#and this is one of the only healthy ways to do that :))))))))
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cupboardgods · 3 days ago
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Hi former grants person here again. Reblogging this so that my previous post above about US arts grants sits at the top the notes. Hopefully it helps some artists in these trying times.
Furthermore!!!!
The status quo has shifted. This week, the current administration just tried to put a freeze on all federal grants. Universities, healthcare, and welfare programs were all discussed in the aftermath as potential victims of the freeze--in the handful of articles I read, arts funding was not mentioned, but it's absolutely still at risk. IMO everyone should be concerned.
The National Endowment for the Arts, the largest funding entity for art in the US, gets barely 0.003% of the annual budget (about $200 million). 80% of that gets regranted out all over the country, including a significant portion in rural areas. It's not even close to being enough money and the annual increases are meager. Regardless, that funding has a huge amount of impact.
Conservative administrations have tried to get rid of the NEA for decades under the guise of "budget cuts" (again, it gets ONLY 0.003% of the annual budget). But really it's because an NEA grant has the potential to fund art that doesn't align with their ideologies.
The freedom to create art without restriction or subjugation is symptom of and important for maintaining a healthy populace and functioning society.
Post is still long...continues under the cut
Publicly funded art might not be higher priority than [insert program here], that doesn't mean it isn't important at all. It's closely tied to the wellbeing and values of the people in this country. Fascism and nationalism intentionally attack freedom of expression and aesthetics for this reason.
Alsoooo, Trump just reinstated his 2020 executive order demanding all new federal buildings must be designed in the neo-classical architecture style. That's straight up Nazi shit. And he reinstated this EO on his second day in office. Obviously they know the power in controlling aesthetics. This order was controversial when it first came about--it has a lot to do with enforcing regressive and "traditional values."
Grants programs still exist in this country at local, state, and national levels, for now*. Arts grants also often have DEIA missions attached to them, which should be an incentive for pretty much anyone to apply**. In my experience, until extremely recently, having DEIA criteria in your grants program was an almost necessary way to grow your regranting budget! It was one way to prove you were worthy of donations or taxpayer dollars. Grants also have the potential to fund more artists outside of the mainstream, particularly if there's no for-profit component.
So what can you do? (other than vote or talk to your representatives)
We want to demonstrate that artists of any discipline are plentiful, diverse, and deserve to be paid like any other worker. We want to prove that there is need for arts grants.
Artists/Dancers/Singers/etc.:
Make contact with your local arts councils and tell them what you need
Participate in the programs that might be available right now to you as an arts professional, like webinars and meet and greets
Participate in surveys that gather data about artists
Apply for shows, residencies, and open calls at arts organizations
Apply for grants! Make sure you go to information sessions if they have them! There's usually a friendly grants manager or associate who can answer your questions over phone/email too.
Follow grantmaking orgs on social media for job openings and application info. Sign up for their newsletters too.
Everyone:
Visit publicly funded cultural festivals, galleries, concerts, shows, etc. Especially if they're being offered for free.
Use your library. Go to parks. Enjoy the public art there.
Consider donating to grantmaking organizations or buying a membership to your arts council if they offer it
Follow arts orgs on social media
Go to small public events too, like community choir recitals or children's theater
*There are also nonprofits and foundations that will give grants that aren't entirely reliant on public money. But if the government starts cutting things, private/corporate sponsors will too.
**DEI initiatives put just as much emphasis on a person's gender or veteran status than it does on race/ethnicity. They might also consider other demographics like age, economic status, sexuality, professional background...it can be a long list. Read paperwork carefully and use it to your advantage when applying.
Tl;dr: The government will absolutely try to take away arts funding, but if you apply for grants and go to publicly funded arts venues/classes/events it will be much harder for them to make cuts.
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downbad4sylus · 3 days ago
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“Spare me, Doctor Buzzkill”
synopsis: While Sylus is away on a business deal, you miraculously get Zayne and Greyson to go on a night out with Tara, except you get very drunk and you miss your boyfriend a lot.
content: sylus x afab!reader; reader is MC; use of Y/N; established relationship; zayne/greyson/tara cameos; excessive drinking; mentions of throwing up; god-awful amount of fluff; mostly proofread
word count: ~2.4k
a/n: the people cast their votes and so here is the fluff fic requested by the masses~~ can you guys tell zayne is my second favorite or no? this is sort of? a continuation of the last fic where zayne and sylus first met (tagged anyone who replied or liked the poll from earlier this week)
You couldn’t believe you’d convinced Zayne to come out with you and your Hunter friends. Tara—who had accompanied you a handful of times to Akso Hospital for your check ups—had been flirting with Doctor Greyson at any opportunity she could. So you both hatched a plan to invite Greyson on a night out and, by some miracle, got Zayne not only to play along but to join you as well. He’d agreed that Greyson would be more comfortable going as long as he had a familiar face there with him.
And so here you all were, at a club many Hunters frequented, having the time of your lives.
Well, you and Tara were.
Zayne and Greyson, not ones for partying, mostly stayed at the bar nursing their (non-alcoholic) drinks. You and Tara managed to get them on the dance floor at one point, and once Tara and Greyson’s attentions were locked on each other, you and Zayne made a swift exit.
“Do you think Greyson will ask Tara out?” you asked Zayne as you ordered another drink. Admittedly you were a bit drunk, but you were having too much fun to quit now.
“I’m not sure,” Zayne replied. “He seems quite fond of her, though.”
You nodded your assent, too busy sipping from a straw to speak aloud.
“How many drinks have you had tonight?” Zayne asked.
“Don’t go all doctor on me right now,” you said. “I’m fine.”
He arched a brow. “I’m not sure your boyfriend will be pleased with me if I bring you home drunk out of your mind.”
You gaped at him. “Drunk out of my mind?” you repeated, incredulous. “That’s a little dramatic, Zayne. And besides, Skye is away on business right now anyway, so you’re safe.”
Talking about Sylus sent a pang of longing through your chest. He’d been away for three days already, handling a rather important business deal involving modified Protocores. He wasn’t supposed to come back for another two days, and you missed him terribly. It was probably why you were pounding drinks, insisting you were fine and not at all drunk. You wished he was here too, to have fun and enjoy the night with you and your friends.
“I feel like him being away means I’m far from safe,” Zayne grumbled. “I am your primary care physician, I’m responsible for making sure you remain healthy.”
You rolled your eyes at your primary care physician. “Spare me, Doctor Buzzkill.” You drained the rest of your drink and slapped the glass onto the bar. “I’m going to dance, you coming?”
Zayne shook his head. “Go on.”
Throwing him a little wave, you rejoined Tara and Greyson on the dance floor.
“I’m not drunk!” you yelled, your words blatantly slurred. “I’m not ready to go home yet.”
“Y/N, you can’t walk straight and your eyes are barely open,” Zayne admonished, tugging a stumbling you toward the exit.
Tara and Greyson trailed behind you, their hands grazing with every other step, bright pink blushes staining their cheeks. Too bad you were too drunk to notice the exciting progress they had made, but Tara would be sure to fill you in once you were sober.
“Mmm’not drunk,” you repeated so quietly no one even heard you.
You wished Sylus was here. You missed him so much. You missed his snowy hair, his striking red eyes. The slope of his nose and the curve of his lips. The way those lips felt on yours, on your bare skin.
“Zayne I’m really hot,” you declared.
Zayne turned and placed the back of his cool hand on your forehead. “You feel a little warm but nothing to be concerned with. Would you feel better if I carried you on my back?”
You nodded, your bottom lip sticking out as you pouted.
Zayne smiled softly at the sight before turning again and dropping into a crouch. You clambered onto his back, Greyson and Tara needing to rush forward to steady you when it looked like you were going to fall off. With your arms securely around Zayne’s neck (to the point where you were almost choking him) he straightened with ease.
Greyson looked at Tara. “Were you going to call a taxi because I can drive you home, you know, if you wanted.”
Tara’s face lit up. “Are you sure?” she asked. “You didn’t drink too much?”
Greyson chuckled. “Doctor Zayne and I didn’t actually have any alcohol, I’m perfectly sober.”
“Okay!” Tara agreed excitedly.
Greyson smiled. “My car is at the hospital, but it’s not that far of a walk.”
“I don’t mind,” Tara said. “It’s a nice night out.”
“Zayne,” you whispered in his ear. “Zayne, do you—hic—think Greyson will ask her out tonight?”
Zayne chuckled. “It’s possible.”
“How are we getting home?” you asked.
“Your apartment isn’t far, I’ll take you there then grab a taxi back to my place,” he explained.
“Mmmkay.”
“Looks like we’ll be going our separate ways then,” Greyson declared.
You perked up and began waving excessively. “Goodbye Doctor Greyson! Bye Tara! Call me tomorrow!”
They both laughed at your obvious drunken state and offered their goodbyes before heading off in the opposite direction.
Zayne started the walk to your apartment, adjusting you on his back.
Your thoughts returned to your boyfriend.
“Zayne,” you mumbled. “I miss Sylus.”
His steps faltered. “Who?”
You huffed, not realizing the mistake you made in not using Sylus’s alias. “I said I miss Sylus, you know, my—hic—my boyfriend. I don’t like it when he leaves for his stupid business trips.”
Still slightly confused, Zayne said, “Why don’t you call him?”
“Call him?” you echoed. “Oh! You’re right! I can call him.” You started tapping Zayne’s cheek. “Let me down, let me down.”
Zayne carefully lowered you to your feet, keeping a hand hovering close by in case you started to sway. You pulled out your phone from your pocket, but no matter how many times you pressed the power button, it never turned on.
Tears pooled in your eyes as you stared at the black screen. “It’s dead,” you mumbled. “I’ll never talk to Sylus again!”
Zayne swallowed a laugh. “When we get to your apartment, you can plug your phone in and call him once it’s charged.”
Your tear-filled eyes looked up at Zayne. “Do you promise?”
“I promise.”
You threw up once, in a random bush, on your way to your apartment. You almost threw up all over Zayne, whose back you had climbed onto once more, but managed to get him to put you down in time to avoid covering him in vomit.
You walk-stumbled the rest of the way, just in case you had to throw up again.
When you reached your apartment door, it took you three tries to remember the code to unlock it, despite needing only your fingerprint.
The second you walked through the door, another sudden wave of nausea hit you. You bolted for the bathroom, leaving a concerned Zayne in the entryway.
After closing and locking the door, Zayne made his way to the bathroom and found you hunched over the toilet, puking your guts up. He held your hair and rubbed your back as you retched.
“I told you you had too much to drink,” he teased.
“Shut up!” you cried.
You gagged and spit a few more times before collapsing onto the floor. Zayne carefully observed your condition—clammy and pale—and rose to his feet.
“Stay there, I’m going to get you some water,” he said.
You nodded, having zero intention of getting up anytime soon.
Zayne hurried to the kitchen. He had to search through a few cabinets before finding your glasses, then went to the water dispenser in your fridge. As he waited for the glass to fill, he heard a noise from the entryway, like someone was trying to unlock the door.
He moved quickly, depositing the half full glass on the counter and going to the entryway. He didn’t know who had the code to your apartment but he certainly didn’t think you were expecting visitors, especially when your phone had been dead this whole time.
Zayne decided it was best to catch whoever was trying to come in off guard. He grabbed the handle and yanked the door open.
“Doctor Zayne, what a pleasant surprise. Did you help my drunk girlfriend home?”
Skye—no, Sylus? Whatever his name was, stood on the other side of the door, giving Zayne an assessing once over.
Sylus and Zayne—in the little time they had spent together since Sylus became your boyfriend—had gained an unspoken, mutual respect for each other. They both acknowledged the importance of the other in your life, and as long as you were happy and taken care of, that was all that mattered.
So Sylus wasn’t upset that the doctor was currently in your apartment when he was supposed to be away on business. In fact, he was rather relieved that you had someone looking after you while he wasn’t there, especially when you were drunk. But he was here now, and he fully planned on assuming the role of your caretaker.
“Skye, I thought you were on a business trip,” said Zayne, stepping aside for the snowy-haired man. He wasn’t going to ask about the name thing, he honestly didn’t want to know.
Sylus held up his phone, the screen open on a myriad of texts you had drunkenly sent him throughout the night. “How could I not come home early when Y/N was practically begging me to?”
Zayne snorted. “Her phone died by the time we left the club, she was very upset she couldn’t call you.”
Sylus huffed, taking off his shoes. “Poor thing. Where is she—”
“Sy?”
Both men’s heads snapped up to where you stood in the living room, disheveled as all hell. But to Sylus (and Zayne) you were still the most beautiful treasure he’d ever laid his eyes on.
“Hi sweetie,” he drawled. “Miss me?”
You cried out a strangled laugh and ran for him, launching yourself into his waiting arms so hard he nearly fell backward.
“I missed you,” you whispered in his ear, relishing in the way his warmth enveloped you.
“Oh I know, you made that abundantly clear,” he teased.
You drew back, your brow furrowed. “When?”
Sylus raised a brow. “Just how drunk are you?”
“Very,” answered Zayne.
You pouted, craning your neck to look at your doctor. “I feel better now.”
“Because you threw up everything you drank,” said Zayne. He looked at Sylus. “She needs water to rehydrate, but don’t let her chug it. Slow sips only. Have her take some painkillers before bed so she doesn’t end up waking up with as bad of a hangover and don’t let her sleep on her back. If she still isn’t feeling well tomorrow, give me a call and I’ll bring over some medicine. I trust you can take over from here?”
Sylus nodded. “Thank you for taking care of her for me.”
Zayne smiled slightly. “Of course, I’m her primary care physician after all.”
You shoved your face into Sylus’s neck. “He’s Doctor Buzzkill,” you muttered into his skin.
Sylus barked a laugh. “Okay, kitten,” he said, patting your back, “let’s go get you cleaned up, yeah?”
Sylus and Zayne exchanged a curt nod as Sylus finally walked out of the entryway. You waved weakly at your doctor over Sylus’s shoulder as he carried you to the bathroom.
“Don’t forget to charge your phone,” Zayne said by way of goodbye.
“I’m so glad you came home early,” you told Sylus as he sat you on the lip of the sink.
Sylus pressed a soft kiss to your forehead. “‘Sy come home, I miss you.’ ‘I miss you, Sy, when are you coming home?’ ‘It’s not as fun going out without you, Sy.’ And many, many more messages like that, all throughout the night. I don’t think you gave me any other choice, sweetie.”
You grinned, not feeling even the slightest bit guilty for being the reason he cut his trip short. “I really did miss you,” you said, reaching for his hand and twining your fingers. “Though I think I said your real name in front of Zayne.”
Sylus shrugged. “I don’t think it’ll be a big deal, plus we could always blame it on your drunken state.” He frowned as he looked you over. “You really shouldn’t drink that much, kitten.”
“I’m fine,” you insisted. “It’s like Zayne said, I threw it all up.”
Sylus scoffed. “Yeah and your doctor gave me specific orders for me to follow so how about we get you in the shower so I can do that?”
You didn’t move, instead your expression softened as you stared at your boyfriend. “I think you and Zayne could be good friends, if you both gave it a chance.”
Surprise flitted across Sylus’s face. “I don’t need friends, sweetie. I only need you.”
“What about Luke and Kieran?”
“They’re my subordinates.”
“Mephisto?”
“He’s a mechanical bird.”
“Okay, next time we go out, you’re coming with us so we can make you some friends.”
Sylus laughed. “Sure, whatever you say, kitten.”
Bonus:
*the next morning*
You squealed into the phone, effectively startling Sylus awake.
“So you’re going on a date?” you asked. You waited for the person on the line to reply, then squealed again. “Tara this is so exciting! Our plan actually worked!”
Sylus stared up at you, wondering if you were even human to have drank so much the night previous yet seemed to have woken up perfectly fine. So fine that you found it appropriate to scream into your phone at whatever unholy hour of the morning it was.
“Okay, so I already have our next mission planned,” you said excitedly. “Operation Make Skye Some Friends.”
Sylus groaned loudly and covered his head with his pillow. He did not want to hear what you had to say next.
tags: @bookfreakk @blorbohunter @randomgurl2326 @worldly-fluster @athanasia-day
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allurilove · 2 days ago
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Yanderes fairy tale AU x reader where she's been with them for a while and they see her touching herself?
I just love writing for the fantasy au.
Reject!Yandere Prince x Wife!Reader
Rated 18 + — mature short content !
Reject!Yandere Prince had mud clinging onto the fabric of his pants, all the way up to his knees. The nail beds of his fingers stained with dark oxidized blood from his latest game, dirt, and sticky amber tree sap. Thick fog had nestled into the unwinding forest, effectively hiding the path he usually takes, and nothing could be seen from the horizon. The tired man had to rely on his senses to make it back home, touching the barks of the trees for the symbols he had engraved earlier from when it was bright. He could not carry a lantern--only a small lighter-- for which it would make him susceptible to the jaws of death. Many creatures and monsters would dream to sink their teeth into the flesh of a healthy muscly man, and carrying a vessel of light was one way to fulfill that fantasy.
The man feels the heavy weight on his back continue to bleed— a single droplet traveling down his arm and falls onto the ground. He heard the spirits let out a small giggle, the loose dirt starting to vibrate before it sucks in the plasma completely.
The wilderness had a taste for blood. Quite literally. Before each kill, the prince had to do a specific ritual to please the gods of nature. He made cuts into the neck of the boar, letting its blood ooze down its grey skin, and absorbed by the hungry soil. The fresh blood was the first step, and the muscle sacrifice was next. He had then carved into the animal's chest, ripping its heart out with his hand, and he buried it into the ground.
In a few weeks, a new piglet should sprout.
Reject!Yandere Prince grunted as he adjusted the position of the dead boar on his back. The ropes that held it onto him was well tied, but if he wasn’t careful, it could unravel by a simple manipulation from the spirits of the woods. He continued his way back home, holding his breath as his feet had stepped onto fallen leaves. The little crunches were enough to trigger the birds from above and announce his presence. The Reject ran as fast as he could, only able to briefly touch the trees to help with his navigation, and he could feel the ground shake and tremor.
Deep hidden roots shot up from the ground. His ankle twists, and the prince fell face first. “Fuck,” he instinctively reached for the weapon by his hip. The vines and nearby plants quickly wrapped their tendrils around his legs— their thorns digging into his calf and up his thigh. He then let out a guttural scream deep from his throat.
His fumbling hands pulled out his scythe and a small lighter, wielding both in a desperate attempt to escape. The tiny flame caused the vine to shriek, shriveling up into a burnt coil. It unraveled from his ankles, retreating in pain, and left him panting on the ground with blood welling up in his puncture wounds.
Oh…the things he goes through just to feed you.
—★
He made it back home in one piece. After that encounter, the forest had gone back to its normal state of spookiness. The dead animal had flopped onto the floor with a thud, prince yandere’s footsteps just as heavy when he dragged his body to the bedroom door. He closed his eyes, and as he sighed, his forehead pressed against the oak wood. The Reject’s hand held onto the brass knob, he was about to twist it open, until he heard a small and muffled whimper.
You sounded weak— breathless even.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up. “Are you all right in there?” he whispered, keeping his voice low incase the monster was lurking nearby. His hand then reached for the scythe by his side, and he gripped the handle as he readied himself to attack.
When you didn’t respond— he finally pushed the door open. To your knowledge, your husband should be out for another couple of hours. Hunting took forever in these woods, and sometimes he would come back with empty hands. You were too busy taking care of your aching needs to notice that your husband had entered the bedroom. Your husband halted at the sight of your compromising position, noticing how exposed you were with your dusty rose nightgown that was bunched up by your hips. One of your hands fondling were your soft breast, pinching and pulling at the nipple to get it taut, and the other had slipped underneath your panties and was by your core. Your legs were far apart, and that glistening sweet cunt of yours had caught his eyes immediately.
Reject!Yandere Prince would have never thought that his wife would resort to such desperate measures. He was sure he had made it clear: you must wait for him at all times. Yet, he supposed it made sense—you weren't as strong-willed as he was, after all. Still, even a disciplined man like him couldn’t resist the sinful pleasures of the flesh. He hated how easily his body could succumb to temptation. No matter how hard he tried to ignore the blood rushing south, he dropped his weapon, his feet carrying him toward you.
He stayed silent when his knees rests on the bed, his eyes raking over your bashful form. You had tried to hide your lower body, but his rough hands grabbed onto your thighs. He painfully squeezed them—a wordless reminder to keep them spread apart for him.
“So, this is what you were doing while I was gone.” The man's voice rough and curt, finally breaking the silence. His gaze not once looking at your face, but at your wet, and beautifully alluring kitty. It’s hypnotic, even. Calling his name. Calling for his cock and attention. He can’t tear his gaze away.
His thumb experimentally grazed over the damp fabric lightly, feeling your sticky folds. Your husband forgot all about his bleeding leg, his thumb now rubbing circles on your clit. “I risk my life for us—to put food on the table. You order me around, make me do the backbreaking labor, and send me to fetch whatever you want from the market. But maybe—just maybe—it’s all worth it if I can come home to a sight like this every night.”
“I’ll happily be your dog,” his mouth lowered towards your cunt, and his tongue snaked out to tease at your entrance.
“As long as I can get a taste.”
Allure: Reject yandere prince is actually nicer than regular ol’ yandere prince. he just needed to get shunned by his family and have near death experiences on the reg ig. It’s also like 1 am where i live and idk this has been in my drafts for a while and I finally got it done! If there’s like mistakes i’ll fix em later!
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aestaseuria · 20 hours ago
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Let’s go back to Danny starving himself for a moment.
Ghosts need ectoplasm to survive. A lot of them can convert emotion to ectoplasm and feed from that. But let’s say Danny’s only experience with feeding on emotions has been Spectra, so he’s decided that feeding on emotions is inherently bad. And in Amity Park, the ambient ectoplasm from the portal and ghost fights was more than enough for his ghost half to feed off of.
But now, he’s not in Amity Park. The ambient ectoplasm is too low to do anything more than sustain a particularly passive shade, least of all keep Danny healthy.
So he starves. And he continues to starve until someone else intervenes.
Fright Knight hasn’t seen Prince Phantom since he had been driven from Amity. Oh, the boy claims that he’s no prince, but any title given by the Infinite Realms cannot be so easily swept aside. Whether crowned or not, accepted or not, the Infinite Realms has chosen Phantom as her Prince. So when the call of summons came, of course he answered.
There were many people in the room, but none as relevant as Phantom.
“I greet the Prince of the Infinite Realms.”
The boy, as he is like to do, rejected the title. Young as he was, he didn’t understand yet just how little that will work. But alas, Phantom had (be it knowingly or not) pulled rank.
Fright Knight nodded his head in acceptance of the order.
“Very well, I greet Phantom, savior of the Infinite Realms.” The irreverent child seemed on the edge of refusing that as well, but could not deny that truth at least. The boy looked different too. His core was bloated on nothing, trying with all its might to get the ectoplasm it so desperately needed. If not for the circle surrounding him and the distrust the Prince still held for their first meeting, Fright Knight might have helped him.
It took a couple turns of the conversation he is ordered to have before an opportunity came to ask.
“Is there a reason you’re starving yourself?” he asked.
“That is unimportant to this situation,” the Prince replied. He couldn’t meet their eyes.
Fright Knight grinned. That was not a “yes.” He could alert the Lady Jasmine, Lord Clockwork, Chief Frostbite, Princess Dorothea, Lady Pandora, or the Living Pharaoh Tucker and Undergrowth’s little vine Samantha. Phantom’s Fraid would never let this continue.
He turned his attention fully to the conversation at hand. Fright Knight had been waiting years to throw the missteps of the Living back in their faces, and here the Prince had provided such a wonderful opportunity to do so. The Living seem almost surprised that their actions have consequences. There’s a vindictive joy in being the one to burst that bubble.
Finally released from the summons, Fright Knight made his way the Prince Phantom’s Fraid with a grin. the mothering and protective fury would cause such delightful fear in those that got in the way. And with the Prince healthy, the Realms will become only stronger, and better prepared for the fight ahead.
Fright Knight couldn’t wait to see it.
Danny deeply distrusts the Justice League
Based on the wonderful @saltymarshmall0w 's prompt.
I really feel like they aren't enough fanfics or prompts where Danny dislikes the Justice League — and continues to dislike them even after everything (Anti-Ecto Acts) is revealed and taken care of. (Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places — if you guys have any recommendations put them in the Tags or Comments!)
Read on ao3. Masterpost
After many years Danny has finally retired — sure he had to leave everything he loved and that was familiar to him behind for it, but it was worth it. He had a small little house that was his own, he would water his plants every morning and make small talk with his neighbors. Everything was fine. 
Everything turns not so fine, when there’s a sudden knock on his door. Expecting it to be one of his neighbors — for example needing eggs or flour (a neighbor’s kid had needed eggs to bake one of her parents a cake and Danny had been more than willing to spare the few she needed) — he opens the door without a second thought.
Only to almost immediately want to close it again. 
Because that’s the Justice League standing in front of his door. And that can mean nothing good.
Before Danny can slam the door closed, Superman‘s shoe slides in between the door frame, blocking his escape. The smile the man shoots him is probably meant to be reassuring, but the only thing Danny feels is dread. 
To most civilians the Justice League is seen as a beacon of hope — but to Danny? He knows the bitter truth. When he needed them the most they turned his back on him before chasing him across half the globe calling him a villain without even hearing his side of the story. They handed him over the GIW for Ancient’s Sake. He would have died if it weren’t for Tucker and Sam. (He may not have scars to show for it but he can still feel his chest burn when he thinks back to it.) Not that they can remember that though. He still doesn’t trust them. 
“You are Danny Fenton, correct?” Superman asks and Danny stiffens. 
Fenton — not Nightingale like he has changed his surname into to escape his parents influence and leave everything behind. 
“Yes,” he says warily — seeing no point in lying. Considering Batman is lingering behind Superman the Detective would figure it out instantly. 
“And you used to be Amity’s Park’s vigilante Phantom?”
Danny grips the door frame, knuckles white. What’s their point? Are they trying to intimidate him?
“Yes,” he grits out. 
“We were told that you are the one we should seek out in matters involving Ghosts and the Infinite Realms,” Superman continues, but Danny doesn’t let him finish.
“I’m retired,” he interrupts. “Find someone else.”  
“There’s a world-ending event,” Superman says like that would convince Danny. Like Danny hadn’t lived though so many of them — had to prevent them from happening without anyone’s help every single time. Guilt-tripping much? “Even if you don’t want to fight — we need you as an advisor.”
Danny snorts, shaking his head. 
“Go take up the matter with the Justice League Dark then.” 
Danny moves to close the door, but still Superman’s foot doesn’t budge. He could probably brute-force his way through this — but Danny’s tired and he’s not in the mood to explain to his neighbors why his door is broken and he needs to do repairs.
He glares at them and to his surprise Superman actually takes a step back — but still not enough to be able to close the door. 
Danny hasn’t transformed into Phantom since he left Amity Park. Had kept that part of himself locked away — would have separated his Ghost Self from himself if he didn’t know he would be selfish for that. Had ignored his Obsession even if it screamed at him — had pushed it away in his Human Form even if it muted all the colors around him and it meant that every breath was a painful wheeze.
Faced with this situation he almost wants to break the promise he made to himself — but he can’t.
There is no GIW anymore —  Danny had made sure of that. He had wiped all of their files and his parents published research with the help of Technus. He had dismantled both portals to the Ghost Zone and made sure no one would be able to replicate it. But Danny also knows the Justice League — knows how much Superman’s punches hurt, how it feels to get mind controlled — they could overpower him in an instant if he twitched as much as into the wrong direction.  
He really doesn’t have a choice here, doesn’t he? If he doesn’t go out of his free will — they will force him with any means necessary, of that much he is sure. 
His gaze trails to his neighbor’s house and the swing in their backyard. And if they are right and he turns them away — is he sure he won’t feel any guilt if something happens that he could have prevented? Sometimes Danny really hates his Martyr Complex. 
Danny sighs, defeated.
“What do you need my help for?”
They had liked their new neighbor despite the fact that he barely left his house other than to water his plants. They had known that the young man was sickly. He looked like death wormed him over and was weak on his feet— his ice-blue eyes dull. His smile barely held any warmth in it.
Still they invited them over after he had given their daughter eggs to bake the cake for their birthday. They learned that he was kind and had escaped to their small village to live a quiet life. 
When the young man came to tell them that he would be out of town for a few days and to please water his plants if they could, they were worried.
“Are you sure that you are fine, son?” they asked and touched the man’s forehead — but it was icily cold like the rest of their skin had always been. “You look even paler than usual.”
The young man had only given them a half-hearted smile and affirmed them that he was fine
Their daughter's excited steps had hurried behind them and she tugged on their pants after the man had left. 
“Was that Uncle Danny?” the girl asked. “Can I play with him?”
They gave their daughter a weak smile. 
“Uncle Danny is busy for a few days,” they explained. “Later, okay? How about you draw him a picture while we wait for him to come back? So he has something to look forward to?” 
Their daughter nodded and raced back to the living room, searching for supplies, while they continued looking out of the window. They can’t help but have a bad feeling about this.  
It’s unnerving how quiet the young man is. 
There are no easy smiles, sassy quips and puns like from the few shaky phone videos they had pulled from the internet about Phantom. 
He’s meticulous. Probably even more than Batman — and that is a statement. There had been a deep mistrust in the eyes when they had located him and asked him to help them. It’s evident in every step he makes. He double-, even triple-checks every single evidence, every single sentence, every single word they say. 
Nothing is left unturned as he works the way though the situation like if he is dealing with a case. He never stops moving, always doing something — reading through heavy leather-bound books or through their reports. His heart rate is so slow that Clark sometimes wonders if the boy is still breathing at all. 
When the young man had asked them if they spoke to the leader regarding the war declaration and the reasons behind them, he had clicked his tongue when they told him no.
He hadn’t let anyone help him when he drew out the summoning cycle — it looked even more intricate and complicated than they had seen from Zatanna or Constantine. When he had spoken the words for the spell,  his words had sounded ancient and undescribable — hushed whispers following every single word. He clasped his hands and only opened his eyes when he spoke the last word, his eyes burning a deep green. 
The cycle goes up in green fire before a form appears — Clark recognizes the Ghost from the declaration. 
The man’s cold gaze sweeps over the Justice League before it stops on Phantom. He smirks, bowing his head slightly.
“I greet the Prince of the Infinite Realms.”
“Cut the crap Fright Knight,” Phantom's voice is steel-hard. “We both know I refused that position.”
The man tilts his head but nods.
“Very well,” he says. “I greet Phantom, savior of the Infinite Realms.”
Phantom grits his teeth like he wants to refuse that title too before he shakes his head. He gestures to the Justice League.
“Explain.”
“We are just paying back what has been done to us,” Fright Knight claims. “Vita brevis, ars longa, occasio praeceps, experimentum periculosum, iudicium difficile.”
“Life is short, art is long, opportunity fleeting, experiment treacherous, judgment difficult,” Diana translates for them. 
“I see the Daughter of the Queen of the Amazons knows her arts,” the man’s voice has a hint of mockery. “Humanum genus est avidum nimis auricularum. Ignorantia legis non excusat:”
Diana’s eyebrows knit together as she listens. 
“Mankind is too greedy for lies. Ignorance of the law does not excuse,” her voice is almost a whisper. 
“I would have thought you would know of this Phantom,” Fright Knight addresses the young man again. “But now seeing your state, you probably didn’t feel the call for the announcement either. Is there a reason why you are starving yourself?”
Phantom doesn’t meet any of their eyes as he answers.
“That is unimportant to this situation.”
Fright Knight’s lips twitch back into a grin. 
“If the savior of the Infinite Dreams claims so, then I have no choice but to accept it.” He turns back to the Justice League. “Si vis pacem, para bellum.”
“If you want peace, prepare for war.”
“When have we been ignorant?” Batman finally steps in. 
Fright Knight huffs out a dark laugh.
“When has mankind not been ignorant?” Fright Knight questions. “When your government captured my brethren and tortured them, where were you? When they declared us as non-sentient and staged war against us, where were you? When they threatened to destroy our home, where were you?”
The man’s eyes seem to burn as he repeats himself.
“Where were you?”
Clark and the rest of the League are shocked to silence. 
“Now that the danger has passed, why should we just forgive you? Why should we forget?” Fright Knight continues. “If we are not worthy enough to be counted towards mankind that means we just have to rewrite the rules. And since we were never given the chance to negotiate, that means by force.”
“The Meta-Protection Acts-” 
“Only count towards those that are alive.” Fright Knight interrupts Batman. “After all, how can the dead feel any emotions such as pain? I’m sure if you ask your government they will hand you a lot of pretty reports on the biased experiments that prove so.” 
“But that’s-” Clark starts but Fright Knight doesn’t let him finish.
“Despicable? When has that ever stopped mankind?” Fright Knight asks. “We can talk if there isn't a law that states that we can be eradicated without any consequences.”
Before either of them can stop him, Fright Knight swishes his cape made out of purple fire and disappears. Clark faintly asks himself if that is how other people feel when Batman does that in front of their noses. 
Seeing no other option the entire League turns back to Phantom who hasn’t said a single word since the Ghost went on his tirade.
“Phantom-” Batman tries, but the young man’s eyes burn with so much hate that the normally stoic man stocks in his words. 
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” Phantom seethes. “You heard him. Now finally do your jobs right for once.”
Then he leaves the room without a single glance back.
Clark gulps as they look at each other.
“I feel like we made a mistake.”
When the news declares the Anti-Ecto Acts as abolished, Danny feels nothing but exhaustion. The Justice League barely managed to avoid a large-scale — and very justified war. 
Danny leans back tiredly on his sofa. His eyes trail to the drawing his neighbor’s daughter had given him and the first genuine smile in months graces his lips.
“What I don’t do for mankind,” he sighs before he closes his eyes. 
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flowerandblood · 3 days ago
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The Song of Promises (Sneak Peek)
[ canon • Aemond x Royce • female ]
[ a little preview of the story that awaits you in February; it doesn't end my hiatus, but I'm in the process of writing and I see a little light at the end of the tunnel ]
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[ description: Aemond's childhood is filled with loneliness and regret until Daemon arrives in the Red Keep with his first-born child, daughter of Rhea Royce. The fact that neither of them has a dragon of their own binds them together with a thread of understanding, and their slowly developing relationship gives birth in the young prince's mind to a plan of which she is a part. Slow burn, childhood companions to lovers, first intimacy, rude, insolent, arrogant Aemond with big ego. ]
_____
[...]
Just as she had done in their childhood days, to leave her rooms now she had to wait for the watch to change; only then would she slip out and take advantage of the moment to make her way down a dark, rarely used corridor through a side entrance to the prince's quarters.
She had no idea if anyone but her knew about it; presumably if they did, the guards thought the additional door remained locked. However, her cousin had left them open for her, and it was through these that she entered, stepping into his chamber, enveloped in the warm light of the fire.
She spotted his silhouette at once – he was sitting at the top of a long table, on which lay stacks of maps and letters, a thick, old volume in his hands.
When he heard her footsteps, he lifted a glance of his healthy eye to her, and then returned to his reading again, carelessly turning the page over.
She was not bothered by this; he was often in the habit of pretending not to see her at first. From her perspective, it was his attempt to cope with the fact that, although accustomed to solitude, he was hosting someone else in his private quarters.
She untied her cloak, placed it on one of the richly decorated oak chairs and, wearing nothing but her nightgown, took a slow, quiet step towards his bed. She knew she could do it, and that she was certain to stay with him anyway, so she simply lay back on the soft sheet and closed her eyes, listening to the pleasant sound of the sizzling fire.
For a moment, all she could hear was that and the rustle of pages being turned – the smell of him and the parchments pleasantly filled her nose, calming her.
The quiet creak of wood woke her from her half-sleep and she shuddered, opening her sleepy eyes – she spotted his silhouette heading lazily towards her. His hand rose to the belt of his tunic, undoing it with the quiet click of a buckle.
“Tomorrow. You must promise to obey me. Otherwise I will not fly with you.” He said calmly, looking at her with an expression on his face that pretended to show indifference.
“I will.” She said.
“Mm.” He hummed under his breath, finally pulling the leather material off his shoulders.
She made room for him and moved sideways on the bed as he sat on the edge of it and leaned over, pulling his boots off his feet. She watched wordlessly as he did the same a moment later with his eye patch, finally throwing it carelessly onto the stone floor. He sighed and hid his face in his hand, massaging the area around his scarred eye socket in some subconscious reflex.
Stress was causing discomfort to return to the left side of his face.
“You are in pain.” She whispered softly, raising herself up on her elbow.
He didn't reply, just swallowed hard and froze in stillness.
“Let me.” She insisted, and he finally looked at her and nodded.
She raised herself up on her knees and moved towards him, sitting down so that she could see his face. He looked at her silently with some kind of melancholy as her hands gently grasped his face and her thumbs began to massage his temples.
He immediately closed his eye and flinched as her thumbs moved over his brow arches and cheekbones – he twitched when she did it the first time, but relaxed more and more with each subsequent stroke, and his face took on an expression of relief.
“I wouldn't object if you did this to me all night.” He said quietly, his eyelid still closed. She smiled involuntarily at his words, running her fingers over his forehead, nose and cheeks, going back to the beginning – to his temples and brows.
“I can.” She said warmly, but he shook his head.
“We need to rest. Come. I want to sleep.”
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honeyedfate · 1 day ago
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kiss her you fool | 심재윤
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pairing. jake sim x idol!gf!reader
as if accidentally convincing both of your fans on several occasions that you two hate each other wasn’t enough, jake had to go ahead and mumble some sleepily ambiguous words on a weverse live and involve the whole internet. to salvage whatever shreds are left of the plan, you are to attend a baseball game together.
genre. fluff
a/n. the third & last part to loverboy is here!! sorry for the wait i wrote 4 different drafts until i settled on this one lol enjoy!! xx
[ › first part ] [ › second part ]
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jake is a chill guy. he’s cool-headed, efficient, steady under pressure, always on the side of healthy optimism. that’s the story he sells to others—and to himself. but deep down, he knows he might be a bit of a fraud. worse, he can feel it.
his hands are drenched in sweat as they clench and unclench inside his pockets, chasing an old gum wrapper around to distract himself. the tag of his shirt pokes at his neck, making him want to barbarically tear off his clothes in front of thousands of baseball fans.
but instead, he dutifully follows you through row upon row of seats and keeps his gaze on the back of your head.
so, yes. jake is a very chill guy.
you keep glancing back at him, the lower half of your face obscured by a black mask. still, he knows you’re flashing him reassuring smiles, and he feels bad for how nervous he is. if he’s not staring at you, his eyes are darting around, scanning his surroundings like one of the baseball players warming up in the field might suddenly climb the walls and come for him.
“i think these are it,” you say, glancing at your tickets before sliding them into your back pocket.
jake wordlessly takes the seat next to you, adjusting his cap to shield as much of his face as possible. he knows it’s futile—staying hidden is the exact opposite of why he’s here, but habits die screaming, or something like that.
his shoulders tense for a split second at the touch of your hand on his thigh, and guilt gnaws at him when you pull away almost instantly. he meets your eyes and musters a smile. not that you can see it beneath his matching mask.
“we can leave any time,” you say in a soft tone, looking at him from under your lashes. “i don’t care what the plan is. if you’re uncomfortable, we can ditch this whole thing and get ramen at cu.”
jake’s heart swells, wanting nothing more than to do exactly that, but he knows it’s his fault you’re in this situation in the first place. well, for the most part. he can’t tell you that, though. he knows you will just dispute it until he starts believing it himself, and that would only prove to him once again that his backbone inevitably snaps in the face of a pretty girl.
no matter that it’s his pretty girl, and he’d do anything for you anyway. breaking his spine included. the fact remains—he ran his mouth on live, so now he’s got to face the consequences. 
swallowing the lump in his throat, he shakes his head and threads his fingers through yours, tucking both hands into the pocket of his jacket.
jake grins. “no, this is fun.” you send him a flat look, but he just nods towards the field. “i’ve never been to a baseball game. now we can take it off our bucket list.”
“sure,” you say, sounding wryly amused. “we don’t have a bucket list but at least now we’ve got something to cross off. i’ve also always wanted to be on the kiss cam. guess it’s our lucky day.”
“lucky us,” jake says, his lips curling as he feels your hand squeeze his. he casts a glance around, then leans forward, swiftly pulling both of your masks down with one hand. it’s a brief kiss, just a soft peck that’s a bit inconvenient since both of you are wearing hats, forcing him to tilt his head. but when he pulls back, he sees the way you’re chasing after his lips, eyes still closed, and goes just a little insane.
you look entirely too pretty to leave it at just one kiss. you deserve all the kisses in the world, actually, so he captures your lips again, tasting the cherry gloss he bought you last week because he likes it a little too much. it’s the same one you wore on your first date together.
jake’s lips brush against yours once more, deeper and a bit slower this time as if savouring the moment. you sigh into the kiss and pull back to catch your breath, your lips lingering just above his. your eyes are still closed, but jake doesn’t mind one bit, taking the moment to let his gaze wander over every single feature of yours that he knows by heart. and would you look at that? suddenly, he couldn’t care less that he’s sitting in a huge stadium.
you tear your gaze away from his lopsided grin. “let’s save some of this for later, yeah?” you say, and jake is not ashamed of the groan rumbling in the back of his throat as he hides his face in the crook of your shoulder. how else is a man supposed to act when your lips look so plumb and kissable, and your voice sounds like that? hopeless.
you’re looking at him, a smile tugging at your lips when you notice an older lady a few rows down elbowing the person next to her, gesturing not-so-subtly at the two of you. under your breath, you mumble, “the ahjummas down there are looking at us.” 
jake leans back, glancing at them from the corner of his eye before lifting a shoulder in a half-shrug. “can you blame them? we’re not exactly hard to look at.”
“your modesty astonishes me,” you say, sounding unimpressed.
jake raises an eyebrow and leans forward on his knees, a smirk tugging at his lips. “we’d make beautiful babies, and you know it.”
you snort, shaking your head. “that’s what ni-ki said this morning. something about sacrificing himself for his future nephews and nieces because at least he knows they’ll be cute. i’m still not sure what he meant by that.”
jake cocks his head and pokes your side when you playfully mirror him. “he came down this morning when yuki was talking to us in the kitchen,” jake says, shifting in his seat.
he grimaces as he remembers the conversation with jungwon who was basically a zombie at that hour after having to stay up late as a consequence of jake’s faux pas on weverse. “ni-ki said he was going to take care of this for us. i didn’t know what he meant at first, but then sunghoon sent me a screenshot of what ni-ki posted on weverse. it was a selfie of him, facing the other way so his left side was showing.”
“wait, seriously?” your eyebrows shoot up, and jake nods, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
“yep. he called himself a martyr in the group chat. said he was taking one for the team.”
you gasp dramatically, holding a hand to your chest. “a martyr? for us? what’s next, a shrine in the dorm?”
jake laughs, clearly entertained by your idea. “i mean, we could probably arrange one. heeseung’s room is big enough to fit ten.”
you let out a small laugh, shaking your head. “that’s… actually true. but did it work?”
jake bites his lip, glancing at his phone. “i haven’t checked yet, but sunoo sent me a text earlier. apparently, engenes are seeing right through it.”
“what are they saying?” you ask, genuinely curious.
“they’re saying belift gave up ni-ki for damage control,” jake chuckles.
before you can say anything in response, your phone vibrates, the sudden buzz pulling your attention away. you reach for it, ignoring jake’s whiny protests as you untangle your hand from his. “hello?”
jake pouts and scoots closer, pressing his ear against the backside of your phone. you roll your eyes and click the side button to turn the volume up, letting him hear the voice on the other end, your manager’s. “…are you in your seats?”
you hum and nod, nearly knocking jake’s hat off with the movement. “yea, we’re here. we got here a bit early, so there are still a few empty seats. but the game should be starting soon. what’s up? did something happen?”
“well,” your manager says, her tone uncertain, and jake’s heart drops. “about half an hour ago, minjun posted the dance challenge you and jake filmed for their tiktok. it…er, seemed to stir up a bit more of a reaction than we expected…again.”
you exchange a confused glance with jake. nothing about the videos seemed off—he’d double-checked, paranoid he might’ve accidentally done something ridiculous again, like giving you a lap dance or declaring his undying love on camera.
filming those two dance challenges had already been an ordeal. the pr team was relentless, adamant on pushing you and jake to drop as many microscopic hints as possible to suggest something was going on between you two, but it was so painfully awkward that you ended up with enough unusable footage to last a month.
jake had been a giggling mess the entire time, finding it all so silly, like he was on some overly scripted dating show. you, on the other hand, couldn’t stop tripping over your own feet, bumping into him more times than he could count. at least you managed to do it on beat.
regardless, even though filming the final video had been a struggle, it was ready to go. jake had made sure of that.
it was just another dance challenge, he thinks to himself, trying to push aside the unease creeping up. whatever’s going on now, it’s gotta be grey sweater guy’s fault.
“what do you mean?” your voice brings him back, your curiosity clear. “we didn’t do anything…right?”
“well,” your manager says again, clearing her throat. “since we couldn’t really get any dance footage of you acting like, you know, an actual couple—” 
jake snorts.
“—minjun ended up keeping the last few seconds of a video when he posted it to the enhypen tiktok page. he didn’t give us a heads-up before doing it.”
your eyes widen as you send a quick look in jake’s way. “is he going to get in trouble?” you say into the phone, and jake pulls a funny face. is that what he was supposed to feel? concern? apparently, he likes the guy even less than he thought.
“that’s the thing,” your manager goes on. “everyone seems to like it?” she sounds quite surprised about it herself, and jake has to strain his neck to make sure he heard correctly. 
“everyone?” he echoes in disbelief, and you nudge him when he inches impossibly closer, practically climbing onto your lap.
“what do you mean everyone?” you ask as jake moves back a little. “what were we doing?”
your manager lets out a long sigh, as if hoping you wouldn’t ask. “after you left for the game, minju and some of the others decided to go through the videos again, hoping to find something a bit more exciting. they ended up finding one where you two were dancing really well—everything was clean, no one was falling or laughing, and the chemistry wasn’t too forced.”
she pauses, and you can hear her shifting slightly. “but then, right at the end, you trip over your feet and… well, you kind of just leave the frame.”
jake frowns, meeting your puzzled gaze. you had filmed so many different versions, they have all blended into a nightmarish concoction of blurred memories, making it hard to recall which one she means. “i leave the frame and then what?”
the silence stretches on for a beat, and jake feels a spark of irritation bubbling up at the theatrics. horrified, he starts to wonder if he’s accidentally flashed the whole world and didn’t even realise.
“the entire thing only lasts two seconds, but you stumble, jake rushes after you, and you both end up out of frame—but we can still see part of it because of the mirrors. jake has his arms around you as you both tumble to the floor, laughing.” she says in a matter-of-fact tone, then adds quietly, “minjun removed the music at the end, so you can hear the laughter.”
jake doesn’t even know how to respond. sure, the company can post whatever they want of him, but they usually don’t. there’s an unspoken rule of decency and respect among the team, and he’s at least asked before anything goes up. this? this is just wrong.
he doesn’t realise that you’re voicing his exact thoughts into the phone until a loud cheer ripples through the crowd. a woman he’s seen on tv before appears on the big screen over the baseball field. she’s offering some welcoming words, and jake figures the match must be starting soon.
“—he’s lucky people are receiving it well, but he has to know that it’s not okay to just post that without our knowledge or consent,” you say, your voice tinged with more disappointment than frustration.
“i know, trust me. yuki and i made sure any future genius moves from him go through us—and you two—first. i know you're not mad, just…" she sighs, papers shuffling. “look, almost 80% of the comments are positive, calling you a cute, good-looking couple and all that. the rest are either in denial or upset, but it doesn’t matter. more people are for it than against it, so just enjoy the game. you don’t have to go through with what we discussed if you don’t want to. things are looking good, y/n.”
jake doesn’t pay attention to the rest of the conversation, having heard enough. he leans back, resting a hand on the back of your seat and absentmindedly draws circles onto your skin.
you mutter something into the phone and end the call, melting into jake’s side with a sigh. he coos, pulling you closer, and presses a kiss to the top of your hat while humming. “you know what?” he says quietly.
“what?” your voice is muffled as you rub a hand over your face, looking up at him.
he grins. "at least they’re also calling us a cute and good-looking couple. ni-ki will be a proud uncle to our gorgeous kids.”
you can’t help but laugh, hiding your face in his chest and, at once, jake finds it hard to be bothered by anything happening on the internet or even outside this stadium. he has you in his arms and the rest of the afternoon off to enjoy a baseball game. what concerns could he possibly have?
soon after, the players file out onto the field, and the match begins. both of you end up having a lot more fun than expected, and jake briefly leaves to go grab some food and drinks.
he’s walking back up the stairs, looking for you and not even avoiding eye contact with people around like he did before. right now, he’s just a guy hugging two cups of soda and a pile of snacks to his chest, wandering the rows in search of his girlfriend. 
he must look as lost as he feels because someone suddenly taps him on the arm. looking down, he sees the two older women from before. they’re grinning up at him, and jake hesitantly returns the smile, realising a moment too late that they can’t see it due to his mask. 
“you’re three rows up, darling,” the woman on the left with the big, blue-framed glasses says, nodding over her shoulder and vaguely gesturing to where you’re sitting. his face lights up when your eyes meet, and you raise a hand to wave at him. he thanks them and makes to walk up the stairs when she stops him, placing a hand on his arm.
a small voice in the back of his head screams ‘stranger danger’ in capital letters at him, but he brushes it aside, trying to figure out what she could possibly want and whether that might be his kidney or one of the napkins he’s holding.
“you have a very beautiful girlfriend,” she says in that ambiguous, sage voice that the elderly have, and he’s caught off guard. not due to the voice, of course, but the mention of you. jake blinks, processing her words before nodding slowly.
“she’s not, erm, i mean, of course, she’s—”
the woman in the green cardigan laughs delightfully, eyes twinkling with amusement. “sweetie, breathe. we’re not the cia. you can talk about your girlfriend. in fact, you should. it keeps you both young.”
jake is too stunned to muster a reply. he eyes them carefully, wondering if this is a weird interaction or if he’s just never talked about you to anyone before. a second later, he realises—he really hasn’t. not to a stranger, not to anyone.
the thought repeats in his head, looping like a broken record. he’s never talked about you to anyone. and yet, it feels like praises about you live right on the tip of his tongue, like they’ve always been there, just waiting for an opening. so he tries it out. “her heart is even more beautiful,” he says shyly, testing the words, rolling them over like he’s trying to get a feel for them. “which is near impossible but she somehow makes it work.”
it feels weird, to be honest. like he’s revealing a well-buried national secret and endangering the country. the two women share a meaningful glance that doesn’t go unnoticed by him. his stomach twists. jake’s gaze flickers toward you, and an overwhelming wave of emotions crashes over him.
it’s more obvious now than ever. jake is stupidly in love with you. so much so that he has made an utter fool of himself time and time again in the name of keeping you a secret. like love could be something silent, something that exists in the shadows without growing restless. like it wouldn’t claw at the walls of his chest, begging to be let out.
he truly did think loving you quietly would make him feel better about everything. safer. less exposed. but now, faced with the weight of his own realisation, he sees how wrong he’d been. what was the point of all that caution if it only made him feel like this—like he’s been holding his breath for months, maybe even years?
now, he’s given the chance to do the complete opposite. and for the first time, he wants to take it. he wants to love you loudly, unapologetically. because it’s what you deserve. because it’s what he wants.
he exhales, glancing back at you. you’re focused on your phone, scrolling through something with a tiny crease between your brows. probably checking the responses to the tiktok, probably making sure minjun hasn’t ruined both your careers. always so careful, so thoughtful.
“she’s… incredible,” he says, the words tumbling out before he can second-guess them. but they feel right, sitting on his tongue like they belong there. he doesn’t need to say more than that. doesn’t need to explain how you always make people feel comfortable, how you remember the smallest details about everyone you meet, how you laugh with your whole body like it’s the first time you’ve ever found something funny.
the women smile knowingly, and jake lets out a soft breath, something inside him settling.
“i’m very lucky.”
“she’s lucky, too,” the green cardigan woman says, her voice warm. “treat each other well, yes? a love like yours is rare. don’t do it the dishonour of keeping it in the shadows.”
jake lets out a small, breathy laugh, caught somewhere between flustered and amused. he ducks his head, rubbing the back of his neck, then nods—not just out of politeness, but because he hears her. really hears her.
the woman gives his arm a gentle pat before turning back to her friend, their conversation shifting elsewhere. jake exhales, then moves, crossing the distance between you in quick strides, taking the steps two at a time.
“should i be jealous?” you greet him with a teasing smile, taking the snacks from his arms.
he snorts. “they were just being nice. said you’re beautiful, by the way, and something about…” he hesitates, eyes flicking toward the field. “well, just… nice things.”
you watch him for a second, noticing the shift in his expression. but you don’t press, just shrugging it off and pulling down one side of your mask to take a bite of your corndog. your gaze drifts back to the cheer team as they work the crowd, the energy in the stadium picking up.
jake tries to focus, eyes darting to the blur of blue as cheerleaders and fans break into coordinated moves. but his mind keeps wandering back to what he’d just been told. normally, he’s not one to easily take anyone’s word as gospel, but this time, he can’t help it. it’s not just that he agrees—it’s the fact that he’s surprised by how much he does.
didn’t he spend all week trying to wrestle with this? he doesn’t want to put his relationship on display for everyone to pick apart—that’s the last thing he wants. but now, sitting here with you by his side in jamsil baseball stadium, he can’t shake the feeling that it doesn’t matter.
he glances at you, completely unaware of his thoughts, and all he sees is his person. someone he never doubts. someone who loves him, and someone he loves in return. does anything else even matter?
occupied by his thoughts, jake doesn’t realise what’s happening around him until the clapping starts. he blinks, surprised, as you turn to face him, bright-eyed and joining in with the crowd. he looks around, confused for a moment, until his gaze lands on the jumbotron. instead of the game, it now shows a couple in the stands, both wearing the rival team’s merch. the man leans in and gives the woman a sweet kiss on the lips. her face turns red, and the crowd erupts in cheers.
it’s the kiss cam, jake realises, and reflexively claps with everyone else as the woman shyly hides her face behind his shoulder. the excitement echoes through the stadium, the chant growing louder.
he can’t help but smile as he watches them, their laughter infectious. “they’re adorable,” you comment, gaze still fixed ahead, oblivious to his smile. jake’s chest tightens, but the feeling isn’t quite discomfort. more like the recognition of something he hadn’t known he’d been longing for. something he now sees clearly.
your mask is hanging off your ear as you absentmindedly sip on your drink, and jake is so glad to see your lips again. it’s like running into an old friend he’s missed. sometimes, it feels like he spends more time missing them than actually getting to kiss them.
he’s about to reply when you suddenly choke, your back straightening in surprise. out of the corner of his eye, he sees people turning their heads, and even though the music is still blasting through the speakers, he’s sure he hears gasps rippling through the crowd.
without thinking, he shifts his attention away from you and glances up at the jumbotron for confirmation—and there it is. the two of you, front and centre, framed in a pink, sparkling heart.
his eyes flick to you as you glance around, your expression a mix of confusion and discomfort. it’s strange to see you so flustered when you’re usually the calm, collected one, especially in situations like this. but here you are, shifting awkwardly under the attention.
a voice from the crowd calls out, “kiss her, you fool!” followed by the sound of cameras clicking as everyone starts pulling out their phones. more voices join in, chanting in unison, and jake can see the tension in your body. you look uncomfortable, clearly not used to this sort of attention, and it’s hard to ignore.
he feels a wave of protectiveness, wanting to ease the situation and make you feel comfortable. seeing you out of your element like this—normally the one who knows how to handle everything—hits him differently. he’s already made up his mind, though.
this whole thing had been part of the plan from the start, and he’s not going to let it stress you out any longer. he wants to kiss you, right here, right now, because it feels right. it’s not about the spectacle, it’s about showing you how much he’s proud to have you by his side.
plus, you have quite literally already told him three times how being on the kiss cam was something you’ve always wanted to do before the game had even begun.
jake huffs a quiet laugh, his body moving on its own as he shifts in his seat. his gaze locks with yours, and he can’t help but grin at the sight of your panicked smile.
“guess we’re famous now?” you quip nervously, trying to make light of the situation. jake tries hard not to laugh, but the sound of it escapes before he can stop it.
he pulls down his mask, the crowd’s excitement swelling around you both.
he leans in, lowering his voice so only you can hear him. “what do you say?” he murmurs, tilting his head slightly. “can i kiss you?”
he can see you thinking it over, your brows furrowing as nervousness peels away and you weigh your options. he already knows what you’ll say, but he still gives you the space to respond.
“we don’t have to do this, jake,” you whisper, the soft tone in your voice trying to make sure he’s comfortable too, even with thousands of eyes on you.
he smiles, the tenderness in your voice unfailingly melting him even more. “we don’t,” he agrees with a small shake of his head. “but i’ve never not wanted to kiss you, and i’m not starting now.”
your lips part slightly, eyes flickering up to his. the shift is almost imperceptible, but you feel it—his sudden insistence, the way he’s making this moment so much more than just a joke. the kiss cam, the crowd, all of it suddenly feels like less of a spectacle and more like something personal. something you didn’t expect but, deep down, have always wanted.
it’s strange, this feeling, and for a second, you almost don’t know what to do with it. the uncertainty that used to cling to you in moments like this is fading, replaced by something that feels surprisingly soft, sure. jake’s not just trying to make a spectacle of you; he’s actually trying to share this with you, to let you know that this is something he wants too.
your heart skips a beat. there’s no need for words, but you’re caught in the moment. a quiet nod is all you can muster, small but certain. “okay.”
his smile spreads before he even realises it. jake leans in, movements slow but purposeful, drawing it out just a moment longer. the kiss is tender, soft at first—he feels your breath mingle with his, the warmth of you close, the way you fit against him. it’s not rushed, not for the camera. it’s real. it’s something he’s wanted to do for so long, but this—this feels more like an act of love than just a kiss on a jumbotron.
you smile into it, and jake can’t help but grin too, the way your happiness settles deep in his chest. he knows the crowd is cheering, but all he can hear is the soft, breathy sound you make, the one that means you’re happy. the one that makes everything inside him flutter.
when he pulls away, the roar of the stadium hits him like a wave, but it feels distant, almost muted. you tuck yourself into his side, the sound of your laugh soft and light. there’s no turning back now. the world can know, and in this moment, jake couldn’t care less.
‘operation: no hate, just date’ has done its job.
he presses a quick, sneaky kiss to your temple, his grin still lingering, all warmth and love. he wraps his arm around you, pulling you just a little closer, the moment between the two of you nothing but pure joy.
alright. maybe jake is not the chill guy he thought he was. but in this moment, he doesn’t need to be.
all he’s ever wanted to be was a lover boy, and now it feels like he’s finally on the right track.
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taglist: @jakeslvt @username-111222333444555 @pjselee
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flymetosnarryland · 3 days ago
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We have a problem...
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There is only one person you can ask for help when Harry disappears, right?
I'm stressed, super tired and in pain, so… going to vent a little, because feeling a bit helpless, eh. The thing is, I have this nasty cough and I have it all my life. 30+ years of endless months of freaking cough that no doctor knows why I have it and how to fix it. I know people have worse health problems, so I'm not complaining. I'm just living with it, even if it's really hard sometimes, because my body is too tired to deal with it. Imagine coughing every day for couple months in a row like you spit your lungs and other inside stuff out. Your throat is sore all the time. You have hoarse and your chest muscles are on their limits, everything just hurts. Every time it ends, I'm feeling fucking blessed. Now it's going for two months after a month or so break and I'm pretty sure one of my chest muscles tore up or something. The doc I went to, said by hearing what I feel, that it's some in between ribs nerve issue. She gave me some fat painkillers and say goodbye, heh. (They works half way though) I hate to take pills and trying to avoid it as much as I can. But I started this year with different pills for different shit and I just want… I want this cough to stop. I want to be free from other not fully understood health issues than was born from that stupid flu and go back to my good, free from stress life. It was so good before, eh. I just cross my fingers that the lungs specialist I have a visit at Monday will not treat me like a pest and actually will be able to help solving some of the 30 years old cough's mystery. I'm not dying or something. I'm happy, because I'm pretty healthy in general. But I'm so freaking and dead tired because of stupid, neverending cough and can only cry. Just cry, cus can't do a shit with it. Normally I was swallowing it all. It's a shame to talk about something such trivial like this, isn't it? But as my psychologist said, I shouldn't ignore things that makes me feel really bad. And to be honest, talking about it, venting here and even crying, eh, it helps. Next day is a little bit better. Every time. And I'm really happy and grateful for having something to do. To be able to draw at least, since I'm slow with writing cus of the pain. But Snarry truly is my comfy blanket and helps me a lot dealing with stress.
Whoever managed to read that wall of cry, thank you. Hopefully you will not count me as stupid, heh. It's hard as fuck to share personal stuff for me. Especially knowing that other people have bigger problems... mines sounds silly compare to others. I know...
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tinfoil-jones · 13 hours ago
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Jerk Ford may not be a massive jerk to his Stan, but he must still push his buttons a little from time to time like healthy siblings do, right? So what does he do to annoy him?
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Mabel: Great Uncle Ford?
Jerk Ford: What is it, runt?
Mabel: Grandpa asked me and Dipper once if we could feel what the other one was feeling! Did he ask because you and Grunkle Stan can do that?
Jerk Ford: Ah, yes. Sherman called it a 'Twinstinct'. Before I was in the Nightmare Realm, yes, we could feel each others pain.
Mabel: Really?
Jerk Ford: It did not seem to function while I was outside of this dimension.
Mabel: ...Does it work now that you're back?
Jerk Ford: Hm, I suppose the only way to find out is to approach this with the scientific method. First, I need to gather data.
Jerk Ford: *punches himself in the stomach hard*
*Surprised, angry shout from the kitchen*
Stan: SONUVA-!
Jerk Ford: The data is pointing to a yes.
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8thhousemercury · 3 days ago
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Sooner 18876 / Asteroid through the Houses ⏰
This asteroid is an indicator of an area of life and/or traits one accumulated sooner than others. The sign and house especially can show things that had to be dealt with usually at a young age. I consider it mostly positive but retrograde or certain sign placements/aspects can add more challenges. Conjunctions to personal planets can not only emphasize this energy but can have the native take on the traits of that planet at a younger age--for better or for worse.
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Sooner 18876 in Aries/1st house/1º, 13º, 25º:
Developed a sense of independence at a young age. These natives were likely more confident in doing things alone compared to their peers. They definitely lost any desire to fit in before they even knew what it was, too. May've been a lot less clingy to their caregivers compared to other kids. They got used to their own company at a very young age and probably have stayed that way ever since. They knew who they were and were very confident in it, which helped them really grow into someone amazing.
Developed athleticism and competitiveness at a young age. These natives were definitely a lot more althetic than other kids when they were younger. This could've made them annoyingly competitive in school or just in general. They may have been forced into a sport but nonetheless came out of it with great talent. Found a lot of value in exercise as it may have helped them manage the stressors of growing up. Also could've chosen a sport at a young age and have stuck with it ever since. Possibly prodigies in said sport.
Developed anger at a young age. This could've obviously been painful, but it ended up helping them by giving them a headstart ;) at observing, understanding, and even managing their own anger. Could've definitely been an angrier child in general but it paid off as they got older. They knew exactly what made them mad and how they would react, and went on to attempt to manage or solve it. Surprisingly emotionally intelligent children and likely helped their peers with this as well.
Retrograde: Their strong sense of independence may have greatly separated them from their peers. Also may have been a little too competitve and therefore earned a lot of eyerolls. May have also taken a bit longer to accumulate athleticism. Also may have lost a few games lol. Or isolated by their team for being too good. Could've had trouble with managing their anger as well. Overall were forced to deal with this Martian energy at a very young age which was likely very painful and confusing.
Sooner 18876 in Taurus/2nd house/2º, 14º, 26º:
Developed a sense of luxury at a young age. May have been introduced to the finer things in life in their childhood and therefore gained an understanding of what makes them feel luxurious. Could've loved playing dress up, the type of kid who puts on their mother's heels and tries on her jewerly just to giggle in the mirror. Very quick to learn not only the monetary value of material possessions but also the emotional and personal value attached to them.
Developed headstrength at a young age. Accumulated a set of beliefs and stuck with them, therefore defending them fiercely whenever needed. They likely were quick to build a life that aligns with the things they believe in. Could've come off as stubborn or annoying to their peers as a result. Had a stronger understanding of what values are and their importance compared to other children their age as well.
Developed a sense of comfort and stability at a young age. May have built an understanding of the things that make them comfortable at a young age. They were probably a lot more comfortable in themselves compared to their peers simply because they were so sure of the things they could do to soothe themselves. They also incorporated their 5 senses into these strategies, which therefore helped them feel more grounded in their bodies. A fairly emotionally healthy placement.
Retrograde: Could've been a bit too materialistic, demanding frequent purchases, never completely satisfied. Their headstrength may have been high but perhaps towards the wrong things at times. Could've defended themselves so much that more was taken out of their life than brought in. Laziness may have been a problem but honestly I see it as moreso of a desire to maintain the sense of peace they crave deeply.
Sooner 18876 in Gemini/3rd house/3º, 15º, 27º:
Developed intelligence at a young age. Probably exceeded some of the expectations for children their age, whether that was in reading or math or any other subject. Not only that, but they also learned how to study at a young age. These natives definitely figured out the best ways for them to absorb information way before others, and as a result, found more success in their intelligence. This can also be an indicator of graduating early from (usually) high school.
Developed motor skills and communication skills at a really young age. This placement reminds me of babies who learn how to walk really quickly. Probably were speaking full, coherent sentences before they even knew they were alive. They likely picked up things like writing (the physical act of moving the hand in this case), typing, tying their shoes, and other motor skills fairly quickly. In general, these natives likely seemed a lot more developed in almost everything than kids their age. This is an excellent placement.
Developed social intelligence at a young age. These kids are incredible at socializing. They likely picked up conversational skills from the adults around them. They learned how to keep a conversation going way before everyone else. Probably skipped that awkward phase many experience as teenagers because of how natural conversations come to them. A lot of people are impressed by their abilities to be so engaging at such a young age.
Retrograde: May have been in a school that couldn't fully accommodate their intelligence needs. They could've spent a lot of time in classes that were too easy for them. May have also been under/overestimated in terms of their skills, which could've led them to some difficult situations. Could also manifest as impatience with others for lacking certain abilities, but this typically goes away with age. Could've been called annoying or looked down upon from their peers, simply because they attracted jealousy.
Sooner 18876 in Cancer/4th house/4º, 16º, 28º:
Developed emotional intelligence at a young age. Similar to Aries/1st house, these natives were likely very emotional children, and therefore were almost forced to observe their emotions. They likely had to develop coping mechanisms and just understand their emotions a lot sooner than their peers. May have found the exact things they need to deal with their emotions. This can be good obviously, but it can also be intense.
Developed intuition and empathy at a young age. This is common among all of the water placements. This reminds me of a kid who had gut feelings about things before they actually ended up happening and weren't believed... Then they'd happen and it would just be brushed off. This especially applies to interpersonal matters. Could've made adults and other children alike uncomfortable due to this. Very receptive. This is a good placement but this can be difficult, it can be a lot of weight on a child.
Developed a strong sense of nuturing at a young age. Similar to my previous point, but these kids had to learn how to nurture themselves and especially everyone else around them when they were very young. They observed and understood what makes people feel comforted. They probably have a toolbox of how to properly deal with every emotion for both themselves and others. They always knew exactly what to say to people during emotional moments and could've come off as very profound for their age as a result.
Retrograde: Their ability to fully feel their emotions may have angered a lot of people around them. They aren't too fearful in their expression and that could've been a lot for both themselves and others to deal with. I said this already but this is emphasized in Retrograde: Undermined intuitive abilities. Could've been mocked or suppressed for them. Also could've unintentionally taken on more emotional weight for others than they should've.
Sooner 18876 in Leo/5th house/5º, 17º, 29º:
Developed creative talents at a young age. Most children are very imaginative and therefore creative, but something about this placement in particular helps them stand out. These children were likely creatively talented beyond their years. Likely gained talents and made them serious way before their peers. They didn't see art as an activity but rather as a way to express themselves, which therefore helped them tap into it more. Incredible artistic abilities in whatever medium they choose, and likely have one they started at a young age and are still amazing at.
Developed self-confidence at a young age. These natives likely always felt comfortable expressing themselves fully, and if not, they definitely did when they were younger. This kind of relates to my last point but they always knew what their talents were and therefore knew their potential. They've seen themselves at their best and are confident in the fact that they can revive that part of them whenever needed. Instead of seeing this later in life though, they saw it as children, and therefore were able to become truly confident in themselves at a much younger age than their peers.
Developed "star quality" at a young age. I do think this specific placement can be one of many young fame indicators, especially if it is tightly conjunct a personal planet. That said, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, two celebrities who got famous at a young age, both have this placement (in Leo, I didn't check which house but the energy is still there). These natives combined their self-confidence with their creative talents and therefore were able to project themselves with such amazing creativity that it made them incredible for their age. It didn't take long for them to come off as professionals in whatever creative medium they chose, making them hard to ignore. Very talented.
Retrograde: Could've had a hard time practicing their creative talents whether that was due to being suppressed by external factors (money, social pressure, etc) or internal things. May have had talent but not been completely comfortable sharing it. They could've been incredibly underestimated and that was the main thing that gave them their confidence.. they knew their potential but others may not have, or may have tried to put them down. Many challenges with getting in the spotlight in general.
Sooner 18876 in Virgo/6th house/6º, 18º:
Developed practicality at a young age. This isn't exclusive to one area of life. These natives know the best ways to succeed at just about everything but especially day-to-day matters. They learned exactly how each step of a task can connect to one another, which ones can be cut out or modified to be more efficient, and whatever needs to be added. They had an impressive ability to get things done with precision and were likely much more detail-oriented than other children their age.
Developed discipline at a young age. These natives know exactly what needs to be done in order to succeed at anything and are willing to do it. They observed and understood the processes of everything. They knew that success wasn't just cut and dry, but rather, a combination of difficulty and flow. They could've come off as very mature as a result of this. As children, they were very committed to seeing the results they want and will do just about anything to get there--a tendency that helped them blossom in adulthood.
Developed a desire to help others at a young age. Because of how quickly these children understood what needed to be done to achieve anything, they were able to apply that knowledge to assist others. They likely enjoyed helping their peers out with things. If not, they definitely knew how, and were willing to assist when absolutely needed. They may have also seen or felt what it's like to lack (interpret this however you'd like), and they may have been more willing than others to help people tackle that feeling. Very kindhearted and intelligent children.
Retrograde: Practicality may have taken a lot of trial and error to obtain. May have also been mislead about it as well, being told that their way of doing things was incorrect. Their discipline could've been underestimated, and they could've been told that they didn't need to worry about certain things at that point. They also may have not had a lot of people to help, or were excluded from opportunities simply due to their age. Overall their skillset may have not been too useful as a child and didn't end up helping them too much until they got older.
Sooner 18876 in Libra/7th house/7°, 19°:
Developed social skills at a young age. These natives were practically born with the ability to make anyone feel comfortable around them. They could’ve been popular when they were younger as well. Definitely observed how other socialize and what works/what doesn’t.
Understood the importance of relationships at a young age. These natives likely found valuable relationships at a young age and therefore realized how important they are. They could’ve been surrounded by good examples of relationships, whether this was caregivers or friends. They know exactly what the signs of a bad or good relationship are. Also may maintain friendships from childhood.
Developed a sense of justice at a young age. They observed how people in their lives got justice and formed their perception around that. They were likely very considerate to others and learned the importance of hearing both sides of a story before forming an opinion. This could’ve impressed a lot of adults in their lives, very intelligent children. Also could’ve had an interest in law at young age.
Retrograde: May have felt overwhelmed at times with their social knowledge. Could come out as extreme people pleasing. Their understanding of relationships may remain exclusively from the examples in childhood. Their sense of justice may have been forcibly suppressed; may have been told to ‘stop making a big deal’ out of things.
Sooner 18876 in Scorpio/8th house/8°, 20°:
Developed an understanding of the deeper parts of life at a young age. These natives may have been exposed to death, transformations, and possibly the Occult (these are just some of the things) at a young age, and were required to ‘get used to’ them. Very strong in dealing with areas of life no child should have to deal with.
Developed an understanding of debt at a young age. These natives may have had caregivers in their lives who were in debt, and they just had to watch it play out. They had to observe and learn how debt is dealt with as literal children. Not always financial debt though, these natives quickly understood the rules of Karma and consequences at a young age. They may have seen people in their lives who didn’t get what they deserved (for better and for worse). Possibly vengeful as children, but moreso from a logical standpoint.
Developed an understanding of death and surrender at a young age. Similar to my last point. They likely had to watch things get ripped out of the hands of people around them, and how they get them back or rebuild from that point, without even knowing what it means. Painful, but useful later on. These children may have a lot taken from themselves and others around them, therefore almost having to make peace with the fact that this kind of thing exists. May have detached value from objects, people, places, etc for no reason, simply due to their perceived chance of having to surrender them later on. Hugs for you all 🫂
Retrograde: Learning about the darker parts of life through many experiences, may not have understood how to apply their prior knowledge to work through these moments until later on. May have felt hopelessness toward the Universe after seeing and/or going through so much suffering. May have had things stolen from them frequently, forced surrender. Huge fear of Karma because they understand it so well. Also, sharing when they didn’t want to.
Sooner 18876 in Sagittarius/9th house/9°, 21°:
Developed a need to broaden horizons at a young age. These natives likely felt very limited whenever they had to stay in one place, and craved to be exposed to other perspectives way before anyone else. They were curious like other children their age, but about bigger things like philosophies, morality, etc. The knowledge they deeply wanted to seek out was close to impossible to find in their hometown or by staying in one place in general--maybe it was about international affairs, or simply things that take a lot of time and dedication to discover/understand.
Developed wisdom at a young age. This can manifest in many ways. These natives had a good amount of understanding surrounding certain areas, and for this reason, were likely a lot more optimistic than other children their age. The fact that they didn't find much value in the mundane of daily lives forced them to find something to latch onto to keep their hope. They probably had some sort of experience mentoring their peers, whether it was in school or anything. Very optimistic, lots of faith in luck and the Universe in general. When most children their age may've either not cared or not had the faith, they kept theirs.
Developed a strong need for their knowledge to be taken seriously at a young age. This kind of combines what I've already said. They likely knew exactly what they wanted to do after high school or in adulthood. May have picked out their college major or whatever way to expand their knowledge later on before they even fully understood what it meant. They always had a desire to be seen as a mentor, to be seen as someone with a lot of wisdom, especially at a young age. They may have wanted to publish their beliefs somehow. They saw how their wisdom and optimism affected their peers, and therefore wanted to help others later on as well. They wanted to go far and then help others do the same. Not an easy placement but incredibly spiritually intelligent.
Retrograde: May have had little to no opportunities to travel, and may have had this desire forcefully suppressed because of their environment. Definitely have been told “Don’t worry about that yet, wait until you’re older”… Developed wisdom and optimism but at a cost. May have been wavering and/or developed solely as a result of bad experiences. They may not have much faith or it may take them longer to accumulate it. Similar to what I’ve already said but they may have been mocked for their ideas. People may have just not been able to hear them or purposely ignored them. Not to mention that school might’ve been a challenge for them as well.
Sooner 18876 in Capricorn/10th house/10°, 22°:
Developed a reputation at a young age. These natives may have been popular as children as well, and for that reason, had a lot of peers watching them and building beliefs from that point on. Usually when direct, this is a good reputation. They may have a good amount of childhood friends who still support them to this day. How they were seen as a child may follow them into adulthood, as well. This can be a fame indicator or even a nepo baby one as well. They also understood exactly what they need to maintain their reputation or to change it. Very intelligent in terms of the public eye, they handle being in high positions very well since they learned how as a child.
Developed a good relationship with authority at a young age. These children were likely hardworking and trustworthy. They were reliable and rarely disappointed others, especially authority figures. They understood rules and the benefits of following them. They frequently followed through with their promises, completed their duties, and were happy doing so. For this reason, they may have stuck out to authority figures, and therefore gained their trust very quick. They took things very seriously and were set on keeping that as their reputation.
Developed a vision for their adulthood at a young age. This is mostly in relation to their career, they may've made a career decision as a child and started working towards it. Took the question of, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", very seriously and had their answer set. Likely very skilled in whatever career they choose as well, considering how long they've worked towards it. As children, they may have taken a lot of initiative to becoming the perfect fit for their career, whether that was through learning or whatever. They were very stern on their visions, and rightfully so. This placement can also indicate getting high position in a career very quickly.
Retrograde: May have a reputation that isn’t fully clear. Target of rumors. May have had to face lots of rejection to learn how to avoid it, and may even go to extensive lengths. May have authority figures in their lives who they had to prove themselves to. Their reliability may have been a facade for their early life as well. The career they chose may not have accepted them at first, too. Maybe they learned the wrong things or took the wrong shots in general, their knowledge from when they were younger not helping much. May have had a little to work harder for just about everything but especially career matters.
Sooner 18876 in Aquarius/11th house/11°, 23°:
Developed innovation at a young age. These natives likely had big ideas for certain things as children, and were always thinking about how something could be better. This could apply to any area of their life. They were very much forward thinkers as children and had a vision for something. Because of their frequent desire to move onto something new, they may have had unique ideas that either intrigued or confused people around them. They may have come off as incredibly intelligent to their peers considering how out-of-the-box their ideas were. They observed what happened when things around them stayed the same and how that made or broke said things. They could've gotten ahead of themselves due to how many ideas they had, and how desparate they were to make them happen.
Understood the collective at a young age. These children may have felt called to help their community and other groups they cared about before they even understood why. Their vision may have had them fight for people to get what they need. Because they know exactly what needs to improve for both themselves and others (and society in general), they fought for it. Their commitment to their vision may have come off as a bit odd or even selfish but it was truly from a good place. They had an idea that they wanted to achieve and likely did whatever they could to align the people around them with it. This definitely caught the attention of the people around them, especially if they managed to achieve whatever they intended.
Developed hopes and dreams at a young age. Considering that these natives are such young visionaries, they knew exactly what they want and how and when. They may still be working towards something they’ve wanted to achieve as a child. Their aspirations are very much molded from the things they wanted early on, and usually don’t change. Because they’re incredibly aware of this, making their dreams come true is something that might come easier to them than most.
Retrograde: Their innovative nature may have not been taken seriously, or they may not have had the opportunity to go through with it until they were older. May have felt suppressed and not cared for as a result. Their peers may have suspected that their relationship was for an ulterior motive. Not to mention that their unique nature may have been what isolated them from their peers as well. Their desire to change may have annoyed people. Had ideas that could’ve been too difficult for most to understand. May have also been discouraged from going through with their hopes and dreams, or had to wait a bit. Like Capricorn/10th house, what they did in their youth may not have helped them later on.
Sooner 18876 in Pisces/12th house/12°, 24°:
Understood the value of introspection at a young age. These children likely engaged in introspection very frequently (which may lessen as they age), and therefore possibly spent a lot of time alone. They were very interested in discovering the parts of themselves and reading their personality before most people their age. Their introspective nature definitely helped them later on, as they were able to use what they learned to continue to understand themselves. As children, these natives may have come off as hermits. Definitely a lot of weight for a child but they don’t seem to mind much.
Developed subconscious patterns at a young age. Their subconscious mind can be heavily influenced by their childhood, moreso than others. This can be good if this is in direct. Almost every moment of growing up shaped them into who they are in their head, as well. Another interesting part of this is dreams. A lot of these natives are prone to recurring dreams/nightmares (usually retrograde): whether it’s the dream itself or the themes or the people, their minds picked them up at a young age and kept them ever since. They may have also analyzed their dreams at a young age.
In the 12th: This placement may have had trouble accessing the qualities of whichever sign it is in especially at a young age. If this is direct, it usually is solved around the teenage years, and the traits can be embodied more. If retrograde, these traits may have genuinely never been accessible, or even seemed like they made things worse. This is not an easy placement at all I fear..
Retrograde: They may have craved more alone time than they could get. May have dug a little too deep into themselves, which could’ve caused a lot of fear and shame at such a young age. As I mentioned, when this is retrograde, recurring nightmares that began in childhood are very common. Nightmare themes from childhood will likely never go away. The bad experiences may have made their subconcious mind a hellhole and they may not have realized. Bad experiences shaped their mind more than others (with or without this placement). Strong indicator of mental illness and/or addiction at a young age, as well. 
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xinganhao · 1 day ago
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some notes on to all the boys i've loved before!svt (hyung and maknae) | 💌 est. release dates for special chapters -> feb. 13, thurs (hyung) & feb. 15, sat (maknae), gmt+8.
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(1) in the smau, cheol is 'your best friend's brother', but it was originally supposed to be something else: 'your [older] brother's best friend'! i brought it up in conversation with someone (chugging-antiseptic-dye, i think) and was convinced to do a switcheroo at the last minute.
it's acknowledged in the first line of the letter ("this is the cliche of all cliches...") but something about cheol just slots into the trope all too well. i've seen people joke that he's a strong start, and i blame myself for squeezing the 'pretty girl' and 'gorgeous' pet names in one screenshot. lmao.
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(2) jeonghan being an upperclassman at the school play was a call made by diamonddaze01, with respect to jeonghan having attended an acting institute for a short while. initially, the 'main lead' trope was supposed to be seokmin's— but i was convinced that jeonghan's acting background is way too underutilized in fic. [linking jeonghan's acting stint in KIGGEN(키겐) ((PHANTOM)(팬텀)) _ PLAYBACK(다시보기) for funsies!]
the little letter is so jeonghan as well, particularly "you didn't have to be so nice to us." i think it's very telling of hannie, to crack jokes and give words of encouragement even to the 'smallest' role in a production.
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(3) i have zero shame in admitting that this trope came way too easily to me. guitar teacher!shua? sign me the fuck up. it's a blend of all his little passions— the guitar, other people, etc.— and so it was a bit of a no-brainer. couple that with his politeness over the letter and you have something that is just so shua-coded.
i have visions of fingers with embeddings of the strings, of shua's eyes crinkling in quiet laughs as he teaches you to play. it's all in the letter, and i'm just amused at the thought of MC being so distracted over her crush on shua that she didn't learn anything past the most basic song to play on guitar.
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(4) nothing like a good rivals to ...? trope to get the blood pumping! i will be honest: if i had a say, my hyung line vote would go to junhui. the ending line in his letter ("wen junhui, if i didn't know any better— i'd say that you liked me a little bit, too") was my absolute favorite for the hyung ver.
this one has a healthy dose of emotional constipation/tsundere!jun/etc., although here is also a small confession: the trope was initially soonyoung's. i switched it out after staring a little too long at his exclusive fairytale photos.
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(5) among the hyung line, this was the one i settled on last, if only because i had to pull that switch. this was prior to soonyoung admitting he knows how to get latte to stop kissing him ([sighs heavily]). i was thoroughly amused by MC falling for the owner of the pet she sits often.
i like the line "you care deeply for all loving things, big and small" in the letter, if only because i think it's characteristic of how soonyoung is as a person. latte is technically a plot device (lol) in this story, although i can just imagine how part-lovable/part-insufferable soonyoung would be as a client.
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(6) this is not the first gamer!wonwoo trope you will see. it will not be the last. this was also a relatively easy trope to assign, although a expounds on it by referring to wonwoo as "the guy you meet/play with on the League of Legends forums." i make a passing LoL reference in the letter, because that's the foundation of the crush: the bespectacled guy on the other side of the screen who will beg and borrow for one more game with you.
i tend to make my gamer!wonwoo's a little more on the awkward/'loser' side, so the cockiness in the texts are certainly new. i didn't want to get too nsfw on the main (lmaooo) so the jab of "i didn't know you liked my fingers that much, though" is up to your imagination. (:
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(7) in her reblog of the hyung post, heartepub says something to the extent of "i can imagine jihoon's fingers shaking as he types out 'if you want'" and it endeared me to no end, because of course. anicon-goer jihoon is another stroke of brilliance for a. in hindsight, i think it's just a little too niche to hit the right makrs, but i wanted to do something that was characteristic to the members.
this almost became something akin to jihoon falling for a cosplayer/being a cosplayer himself; i don't think i had enough room to worldbuild that much, though. overall, this is adjacent to a more tsundere jihoon/a jihoon that reciprocates but cannot confess.
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(8) on a technical end, i'd written mingyu's letter first buuut i rewrote it... and so i consider seokmin's the first that i really wrote for the maknae line. immediately, i was worried i'd be screwed and everybody would be able to tell that i am madly in love with this man. anyway. we ball.
for the maknae line, my vote admittedly goes to seok! one part i really enjoy is the parallels between "everything good about the summers… the hot days, the crackle of campfires, the chirping of cicadas" -> "you're the sun, seokmin. you're the fire; you're the song", which is really just MC's roundabout way of confessing that seokmin is everything good about her summers.
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(9) it took several consultations with maplegyu to nail gyu's trope. she's eventually the one who came up with the prospect of him being that handsome constant on public transportation. the letter says a lot about mingyu's more caring attributes, and there's also a bit of a parallel to hannie's.
mingyu doesn't have to be nice, to be sweet, and yet he wants to. <- this was a concept i'd wanted to integrate in the texts, but since the texts come first, i didn't know how to make it seamless. the vague idea here is "is mingyu sweet to you because he likes you, or is he like that to everybody?"
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(10) combining the two things i love (bookstores + minghao) is, unfortunately, a cheap shot on my end. bookstore cashier!minghao sliding in with a pickup line alluding letters to milena just had me shaking my head at myself, honestly.
i couldn't resist sliding in a small poetry reference. his letter ends with "xu minghao, you could sell me the world" -> which is a shameless allusion to maggie smith's good bones, namely the part where it goes "i am trying / to sell them the world. any decent realtor, / walking you through a real shithole, chirps on / about good bones."
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(11) the idea of 'weekend warrior' seungkwan entails some backstory-telling, since i feel like it doesn't translate too well in text/letter: seungkwan is a guy you run into a lot at your weekend markets. the two of you exchanged numbers, mostly for convenience, to discuss produce and essentially find somebody to go with! for my fellow filipinos, the scene i have in mind is comparable to the salcedo saturday market hehe.
i've gotten a number of reactions to seungkwan's 'mrs. boo' quote, which, you know what? completely valid. MC x seungkwan bicker like an old couple, and the thought of a seungkwan on the flirtier end is just a little too good to pass up on.
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(12) 'friend of a friend' vernon is a very specific trope wherein you find your acquaintance/etc. attractive and desirable. there's a joke constantly made that a crush is only a crush until you find out more about them, and i feel like that's the vibe of this particular verse. vernon is ~mysterious~ and [seemingly] unattainable, making him the guy of your dreams.
the letter is vague enough. the texts are a little more in character, in what (i hope 🤞) reads like actual textspeak you might expect from this Man.
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(13) i do think it's worth clarifying that chan is not blood-related to MC; 'auntie's son' had a longer title ('the son of your mother's friend') that didn't quite roll off the tongue lol. this one has two lines i enjoyed writing ("i think i'm supposed to fall in love with you" + "i don't want to have you, because then i stand the chance of losing you), and overall just slots right into the childhood friends to ...? trope.
i've grown quite fond of the more sunshine-y aspects of chan's personality, hence the excitability and sarcasm in the texts. it's a bit of a puppy love situation, admittedly, and it's a question of whether that's enough for something real.
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thank you for receiving this little project so well! :") whenever i do annotations, i always say "this story is yours now"— but the choose-your-own adventureness of it all makes it all the more true.
see you all for the special chapter! xo linking one final time for those who want to cast votes/reread:
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romanreignsbae · 16 hours ago
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Baby Daddy - J.U
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A/N: just in favour of our very own main event jey uso winning the royal rumble!!! well deservedly! haters can suck his dick!!
warnings: smut & fluff (hope y’all enjoy!)
Another weekly exchange took place at your home per usual. Every Tuesday Josh would come and pick up your son Elijah until Wednesday evening. Due to his hectic road life, he really only got a day a week to spend time with his son. Josh took every single moment he got with his son, and savoured it. The problems you two had could never come in to say that Josh wasn’t an amazing dad.
Your son Elijah, was the best thing that ever happened to the both of you. You and Josh were high school sweethearts. You never once thought you would get pregnant with his child..at least not anytime soon. But in your last year of college, with a simple week of morning sickness, emotional breakdowns, and crazy cravings, you found out you would now be eating for two. And from there on out it was history.
Josh was ecstatic he was gonna be a father. From a young age he’s always dreamed of being an amazing father. He was even more happier when he found out the two of you would be expecting a boy. He was already picturing throwing around a football with his son, and teaching him all about his samoan family lineage. And even you were ecstatic.
You delivered a healthy baby boy, whom was loved by all the family around him. However for you and Josh, your relationship only weakened from that moment on. Josh was in desperate need of a job, and because of his family background, he turned to wrestling. As much as wrestling was looked at as a glamorous job, it wasn’t all that it seemed. Josh was constantly on the road, and even when he was home, he would be on interview calls or hitting the gym. You on the other hand, were just as busy as Josh. The two of you were constantly on the go and never has time for each other. So you both decided it’d be better if you broke up.
Well, it was you who broke up with Josh. It took a lot of guts to do so, but it had to be done. It was for the better…it seemed. Josh could never take the words ‘broke up’ to his heart, so he used ‘on a break’. You thought it was a immature and delusional way to deny reality, but he wouldn’t budge.
“Dada!” Elijah squealed as Josh walked through the door of your home. “Hey buddy! My mini uce!” Josh spoke back with just as much excitement. Your 2 year old son, ran on wobbly legs towards his daddy. You smiled at the sight. Josh handled Elijah on one hip, while turning to you.
“What’s up Y/n..” he spoke while Elijah was grabbing at his face. “Hey Josh, how are you?” you spoke back nervously avoiding eye contact. The truth was you’d never gotten over Josh. The road broke you two apart, also breaking your heart at the same time. You love Josh with your whole heart to this moment. He was your first kiss, your first boyfriend, your first time, and now the father of your child. When you broke up with him, you only broke your own heart too.
Now 2 years later after breaking up with him, you still want him more then ever. “I’m doing alright. Busy ya know. Well ima take Eli…i’ll see you tomorrow when I drop him off..” he told you while turning towards your door but not before grabbing Eli’s bags. “No! Mama! Come with us!” Elijah screamed out while kicking his feet all over the place.
Josh let Elijah down on the floor and he wobbled over to you. “Mama! Come with us to dada house! All of us!” he spoke on the verge of tears. “Baby..it’s dada’s time with you, i’ll see you tomorrow..” you spoke softly while caressing his little chubby cheek. “Please mama!” he cried out. He had never acted this way before.
“Baby..” you started speaking before getting cut off. “Y/n, I don’t mind if you come with us, you know it’s been a while” Josh cut you off. “Yay! See mama come with us!” Elijah then squealed. You thought about being with Josh for a long period of time, and it made you nervous yet excited. But for your baby, you would go.
“Okay, you guys wait in the car i’ll be there in a minute” you spoke softly. After grabbing your bag and some stuff you would need, you made your way out of your home locking the door behind you. You made your way into Joshua’s car, sitting in the passenger seat.
The car ride to Josh’s house was about a hour away, including the busy traffic. Josh blasted music the whole way to his house, to avoid the awkward silence. Elijah was dosing off in the back, and you took small glances at Josh when you got the chance. You felt him staring too, which only added tension.
Without either of you speaking a word to each other the whole ride, you made you way inside Josh’s beautiful beach side mansion. “Wow Josh! This place is beautiful!” you spoke astonished. He smiled at you. “Thanks...coulda been yours too..” he mumbled the last part thinking you didn’t hear. You did hear, loud and clear, which only added to your regret of breaking up with Josh. You knew he missed you, and you knew he still wanted you. You just couldn’t bring yourself to admit the fact you were still in love with him.
The evening was spent with you, Josh, and Elijah playing board games together, sitting together eating dinner, and ended with watching ‘The Lion King’ all together on Josh’s massive L shaped couch.
“He’s asleep” Josh spoke quietly. You looked down to your side to see Elijah fast asleep. “Yeah he is” you agreed. “Lemme go put him in bed, wait here.”
You waited for Josh, wanting to know why he wanted you to wait. You should be back home right now. ‘Aight..” Josh mumbled walking back into the living room, making his presence known.
He sat beside me on the couch and waited a minute before talking. “Y/n..ion even know where to start, there’s so much I have to admit to you..lemme start off by saying, I miss you, a lot.” he admitted.
You softly smiled. You were happy Josh admitted this so now you could get everything off your chest. “Josh, you don’t even know how much I regret breaking up with you back then..we were just in such a bad place and I was so scared that you’d find someone else while you were on the road, and truth is i’ve never stopped loving you..” you admitted.
He smiled at you showing off his pearly whites. “I love you too baby” he leaned in and your lips met for a soft kiss. You felt him grab your hips and pull you on top of his lap. While sensually kissing he moved your hips on top of his in a circular motion, creating friction. You gasped in pleasure softly.
You could feel a tent beginning to grow under you, adding to your pleasure. Josh groaned out. You took charge and pulled back from the kiss. “Life your arms up” you mumbled out of breath. Josh complied, and you took his shirt off.
“You sure?” Josh asked. You needed this desperately. After you broke up with Josh, you had no time to be with anyone sexually, and you missing him didn’t help the matter. “Yes, im positive” you spoke back.
You felt Josh’s hands roaming your clothed body, and he began stripping you piece by piece. Your body shivered at the sudden contact with the cold air. You were now left in only your panties, as Josh was left in his boxers. He once again moved his head down towards mines and shared a passion full kiss. Our tongues fought for dominance in which he won.
He broke away from your lips and peppered kisses on your jaw, then moving to your neck. You were surprised when you felt him sucking extra hard on your sweet spot, even after these few years, he remembered where you were extra sensitive.
“J-josh please!” you squeaked out. He continued his assault on your neck, and you swore you could feel his lips curve into a smile. “What you want mama?” he mumbled. “You..”
He pulled back from your neck and peppered kisses down towards your chest. He grabbed one of your breasts and massaged it in his large hand.
He then lowered his head down and softly took your nipple into his mouth, sucking on it lightly. You let out a moan to the feeling of his mouth. He did the same with your other breast and peppered kisses down your stomach.
He continued his kisses down to your thighs, once in a while biting down softly causing you to squeal. He was purposely denying the spot your body craved him most. Josh always knew how to drive you insane before finally giving into what you wanted.
He slowly slid your panties off in one swift motion exposing your core to the cold air. Your body was now covered in goosebumps hence the chilliness of the room.
“Missed this pretty pussy..” he mumbled while running his finger through your folds. “Yeah, yeah whatever just-” you were cut off by his head suddenly being pushed between your thighs and his mouth hungrily devouring you. You moaned out in ecstasy. You had almost forgot how talented Josh’s mouth was matched with your lower set of lips.
He sucked hastily at your clit almost sending you over the edge. You began grinding your hips onto his face, causing him to pull away quickly. “Baby if you gon cum its gon be on this dick” he spoke with deep chuckle. You whined at sudden loss of warmth from your lower region.
Josh chuckled at your neediness. As he took off his boxers revealing his hard length. You felt so touch deprived, as you moaned out into the chilly air of the room evoking a deep chuckle from him. “I gotchu baby, I gotchu..”
The tip of his dick slowly stretched you out as you almost practically screamed at the amazing sensation. Josh continued entering inside you at a steady pace allowing you to adjust to the now unfamiliar feeling. Your eyes were droopy as you looked up to see him with his mouth open as his eyes were also fluttering shut. “Damn baby, you always so tight for me, just for daddy..” he barely choked out.
Once he was fully inside you, he began thrusting into you at a very slow pace, prolonging the beautiful orgasm he knew you were on the verge of having. “P- please, daddy..please faster” you asked quietly barely being able to speak.
Without warning Josh began moving at a speed you could barely keep up with, causing you both to moan loudly with pleasure. “We gotta keep it down baby..we don’t want Eli wakin up” he spoke while not once slowing his pace.
The familiar feeling began brewing inside your lower belly, tingling all around signalling you were close. “I’m almost- i’m gonna” you choked out on the verge of tears. You forgot how intense sex was with Josh.
“I know baby, I know..” he mumbled while moving his hand down to playing with your clit sending you straight over the edge. “Fuck Josh!” you wailed as he held you down with his arm as you convulsed.
He continued chasing his own nut at a severe pace, which was slightly overestimating you. Before you could get a word out you felt his warm speed paint the walls of your now swole pussy.
He moved off you, lying down on the couch beside you gathering you in his arms before pressing a soft kiss to your temple. “I love you baby, and I want us to be a family this time, for real.”
“Mmm yeah me too, love you Josh..” you whispered as sleep overcame your body, while you slept in the arms of the man you have always and always will love.
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ladykailitha · 2 days ago
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Spellbound Part 5
Hey guys!! Here we have the next part of this lovely fic. I've been steadily working on it, just not on WIP Wednesdays because... well... it's getting really spoiler-y and I don't want to ruin your fun.
In this we Chrissy acting suspicious and Steve deals with a couple of Fey. Yep. Fey.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
~
Steve decided that he was going to do his own errands this morning, as he had been using the kids after the attack on Bav to make sure she was going to be okay. But she nudged him out the door today with a basket full of his medicines.
His nosy curious nature brought him to the Munson’s door first, Wayne’s arthritis medicine in hand.
He knocked on the door and wasn’t surprised when Chrissy came out of it when it opened. He nodded. “Miss Cunningham.”
“Oh!” she cried, blushing bright red. “Hello, Steve! Wayne isn’t in right now, but I can take that for him.”
Steve stepped back, clutching the basket to his chest. “I’ve got other errands to run, I’ll just come back.”
She reached out for the basket and he took another step back. “It’s fine, Steve. I’ll make sure he gets them.”
Steve shook his head. He didn’t trust her. He tried scrying on her after Robin’s pronouncement that she was visiting Eddie and couldn’t. He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t want to find out.
“I’ll come back,” he said, firmly. “Have a good a day!” He turned on his heel and hurried down the path, careful not to look back. His heart was going a mile a minute and his lungs tightened around his quickening breaths.
Behind him he heard Eddie’s voice call out, “Who was that?”
“No one,” was the unsettling response and then the sound of the door closing, echoed in his ears.
Steve hurried down the path. He didn’t know what her reasoning for lying was, but it sent a chill down his spine. There was something rotting in this town, but to be fair, that was why his mother sent him here in the first place. It was too closed off for a town of it’s side to be normal.
He quickly finished his errands, with the head of the watch’s house last. Jim Hopper was a good man who had left Hawkins to start a new life, but had come back after the death of his daughter and his wife subsequent descent into madness.
Wayne wasn’t the only one to use his arthritis medicine, Jim used it often too. Especially after a long day out in the rain.
Steve enjoyed visiting Jim for another reason.
“Steve!” a voice cried out and suddenly he had a armful.
Steve wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “Good afternoon, Elinor, is your dad home?”
The little girl looked up at him with a big grin. “Yes, he’s home. But so is Father and Mother...”
Ah. That would explain how gleeful she was.
Elinor Hopper was a changeling. She had been swapped with another child like they always were, but what they didn’t count on was the baby being dropped off at a way station and picked up by Jim Hopper. He, still grieving the loss of his own daughter, Sara, nursed the changeling back to health and properly took care of her.
And when the fae came to take back the stump they had used to swap create her, they found a happy, healthy child instead. A child they could not take back to the faerie lands without Hopper’s permission. One he refused to give.
Steve had managed to intervene in time before the sidhe got upset enough to raze the whole town. He got them all to agree to terms that Jim would raise Elinor as his own and she would return to the faerie lands when she was grown and could make her own decisions and they would pay for her upbringing.
After all, it was their fault she was created in the first place. It did make for some awkward moments over the years. Most when the fae got tired of paying for her upkeep and would show up to demand her back.
Honestly though, Steve thought it was the funniest thing because try as they might they could never get his name to bend him to their will. Because he would go by Jim or Hopper, never James. Steve didn’t think there was a single soul anywhere who knew it was for sure, James.
“I’ll go smooth things out again,” he promised kissing her forehead.
Steve walked into the house and there stood the most graceful, elegant beings you had ever seen. Both were tall and thin, but in an uncanny valley kind of way. Their hair was long and blond, coming to the middle of his back and her waist. Their eyes were a bright, unnatural blue and their clothing screamed wealth in ways no human could match.
“Lord Eanethreal, Lady Melisande,” he said bowing, “it is good to see you again.”
Both pairs of blue eyes and a third more natural pair of blue eyes turned to him. Steve looked unassuming most days, but not in that moment. Not then.
He stood up straight and his clothes that were a warm, olive green most of the time, had shifted from an earthy tone, to a glittering emerald green and on his head was a matching pointed hat that denoted his profession and rank. The change made the green in his own eyes stand out, making them more hazel than brown.
“Steven,” Lady Melisande said with a nod, though Lord Eanethreal just ignored him with a sniff. “We have come to take the child you call Elinor. She is missing vital teachings as she wastes away up here in the mortal realm.”
“That was not the bargain, my lady,” Steve said with a gentle smile, “as you well know. Would you really go back on our deal?”
That was when Lord Eanethreal took notice of him, spitting in anger. “It was a trick! A low down dirty trick and I refused to let it stand!”
Jim chuckled. “Don’t like it when it’s you on the receiving end, huh?” He shook his head in amusement.
“To break your word,” Steve warned, “once it freely given will bring a curse upon you for one hundred years. Is that really what you would like happen here today? Because you could take her, but there is no prison strong enough or deep enough to stop her from clawing her way back to Jim. So not only will you be cursed as the deal states, Elinor will have wrecked havoc on the faerie lands that will be felt for centuries and all because you doubt the love of this human man for that little girl.”
He pointed at Jim who glared at them, daring them to refute Steve’s statement.
Steve held Eanethreal’s gaze for a long moment before the fae lord broke contact first. He snarled something feral and dark, but suddenly pantry was full and the coffer overflowing. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the house, the smell of lightning crackling behind him in his wake.
Melisande shook her head. “My apologies, yet again. It is a sore spot for my husband to be bound to the mortal realm thusly.”
Steve bowed his head respectfully. “I understand, but the usual laws don’t apply here. He not the person you sought to punish by swapping out their baby for the changeling, and Elinor did not die as most do. So it created an unique situation that must have unusual rules.”
“There is wisdom in that,” she murmured. “I will try harder to convince him of such wisdom.” She nodded to Steve and swept out the door without so much as a backward glance to Jim.
Then Steve was back to his normal every day self. His head began to pound and he swayed on his feet.
Then everything thing went black.
~
When Steve woke up, he wasn’t surprised to see that he was laid out on Jim’s bed. No, what was surprising was that Eddie was there at the bedside looking concerned.
Steve blinked up at him in confusion. “Did I hit my head on the way down?”
Jim chuckled from behind Eddie. “No, kid. I caught you in time. Eddie was passing by when he saw our visitors and was curious as to the nature of our little get together.”
“That’s a whole story for someone other than me to tell,” Steve huffed, staying lying down. He knew his limits and he had blown past them. “Short version. I make the fae pay child support.”
Jim chuckled. “Steve just used too much of his power forcing the bastards to back down.”
“Why the hell would you need to use your powers to tell them to fuck off?” Eddie asked, frowning.
The room stopped spinning so he carefully sat up as Jim passed a plate of food over Eddie’s head. Steve took it with a grateful smile.
“Because they would only negotiate with those they deem equals,” Elinor said grimly. “If his power wasn’t half the level it should be, he wouldn't need to be using glamour to make himself look bigger to them.”
“Well, Miss Thing,” Steve teased, “unless you have a solution about unlocking my full potential that isn’t finding my soulmate, shush!”
Elinor giggled. “Nope, pretty sure that’s the only way.”
Eddie looked over his shoulder at her and then back at Steve. “I thought you didn’t hold to the notion that you were that ultra rare super witch or whatever you called it was.”
Steve sighed around a piece of bread and cheese, putting down the piece he had in his hand. “That’s what everyone thought were I grew up. That I just wasn’t as powerful as my mother because I’m a male witch, but...”
“Well that’s sexist,” Eddie huffed. “And I’m guessing that every soul powered super witch were lesbians?”
Steve burst out laughing. “Well no. A lot of male/female pairings in the centennial sorcerers as my Auntie Muriel liked to call them, a handful of lesbians, too. But the reason they didn’t–um... think it was me because there’s never been a male/male pairing in any record. Granted there hasn’t been that many because it’s once every hundred years...”
Eddie smiled. “Still out say the last ten or so, it’s never happened?”
Steve nodded. Not many people in the village knew that he was gay. In fact with the current mayor, it was a safe bet that no one outside his very intimate circle knew that fact.
“Still sexist, Steve,” he said softly. “You just said that about of a third of the most power witches were men if there were heterosexual powerful prestidigitators in the past. So your family just dismissed as being male without cause.”
Steve opened his mouth in shock. “Oh shit. I never thought of it that way. You’re right, that was pretty awful of them.”
Eddie smiled at him and then got to his feet. “Well, now that I know you didn’t kill yourself protecting the little miss, I’ll be on my way.”
“Since you’re here,” Steve said, pointing to the basket on the table, “you might as well take your uncle’s medicine with you. He was going to be my last stop.”
Eddie picked up the basket and one of the packets, frowning at them. He picked up the rest of the packets and tucked them into the safety of his inner pocket of vest.
“I’ll make sure he gets them,” he murmured. “Seriously though, you need to stop using up all your power to protect others, or you might just burn out before you meet your soulmate.”
Steve huffed a laugh. “I’ll probably never meet them here, this town isn’t very friendly for people like me.” He tilted the head to side. “The witch thing doesn’t help either.”
Eddie burst out laughing. “You really are something else, Harrington. Take care of yourself. you hear?”
“Will do,” Steve murmured softly. “Say hello to Wayne for me.”
Eddie nodded and then slipped out of the house. Both Jim and Elinor turned to Steve.
“He didn’t touch you or Dad,” Elinor said succinctly, tilting her head to the side. “But he rustled my hair, why?”
Jim huffed a breath through his nose. “Probably for the same reason Steve here doesn’t touch men. He knows his soulmate is a man and it would be pitchforks and torches if happened to be the wrong man.”
She nodded sagely. “I’m sorry you were forced to use your powers so soon after the incident with the Carver boy. I hope you find your soulmate quickly. I fear there is a storm coming that will alter this town forever.”
Then she smiled and skipped out of the house as if nothing had happened.
Jim and Steve looked at each other in concern.
“Well,” Jim said darkly, “that was fucking ominous.”
Steve could only agree.
~
Tag List: CLOSED
1- @itsall-taken @watermelonmite @zerokrox-blog @sadisticaltarts @dolphincliffs
2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @cryptid-system @kultiras @kimsnooks
3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog
4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @dreamercec @blondie1006
5- @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @genderless-spoon @fearieshadow @thesecondfate
6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman
7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth
8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss
9- @wheneverfeasible @micheledawn1975 @gloomysoup @dotdot-wierdlife @tartarusknight
10- @ollyxar @yesdangerpls @two-vampires-kissing @themoonagainstmers @estrellami-1
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longlivedelusion · 2 days ago
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Stress Reliever
Summary: Your regular checkup with your doctor who also happens to be your boyfriend goes... differently than you imagined.
Warnings: Smut. Eating out. Reader is afab. Some ice play. Minor angst.
A/N: This is inspired by this post because I'm feral and Love & Deepspace has become a hardcore fixation. We are locked in baby! Enjoy Zayne girlies~ (I know I did).
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It had been a few months since Zayne and I started officially dating, and today marked the second checkup I've had with him since we got together. Sure, I'd been his patient a while now, but this new dynamic of doctor/boyfriend was still an adjustment to say the least.
I struggled with what boundaries to set in times like these, even though it seemed like Zayne was a natural. He treated me like any other patient, was professional in all senses when I was in the office, just to get a text the moment I leave the grounds saying I "looked beautiful today."
So as I walked into the office with a set of papers on my latest blood work, I paused at the door and took a deep breath. Health first, partner second.
That thought went straight out the door however when I walked into the room, Zayne's demeanor a cool chill that swept across the room like a brewing winter storm. 
To the average eye, he was the same cool and collected doctor that everyone knew and respected, but as someone who knew him well I could immediately tell: he was pissed.
"Hello, please have a seat." He said without looking up, gesturing to the chair across from him. I made my way over just as he finished whatever he was looking at on his computer and directed his full, cold gaze on me.
"Hi. Um, I have my latest blood work here." I said, sliding the paperwork across the desk. He grabbed the papers with ease, looking them over as the noise caused from the movement became the only sound in the room. My hands settled back onto my lap nervously, gripping and sliding across the fabric as my mind struggled to hold back the worried girlfriend side of me. Health first, health first, health first... 
He looked over the exams silently, the tension in the room gliding over me like tar as my body tensed across from his seemingly calm one. I watched as his hand tapped slowly on the table, his lips suddenly pursing.
"Your iron is low again. Have you been following the nutrition plan I prescribed?" He said, knowing I hadn't been eating at home as much lately due to late work nights. I'd told him time and time again that I'd been eating my regular, healthy meals not to worry him, but in reality I had maybe skipped a meal or two out of forgetfulness. Maybe three.
"I've been trying to, but with work I might have slipped here or there." I said, knowing there was no point to lying to him now. I tried to stop the guilt from flashing across my features.
"I see." His words clipped. He set the papers down carefully and leaned forward, linked hands together. His eyes bore into mine with a quiet fierceness I knew well, making me look away.
"I'm sorry, I'll be better about it. I'll-"
"There's no need to apologize. If you do not wish to follow my opinion as your primary care physician than that is your perogative." I couldn't read him, his emotions hidden behind stone as he stayed there a moment and then turned back to the computer. "Have you had any problems or discomfort in the past month?"
I looked at him, the familiar check-up questions throwing me out of my head a moment. "Uh, no. Everything's been good. Normal."
He nodded and continued typing. More silence. I felt my skin begin to itch as I struggled to hold to my earlier mantra. Was he mad at me? Did something happen today and I just made it worse? I know he worries.
"Seems we are all done here then. I just sent the signed certificate to your Captain, so you are free to go."
Wait what? "...just like that?" I asked. Normally he would avoid signing until I promised to take better care of myself or would at least scold me slightly before doing anything. Something was definitely up. 
"Yes." He said, not looking up. "I will see you in a few months."
I stood, taking that as a my cue to leave, but as I reached the door I paused. I felt the pull towards my partner, the desperate need to understand, to talk, to say fuck these boundaries and-
"Zay- Dr. Zayne." I hesitated as I turned back around. "Are you alright?"
He stilled for a fraction of a second before he continued his typing. "Why do you ask?"
"You seem off today and I was just concerned-"
"I'm quite alright." He said and didn't even look at me. He kept just typing and typing. I wasn't, couldn't take the next 9 hours waiting for him to get off work before I figured out what was going on. I'd go insane.
"Zayne," I said softly. "Please? Talk to me? I know we agreed to separate our work and personal lives but I'm really worried, this isn't like you. I know it's not just the iron thing."
He sighed, shoulders falling slightly as he closed his eyes. "It's nothing, darling. We can speak about it at home."
I move to the desk again, but this time around to face the side of my seated partner. "You won't be home for another 9 hours." My hand reached out to push his short hair behind his ear. "But if you really don't wanna talk about it, I understand."
He nuzzled into my hand, silent for a moment before he spoke, "It's the board. They've been reducing staff and resources from the Protocore Syndrome rehabilitation center in Maple Ridge due to the increase of need in other areas, but the cases in that area are unlike anything we've seen in other locations. They are pushing the staff already as is, yet they want to reduce it more."
He turned, moving my body in between his legs as his head settled on my chest. "I've been arguing with them all week about this and yet they won't listen. If they do this, a lot of people will die." He added with a sigh.
I keep stroking his hair back. "Oh, baby I'm so sorry. Maybe the Hunter's Association can help back up your claims? Maybe it'll be enough pull to get you the resources you need."
He shakes his head. "I've tried, but unless there's a public outcry or some miracle, I don't think there's much else we can do."
I gently pull his head back and he looks up at me with a slight furrow in his brow. "Don't give up. There had to be something else we're missing." I say, determination in my voice. "You're the Dr. Zayne, you'll find a way. I know it."
His eyes softened, looking at me with fondness and trepidation. "I may be good at my job, but I'm no miracle worker."
I shrug, "Maybe, maybe not, but you are stubborn. And determined. And that goes a long way."
And there, from the corner of his lips drew a small smile, "You are very good at comforting others, you know."
I smiled back, kissing his forehead gently. "I've been told once or twice." I pull back, and look at him again. "Is there anything I can do to help? Really, I wanna help you if I can." 
He paused, thinking deeply for a moment before he tilted his head to look at the door. "Perhaps there is one thing that you could do."
"What? Anything." I said with no hesitation.
He reached over to his comms channel and dialed the receptionist. "Miss Liǔ, please hold my appointments for 30 minutes and make sure nobody comes to my office in that time. I have an important call."
"Yes, Dr. Zayne."
The call ended and in that second I felt hands on my thighs as Zayne stood and lifted me onto the table. "Anything?" He repeated, face now mere centimeters from mine.
My breath hitched as I tried to form a single thought beyond fuck in that moment. "Zayne, this is your work, I mean anyone could hear us."
"Then I suppose you need to stay quiet then, don't you darling?" From his hand his Evol swirls until a cube of ice lands between his fingers, and he pulls back. "Open."
My eyes widen at the command but I do as he asks, mouth wide as he placed the cube on my tongue. The ice wasn't too cold surprisingly, but it still numbed my mouth somewhat.
"Don't stop sucking this cube, understood?" He said as he dropped to his knees. "Not until I tell you."
I nodded, pupils blown wide as I watched him make quick work of my pants. He shoved them down my legs, his mouth searing into my skin as he began his ascent up my thighs. His kisses were reverent, unrushed despite the ticking clock, the dual sensations of the cold and heat now rising in my body as I dropped my head and closed my eyes.
I felt his mouth inch it's way up, up, up closer to the growing wetness between my legs. I was still covered in that sense, and despite Zayne barely having touched me I was already brimming at the seams with want. It was always that way with him, somehow he could have me from 0 to 100 with barely a breath. 
Which, in that moment an actual breath took me from my thoughts as his mouth ghosted over my cunt. He drifted around it, yet never quite touching where I wanted. I felt everything leave my mind in that moment as a soft moan got stuck in my throat. I couldn't speak, couldn't beg, couldn't anything. So I settled for the next best thing.
I reached forward, hand grabbing onto his hair as I locked eyes with him, exuding every pleading thought I could into that stare. He simply chuckled and grabbed my hand, placing a gentle kiss on it before settling it back on the desk. "Patience, darling. I'm taking my time. After all, I need to relax."
With that he nuzzled into my clothed core, nose flickering over my clit as he let in a small inhale. "God, you smell divine." He said, the movement making me grip the desk. He licked a small stripe from the bottom up making me lift my body in reaction.
"You taste divine too."
He reached up to the edges of my panties, pulling them down and away as he greeted my now glistening core. His hands gripped my thighs as he let out a breathy "beautiful" before licking a long stripe up my folds.
Another moan got stuck in my throat as he began to suck on my sensitive bud, his tongue soothing it at random intervals before diving down and up again. The way his mouth moved over me, the care, the gentle lick to a fevered suck had my mind reeling. I started pulsing my hips upward, desperate to get more pressure where I needed, but Zayne just kept going at his own designated pace.
His hands tightened on my thighs as he pushed them down, a silent order as his mouth continued his ministrations, my juices slowly dripping down his chin and onto his desk.
My hands reached back for support as I instead sucked on the cube on my tongue for some sort of extra stimulation. One of my hands reached for my chest, pinching and kneading as my muffled keens grew more desperate.
Zayne was not a selfish lover by any means, but in this moment he couldn't care less about anything but his face between my thighs.
With the impending countdown of the clock, I felt a rush of adrenaline shoot through my system as desperation kicked in. I tried to open my mouth to speak, but the words struggled to come out with the ice on my tongue. "Pwease" was all I managed, the ice balancing on my tongue awkwardly as I spoke.
His eyes shot up to me, his mouth slowing and pushing back to an agonizing pace. It made me whine in frustration as Zayne's hand gave a warning squeeze. A reminder of who this was for and who was in charge here. But, to also trust him.
I sighed and nodded, legs widening as I struggled to keep myself in check. What mattered was he was getting what he needed to relax, and if that was by eating me out, well. Who was I to complain?
At that thought, the pressure began again and a new sensation filled my body as a finger began to press in. My body tensed at the intrusion, a muffled moan escaping Zayne's mouth from the tightness as he started to suck just a bit harder. His finger pushed in and out at a casual pace, curling and twisting as he explored its tight walls.
My body began writhing against the desk, pushing against him as he pumped his fingers. I reached forward, one hand still on the desk while the other grabbed his hair for dear life. He was a man enjoying every single bite of his meal, slowly, intentionally, yet desperate for more. 
Soon, a second finger pressed in, stretching me to heaven.
Whimpers and whines stayed caught in my throat as he began curving his fingers into a spot he knew well, one he knew that could have me screaming in any other circumstances. Despite the ice cube in my mouth, if anyone listened close enough to the door of infamous Dr. Zayne they would hear the desperate whines of his partner and the sounds of his fingers ravaging my cunt.
Closer and closer it built, the need to cum. Just that, a need. Zayne could tell too, his movements growing faster as he pumped into me hard and fast, tongue swirling and sucking with just the right pressure. My nerve endings felt alive, the cool ice barely grounding me in the present while his mouth kept me afloat in the sky. I could feel it growing closer and closer until-
"Mmm!" I sucked hard on the ice while I lurched forward, body shaking as my orgasm hit me with barely a warning. His hands pressed into me lazily through the aftershocks before he eventually he let them go and his mouth replaced them. He licked and sucked any remainder of cum before sucking his fingers clean as well. He let out a deep sigh.
"Incredible," he mumbled, a small smile on his lips as he rubbed gentle circles on my thighs. He stood then, leaning over me as he gently kissed my lips. The ice cube melted between our tongues as his Evol dissolved the magic and I sighed in relief.
"Thank you, darling." He said as he pulled back, forehead against mine. "I needed that."
I smiled, head reaching to stroke his cheek. "I'm glad to help." I said, the sincerity coating my words before I looked down. "What about you though? I can-"
He stopped my hand before it could touch him, moving it up to his lips instead. "I got everything I needed." He said as he kissed my palm, and then every finger. "I'm quite happy like this."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
He looked up then and smiled, the tension from earlier completely melted away. "Absolutely."
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star-41306 · 3 hours ago
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How do y'all think the duffers are going to go about initiating Byler?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately and would love some thoughts on how everyone thinks Byler will progress. This is my opinion on the matter. (PS: this is a very mike centered analysis as I believe his perspective is the most beneficial to the conversation since he is at the center)
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Mike is hiding his feelings for Will, but what benefit does this have for those involved? To us, the viewers, we can see the pain Will, El, and Mike experience through this situation. No party is receiving what they truly need to progress their happiness and growth.
El wants a boyfriend who will tell her that he loves her for who she is as a person, not her capabilities. At the heart of this is a need to be understood, but El herself doesn't really know who she is. Her growth is dependent on finding herself without outside influence.
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Mike wants a girlfriend to seem/feel 'normal' and cool. He knows who he is but is repressing it. At the heart of this is a need to be desired. Sure, El wants him, but she does not know the truth about Mike. Mike's growth is dependent on someone finding comfort in the real him.
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Will wants someone to treat him normal. He knows he's a freak and while he doesn't necessarily try to hide it, he wants the comfort of not being treated differently for it. Will's growth is dependent on the acceptance of those around him.
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The existence of a romantic relationship between Mike and El goes against all of this potential growth. Mike idolizes El, never being able to see past her abilities. El is unable to find herself at the cost of being mikes cover. While doing this, he rejects his true self and affection for Will, because he believes he is doing what's right. Simultaneously, Will is left feeling dejected and alone in the disregard of his feelings.
I think Mike has very low self-esteem. It comes with the territory of being a nerdy queer teenager in the 80's. I also, however, believe that when he has enough faith in himself, or the stakes are high enough, he's good at taking charge of a situation. He is selfless, a kind of selfless where you can't always tell he cares for those around him, but he would sacrifice his own comfort and livelihood for the people he loves.
But if Mike is so selfless, why isn't he fixing the situation for everyone involved? Because of one simple fact: He is clueless. He has no idea what he's doing to El or Will.
He may know Will is upset about something while in the Van with him, but that boy has no idea what's going on in Wills head. He might not even realize the painting he got from Will is the one El was talking about in her letter. With everything going on, he probably still thinks will has a girl he likes back up in Cali and this is a completely different painting.
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He senses El is upset and won't talk to him, but he thinks it's because she lost to Vecna. He has not even the slightest clue it's partially due to his conditional and untrue love confession. El believes that mike only said he loved her because she finally got her powers back.
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Mike thinks he gave El and Will what they wanted. El wanted a love confession? check. Will wanted mike to move on and fix his relationship with El? check. done and done. At least that's what he thinks.
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Now that we have motives and perspective out of the way, here's a general idea of how I think the Milkvan-Byler transition will pan out.
We have already established in the show that Will is too selfless to confess, thinking he's saving a perfectly healthy relationship that just so happens to involve the boy he loves and the girl who saved him. There is no way he would break them up on his own, or he would have done that already. The action relies on Mike and El. They both need to respectively decide a breakup is necessary for this to work.
The breakup cannot be prompted by one or the other, it must be prompted by both. Mike cannot be the only one desiring a breakup, because El needs to take her power back and make that decision by herself. At the same time though, El can't be the only one either, as mike needs to accept his feelings on his own and stop being someone he's not. Mike not initiating would also make Will seem like a second option and completely negate Wills growth of being accepted for simply being.
El will have distanced herself from mike tremendously for this to work. They may not have broken up officially, but she's realizing Mike is not what she needs right now. She will probably be spending time with Hopper and Joyce training to fight Vecna, and the reminder that that's the only thing mike seems to like about her will only push her more towards her own sense of self. Maybe she still has hope for her and mike, but that is not her focus right now.
While El is distanced, Mike and Will will fall into the same roles they did in season 2. Will will struggle with the supernatural aspects of the plot, while Mike takes care of him and keeps him safe. This will restore Mike and Wills friendship.
Mike simultaneously will realize how much happier he is away from El, because he can't help but act like someone he's not when he's around her. He will also realize the comfort he finds in being relied on by Will. This won't necessarily prompt him into the breakup, as he still believes dating El is the best way he can support her. He might want Will, but he still feels like he can't have him.
El will be the first to initiate, but it will be mutual. I think they will have a long discussion (maybe starting as a fight) about Mikes lies in his speech and the pressure he felt to conform to this relationship. El will share how his actions have not helped the relationship, but instead made them both feel miserable, trapped, and unappreciated. They will realize that the other is not what they need, and though they will both need platonic support through this journey, they just can't be what the other needs.
While Mike and Will are reconnecting, El will finally notice... everything. The stares, soft voices, comforting, and everything will click. El might need some help understanding though, because even though she did not have a normal childhood, she is still subjected to heteronormativity even if she joined the game late. She will make the connection that that is how she should have been treated, and though they are both boys, I think a sit down with one of the other characters (Johnathan? Hopper? Joyce?) will help her connect the dots.
I think the painting and mikes feelings for Will may become an entirely different discussion later in the season, and this is what will push mike into feeling allowed to want him. The combined acceptance from El, and the implied reciprocation from Will could be the push mike needs for his own self-acceptance.
This will allow Byler to build up in a healthy way where all parties benefit and are able to build even stronger connections with each other. All through honesty, acceptance, and love, all of which have been lacking.
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Thank you if you read all of this. Please let me know if you feel like this will go in an entirely different direction in ST5!!!
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pareidolla · 2 days ago
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(Explore) Do you have any headcanons for Voice of the Cheated?
♡. ask game
anon dearie ilysm i'm sorry it's been 2 whole months </3 i immediately began typing this post out as soon as i received it, but then not only did i forget to finish it, but practically all of the headcanons i wrote had to be trashed because they related to cheated's role but he is no longer a pirate!!! buddy got his costume changed and i am not telling you what it is ♡♡
but yes yes i have a couple headcanons! in no particular order:
01. my cheated has a tail for Reasons™ and it is a great source of misfortune of him. he already has a lousy poker face, but even if he manages to keep it together, anyone can easily intuit how he's feeling from its swaying or thumping. not to mention how often people step on it (most accidentally, cold and opportunist not accidentally)
02. my voice's "true" form are mirror shards while their physical bodies are something akin to homuculi/puppets. if harmed beyond a certain threshold then the affected body part will shatter completely rather than simply bleed out. normally, if the shard is healthy, then reverting back to shard form will reverse the injury, but cheated's shard is so ridiculously pure that shattered parts will mend on their own! even when he fully shatters, which is relatively easy for him to do, it only takes a half-hour to recover, as opposed to the days or weeks that others may need.
this is also a great source of misfortune for him ♡ according to razor this makes him the perfect little pin-cushion. the glass shattering makes such a pretty, addictive noise and then woo he's right back to do it again. sure, it's fun to battle stubborn, but it takes him forever to shatter, and then the cooldown can take a month. scam! rip-off! her own little guy is the way better deal!
03. speaking of glass shards: cheated and flinching are brother and sister! all of the voices came from the same mirror, but cheated's shard cracked twice, first forming him and then flinching. while the demo voices remained dormant throughout the game, most of cheated's personality is unconsciously founded in complementing and protecting his sister. whereas flinching would hesitate to shoot a gun, cheated would snatch it from her grasp to fire immediately -- and then she watches in horror as the bullet ricochets off a pipe and hits him square in the knee. chichi twins ♡♡
04. cheated is a stiff in that he doesn't drink or smoke (his suffering will be done raw, thank you), but he absolutely adores gambling. he will swear up and down that he can stop at any time, and he doesn't even like it that much, yet he'll make a beeline for the nearest slot machine and have to be wrestled out of the chair. please, he can't just leave now, he's already sunk so much money into this, please just one more pull--
05. contrary to his appearance (and princess), cheated likes cute things! he's a bit shy about expressing his interest in coquette stuff like ribbons and makeup, but he's very open about caring for the innocent and helpless. the type to leave food out for strays and tries (keyword: tries) not to swear infront of kids. would love for him to team up with damsel for game night.
(kills me that he wouldn't want to wear "girl stuff" since he thinks the other voices pull it off better. everytime i draw cheated i think he would make for such a beautiful woman. i need opportunist to invite him to a drag bar and change his life.)
since it's tangentially connected, i'm ending this off with my favorite headcanon: cheated adores sharks and sleeps with a big shark plush he won at a carnival, whom he has named cap'n crunch ♡
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flapmemelord · 1 day ago
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THANK you @onelastskip for that suggestion.............. might be a little late but.... here's why I think ESFP fits Elio to a T (and I can't wait to see how his shortcomings get explored especially in regards to functions...) (it delves with a few hcs, but addresses spring semester and stuff adressed in blank-house asks)
SO !!! ESFP (Se-Fi-Te-Ni) Elio right? Dominant Se makes a lot of sense for Elio. Se is all about getting sensory enjoyment out of life. He likes expressing himself through his physicality (and is good at it), sports in part but not only. He's known for participating in more than a few events thrown by the SGB (to the point of having a nickname because of his infamous way of filling out forms / to the point deja said the wall climbing event was for him). Elio is very open to new situations and quick to say yes if invited, an on-the-whim kind of guy and liking it that way. He can come off as a showoff (cue him destroying everyone in bar holding spring festival game and/or challenging high confidence mcs) superficial ("I didn't know people could argue so much about a prize" / he feels like he has to justify himself and tells Deja he has layers when confronted about his music tastes) or comes off as childish (quick to guilttrip if he likes mc enough, pouts) which are traits Se doms are likely to be labeled as. Misuse of Se might include relying too much on immediate feedback and / or external stimulation for satisfaction, being careless with decisions or relationships (which is what I'm working on for Elilo (Elio/Lorelei)) It can also mean having no focus or defined goals (lack / misuse of Ni) which lead to insecurity (which i could see being explored on the meager chance Elio is the breakup route and he goes back home)
I believe Ni (intuitive connections, reflection on meaning and implications, generating visions of the future...) grip in Elio shows up in how clingy he is, probably as a consequence of some form of paranoia (misuse of Ni) (Bottom stack functions tend to be used as defense mechanisms) (Ni grip might come off as the person acting out of character, in here, him being so suddenly hit by a lack of confidence, and needing to be reassured through that clinginess) The best guess I can do right now is he has issues around emotional permanence, but it's a shot in the dark. Well, at least Ni grip in Se doms can show up as looking for meaning and/or purpose but in the wrong places.
Elio is shown as someone that will avoid confrontation and is described as one who holds grievances. There's failure, I feel, from his part to resolve negative feelings which push him to suppress. It looks like a case of Fi failing him. Despite that he's mostly empathetic, sensitive and displays emotional intelligence (has signs of healthy Fi expression) (he's good at calming down a situation where tension arises, cue mc and percy not getting along - and immediatly vouching for him, or easing down the discussion if mc calls him and percy out for getting distracted in the study room event).
Tertiary Te (imposes order and is about efficient behavior, pushes to make effective decisions based on data) loop is what happens when there's Auxiliary Fi resistance. Because Fi is the need for moral integrity and self acceptance, immature ExFPs can use Te to distance from it. It can show up as burying negative feelings under coarse expressions of power (like Elio did in the breakup!percy comic I made), self-image problems or insecurity (which Elio display). The grievance thing makes me think Elio might show to be quite vindictive which is another sign of Te loop. I personally hc he's the possessive LI, which would align with the fact being territorial / domineering is a common unhealthy tertiary Te trait.
Funnily I think his reading of Reynah can both be read as an expression healthy Fi yet a Te loop tendency. It's both him understanding where people could not like her (getting her flaws, her shortcomings) but it's also him believing critical judgement to be objective. There's the expectation in what he says for Reynah to meet him on his ground (for her to talk) the way Deja does, when that's not necessarily how getting closer to Reynah has to go.
Next I'll make both Percy and Rhys' type analysis since they're both ISTP
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