#anyway i will say. i do not think he sees feelings as weakness

[lovepeachh]

Chair.

Jason Todd x plus size! reader smut

In which Jason is the chair.

or

In which you aren't too heavy to sit on your bf's face after all.

Warnings: 18+ content, unprotected oral sex, cunnilingus, face sitting, use of the word fat (internal dialogue, not in a negative way, it's just that I, as a plus size woman, use that word and if that upsets you I get it, don't read but i refuse to let this be another 'you're not fat, you're beautiful, let me dick you down to show you that you're not fat and ugly' fic, because fat and beautiful are not exclusive terms. I love you, and I love how you look. You're beautiful, and it's not in spite of your body.)

Dividers from here

A.N.: Sorry for not writing recently, things have been a little wild. I had a concussion, a tropical storm came, both my sisters totalled their cars, got my wisdom teeth out, and now another hurricane is on the way. Anyway, here's some smut.

"Babe, there's no way I'm doing that, I'll hurt you. I'm too heavy." It wasn't that you were self conscious of your weight or anything, but you didn't exactly want Jason to die again, this time because of you and your fat girl pussy.

He raises an eyebrow at you, as if to say 'So you think I'm weak?'

"Baby, don't give me that, I'm a big boy."

"Well I'm a big girl and I'm not gonna suffocate you or break your neck."

"I mean, it's a lot better than how I went out the first time."

A silence.

"Not funny."

He sits you on his lap.

"Come on sweetie, we can just try it. And I'll tap your thigh three times if I need air or for you to get up for any reason. Scout's honor."

You roll your eyes. "You were never a scout."

"Eh, I was a robin. Close enough. Please?"

"Ugh fine. I'll sit on your face. Happy?"

It's a matter of minutes before he rips off your clothes and pulls you right on top of his face, eating you out like a starving man at a Thanksgiving buffet.

Goddamn. He was good at this.

He hooks his arms around your thighs and holds you in place while he laps at you until you writhe and squirm.

"Jay!"

You're not quite sure if the sound leaving his mouth is a laugh or a moan, but the vibration has.you seeing stars.

He laps and sucks at you as you near the edge.

"Ah-!"

All thoughts of being too heavy leave your mind. Because this man wants it bad. And he's tongue fucking you too good for you to think straight.

Your hips buck as he licks into you over and and over until you're coming all over his desperate face.

He laps up your release and keeps stimulating your abused cunt until you start to tremble. Then he releases you.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and presses a sticky kiss to your cheek.

"Still think you're too heavy?" he asks.

"Not for you." .

He laughs. "So we can do this again?"

You roll your eyes. "You're such a whore."

He kisses you. "Only for you, sweetheart."

You won't be doubting him again anytime soon. After all, what's a bit of fat when your boyfriend is built like a literal tank.

You shift in his arms, feeling something against your leg.

Oh.

"Care to help me out with that, sweetheart?"

[chiscaralight]

Can u do mean dom xiao x reader? Any gender is fine. I always see him as a soft dom there hasn’t been a mean dom xiao post since like 2021 😩

nsfw xiao x reader idk if i can write mean dom anyone, I tried my best... don't hate me anons

Regardless of the situation, xiao doesn't talk too much. Because of that, you tend to act out a lot. he's not going to say anything anyway, so why not tease him just a bit?

bad idea on your part, because he'll always get back at you. he might tease you back in the privacy of your own, or he just might deny your orgasm for so long that you can't even remember your own name. even if you whine out how sorry you are from the moment you step into the bedroom, he’s not shaken.

“maybe you should’ve thought of that before you started playing in my face. don’t stop until i tell you to.”

and honestly, you want to do this. to prove to him that he doesn't have as much power over you as he thinks. so you sink down onto his length, fingers holding tight onto his shoulders as you start to bounce. it’s not long before you start crying though, legs shaking and so out of breath as you use the last of your power to tell him you cant go on anymore.

so he rolls his eyes, mumbling something about how weak you are. it hasn’t even been that long! he’d think you’d do better than that. whatever, anyways, because his hand is heavy as he pushes your face into the bed, fingers digging into the fat of your hips as he starts to pound into you stupidly hard. you’re gasping and whining at each thrust, every hit having you feeling more sensitive than the last. and your mumbles start to get more drawn out, proclamations of your impending orgasm spilling into the sheets of the bed. he’s fistinf your hair to pull your head up, and the only words that leave him are breaking your heart.

“don’t you dare.”

and you’re whining in protest, overstimulated and in dire need of release. you don’t even know when you come! vision blacking out and body twitching as his hips still. you realize your mistake though when you find yourself on tour back, his strong gaze connecting with your full of fear one as he pins your wrists down to the bed. all he gave you was one instruction, and you can’t even obey that. you want to cum so bad? he’ll make sure you do, as many times as he wants. you won’t even remember his name by the time he’s done with you.

[cannibalspicnic]

I've been wanting to organize my thoughts and theories about the trial, so I'm gonna try writing through them here. Honestly, one of my favorite things about this show so far is the endless potential for speculation so, here it goes....

I think the trial itself was mostly Santiago's idea, and it was the perfect power grab for him.

Lestat's presence at the trial, however, I think is pretty much entirely Armand's doing and the main reason Armand involved himself as deeply as he did.

Santiago didn't know Lestat, didn't seem to particularly appreciate Lestat's presence at the trial, and moreover, didn't need Lestat at the trial. As Claudia pointed out, it was never really a trial. It was a stoning. Execution was the foregone conclusion, and the trial was just a piece of theater. All he really needed were Claudia's diaries and maybe Sam's more poetic extrapolations. The "jury" had no idea what was happening anyway and were just doing call and response.

But Armand's got this whole love/hate obsession with Lestat, and I think the hate and resentment part of that obsession gives cause for Armand to want Lestat to be forced to witness in person the execution of his family. As far as the love part of the obsession, I think Armand hopes that once Lestat is left alone, he'll have no choice but to stay with Armand. Possibly there's a part of Armand that genuinely wants Lestat to see him as his avenger.

I do not believe Lestat was there willingly. I think, like in the books, he was imprisoned and starved to keep him weak, but he wasn't as completely incapacitated as he was in the books. Lestat agreed to read the lines and rehearse etc. because if he hadn't, they wouldn't have let him participate in the trial at all, and the trial was Lestat's only chance to even SEE Louis and Claudia, much less try to save either of them.

And once the trial starts, Lestat repeatedly tries to undermine it, but he's still walking a fine line because if he fucks with the coven too much, he might be removed and lose any chance he has to affect the outcome. I think we also might find out that he tried and failed a few other ways to save Louis AND Claudia.

Which brings me to the question of Lestat and Claudia. I do not believe Lestat ever wanted Claudia dead, though it's understandable to believe differently from what we've seen in the show so far. I do think we're going to find out that Lestat made one last ditch effort to save Claudia after Louis was dragged offstage, even if it was only to plead with Armand for her life. Armand's being the only version of that moment feels too juicy to not come back to it. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Lestat prioritized saving Louis first, and that's one of the things that continues to haunt him after the trial about Claudia's death. Especially after all she says about it never being about her.

What I find really interesting is that when Louis is recounting the trial, he repeatedly insists that Lestat was there for revenge and that he believes Lestat helped orchestrate it. But in the flashbacks from Louis' memories, we also see Lestat is not having a good time and is somehow weakened, that something is not quite right with him.

It's one of my favorite examples of Louis reaching for the truth he knows is inside of him, inside his memories. That's why the revelation that Armand had directed the play and Lestat had saved him made such a huge impact. Those were the missing pieces of the puzzle, and they are what led him to recontextualize everything he already knew. Namely, if Lestat had saved him, he was never there for revenge. And his genuine contrition about the drop, his attempt to take some of the responsibility for Claudia's making, his unsteady and unhappy demeanor...they make sense because Louis realizes that Lestat was a prisoner during the trial, not Armand. I don't think Louis would have ever gone to find Lestat if he truly still believed that he organized Claudia's death or even agreed to it.

So back to Armand. I do actually think that Armand loved Louis. I've said before, when it comes to Armand, it's best to let go of reason and embrace the gremlin to understand his actions. I do think some of Armand's initial interest in Louis is specifically because he is Lestat's fledgling, but he did come to love Louis himself. And I think Louis came to love him. I know this is not a popular opinion, but hear me out.

First of all, I think Armand never let go of the idea that he was going to have to kill Louis. I think he always kinda saw his time with Louis as delaying the inevitable. But he did want Louis for himself, and so he kept buying more and more time. So when the coven confronted Armand, it didn't even feel to him like he was betraying Louis, so much as he'd run out of time to keep Louis alive. I think in Armand's mind, he genuinely didn't feel like he could prevent it.

As far as how Louis feels about Armand. I know I've seen people mention that the reason he can tell Armand, "I love you," is that he doesn't mean it. And I agree. I do not think Louis loves Armand during the events of "I Want You More Than Anything in the World." But season 2 takes place over several years, and I think Louis was able to find love for Armand.

However, because I love it when things are really fucked up, I think Louis only really started to let himself feel love for Armand after Armand left the coven for him after Louis turned Madeleine. Which is unfortunate because Armand was obviously lying his ass off about that.

But when we see them at the café, and Madeleine says she can feel Louis' love for Armand, we see a different reaction from Louis than in 2x04. He is more uncomfortable with the idea of it. I don't believe that Madeleine was misreading Louis or actually feeling his love for Lestat. I think Louis is uncomfortable because it is true.

I also think it's the first time Armand actually believes that Louis loves him. And because of that, I think that moment just before the coven descends on the café is the first time he even realizes that he had a choice in all of it. That he could have tried to save Louis.

If I'm right, UGH, so fucked up. I hope I'm right.

Anyway, I've rambled so fucking much. I don't even have a tl;dr because even *I* don't wanna have to read all that to summarize it properly. And I probably forgot some stuff, but let's all just be grateful for that.

Just to reiterate, this is all speculation. I could be very wrong, and I know there's stuff the cast has said that might indicate that I am, but I take stuff like that with a grain of salt, especially in this show.

[amorisxx]

Dad’s Day with Donuts 🍩

Pairings: Patrick x Tashi x Art, dad!Patrick x Lily Summary: Patrick wonders how he fits into the Donaldson family. a/n: I randomly had this idea and just had to write it down.

After Patrick has moved out of the guesthouse and into the main house, he still struggles to feel like he actually belongs there. Though he, Tashi, and Art have started to figure their shit out, it still feels a bit awkward when he’s sitting at the dinner table with them and Lily. He can’t help the feeling that he might be encroaching on the Duncan-Donaldson family.

He offers to clean up after dinner, taking his time to wash each dish in order to avoid waiting while Lily’s parents tuck her in. Because that’s who Tashi and Art are—her parents. Patrick’s not sure who or what he is.

He knows that Lily calls him Uncle Patrick now, and that she likes to watch Spider-verse with him. She thinks it’s funny when Patrick makes faces behind Tashi’s back or sticks out his tongue when she corrects his tennis. She likes that he remembers her stuffed animals’ names, even though she’s only told him once. He refers to each one by name.

Earlier that day, he’d reminded her to go get “Octavia” so that she wouldn’t miss this scene in the movie they’re watching. She giggled and ran to her room to get the stuffed octopus while Patrick offered to pause the TV. Tashi shook her head as she walked by on her way to the kitchen, but there’s a small smile on her face.

Lily falls asleep halfway through the movie. She wakes up wondering where Uncle Patrick went when she doesn’t see him. Art tells her that he had to go practice with mommy but reassures her that he’ll be back for dinner.

Now, Patrick stands at the kitchen sink, drying ceramic plates and wondering where he fits in. Does Lily see him as a fun live-in uncle? Or does she see him as another parent figure? Is that even what he wants to be? He knew it would be difficult to join a couple who had their own child, but he wasn’t prepared for how much this would worry him.

The sound of soft footsteps pulls him from his mind. He looks over to see Tashi leaning against the doorway expectantly.

Patrick tosses her a questioning look and she sighs before saying, “Lily wants to ask you something.”

Patrick isn’t sure what to think about this, but he finds himself dropping the kitchen towel onto the counter and following Tashi up the stairs anyway. Once they’re at Lily’s room, Patrick stops in the doorway.

Art is propped against Lily’s headboard and pillows, legs crossed at the ankles, as Lily bounces on her knees, rambling about what she wants to do tomorrow.

Tashi’s knuckle comes up to nudge him in the back lightly, and Patrick makes his way inside the room. Art’s eyes flicker up to his face with a smile that’s very similar to the one Lily is wearing.

He clears his throat, “so Lily’s school has this thing called Dad’s Day with Donuts.”

Patrick furrows his eyebrows. So, Art continues, “most of the kids bring their dads, but sometimes, for one reason or another, someone’s grand dad or uncle shows up—”

“One kid had both his dads there last year. His dad and step-dad” Tashi adds. “Oh, and the Alexanders too.”

Art nods and glances over at Lily. “So, that’s coming up, and Lily here thinks that we should extend the invitation to you.”

Patrick is taken aback. He opens his mouth to speak but all that tumbles out is a weak “huh?”

Lily crawls forward on her bed. “Well,” she starts. “You always say you like donuts…they have donuts at my school.”

“You—you think I should come to Dad’s Day with Donuts? Isn’t Art going?” Patrick asks looking over at Art for an answer.

Lily is adamant. “Duh! But I want you to come too. That way we can all eat donuts. Just like we have pancakes together when mommy lets you.”

Patrick lets out a laugh as he leans down and swoops Lily up and over the bed. “Of course I’ll go have donuts with you Lils,” he says as he places a peck on the top of her head.

Lily starts to giggle louder as Patrick lifts her up and swings her around. “Alright, alright. Time for bed,” Tashi reaches over to grab Patrick’s arm. “We gotta go to bed for real this time.”

Lily pouts but allows Tashi to tuck her in.

•••

Later that night, Patrick can’t stop smiling to himself. Art notices the grin that hasn’t left his face since Lily’s room. He wraps his arms around Patrick’s torso and places his chin on his shoulder. Patrick is still grinning when their eyes meet in the bathroom mirror. “Don’t think this means you’re replacing me,” Art teases.

Patrick smirks at him. “Of course not, I would never do anything to come in between you and your daughter…I’m just there for the donuts, man.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Art laughs, leaning down to lightly bite Patrick’s bare shoulder.

A/n: aww!! Thanks for all the warm comments guys! I haven’t written anything in ages.

Also, I can’t be the only one who thinks Patrick in that navy pullover was giving dilf…

[melkyt]

Aromantic experience I have been thinking about in a purely fictional sense, dialing up them dynamics

Luffy choses Law, he takes an effort and works to show his love in every moment, every gesture as he never experienced 'love' in a way that Sanji or Robin would describe it, he cares for Law, wants him to be happy, healthy and never leave, its almost an obsessive desire but love? He doesn't know. It doesnt feel that different then the effort he puts in to loving his friends but its different because Law loves him in a romantic sense, and Luffy does not mind, even wants to feel that way with Law even if sometimes he doesn't get it when people talk what love feels like to them

He likes whatever he does have with Law.

So here comes the angst.

There is a devil fruit user, sleeping beauty style that can make people fall into a deep sleep. That only a 'loves kiss' would wake them.

Luffy tries, he doesnt hesitate to kiss Law after he finds him, sleeping as if nothing ever went wrong, so peaceful, beautiful the way the light of the moon shines over damp hair.

Yet, it doesn't work. Luffy's love does not fit the rules of magic, not in how the devil fruit owner, who defines love, sees it. So it doesn't work

Luffy going on a rampage, determined to beat the shit out of the one who did this. If the cure or whatever doesnt work he will beat on the bastard until it does. They are weak, but they make skin contact and pull him into the dream world where they gave Law a deal

Luffy is not about listen to them, and tries to activate Haki but he is away from his body and it doesn't quite work. It will take him time to think different.

The DF owner threatens to kill Law if he doesn't stop. Who is faster? Luffy in breaking out of the dream or them killing Law.

Luffy stops, and they propose a deal. One where Luffy swaps places with Law, falls asleep and tests the theory if anyone loves him in a way that the DF user defines love, a black and white view that maybe nobody would fit, even those who understand the fluttering all encompassing emotion that love brings.

Luffy agrees, even if nobody loves him in that way, it doesnt matter. He will break out on force of will. There are people who care for him and trying to prove or define it in anyway is stupid, people are different and they all feel different things. The DF user has no fcking clue what it means to care or love!

So he says yes.

Falling into a deep sleep.

Law waking up to find debris all around them, broken trees, torn up ground and Luffy's unconcious body, his skin ashen. Law who has his own doubts about being loved holding him close, not sure what to do. Knowing that if Luffy does not wake up from his kiss will break a part of him. He thinks he feels for Luffy but what if that is a lie his brain conjured up because it is attracted to the sun?

He squeezes his eyes shut. Trying to focus his thoughts. He opens them again to study Luffy's face, he would call him an idiot and to just kiss him. So Law does, and Luffy stirs, with a bright grin. Content in the knowledge that Law loves him, and maybe their relationship is different from others, he will fight for the man he chose to love.

[hedgiwithapen]

Hakoka learns how Zuko got his scar (am I having feels about yet another parallel in this show? why yes I am)

Somehow, the house on the edge of the Earth Kingdom that they’ve all hunkered down in for the last week while salvage and transport are arranged is more tense with the war ended. Zuko can’t begin to understand why. Sleeping in real beds--soft ones, with feather mattresses and blankets that don't stink of sweat and smoke-- and having a real kitchen to work with, the looming threat of the end of the world off their shoulders should put everyone more at ease. 

Hakoda sits at the table, his chopsticks gathering up the last of his fish and rice, and smiles at his children who sit opposite him. "I am so proud of you," he says, and Zuko's heart clenches with jealousy he's sworn to never voice. 

It's a scene from the ending of a play, peace and harmony restored in the wider world paralleled in a family unified, Zuko thinks.

Instead of a curtain closing, though, Katara throws her bowl, still half filled, at her father's head and leaves at a run.

Wordlessly, Sokka takes off after her, and Aang looks torn, mumbling something about checking on Appa.

Hakoda looks at Zuko, and winces. Zuko's hand goes for a sword he isn't wearing before he reminds himself that Katara's a powerful bender. She can win. She doesn't need him coming to her defense. Diplomacy's always worth a shot, though.

"She's just exhausted," he says, hoping that from him, it won't seem like a weak excuse. 

Hakoda tilts his head, matching the way Zuko has to tilt his to get a clear view, and the corner of his mouth twitches. "It's nothing I don't deserve," he says. "I'm not exactly winning a father of the year award."

The Prince of the--the Fire Lord Presumptive-- does not gape. So Zuko keeps his mouth closed, teeth gritted hard. "Children should still respect their fathers," he says, the lesson fighting past his façade of calm. "Chief Hakoda, how can you say you deserve that?"

The Chief of the Southern Water Tribe  shakes his head. "I abandoned my children when they needed me," he says. "I left Sokka with an impossible task and I left them, in my pride. Now that they're not terrified I'll die before they see me again, they can get that out of their systems. I understand it." He starts to clean the shards of pottery from the table, wincing as a splinter of ceramic sticks his finger. The bead of blood is bright against his weathered skin. 

"You were doing what was best for your people," Zuko says. 

"My children are as much my people as anyone else," Hakoda counters. "How can someone call themselves a leader if their own children can't count on them for protection?"

"You'd be surprised," Zuko says darkly, touching the rough edge of his scar. 

Hakoda looks confused, and Zuko realizes that he doesn't know. The story didn't reach as far as he'd always thought, but still...

"I spoke against my father's general," he says. "Nearly four years ago. This was the understanding he extended to me for my disrespect."

Hakoda drops the pile of shards he's managed to gather. "That's--"

"I don't need your pity," Zuko interrupts. "You should just know you're... better than you give yourself credit for." It feels like Uncle's words, but he says them anyways.

"I see." Hakoda says, thoughtful. "Well, Zuko. I can't say that I agree with you completely. My children don't owe me anything that I don't earn from them first. But I won't say that their situation and yours are... equal." He sits back a little on his cushion, shaking his head. "Perhaps I am father of the year, and what a sad thing that would be."

"They love you," Zuko says, jutting his chin towards the doorway Katara and Sokka fled through. 

"That's all I need," Hakoda says, gathering the dish again. 

[lcerys]

how is your soul perceived ?

the quiet observer. your soul is like a sponge, absorbing so much of the universe sometimes you feel like you're drowning. you wish you could make your heart a little stronger. but your gentleness is not weakness and neither is your sensitivity. you feel so much more than everyone else. it makes you kind even to those who don't deserve it. it makes you notice the hidden tears and the covered scars. you wonder who will save the ones who are suffering in silence, don't you know that includes you too?

tagged by: @halfyearsqueen

tagging: @isefyres @velcryons @daerias @diralupus / also anyone who wants too.

[zukkaoru]

the thing about megumi is that. he's just a kid. he's been pretending to be an adult since he was five and he's fooled a lot of people. he drinks black coffee, he reads nonfiction books, he doesn't get involved with the others' antics, he pretends he doesn't care. he emulates the adults he's known - detaches himself like his father, places himself in the background like his step-mother, takes on the responsibility of protection like gojo - but he's not an adult. he's fifteen. he's scared, and he's miserable, and he keeps losing everyone he's cared about. tsumiki was cursed, itadori was sentenced to death, gojo was sealed, tsumiki was possessed, and of course everything inside of him shattered. he's been masquerading as someone years older than he is for his entire life, until he snapped in half, because he is a child. and he craves love just as much as anyone else, even if he's been made to believe he should be stronger than that. he's fifteen years old. he should be doing algebra homework and standing in tsumiki's bedroom doorway just to be an annoying little sibling and fighting with gojo over stupid things like curfew times or wanting a pet and instead, he threw himself headfirst into a sorcerer death match and lost everything including himself and he was using all the energy he had left in a last-ditch effort to protect his friends because he loves them and he loves and he loves and he loves and sukuna knew he could take advantage of that because if you look at megumi beneath the surface for even a moment, it's so obvious that he's just a kid who loves too much for his own good. he tries to hide it because he knows it will only hurt in the end, but he's fifteen and he never figured out how to truly erase his ability to care for others and when he's broken down to his bare essentials, when everything is gone but the shattered remains of his soul, what remains is a fifteen year old kid who just wants to be loved

[mithomite]

had the most braindead repetitive conversation/argument with my parents. buzz cuts are too masculine but if you dye a design on it it become effeminate which is bad because then you look weak and if youre weak then society falls apart (all societies ever that have fallen apart for any reason are actually because of feminine men) and we start sacrificing babies. and also all mental illness is invented because only 4 people had anxiety in the 90s and covid was made up so that we would all become gay and trans and then the government can control us better and be joe biden's little sex slaves. and also i need to keep my hair long because my father finds it attractive. what

[tswwwit]

Did Bill not come to terms with his feelings for Dipper until he was forced to in Confessing It, or was it earlier in the series (even if he would never admit it)? Sorry if this is sorta implied, I’m not amazing with subtext. Rereading atm and I was curious lol

Actually, Bill (sort of) came to terms with having fallen for Dipper well before Dipper got his feelings sorted.

It's in Faking It chapter 15:

[Bill] glances up at Dipper. “You…. are the single worst thing that has ever happened to me. And I don’t say that lightly, you got no idea how old I am."

[batsplat]

throwback to a couple of my favourite backhanded sets of compliments that casey and valentino threw each other's way

“It’s difficult to say who is the most talented rider,” Stoner said. “Valentino has talent in several things that I lack, for example in dealing with the media. In some aspects he is more talented than me, in others I am more talented. It’s a speech that applies to everyone. Lorenzo has shown that he is more talented than Valentino, and he showed it when they both had the same bike. Dani [Pedrosa] also has great talent, and if he manages to have a great season, without injuries, everyone will have to deal with him.” “We [riders] are all here for the same reason,” the Australian added, “we have the same passion. We all take the same risks and we have to respect each other: there is no reason for hatred, for hating an opponent. We are mature people and we have to realize that. I have great respect for the riders who ride clearly, without doing stupid things. We know that there could be an accident at any time, and we know how difficult it is to stay at the front every week, the effort that this requires. I have great respect for Lorenzo, he is a great fighter. The same goes for Valentino, Dani, Andrea…”

(from 2012) the one-two punch of the media comment and the jorge comment to shit on valentino's talent is really strong stuff. bunch of obvious insults couched in language that's barely trying to hide it but is JUST enough for plausible deniability, like yeah he really did get way better at this whole media schtick bless

“Stoner did an amazing job at Ducati. When I looked back at his telemetry I used to wonder how he’d achieve such times!” Rossi said. “People used to think he was very quick – but not particularly intelligent. And that’s why, eventually, he was successful. The reality is that at Ducati he had to go beyond the limits. Go quicker and quicker. And, if you ride like that, you eventually crash! “We had completely opposing paths in our careers: he’d always ridden for one manufacturer, Honda, under the guidance of Luca Cecchinello. When at Ducati I think he must have thought: ‘Stuff that! This bike is good. I have to win!’ “I, on the other hand, had come from years of success with Honda and Yamaha, and I immediately realised that the bike wasn’t the best. I’m certain that, were Stoner to climb onto Dovizioso’s Ducati tomorrow, he’d still manage to finish a race in 6th place. He used to ride in an incredible way. He’s unique. “Do I miss him? On the track, yes. He has fantastic talent and was difficult to beat. But off the track, no I don’t miss him. Without him there is much better camaraderie between the riders.”

(from 2013) kinda the last time he spoke about casey in any depth for close to a decade, but it's a personal fave interview because there's a really neat 50:50 split between compliments and insults. incredible tonal whiplash in every line

[archersgoon]

every time these books piss me off gender-wise i make perri more androgynous

[gothamcityneedsme]

ok. i read tom king's mister miracle run and tbh? i don't think i vibed with it. but it DOES read interestingly as a proto-strange adventures though.

[revengesworn]

baji ideas brainstorming LET'S GO (under the cut, mostly talk of potential flaws but other stuff too!)

okay so first. i'm a filthy mikey lover through and through so of course my immediate thoughts are about his relationship with mikey... but also i'm focusing on this first because i find it very hard to believe that seeing mikey mutilate his friend as a kid WOULDN'T fuck with him in some kind of way, lol. whoops.

so like. unlike everyone else in toman (minus sanzu), i think baji is aware of mikey's dark impulses on some level. he's aware it's something that he like... seemingly can't control, that seemingly "takes over" him, but i think it'd be interesting if he wasn't fully aware of just how pervasive it is, even as mikey gets older?? like in his mind, it's something that came on briefly and suddenly and then mostly went away, only really re-appearing at times when mikey gets extremely angry or hurt by trauma... but in reality it's something mikey always struggles with, even when he's acting "normal." and there's a part of mikey that wants to give into it too, that "desires" to hurt other people sometimes, and i don't think mikey's confided in baji about that at all.

but still. as a result, baji takes a lot of responsibility on himself to protect his friends, including from their own darker natures, and i think he sees it as his fault when he can't stop them from doing the wrong thing. this got worse after what happened w/ kazutora - he blames himself rather than kazutora about what happened with shinichiro, specifically. it's a strength of his that he's a non-judgemental person (at least when it comes to those he likes, i don't think he applies this mindset to ALL people, haha) - but a flaw that he sees HIMSELF as responsible instead. theoretically, it's at least a flaw that should only hurt him rather than those around him, or so he thinks to himself - but that's not always how it works out in practice...

because people like mikey and kazutora see him blaming himself, and they then blame THEMselves for him having to take on that burden. on top off that, i'm experimenting with the idea that baji... doesn't really fully trust his friends?? but it's on an ENTIRELY subconscious level. like he sees them as better than him, sees all their strengths for what they are and values them greatly, but... while his primary motivation in taking everything on himself is to protect them from hurting too, there could be a part of him that remembers what mikey did to baji, what kazutora did to shinichiro - and expects things to go wrong if he relies on them fully/opens up about his true goals and plans (like in the valhalla arc.)

if this was the case, i'd think it'd be in part a result of him not acknowledging his own feelings to himself fully. he knows what happened with kazutora and mikey isn't their fault - but as result, he doesn't acknowledge how what happened with them still hurt him, that a part of him is still afraid and maybe even angry about what happened. because of that, those feelings manifest in his subconscious and aren't fully processed, resulting in his need to keep everything to himself being strengthened.

...or not. tbh it's been so long since i read the manga that i have no clue if any of this works or if it contradicts what we see of baji, otl... it's just ideas i'm interested in thinking about further, mostly?? but still! since most of this is on a conscious level, i also do wonder about what he told himself his reasons were for not like... telling kazutora and mikey what his actual goals were in the valhalla arc. i do think a lot of it was about protecting them, and knowing how much they were hurting (which is a good thing!!), but... when baji told mikey he didn't approve of kisaki, and mikey shut him down, he didn't like. try and push it any further or appeal to him as a friend. instead he became convinced that he had to take down kisaki on his own, and that interests me a lot. i don't know where to go with it though, yet.

unrelated to flaws, but i really do like how much baji cares for his friends and doesn't judge them for their darker sides and flaws in general. it's something i really admire about him, tbh. i uh.......... had more ideas and stuff i wanted to talk about but i've gone braindead...... so i'll do a part 2 later lol. but that aside. DOES ANYONE WANNA LET ME KNOW WHAT PARTS OF THIS YOU VIBE/DON'T VIBE WITH and what feels close to canon/like it could be accurate, and alternatively, what feels like it's missing the point/ignoring baji's character in canon?? i wouldn't be surprised if i'm doing some of that, because again, it's been a long time since i read the manga! so i won't be upset if you point it out, haha :P

[mandorinart]

sonic IDW 61 spoilers in the tags

[mrfoox]

God im... Probably too nice but it's fine