#anyways. this isn’t actually aimed at anyone. I just needed to say something

[notahaterbutakvetcher]

Open letter to everyone silent on the pogram in LA yesterday (being Sunday, June 23rd), despite reblogging misinformation after misinformation about Israel’s unique evil:

I see you. I see how quiet you are. I see how afraid you are, how scary it is to comment on it, because of the backlash you might face for “not supporting the movement.” I see the indecision as you hover over the reblog button.

And I am calling you a coward for it.

How dare you refuse to acknowledge what is happening within your own movement. How dare you claim to be on the side of peace, and allow yourself to ignore what your own protesters are doing.

I see you, and I am disgusted with you.

[f1-stuff]

You mentioned omegaverse in the surreal DC reblog where he’s commenting far too much on Charles’s smell lol and it made me wonder if you’ve ever considered writing omegaverse Charlos? Do you have any interest or not so much your thing?

Love your work <33333

Hello! ❤️ I didn't used to be into omegaverse very much tbh, but something clicked in the last couple years and I started to vibe with it a lot more. I actually did start to write an abo charlos fic, that's also a Victorian-era royalty arranged marriage situation (woo that's a mouthful 😂), but I haven't added much to it in a while...

The funny thing is that I find myself forgetting it's abo while writing bc there's so much else going on, and then I have to throw in a line about someone's scent asghfjlslsdk. But anyway, I'm gonna share a little more of it now just because I feel like it's been a while since I posted a fic or a snippet...

“Charles.”

Impatience has crept into his mother’s voice by the second utterance of his name, and yet Charles still takes the time to finish the page he’s reading before clapping the (dreadfully boring) book shut and looking up at her expectantly. As usual, she doesn’t look particularly amused by his stubbornness.

“Charles, I was thinking that perhaps you and I should stay away from the palace for an additional month or so.”

“What?” he frowns. “Why?”

“To rest,” she suggests. “It’s been a very tough week, and you still don’t look well-”

“Maman,” he sighs, rubbing his temple where a headache is starting to form. Of course, he won’t tell her that. “I feel fine. And I’m ready to go home. We already missed Uncle’s birthday. We are not missing Papa’s.”

His mother doesn’t reply. It’s not the first time she’s brought it up, and it won’t be the last, but Charles isn’t losing this particular argument. Not even if he has to escape back to the palace himself. A week away from his father in his poor condition is already too much to bear, let alone the prospect of more time apart.

Charles and his mother’s retreat to their country residence had been unavoidable. The ‘very tough week’ in question is Charles’ heat, which had been brought on early due to the stress he's been under, caused by his numerous advisors' renewed efforts as of late to convince him to sign the regency order. No doubt they’ll be hoping that now, weakened by five days of fever and delirium, he’ll feel further compelled to relinquish his power to a regent in the event of his father’s death before he’s come of age.

It’s never going to happen, and his mother doesn’t need to try to protect him by hiding him away for a month either. She, along with everyone in that damned palace, treats him delicately enough as it is. Ever since he’d presented around eleven years old, he’s been wrapped in cotton wool. But just because he’s an omega doesn’t mean he isn’t perfectly capable of standing up for himself. In fact, he can’t wait to be free of the silly protective measures that were put in place almost seven years ago. The moment he’s crowned, he’s doing away with all of it.

“Really, Charles. I hope you’re not upset we had to come here. You know that it’s for your own safety-”

“Yes, maman, I know,” he interrupts, then sighs and aims a small smile her way to soften his exasperated tone. “I’m not arguing that. But I don’t need any more time to recover. It isn’t as though I do much more than this in the palace, anyway.”

Reading books, painting, playing piano and chess - there isn’t much more that he’s allowed to do. The other activities that his brothers partake in, like horse riding and archery, aren’t permitted for him, nevermind that he performed them just fine before he’d presented. That argument has never worked to convince anyone to grant him allowances because it’s not really about whether he’s capable.

“Well...if you’re certain.”

“I am,” he says, firmly. His mother nods.

Good. That’s settled, then. She speaks again before he has a chance to reopen his book.

“The other thing I’ve been meaning to discuss with you - your uncle has invited the Sainz siblings to come and stay at the palace. You met their two eldest when you were very young, but I’m sure you don’t remember.”

“No,” Charles confirms, intrigued. “Who are they?”

“Their father is a Spanish duke, and his son, Prince Carlos, is just a few years older than you. Unlikely that he will ever inherit the throne, but it is a distant possibility.”

Ah. So a marriage prospect, then. Charles bites back a sigh. From one prison to another.

“You should get to know him better,” his mother says, reading his expression.

“Why?” he asks, just to be difficult. He knows very well why.

“Because. Your Uncle Thierry thinks it’s a good idea.”

Well, if his uncle thinks it, then so it shall be.

Charles sinks further into his chair, grabbing the book he’d set aside and reopening it pointedly. His mother takes the hint. (The book may be a dull one, but at least it serves its purpose as a conversation ender superbly.)

****

“Monaco could be a very important chess piece in future conflicts,” Caco explains, leaning against the table to address his young cousin. “It is under the military protection of France, and having the force of France at our disposal could be instrumental in quelling potential unrest.”

Carlos Junior looks up at him from his seat at the desk, notes of skepticism in his expression. He doesn’t make an objection just yet - his cousin would not be telling him this unless it had come from his father directly.

Caco sets down a piece of paper in front of him. It’s a drawing of a young man who can’t be more than eighteen, his boyish features evident even in sketch form. The other thing that is undeniable is his beauty, a sense of mischief and innocence dancing in his eyes that has Carlos wondering if it’s a faithful representation.

“Is he this pretty in person?”

Caco simply gives him a look, not dignifying that with a response. “That is Prince Charles, heir apparent to the Monegasco throne, seventeen years old. In the next few weeks, you will study everything there is to know about him - his favorite novels, plays, composers. You will brush up on your French-”

“Wait, wait, cousin,” Carlos interjects, blinking in confusion. “What does a prince have to do with me?”

“That omega...” Carlos’ gaze shoots up to his cousin, brows raising. “...has everything to do with you.”

Ah. That changes things, indeed.

“As I was saying,” Caco continues, sighing. “In order to keep the prince safe, he’s been kept sheltered from his father’s court for years, ever since he was a boy. Thus, when he does make a rare public appearance, such as at the opera or ballet, his mere presence causes quite a stir.”

Carlos’ eyes return to the paper in front of him, his gaze tracing a path over the prince’s nose and settling at the elegant curve of his lips.

“You must win his favor before anyone else has the chance,” his cousin says. “The first visit in a few weeks’ time will be vital. We can afford no mistakes. But always remember, you are first and foremost a Sainz. Do not forget the reason behind all of this, no matter how ‘pretty��� his face.”

Carlos tries to bite back his smirk, but likely fails from the look his cousin sends him.

“Charm him, Carlos. Make him smile. God knows you are good at that. The rest will be up to fate.”

[the-himawari]

A3! Usui Masumi - Translation [SR] Indomitable Thoroughbred (1/2)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

*door opens*

Masumi: Director—.

Sakuya: Masumi-kun!

Masumi: …Sakuya’s here too?

Izumi: Thanks for coming, Masumi-kun.

Masumi: If you call me, then I’ll be there, 24 hours of the day, 365 days of the year. But… what were you doing with Sakuya?

Sakuya: Huh! What, you ask…

Izumi: Sakuya-kun had something to discuss with me. Isn’t that right, Sakuya-kun?

Sakuya: Y-Yes! Actually, I have a favour to ask you, Masumi-kun…

Masumi: No.

Sakuya: At least hear me out!

Masumi: *Sigh*… what is it?

Sakuya: So you see, they’re holding a bazaar in the neighbouring district and the daycare centre I’m working part-time at is going to participate. On that note, the organizers asked if we could host an event aimed at children. And so, I was wondering if there was anyone who could help us out with that.

Izumi: We were wondering whether you’d be available, Masumi-kun? Only if it doesn’t conflict with your school…

Masumi: I’ll go. I’ll do something about my classes.

Sakuya: Wait, really!? Awesome…! Thank you, Masumi-kun.

Masumi: It’s not for you, Sakuya.

Option 1: “Let me say thank you too.”

Izumi: Let me say thank you too.

Masumi: I’ll do anything if it’s for you. I don’t care even if it risks my life.

Izumi: That’s a bit much… please treasure yourself more, okay?

Masumi: There’s nothing more important than you.

Izumi: (How in the world did the conversation lead to this…)

Option 2: ��It helps if you’ll go.”

Izumi: It helps if you’ll go.

Masumi: Attending an event is no problem.

Izumi: Will you be alright for school?

Masumi: Are you worried about me…? I’m so happy… I love you.

Izumi: A-Ahaha… anyways, don’t push yourself, alright?

Izumi: Let me know if you’d like to discuss anything. I’ll be helping out too, after all.

-pause-

Masumi: …

Sakuya: Um… Masumi-kun?

Masumi: …This isn’t what we discussed.

Sakuya: Well, that’s… sorry about that.

Misumi: What’s wrong? You’ll look cool though, Masumi?

Muku: That’s right! You’ll be a very handsome horse!

Masumi: … Why do I have to wear this horse mask…

Yuki: Stop whining. We’re going to be doing a play, so just let it go.

Masumi: Why a horse though?

Tenma: The play’s story is going to be a comedy aimed at children, so…

Masumi: That part’s fine. I don’t understand why I need to go out of my way to wear this horse mask. You guys didn’t wear this kind of headgear when you were acting as cats and dogs.

Kazunari: Hmm~… Why don’t you wear one where your face is visible then? I’m pretty sure we had one like that!

Masumi: …

*imagination starts*

Masumi: …

Izumi: Oh, Masumi-kun…?

Masumi: Director…!

Izumi: Pft…

Masumi: Huh?

Izumi: AHAHAHA. MASUMI-KUN, WHAT ARE THOOOSE…!

*imagination ends*

Masumi: …

Kazunari: Ooh boy. That’s not gonna fly either, huh~?

Kumon: But hey, isn’t it better to wear this mask? Think about it. Director might not even realize it’s you if she can’t see your face!

Masumi: There’s no way around it… I guess this one’s better.

Kumon: Yeah, exactly! This is the way to go!

Tenma: Alright, let’s start our rehearsal.

---

| next

[writer-or-whatever]

The body swap WIP! I love that trope🤭

It's a good fucking trope! Although currently that fic sort of exists just as a bulleted list type outline, not any concrete scenes yet (despite the fact that it has been nebulously floating around in my brain for like a year). Anyway, please enjoy the concept:

AU where soulmates swap bodies for 24 hours. This happens when one of them needs the other most instead of some arbitrary age. Peter, of course, is alone in NYC post-nwh and after Ned and MJ go away to college. 

The bodyswap happens on a completely mundane Tuesday. Peter hasn’t even had any kind of big spiderman fight, and MJ isn’t in any kind of trouble beyond the six courses she’s taking this semester (it’s slightly too many, or so Ned keeps saying, but she needs to keep herself busy to keep her mind off the gaping hole she feels in her life but can’t really get her head around) 

When they swap, Peter does his best not to panic. He goes through his day, doing his best to channel his inner MJ (which, shouldn’t be too hard. He is in her body) and not clue anyone in. He finds her class schedule, goes, takes notes, and lays low so she doesn’t fall behind. He makes it almost all the way through the day before Ned finally catches up to him and almost immediately clocks that he is, in fact, not MJ. Cue the great grilling for information.

Ned is so excited for MJ, for both of them honestly—even though he doesn’t know Peter—and Peter feels so so bad for clamming up and skirting around so many of his questions, giving just the most perfunctory answers and trying not to break down at having his best friend’s enthusiasm aimed at him again. Ned assumes that MJ is the one who needs her soulmate, he knows about her unease and the feeling that she’s missing something big—knows about her lists and drawings of a boy they don’t know (but that looks so familiar somehow) and the feeling of loss that she tries to play off every time he asks. 

Peter feels like he’s been punched in the solar plexus for the entire conversation. He had no idea that MJ was feeling like this. He hadn’t realized that everyone that forgot him had a Peter Parker sized hole in their lives. He didn’t realize it was possible for anyone to miss him so much, especially when they never even knew he was missing. Peter gets so worked up about this that he actually vomits. Ned is so so worried, but before Peter can really say anything one way or another, he’s back in his own body. 

Meanwhile MJ is having quite the Tuesday. She wakes up in this sad tiny cramped apartment back in New York. It takes her approximately five minutes to come across the spidey suit, which is draped over the shower curtain rod drying. It takes her even less time to find the picture of her, Ned, and the boy whose face she is currently wearing. 

She gets that same sick feeling in her gut and buzzing in her head that she’s had for months, every time she tries to figure out what the hell is missing. She still doesn’t know all the details, or any of them really, but the weird holes in her life and in her and Ned’s friendship seem to be adding up to the shape of this boy—of fucking spiderman apparently (and why does that information give her a bit of smug satisfaction? Not that her soulmate is a superhero but rather the fact that she’s figured out that this boy is spiderman). 

She digs around his entire tiny one-room apartment and lays out everything she finds and deems another important piece of the puzzle. She finds a few more photos of them, a lego star wars figure (notably one of the ones that Ned has complained he’s missing from one of his sets), and then the fucking note. The one he wrote to practice telling them who is he is. The one where he tells them all about who he is (Peter Parker), and who he was to her and Ned. Upon reading this, she has a vague memory of this guy walking into the diner she used to work at and giving her his whole name with his order of a single small black coffee before he left. 

Suddenly she is so so angry. It comes from somewhere deep inside her, deeper than the well of the strange sadness she’s been dealing with for months. She doesn’t remember knowing Peter, but somewhere deep inside her she remembers being devasted by something he’s done. 

It’s almost midnight, so she doesn’t have time to do much other than leave him a short note that she leaves on top of all of the other things she’s dug out over the course of the day. It just says ‘You owe me an explanation, Peter’ and her phone number. 

This is, of course, a bad things happen bingo prompt fill so I'm leaving the ending a bit open. So yeah. That's the bodyswap au WIP. Thanks for asking 🥰

[noa-de-cajou]

Kaizarz belongs to @corneille-but-not-the-author

Oli (mentioned) belongs to @thal-ent

______

“Begone. Return to your kind, slaver.”

I was expecting Kaizarz Laangfisk to be cross with me. After all, I roped in his little friends into a high-stakes bet and one of them spent the night with me, and it'd be surprising if he didn't know my activities apply to a much broader scope than mere piracy.

Nonetheless, being grabbed by the neck and thrown on the ground sure was a surprise. My lip is bleeding. My throat aches. How long has it been since someone landed a hit on me, let alone made me bleed?

Ha. No matter how impressive, it’s still a childish reaction. Act rashly when someone touches your weakness the first time and they’ll know exactly where to aim the next. Someone in power should always know that, but we’re talking about a bunch of rowdy teenagers here, and he’s the worst of them all. Kings, Tyrants, Heroes, Emperors, they may look different but none of them are as hard to understand as they think.

No, the rash part isn't so surprising. The look in his eyes when he grabbed me, however…

Those were one of the coldest pair of eyes I’d ever seen.

And I've seen a lot of those.

At least his eyes looked at you. Father never cared enough to.

That doesn’t matter. It’s exactly as I thought. This boy has something boiling inside him. Something rotten. His friends didn't notice because it wasn’t turned towards them, because using it against me isn’t so bad, who needs humanity when it's a monster you’re against, but I'm curious of how they'll react when he'll face off against Brynja. Gods, I wish I could be there to see it.

I get up, slowly, wiping the blood from my face as an uncontrollable smile forms on my lips.

“Well, you won’t need me much, anyway. After all, you'll be the conductor of your own downfall.”

Something changes in his face.

A shiver runs down my spine. Twice in two days. Impressive.

Something liquid and viscous wraps slowly itself up my leg. I don’t need to look to know it’s his blood.

One wrong word. One wrong word, and my head will roll, or so his eyes seem to say. But he can’t do that. Not while they're still stuck in this port, not while they still need my money to get out.

Because they want to get out. They want to run away. What are you sailing away from, Kaizarz Laangfisk ? It's a shame I can’t see that journey come to completion, really. But he won't kill me.

Won't he?

…

I’m not stupid enough to provoke him again, so I simply stand there and wait for him to retract his spell, which he does. The warning has been received, no point in dawdling now. So I simply wave them goodbye with a smile before turning away.

You’re going to run? Just like that? Like you lost?

Of course not.

I relinquish control. Oh, not for long, just a split second for them to understand how nice I've actually been all this time and what I could have released on them.

Then I seal it up again and glance back.

The only one who hasn’t paled is Oli. The others look like they've seen a ghost. Or a glimpse of a nightmare, perhaps.

I’m not afraid to send a message either, Kaizarz.

Little shows of strenght like these are hardly worth caring about.

Even if my throat still aches.

There's a few things you ought to remember.

Your little fairy friend is only alive because I allowed her to. And as surprising as it sounds, you’ll meet people way less scrupulous than I.

But well. You don’t need to worry.

For if anyone is more ruthless than I am, it’s you, isn’t it?

[whentommymetalfie]

hey, your fics on ao3 are actually saving my life rn. i’m not doing amazingly atm and reading your “breathe again” and “home to you” fics about tommy struggling with mental health (admittedly in a slightly different way to me) is somehow making it all so much easier to cope with.

i’m so in love with the dynamic of alfie being completely head over heels for tommy, despite tommy feeling utterly broken and despising everything about himself - it really does give me hope that perhaps i’m not entirely hopeless and unlovable either, even if sometimes i’m about as mentally stable as tommy is.

but yeah, idk - i don’t think any of that made a lot of sense, but i just wanted you to know what a positive impact your writing has had upon me.

and seriously, fucking wow- you’re absolutely amazing at writing - i have never read better, more in-character tommy and alfie fics. the way you create the angst and attraction between them is just everything to me and i hope you keep writing this pairing forever!

also, i was wondering - how long did it take you to learn to write like this? did you study creative writing formally or are you self taught (if you don’t mind me asking)? your use of words is just mesmerising and i’d love to think that one day i could be able to write as beautifully as you do.

anyway, thank you for all that you have done for the tommy/alfie community. seriously, you should see the indirects you get on twitter (you’re like the ceo of this ship at this point)

Firstly: This was an absolutely wonderful message to receive, and made my whole week. Secondly: this reply is long so my apologies in advance! 

You make complete sense. And, not to get way to personal here, but I think it’s a very human and common feeling to be afraid that we’re unlovable when we’re at our lowest points and probably need it the most ❤️ One of the reasons I write is because it’s an escape and a comfort (and well, a huge struggle, but in the end the positives outweigh the negatives). And knowing someone else finds that through reading my fics is the biggest compliment I could ever receive, and reminds me why I do always slog through the more challenging parts of writing to finish things and put them out there for people to read.

Thank you for your kind words ❤️ I suppose I feel that my characterization isn’t spot on, but I’ve aimed for one that feels ’true’ within the setting and circumstances of the story, if that makes sense, and I’m so happy you like it. I’m wholly unable to cope with this incredible praise, but at least I can answer your question: I don’t have any formal education in creative writing. But I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing -though I mostly read in my native language (Swedish), I do try to define what I enjoy about my favorite writers’ works, and while I’m not skilled enough to always put that knowledge to use, I’d like to think that it’s helped me in some ways. As for how long it took me to learn how to write (though I definitely feel like I’m fumbling around in the dark from time to time and like I’ve learned nothing) I wrote and posted my first fanfic in English when I was 17 (a true blood fanfic I haven’t re-read since, and probably wouldn’t like to), wrote some more stuff that I never posted, and then began writing PB fic… six years ago or something? I’m 29 now, so I suppose you could say that I’ve got a few years of writing under my belt now. But I’d say that I’ve improved the most over those last PB years, simply because I’ve written so much over that period of time. And the more I write, the more critical my eye has become. And I still feel like I’m learning more every time I sit down to write. 

And I fully believe anyone can learn to write, especially in a setting like fanfic, because I’ve always felt it’s a very encouraging and ’free’ environment. At least that’s been the case in the corner I’ve been in. There’s always someone out there who’ll enjoy what you put out there. And I know it’s cliché, but the key really is to just keep at it, so a huge dose of enthusiasm and self indulgence is important. I’ve got heaps of stuff that I’ve written and never posted, just because I’ve had an idea I wanted to explore. And I’ve made my peace with the fact that I’ll never be quite as skilled at writing in English as in Swedish, and won’t always find the perfect words, because as long as I write something that excites me in some way, I know there’ll be at least one other person out there who’ll enjoy it too. I try to just make it as good as I can with the tools I’ve got. 

Again, thank you ❤️ ❤️ ❤️  I don’t know what else to say, but please know I’ll be back to re-read this message many times. And I hope you’ll be happy to hear there’s a new chapter coming tomorrow -please consider it a thank you gift! 

PS I’m not on twitter so I don’t know what goes on over there but now I’m dying because I need to see 👀 the indirects 👀 What are they saying?? 👀 the curiosity is killing me! 

[dioslab]

Happy Valentine’s Day! I was participating in @mcyt-valentines and my giftee was @honey-sunsets ! Hope you like it!

Scar lives a pretty simple life.

It’s not as bad as you’d think, running a burger shop in the middle of the busiest district of Hermitia. At least, not now that the hype of Hotguy’s Burgers has died down. When he opened, he was immediately overrun by fans of the superhero, willing to buy anything with Hotguy’s branding on it. Of course, Scar was immediately called a conman, a bastard capitalizing on their city’s newest hero. A photo of them together put up in the front hall (edited so well that no one would suspect it to be fake), along with an interview from the hero himself saying he didn’t mind, eased some folk…

But the novelty wore off anyway, and now it’s just an averagely busy burger joint. So he wakes up, gets ready for work, and then opens up shop as soon as his employees arrive. Scar doesn’t normally take breaks- at least, not consistent ones- but he makes sure that Cub and Bdubs get theirs.

It’s during one of their shared lunch breaks that the bell rings on the door. It’s odd- this hour, they generally get no customers, which is exactly why Scar feels safe to send off his employees. Not that he can’t work the kitchen himself, no, but while the kitchen is disability-friendly, it’s still not… ideal, for him to be doing all the cooking. He generally sticks to taking orders and making the drinks.

Still, a single customer isn’t too hard to handle alone, and he lifts his head with a smile. “Well hello there, and welcome t-”

His words catch in his throat when he sees her.

The woman in the doorway is stunning. She’s shrugging off an oversized pink fur coat- Scar keeps it much warmer in here than it is outside- as he stares, though she doesn’t seem to mind his gaze, smiling back at him. She must be used to it. Of course she is, considering she’s-

“Are you closed?” Ariana Griande asks him, glancing around the empty shop. Her brightly colored feathers ruffle a little behind her. He has no idea what that means, he’s never looked much into avian body language, but he’s delighted at the motion anyway. He’s never seen them move that, well… fluidly, he supposes? She rarely moves them on stage, and when they do, it always seems to be part of her performance. This looks so much more natural.

It takes him a moment to even realize what she’s asked. “Oh, no, of course not! Especially not for a bigshot like you!” He rolls his chair around the counter to be a little closer to her- to the pop sensation he’s been following since the start of her career. “No, you’re lucky, you caught me during one of our slower hours. You can sit wherever you’d like, take your pick!”

Ariana Griande giggles- she laughed! Because of him!- and actually takes a seat at the counter, right in front of where he was a moment ago. She picks up a menu, her well-manicured nails tapping against the countertop as she flips through it, the restaurant nearly silent otherwise. He can’t pull his eyes away from her. “Any recommendations?” she asks after a moment.

“Well, that certainly depends on you. Any allergies, foods you avoid, flavors you like, are you looking for a full meal or just need something quick?” Scar rattles off quickly. They’re his usual questions he asks anyone looking for a recommendation, but he guarantees, her answers will be engraved into his memory.

Just like her smile when it’s aimed right at him. “Well, you know.” She rustles her wings again. “No meat, no caffeine, avocados, onions, chocolate…”

“Right, right,” he should have realized. Though, again, he isn’t an expert on avians, and he’s fairly sure that the only consistent poison across all avians is meat, so he certainly wouldn’t have known about the others. “Well, I’d recommend, hm, the Scarassic Park,” Scar says, leaning as far as he can over the counter and flipping through her menu to point it out. It’s a large vegetarian burger, overflowing with toppings. “I can just leave the avocado off. And as for drinks, we have an excellent selection of smoothies, all recipes created by myself, Scar Goodtimes. The Lime Llama is my favorite, personally, it has lime and green apple with a bit of brown sugar to even out the sourness.”

Ariana Griande glances at him, eyebrows raised slightly. “Scar Goodtimes? Then you’re the owner?”

It’s… interesting she knows that just from his name. Though maybe menu items named after him are a bit of a giveaway, but still. “The one and only!”

She seems to have lost all interest in ordering, instead resting her chin on her hand and leaning in a little towards him. He swears, his heart stops, she’s truly gorgeous this close. Later, when he’s out of work mode, he’ll lose his mind. Seeing Ariana Griande in person has always been a dream of his. “I was hoping to meet you,” she murmurs, practically a whisper.

Scar’s hand is trembling a little as he sets it on the counter by hers. There’s- there must be a reason for it, but his mind runs away with it anyway. Ariana Griande wanting to meet him? “And why is that, Miss Griande?”

“You can call me Ari,” she corrects him,fluttering her eyelashes, and he immediately decides to call her that forever. Does he really have permission to call her a nickname? “I’ve just been interested in trying Hotguy’s Burgers since it opened,” Ari says, nails tapping the counter again. “Everything’s been so busy since we started recording for my next album, though…”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s worth it,” Scar says, only barely holding back from gushing. Her only released song from thank u, vex is In My Head (Games), which he started listening to on loop as soon as it dropped. He can’t wait for the rest of the album- it’ll make a great addition to the music he plays at the restaurant.

“It is,” Ari agrees, leaning in even more and lowering her voice. It feels so… intimate, especially in an otherwise empty building. “But you know, I’m actually a huge fan of Hotguy.”

His heart actually does stop this time. He has fans. Scar knows he has fans. He’s been stopped by all types of people, from children to the mayor of Hermitia, all thanking him and calling themselves his fans. Still, for Ariana Griande, his celebrity crush, to come to his restaurant, to tell him to his face that she’s a fan, even if she doesn’t know who he is-

“As far as I know, Hotguy’s Burgers is the only branding he’s allowed,” she continues. “Why is that?”

Ah, the age old question. He’s… sure he planned a response to this, if it ever came up, but all of his thoughts fell right out of his head, replaced with the fact that Ariana Griande is his fan. Scar sputters a little, trying to remember what to say. “Oh- well, you know, that isn’t true! There’s quite a lot of, of Hotguy merchandise out there, I’m sure you’ve seen people wearing hoodies or hats or-”

“Those don’t count,” Ari interrupts. “Hotguy openly said he was fine with Hotguy’s Burgers. He hasn’t said that about any of the unofficial merchandise, and he definitely hasn’t posed for photos with people who make it.” She turns her head, twirling a piece of her hair as her gaze falls on the photoshopped image of him shaking hands with himself.

“Well, that’s-” He had excuses, he planned for this, but it all falls to pieces in front of her. “We had a chance encounter,” Scar finally remembers, though he doesn’t sound nearly as charming and convincing as he usually does. “I’d hit hard times, he was generous about it, etcetera-”

That gets a laugh out of her, and he feels dizzy. Her eyes are shining with interest. “Really?” Ari sighs, almost musically. “I’ve always wanted to meet him in person.”

“I’m sure you will,” he blurts out, and it’s true. Not that she knows that, not yet, but- when he knows she’s interested? When she wants to meet him? Yes, yes, Hotguy will hang around her concerts when they let out, he can arrange a ‘chance encounter’, whatever she wants.

Her expression changes more, but he can’t put a finger on how. Scar feels like he can’t even think. Ari’s eyes shine almost inhumanly, her beautiful smile is too sharp, and her nails tap hard on the counter. “You promise?”

“I promise.” He can’t hold the words back. Especially not when she looks so happy-

And the world shakes.

Things fall off the walls, and through the front window he can see smoke pouring out of a hole in the building across the street. Even with how thick the restaurant walls are, he can hear metal groaning, can hear screams as the building starts to bend under its own weight, the structure weakened from… an explosion?

Oh. Oh no.

“Oh,” Ari gasps. It’s high pitched, frightened- dramatic.

Scar blinks, trying to get ahold of his thoughts, his mind starting to clear. Ari’s charisma is intoxicating, but this threat is quick to distract him. He needs to go into the back- get his prosthetics, his costume, get going, but Ari is right here, she’d know-

“I guess the Scarassic Park will have to wait.” She gets up from her seat, staring out the front windows. “I’ll see you soon, Scar.”

Before he can say a word, warn her against going outside, how dangerous it is, the whole building could collapse- she’s gone. Scar takes a moment, only a moment, to catch his breath, to let his mind fully clear, and then he’s gone into the back, readying up as fast as he can.

Despite the danger, the people who need help, that interaction runs through his mind again and again. Ariana Griande, his fan, prying a promise out of Scar Goodtimes that she’ll get to meet Hotguy. She looked… odd, near the end of their conversation, her eyes and smile almost familiar, and not just in the seen-her-on-TV way.

He puts it out of his mind for now, and in a flash, Hotguy is on the scene, explosive arrows notched in his bow. A few aimed charges take out smaller chunks of the building, evening out the tilt and stabilizing it long enough to safely evacuate the inhabitants. As he runs through the building, his prosthetics heating up uncomfortably from the fires set by the explosions, he spots another civilian in need of help.

Or, so Hotguy assumes, before he gets close enough to look through the smoke. Cuteguy sits in the frame of an open window, his pitch black wings hanging out of it, prepared to fall back and make his escape at any moment. Hotguy pauses at the edge of the room- he’s never gotten so close to the villain, the one that designed himself after Hotguy, his costume and name all mocking him. It’s clear this person sees himself as Hotguy’s nemesis, but he’s always been interested as to why-

And then Cuteguy reaches a hand up, lowering his pink sunglasses enough for him to see his eyes unhindered- as Cuteguy flutters his eyelashes at him.

Oh.

[western-magical-girl-confessions]

✨Western Magical Girl Confessions January 2023 Update!✨

Hi everyone!^^ Happy New Year! 🎊

How are you all? What’s new? Still here? Lol Anyways, some of you may be wondering what’s going on with me? Maybe? Maybe not?lol Either way, I’m here to give you an update!

I’ve actually been sick with the flu for almost 3 weeks now! Has it been easy? HECK NO! 😆 So unfortunately, that’s a big chunk of the reason why I haven’t been motivated to make confessions. I’m starting to feel better, but I’m not planning on making any confessions until I’m 100% well! So once again, stay turned and thank you for being patient!

I’ve been just taking a break from this blog in general due to past events that have happened on it. Some due to my own ignorance and mistakes, some due to other factors, like anons. Either way, when I do eventually start making confessions again, I want to start off on a cleaner slate.

Just basically life stuff. Some stressful, some just average.

So after all of that is over and done with, I really want to make confessions again! I really miss doing them! Also, another thing I want to mention, throughout this hiatus in the past few months, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things. So I have a couple of things that I want to say and mention once more before I start up confessions again. I also want to say that this is going to be the last time that I’m going to repeat myself like this when I explain the bare bones of this blog, and to anyone who still doesn’t get it, I’ll just link the rules or link them back to this post.

Note: This stuff isn’t really meant to be aimed towards a particular group of people or certain fans, I’m just explaining this through my experiences and to make sure we are all on the same page here. My goal isn’t to “offend” anyone, it’s for my followers (and others who may pass this blog) to understand more clearly! So please don’t take what I say as offensive, please?

So, like I just said above, this is a confession blog about different western magical girl shows for different criticisms alike. It’s about people being able to express their feelings about different issues that they have with shows, it’s ships, it’s writing etc. I’m doing this blog for fun, for people to have a voice and to give people a chance to vent and to express their opinions without being directly attacked by certain people.

This blog is not JUST about a particular show. It’s about many western magical girl shows alike. So it’s not really fair to act passively aggressive towards the mod or the blog it’s self just because it allows a confession that said something negative about a show or ship that you like (or vice versa). Every opinion alike is allowed, even negative ones.

The mod’s thoughts and opinions on these shows, it’s ships, it’s characters etc. AREN’T a factor on this blog. This blog is about the mod submitting other people’s opinions and thoughts through cards. Their opinions and thoughts litterally have nothing to do with it, so please don’t act like it does to cause disclosure (or anything else of the sort).

If you have certain concerns about certain confessions on this blog, then you need to come to the mod about it so the situation will be taken care of to the best of it’s ability. If that particular problem is not solved in the way that you like it, then I’m sorry. The only other solution that I can recommend to you is to even ignore said problem, block the tags, or just block this blog in general. I personally can’t solve every single problem, especially since they come from different kinds of people, in which their opinions might contradict other’s opinions. If you truly aren’t satisfied with the way I run things, then it’s probably best if you just block and move on. I won’t get offended nor stop you. Sometimes, things just won’t work out 🤷🏾‍♀️

Like I’ve said above, this blog WILL be filled with different opinions and criticisms alike, even ones that you disagree with. If you can’t accept that, then just block this blog and move on. You’re allowed to reblog or comment on these confessions with your own opinions if you like as long as it’s aimed towards that confession in particular, not the blog it’s self. So if I feel like that your just trolling or what your saying is being indirectly vulgar towards this blog, then I’ll just block.

Again, anon hate will automatically be blocked, plain and simple. I don’t have the patience or tolerance anymore.

Again, like I’ve said many times before (and this will be the last time I’ll say this), Confessions are by DIFFERENT people, not the same person, so not ALL confessions are by the mod, nor are they by the same person. So don’t send hate that’s directed at the mod, since not all confessions are by them.

Look, I’m going to try to say this in the most non-belligerent way possible. I will try to take the necessary steps and make the necessary choices to make the blog enjoyable for everyone, not only me of course. However, sometimes those “steps” and “choices” might not be the same as what you want. If you don’t like that, that’s perfectly fine! However, being rude or gaslighting me about it isn’t going to change my mind. Even block the tags that are added to the confessions, or block this blog in general. Your opinions and feelings matter, but they aren’t the only ones that do.

Before submitting your thoughts & confessions, please read the rules.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please leave it in my ask box!

Now! With that out of the way! When I get back into making confessions, some will be unbanned and some will not!

The following confessions that will most likely be unbanned

Nex (Winx Club) confessions.

Positive Nabu (Winx Club) confessions.

All Chloe Bourgeois, Marinette Dupain Cheng, Zoe Lee, Sabrina Raincomprix (Miraculous Ladybug) confessions, regardless positive or negative. However, repetitive ones will most likely be submitted much later!

Anti Catra/Catradora confessions. However, ones that talk too negatively about its fans are still banned!

Negative Hordak (She Ra) confessions.

Negative Entrapta (She R) confessions.

The confessions that will still be banned or will be banned too

Confessions about Thomas Astruc (the creator of Miraculous Ladybug). You can still make criticisms about the writing or other issues, but avoid directly talking about him.

Confessions that talk directly about Chloe Bourgeois’s “redemption arc” (Miraculous Ladybug).

Nabu’s Death (Winx Club) Confessions.

Winx Club v.s. W.I.T.C.H confessions. You can still talk about both shows together, but NOT against each other.

Bloom, Sky and Diaspro (Winx Club) confessions, mostly ones like “Bloom/Sky are crappy people for what they did to Diaspro!”.

Anti Starlight Glimmer (My Little Pony) confessions. I just feel everyone and their grandmother knows how much of a “bad character” she is at this point, and has talked about it enough. I just don’t see the point anymore and just beating a dead horse.

“Bloom (Winx Club) is a Mary-Sue” confessions.

Confessions that claim characters as “Mary-Sues” or “Gary-Stus” in general. I just feel that the term has lost it’s meaning.

“I want the old Winx to come back!” confessions.

Things that could help!

Let me know if there’s any words, triggers, or tags that you would like for me to add to post so you can blacklist/block them.

Explaining your reasons for wanting a certain thing banned or not might help. I might understand or explain why this certain thing is valid/invalid.

The purpose of the blog IS for you to get things off your chest, but positive confessions are accepted too! I would love to hear some positivity about the shows, ships, characters etc. ^^

Please write *SPOILERS* in your confessions before writing it if you know that it’s a spoiler, especially if it’s Miraculous Ladybug and The Owl House. They’re the only active shows right now.

That’s all I really have to say. Sorry if this seems like I’m “making a mountain out of an anthill”, because I understand that this is just a side blog for fun, something that I don’t have to do lol However, I just want to be able to run my blog in peace, without any hurdles from people who refuse to understand. I’m just letting it be known that this is most likely the last time I’m going into detail like this.

So with this said, my little hiatus should be over soon, and I hope to do confessions again! Thank you for listening and if you have any thoughts or questions about any of this, feel free to leave it in my ask box!

Confessions at this time are closed until further notice, so please reframe from sending in confessions and headcanons! If you do so, it will be saved, but be released at a much later time!

Stay Magical!~

-WMGC Mod

[showfallfoodcourtemployee]

[Transcript Begin.]

[The video begins with two people running across a desolate parking lot. The camera shakes, never focusing on one target. Through the moving video, one individual is visible, the other holding the camera and sometimes showing their own footsteps. Heavy breathing is heard through the other small sounds such as clothes ruffling, footsteps, or accessories hitting against each other.]

Tom: Stupid brat all she had to do was listen.

[The video zooms in on the man, a cigarette lit in his hand, He soon releases a puff of smoke before the two individuals get closer.]

T: Can I help you two?

Madeline: Yeah, yeah! I have one question.

T: And what is that? I'm on break, so hurry up.

M: Yeah, so, why don’t you want your child to be happy?

T: Let me guess you know Mari… Let me tell you something. I want her to be happy, that's why I'm doing this.

M: You used ‘her,’ you do know your own child’s pronouns, don’t you?

T: Yes, she/her, the pronouns chosen for her at birth. Why don't you fuck off?

M: I’ll give you one last chance, mister.

T: Buzz off, you weirdo.

M: You asked for it.

[Madeline cracks her knuckles, then lands a punch straight into Tom’s face.]

T: YOU LITTLE!

[Tom attempts to punch back, but misses due to the pain.]

M: Crazy how you can’t hit a 17 year old. Come on, I have less experience than you!

T: SHUT UP YOU BRAT!

[Tom attempts to punch again, he hits the air.]

M: You’re all bark no bite are you? Try harder!

T: STUPID KID!

[Tom throws a third punch, He hits Madeline in the arm.]

M:You couldn’t aim a little higher?

[Tom tries to slap Madeline, he misses. Madeline then counters by kicking him in the stomach.]

[A crash is heard from behind as someone smashes in a window nearby, the person climbs in and falls to the floor with little to no grace.]

T: WHO JUST BROKE A WINDOW?

M: Getting robbed and beat up? Skill issue.

Edgar: I’m not here to fucking rob you, not like I would, this place is ass!

T: WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?

E: Doesn’t matter, I have a crowbar, dickhead!

M: No but actually, who are you?

[Edgar lifts his left hand and opens his mouth to speak, but decides against it and just points at his hand instead.]

M: Oh! Hi Edgar!

T: So, your name is Edgar? Let me guess, another one of Mari's friends?

E: You could say that, yeah. Anyway, uh. Who’s winning?

T: DOESN'T MATTER!

[Tom attempts to punch Edgar, but he misses again.]

E: You’re really bad at punching people.

[Edgar swings his crowbar at Tom, it connects with his ribs, causing him to hunch over.]

T: Damnit! y'know if you kill me… Mari won't have any parents.

M: They don’t need your good for nothing ass!

E: Also, isn’t it your fault they don’t have a mom? They mentioned that at the Denny’s.

T: That bitch was gonna let Mari live in her own stupidity. I had no choice!

M: All I'm hearing is Blah..Blah..Blah. No choice? What does that even mean?

E: There’s always a choice. You just didn’t want to consider the other one.

T: I WASN'T GONNA LOSE MY DAUGHTER TO SOME STUPID PERSON!

M: Damn.. Guess we have to kill you now! You had a chance.

T: She’s crazy, why would I let my daughter date someone who doesn't have enough brain cells to understand how not to get kidnapped, let alone that you can't change gender.

[Edgar laughs, and takes a step towards Tom.]

E: I’m getting real tired of hearing you talk, Tom.

T: Same here, jerk.

E: Just call me a bitch, dude, this isn’t a children’s show. I’m pretty sure I can handle it.

T: How about you go die with that sarah kid then you bitch, lord knows if Mari lost two people she cared about maybe she would finally come home.

E: Tom, Mari tried to throw themselves off a bridge after your little chat in the Denny’s. If they lost anyone else, you’d lose them forever.

T: Whoever stopped her should have let her jump. That brat is dead to me.

M: What the fuck is wrong with you.

E: Well, they’re dead to you, big whoop. Guess what? You’re just dead.

[Edgar swings the crowbar at Tom’s neck, there is a sickening crack! As Tom’s neck snaps, and he falls limp to the floor.]

M: Oh shit..

E: Oops. Uh, okay, what now…

Olive: Skill issue!

M: Let’s leave him bleeding out! Just like, clear evidence or something!!

E: I’ll put a few pieces of glass near him, maybe… Wait, put that rock next to him as well.

M: Alrighty then.

[Madeline places the rock next to Tom's head while giggling. They then pick up a couple of shards of glass and shove them into Tom’s neck, leaving some around the body as well.]

E: Now it looks like an accident. We should probably skedaddle.

M: You just killed someone and you say skedaddle? Corny ass..

E: Well, what other words am I supposed to use?

M: Leave? Get out? Anything other than skedaddle?

E: It sounds better.

M: Okay bro. I'm surprised you didn’t call me homeskillet yet.

E: I completely forgot about that… I still could, honestly.

M: Don’t.

[Edgar chuckles, hesitating before speaking again.]

E: Whatever you say, homeskillet!

[Madeline groans, and puts her hands onto her face, throwing her head back as well.]

E: Well. Um. We probably should leave before someone reports this.

M: Alright. We’re going to go get drinks.

E: I would say you’re too young for that, but I just killed someone, so it would be a bit hypocritical to tell you that underaged drinking is against the law.

M: Exactly, alright, let’s head out. For real this time.

E: Alright, see you later. I guess.

M: See ya!

[Transcript end.]

[space-ninja-fashion-show]

Alright, time for How Alden And Kodiak Actually Sort Their Shit Out. Get ready, it’s gonna get long

It’s a railjack mission, somewhere around Pluto. Kohlrabi and Alden invading ships where needed, Kodiak doing work on the railjack Peregrinus itself along with the human crew (gunners Die and Ched and engineer Maxi), and ofc Cy himself

It’s overall a good day of plundering and blowing shit up and setting various new Contraptions of Kodiak’s design on the corpus occupying the sector. Cy seems satisfied with their results so far. Die pilots and proceeds to argue about it with Ched non-fuckin-stop. Shanty the ship kavat patrols along the corridors like her job includes being a beast of battle instead of one of blanket piles

Alden and Kohlrabi are investigating an orokin derelict floating in orbit, already swarming with corpus, when there’s a cut off SOS signal and Kohlrabi reappears on the Peregrinus, not far from where Kodiak is working on stuff. Stumbling, wide eyed, clearly shaken

It turns out they and Alden wandered into a trap. An ambush. Y’know those grineer bullshit orbs on the Zariman that force you out of your frame? Yeah well the corpus have figured out the opposite it seems. They had scrambled the transference signal enough that Kohlrabi’s brain cut it off on instinct and now they’re back here on the Peregrinus with absolutely no connection to Alden, who was left behind

There had been so many corpus and proxies, so many, hundreds of them swarming in the halls of that derelict, and they had said something about stripping a warframe for parts, and-

Basically Kohlrabi is terrified out of their mind but determined to go back and both of those transfer to Kodiak as well. He wouldn’t let Kohlrabi back on to that derelict alone Anyway but. Alden. These fuckers went after Alden and he’s alone down there and they’re taking Alden away from him, again, out on a mission he will not return from bc he will no doubt find a way to deal with this that’s stupid and heroic and not something he can survive-

They need to go. They need to go Now

This is the part where maybe someone else would say hee hoo Kohlrabi transfers into Kodiak and they work together and I am v specifically and spitefully pointing out that I am Not Doing That bc I hate the trope of “character development but it’s just the character becoming more willing to let their boundaries get walked over.” Not doing that. Kodiak is not doing transference shit ever again and it’d put him in great distress if he did and They Can Do This Without That

Anyway

They go in one of the landing shuttles that railjacks Have. Idc that they don’t in game, there Has to be a way for 1) ppl who aren’t warframes to get on and off, and 2) anyone to get on and off anywhere that isn’t the total of uhh. Three? I think? Dry docks you have access to in the game

So they go to get Alden back. From the fuckin derelict. From the fuckin corpus

The shuttle is remote controlled by Cy with a manual override for emergencies, so on the short ride over Kodiak gets to get a bit more detail out of Kohlrabi regarding what they’re walking into. They’re both angry and determined and scared, and everyone on board knew it’d be pointless to try and stop them. Is it a stupid mission with bad odds? Yes. Are they still the most likely to succeed? Also yes

Kohlrabi is fidgeting with the knife they got from North. Kodiak is bringing his chakkhurr that Alden had gotten for him, gifted with the undertone of “I hope you will never have to use this. I hope it’ll keep you safe, when you do.” It’s way bigger than what he’d prefer but also definitely insane enough to be right up his alley. He’s never aimed it at a living target before but suddenly he doesn’t find the thought so alien anymore

They dock at one of the corpus airlocks jammed into the side of the derelict to allow safe entry. The inside is a smaller corridor, thankfully deserted. When Kodiak tells Kohlrabi to go immaterial as long as they can and hide, it’s not bc he doesn’t believe in them. It’s bc this is two of them against possible hundreds. They can’t win this by force

-

Alden is...alone, against hundreds, and fuckin terrified. No shit. He’s outrunning the worst of it for now, but he knows it’s only a matter of time before he runs out of space in the bowels of the derelict. He’s bleeding and limping and lost and there’s corpus fuckin Everywhere

The bullets stuck under his skin giving their repeating magnetic pulses scramble his HUD, make him dizzy and disoriented and tired. He feels like he’s running in circles

He feels like he’s been here before, millennia ago, except that was a ship, not- not this place, and oh anyway, he has to find the reactor- there is no reactor, but there is, no, there-

In his delirium he is constantly swinging between past trauma and present danger. Struggling to survive either. Whatever he’s got left in him is draining fast. He just wants to go home more than anything, and with every step, every corner he feels more certain that that’s simply not an option anymore

And then the building around him hums, sings, and he knows immediately even through everything that he must be imagining it, because the tune is something Kodiak used to whistle when he tinkered in his workshop. But Kodiak is not here, Kodiak is- dead, probably, right? Maybe not. Probably yes. He’s not sure, he’s not sure about anything anymore except that it all Hurts

And then then derelict comes alive

Doors open and close of their own accord. Sentry drones float from their sockets to take aim at- at anything that isn’t Alden, apparently. Igniting chaos. Decorative contraptions animate not to dazzle but to tear apart anything that gets near them. The Neural Sentry stretches its horrible phantom limbs and makes every single soldier aboard it fight to retain their own selves

And as Alden keeps running, keeps searching for a way out or a way to end, the chaos parts around him. Overhead lights beckon and lead him, dimming back down to their ominous lacking once he passes. Doors open way ahead and then lock behind his back, layer after layer separating him from the fighting, until he can’t tell how much of it he’s imagining anymore

And then- then, there’s a corridor, with an airlock at the end

Kohlrabi is the first by his side, tackling him in a hug, a real hug despite the flesh-steel and the weak static electricity that’s the best Alden can really produce right now. He hugs them back the moment he realises what’s happening. If they’re here, if they made it this long alright, if they can afford the time to do this, then things must be okay. They must be. They must be. But he holds them tight just in case they aren’t

Kodiak lets them have a moment but can only hold out for so long when he’s also terrified and relieved and trying to take stock of Alden’s injuries from far away. So he comes over, gently lays a hand on Alden’s arm, watches as he sways closer. Promises him that they’re getting him home now, getting him fixed up. Alden hasn’t said a word and Kodiak is worried about a million things and that’s one of them, but he does at least nod. Kohlrabi looks up at Kodiak and things would probably turn into a group hug of their doing if Cy didn’t choose that exact moment to tell them to come the fuck back on board so they can all go home and get Alden some medical (Helminth) attention

It takes a bit, for the Helminth to fix everything. Kodiak and Kohlrabi spend that time sitting together. Kohlrabi is the most tired out of all of them, between having a human body and the shock of being thrown from transference on top of an already long day, so they end up settling down against Kodiak’s side and under his arm despite him not being Soft. Kodiak tells them stories of harmless, stupid things Alden would get up to when they were both young

When Alden emerges again, it’s more hugs and softness and making sure he’s doing okay. Kohlrabi keeps yawning. They only put up token resistance about Getting Some Rest but Alden jokingly threatens to call Hako anyway, and their response is “I already have two dads telling me to go to sleep, pls don’t sic my brother on me too D:”

This is a very normal thing for both Alden and Kohlrabi (and holy fuck did it take long for both of those found family relationships to get accepted as they are named now but Hey We Got There) meanwhile Kodiak is just standing there trying to have a coherent thought bc dad?? dad??? am dad???

So Kohlrabi ends up going to bed proper (tho they also end up sleeping like shit, but at least for the moment things are looking okay in that department). And Alden kinda just starts towing Kodiak along to his own room bc he Also wants to rest but also he Really Does Not Wanna Be Alone rn. Neither does Kodiak. Or maybe they just specifically don’t wanna be away from each other. They know things turned out okay but that residual fear is Still There. The Helminth heals faster than a once-human mind can keep up with

But Kodiak stops walking the moment they’re in Alden’s room bc. Okay. They need to talk. Bc he almost lost Alden Again and they both relived Horrible Fuckin Things and Kodiak doesn’t even know most of what Alden had just gone through bc they haven’t Talked about it yet. But he needs to tell him what he’s gonna now even if it goes wrong bc he’s been quiet for millennia but the chance of never getting to say it at all bc Alden will just be Gone again is too great to bear at this point

So he says, “I need to tell you this. I love you.”

And Alden is confused and amused and fond bc This Is Not New. They’re best friends! This is not new! “I love you too.”

“No, you idiot, you- I’m in love with you!”

And Alden is still amused until the next second it Clicks and he kinda. Short circuits. Also mind you they’re still holding hands and Kodiak tries to pull his hand away and Alden won’t let him. But otherwise he’s stunned silent so Kodiak is Expecting The Worst. He’s forcing himself to stay quiet but he Knows that he’s practically radiating anxiety

Eventually Alden asks, “How long?”

Which. What the fuck. Unexpected enough that Kodiak just...answers. “Since we were 25, I think?”

“Oh you motherfucker”

“????” (even more anxiety)

But Alden is laughing. Jittery and adjusting his hold on Kodiak’s hand and Laughing. “You beat me by a year! I- I think we were 26 anyway, remember when Teerak-”

“You can’t be serious.”

But he is. He’s so giddy and his free hand keeps flitting about and this is a grown man but he’s acting like a teenage boy in love and Kodiak loves him So Fuckin Much but he’s also maybe gonna kill him bc what the fuck. What the fuck

“So you’re saying. All this time-”

“Every fuckin day back then I was thinking about wanting to kiss your stupid face, and then I died and all this shit happened and I realised I’d never get to, and then- then we found you again, and I just went back to the same, I guess.”

Yeah Kodiak is gonna kill him. “Why didn’t you just Say Something”

“I was waiting for You to say something!”

“For me to- Bunny, I was so obvious! Everyone knew!”

“Everyone but me, apparently!”

-

They...argue about this pointlessly for a while. It’s fine. They’re just very giddy about it

[roving-boi]

Dear Diary

I spent the weekend with my mom for my birthday. she picked me up and took me to the county fair which is inconveniently located right across the street from my school. So of course everyone from school was there. Not a big deal, I got to say hi to some school friends and still had a blast. It’s just a little sucky to run into familiar faces sometimes. I don’t really like the town I currently live in, scenery wise it’s alright. I like the small town vibe and stuff I just don’t really like the people themselves.

Anyway it was great and I got to meet an online friend in real life for the first time ever. They actually live not too far away but we never got to meet before. So we just planned to meet up at the fair and then we saw each other and hung out for a few hours. We went on rides together, browsed the shopping stalls, and I even bought him ice cream. He didn’t finish it but he was still quite happy about it so thats fine.

I’ve been writing a book lately, it’s a little far from being finished but I’ve been making progress. I’m hoping all goes well, and I get to have it done this year. I’m a little worried no one is going to read it, but I guess that’s okay. At least I put something out there. It’s this romance fantasy kinda aimed toward anyone looking for escape. The protagonist is this high school boy who is unhappy with their mundane life and one day steps through a mirror that takes them to another reality. They meet this magical bunny person and they kinda fall in love and then yeah. It took a lot of inspiration from deltarune. In case you’re a weirdo who plays indie games and that rung a bell. (No shame though because I think that makes you really cool) im excited to keep going with it but I hope I don’t give up.

Also one of my close friends from school (who I’ll just call Jay.) isn’t my friend anymore. Uh- well let me explain. So basically.. I made a group chat with me and another good friend (who knows jay, but moved away) and I was venting about how I feel like jay mistreats me. I feel like jay ignores me at school and I feel like we just haven’t been really getting along lately at all. Me and my one friend agreed and went back and fourth on our personal opinions regarding jay. Well, there was another friend of mine (who is an online friend, but also knows jay) who was also in the group chat. I guess they took screenshots of everything me and my friend said and sent it to jay. The next day at school, jay blew up at me and told me to never talk to her again. I was like what the fuck.

I trusted my friends and they literally betrayed me and all this drama happened. The reason I didn’t go to jay about anything up front is because I don’t think they would even care or acknowledge it. So I decided to vent to some close friends of mine and thought I could get some comfort. I guess I’m always the bad guy when I speak up about being mistreated. Like that one time my dad was yelling at me and chewing me out for like, no good reason. I told him to “chill” and he blew up oh my god. Yeah. So I never really have the right to say anything. Which you kinda learn to live with, but it’s still gay I guess. So I guess jay and her other little friends have all turned on me. But I don’t really care I don’t need them. It’s still unfair, but if you can’t roll with me then leave I guess.

Anyway, I have one week of school left and then summer. I’ll see what happens i dunno. I’m gonna get some rest. At least I updated and I’m not dead haha

[themculibrary]

Hawkeye Masterlist

A Good Feeling (ao3) - dentalfloss T, 81k

Summary: “You work for SHIELD” Barton spat the agencies title at Coulson as though it were the nastiest cuss he knew. “We have nothing more to talk about.” Which was all good and fine, except-

“I have some things to discuss with you, actually,” Tony said and Clint’s bruised and swollen gaze turned towards him. “Many things. Nice things,” he tagged on when Clint’s gaze narrowed darkly. The kid might be passing out in slow motion before them but Tony was well aware he was still a threat and he made no move to approach. “Let me help,” he insisted anyway.

Or: the one where Clint may be a pretty formidable assassin for hire, but he was broke and his brother needed help he couldn’t afford so he needed a legitimate job for a little while. How fortunate Stark Tower was hiring.

Aim (ao3) - visiblemarket clint/phil M, 61k

Summary: Clint “Hawkeye” Barton takes on a contract for one Philip J. Coulson. It all goes downhill from there.

(And uphill for a while. Then downhill again. Mostly downhill, overall).

All in the Family (ao3) - AlphaFlyer M, 3k

Summary: Hawkeye meets the Red Guardian. Alexei is not impressed.

Five Times Clint Saw His Teammates, and One Time They Saw Him (ao3) - rohanrider3 clint/natasha T, 15k

Summary: Everyone runs on something. Clint is better than most at seeing at what that is.

And people–especially the Avengers–are full of surprises.

Or, don’t underestimate the “least powerful” team member just because he fights evil with snark and a weapon from the paleolithic era.

Hawkeye? (ao3) - gunpowder_and_pearls G, 366

Summary: Hawkeye is sent on a mission with a handler as an assignment to assess them. They don’t know he is Hawkeye, but they’ve all heard of him. He was just as legendary as Phil Coulson and Fury.

Just Another Guy With A Bow (ao3) - myrmidryad clint/natasha, clint/phil, darcy/steve, jane/thor N/R, 94k

Summary: Clint's life is a steady progression from point A to point B, but it's everything that happens between those points that make the story interesting. Things like joining the circus, losing Barney, finding Barney, stumbling into SHIELD, trusting Coulson, making a different call when he's sent to kill the Black Widow, and becoming part of the dysfunctional Avengers team.

Masks (ao3) - VespidaeQueen clint/natasha G, 358

Summary: Clint decides he needs a new addition to his Hawkeye outfit.

Once Lost (now found) (ao3) - Teeelsie bucky/clint M, 40k

Summary: There’s a beat and then Phil says, “Clint, you don’t have anything to prove.”

And that stings, because, “If you think I’m doing this to prove anything to anyone, then you don’t know me half as well as I thought you did.” He hears Phil sigh on the other end of the comm. “Besides,” Clint tells him, “I’ll have back-up. I’ll have Barnes. Hawkeye out.” He reaches up and clicks off the comm, cutting off Phil’s continued objection mid-word.

Eight days these assholes have had Barnes and he’s not going to let them keep him for another hour, much less another day. He doesn’t have anything to prove, but he sure as hell isn’t going to give anyone any reason to question his actions, either.

The Best Hawkeye (ao3) - dreamerfound T, 405

Summary: Kate and Clint playfully argue about who is the best Hawkeye

Trading in on Our Names (ao3) - pherryt clint/bucky T, 11k

Summary: Hawkeye and the Winter Soldier didn’t know each others identities. Being mercenaries meant secrets both inside and outside of the jobs. That didn’t stop either of them from admiring from afar, resigned to never going any further.

Then Clint and Bucky started dating and life got a little more complicated…

Two Hawkeyes Are Better Than One, The Mix (ao3) - kultiras, pyroblaze18 (kultiras) G, 516

Summary: Clint Barton, Hawkeye. Kate Bishop, Hawkeye. They may drive each other crazy, but Hawkeyes stick together.

Two Times Hawkeye and Winter Soldier Meet and One Time Clint and Bucky Do. (ao3) - orphan_account G, 511

Summary: The Winter Soldier meets Hawkeye over the years

Who the Hell is Hawkeye? (ao3) - pherryt G, 19k

Summary: In retrospect, Bucky should have seen it coming. Sure, Clint was fast and agile and his marksmanship was out of this world - second to none, even Bucky - but on a team of superheroes, Clint was still all too human.

With Us (Or Without) (ao3) - dentalfloss pre clint/bucky T, 45k

Summary: “What the actual f*@k,” Fury glared incredulously, “are monkey’s doing here?”

“They’re marmosets, Sir,” Hill corrected flatly as Tony looked between them all with glee.

“They’re also with us,” Clint stated, not amused and clearly not giving two shits about anyone’s actual opinion of the matter as he stood there with a marmoset on his shoulder, and Natasha Romanov and the Winter Soldier backing him up.

or: SHIELD handles things badly after Loki, and Clint doesn't take it well. Neither does Natasha.

Youngest In History (ao3) - Aggie2011 T, 55k

Summary: 18 year old Clint Barton was lost. Known only by "Hawkeye" since his escape from military prison, he works as a bow wielding assassin for hire. But a betrayal and an offer bring him to SHIELD and to Agent Phil Coulson who takes on the daunting task of rescuing Clint from his own darkness...and gives him an unexpected gift in the process...hope. Pre-Avengers, NOT slash

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Mozart MKII

Hi-dee ho, who’s in the house?

Kaede, hey! There you are.

How’d the meeting go?

Basically, Shuichi and Kyoko are gonna try and find wherever Zetsubou are camped out. In the meantime, we’re preparing to a siege, and I’ve been made one of the squad captains.

Which is why I’m here. Are you done looking at my spear? ‘Cause I’m gonna need it back.

Huh? Um...yeah, about that.

...

What did you do?

Wh-What’s with that judgmental glare!?

Miu...

Alright, fine! I may have made a couple of...upgrades to it?

I swear to god if you’ve added a vibration function or something.

No...wh-why would I do that? It’s a weapon, not a sex toy?

Miu, it’s you.

Ah yeah fair point.

You’ve got nothing to worry about Kaede. Miu and I worked on it together. I made sure no weird or out of place functions got added.

Mona!

Here it is. Just finished up with it.

What the heck!?

*Kaede retrieves her spear from Mona, only to see the weapon now looks completely different from how it did before.

Made a couple of design changes on top of the modifications. Hope they’re to your taste.

Yeah, this is definitely my color, but...what did you guys DO to it?

Well, after I got to see it in action, I realized something. The fact that you have a spear you can control using electromagnetic contraction is useful in and of itself, but there plenty of other things we can make it to do help you fight better with it.

So Miu and I got to work and gave it a bunch of new features.

See those keys near the head? Those are actual keys that you press to activate each function.

First of all, the mode it’s in right now is Polearm mode. You can activate it by pressing this key.

But if I press THIS key...

*Miu demonstrates, and as she presses the key, the sound of the piano rings out, and the bladed end of the polearm suddenly retracts, and a different mode protrudes.

This one is called Javelin mode. For pokey things!

Wow! So it changes into other kinds of weapons?

Well, it’s still a spear, just...different kinds.

Yeah. We assigned a mode for each key. Polearm mode, Javelin mode, and next is Bludgeon mode.

Bludgeon?

*Miu presses the third key and the sharp, needle-like javelin folds apart to reveal a half-sphere on a piston.

Watch.

*Mona takes the gauntlet and then the spear from Miu. She throws it towards a training dummy in the corner. The spear flies forward and the piston thrusts the tip outwards, leaving a large dent in the dummy. Mona calls the spear back to her.

That’s gonna leave a bruise.

Yeah, if you aim wrong, you might bust a lung or something.

Uh...

That was a joke. Anyway, the next mode is a little special.

*Mona presses the next button. This time, the bumper switches out to a megaphone shape.

What’s this one? Wait, isn’t this...?

Yep. This one is Hacking mode. It gives the weapon the same properties as the Future Foundation hacking guns, like the one’s Komaru Naegi uses. You hold it like this and fire it like a rifle.

It’s got all the same bullets too. We’ve got a list of them, but it might be best to just ask her for any tips on how to use it.

Awesome! And the last mode?

Ah, well...

*Mona presses the last key, which switches the weapon back to the bladed end again. However, this blade is bigger, and is a darker color.

What’s this one?

We didn’t give this one a name, since none of the ideas we came up with really worked. The working title is Kill mode though.

K-Kill mode? And...what does it do?

What do you think it does? The difference between this blade and the regular one is that the regular one doesn’t cut as deeply. In hectic situations like a fight to the death, you can use this one to...you know...

*Mona makes a swiping motion across her neck.

No. Not happening. I’m not gonna use this thing to kill anyone.

I figured you’d say that. To be honest, I only installed it as a precautionary measure.

Aside from the new functions, it’s retained all the old one’s. I’m trying to see if there’s a way you can control it without the big ugly glove, but you’re gonna have to give me more time with it for that.

And there you have it. The Mozart MK2.

Mozart MK2? What happened to the Mozart MK1?

Wasn’t that what it was called before?

I never named it that.

What? But Mii-Yu told me you named it the Mozart!

I never named it that, I just said I wonder if I could use the keys to PLAY Mozart Menuet No.1 K.1.

Still though, Mozart’s a good name for it, so I think I’ll stick with it.

Oh...good...That’s pretty embarrassing. I can never tell what Mii-Yu means literally or figuratively.

Still, this is amazing Mona! I was gone for like...what? A few hours? And you already accomplished all that!?

With Miu helping me, it was a lot easier.

Aw, thanks.

Sounds like you’ve got a good thing going for you Kaede.

*Everyone turns to see Rantaro enter the room.

Rantaro...

Hello Kaede. Apologies, I brought Rantaro here.

Just wanted to deliver a quick message. Shuichi’s headed out now, and he wanted me to let you know that he said bye. 

And that if he doesn’t get back safely, he’s counting on you to come and rescue him.

Well, I owe him that much at least. Thanks.

No problem. I can sense that you’re not exactly welcoming of me right now, so I’ll take my leave for the time being.

Wait just one moment.

*Before Rantaro can leave, Miu stops him.

Yeah? What is it?

...We didn’t get much of a chance to talk when you showed up randomly. I’ve got a question I need to ask.

*Miu, with a stern expression, strides up to Rantaro.

Is it true? That you’re the one who programmed Mii-Yu?

...

...

...

...Yes, that’s right. 

Mii-Yu is from our universe. Me and an old friend created her.

Uh-huh? And when did you create her? What kind of circumstance would lead you to wanting to make a robot?

...When did I do it?

That’s what I asked.

Well...It was actually during the 52nd Killing Game. Me and Mii-Yu’s other creator, Kojima, built her as a joint project during that time.

So Mii-Yu was born during a killing game?

No Mona, she was CREATED during a killing game. “Born” would imply she exists as a result of love.

But this smug asshole doesn’t see her as anything more than a mindless machine.

That’s not really true. Artificial Intelligence still counts as intelligence to me. It’s just not one that can really stand to learn on it’s own.

SHE is far more sophisticated than you give her credit for! Maybe she didn’t know how to learn when you made her, but she’s LEARNED how to learn.

...You seem to have taken quite a liking to her.

Oh, you think? Nah, must be your eyes playing tricks on you.

Regardless, is that your question? You wanted to affirm who, when and how Mii-Yu was built?

No...I want to know WHY she was built...

...!?

*Miu looms close to Rantaro’s face, threateningly.

Miu, please, don’t!

What did you build her for Rantaro? And why are you turning your back on your own creation like this?

What the fuck did you DO to her...!?

...

...

...

...

...

*Rantaro doesn’t respond.

You’re not gonna answer me, are you?

...

...If you crave the answers so much, then I ask that you give me a little bit of time.

It may sound like I’m dodging the question, but I feel like regardless of what answer I give you, your opinion of me will worsen. And I’m well aware that it’s an all time low right now, given the recent revelations.

You don’t have to like me Miu, but I need you to trust me for the time being. I’d rather not answer too many questions while risking that.

...

Fine. To be honest, I don’t HAVE to know the answer. Even if you never tell me, that’s alright too. 

What I care about is Mii-Yu right now, not whatever bullshit she did back when she was with you. 

If you want me to rely on you for the coming future Rantaro, I will. I don’t have much of a choice. But in exchange, I want you to promise ME something.

Oh yeah? What’s that?

*Miu pulls away and points at Rantaro.

You stay the FUCK away from her from now on. If I see you approaching her without my permission, I’m gonna shove a railgun up your ass and fire it.

Miu...

...I don’t have any reason to associate with her from this point on. She’s all yours.

*Rantaro exaunts.

...Fucking ass...! 

[indomitable-ace-of-hearts]

And when she messaged, “Why Can’t you turn the talent you have to write book’s that will bring income for you.”

All I felt was irritation even when I knew the path she was going to take.

The hook? Weak.

The deliverance? Lackluster and unoriginal.

17 words aimed at reeling me in to a conversation about book services and offerings and what have you.

One misplaced Caps letter. Another misplaced apostrophe. A huge misstep in assumption. And another in building credibility or trust.

I waited a few hours before answering.

Thinking about the question instead sending a clear eye-roll, smart response.

Forced myself to go back again to a question that has run through my mind from the moment I could put a #2 pencil on grade school, dotted-line paper,

“Why do you want to write?”

And then the others:

“Who are you writing for?”

“What are you writing for?”

“Why do you keep writing?”

Why haven’t you published anything yet.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, to have people pay for your work. It would be quite nice, actually.

But there is an underlying subtext here that words are wasted unless there is monetary value or gain as the reward.

That there is no meaning without payment.

And it would seem in today’s world that no one wants to give freely anymore for the sake of doing so. Not unless they think it is “really worth” something.

Not time.

Not words.

Sure as hell not money.

I’m not so naïve to think that I can sustain myself and two children on my own on a writer’s budget. And I am admittedly too proud for anyone’s charity.

I also know that Society would rather lap up social curated, same-thing-different-day propaganda than anything that forces them to dig deep and think.

It’s rare to have intellectual conversations anymore and the stuff I post isn’t exactly about rainbows, or politics, or pop culture memery.

It’s semi-unfiltered.

Raw.

Random.

Experiential.

So why do I write?

Why do I lay here text typing on a mobile app in bed instead of listening to mellow songs in hopes my mind will quickly settle into sleep again.

Even though I’ve been sleeping all day trying to fight off a full weeks worth of fatigue.

Why?

Because I have things on my mind that only come out when I sit in silence and need a place to go.

Because exploring words allows me to explore how they create meaning, or clarify meaning, or expand on it.

I write because my mind can’t figure out the right way to express things and so thoughts stay holed in silence. And my voice rambles as it struggles to keep pace with how quickly my thoughts run.

And thoughts are always running and jumping and skipping.

Putting it down lets me sift through the internal chaos, organize, and cut out the meaningless parts.

I write because while experiences may be my own, there are universal truths and lessons I can only hope someone can gain from it one day.

Lessons that may stay in circulation for a few generations before they become lost to time and space and technology.

It’s an exploration of that which makes us human. Our thoughts. Ability to derive meaning from shapes, and lines, and dots, and colors.

Our ability to reason and communicate.

Talent? Maybe I have talent.

Or maybe I’m just cursed with a mind full of word sprites who love nothing more than to see me struggle to find the right things to say.

Why can’t I turn my talent to write books that can bring me income?

Because I’m a hopeless fool who still thinks the world cares little for the musings and rants of yet another “self proclaimed writer” and my stuff is hardly at the level of our era’s greatest literary minds.

There’s too much slush in the literary pile and noise in the world to sift through.

Besides - no one REALLY cares for anything I have to write anyways.

And I am perfectly ok with that.

So why do I write?

For now - to keep myself from the edge of insanity.

[noa-de-cajou]

Idalia and Zuza belong to @soupedepates and Louis (mentioned) to @corneille-but-not-the-author

______

Aïcha dumped me.

I kinda felt it coming, to be honest. As soon as she asked me to meet up after class. We sat down in our usual café, and she told me she didn’t feel like this was gonna work out, that we were probably better off as friends, the usual breakup speech.

We lasted, what, two months? A month and a half? Longer than most of my previous relationships. We’re both aiming for an history degree and we bonded on a shared project about political relationships between muslims and christians. The only arguments we’ve ever had were about which period we were going to make that damned presentation on.

I’m sort of relieved, as usual. Maybe I'm a bit of an asshole for that, but the more it went on, the more awkward it got. At least she didn’t throw a fit, she didn’t storm out. We actually hung out after agreeing to stay friends and talked about french presidents and showed each other memes and it felt nice.

But now she went home, and I feel weird for some reason. I should be glad that I didn’t get any drink thrown at me for my lack of tears or that she didn't block me, but some of the stuff she said just won't leave my head.

I take out my phone. 5pm. Milosz is still in class. I don't want to go home yet if it's just to sit in an empty living room feeling bad about myself.

He doesn't even know I was dating someone. No one knows. Mid-september to mid-november and I didn’t tell anyone. I'm not like the rest of them, I don't like talking about my dating issues. They can ramble about their relationships all they want, but I’d rather keep mine private. I don’t owe them to anyone. I’ve seen what can happen to people who are careless enough to make everyone know about it.

The screaming and the broken arm and the hospital and the tears and the

Yeah. Anyway.

I’d much rather sit and listen to Bazyli’s misadventures with Kaspar, seeing Milosz pine or Bronya being all touchy-feely with Louis.

Or maybe you're ashamed.

…

I feel worse.

I open the family group chat. Andrzej is spamming it with deepfried memes again. There’s talks about Kamil’s upcoming birthday. Tobiasz sends pictures of him with his girlfriend, it's probably the universe giving me the middle finger. But apart from that, nothing of note. Nothing for me to fix or help with.

I need to be needed somewhere. Anywhere.

There has to be somewhere I'm needed…

Suddenly I remember Milosz saying something about forgetting his sweater at Zuza’s last time he came to help rearrange furniture. Every time I need an airhead, I can always count on him.

I text Zuza to ask if I can come by to pick it up. She replies quickly, “no problem”, and the weight on my chest eases a little.

I take the bus to the apartment complex, dial the code, ring the bell. Familiar gestures, almost automatic, comforting.

The door opens.

It’s not Zuza.

It’s her girlfriend, only wearing jeans and a sports bra, she's barefoot, how, it's cold as fuck today, her ginger hair going all over the place, and a beer in hand.

“Well, if it isn’t Streetlamp.”

Wow, another joke about my height, how creative.

“I have a name, Idalia.”

“I forgot it.”

“It’s-”

“I know your name, kid. Learn how to take a joke, will ya?”

I don’t like Idalia.

I don't like how she walks around Zuza’s apartment like she owns the place. I don’t like how she lays flat on the couch with her feet hanging. I don't like how she leaves her empty cans everywhere (and not just cans of alcohol, coke, lemonade, protein shakes??). I don't like her son, but nobody does. I don’t like her attitude towards me, like I'm some brat, even though I'm an adult and she’s only seven years older than me. I don’t like how loud she is. Anyways, I don't like Idalia.

“So, watcha here for?”

“Picking up Milosz’ sweater. He forgot it.”

“Oh yeah, that. Zuza washed it. It's on the chair.”

“Thanks.”

I go and pick up the sweater. It would be too short and large on me but it’s the perfect size for Milosz. It’s old, stained, falling apart a little. At least it smells clean, blessed be Zuza.

I can feel Idalia’s stare on me and it makes me uncomfortable. It's time for a painful attempt at small talk.

“It’s weirdly quiet today. Where's Dmitry?”

“Eh, he's at Tekla’s this week. You don't know how good it feels to be able to take a piss without a mini you attached at your leg.”

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

She raises an eyebrow, I groan as I fold the sweater.

“I have six brothers. The youngest is in middle school. Took care of them a bunch.”

It used to be seven.

“Ah yeah, I get that.”

I know. I know your family, my older brother went to school with yours. I know we had similar lives. Similar dads. Similar moms.

Shit, pure shit, all of it.

“I don’t have to do that anymore, thank the fucking gods!”

I grit my teeth.

Do you know how fucking lucky you are to be able to see all your brothers at any time

No you don’t, of course not

We're the exact same so why are you so fucking

Lazy

Irresponsible

Careless

You uncaring bit-

“... You good, kid?”

I let out a heavy breath. I open my backpack and try to make the sweater fit.

“Yeah.”

Idalia takes a loud sip of her beer. It makes me want to shove it in her face.

“I think I saw your brother, recently. The oldest, I mean.”

“Lucjan?”

“Yeah. Nice dude.”

Lucjan did tell me that he met her. He’s still friend with one of her brothers, I think. The Adamski and the Lupsowiec were always the problem children. Forges bonds, I guess.

He was surprised when he met Idalia again. She wasn't a girl when he knew her, apparently. He says she looks happier now.

She’s fucking loud about it

I envy her

I couldn't voice anything if I tried

I don't know how to tell anyone what I want

Even less what I am

“You're doing that face again. What’s wrong, Streetlamp? Got dumped or something?”

I freeze. She blinks, goes back into sitting position.

“Wait, for real?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“How come Zuza didn’t know? She knows everything about the dating shit in your little crew.”

“I didn’t tell her.”

Precisely because she repeats everything to you.

“What happened?”

“Nothing. It just didn’t work out. She said we were better off as friends and I think she’s right.”

That's not the only thing she said.

“You know, Simowiet, maybe you should do a little… self-reflection, or something. About yourself, I mean.”

I don't know what she means by that. I know I'm unlucky when it comes to dating. I've come to terms with it. It’s fine.

Maybe you just can’t love anyone properly.

I zip up my backpack. Idalia looks confused.

“Hold up, “she”?”

“Yeah, she. Her name’s Aïcha. Is there a problem?”

“No, but uh, I thought that you…”

“That I what?”

“Well… You know.”

No. I don’t know. That’s what irks me. That, and her eyes full of insinuations that I don't understand. She shrugs.

“Welp. Maybe you should stop trying to date girls.”

…

That's the most unsollicited piece of advice I've ever received and I live with Milosz.

“Thanks for the encouragement,” I reply dryly, “But I don't think you're the person to tell me that.”

“Why? It’s serious between Zuza and me!”

I know.

I just can't figure out why.

You're mean

Violent

Childish

Needy

No better than both our fathers

And yet Zuza’s still with you and I don’t get it because I'm not like you I'm nothing like you I'm nothing like him and yet it's working out

Why is it working out for you

and

never

for

me

Even though you’re a shitty person

…

Maybe

I'm

shittier

“Hey, it’s hard, I get it. You can sit down and talk if you wanna.”

“I don't want to talk to you of all people.”

… I said it out loud. She's looking at me. Her face twists into a snarl.

“Oh yeah? Why not, kid ?”

Don’t you dare

Call me that

In that tone

You're not my parent

You can’t even raise one kid right

“Because you're a fucking-”

Failure

And yet

The door opens. Zuza is looking at us with a raised eyebrow. Idalia doesn't let her talk.

“Zuza, tell your kid that yelling at me ain’t gonna fix his life.”

My cheeks are burning. Zuza looks even more confused.

“Did you yell at her, Simowiet? Did she provoke you?”

Idalia looks outraged at the suggestion.

“No I didn’t!”

I take a sharp inhale, bite the inside of my cheek.

Keep your cool

Everything is fine

You're fine.

“I’m just tired. Sorry, Idalia.”

Apologizing to her makes me want to puke, especially with how smug she looks. Zuza isn’t reading the room at all, which is probably for the better.

“Alright. Do you wanna stay for dinner?”

“No, I was just leaving.”

I don't want your fucking pity

“Thanks for washing the sweater, and I'm sorry Milosz keeps forgetting stuff here.”

“It’s no problem. I’d rather have that than Bazya stealing my stuff, you know.”

“Right.”

Because Bazyli is the only thing that keeps this whole arrangement together at this point

Maybe even our friend group

We’re always the leeches

I’ve always been the leech.

The thoughts are getting meaner. I need to leave.

“I really should go.”

“Sure, I won’t keep you. You're always welcome here, Simowiet, you know that?”

As if.

“Thanks. Bye, Zuza, Idalia.”

“See ya, Streetlamp! My offer still stands~”

I close the door like it’s the lid of my fucking coffin. It’s fine. I’m fine.

I take the way home, a notification rings in my pocket, you're needed, it's a text from Milosz.

“Hey, I'm on the way back from uni, is it okay if I bring Louis over? 🥺”

Louis. Just Louis? Not Bronya or Bazyli? That's unusual. I start to type a reply.

“Want me to leave you two alone?”

No. That's gonna make him uncomfortable.

“Why not bring the whole gang while you’re at it?”

No. Scratch that. I don't want an answer to that.

“I got dumped I'm not in the mood for guests”

… He’s just gonna be worried if I say that. He doesn't have to know.

“If you only need me to be your fucking housewife you could just say so”

What the fuck. No. That's Milosz. He’s my friend. My best friend. Why am I being so mean?

I hear Idalia’s laugh, “yelling at me ain't gonna fix your life”, how ironic coming from her.

“I don’t know. I was just hoping I could get some quiet tonight. Or talk to you. I had a rough day”

… Rough day. I just got dumped, it's not the end of the world.

Stop being so fucking whiny, Simowiet, get it together.

I stare at the text. I start typing again, slowly.

“Sure, no problem.”

And sent. Maybe the period at the end was a little too dry? Oh, fuck it, what’s done is done. The reply arrives quickly anyway.

“Yay! I’ll make dinner for us then! Thanks Sim you're the best 💖”

I smile. A little. He's adorable as always. And his cooking is good.

And you’re a hypocrite.

I put the phone back in my pocket and start walking again. Towards home, I guess. My home that doesn’t feel much like mine anymore.

Aïcha’s face comes back to my mind. Her hand resting gently on mine. Compassionate.

"Maybe you should do some self-reflection, Simowiet. About yourself, I mean."

And

"I’m worried about you, you know."

There’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine.

It’s just not my day.

[anothergleekgirl]

HEAD OVER FEET

by anothergleekgirl

SUMMARY: Finn & Rachel are best friends since childhood and set to be each other's 'Best Friend of Honor' at their respective weddings. As they move ahead helping each other plan, they begin to awkwardly discover that maybe what they'd always thought was 'just friendship' runs much deeper.

Alt Universe/Canon Divergent – FUTUREFIC. A friends to lovers Finchel story! - Set in NYC.

Rated: Fiction M - English - Romance/Humor Status: COMPLETE Chapters: 14 Words: 108,847 Published: Dec 4, 2023 Cast: Rachel Berry, Finn Hudson, Santana Lopez, Jesse St James, Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson, Carole Hudson-Hummel, Burt Hummel, Hiram & Leroy Berry, Noah Puckerman, Tina Cohen-Chang, Mercedes Jones, Artie Abrams, Sam Evans, Brittany Pierce, Mike Chang, Shannon Beiste, Emma Pillsbury, Holly Holiday, Sue Sylvester --------------------------------------

https://archiveofourown.org/.../52045669/chapters/131621914

CHAPTER 1 - SAY YES

“Say you’ll do it? Be my Best Friend of Honor, pleeeeease??”

“Didn’t we always promise each other? ‘Course I will! I’m so happy for you, Bite-Size!”

She stands on tiptoes and throws her arms around her best friend’s neck to squeeze him tight while exhaling into his shoulder “Thank you thank you thank you! Oh Finn, this means so much to me... I couldn’t possibly dream of anyone else standing by my side for this. I’ll need my BFF or it just wouldn’t feel real.”

With his long-reaching arms still wrapped around her waist he kisses her on the cheek.

“Anything for you Rach. You know I’m always here for you.”

With a sweet smile and a slight blush she suddenly looks up into those honey warm almond-shaped eyes. “Now we just need to get you squared away. Exactly when are you planning to set the date?” She pokes her little index finger teasingly into his chest a few times.

“Set a date?” He chuckles heartily, wrapping his large hand around hers and tickling at her palm with his thumb. “Jumping the gun a bit aren’t you, Rach? You know full well the ring is still sittin’ in my sock drawer... how ‘bout I maybe ask her first?”

“Right. You should probably actually do that! I swear, you’re the King of Procrastination.” She smirks at him.

“It’s not procrastination. I’ve just learned with her, it’s best not to make too many sudden moves. Slow and steady is the safest play.”

Peals of laughter burst out of her. “Okay, if you say so... but you do know Tana’s getting impatient, right?”

He aims a glare laced with sarcasm at her. “Ya think?? She keeps bringing home new bride magazines like, daily, and watching hours-long marathons of Say Yes to the Dress. Between you and me? I really hope she wants one of those Panini Turkay dresses, y’know, the ones that look like corsets and see-through lingerie?” He wiggles his eyebrows with a suggestive smirk as he nudges her with his elbow.

“Finn Hudson! You’re ridiculous!” She chastises him through laughter. “I swear your mind is always in the gutter, isn’t it? And her name is Pnina Tornai... A panini is a sandwich, Finn. We’ve discussed this before.”

Shaking it off he doesn’t miss a beat, images of those dresses still dancing in his smiling eyes. “Whatever. Those are some super HOT dresses... especially the ones that lace up the back.”

Rolling her eyes, she gapes at him with mock disgust, then resigns with a sigh. “First of all, Finn, they are not dresses, they are GOWNS – very expensive gowns, I might add. But... Well, I guess I can see the appeal from the groom’s point of view. Although, I’d suppose they’re really only meant for a certain type of bride...” Her voice softens a bit, and he can almost hear a sadness behind her previously cheery tone. “I, for one, don’t think I could ever pull off something so... risqué or revealing – not that it’s really my style anyway. Besides... I’m just not built for a dress like that.”

“You serious right now, Rach? You know you’d totally rock one of those Panini dresses.”

“It’s Pnina. Pronounced pa-nee-NAH, Finn.”

“Don’t care. Stop deflecting... You always do that though, you always put yourself down – and it sorta pisses me off. You gotta stop doing that. Don’t you know you’re beautiful Rach? And I bet anything you’d look super awesome in one of those dresses. In fact, I know you would. I’ll even prove it to you.”

She laughs hysterically as he pokes her lightly in the most ticklish spot on her left side – the spot only he seems to know about since he’d first discovered it at the age of ten. He knows it’s her kryptonite and she’s utterly defenseless against his tickle attacks.

She blushes at his sweet words and squeals through her giggles, "Finn, STOP! And exactly just how do you think you’re gonna prove anything?”

“Well, as your official B-F-O-H, I get to go to the dress shop while you’re picking out a dress, don’t I?? So... I’ll pick one out, you’ll try it on and I’ll prove my point.”

“You wanna help me pick out my wedding gown? You’re insane.”

“Hmmm, maybe. But we both know you’re gonna insist on getting my approval either way. Plus you’re going to Kleinfeld's anyway, so...”

She looks at him for a hard minute with narrowing eyes laced with suspicion.

“You seem to be very well informed, not only about the designer names and dress styles, but also with the name of the bridal shop... Admit it, Finn. You actually watch Say Yes, don’t you?”

Looking away nervously, he shrugs her off. “Uh... no comment.”

A chorus of giggles rings out as her lovely plump pink lips curl up to the apples of her cheeks and make her eyes shine bright. “Oh, you're so BUSTED!”

“Shut up. Hey, I’m a GUY, alright? So I can’t help it if I happened to be walking through the room during that one episode where the bride wanted to be practically naked and had a dress special made that was like HOLY FU–”

“Finn!! Language!” She slaps him lightly on the bicep. “And please stop objectifying women like that; you know it annoys me. Not to mention, how do you think Tana feels about you making those comments?”

He chuckles. “Are you joking right now? She’s the one who comments on the hottest brides on the show most of the time! She even rates them on a scale from g-strings to granny panties. Which, that alone is pretty hot and reason enough to watch.”

“Mmhmm. I forgot. She’s a little... peculiar like that. It’s almost like I’m talking to Puckerman instead of her most of the time. Sometimes I think you two are kind of an odd pairing.”

“So what, you think I shouldn’t—”

“Hey, I never said that. I mean, you love her, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah. Sure I do.”

“Okay then, it’s settled. Just get off your procrastinating ass and get the deed done already, BFG. She’s going to be in my wedding party too, don't forget, and you know that’s just going to make her even MORE antsy if you don’t hurry the hell up.”

“Yeah yeah, Bossy Baby Spice, as long as you’re sure... Annnnd as long as you say you’re gonna be my BFOH.” he teases back with a wink.

She beams her megawatt smile and reminds him, “Didn’t we always promise each other?”

“Cool. You’re the bestest y’know that, short-stuff?” He brushes her bangs from her eyes and wraps a loose strand of her mahogany locks behind her ear, a sincere smile stretching across his dimpled face. “And you’re gonna make a beautiful bride too, Rach. Seriously. Jesse’s a lucky dude – and he’d better treat you right, or he’ll have me to answer to.”

“Is that a fact?” She laughs softly and leans her head against his shoulder. “You’d still defend my honor, huh?”

“Always, Rach. Hey... you wanna grab a bite? Since you mentioned paninis I’ve got a craving now.”

“Oh god... Sure. C’mon, let’s go feed the human garbage disposal.”

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