humor as a coping mechanism

doesn't know what love, friendship, family, traditions or care are (with Veilguard it changes, but not that much - ask me and I will write an essay how Emmrich opened his heart he didn't know he had)

he knows Tevene only a little bit - from books and conversations

he often says what he thinks about people directly, in the moment

under the jewelry he hides a scar on his ear, also he has two scars on his neck

doesn't like excessive luxury - he believes that everything should be practical first of all. But he really loves works of art

he is very empathetic, despite the disdainful attitude towards him

hates violence, which is why he has a very strong internal conflict - he believes that by resorting to violence or blood magic he will be no better than the Venatori, but on the other hand, sometimes a radical path is needed for the sake of changes

he got a tattoo on his forehead and piercing during his adventures with Varric also he started doing makeup from these times too

THANK YOU AGAIN!! HOPE IT WAS INTERESTING It's still really new for me to write about my characters... I always feel like no one gives a shit... hope others will enjoy Yirliyen as I do

[cboffshore]

what do you think would happen if in The Last Resort Nya had chosen to go through the portal instead. Just like outta curiosity. Because it definitely would have delayed the wedding plot point for a bit, but other than that I got no ideas how the rest of the season would play out.

My knee-jerk reaction to this - assuming Jay just gets captured instead of Nya here to keep things kinda on track (and besides, do we really think they'd let him off the literal hook like that?!) - is that the Jay Angst Hand Hook Eye Gouge economy sees a massive boom both on and offscreen. Nadakhan presumably gets to get worse and whump writers everywhere find themselves drowning in opportunity. That essay I wrote a while ago gets that much longer.

Jokes aside, there could actually be some really neat questions to come out of this. I'm not entirely sure how they'd play out, but some of the possible changes would certainly be interesting...

I'm not entirely sure what I think this would lead to in terms of specific events - who lives, who dies, who shoots the shot and makes the wish and steps on the rake, et cetera - and that's because I immediately bumped into a TON of crucial questions and concepts that I actually think are more fun than any answer.

Obviously, this would be a very compelling place for Jay to be. At this point, he knows a little more about Nya and what she wants and dreads, and he's grown as a person, so I assume that would turn this kidnapping into a sort of redo of his first round on the Keep: Nadakhan trying to extract that final wish and/or information on Nya's location, albeit with much higher stakes this time. Jay's learned. Jay's grown. Question is: how does he show it?

As for Nadakhan - I think this would be an incredible place to stop and examine his headfirst slide into crazytown, which we don't really get to see in canon because his success at the lighthouse is enough to keep him riding high. Except for when he doesn't. Anyway, the lighthouse siege failing is a huge blow to his ego, especially on the heels of Flintlocke's betrayal and the scrambling of the crew hierarchy - what does that do to him? Is he capable of slowing down and assessing the new situation, or does he double down and just dig his own grave a little faster?

I think this could lead to some killer crew character work, too, especially if Nadakhan reacts badly enough for everyone to notice something's seriously off. Flintlocke's just been kicked to the bottom of the totem pole and sidelined from the siege, but his former best friend captain comes back empty-handed and pouting like a child, so who's the real loser now, huh? Dogshank wound up on Tiger Widow Island and (as I still assume is the case in canon, based only on the "back so soon?" line and the Vibes) nobody on this supposedly tight knit crew came to pick her up. I think Clancee's probably smart enough to realize Nadakhan just installed him as first mate to rub salt in Flintlocke's wound - not because he'd be good at the job. Actually, if I recall correctly, Dogshank was next in line for the job based solely on rank, so add another insult to all of their tallies. Folks, I'm smelling another mutiny brewing...

Where's Nya? Do we run the risk of sidelining her harder unless the season focus expands to hold room for her? Does Jay land the final wish blow with her hiding somewhere way offscreen and reset the timeline before the wedding even gets close?

A specific one now - what's Nya thinking of when she falls through the portal? Jay ended up at home in the junkyard in canon because he was thinking of his adoptive parents. Nya's pretty famously unstable and unsure of her place in this world during Skybound, and she doesn't have parents to fall back on - and her found family's all dead. Would she think of Jay in the aftermath of the confession and accidentally fall out of the sky onto wherever they've taken Jay?

Anyway, no matter how you slice it.... I don't think I see the same ending. This is the "small actions have big ripples" season, after all, so I doubt the two timelines (canon vs this Jay being taken hypothetical) would tie themselves up in that same pretty little bow at the end of the day.

Not sure if that's the answer you wanted, but that's what I've got - thanks for the ask!