#as if WE are responsible for what they choose to do and WE need to behave to ugh earn their respect or some bullshit like that

[fujoshirat]

When the Shouto Todoroki saves you and your kindergarten students at the aquarium during a villain attack, you can't seem to get him out of your head. Bonus: you're quirkless and he's a pro hero, so you live in two different worlds. The glue? His cute nephew that's obsessed with rocks and that just so happens to be in your kindergarten class.

In short: You've become obsessed, you suppose. But that's all right, you're not the only one that's obsessed.

WARNING: infatuated Shouto = a ditz who embarrasses himself in front of his crush <3; female reader (srry I forgot to add this to the first part but you can choose the gender^^); Shouto and Kaoru bonding!!

Part 1 here!

2 - You're Obsessed With Me

Shouto has never seen a woman so perfect.

He had heard of you before. Every so often, when Shouto would take Kaoru out on a playdate or visit Natsuo, his nephew would casually bring you up.

"Y/N-sensei let me bring my rock collection for show n' tell."

"Oji-san, Y/N-sensei cuts her apple slices like rabbits. I wan' rabbits too."

"Today was Y/N-sensei's birthday, so I gave her a rock."

In a way, Shouto knew you. He knew about how you loved to take your students on field trips and that you want to travel to Venice someday and that you cry at every little milestone. He knew all of this from the lovely little stories that his lovely little nephew would tell him.

What he did not know was how obsessed he'd be with you once he'd finally met you. That afternoon, about an hour after eating his lunch and about 30 minutes into his patrol, he had received a call from his secretary and the authorities that there was a villain wreaking havoc at the Hosu City Aquarium. That afternoon, when he rushed to the scene with his five-year-old nephew's safety and the safety of others occupying his mind.

That afternoon, you laid there on the tile floor, wrists bound together and arms cut up, with the most beautiful face ever- 'Eugh! Weirdo!' Shouto mentally gives himself a slap to the face while shaking his head, prompting him out of his daydream. He looks down at Kaoru, the little boy holding his uncle's hand and observing the passing cars. Reaching the agency, Shouto types in his password and enters, bringing Kaoru along with him.

"Kaoru-kun, I just need to finish up a report before we can go back to your house, okay?"

"Okay, oji-san." As they approach the elevator, Kaoru looks up at Shouto with puppy eyes, making Shouto chuckle. "Go ahead." The five-year-old cheers and makes a beeline for the elevator, reaching up to press the up button. The elevator arrives, and the white-haired boy leads his uncle inside, also reaching up to press the 4th floor button.

Once they reach Shouto's office floor, Kaoru sits on the couch and looks at Shouto patiently, though his face reflecting expectancy. Shouto quirks a brow and kneels down at his nephew. "Yes, Kaoru-kun?"

"Do you have games on your phone?"

"..."

₊‧°𐐪♡𐑂°‧₊

"Kaoru-kun, do you have your subway card?" Turning off the lights, Shouto leads his nephew into the elevator. He observes the little boy nod in response, a pleasant hum escaping him.

"That's good. We'll take the subway back to your house, okay?"

"Okay, oji-san."

Opening the main door for Kaoru, the two exit the agency and head to the nearby subway station. Almost 6:40pm, they board the train and Shouto makes sure that his nephew has a seat. As the subway starts moving, Shouto's thoughts once again wander. 'Does she take the subway home too? How long has she been a teacher for? And she's quirkless too? She's so brave.' Amidst the sound of chattering tracks and pleasant thoughts, the pro hero hears a little rumbling sound and smiles softly.

"Kaoru-kun, are you hungry? I can buy you dinner before we get you home." Kaoru nods shyly. Shouto nods in acknowledgement and helps the little boy find his way to the subway doors before they open. Once the subway stops, they exit it and push past the large herd of people. "Kaoru," Shouto squeezes his nephew's hand comfortingly. "What do you want to eat?" His gaze meets round, doe eyes.

"Salmon onigiri!" Hearing that, the heterochromatic man takes Kaoru to the convenience store and buys him his dinner.

---

"Kaoru! You're safe!" Natsuo envelops his son in a hug, receiving a whine of protest. Shouto laughs at the sight. "I already fed him, Natsu-ani. No injuries and no problems." His elder brother lets out a sigh of relief and looks face-to-face at his son. "Thank goodness... thank you so much, Shouto. I was so worried." The man in question shakes his head. "I'm glad I was there on time, and Kaoru behaved." "Really? That's good." He ruffles Kaoru's hair. "Thank you, kiddo." Looking up at Shouto again, he stands up and offers a smile.

"I made hambugu (hamburg-steak) for dinner, do you wanna stay and eat?" "Thanks for the offer, but I ate already with Kaoru. I'll just head home now." Natsuo nods. "If you're sure, thanks again, Shou." The brothers both bow in respect to each other, Kaoru copying his father. Shouto smiles and gently pats his nephew's head. "Goodnight, Kaoru-kun. Have a good weekend." "You too, oji-san." The pro hero heads back out and walks to the station to return to his own home.

₊‧°𐐪♡𐑂°‧₊

Shouto thinks that the American idea of Manifest Destiny must be true, because here you are, blessing him with your magnificent presence at his local grocery store (SPOILER! Shouto Todoroki is a Japanese citizen for a reason. That is NOT what Manifest Destiny is). You miraculously don't seem to notice his jaw-dropped expression, too busy reaching up to grab the specific brand of honey shampoo that you always buy. You're not wearing anything fancy: comfy sweats and a turtleneck for the slightly chilly weather.

But god, Shouto thinks that you're fine.

And did someone turn up the thermostat? Because suddenly, when you finally notice him and smile, the left side of his face flairs up. Thankfully it's not much, just a few flames that lick his face. Both yours and his eyes widen as Shouto quickly gets rid of the flames, leaving his cheeks dusted pink. "S-sir! Are you alright?" Oh goodness, you're coming closer! The air gets knocked out of Shouto's lungs when you look up at him with those doe eyes and worried expression. Clearing his throat, the pro hero attempts to save his ass.

"Ah, L/N-sensei, I apologize. I'm alright."

"No need to apologize! And no need to call me sensei." Your voice sounds like an angelic choir to Shouto, tone so sweet like candy. The tall man can only hope not to embarrass himself even further.

"Do you live in this area? I've never seen you here before." You nod cheerfully. "Mhm! I actually just moved here a few weeks ago because I got a pay raise. It's a beautiful area, and all the residents that I've met so far are lovely." Shouto likes how you're so cheerful and positive. Your face is welcoming and so far, you always seem to have a smile on your face. His eyes observe your left wrist, recalling the events of the day before. "Is your wrist okay?"

"Yes! I put some ice and it really helped with the swelling. I still try not to use it, but it doesn't hurt as much. Hopefully it will be back to normal soon!" Shouto's gaze softens, a soft smile appearing on his face as he adjusts his shopping bag hanging from his arm.

"That's good." He suddenly remembers something. "If I may ask, how long have you been teaching for?" "Hm..." Shouto can feel his heart do somersaults as he watches her slightly furrow her brows while thinking. 'Cute.' "This is my fourth year teaching. Ever since I started my career, I've been the kindergarten teacher for the school!" You giggle when Shouto's eyes widen. "Teaching young children is my passion. I love my students and want them to succeed. Sometimes it's a little hard when graduation rolls around the corner." He watches you dismiss yourself with a sheepish laugh, impressed at your dedication to teaching. The red- and white-haired man thinks it's absolutely adorable when you gush about teaching and your students. Every word that came out of your mouth, tumbling out of your kissable lips this loser really really really wants to kiss you :(, he becomes even more hooked.

And then, you take his breath away once more when you twirl a strand of your glossy hair and smile.

"You know, it's really nice interacting with a pro hero outside of their 'hero mode.' I've never done this before, and you're really kind, Todoroki-san!" Shouto's cheeks flush even more red at your sentiment. You enjoy talking to him??? Inside, he's mentally cheering screaming, on the outside, he's just looking at you with a shocked expression.

Yeah, you broke him. Yet, you don't seem to notice because instead of teasing him (like what his friends would have probably done), instead your cheeks turn a slight shade of pink like peaches and begin to speak again.

"If you're willing, I'd love to grab coffee with you sometime!" Shouto was definitely broken now, because his left side flares up with small flames again and you panic over him.

"Todoroki-san!?!"

In simple terms, Japan's Hottest Hero, Shouto Himura Todoroki, was definitely a loser boy man in love.

₊‧°𐐪♡𐑂°‧₊

A/N: Yayayayay! Part 2 is finally done (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) Thank you all so much for reading and (hopefully) enjoying this part as much as Part 1! I kind of suck at writing POVs for other characters, so I hope that this was still an enjoyable fic >< I love a strong independent hottie but I also love it when that hottie is a loser when in love <33333

On a similar note: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of your amazing, sweet support for Part 1!! I did not expect it to blow up 🥺🥺🥺 and cause my other (old) fics to also receive support! I was very surprised and elated to see my inbox flooded with notifications, so thank you for making my days ♡♡♡ I will take a short break from writing, maybe a week or two depending on how I feel, so I apologize if Part 3 comes out a little late!

Also!! I'm starting a tag list so if u wanna be tagged for the next part, just lmk!!

TAGLIST: ♡ @roseapov

[daisymbin]

faint hearts - joshua hong

warnings: hospital, blood mention. mention of undernourished & stress. if i missed anything please let me know!

pairings: hong joshua x reader

genre: slight angst

wc: 1.2k

a/n: this is briefly proofread so if there's some mistakes, please forgive me! I'll fix it later

check out my masterlist!

“i just don’t understand why you can’t see my side of things,” you shouted, voice cracking under the weight of your frustration. joshua’s eyes were dark, his arms crossed over his chest as he stood in the kitchen. the argument had started small, about something inconsequential, but had spiraled out of control, fueled by all the unsaid grievances and pent-up resentment.

“maybe because you’re not listening to me either,” he snapped back. “you always think you’re right, and it’s exhausting.”

your heart sank, his words cutting deep. “i’m exhausting?” you whispered, eyes stinging with tears. “so, what, joshua? am i just too much for you?”

joshua rubbed his temples, a sign that he was nearing his breaking point. “that’s not what i meant,” he groaned, but the damage was done. you felt your resolve shatter, the anger giving way to pure hurt.

“i can’t keep doing this, joshua,” you’d finally said, your voice shaking as you grabbed your coat. the finality in your tone made his stomach twist, but his pride and anger kept him from stopping you. he watched as you slammed the door behind you, leaving a heavy silence in your wake.

instead of confronting the suffocating emptiness, joshua sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. guilt and regret clawed at him, but he didn’t chase after you. he convinced himself you needed space, that maybe he did too.

meanwhile, you found yourself at chan’s doorstep. he opened the door, eyes widening in surprise, but the easy smile he gave you was warm, comforting. “hey, you,” he greeted, noticing the strain in your expression but choosing not to comment on it. “no dinner plans?” he asked lightly.

you forced a smile, trying to keep the shakiness from your voice. “no plans. thought i’d come and cook something,” you replied, desperately needing something to distract yourself from the storm still raging inside you.

chan welcomed you in, and soon you found yourself in his kitchen, ingredients scattered on the counter. cooking usually calmed you, but today, your hands were unsteady, your mind clouded with everything you hadn’t said to joshua.

by some force of an accident, the knife slipped. pain shot through your hand, and you let out a sharp gasp. “fuck,” you murmured as blood welled up from the cut, dripping onto the counter. chan turned around immediately, his eyes widening in alarm. “oh my god, are you okay?” he rushed to your side, guiding you toward the bathroom. “come on, we need to clean that up.”

“i… i can do it,” you stammered, pulling away from him. the sight of blood mixed with the overwhelming stress made your head spin. you felt tears burning at the back of your eyes, the weight of everything crashing down on you.

chan frowned, concern etched on his face. “are you sure? you don’t look—”

“i just need a minute,” you insisted, stumbling into the bathroom and locking the door behind you. you pressed your back against the door, your heart pounding as your vision blurred. the stress, the fight, the blood—all of it was too much. your knees gave out, and darkness swept over you.

chan waited outside the bathroom, anxiety growing with each passing second. when too much time had passed, he knocked. “hey, are you okay?” there was no response, and panic gripped him. “y/n!” he called again, his voice rising.

when he finally pushed the door open, the sight of you crumpled on the bathroom floor made panic coarse through his blood. his hands shook as he pulled out his phone, immediately dialing joshua’s number without a second thought. “pick up, pick up,” he muttered desperately, his voice cracking when joshua answered.

“chan?” joshua’s voice sounded wary, still carrying the remnants of their fight.

“y/n,” chan interrupted, voice tight with fear. “she’s passed out, and there’s blood, joshua. you need to get here. now. I don't know what to do.” 

joshua’s world seemed to tilt on its axis, “call the damn ambulance!”, he didn’t remember grabbing his keys or sprinting to chan’s place, only the icy fear coursing through his veins. when he arrived, his heart nearly stopped at the sight of you as his blood ran cold. still unconscious, with chan anxiously hovering over you.

“darling,” joshua breathed, dropping to his knees beside you. his hands trembled as he carefully gathered you into his arms. “god, this is all my fault” he whispered, tears blurring his vision.

the rush to the hospital felt endless. joshua held you close, every second a torment as he imagined the worst. his mind replayed your argument over and over, regret slicing through him with each memory. how had he let it get this bad?

in the hospital, joshua’s heart pounded as he waited for the doctor. chan sat beside him, guilt written all over his face. “she’ll be okay, right?” chan whispered, but joshua didn’t have an answer. he was barely holding himself together.

when the doctor finally came out, joshua stood up so fast he nearly stumbled. “she’s okay,” the doctor said, his voice calm but serious. “she fainted from stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. she’s also undernourished. she needs rest and proper care.”

joshua’s legs nearly gave out, relief and guilt mixing in a painful wave. how had he let you suffer so much without realizing it?

when he was allowed to see you, he felt his breath catch at how fragile you looked in the hospital bed. he sank into the chair beside you, his hands trembling as he reached for yours. “darling,” he whispered, voice breaking. tears spilled down his cheeks, and he didn’t bother wiping them away.

you slowly opened your eyes, taking in his tear-streaked face. “hey, dont cry, its okay. im okay,” you murmured, your voice still weak.

“it’s not okay,” joshua choked out, his voice thick with emotion. “none of this is okay. i should’ve noticed how much you were hurting. i should’ve paid more attention. i should’ve been there.” his shoulders shook, the guilt and regret overwhelming him. “i’m so sorry.”

you reached up with a trembling hand, gently cupping his cheek. your thumb brushed away his tears, your touch soft despite the exhaustion in your eyes. “joshua,” you whispered, your voice breaking. “it’s okay.”

he shook his head, more tears spilling over. “no, it’s not,” he insisted, his voice cracking. “i shouldn’t have let it get this bad. i shouldn’t have let you feel so alone. i failed you.”

your eyes softened, even as more tears filled them. “then you can just…start now,” you whispered, your thumb tracing the curve of his cheek. “stop saying sorry and just…be here.”

joshua’s breath caught, and he gripped your hand tighter. “i will,” he promised, his voice raw. “i’ll be here. i’ll be better. i swear.”

you managed a small, tired smile, your thumb still gently brushing away his tears. “that’s all i need,” you said softly, and though things still felt fragile, the way he held onto your hand felt like a promise—a promise to be there, to try, and to never let things get this broken again.

[thepsychonyx]

I want to speak about why the second part of the Best-True ending of Dragon Age Veilguard pierced me so deeply. The Flycam screenshots are from Aru/Elf botanist (YT linked at the bottom).

To set the tone, the music established the emotive themes of the scene. It speaks to the Lost Elf theme- however it is forever changed and lighter. This elf that was Lost for so many years is now Found. There is hope in the strings, there is redemption in each note. This also speaks to the specific codex from the lighthouse in Solas’ secret room. Not his office at the top of the building, extravagant, beautiful, overshadowing all others and looking down in godly benevolence - his private quarters on the main floor, where parts of his travel with the Inquisition surround him.

When Lavellan speaks to Solas, she is using a resolute voice, almost chastising him for thinking he has to do this alone. He has her, and she will keep reminding him.

Solas implores her to think of the dangers the journey he is going on will have, his head is down to show the residual shame and his plea for her safety. But also a part of him hopes. The reason all he says is that “there will be danger” is a statement of warning but not fully imploring her to stay. His heart has a pause, he is prioritising her safety and wants her aware of the dangers.

This is the shot normally, the downward and side tilt are clear making the imploring effect of his words resonate further. Unlike before where he only looked at her for small spans of time his attention is fully focused since being absolved of his duty. After she responds that she will be with him, forever no matter what, he shifts. This is akin to when making vows “I stay with you in sickness and in death” but they are crossing the boundaries of mortality. This is “I stay with you in any plight, any condition, any reality. I commit my eternity to you”

Her response is an amalgamation of the following:

1) You are not alone in it emotionally and mentally as I am with you

2) Physically I am with you to endure it with you

3) Our joined manifestations will make it a better place quite literally, so the bleak darkness that could have encroached will not exist when we are together

This is also validated a bit by Trick Weekes QA:

She then states their love is eternal, and she chooses to walk on any path with him fully and wholly. A love that transcends time, mortal barriers, immortality, the different realms of existence. This combined with their standing pose as if at the altar of a wedding is the final part of her vows. Said in the same hallelujah pattern and in elven as he would speak - she commits to his language (mentally and emotionally) so he best will understand her declaration. (This is confirmed by @northgalis on Twitter).

This, in front of the witnesses who are the allies who helped them unite in their union, Rook and Morrigan whilst overseen by the Veil itself in the position of holiness. His blood is the bond they now share, the new blood magic in a way that ties them to a new fate of their own making. The veil that brought them together in the beginning of the journey they now tread into together.

Then they confirm their vows with a kiss, she pulls him in first, similarly to their first kiss in the fade and he reciprocates. Solas is weakened, hurting, feeling unworthy of the brightest soul in the universe but she chooses him and he finally submits to his desire and need for her. His duty now to himself, atonement and the woman who chose him with it all in mind.

Aru’s flycam footage also shows the kiss being deeper and him actively

After the kiss, he SMILES. The ending is now so much less bleak it is tender, it is soft it is comfort, it is peace.

A smiling glance. meeting at a crescendo; a shared moment of understanding;

Screenshot from Daoithe on Tumblr.

He then proceeds to thank Rook, for helping him see when he allowed himself to be so plagued by grief and guilt and not giving up on him as it could have turned to despair, revenge and anger, like all the other endings which I hate because they go against his very nature. The other endings spit in the face of his complexity the story keeps explicitly imploring you to see and have empathy. Solas is a spirit of wisdom, when guilt festers that wisdom manifests in the worst possible ways. And with no one to listen and read between the lines, the fate he is subjected too is far too unkind. But here, he not only is freed of his guilt but also, just as importantly and very implicitly, his fear of dying alone.

If you have played inquisition you will recall there is a moment near the climax of Here Lies the Abyss where Inquisitor and their chosen companions go into the Fade. Solas is easily one of the most fascinating and best companions to take with you as he from the onset has been a “Fade expert” and his lines throughout are intriguing and educational. During the quest you come across graves embodying the different characters biggest fears. And Solas? Dying alone. The god who went against everyone he knew for a better world, whose empathy only continued to hurt him and freed others with hopes to better the world is the most lonely man. And he is terrified and within himself brought low by his loneliness in his commitment to the path he feels he must take. This is why the next part transcends the scene.

After the kiss which confirmed their bond and pact - binding them together with love and empathy, wisdom and curiosity married - he thanks rook and looks back at Lavellan, his Vhenan. And it is a *micro second* shot that completely defeats me. His head held high, the concerned imploring tilt gone as he holds his chin higher in appreciation, respect and awe for the woman who chose him. The love of his life, his eternal companion. The only one to truly fully see him, respect him, and love him wholly. Who has forgiven him and chooses a path which only leads to him. He is honoured to be loved by her, and will work to be the better man he feels she deserves, but also beginning to accept that her love for him is in any form he takes. The one he prizes above all others, chose him, and he will never be alone - and that is everything.

Seeing completely, and being wholly seen.

This scene literally destroyed me in the best way. I am left hollow with love and adoration for this character and his relationship to his love Lavellan and no other romance will meet the threshold they have created for me. It is not Solavellan hell no longer, they have transcended to Solavellan heaven.

My playthrough video of the second half of the ending sequence.

Here is Arus Flycam YT video for reference:

Arus Flycam Lavellan POV of the True - Best ending

[8-evil-annoying-catboys]

i definitely agree with you on pretty much everything here. i brought up the comparison not to necessarily assert that benevolent sexism and misandry are one and the same—they are not, as you’ve eloquently explained already. i mostly asked the question rhetorically, hoping that other readers may think critically about misandry and how it is still sexism and still harmful to women in the long run, and how the end results of misandry and benevolent sexism are often indistinguishable from each other, if not always. i was not intending to ask you directly, although i enjoyed reading your response and my perspective has shifted, even if only slightly, from new information.

i did not necessarily think through the systemic applications of benevolent sexism, i’ll admit. but i did make a point to say that both misandry and benevolent sexism come with the idea that men are dangerous OR bad, and women are safe OR good, rather than both ideologies believing both that men are dangerous AND that they are bad, although i can definitely see how a small word change like that can get lost in the overall reading of a post or comment. i’m saying this not to argue or anything, but just because i want to be clear that i do not believe that these two concepts are entirely the same, just that they are so similar in their application and the general attitudes that people with these ideologies hold, that their ideological differences end up being negligible in practicality. and the differences are negligible not because those differences don’t exist, but because it’s sort of an illusion of choice… at the end of the day, if you’re arguing that women are pure and safe and calming, does it matter that much to the person listening to you whether you think men are bad, or you think they deserve and need women as a ‘warm bath’ to recuperate from the harsh world outside their shared homes? i would say that, well obviously context is important so sometimes yes it will matter, but generally, not really.

people will read what they want to read into your arguments, and often come away with their own takeaway that may be entirely different from your intention. besides that, one of the main differences in between misandry and benevolent sexism is the belief that men are universally bad, evil, or lack self-control. that belief is false and can and will be disproved by material reality. because of this falsehood, the misandrist-to-benevolent-sexist pipeline is practically inescapable unless you have absolutely no trouble entirely separating yourself from men, therefore anyone making misandrist arguments will inevitably cause other women to get caught up in that pipeline, even if the person arguing isn’t concerned with interacting with men and doesn’t give them any opportunities to prove the reality that good men exist.

but all that is just my beliefs. i think it’s more effective to ask questions than to make statements, if we hope to break harmful beliefs in others. i would hope that anyone reading this would think critically about their own beliefs about men and women and whether or not there are any meaningful, inherent differences between them, any hard and fast rules that apply to all women or all men, and whether or not separatism is useful in any case… but they may choose to refuse to examine their beliefs since i stated mine so plainly, instead of simply posing questions. people hate being told they’re wrong more than they hate being asked if they’re sure they’re right ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We need to bring back the term “benevolent sexism” into widespread use for real. It’s a major mechanism in how bioessentialist Girlboss Radfems can be turned into bioessentialist conservative Tradwives.

[achilles-rage]

Cherry: The Prequel

part one

summary: a few weeks after you meet for the first time, buck shows you how much he loves your tits.

word count: 2.4k

a/n: idk if this is technically a prequel since it’s set between the scenes in the first part, but it’s fine<3 this is also a day late, so sorry!! i have two more parts of this i wanna write, but i’ve been feeling insecure about my titties lately, so i wrote this to cope🙂‍↕️ and for the other prequel i'm writing, i don't think i'm gonna specify which one comes first, so you can choose. anyway, enjoy<3

warnings: smut, big titty!reader, no use of y/n, fem!reader, plus size!reader, race inclusive!reader

MDNI- 18+ Only!

Buck can’t keep his eyes off you as he drives you to his apartment. Your black top is extremely low-cut, and the little lace detailing along the neckline resting against your skin is driving him fucking insane. 

You talk to him absentmindedly the whole way back to his place, your eyes barely even glancing over at him as you talk about the drama between two of the other girls you’re living with. He tries to keep his eyes on the road, but it’s almost impossible; all he can think of is pulling the top of your shirt down with one rough tug so your tits spill out for him.

When he finally gets you to his building and up to his floor, his hand is on the small of your back, acting like the perfect gentleman until he’s finally got you behind closed doors.

His hands are on your wide hips as soon as the door is closed and locked, spinning you around to face him and pulling you toward his body. You melt into the kiss immediately, letting him take over your movements completely as he backs you up towards his kitchen counter. Your hands go to his chest as you tilt your head up into the kiss, your body pressed firmly against his as your back hits the counter.

He groans when he feels your plush tummy and chest pressed against his, and one of his hands moves up your side, fingers ghosting over one of your breasts, itching to grab and and feel it in his hands. His hand makes it to your jaw, holding your head in place as his tongue slips past your lips, exploring your mouth and savouring the taste of you.

“Do you remember what I said the first time we met?” he murmurs against your lips. Your response is cut off as he parts from your lips for a split second to trail his hands down to the back of your jean-clad thighs and lift you onto the counter behind you. 

You feel butterflies flutter in your tummy at the action, even though he’s shown you countless times just how strong he is. You look up at him, your eyes sparkling, and you momentarily forget that he’s just asked you a question.

“Oh, um- no. Well, which thing?” you ask in a slight daze, your brain cloudy at the look that’s on his face. It’s somewhere between love and lust, and you’re too giddy to try to work out the difference right now.

“That if I didn’t want you so bad, I’d fuck your pretty tits first.” he purrs, a smirk forming on his face as he tugs you toward the edge of the counter. 

You feel the tips of your ears heating up at the memory. And the thought. You nod slowly, swallowing as you try to hold eye contact with him.

“I remember.” you reply quietly, your arms hanging loosely on his shoulders. You’ve never done what he’s suggesting before, but it makes your heart race.

“Can I?” he asks, his voice coming out quieter, but there’s still an edge to it. He can sense your slight unease, and he’d never want to pressure you, but all he can think about right now is sliding his cock between the valley of your breasts and painting your chest with his cum.

You nod slowly, eyes darting around his face, and he smiles softly. He reaches up to caress your cheek, and you lean into his touch, licking your dry lips.

“I need you to say it, baby.” he whispers, and as soon as the word “yes” tumbles from your lips, his mouth is back on yours. This kiss is deeper, sloppier, needier, and you feel yourself getting lightheaded at the way Buck’s soft moans sound in your ears.

Just as his hands move under the hem of your shirt, you pull back reluctantly, chest already heaving.

“I’m not doing this on your kitchen counter.” Your voice is teasing, but you meant it. You can feel you stomach churning, although you love the idea of him fucking your tits, and you feel oddly exposed in his kitchen – even if he’s definitely taken you in this exact spot before.

He smiles fondly, and in one swift motion, pulls you off the counter and helps you to your feet. He then turns you towards the stairs to his room, giving your ass a hard smack as you make your way up the stairs.

When you’re both upstairs, you both take a second to kick off your shoes, and then Buck is pushing you back onto the bed. Your back hits the bed and makes you bounce slightly, and you let out a high pitched laugh when Buck pulls you to the edge of the bed by your ankles and then goes for the button of your jeans.

He makes quick work of yanking your jeans and panties down your legs, laughing along with you as your body jolts with his actions, and he can barely keep his eyes from darting up to the way your tits bounce with each movement.

When your jeans and panties are finally discarded, he pulls you to sit, then rips your top off. Your bra is next to go, and when your tits are free, Buck practically growls at the way they fall; sitting so pretty for him.

You move up so your head can rest on the pillow as he pulls off his own clothes, sitting up on your elbows as you watch him pull off his shirt, and then unbutton his pants. Your mouth waters when his cock springs free, but you barely have time to think about it before Buck crawls on top of you and starts pressing hot kisses to your neck.

You let out a breathy moan as you tilt your head back, feeling his fingers ghosting up your dips and curves as his hand finds its way to one of your breasts. He holds himself up with one hand as the other roughly squeezes your breast, making your moan and arch your back into him. He smirks against your skin, then moves his kisses down to your collarbone, then finally, your other breast.

You bite your lip as he begins to kiss and lick at your breast while his hand squeezes and kneads at your other one desperately, and you can feel his hard length grinding against you as he pays attention to your chest.

You mewl as he begins to suck on your breast, marking your skin with small hickeys around your nipple, and then he switches to swirl his tongue around your nipple, his moans sending vibrations through your body.

After your breast is covered in his marks, he switches to the other one, switching which hand is holding himself up and letting his other hand knead at your other breast and roll your nipple between his fingers. 

Once he pulls away, he looks down at his work with dark eyes, smirking. You can feel his spit on your tits as he looks down at you, and you shiver as the cold air hits you; no longer warm from his hands and his mouth.

“Please?” you ask in a sheepish voice as he continues to watch the way your chest rises and falls with each breath you take.

“What do you want, baby?” he asks, his eyes finally darting up to meet your gaze.

“Fuck them. Please.” you whisper, bringing your hands up to cup your breasts, bringing them together. He groans, leaning down to give you one final kiss before he sits up and reaches into his bedside table.

You watch as he pours the liquid onto your chest, and bite your lip as you look down at your chest, hearing the bottle being closed and put back onto the bedside table before he moves to straddle your torso and his hard cock slaps onto your chest.

You look up at him as he grips the base of his cock, using it to make sure your chest is coated before he slips it between your breasts with a soft groan. You hold your breasts together as you look up at him, and when your pretty eyes lock with his, he leans forward and puts a hand right beside your head to hold himself up, and then pushes his hips forward.

You whimper softly, partly because of the unfamiliar sensation, but mostly because of the way his face scrunches up in pleasure. He brings his hips back and then pushes them forward again, and when you moan softly, he starts to thrust at a steady pace, groans falling from his lips as he watches your tits bounce.

“God, baby, just as good as I thought it would be.” he purrs, caressing your cheek with the hand that isn’t holding himself up. He’s completely mesmerized at the way his cock seems to disappear between your breasts; so heavy that your tits completely envelop him. The head of his cock is visible with each thrust, and he loves the way your eyes dart between his face and his cock reappearing each time he pushes against you.

He’s already focused hard on not cumming too soon as he snaps his hips forward, and when he squishes your cheeks with his hand, making your tongue stick out slightly, he has to tilt his head back for a moment so he doesn’t fucking explode. 

When he finally removes his hand from your cheeks, you raise your head off the bed and stick your tongue out, humming softly as the tip of his cock touches your tongue with each thrust. He moans loudly when he feels your tongue on him, and paired with the innocent look in your eyes as you look at him, he knows he’s done for. 

“Look how pretty you look, baby. Such a good girl, aren’t you?” he growls, and you nod quickly, whimpering as you bounce your tits slightly in your hands. He can see the marks he made on your chest, and he licks his lips; your tits are his now, he’s made sure of it.

He feels his balls tighten as he increases his pace, and with a few more thrusts, he’s cumming all over your chest. You feel it dripping down the valley of your breasts, and the trail moving over your breasts and down your tummy from him pulling back as he came. 

You keep holding your tits together as he breathes heavily, his softening cock resting on your belly as he looks down at your breasts painted with his cum. You give him a sweet smile when he finally looks into your eyes, and when you’re sure his eyes are locked on yours, you crane your neck down, licking a firm strip up your own breast and clean some of his cum off of you with your tongue.

He groans loudly, still leaned over you on one hand, and he’s sure that if he didn’t just cum so hard, he’d cum again. You’re so goddamn perfect, and he can’t believe that you just let him do that. 

“You’re so beautiful, baby.” he tells you in a soft voice, his breathing finally going back to normal. You smile up at him, feeling your cheeks heat up as he focuses on your face. For some reason, you feel more exposed now that he’s looking into your eyes rather than at your breasts, so you remove your hands from holding your tits together and grab his face, bringing him down for a kiss.

He can taste himself on your tongue, and he hums into the kiss, letting out a content exhale as he moves his body off of yours so he’s at a better angle to kiss you. 

After a moment or two, he pulls back, giving you a wink before he gets off of the bed.

“Need to clean you up.” is all he says before he disappears into the bathroom. As you wait for him to come back, you can feel his release dripping down your torso and onto the sheets beneath you. You feel a little bad for the mess – as if it’s your fault – but that was the hottest thing you’ve ever done, so you get over it quickly.

 He comes back a second later with a warm washcloth, wiping off your breasts gently as his eyes follow the path of his hand.

Once he’s finished, he throws the cloth to the side and settles between your legs again and brings his lips down to yours. You kiss him back, but it’s a much gentler kiss than before. You wrap your legs around his hips, and he groans, feeling your dripping cunt against his already hardening cock.

“Did you like that, sweetheart?” he asks as he pulls back, a smirk on his face. You nod as you bite your lip, humming contentedly as you reach up and run your fingers through his hair.

“Did you?” you tease, raising a brow. He lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head as he leans back down to give you a quick peck.

“What do you think, princess?” he asks, and you laugh softly, shrugging.

“I’m nowhere near done with you, either. You’re gonna be here all night.” he purrs, and you smile widely, cheeks feeling hot.

“Okay.” is all you can get out before his lips are on yours again, and he grinds against you eagerly; desperate for more of you.

And he kept his promise too. You didn’t get to sleep until extremely late; not that you minded. You always sleep the best in his arms, and it definitely beats what you’d be doing back at the bar; up late anyway trying to find other men to take you home. 

As you sleep, you find yourself dreaming about staying here with Buck for real. Never having to go back to that place. When you wake up, the feeling increases tenfold; Buck wakes you up with kisses all over your face, and even makes you breakfast before he drops you back off reluctantly.

He’s going to be with you one day, for real, he just knows it, but for now, he’ll just have to wait. 

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[zhuoyichenpretty]

Ep 26 Commentary

Alrightyy I've mustered up what's left of my brain for a belated ep 26 commentary post. IRL responsibilities are getting a bit away from me so I wasn't able to spend as much time on this as usual; apologies if the haste shows through! Consider this more reaction than meta.

As always, spoilers under the cut:

A carry-over comment, but I really do appreciate the Li Lun/ZYC scene in ep 25 for how it solidified ZYC's resolve and reminded him of where his heart is, what he believes in, what he chooses to defend. Such a load-bearing and pivotal conversation for both characters in opposite directions of development. It also makes ZYC's return to the Bureau triumphant in a way, despite all the preceding trauma, despair, and hopelessness. WX embraces him in relief that he's safe and in comfort for what they've all just been through, and for us, it's doubly meaningful as a sort of homecoming after a confrontation that only we have witnessed. It's also interesting, the cutaway as they hug, the things we have been made privy to and the things that are kept private from us.

Ouuughh the lines voiced over as ZYZ and ZYC meet eyes for the first time since all that transpired in Tianxiang Pavilion. It gives such a deep sense of wordless understanding and intimacy. I'm reminded of when the show did that for Ranyi and Miss Qi's final lines.

As I mentioned previously, a lot of subtext became text in this episode, which was quite exciting (and also extremely adorable the way ZYC was like "I think I've said too much" /// afterwards). I didn't expect ZYC to convey his understanding of ZYZ to him so soon, but that really goes back to something I love about ZYC: that he doesn't really waste time expressing something once he's come to an emotional conclusion. Maybe there's something to be said there about how he knows, after the loss of his family, how important it is to say the words when you have them to the people in front of you while they're still here.

If ZYC's words and his tears offered to a catatonic ZYZ in ep 23 were an expression of star-crossed and conflicted love, this parallel scene is just an utterly unrestrained confession, the stars be damned.

Also, tbh I never found ZYC's reactions to ZYZ to be unfounded or unreasonable, even when misguided in the beginning (and necessarily so, given the narrative and premise) or at times harsh (which I also found much-needed for ZYZ to hear, and delivered with obvious sympathetic anguish). He was clearly reflecting and actively revising his own preconceived notions this entire time, feeling for ZYZ the whole way through, and I do think he's demonstrated realistically and impressively the full extent of empathy perhaps as far as it can possibly stretch without personally experiencing ZYZ's life himself and while still living and feeling for his own. But to see ZYC so ready to address his previous flaws, to admit them and correct them, to go beyond them and to reach out so plainly for ZYZ in front of him now that he has that personal experience—the relationship between them has transcended the initial set-up of two opposing characters meeting in the middle. The show has gone that extra step and made their perspectives one. And given that I didn't personally find that step to be narratively necessary, so to say, (as in, even without it there's not truly a narrative obstacle because I already believed ZYC loves ZYZ despite everything and we've already seen the lengths he'll go to not to kill ZYZ), it feels like a choice in every definition of the word. Like a development motivated by love all the way down.

WX gets the least traumatic cloak-draping scenes out of the three of them, thank god.

Oh shit I forgot about fixing the Wilderness I'm so glad they didn't lmao.

Ahhh the crossroads moment at a literal (kind of) crossroads right before entering the Bingyi Clan's forbidden area. ZYC suddenly wanting to go alone or back out, stuck weighing the danger to everyone's lives, who they can and can't save depending on his choices. It makes me think of what happens when we let intense love in and it comes with intense fear, makes us freeze up. Suddenly, the stakes are in sharp relief, and the courage to move forward isn't so simple anymore.

"修好了，你也別死" ("Once it's fixed, don't die either.") Head in hands. ZYC's voice here, his expression, that desperation. Yeah I think this episode was so draining because of how all pretense is being stripped away and all that's left is ZYC's profound love for everyone, so raw and vulnerable that it hurts to watch, especially knowing he won't have it easy trying to keep everyone alive.

Kind of love how freely ZYC cries and says the vulnerable things in front of all his loved ones. Like. That's truly his family, his people, his heart.

ZYZ please. Imagine ZYC's grief without you. Please just stay.

Yay 12 seconds of angst-free bickering right before (as someone else called it) the trolley problem

Ok so, I'm not sure how common this interpretation/reading of the following scene is, but it's been rattling around in my head for a while now so I'm just gonna include it here. If y'all disagree, pls disregard! Basically, when ZYC first turned to PSJ and thanked her, I was terrified for a moment that he would ask her to stay. Because on one hand, ZYC would never, but on the other hand, imo there's a lot of (I think deliberate) ambiguity baked into the scene. In ZYC turning to PSJ right after we're told "one of your friends or all three of them," in him starting the series of goodbyes with the character he has the least onscreen development with, in the finality of what he says to her but also the lack of clarity on just who this is final for, in PSJ's expression and WX's reaction, in the dramatic turning away at the end. Like, until he turns away from her, I think there's room for interpretation on what he's decided to do, and as someone who's grown quite surprisingly invested in the ZYC-PSJ dynamic, I'm kind of morbidly interested in this reading of events.

What might be going through PSJ's head at ZYC's words, if at this moment she hasn't yet realized his self-sacrificial intent? Does she think she's going to be asked to stay? Does she assess the situation, conclude that she's the person ZYC is least close to and perhaps the one least able to contribute in whatever comes next as the only human here, and begin resigning herself to this outcome? Are the tears in her eyes the sole indication of her conflicted unwillingness to die here that makes it through because as he's talking, she's evaluated that this is the best possible scenario for them all (esp for WX) and will commit herself to his decision even if it also breaks her heart to be chosen this way?

I may be taking this and running a bit far with it, but I just think the ambiguity of this one brief moment can create such angsty implications between the lines (as if we needed more angst...) and despite their scarce onscreen interactions, I'm kind of a sucker for the "extremely noble (to the point of tragedy) knight choosing to acknowledge and follow and dedicate their silent loyalty to a leader they deeply respect" dynamic, even if it is understated with all the other relationships going on in this show. Given how reticent PSJ is, it makes a meaningful impact on me every time she displays concern for ZYC, so you know it crushed me to watch her desperately and irrationally (the most pragmatic of them all!) try to shoot at him with her arrows while knowing there's no way it'd work. The way she was the first to act, the sound of nothing but the ice and the stretch of the bowstring. I really do love their platonic bond much more than I expected to.

Oof. The freezing. I don't want to sound like a broken record but I loved TJR's acting here because I think it's so easy for this scene to look awkward as he's stuck facing forward and pretending to freeze haha. His microexpressions as he realizes ZYZ is behind him, as he tries to chase him away with his words, as he's probably burning from the inside out with all that ice. That last tear as his gaze turns hollow. A+

I also love ZYZ's lines about not believing he can't overcome ZYC's powers like yeah this is a newborn demon with no inner core and ice powers that he taught him lmao

Okay, that's a wrap for my thoughts on this ep! I was originally going to include ep 27 reactions here too, but seeing as this is getting a little long, maybe I'll roll 27 into my thoughts on ep 28? We shall see!

[kandyzee]

I am both a mickey and Monica fan but this comparison doesn't hit the way they want it to.

Mickeys situation is much different. He was put in prison and yev went to live with his mother. Leaving yevgeny wasn't something he planned rather it was something he allowed to happen when the opportunity presented itself. Given that he was forced into making him, never truly consented to becoming a father and would likely not have been able to separate yev from his trauma leaving yev was the best thing for everyone and he was within his right to choose that. I also wanna mention that he was still getting money for svet while he was in prison and only gave up rights when svetlana had a job, home and would be able to support herself and yev.

First monica has six children, not 1, and we don't know how they were all conceived. We are told she's forced into keeping fiona and Carl, but other than that rape is hardly even alluded to in relationship to the others. ( I'm not saying it's not a valid assumption, but it's not definitely the case like with mickey.) So straight away Monica's impact is greater, meaning she's obviously gonna get more criticism.

Second, monica comes and goes. She didn't just leave she gave her children false hope time and time again. If she had fiona and never came back, u could say she's like mickey, but she didn't. The effect that has on children is completely different from basically never having a dad to begin with. With yev, he was so small. He didn't have time to create a strong bond with his dad, so when he lost him, the loss wasn't as bad. Monica is the complete opposite. She showers her children with love, seemingly building that parental relationship just to pull it away.

Okay next, mickey leaves yev with Svetlana and monica leaves them with Frank(and later fiona.) Leaving ur child with a woman you know is ridiculously capable and has a good thing going is not the same as leaving multiple kids with a hardly functioning alcoholic druggie. Not only does she leave them with Frank she continues to leave them even when she knows fiona(a children to young woman) is the person really looking after them. Svetlana is not physically abusive Frank is. Svetlana is not an alcoholic or addicted to drugs. She has a job and overall is a responsible adult.

Okay I think the last thing I wanna talk about is how this creator says monica is a "deadbeat" where as mickey "abandoned and neglected". Yes I know technically they are practically the same thing but the choice of language definitely makes monica seem better. If anything I think the two descriptions should be switched. Monica is abusive, as much as I love her character the way she treats her kids emotionally is abusive.

I don't want to overly defend mickeys parenting because it was not perfect but he never did anything to purposely hurt yev or do something that will have a life time effect on him(other than leaving ofc.) You can not say the same for Monica. I think the best way to get my point across is just to list things monica did to her kids that mickey didn't.

Took her underage child to a gay club and told him to sleep with grown men.

Slit her wrists at thanksgiving.

Drugged two of her children.

Physically fighting her kids dad in front of them.

Comes back into their life and says she wants to take her youngest child.

I know lots of what monica does isn't intentional, and Frank is to blame for a lot of her actions. That doesn't feel needed to get into, tho. Monica is in an abusive relationship, whereas mickey doesn't, and that makes her motivations different.

Anyway, mickey will never be as bad of a parent as monica. Their situations are not comparable.

[glitterymarshmellowfem]

Yes this Marsha Rayburn. What my little Tommy was hurt at school? I'm coming right down

Hello Ms. Rayburn, I'm Principal Hayworth. You didn't need to come to school. He scraped his knee, we gave him first aid and he went running back to class. But since you're here please come in my office and we can write-up his accident report.....There, please sign it. I must say Ms Rayburn you're looking quite hot today.

Well I'm a stripper and this is what I wear to work. Principal Hayworth,

Call me Stan

Well Stan, I was just about to head out for work when I got your call. Oh I like the song you're playing in the background. In fact I use it in my act. Want to see?

Well I...

Just a quickie taste...and then I walk into the audience and choose one guy, which for now is you, and I give him a lap dance, like this...oh you have the same response the guy's at the club do. Then I flip around and face him and give him a big wet one. But they usually don't take down my straps like that. But I know they'd like to suck my tits like you're doing. You are certainly strong and handsome Stan. But let's not stop here. I'll just slip out of my costume and bend over your desk and show you my curvy ass. That's it stick your cock in there. You're getting my deluxe dance. Oh come on big boy give me your cum. Fill my ass with it. That's right. Now let me clean-up and dress. Did you like it?

Ms Blackburn...

Marsha

Marsha that was sure an unexpected pleasure.

Well sweetie sometime come to the Kit Kat Klub ands see my whole act. You'll find it very pleasurable. And if my Tommy gets hurt again, no matter how small you give me a call. I'm a very loving mom. And I especially love principals too. Byee

[honeysghost]

In the Middle

Pairing: Lasko/Freelancer/Gavin

Word count: 1,065

Summary: Follows behind Lasko's second bonus audio, based around the poem After the Threesome They Both Take You Home by Sue Hyon Bae

The AO3 version if you prefer: In the Middle - honeysghost

“It’s getting late, do you want to stay?” Freelancer asks, warmth spreading through their body when they meet the Incubus’ eyes.

“Oh, I couldn’t. It’s sweet of you to offer, but you’re both busy tomorrow, aren’t you? If I stayed, I doubt you’d get much sleep.” There’s a coy smile on his lips that sends a shiver down both of their spines. 

Lasko’s hand finds theirs in the dark, rubbing a thumb across their knuckles. 

“We wouldn’t mind,” he mumbles, avoiding Gavin’s gaze. 

He’s grown more confident since the start of this encounter, less stuttering but still shy. It’s cute. Both Freelancer and Gavin delight in seeing a blush creep across his cheeks.

“Really, I couldn’t.”

His tone is light, still laced with flirtation, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want to stay. 

“Can we at least drive you home?”

Home, Gavin thinks. There’s an ache in his chest where home should be, unsure as to what would ever fill that void. Certainly not Aria. His gaze lingers on Freelancer for just a moment.

“You don’t need to trouble yoursel-”

“It’s no trouble at all, Gav. Please, let us do this for you.” 

It’s odd, having people constantly showing how much they care about you. It’s not something he’s used to, that’s for sure. But the Freelancer and Lasko (and Huxley and Damien) have never wavered in their intentions.

A sigh. “Okay.” 

The smile that spreads across Freelancer’s lips is radiant. So much so that Gavin thinks to reconsider their proposal. He could stay, if it meant getting to see them smile just a few hours more. 

Another unfamiliar ache.

Neither of them bother to get dressed in more than pajamas as they lead him to the car, Lasko choosing to drive as Freelancer settles into the passenger seat. 

It’s quiet and warm in the back. Gavin sprawls across the entire row, like it’s his own personal throne. 

The hazy glow of streetlights passing by puts them all in a dream-like state, time passing slowly around them. 

No one will say it out loud, but they wish this moment would last. 

Lasko laughs at something Freelancer said, and the silence is broken. 

“Come on, you really don’t remember?”

“N-no, I don’t! And probably for good reason. My mind blocked it out as an act of self-preservation.”

“It wasn’t that bad, and you know it.” They meet Gavin’s gaze through the rearview mirror, offering him a sleepy smile. 

“Did I ever tell you about Lasko and I’s first date?” Freelancer asks, and Lasko’s face turns a deep shade of red. 

“D-d-do not tell him.” 

They rest a hand on his thigh, squeezing lightly. Gavin can taste his returned arousal at the touch.

“Oh, please, Deviant. I’d love to hear it.” 

Lasko groans in response, making both of them laugh. 

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

“...and it didn’t matter anyway, because all we could taste was oranges. I swear, it was under our skin for weeks.” 

“Now there’s a thought,” Gavin ponders. “Orange flavored kisses.” 

Freelancer smiles as they play the memory over in their head, Lasko still flushed from embarrassment. 

“We tried to find the stand again later that week, but it was gone. Shame. They were the best oranges I’d ever had.” 

Gavin’s apartment building comes into view, and he tries not to linger on the disappointment in the air. It belongs to all three of them. Maybe he should have stayed. 

The conversation slows, all of them hoping if they don’t speak, the night won’t end. 

Lasko finds a space to park, a good distance away—anything to prolong this moment. 

“Let us walk you back.” 

This time, he doesn’t protest. 

When they get out of the car, the first thing Freelancer does is take his hand. Lasko is quick to take his other one, and together they walk. 

Their love is intoxicating, he thinks. He could drown in it if they'd let him. 

“Thank you both, for tonight. It means a lot that you would trust me with this.” 

“We like you, Gavin.” Freelancer rests their head against his shoulder in emphasis, slowing down just a little. “We’d trust you with anything.”

Lasko hums in agreement.

When they reach the door, none of them make a move to open it. 

“I had fun tonight,” Gavin sighs, squeezing both their hands. Freelancer stills rests against him, seeking warmth and comfort in his body. It’s odd, being touched with no sexual intent. It’s taken him a while to get used to it with. Honestly, he’s not sure if he would ever, fully. 

“Me too,” they mumble into his shoulder. 

Lasko frees his hand from Gavin’s and hesitates just a second before kissing the Incubus. It’s soft and sweet–and all too short for his liking. “T-thank you, Gavin.” 

Freelancer pouts, making both of them laugh. “I want a kiss, too…” 

“Come here, Deviant.” 

Gavin kisses them as softly as Lasko kissed him, in no hurry to stop or say goodbye any time soon. They stay like that for a while, trading kisses and hushed gratitude in the dimly lit hallway. 

“You’re always welcome, you know.” Freelancer whispers against his lips. Lasko nods, finally taking a step back. 

“I-In our bed, or otherwise.”

“We meant it when we said we like you. You’re our friend, Gavin, but you’re more than that, too.”

He fights the urge to brush it off, choosing instead to say, “Thank you,” for the hundredth time that night.  

He opens the door, lingering for just a second. “Goodnight, you two.”

“Goodnight, Gav.” Lasko smiles, pressing one more chaste kiss to his lips. 

“Sweet dreams,” Freelancer mimics him, following up with one more to his cheek. 

When the door closes, he allows himself to feel the emptiness that threatens to devour him. Being together with them was so filling it almost made him feel sick, he wasn’t prepared for the gaping hole that would be left when they were gone. 

It takes every ounce of self-control he has not to rift back to their apartment, cuddle up with them in bed, limbs tangled together so thoroughly they’re sure it’ll leave bruises where they’re pressed together. 

For tonight, it was enough. To be chosen by them, worshiped and adored. Any lingering worries were soothed away when he thought of Freelancer’s hands on him, Lasko’s moans, the way they fought over kissing him, neither one of them able to get enough.

[inkskinned]

one of the things that i think we should pay attention to, socially, about the disney v. desantis thing is that it is really highlighting the importance of remembering nuance.

in a purely neutral sense, if you engage in something problematic, that does not mean you are necessarily agreeing with what makes it problematic. and i am worried that we have become... so afraid of any form of nuance.

disney isn't my friend, they're a corporate monopoly that bastardized copyright laws for their own benefit, ruin the environment, and abuse their workers (... and many other things). this isn't a hypothetical for me - i grew up in florida. i also worked for the actual Walt Disney World; like, in the parks. i am keenly aware of the ways they hurt people, because they hurt me. i fully believe that part of the reason florida is so conservative is because it's been an "open secret" for years now that disney lobbies the government to keep minimum wage down, and i know they worked hard to keep the parks unmasked and open during the worst parts of Covid. they purposefully keep their employees in poverty. they are in part responsible for the way the floridian government works.

desantis is still, by a margin that is frankly daunting, way worse. the alternative here isn't just "republicans win", it's actual fascism.

in a case like this, where the alternative is to allow actual fascism into united states legislation - where, if desantis wins, there are huge and legal ramifications - it's tempting to minimize the harm disney is also doing, because... well, it's not fascism. but disney isn't the good guy, either, which means republicans are having a field day asking activists oh, so you think their treatment of their employees is okay?

we have been trained there is a right answer. you're right! you're in the good group, and you're winning at having an opinion.

except i have the Internet Prophecy that in 2-3 months, even left-wing people will be ripping apart activists for having "taken disney's side". aren't i an anti-capitalist? aren't i pro-union? aren't i one of the good ones? removed from context and nuance (that in this particular situation i am forced to side with disney, until an other option reveals itself), my act of being like "i hope they have goofy rip his throat out onstage, shaking his lifeless body like a dog toy" - how quickly does that seem like i actually do support disney?

and what about you! at home, reading this. are you experiencing the Thought Crime of... actually liking some of the things disney has made? your memories of days at the parks, or of good movies, or of your favorite show growing up. maybe you are also evil, if you ever enjoyed anything, ever, at all.

to some degree, the binary idealization/vilification of individual motive and meaning already exists in the desantis case. i have seen people saying not to go to the disney pride events because they're cash grabs (they are). i've seen people saying you have to go because they're a way to protest. there isn't a lot of internet understanding of nuance. instead it's just "good show of support" or "evil bootlicking."

this binary understanding is how you can become radicalized. when we fear nuance and disorder, we're allowing ourselves the safety of assuming that the world must exist in binary - good or bad, problematic or "not" problematic. and unfortunately, bigots want you to see the world in this binary ideal. they want you to get mad at me because "disney is taking a risk for our community but you won't sing their praises" and they want me to get mad at you for not respecting the legit personal trauma that disney forced me through.

in a grander scheme outside of disney: what happens is a horrific splintering within activist groups. we bicker with each other about minimal-harm minimal-impact ideologies, like which depiction of bisexuality is the most-true. we gratuitously analyze the personal lives of activists for any sign they might be "problematic". we get spooked because someone was in a dog collar at pride. we wring our hands about setting an empty shopping mall on fire. we tell each other what words we may identify ourselves by. we get fuckin steven universe disk horse when in reality it is a waste of our collective time.

the bigots want you to spend all your time focusing on how pristine and pretty you and your interests are. they want us at each other's throats instead of hand in hand. they want to say see? nothing is ever fucking good enough for these people.

and they want their followers to think in binary as well - a binary that's much easier to follow. see, in our spaces, we attack each other over "proper" behavior. but in bigoted groups? they attack outwards. they have someone they hate, and it is us. they hate you, specifically, and you are why they have problems - not the other people in their group. and that's a part of how they fucking keep winning.

some of the things that are beloved to you have a backbone in something terrible. the music industry is a wasteland. the publishing industry is a bastion of white supremacy. video games run off of unpaid labor and abuse.

the point of activism was always to bring to light that abuse and try to stop it from happening, not to condemn those who engage in the content that comes from those industries. "there is no ethical consumption under late capitalism" also applies to media. your childhood (and maybe current!) love of the little mermaid isn't something you should now flinch from, worried you'll be a "disney adult". wanting the music industry to change for the better does not require that you reject all popular music until that change occurs. you can acknowledge the harm something might cause - and celebrate the love that it has brought into your life.

we must detach an acknowledgment of nuance from a sense of shame and disgust. we must. punishing individual people for their harmless passions is not doing good work. encouraging more thoughtful, empathetic consumption does not mean people should feel ashamed of their basic human capacities and desires. it should never have even been about the individual when the corporation is so obviously the actual evil. this sense that we must live in shame and dread of our personal nuances - it just makes people bitter and hopeless. do you have any idea how scared i am to post this? to just acknowledge the idea of nuance? that i might like something nuanced, and engage in it joyfully? and, at the same time, that i'm brutally aware of the harm that they're doing?

"so what do i do?" ... well, often there isn't a right answer. i mean in this case, i hope mickey chops off ron's head and then does a little giggle. but truth be told, often our opinions on nuanced subjects will differ. you might be able to engage in things that i can't because the nuance doesn't sit right with me. i might think taylor swift is a great performer and a lot of fun, and you might be like "raquel, the jet fuel emissions". we are both correct; neither of us have any actual sway in this. and i think it's important to remember that - the actual scope of individual responsibility. like, i also love going to the parks. Thunder Mountain is so fun. you (just a person) are not responsible for the harm that Disney (the billion dollar corporation) caused me. i don't know. i think it's possible to both enjoy your memories and interrogate the current state of their employment policies.

there is no right way to interrogate or engage with nuance - i just hope you embrace it readily.

[pageofheartdj]

I don't want to start shit, but it really irks me, so I want to vent anyway.

People claim Alastor is sex-repulsed because he rejects Angel's advances.

But what do we see with Pentious?

His rejection is even more vivid. But later?

It's almost like people usually want to have sex with someone they like.

Sure there are people who wouldn't mind having sex with a stranger or someone they barely know. But that doesn't mean that if you are not ready to jump into bed immediately you are sex repulsed.

I do not remember people commenting on Pentious claiming he is sex repulsed. Only Alastor. Why? Is it because he is ace? His averseness to fuck someone he knows for a week suddenly makes him sex repulsed because he is asexual and all asexuals are sex repulsed?

Upd. (It was also about him being touch-averse which is ALSO not connected to sex and we already saw that Alastor is not 100% always aversed. He has tight boundaries)

Upd 2. ( I was so angry I forgot about freaking Husk xD Who was constantly annoyed by Angel's advances. Again, no one even blinked at that)

*sigh* This is why I am even more vocal about canonically ace characters to be somewhere else on spectrum. To be grey, demi, anything! Because this stereotype is tiring. Bigots hate repulsed aces because we are freaks who don't want to fuck. But then queer community hates non-repulsed aces because we are not stereotypes.

[jaynovz]

I do wanna say re: Silver Backstory and my rec list and my tendency to poke and prod and explore where he may have come from--

That's not me saying that the way his character is presented in the canon *needs* that, at ALL.

First off, the speech on the cliffs, the Solomon Little stories, the complete inability to share?

It's perfect for the character, as well as an absolutely jaw-dropping ballsy as hell decision to make a prequel/adaptation about the most famous pirate figure in Western media and simply... refuse to define him in those terms the way we've seen the other main characters. It's such a ballsy and brilliant move that sometimes I stare at the wall thinking about what they have done and just, god I hope one day I can write something that great. I could go on about that but it's not my main point.

Second off, many ppl have said that the point is that the story of Black Sails itself *becomes* his origin, and in many ways that is absolutely true and I agree.

However, I also wanna point out that the acting and the writing reflect all the information we would ever need to know about John Silver even if he cannot bear to speak it in specifics.

in 4.9, Silver says:

“I have no story to tell. It all might seem as though I’m trying to conceal something from you, but… truth is, there is no story to tell. ... Not unremarkable, just…without relevance. A long time ago, I absolved myself from the obligation of finding any. No need to account for all my life’s events in the context of a story that somehow…defines me. Events, some of which, no one could divine any meaning from…other than that the world is a place of unending horrors. I’ve come to peace with the knowledge…that there is no storyteller imposing any coherence, nor sense, nor grace upon those events. Therefore, there’s no duty on my part to search for it. You know of me all I can bear to be known. All that is relevant to be known."

"Other Than That The World Is A Place Of Unending Horrors."

Now, coming at this as someone with my own fucked up trauma, that one sentence coupled with the performance from Luke really tells us everything we need to know.

So yeah, in a way it both does and doesn't matter that we don't get his history wrapped up in a pretty package, both bc it's NEVER THAT SIMPLE, and bc his REACTIONS to events/ppl are... so VERY clearly the reactions of someone who has been deeply traumatized. We don't NEED to know for the story and character to work EXACTLY as intended.

We can see him, we the audience. If you pay attention, he is not some mystery at all. We may not know exactly what happened to him, but also, we do... don't we?

[mejomonster]

On a serious note, I do feel mysterious case lotusbook has a lot of sincere themes about getting older, realities of responsibility and dreams realized, how it's difficult to succeed and not always the direct path one expects, how there's value in little aspects of life. Almost every li lianhua scene seems to be about that to some degree. The murder cases aren't particularly deep as far as super complicated to figure out or Able to be predicted super well (since they don't always give all the details in the initial setup), but the themes about who was killed and why do connect to li lianhuas situation.

[sneakyboymerlin]

Begging you all to watch the show without the m•rthur lens, because all sense of who these characters even are has been lost here.

[gibbearish]

u ever have to back out of a drama explained video bc ur like. i agree that that person was in the wrong but the way youre presenting them is just unsettling

[sitronsangbody]

Please, please be considerate of your fat friends' needs and limitations. Fat bodies are heavy to carry around. I move about the world slower than my thin peers, and I've often had to choose between pushing myself to keep a pace that takes absolutely all my energy, or being left behind, when walking in a group. I don't always feel safe to ask that everyone walk slower, because there's a prevalent idea in society that fat people need to exert themselves as much as possible at all times in the service of weight loss, and that we never "really" need rest, therefore it's a good thing whenever we're exhausted. Fat people and thin people alike are taught that fatness is a flaw, one that fat people ourselves are to blame for, so we're not entitled to any accommodation or consideration. A friend of mine who is fat recently told me about a dinner party she went to where the chairs were far too small for her and she was sitting very uncomfortably. After the meal she politely suggested moving the party to the couch, but the others didn't want to. She spent another couple of hours in unnecessary pain, and didn't dare tell them about it. I love my thin friends, but some of them just don't realize that I weigh probably twice as much as them, and yet I balance it all on the same size feet and carry it on about the same size bones. I'm like if they had a whole other them to carry around at all times. Why would that not have an impact on how I function? Please - take us into consideration when we're part of activities. Ask us which activities work and which don't. Adjust the pace so no one has to be dry heaving and sweating barrels on what's supposed to be a casual walk. Make sure venues have seating that fits us. Make it safe for us to speak up if we need something. When we do, don't treat us like we're the problem. Finally: yes, we have heard of losing weight. Even those of us who might (and many never will, whether you like it or not), won't do it on a moment's notice. If your response to "fat people deserve accommodations" is "what if they weren't fat though", you're playing a fantasy game. It's pointless. We are fat and we are here and we do partake in society. Work with that.