#and your (ex)husband's Like That about her

[booksinmythorax]

Hey, guy who was really mad we wouldn't let you pay your wife's library fines without her card. I know you're feeling some big stuff right now and you evened out a lot by the end after you called her and she confirmed her card number to us, but the thing I wasn't going to start a fight with you about in the moment was:

Your wife is a separate person from you, and we don't know if you're an abusive husband.

We don't know if you're trying to find out if she's checking out books about divorce. We don't know if you're trying to find out if she's checking out books about infidelity or alimony or raising your kids differently than you'd prefer. We don't even know if you're actually married. We don't know you're not an ex who's trying to get information about someone you're stalking. And on and on and on.

Ultimately, your wife has a right to privacy just like everyone else. Privacy even from you. She can choose to share whatever she wants with you, but we need confirmation of that. Thanks for understanding.

[rosetta-stoned-bitch]

So twsift namedrop Kim K's daughter and mentions Kim's death. Because of the beef that she primarily had with Kanye....

But she shouldn't be held responsible for the bad that men in her life ever do, like Matty Healy being a bigot or that godawful director she worked with or Kelce being a xenophobe and misogynist. She disgusts me.

[valnyte]

Touko Kuzuha Route Review

a few things of note:

I mainly play the adult version; I have an alt account but it is the regular version)

I chose the 妖艶 ending as it was the one showed for the previews (at least in the adult PV); I can confirm that this end does continue to Kuzuha's current Christmas story event story

Based on the way my uni structured its Japanese language classes, I can only say my Japanese fluency level is around 中級 level but still kept a dictionary app by my side

I am not a translator and I will not be translating his route

keep in mind that this is MY opinion, you are free to have your own and read his route as you wish

Plot: 3.5/5 ★

Kuzuha as a character: 4/5 ★

Kuzuha as a partner in a romantic relationship: 1.5/5 ★ (I am being generous)

Kuzuha when it comes to smutty situations: 8/5 ★

MC: 2/5 ★ (Again, I am being generous)

Personal route enjoyment: 3.5/5 ★

tw: dubcon, self-harm

MASSIVE spoilers up ahead so read at your own risk

If I were to summarise his route in one statement its: one-night-stand turns into a friends with (medicinal) benefits relationship that becomes a situationship until these dumbasses finally learn that direct communication is perhaps the IDEAL solution.

Can you see why I want to squeeze him?

Starting with plot, it reads like a fluffy and spicy story, heavily focused on the situationship they landed themselves in which has the air of a romcom. Seriously MC, you just let this guy who you don't know very well crash your apartment and live with you? Just because you slept with him once and found him petting a fluffy cat later on? Kuzuha is incredibly unserious as well for the most part but it is entertaining to see whatever the hell he is up to with MC, if he's going to tease her or spoil her - albeit, usually in bed. Though truth be told, I could not really see much of the romantic chemistry between them, mostly sexual chemistry and understandably so. For a romcom-y theme, I was not expecting something too high stakes but I was actually kept at the edge of my seat once the story hit around the 3/4 point as something I did not even consider an eventual side plot would turn into. Everything before the 3/4 point was very rom-com with a side of magical healing. Storywise, things sped up really quickly after that point, but so did the resolution. I had no issues with the pacing thus far, but the resolution was a bit fast. Nevertheless, it was entertaining, and I will do his route again after hopping unto a fresh route.

Next, Kuzuha himself. Oh boy. Oh boy, oh boy. Wow, you really are a mess with a pretty face. His character profile labelling him "trash" [クズ] is not a joke in the slightest, he is one, and hell, he knows it with zero remorse. Even Tsubaki shit talks to MC in private that Kuzuha is a bit of a shit and neither of them will ever deny it. It makes sense that little pretty trashy kitsune becomes jealous of Ryo once MC brings the topic of her new co-worker/childhood classmate/first crush up. And it is because he knows deep down, he's not that reliable at all, save for his healing magic and his abundant sex appeal.

However as much as I will affectionately clown him, he does have his reasons why he's flippant, and everything ties back to him as the Kuzunoha kitsune. As kitsune, his liver is hunted down for the fact it has high healing capabilities, he has been hunted down in the past (by humans and youma alike) and even in the present (only by youma now), he does dislike the fact he is only seen as useful for this healing aspect. Not to mention physically painful with how parts of his liver have to be taken away and despite his highly regenerative state, its taxing to do. Moreso when it is not by his free will. Next, he is Kuzunoha from legend - there are many variants mind you, but Cybird x DMM did their own spin on it. TLDR how the legend is explained ingame: more than a thousand years back while he was being hunted down in fox form, he was caught in a trap, and he was set free by Abe no Yasuna. As gratitude, Kuzuha transformed into a beautiful woman and lived with Abe no Yasuna and the child of the latter, taking on the role of woman of the house/step in mother. A few years passed safely but then one day, Kuzuha's true identity as kitsune was revealed, and thus was chased out from the home, never seeing them again.

This then led him to the conclusion: "Love is not reciprocal. Either you take it, or it is taken from you."

Ouch.

And he does live with this conclusion set in stone for more than a thousand years until he meets MC and does not realise he is actively falling for her as the weeks go by when living with her. "Love is a one-way road," he said at the beginning. Not in this otome game, sir, it's only a one-way road because you're fictional.

All that aside, he has some very heartwarming sides to him. Despite his devil may care attitude and his love is never returned beliefs, he cannot change the fact he's genuinely compassionate towards others. It is bittersweet to read him filled with so much empathy for others cannot understand himself at the slightest. Healing MC's inability to sleep well in a very unconventional way when she didn't even ask for it at the start, to the point of actively being the one to stab himself to get a piece of his liver out to help save someone's life because he knows firsthand the pain and difference of a youma and human relationship. Characters who are a living irony of themselves am I right?

Not to mention that gentle side of his is further explored once he genuinely starts considering MC as a romantic partner. Still a big tease though .

But it does not mean he is entirely exempt from his flaws. I will address something that I did have issues with since the start: he technically coerced MC into going further with him in their first chapter. She was unsure about having sex with him at first but just a few heated moments later, one thing led to another then yup they screwed. By the time she realised it, it was too late as they already did the deed and she was shortly angry with him. Narrativewise, she was technically trapped in a "fuck him or your spirit disappears when the incense fully burns out" but he only told her that AFTER instead of the BEGINNING. Kuzuha... That is A CHOICE to make, and not a good one - considering you were the one who gave her the incense sticks in the first place 💀 Not entirely comfy with that situation even if he treated her gently. Sure he's the gentlest suitor in the starter pack, but that's just a little bit hmmmmmmmmmm. He has other flaws as well but that is my biggest gripe with him.

Would I consider him as a good romantic partner? Not exactly on that thread given how he has boundaries he wants respected but does not respect others' boundaries. He has a full point for actively looking out for MC and listening to her and responding to that at least. But he is 100% not the type of guy MC can show to her parents and get instant approval for a few other glaring issues.

This is how I see him maybe meeting the parents going in my head:

"So how did you meet?"

"Um..."

"What's your job?"

"Haha, about that-"

When it comes to sexy times in his route, there's a lot of very intensely heated moments, given his nature and the fact he's 90% in close proximity to her because he ends up living with her like a roommate/friend with benefits. Mugenro by itself has very lengthy sex scenes, and partially voiced so yes please do not be like me who forgets to turn down the volume 💀 He is a big tease, but once he knows how desperate she is, oh he's rewarding her a hundred times over. He's skilled, good grief, he knows it and makes use of everything he knows to send anyone to high heaven. Also outdoor sex does happen in one of the avatar challenges, yes I got it because I was curious and I am damn well not regretting it. Just saying, his voice getting raspy had me going, I need to hear this at home. Alone. Ehe.

Ok enough about Kuzuha, time to turn to MC. Girl... Because why. On one hand, I actively like the fact she's quite possessive towards him at the end, directly telling him there's a boundary he should never cross with her and he listens. But for the rest of the time, sweetie, there's a fine line being nice and then being trodded underfoot. And where is your common sense girl, you barely knew the guy and you're letting him crash at your place immediately? She has all the position to refuse him but nooooo. I cannot blame her for being attracted to Kuzuha with his debonair charm, but I do want to wring her like laundry sometimes with how downright idiotic she can get. Even she's not safe from being scolded by Kuzuha himself for running into a very dangerous situation. Maybe sit down with the blindfold from seeing the red flags for a moment and maybe come to terms with the different lifespans for a bit. Even just a little bit. I will give her a full point for taking on the usually active role instead of being passive and letting him make the decisions for her as she is more decisive than this free-spirited fox, but otherwise, ma'am you have a brain, don't let it waste away.

Overall, I did enjoy Kuzuha's route and will do it again to full clear everything, just not now. Not my true cup of tea, but he is arguably the nicest of the suitors so far and I am glad I read his route first. And because he's cute. If I make a plushie of him, he's going to become my new stress toy.

Have a blushie Kuzuha for the end:

K, bye.

[itssmeeeeee]

Dating did kind of fucking suck: she was right. Though, it was weird to hear that fact from someone who actively wanted to be his girlfriend. Tink had been the one to actually suggest that they date, not the other way around, the way he’d so often experienced the beginnings of potential relationships that had never amounted to anything. Oliver had honestly begun to think that it simply was never going to happen for him—there wasn’t going to be another girl who took an interest in some guy who worked at the docks and had his boss for a best friend. Still unconvinced Tink actually liked him, though, the results of this whim of an experiment remained to be seen.

“So, you hate dating, but you’re keen on marriage?” he repeated, in terms he understood for her to hear. A few months of marriage wasn’t really much at all: some dating relationships lasted longer. Smee should’ve been concerned about her track record, especially being so upfront about cheating on her ex-husband, but it wasn’t as though he couldn’t get over it if she did the same thing to him—he didn’t care that much about the blonde. If anything, he was only here to get the attention of someone else. “I take it cheating on your husband didn’t go over well? Who’d you wind up finding better than him?” Even more: did she even love him, if she cheated on him a few months later? Did he care that much to know? Probably not, but if she was his girlfriend, he at least had a small bit of right to ask.

His answer confirming he’s never actually dated anyone before isn’t a surprise, not by a long shot considering, like she had said, he gave off some level of virginal man vibes. Not that there seemed to be anything really wrong with him, from what Tink could tell at least, but his lack of a wide friend group was the first sign that had made her come to the conclusion that he’s probably never dated before in his life. “That’s kinda shit, actually,” she found herself saying without really thinking, a small frown forming on her lips at the thought of how many people she’s just never bothered sticking around for or starting anything serious with. “But I get it too. Dating kind of fucking sucks.” Probably not something you're supposed to say to the guy you’re currently going out with - but it’s something she’s sure Smee will understand.

For a moment she had forgotten that her boyfriend was once one of her number one sworn enemies - or at least, he was supposed to have been. It seems a shock sometimes that people in her life aren’t aware of her not so stellar track record in the dating world, especially when there had only been one person she had actively hid her whole marriage situationship from. But Tink supposed it made sense - it wasn’t like the news of any of her personal life would ever reach the docks. And even if it did, they likely hardly gave a fuck what she was up to - caring only what the leader of their group did. “Oh, yeah. For a few months. Then I cheated and he called it off, filed the divorce papers we probably should have signed the day after the wedding, really,” she spoke about it so casually, as if it were no big deal - because that was exactly what she and Dash always maintained it was: no big deal.

[hsslilly-blog]

huntclaire divorce au. everything is exactly the same but wait i was going to make a joke here but i’m actually very invested in this

[cattatoir]

I think I have unpopular Sandman takes bc I'm usually on his side

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

trent is the best man at his ex-wife''s wedding and some people are like hang on werent you married to the bride? and hes like yes. and.

[caimitos]

saw a post about projecting your ethnicity onto a character and started missing vespa ilkay. so so bad

[pynkhues]

I don't think anyone is tired yet of great reunion fics and after reading your fics, I would be ECSTATIC to read your version of their first time together post-reunion. Or the first time with Lestat bottoming. Just anything you want to write. Your writing is just the best. I'll be even more ecstatic, ecstatic to infinity, if you make this a series and write different moments for them. After that fic, I am so eager to hear your versions of these characters talk about Magnus, and the thing with Louis not knowing that Gabrielle is alive and Lestat avoiding the question was HILARIOUS.

Ah! Thank you so much for your lovely words and for the encouragement! The reunion really does feel like it's inspired such a wave of fic, which is so great, and I definitely have a shape to how I'd write the rest of that night, so I might bump it back up my list for when I finish the one that I'm working on currently.

And I actually almost wrote a fic when s1 was airing about Lestat's first time bottoming with Louis, because I 10000% think they did it here:

I mean, Louis gulped, but even putting that aside, there's something to gliding on the intimacy of post-turning and Louis' first wave of supernatural strength and him being half burnt and probably stinking of souring milk and Lestat wanting him like that that just speaks to me, haha.

[killerchickadee]

My dirty secret is we actually DO celebrate Christmas in my family. I'm Jewish, but I come from a mixed household so yeah. But that's part of what makes me hate it so much. Because there's SO MUCH emphasis on family, and that's all anyone talks about, and my family is... you know, not really in my life. And I know that's partly my fault because I moved so far away, but my mom, sister, and niece all spent the day together yesterday and my mom posted pictures on Instagram and I'm like. Cool, I did laundry. On Christmas eve my sister suggested we FaceTime on Christmas, and then I didn't hear from her at all (not even a thank you for the gift I sent). And on Christmas my mom was like, "Oh we should FaceTime. Except I'm about to go take a nap so maybe next time."

So I see pictures of people baking cookies and posing in front of the Christmas tree and whatever with their family, and it just makes me feel really shitty about my life. And I know there's people who ~have it worse~ but still. It feels shitty to be left out of all the fun times.

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

That awkward feeling when a PIMI childhood friend sends you an invite to a party in the summer; but you know you’re going to be out of the cult and shunned by then.

What do I even say? Do I lie and say I’ll be there? Do I just not respond?

[famewolf]

2019 was one of the hardest years of my life but woah I'm just remembering that I had a therapist who was insistent that I didn't transition and that I follow a one year program of proving to her that I was trans.

that wasn't even why I was going to see her in the first place, but the moment she found out she wanted me to stop hrt immediately so she could 'properly' diagnose me with gender dysphoria. she went on this long rant about how back in her day people had to spend years talking to doctors before they were allowed to transition and she has trans clients from the 80s and 90s who were made to prove to her that they were trans for a whole year before she would prescribe them anything.

[kittlyns]

A hard pill for me to swallow lately has been that, despite everything, I'm probably the best version of myself that could've existed. And that's not really a comforting thought.

[hauntingblue]

Toranaga's son is so funny. Failson 🫵🏻

[malachitezmeyka]

So… my childhood best friend, the boy I grew up with, the guy I unironically called my brother on multiple occasions, is currently in Palestine fighting for the IDF

I just.. have no words

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

yknow i have a lot of aus in my brain but the one currently spinning in my lobes is a stardust au. like. honestly it really works both ways like. i feel like thematically it's probably more appropriate for ted to be the star, changing trent's life forever, but my first thought was like. michelle asks ted to bring her a star, because he's always trying so hard to please her and she needs space and he will literally pluck a star from the sky if it means making her happy--only instead he finds a man where that star fell (he's beautiful, but ted tries not to notice) who's rather disgruntled with being on the ground, suddenly. and like. idk man i'd have to watch the movie again to really get into this au either way but i am just spinning it. slowly rotating it.