#biased towards villains
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Maybe its just me and im insane but maddie being the traitor and โbad guyโ felt like a real shit way to just brush off the fact cait literally cheated on her with vi ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ im??? oh yeah guys its okay she cheated on maddie because maddie is actually bad and didnt love her so she deserved it!! Huh???? ??? Cait didnโt know anything like that when she cheated. Itโs still shit. She didnโt even have the balls to tell maddie. Like it makes sense. The scene with mel implying a traitor or ambessa saying vi leaving gave her a whole in caitlyn to fill. (The whole probably making maddie rebound.)
#sorry but i kinda hate caitlyn this season#arcane#thoughts#then again i like silco and jinx etc so maybe im biased#biased towards villains#but i just hate characters that are so โmoral highโ and โgoodโ being shit#like heros in mha being shitty people#idk#but also this just felt like also the manner it was done story wise#it just felt so ugh#i felt they did my girl maddie so dirty#having her cheated on and then just making her on the anatgonist side
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i think most people would hate him if the showrunners decided to stick with canon
letโs not forget Bitterbridge and Tumbleton
daeron the war criminal deserved his pathetic death
#killed by a tent#karmaaaa#daeron the daring is a lame moniker bc he did nothing special to earn it#people cannot still believe that the show is biased towards the blacks after the showrunners completely changed the greens#to make them more likable all whilst villainizing daemon and messing with the motives of the blacks and their characterization#i hate the show but srsly why are the greens complaining when itโs the blacks who got the shorter end of the stick#istg itโs like these people want the show to have completely diverted from canon#they wanted the greens to have been the heroes they never were#asoiaf fandom critical#hotd fandom critical#anti daeron the daring#daeron the war criminal#he wasnโt getting justice he was sacking towns. this wasnโt war nor a battle it was cruel slaughter#daeron the daring#anti team green#anti team green stans#team black#pro team black#hotd#fire and blood#the greens prop up daeron so much bc aegon and aemond suck#i rly need to stay away from pro green posts but they keep popping up on my fyp ugh
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Ellisโ birthday messages ๐
Elbert:


Jude:


#happy birthday boiii#get you a jude with a blank check#ellis twilight#jude jazza#elbert greetia#i kinda wish they each got a message from victor and then victor gets one from all of them on his birthdayโฆ#โฆi am biased toward victor it seemsโฆ#ikevil#ikemen villains
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You Could Have It So Much Better: Franz Ferdinand Interview + In the Studio โคท Week Two of FranzFeb: appreciation for your favorite album
#you could have it so much better#franz ferdinand#franzfeb#probably not bye#้ณๆฅฝ#gif#my gifs#i am certainly most definitely biased towards this album#bc it's one of the Big 3 albums that my mom played in the car when i was growing up#at that impressionable age where you begin connecting to music for the very 1st time#i've talked about it before but i distinctly remember sitting in the backseat listening to the fallen & reading clarice bean#i won't go into why it's the perfect album to accompany clarice bean but. just know that it is.#(hint: ruby redfort/i'm your villain parallels)#but anyway! i got really into them again after my family moved for the 1st time#i was a super angsty teenager who had just made the jump from classic rock -> alternative/post punk#i was homesick all the time but ff not only offered a place to filter out those feelings but their music felt comfortable & familiar#and at the same time electrifying !#i listened to this album over & over & over again#and watched this footage from the dual disc just as much#the bike riding sequence? the axe-throwing? nick's exasperated 'rubbish' alskdjflslkdlfjjk#the way they talk about their creative approach to music#i love them & this album so dearly
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i see the potential for a dick and jason reverse robins au. jason staying on the good kid track from his childhood and being put on a pedestal despite still having so many issues, and then pre-teen dick grayson shows up; problem child, keeps running away from juvie and foster homes because he's lusting for murder, filled with rage and plastering a feral smile on top of it all--which jason can't even comprehend because he's so fundamentally authentic with his emotions at any given moment--and above all, making jason cry with laughter because of the look on bruce's face when he sees dick on the chandelier. it's perfectly backwards. i'm obsessed
#jason is so morally separate but i think the pressure of setting a good example for his younger siblings might calm him down#also less trauma. obviously. bruce just does better with the first one for some reason#(by which i mean at least the first one doesn't die tragically)#why do dick and jason's core personalities make way more sense if their narratives are swapped#am i just biased towards robin!jason and angry!dick ? maybe so. but im also right#those are their roots#baby jason would've thrown a tantrum if bruce didn't let him go to school while he had the flu#he thinks staying up late to read under the covers is rebelling#meanwhile dick's whole THING was running off to fight a villain alone#sound familiar?#batfam#dick grayson#jason todd#reverse robins
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my 4yo nephew is honestly such a character. love kids at this age. right now he has three favorite things. Cars. Dinosaurs...and Zombies. heard from school today that he has a select group of friends who he plays Zombies with. By which they mean that he pretends to be a zombie, and they all happily scramble to hide under a table and clutch each other and scream. He does this every day. Honestly do think this kid is going to keep his horror interest possibly long-term because he also loves to play lots of "hide/run from the zombies/ghosts" games at home. Including turning off the lights and having the both of us hide in a blanket fort huddled together while he insists that we both fake cry in fear. Most other kids he interacts with at this age are firmly in the "afraid of the dark" stage, and can only play the lights off version, or include the "pretend to bite your friend and now they are also a zombie" bit in very small doses. He has a night light in his room, but regularly chooses to sleep on the couch in the pitch black living room instead. To be fair, I had very little fear of the dark as a little kid, so maybe that part just runs in the family.
#love kids at this age#my nephew is also my favorite person so i might be biased#my sister was ill when he came home and my nephew needed constant supervision around the clock due to medical issues#so i ended up being his primary caretaker for a very long period of time#left my job that was moving out of the area anyway#stayed up with him during the nights. managed all the medical equipment and feedings and so on#so i ended up bonding w/him pretty hard. which was unexpected for me bc i've never wanted kids#or felt a strong attachment to babies until i was taking care of one 24/7 for months#when he was in the NICU i felt pretty neutral towards him. but actually caring for him...yeah i got attached real fast#anyway he is so creative w/his play style#and i love all the scary little stuff he sprinkles in there#Zombies is honestly just a tag/hide and seek combo game#it is very humorous but he also decided that if a ghost catches you...you become a ghost which...i mean technically...#but then we were playing with a toy snake as the bad guy in car city#and he decided that if the snake bites a car...it becomes a snake car and starts hissing and chasing other cars#he just really loves this concept and it's fun to see him transfer it to different 'villains' during playtime
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"uuuuuugg why do so many stories say revenge is bad and focus on forgiveness why does the protagonist try to be the better person and not just kill the villain when they OBVIOUSLY should" well I don't know about you but i like to read stories about nice people who try to be nice
#like obviously not every story SHOULD have it's characters forgiven and sometimes there IS an argument for killing the villain#but like this kind of thinking is what got us into the bad edgy comics of the 90s where all everyone did was kill and curse and be unlikable#also ngl a lotta yalls ideas for these subversions just sound boring or unpleasant#idk!!!!! i like kh and trigun maybe I'm biased towards stuff with sap and heart but
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Lilo and Stitch live action thoughts:
The emotions really donโt hit as hard in this film compared to the OG, the pacing feels really off and the film is edited weird. I remember something saying this film was originally for Disney plus before they decided to put it in theatres and it rly shows
I feel like the actor who plays Nani could be better, her relationship with Lilo is of course is still the focus but it doesnโt have the heart I wanted out of it
Stitch is still good, heโs not as charming in live action than he is in animation, I hope it doesnโt sound like Iโm just biased towards animation, I just think he emotes way better in the OG
The actor playing Lilo is REALLY good, I love her so much
Iโve already talked about jumba but guys they just RUINED his character completely, put him in Gantus role, removed any fatherly love he had towards stitch, fucked yo his dynamic with Pleakly
I think the actor playing pleakly is pretty neat! Heโs having fun and I appreciate that
David feels like he shouldnโt even be here, doesnโt really have any of his dorky charm here
I was worried theyโd make Agent bubbles a villain and it almost seemed to be going that way but heโs not. For some reason they decided to have two social workers, him and another lady who plays her part good but they legit could of just had agent bubbles and nothing would change
That scene where Stitch says โthis is my family, I found it all on my ownโ I swear to GOD, they just used the original lines from the animated move and reused it in the live action film. I feel like Iโm tripping but I swear they just took it from the animated movie and put it here
The amount of lines and jokes that are missing from the original makes me sad man
Iโm sure Iโm missing stuff but yeah Iโd rate it a 4.5/10 or something
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๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ | 24
โ๏ฝกยฐโฉ mirrors โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ

"When you're dealing with Jason, who talks about literature like it matters and opens car doors, the friendship bracelet feels like something from a different version of you. One that's messier, pettier, still half-formed."
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โ๏ฝกยฐโฉ chapter details โฉยฐ๏ฝกโ
word count: 8k
content: coffee dates with intelectual men (jason derulooooo), friendship bracelet anxiety, protective!yoongi, mia aftermath discussions, tessa planning
โง author's note โง
Okay. Before you all start side-eyeing Jason for breathing, let's set something straightโyou're biased. And you're totally valid for that.
This is a Jungkook x Reader fanfic. Obviously, we're all rooting for the emotionally constipated trauma boy who talks with his eyes and stores all his feelings behind gym towels and granola bars. I get it. I'm rooting for him too. But Jason is not here to steal your man. He's here to teach. To nudge. To trigger reflection. He's not necessarily here to stayโbut he is important. For Y/N. For her growth. For us to see what it looks like when she's treated decently on surface level, so we can question what actually feels good, and what merely feels safe.
Jason, like every man I write, is not perfect. (You'd think I'd spare at least one of them but alas, I'm God here and a mean one.) Y/N is looking at him through rose-colored glassesโyes, that's intentional. But this is not your cue to dissect him like a frog and declare "something about him rubs me wrong, Kiki please kill him." Let's calm down, Hannibal. Not every man who isn't Jungkook is a villain in this story.
And speaking of biasโlet's talk about Y/N. I want to gently remind you all: this story is told through her perspective. That means the narration is not omniscient. It's filtered through a lens of impulsivity, self-sabotage, and defense mechanisms. She's in her 20s and emotionally immature in ways that mirror her environment, her upbringing, her trauma. So yesโyou'll read lines where she praises Jason and drags Jungkook through the mud like he owes her money. That's part of her architecture. Not mine. I don't write self-insert. I write character. And Y/N is doing what a lot of us doโprojecting simplicity onto what's new and shiny, and demonizing what's familiar and complicated.
Because when you're operating from trauma, you fixate on the flaws that allow you to detach. On the safe narrative. Jungkook is socks on the couch. Jungkook is dumb. Jungkook is the roommate who yells too loudly when he's playing CoD. Not Jungkook who didn't burst into his bedroom during her panic attack because he knew she wouldn't want to be seen. Not Jungkook who's messy, perhaps not attentive when it comes to mugs in the sinkโbut attentive in the things that matter.
So yes. Y/N is unfair toward Jungkook in this chapter. And Jungkook is unfair toward her, too. And they will keep on being unfair and you'll want to scream and you'll say 'they're stupid' and yes they are. That's the point. That's humanity. That's how we copeโthrough flawed logic and messy defenses. It's ugly and real and mine.
Tessa. Let's go there. I've said it before, but I'll reiterate it loud enough for the back rows: Tessa is not the villain. She's not here to be the hot girl we all collectively throw into a fictional toilet. She's kind. She's respectful. She shares common interests with Jungkook. She's doing her thing. And that's exactly why she throws Y/N off. Because it would be easier to hate her if she were rude. If she were smug. But she's not. And that's the dissonance. That's the discomfort. Tessa would probably be a friend if the circumstances were different. But she's not. She's interested in Jungkook. And Y/N is sleeping with Jungkook. So while jealousy isn't the correct word, there's still thatโฆ gut feeling. That primal "mine" that you don't have to be in love to feel. Especially when someone's the only person who's ever made you feel wanted and safe in your body. (She did say he knows where the clit is. Let's not forget that.)
And Jungkookโagain, for all his confusion and emotional hoardingโdoes not make fun of her for liking things. He forces her to confront her wants, to allow herself to enjoy things without guilt. Encourages them. Creates space for them. And she doesn't consciously realize that. But subconsciously? It's why she's defensive. Why she's scared of losing it.
Last thing I'll touch on: Yoongi. Because I love the way he shows up hereโnot loud, not meddling, but present. I made a point of explaining his schedule (beyond just plot convenience lmao) because I think it's important to portray him realistically. He's a producer. He's constantly working. And yet, when he is home, he doesn't overstep. He doesn't offer gossip. He doesn't reveal Jungkook's mess. He respects Jungkook's boundaries. He gives Y/N a branch. A little nudge. And if you know Yoongi, you know that's massive. That's someone who sees pain but respects the privacy of it. That's how love shows up in quiet friendships.
So yeah. That's Chapter 24. Not a love story. Not yet. It's a story about mirrors. About coping. About not knowing what you want until someone else tries to hand it to you, and you flinch.
Enjoy Jason while he's here. He's the first of some.
Now go read. Come back messy.
Love, Kiki (who writes enemies-to-lovers and then gets mad when they don't like each other yet) (เฒฅ๏นเฒฅ)
โ๏ฝกยฐโฉ read onโฉยฐ๏ฝกโ
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Turns out seventy-something grandmothers also read vampire and werewolf books.ย
Sunday shifts at Barnes & Noble are usually deadโjust you, the books, and the occasional lost tourist looking for the bathroom.ย
But today feels off-kilter, like everything's been shifted two inches to the left.ย
You keep catching yourself touching the bracelet on your wrist, the beads spelling "ROGUE" pressed against your skin, a constant reminder of last night's decisions.
You still haven't taken it off. Haven't even considered it, really, which isย weirdย because it's just a stupid tacky bracelet. Wearing it shouldn't mean anything. It's not like you and Jungkook are actually friends.
Are you?
โฆNo. Definitely not. Just roommates who occasionally don't want to murder each other. Roommates who sometimes have really good sex. Roommates who made matching bracelets in a moment of insanity.
Fuck, that does sound like friendship.
"Excuse me, dear?"
The voice pulls you from your spiral, and you realize you've been staring at the same page of inventory for at least two minutes.ย
The woman standing at your register is tiny, maybe five feet tall on a good day, with perfectly coiffed silver hair and pearl earrings that are definitely not fake.
"Sorry," you mutter, quickly scanning the five hardcover books she's placed on the counter.ย The entire Twilight saga, special edition with gold-edged pages.ย "Did you find everything okay?"
"Oh yes, thank you," she says, pulling out a wallet that looks expensive in that understated way rich people prefer. "My book club is doing a throwback month. We're revisiting our guilty pleasures."
You nod absently, focusing on bagging the books without making eye contact. Just get through this transaction and then you can go back to questioning your life choices in peace.
"So," she says as you process her credit card, "Team Edward or Team Jacob?"
Your head snaps up, certain you've misheard.
"I'm sorry?"
"The eternal question," she says with a wink. "Which supernatural suitor would you choose? The brooding vampire or the hot-headed werewolf?"
Is this happening? Is this actually happening right now?ย
You stare at her, completely dumbfounded.ย
She's got to be at least seventy, wearing a cashmere cardigan and sensible heels, asking you about fictional teen heart-throbs like you're at a middle school sleepover.
You open your mouth to give some non-committal answer, but then you remember Dora from the laundry room. How quickly you'd dismissed her as a cranky old lady, only to discover she was just a widow feeling lonely.ย
Maybe this woman is theย sameโjust looking for a moment of connection in her day.
"I'm honestly Team Alice," you say, surprising yourself with the genuine smile that forms. "She was probably a better choice than either of those two drama queens."
The woman's face lights up with delight.ย
"Oh! Bold choice. I like that." She leans in conspiratorially, lowering her voice. "I'm Team Edward, myself. I guess I like old men after all."
A startled laugh escapes before you can stop it. "He is like a hundred years old in a teenager's body. Very problematic."
"Precisely why it's a guilty pleasure, my dear," she says, accepting the bag you hand her. "The best kind of fiction lets us enjoy things we'd find appalling in real life."
There's something weirdly profound about that statement coming from a pearl-wearing grandmother buying vampire romance novels on a Sunday afternoon.
"Enjoy your book club," you say, meaning it.
"I will. And you enjoy whatever team you're on," she replies with a wink, nodding toward your wrist where the friendship bracelet sits.
Before you can respond, she's walking away, her heels clicking rhythmically against the floor.ย
You stare after her, feeling like you've just had some kind of surreal encounter with a Twilight-loving fairy godmother.
The rest of your shift passes in a blur of restocking shelves and helping lost customers find the bathroom.ย
By the time you clock out, the Twilight grandma feels like a fever dreamโsomething your brain made up to break the monotony. But the conversation stays with you, an unexpected bright spot in an otherwise tedious day.
You're still thinking about it when you unlock the apartment door three hours later.
"Hello?" you call out, dropping your keys on the entry table with a clatter.
Nothing.
The apartment is empty, the silence confirming what you already knewโyou've got the place to yourself.ย
No Yoongi with his silent judgment. No Griffin with his judgmental silence. And no Jungkook with his...ย
โฆ
Whatever.
You check your phone.ย
An hour and a half until you're supposed to meet Jason for coffee.ย
Plenty of time to shower away the retail grime and maybe even put on something that doesn't scream โI've been folding books for eight hours.โ
As if sensing your thoughts, your phone pings with a text.
๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ 4? ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐?ย
You bite back a smile.ย
He's offering to pick you up? So he remembers where he dropped you off that one time after class?ย
That's... actually kind of sweet. A guy who actually pays attention to details.
It's refreshing after dealing with Jungkook, who once put an empty milk carton back in the fridge and claimed he โdidn't noticeโ it was empty. Like someone just happened to drink all the milk and then carefully put the empty container back exactly where they found it.ย
Idiot.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ โค๏ธ
You donโt know why youโre using proper caps now, or why you add the heart emoji. Itโs all without thinking, and you stare at it for a solid five seconds wondering if it's too much.ย
But it's already sent, and honestly, it's just an emoji. Not like you're proposing marriage.
As you scroll back through your messages, another unread text catches your eye. From last night. When your phone pinged during the bracelet exchange with Jungkook.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐ข! ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐! ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐? ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐ฅฐ
Oh.
Ohย right.
Tessa from last night. The literal goddess with perfect hair who wanted your advice about dating Jungkook. The girl you told to go for it because, why not? He could do a lot worse than someone genuinely nice and put-together.ย
You stare at the text for a long moment, trying to figure out what to say to that. Because itโs weird. It feelsย weird.
No, the weird feeling is probably just that you're not sure you want to get involved in Jungkook's love life. It's one thing to suggest Tessa make a move, but playing matchmaker? Giving ongoing advice? That's crossing into territory that feels uncomfortably personal.
Plus, you're kind of sleeping with him. Would be weird to help another girl date your fuck buddy. Not because you care who else he sleeps withโyou๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝdon't. Obviously. But it would just be... awkward.
And what would you even say?ย โHey Tessa, here's how to seduce my roommate: play hard to get, argue with him constantly, then jump his bones when he least expects it. Works for me!โ
Yeah, no.
You set your phone down without replying. You'll deal with Tessa later. After your coffee with Jason. After you've had a shower and maybe some time to think about how to navigate this bizarre social situation you've somehow landed in.
As you head to the bathroom, you catch your reflection in the hallway mirror. You look tired, a little rumpled from your shift, but not terrible. Your eyes drift down to the colorful beads circling your wrist. ROGUE, spelled out in childish letter beads.ย
You could take it off. Probably should, honestly. It's not like you're twelve, wearing friendship bracelets with your BFF.
But your fingers don't move toward the clasp.ย
Instead, you just turn away from the mirror and continue toward the bathroom.
It's just a bracelet. It doesn't mean anything.
You'll take it off tomorrow.
Funny how a look can make you remember what itโs like to feel beautiful.
Jasonโs car is clean. Not serial killer clean, but neat in a way that feels vaguely impressive for a guy whoโs in grad school and not living off a diet of ramen and emotional repression.ย
When you slide into the passenger seat, your dress rides up just a little, and you catch him glanceโbrief, polite, but definitely there.ย
You donโt blame him. You lookย good.
Hair curled. Lip gloss strawberry-slick. Earrings you almost forgot you owned. The black dress is simple but it fits just right, hugging the curve of your waist like it was designed to hold you together when you forget how.ย
Youโd like to pretend you donโt care what Jason thinks, but you shavedย aboveย the knee and sprayed perfumeย behindย your knees, so.
He smiles when he sees you, soft and almost surprised. โHey. Wow.โ
โWowโ. Not โyou look niceโ, not โI like your dressโ.ย
Just wow, like he wasnโt prepared for this version of you.
Like heโs seeingย you, not theย outfit.
You kind of love that.
โHey yourself.โย
You buckle in and feel the nerves pull tighter in your chest. Youโre not used to being nervous anymore. Youโve fucked your way through worse situations than this.ย
But this isnโtย sex. This isย coffee.ย
Somehow infinitely more exposing.
The drive is short, music lowโJason puts on some indie playlist thatโs equal parts folky and hipster, and you catch lyrics about moons and bones and the way someone smells in spring. He doesnโt talk much on the way, but itโs not awkward. Just quiet. Thoughtful. Thereโs a kind of comfort in that, in not having to fill every second with chatter.
When you arrive, you wonder if youโve accidentally agreed to a second location with a man who might bankrupt you.ย
Because this coffee shop? It is sleek and minimalist, all marble tables and matte-black finishes, the kind of place where the baristas wear aprons and pour water like theyโre performing surgery.
And holy shit, it smellsย amazing. Not in the burnt hazelnut way youโre used to from campus cafรฉs, but rich, deepโvanilla and cinnamon and fresh grounds that probably cost more per ounce than your soul.
Jason holds the door open for you. Doesnโt make a big deal of it. Just does it like itโs second nature. And okay,ย fine, you notice that. Youโre not made of stone.
You order the strawberry latte on a whim, mostly because the flavor name makes you smileโโblushberry blossomโ (cโmon thatโs such a cute name)โand partly because the idea of something pink and ridiculous feels like rebellion in a place this serious. Jason, for his part, gets a cortado.
You sit by the window, where light slants in gold and sharp across the marble, catching on the rim of your cup and your collarbone.ย
Here, the world outside feels very far awayโno Griffin knocking shit over, no roommates stomping around the apartment like emotional hurricanes. Just soft jazz and clinking spoons and the man across from you who keeps doing this thing where he leans in slightly when you talk, like he doesnโt want to miss anything you say.
โYou really think that about Bishop?โ he asks, eyebrows up.
You nod. โYeah. I mean, itโs not that I think she hated women, but thereโs definitely an internalized thing going on in the way she writes about domesticity. Like sheโs performing detachment because thatโs the only way to survive inside it.โ
Jason exhales, a quiet sound of admiration. โThatโs really smart.โ
You shrug, suddenly a little too warm.ย
Compliments on your appearance are easy to swat away.ย
Thisย kindโthe youโre actually intelligent and Iโm listening to you kindโsticks in your chest like static.
Your latte arrives, delicate as hell. Pale pink with foamy swirls and a single edible flower floating on top. Instagram bait. You take a sip, expecting something syrupy and fake, but itโsโฆ
Huh.
You pause. Purse your lips. The taste is sweet, but not in a candy way. More likeโฆ tooย smooth. Like itโs missingย bitterness. But itโs fine. Justโoff, somehow.ย
Not bad, justโฆ not what you were expecting.ย
You take another sip.
Stillย weird. Stillย fine.
You say nothing. Just keep talking, keep leaning into the conversation, because Jasonโs eyes are lit up and heโs asking you questions like he actually cares about the answers.
You talk about poetry, about undergrad nonsense, about that one professor who only teaches in metaphors and might actually be a tree in disguise. Jason laughs at your jokes and adds his own and itโs easy. Like,ย actuallyย easy. Like your brain isnโt doing somersaults trying to predict the next emotional landmine.
Halfway through the drink, he glances down at your wrist and tilts his head.
โIs thatโฆ a friendship bracelet?โ
You glance at it before you remember itโs there.ย
Your hand had been resting on the table, fingers curled lightly around your cup, the ROGUE beads facing up like theyย wantย to be seen.
Shit.
You forgot you wereย stillย wearing it. In fact, havenโt you been wearing it all day? All shift. Through your shower. Through putting on perfume. Through curling your hair. Through walking out the door knowing someone might see it.
You pull your wrist back instinctively. Not fast enough to be defensive, just enough to make it clear you hadnโt meant for it to be a conversation piece.
Jason doesnโt laugh. Doesnโt tease. Just raises his eyebrows, curious but not unkind.
โOh,โ you say, pretending itโs nothing. โYeah. Itโsโstupid. A joke, kind of.โ
Jasonโs brow furrows. โNo, itโs cool. I mean, itโs cute. Just wasnโt expecting that from you.โ
You laugh, a little too fast. โYeah, me neither.โ
โItโs not a bad look,โ he offers. โVeryโฆ I donโt know. Vintage, maybe?โ
He says it in the tone of someone trying to offer reassurance, not judgment.ย
And thatโs the thing, because he hasnโt said anything bad about it.ย
Itโsย you.ย
Youย feel it. That quiet little itch of self-consciousness blooming under your skin.ย
And suddenly you are twelve years old, and someone just caught you doodling hearts in your notebook.ย
You feelโฆ silly.
Not because itโs a dumb braceletโit isโbut because itโs onย your wristย inย this place,ย withย this person.ย
With Jason, who talks about literature like it matters, who picked you up on time, who smells like sandalwood and books, who looks at you like heโs trying to memorize your mouth.
The bracelet feels like something from a different version of you. One thatโs messier, pettier, still half-formed. The version that knocks Jungkookโs protein powder off the counter just to watch him flinch. The one who keeps secrets in locked journals under the bed.
You press your wrist lightly against your thigh under the table, hiding it without really hiding it. Jason doesnโt press. He just sips his coffee and asks what you think about Rainer Maria Rilke.
You tell him. You talk about how Letters to a Young Poet changed the way you understood loneliness. About how writing doesnโt have to be for anyone else. About how maybe thereโs something holy about solitude when itโs chosen.
He listens like the worldโs on mute.
And maybe, just maybe, you start to believe the things youโre saying. Maybe you start to feel like someone worth listening to.
โYou should read this essay by Gilbert and Gubar,โ he says, pulling out his phone to make a note. โIโll send you the link. Itโs about the madwoman in the attic as a feminist symbol. Might give you some interesting perspectives.โ
โThat would be great,โ you say, soft smile tugging at your lips.ย
Itโs been ages since youโve had a conversation like thisโsomeone who not only gets your academic interests but actively engages with them.
โYouโre really smart, you know that?โ he says suddenly, setting down his mug. โLike, genuinely insightful. You should consider applying to graduate programs.โ
The compliment catches you off guard, warmth spreading through your chest.ย
โIโve thought about it,โ you admit. โBut itโs competitive. And expensive.โ
โTrue,โ he nods. โBut there are fellowships. And based on what Iโve heard from you in class and now, I think youโd have a shot.โ
You take another sip of your too-sweet latte to hide how pleased you are. Itโs not that you need validation, butโฆ okay, maybe you do, a little.ย Who doesnโt?
โI could help you look into programs, if you want,โ he offers. โNo pressure, justโฆ I know the landscape pretty well.โ
โThat would be amazing, actually,โ you say, meaning it.
By the time youโve both finished your drinks, the afternoon light has shifted. Youโve been talking for over two hours, and itโs only when you check your phone that you realize how much time has passed.
โI should probably get you home,โ Jason says, checking his watch reluctantly. โIโve got a stack of papers to grade before tomorrow.โ
โRight,โ you nod, equally reluctant to end the afternoon. โTeaching assistant duties call.โ
โUnfortunately,โ he sighs, then brightens. โBut Iโd love to do this again. Maybe dinner next time?โ
โIโd like that,โ you say, and you really would.
After 10 minutes in his car, you think heโs turning toward your apartment.ย
Youโreย wrong.
Jasonโs blinker flicks left instead of right, merging smoothly into traffic like this isnโt a diversion. Like itโs part of the plan.
You glance over, raising an eyebrow. โUm. Homeโs the other way.โ
He smiles, eyes still on the road. โI know. I wanted to show you something first.โ
Your chest fluttersโnothing dramatic, just a soft little hum, like the opening notes of a song you donโt recognize but already like. You sink back into the seat and let yourself be curious.
The drive winds west, toward the river, buildings falling away into stretches of old brick warehouses and glass condo towers that look like they belong in an entirely different version of your life. One where you probably own a milk frother and know what saffron tastes like.
Jason doesnโt say much, just tunes the radio to some local jazz station and hums softly along. The golden hour light cuts sideways through the windshield, warm and syrupy, painting the world in blush and amber.
He pulls over near a quiet overlook, where the road widens into a shoulder and the guardrail curls just enough to frame the view. The Hudson stretches wide in front of you, molasses-slow and glittering under a sky thatโs all pinks and orange melt, the kind of sunset you always say youโll watch more often but never do.
He doesnโt make it a thing. Just kills the engine, unbuckles his seatbelt, and nods toward the passenger side.
โCome on.โ
You follow, caught in that half-stunned, half-swoony state that makes your steps feel floaty.ย
The air outside is cooler than you expect, touched with that river dampness that curls around your ankles and lifts the hair on your arms. The water looks like glass, rippling only when the wind brushes across it.
โOh my god,โ you breathe, stepping closer to the edge.ย
The view isย stupid. Like, actually unfair. The skyโs a clichรฉ in real timeโcotton candy pink and tangerine and just the faintest smear of lavender toward the edges.ย
You pull out your phone without thinking, framing the scene like muscle memory.
One shot.
Then another.
Then one with your shoulder in the corner, just to prove you were here.
Jason stands a little off to the side, hands in the pockets of his coat.ย
Heโs not watching the viewโheโs watchingย youย look at the view, which somehow makes it feel even more unreal.
โI didnโt want the date to end in a parking lot,โ he says quietly.
You smile down at your phone, thumbs already moving. You pick the best one, swipe through a filter, drop the saturation just a little. Caption:ย this sky is a lie and Iโm letting it.
You post without thinking. Itโs just a sunset. Itโs just a moment. But it feels worth remembering.
A notification pops up a few seconds later.ย Like.
Then another.
Thenโ
35mmghost liked your photo.
You blink.
Snort.
Okay.ย What?
You donโt say anything, just stare at the name for a beat longer than necessary.ย
35mmghost.ย
That isโฆ not what you expected Jasonโs Instagram handle to be. If it is Jasonโs. Which would be hilarious. And weirdly endearing.
You flick a glance toward him. Heโs smiling to you, with his phone between his fingers. Like you just caught him.
He just pockets it and gazes out at the river like heโs trying to memorize it.ย
You file it away. Not important. Probably. Justโฆ cute.
Jason, apparently, has a secret artsy side.ย
And aย dramaticย username.
Ghost, really?
You like it. Quietly. Silently. The same way he let you have the view.
He doesnโt know you noticed. Doesnโt try to impress you with it.
And for once, you donโt overanalyze. You just let yourself stand there, cheeks a little pink from the wind and the compliment still buzzing somewhere behind your ribs, watching the sky slide into dusk like itโs not even trying to be beautiful.
Like it just is.
When he finally drives you home, you find yourself feeling lighter than you have in weeks.ย
Thereโs something refreshingly straightforward about Jason.ย
No games, no cryptic comments, no emotional whiplash.ย
Just a smart, mature guy who seems genuinely interested in you.
When he pulls up to your building, he gets out to open your door againโwhich still feels like something from a movie rather than real life.
โThanks for today,โ you say, standing awkwardly on the sidewalk.ย
Is this the part where you kiss? Youโre not sure what the protocol is here.
Jason solves the dilemma with a warm smile and a slight step backโrespecting your space in that careful way that somehow makes him even more attractive.
"Thank you for making my Sunday exponentially better," he says.
It's such a nerdy, earnest thing to say that you can't help but smile.ย
"Exponentially, huh?"
"At least by a factor of ten," he confirms with a grin. "I'll text you about dinner?"
"Sounds good."
You watch him drive away, a pleasant buzz of anticipation tingling in your chest about seeing him again.ย
For once, your love life seems straightforward and uncomplicated.ย
A mature guy who's exactly what he appears to be.ย What a fucking novelty.
When you finally make it upstairs, the apartment is still quiet. Still empty.ย
You kick your shoes off at the door and shrug off your coat, fingers catching on the thin leather strap of your bag. You leave it on the couch and walk straight to your room, not bothering to turn on any lights.ย
Thereโs enough spill from the windows to see byโblue-gray and soft, the city humming faint in the background like a lullaby that never really ends.
You catch your reflection in the mirror again.ย
Dress still hugging you right, lip gloss faded but not completely gone. Your cheeks are flushed in that way that feels natural, earned.ย
Youย lookย good. Youย feelย good.
But your gaze drifts. Down to your wrist.
There it is. Bright and stupid and clunky against the sleek black of your dress.ย
ROGUE.
It looks even more ridiculous now than it did in the cafรฉ. Like a tacky souvenir trying to pass in a room full of doctoral candidates.
You sigh.
Itโs not that youโre ashamed of it, exactly.ย
Justโฆ aware of it.ย
In a way you werenโt before.ย
Aware of what it signalsโabout you, about the you that exists in here, in this apartment.ย
The one who fights over fridge space and burns frozen pizza and still hides snacks under the bed like youโre prepping for an apocalypse Jungkook might eat through.
Jason didnโt make you feel bad about it. Not at all.ย
But there was that little jolt of being seen in a way you didnโtย meanย to be. Like wearing pajamas to class by mistake.
You run your thumb over the beads. Theyโre slightly warm from your skin, the elastic stretched just enough to make a faint indent on your wrist.ย
Itโs silly.ย
So fucking silly.ย
You shouldnโt have even worn it out. It doesnโt belong in cafรฉs with marble tables and edible flowers. Doesnโt belong with guys who talk about Rilke and open your door and make you feel like your brain is the most interesting thing about you.
It belongs here. Inside these walls. In the shared chaos of mismatched mugs and territorial coffee wars and Griffin sleeping on your face.ย
It belongs in the version of you that forgets to do laundry and screams at reality TV and gets off with your roommate like itโs just another way to burn through stress.
Maybe itโs time to choose. Or at leastโฆ edit.
You slide the bracelet off. Slowly. Carefully. Set it down on your dresser, next to the copy of The Bell Jar youโve been meaning to reread and a half-burnt candle that smells like peaches and something faintly smoky.
Youโll still wear it sometimes. Just notโฆ when you go out with Jason. Not when you want to feel sleek and composed and like maybe, just maybe, youโre building something a little more deliberate than chaos.ย
Maybe thatโs okay.
You leave it where it is.
And you donโt stop to think whether Jungkook is even wearing it at all.
โYouโre alive?โ
The words slip out before you can stop them, a bit too loud for a quiet apartment and a bit too sarcastic for someone who just walked through the front door.ย
But itโs Yoongi. Youโre pretty sure he came out of the womb with a glare and noise-cancelling headphones.
He gives you a flat look, keys jingling as he kicks the door shut behind him.ย
No hello, no how was your day, just a flick of his eyes from your face to your bare legs stretched across the coffee table, one foot propped up like youโre posing for a toenail polish ad no one asked for.
โDidnโt expect you home,โ you add, waving your freshly painted big toe in his direction. โFigured you were off ghosting the apartment all weekend like usual.โ
He drops his messenger bag by the door with a soft thud, shrugs like the weight of being perceived is too much.
โDidnโt have that much work today,โ he says, deadpan, already halfway to the kitchen. โBeen overworking all week. Evenย Iย get tired of being productive.โ
You blink. โWaitโyou work on Sundays?โ
โI workย always,โ he calls back, grabbing a mug from the cabinet like it personally offended him. โWhatโs your point?โ
You roll your eyes, adjusting your foot on the arm of the couch so the polish doesnโt smudge.ย
โMy point is, maybe stop pretending youโre not a person and do something degenerate for once. Watch trash TV. Go outside.โ
โI went outside,โ he mutters, reaching for the coffee grounds. โRegret it.โ
โYouโre making coffee now?โ You glance at the clock. โYouโll be awake all night.โ
โMm,โ Yoongi says, which is less a response and more a vibe. โNot like Iโve slept properly in a week anyway.โ
โThat sounds healthy,โ you sing, flicking the cap back onto the nail polish bottle.ย
You donโt know when this stopped being weirdโtalking to him like this.ย
Itโs not friendship, exactly, but itโs not not that either.ย
Comfortable-ish. Low maintenance. The kind of dynamic that doesnโt need checking in.
Griffin trots out from wherever he was napping, tail flicking with thatย โwhere the fuck is my dinner, peasantsโย energy.
You lean over and scratch behind his ear. โStill no sign of your boy?โ.
Yoongi shrugs โhis primary form of communicationโthen cups his hands around his mouth and yells, โJUNGKOOK!โ
The silence that follows is answer enough.
โNah, heโs not home,โ Yoongi confirms unnecessarily.
You roll your eyes, screwing the cap back on your nail polish. โThanks for the thorough investigation.โ
You go back to focusing on your second foot, tongue poking out slightly as you try not to smear the top coat.ย
Thenโ
โHey,โ he says, casual but not. โBy the wayโฆโ
You pause, brush hovering mid-air.
โโฆIโve been meaning to talk to you about something.โ
Your stomachย drops.ย
Those wordsย neverย precede anything good.ย
Is he kicking you out? Did you do something wrong? Is the rent going up? Did he find your secret stash of chocolate-covered pretzels hidden behind the rice?
โOkayโฆโ you say cautiously, sitting up straighter. โWhatโs up?โ
Yoongi takes a sip of his coffee, still not meeting your eyes. The silence stretches just long enough to make your anxiety spike before he finally speaks.
โItโs about Jungkook.โ
Oh.
Oh no.
Did Jungkook complain about you? Is Yoongi about to give you some weird roommate intervention? Does he know about theโฆ arrangement you and Jungkook have?ย
God, that would be mortifying.
โWhat about him?โ you ask, aiming for casual but landing somewhere closer to defensive.
Yoongi presses his lips together like heโs trying to decide if speaking is worth the effort. Spoiler: it usually isnโt.
Thenโquiet, low:ย
โBack at the karaoke placeโฆ you met Mia, right?โ
You freeze mid-swipe, the brush hovering just above your toenail. Thereโs a split second where your brain tries to play dumb. Pretend you didnโt. Pretend you forgot. But your body answers before your mouth doesโshoulders tensing, breath pulling tight behind your ribs.
โYeah,โ you say slowly. โI remember.โ
And you do. Perfectly. Chanel and Louboutins and weaponized perfume. Voice like saccharine venom and teeth too white to be trustworthy.ย
You remember the grip on your arm. The way Jungkook lookedโvacant, off, like someone unplugged him at the base of the spine.
Yoongi nods once, eyes fixed on his coffee like it might offer divine clarity.
โI need to know what happened.โย
His voice isnโt demanding, not exactly. Justโฆย steady. Firm in a way youโve never heard from him before.ย
โWhat did she say to him?โ
You shift on the couch, pulling your knees up to make room for Griffin, who hops beside you with zero regard for the wet polish on your toes.ย
You donโt answer right away. Not because youโre trying to avoid itโitโs just that youโre not sureย howย to answer.
Yoongi doesnโt push. Just waits.
You glance toward the kitchen, then back at him.ย
โI didnโt hear everything,โ you start. โShe was already talking to him when I found them. I didnโt even know who she was at first, just thoughtโsome random girl, yโknow?โ
He nods once. Still waiting.
โShe was dressed like she had three bodyguards waiting outside,โ you add, because you canโt help yourself. โTotal Upper East Side vibes. Like she was slumming it for the night.โ
That earns a dry little huff from Yoongi. Almost a laugh.ย Almost.
Your fingers twitch against your thigh.ย
โShe knew it was his birthday,โ you say, softer now. โSaid it all sweet butโlike. Fake sweet, you know? Like she was performing nice but wanted him to feel like shit for not inviting her.โ
Yoongiโs jaw ticks as he listens. Heโs still holding the coffee mug, but you can tell heโs not really drinking anymore. Just holding it like a prop.
โShe saidโฆโ Your voice trails off. You swallow. โShe said,ย โTry not to have too much fun without me.โย And something about his dad. I didnโt catch all of it. But her toneโit was likeโฆ she wanted to rattle him.โ
Now Yoongi finally looks at you. Not full on, not probing, but enough to catch your face in his periphery.ย
โShe mentioned hisย dad?โ
โYeah.โ You nod. โJustโlike, she knew itโd hit a nerve. She said something aboutย โnot replacing herโ or whatever. I donโt know the full context, but... whatever it was, it fucked with him. He lookedโโ
You pause.ย
The image flashes in your head: Jungkook standing in the hallway, motionless. His face locked down, shoulders tight. Like something inside him had short-circuited.
โHe looked small,โ you say quietly. โScared. Not like himself.โ
Yoongi takes that in. Doesnโt react right away. He just huffs out a breath through his nose and leans back against the edge of the kitchen counter.
Another pause.
Then: โSheโs good at that.โ
He says it flatly. No inflection. No explanation.
You tilt your head. โYou know her?โ
โNot much. But I know exactly what he looked likeย afterย her.โ
Youโre quiet, sensing the line. The invisible perimeter Yoongi keeps between whatโs his to share and what isnโt.
โIโm not asking for his secrets,โ you say, meaning it.
โGood,โ he replies instantly. โBecause theyโre not mine to give.โ
That makes you like him more. Irritatingly so.
You donโt push. But your gaze stays on him, curious.
Yoongi shrugs, finally setting his mug down on the counter. โIโve only known him for a year and a half, so I wasnโt around back then. Not for most of it. But she left damage.โ
You stay quiet.
โShe knows his pressure points. Knows when to act like sheโs joking and when to twist the knife.โ He rubs the back of his neck like he hates even saying this out loud. โJungkookโs got a... hard time with boundaries. Especially when it comes to people he used to love.โ
Used to.ย Interesting phrasing.
Your lips part slightly, but Yoongiโs already waving a hand like he regrets going this far. โAnyway. Not my drama. Just wanted to know what she said. He didnโt tell us much.โ
โUs?โ
Yoongi shrugs again, folding his arms. โMe, Taehyung, Hobi. The ones that showed up when she blew everything up.โ
You blink. โBlew everything up?โ
He gives you a look. Not mean. Not angry. Justโmeasured. Like heโs deciding how much to trust you.
โI said too much already,โ he mutters. โBut yeah. That hallway thing? That wasnโt nothing. I just needed to hear it from someone who saw it up close.โ
You nod slowly. โMakes sense.โ
Silence again. Not uncomfortable exactly. But heavy.
Yoongi runs a hand through his hair and glances down at Griffin, whoโs now making biscuits into a throw pillow like he pays rent.ย
โHe didnโt tell you anything, huh?โ
โNo.โ The word comes out before you can stop it. Then, quieter: โHe just said he needed air.โ
Yoongi exhales. โFigures.โ
You want to ask more. About Mia. About Jungkook. About what the hell happened thatโs got Yoongi this protective over someone heโs known for less than two years. But something in his expression makes you hold your tongue.
So you just nod, brushing your fingers lightly over Griffinโs back.
After a beat, you say, โThanks for telling me. Even if it was just a little.โ
Yoongi lifts his coffee mug in a half-toast. โDonโt read into it. You were there. I needed intel. Thatโs all.โ
You smirk. โSure.โ
But you both know thatโs not all.
Not even close.
"Wait," you call out just as Yoongi's about to disappear completely.ย
You're not sure why you feel compelled to say thisโit's not like you owe Tessa anythingโbut after everything you've just learned about Mia, it feels important somehow.
Yoongi pauses, hand on his doorknob, eyebrows raised in silent question.
"That girl at the birthday party," you say, the words tumbling out before you can overthink them. "Tessa? I think she genuinely likes him. Like, in a normal way."
You don't know why you're telling him this.ย
Maybe because after hearing about Mia's toxicity, the idea of someone simple and sweet being interested in Jungkook feels like information worth sharing.ย
Yoongi tilts his head slightly. "The ginger one? Sat next to him?"
"Yeah," you nod, surprised he noticed. "She asked for my advice, actually. About him. She wants to get coffee with me to talk about it."
"Huh." Yoongi leans against his doorframe, considering this. "She seemed... nice."
The way he saysย โniceโย makes it sound like he's describing an alien species he's only read about in textbooks.
"Sheย isย nice," you confirm. "Like, genuinely nice. Soft. Girly. ย Probably doesn't have any emotional baggage or toxic exes lurking around corners."
You're babbling now, but you can't seem to stop.ย
Because you feelย guilty.ย
Because you told this nice beautiful girl to go for an emotionally stunted dude who apparently has way too much baggage.ย
Because maybe Jungkook is not even ready for any of this.
"I told her to go for it. With Jungkook, I mean. Before I knew about... all this Mia stuff."
Yoongi's expression shifts subtlyโa slight narrowing of the eyes. "You're playing matchmaker now?"
There's no judgment in his voice, just curiosity, but you feel defensive anyway.
"Not matchmaking," you clarify. "Just... I don't know. Being supportive? She asked, I answered. It's not a big deal."
"Right," Yoongi says, in a tone that suggests he thinks it might actually be a big deal. "And how does Jungkook feel about Tessa?"
You shrug, suddenly realizing you have no idea. "I don't know. They're in some classes together I think. He hasn't mentioned her."
"Jungkook doesn't mention a lot of things," Yoongi points out.
"True." You fiddle with the cap of your nail polish, avoiding his gaze. "I just thought... sheโs nice. And so pretty. I just thoughtโฆ maybe it could do him some goodโbefore I even knew about this, I mean.โ
Yoongi makes a noncommittal sound. "Maybe."
"You don't think so?"
He shrugs. "It's not about what I think. It's about whether Jungkook's ready for someone new. Especially someone... nice."
The way he says it makes you wonder ifย โniceโย is a liability in Jungkook's world.ย
If after someone likeย Mia, โniceโ feels too foreign, too simple.
"Well, I already told her to go for it," you say, feeling suddenly uncertain. "Should I... un-tell her?"
Yoongi actually smiles at thatโa small, fleeting thing, but definitely a smile. "No. Let it play out. Who knows? Maybe you're right. Maybe nice is exactly what he needs."
He doesn't sound convinced, but he doesn't sound dismissive either.
"Okay," you say, relieved. "I just... wanted you to know. Since we're apparently on Team Jungkook now."
Yoongi snorts. "I'veย alwaysย been on Team Jungkook. You're the new recruit."
"I didn't exactly volunteer," you point out.
"And yet here you are," he says, "worrying about his love life."
You open your mouth to protest, then close it again.ย
He's not wrong.
"Anyway," Yoongi continues, "thanks for telling me about Tessa. And about what happened with Mia."
You nod, feeling like you've passed some kind of test you didn't know you were taking.
Yoongi gives you one last unreadable look before finally retreating into his room, the door clicking shut behind him.
You sit there for a moment, processing the entire bizarre conversation.ย
In the span of fifteen minutes, you've gone from painting your toenails in peaceful solitude to being drafted into some kind of Protect Jungkook squad with Yoongi, of all people.
Life in Apartment 6B just keeps getting weirder.
Thirty-seven minutes later, you're sprawled on your bed, hair still damp from the shower, staring at Tessa's unanswered text like it's a bomb you need to defuse.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐ข! ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข? ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐
Youโre second-guessing everything after that conversation with Yoongi.ย
Should you really be encouraging Tessa to pursue Jungkook when you know he's still dealing with Mia-shaped emotional shrapnel? Is it fair to either of them?
But then again, who are you to play gatekeeper to Jungkook's love life? Maybe Tessa is exactly what he needsโsomeone sweet and uncomplicated. Someone who doesn't have the baggage of a toxic ex or whatever the hell happened with his father.
You groan and flop back against your pillows.ย
Why do you evenย care?ย
It's not like you and Jungkook are anything to each other. You're just roommates who occasionally fuck.ย
Youโre barely evenโฆย friends.
The word acquires a weird shape in your mind.
You pick up your phone again, determined to respond to Tessa without overthinking it.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ข๐! ๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข. ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ 2 ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐?
You hit send before you can change your mind.ย
It's just coffee. It's not like you're arranging a marriage.
Truth is, next weekโs already packedโYejiโs gallery prep, that shift you picked up for someone who โowes you oneโ but never actually pays up, and whatever Jungkookโs been muttering about needing help with but refusing to ask.ย
Itโs easier to just skip ahead. Two weeks. Feels safer. Less chance of Tessa becoming something to manage short-term.
Her response comes almost immediately.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ข๐ข๐ข ๐ฅฐ! ๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ด. ๐ท๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐!
You know Syrupโit's one of those Instagram-bait cafรฉs with latte art and avocado toast that costs more than your hourly wage. Not exactly your usual haunt, but it's not too far from campus.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐! ๐โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ 2 ๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐! ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐!ย
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐!!!
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐:๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ? ๐ค
You stare at the message, a knot forming in your stomach.ย
Because you don't โgetโ Jungkook. Not really.ย
You didn't know about his dad, or the full extent of the Mia situation, or why he disappeared to the rooftop that night.ย
You know he likes John Mayer and makes good coffee and his favorite position is cowgirl.
You know he smells like rain and his hands are always warm and he secretly carries cat treats around.
But those are just details, not understanding.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐ โ๐๐๐โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ข
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ :)ย
That feels safer.ย
Better to lower her expectations now than have her think you're some Jungkook whisperer with all the answers.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข!ย
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ? ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐!!
Intimidatedย by Jungkook?ย
The idea is almost laughable.ย
How could you be intimidated by someone who once spent twenty minutes trying to coax Griffin out from under the couch with a piece of string cheese?
But then you remember how other people see himโthe sharp jawline, the tattoos, the way he carries himself like heโs notย actuallyย dumb as hell.ย
You can see how someone like Tessa might find him intimidating.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
You hesitate, then add:
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐
It feels important to add that caveat, even if you're not sure why.ย
Maybe because of what Yoongi told you.ย
Maybe because you've seen glimpses of that complication yourself.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ !!
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐?ย
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข
You frown at the screen. There's something about her response that doesn't sit right with you. Like she's romanticizing the very things that make Jungkook difficultโthe walls he puts up, the emotional distance, the complications Yoongi hinted at.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐๐โฆ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐? ๐๐'๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
You hit send, then immediately regret your tone. That came off way harsher than you meant it to. You're about to type a follow-up when Tessa's reply appears.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ย
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐... ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐? ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐ฃ
Oh. That's actually... kind of sweet. Seems like Jungkook really does have a thing for Korean cinema.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐! ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐... ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐?
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ / ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
Your heart softens a little. There's something vulnerable about the way she just shared that personal detail, then immediately apologized for it.
It reminds you of howย youย sometimes overshare when you're nervous, then backpedal frantically.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐! ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ :(
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐ ๐๐ข ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐!ย
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐? ๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
That actually makes a lot of sense. You can see why she'd be drawn to Jungkook if they share this interest.ย
And you know from experience how rare it is to find someone who genuinely cares about the things you're passionate about.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐!ย
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐?? ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐-๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐?ย
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅบ
You can't help but smile a little. Sheโs clearly excited she is to have found someone who shares her interests. You remember feeling that way with Jason today, when he actually engaged with your thoughts on literature instead of just nodding along.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐!ย
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
Tessa takes a moment to reply, the ellipses blinking thoughtfully.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐ :( ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐ ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐!! ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐? ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐?
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐!! ๐'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค
Okay, that feels reasonable. She's acknowledging your concern without getting defensive, and clarifying her own expectations.ย
Maybe she's more level-headed than you initially gave her credit for.
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐!! ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ <3
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ข ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด
๐๐จ๐ฎ: ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐! :)
Time to bow out before you accidentally become her relationship coach.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐!! ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐!! ๐ฅบโจ
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐'๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๏ฝ!! ๐
You put your phone down, feeling a sense of closure on that front, at least for tonight.ย
Tessa seems sweet, if a little naive about the potential complications involved with Jungkook.ย
But she's also genuinely interested in him for reasons that make sense, and she seems aware enough to proceed with caution.
You roll over, pulling the covers tighter.ย
It's weird, offering dating advice about your roommate who you're also sleeping with to a girl you barely know.ย
Weirder still that you actually kind of... like her? And want things to work out okay for her?
Maybe you're growing up. Or maybe you're just tired.
Either way, Tuesday is going to be interesting.
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b.katsuki x reader (fem) | villain!reader, prohero!dynamight.
a.n; a bit of context for this little idea i had yesterday (LINK HERE). ๐๐should i make it a serie?? ๐

The war lasted years. Years that brought not only destruction but losses that hurt deep in the soul. Years in which the whole world changed, including people. Deaths, injuries, betrayals. Wins and loses.
It took years to bring Shigaraki and his whole team down, but once it was done, Bakugou remembers clearly turning toward his best friend, Izuku, and hugging him so tight.
None of them will admit it, or at least Katsuki won't, but they both cried in that embrace.
Bakugou also remembers you.
You, who once used to fight alongside him and the rest of his hero friends. You, who knew them all from your first year at UA, because you had also been a classmate. You, who had shared laughs, cries, and many moments with them. You, who chose to betray them all and turn to Shigaraki's side.
He still remembers when it happened.
You had been right by his side; actually, back-to-back covering for him in the middle of a fight. Suddenly, the sun was clouded, leaving a gloomy and terrifying tension in the air.
"Enough!" A deep male voice roared, making everyone silent, heroes and villains alike. Bakugou felt your body tensing, and he immediately knew something was wrong.
"Y/N, stop this nonsense right now."
Bakugou turned and saw you looking straight ahead towards the voice. Your chest raised and lowered rapidly thanks to your breathing, he didn't know if it was because of the fight you both had recently been in or because you were afraid.
"Come. Now."
Bakugou didn't understand, or maybe he did but he didn't want to. But he definitely felt a sort of heaviness in his chest when he heard you murmur to him "I'm sorry" and walked towards the man.
He tried to stop you by grabbing your wrist, but you never turned to look at him. You simply shook his hand away and walked towards the villain.
"Don't make it any more dramatic, you stupid hero. She has always been one of us." The man smiled devilishly, an arm surrounding your shoulders once you stood by his side.
Bakugou felt like vomiting at that image.
Your betrayal felt heavy on everyone. But especially on Katsuki.
Why? Why did you do it? There had to be a reason behind your actions. You didn't even go willingly, he knew that. He saw it. He knew it had to be under some threat or something.
He just couldn't accept the fact that the only person he had felt any sort of feeling besides annoyance towards, could not be a villain. You were not a villain.
However, that's the title the government sentenced you under after the war. And how everyone saw you. A villain, someone who betrayed them.
You are a villain, who has been sentenced to a whole life in prison after the war was over, alongside many other villains. Many other people who betrayed the hero side too.
Katsuki had been at your trial when the sentence was declared. He and others too. Izuku, Mina, Sero, Ochako, Shoto and Denki. Many were missing, many were dead.
You were standing, the first one in a line of other betrayers, clearly on purpose, just to put more shame on your person for your decisions. And behind you were people like Hawks, Inasa, Koda and Jiro, among others. A system of anti-Quirk chains connecting all of you by the ankles and wrists.
"This is... unfair," Round cheeks sighed, eyes glossy, watching the people they knew. Or used to know.
Several mmhs agreed with her. Including Katsuki.
Call him biased, he'll fucking blast you to pieces, but he was sure you didn't have a choice. Something happened that made you turn, and he was going to fucking find out what happened.
Even if after the judge read your crimes and asked you how pleaded yourself and you simply said, "guilty", with a raspy, clearly hurting voice, yet your stance was neutral, cold even.
Bakugou Katsuki didn't believe it for one second.
He kicked away an empty cardboard box that was on the ground, clearly showing his anger, as everyone walked out of the courtroom.
"This is bullshit," Sero groaned, pissed off too.
"There's something we could do," Mina declared firmly, making everyone turn around to her as she was the last one leaving the room. "Follow me."
They were all standing outside now, in an adjacent alley from the Court of Law where the sentence had been made.
"Spill it." They were all alone now, no media, no civilians.
"Yeah, what did you mean, Mina?" Ochako took a step closer to her friend, clearly anxious.
"I heard this from lawyers yesterday at the girls' restroom in the CoL. They didn't know I was there too, so they were talking freely. One of them said that she was surprised no one mentioned one of the protections of one specific law regarding certain cases. Cases where heroes are undercover, where they have to join villains."
Katsuki took a step closer, full attention to what Mina was saying. All of them were paying attention.
"They said that probably that law wasn't brought into the defense because they have no defense. They are just taking the blame for the war because that's what the government wants. Someone to point at, someone to blame."
"Fucking pieces of shit."
"Oh my God, that's horrible!" Ochako cried, hugging herself.
"I understand it now. It's perfect for them. They once fought alongside us, but then they turned, probably under government directions to play undercover. And now they are taking the blame because there isn't enough evidence that can help them, that says the contrary. Or they donโt want to show it." Izuku analyzed, crossing his arms over his chest, eyebrows frowning in thought, clearly activating his "nerd mode".
"Well, that would apply to some of them," Denki said, the anger clear in every feature of his.
"What does that mean?" Sero asked, but he didnโt seem confused. More like, indignation making its way into him.
"Please. We all clearly know who I'm talking about."ย
All eyes traveled to Katsuki.
"Don't you dare fucking say it."
"Come on, Bakugou! She was right beside you when it happened! Her freaking father called out to her and she went! She fucking chose to turn to their side!"
Before Katsuki even decided to move towards Denki, Izuku and Sero were already holding him back, each one grabbing him by his arms and pushing him away.
โWho do you fucking think you are, huh?! She took a fucking bullet for you, you asshole! You wouldnโt even be here if it wasnโt for her, that same person youโre fucking accusing-...โ
โShe still betrayed us! She betrayed YOU.โ
A growl left Katsukiโs mouth that could have frightened even All Might in his prime era, followed by a strong push that made Izuku and Sero activate their Quirks to hold their friend back. Uselessly.
But before he could reach where Denki was waiting for him, already electricity dancing around him, Mina stood right in between them, making Bakugou abruptly stop in his run in front of her.
โCut it out! Both of you!โ She yelled, โThis is not the moment for this!โ She told them off, scowling at each of them. โI donโt know whatโs gotten into you, Denki, but if this is about Jiro,โ Minaโs voice trembled, clearly upset about recognizing another of her dear friends who betrayed them. Denkiโs hands closed in fists tightly, just like his eyes, as if the name physically injured him, โitโs the same as Y/Nโฆโ
โNo, itโs not! She didnโt have another choice!โ
โAnd what the fuck makes you think Y/N did?!โ Katsuki yelled back.
โShe walked away willingly!โ
โJiro did too!โ
โI said, enough! Stop yelling!โ Mina interfered again, โWe are not going to do what everyone else is doing. We are not blaming our friends if we donโt know exactly what happened.โ
โThe only way to know is if we try to contact them, and all sorts of communications are restricted,โ Ochako offered sadly.
Mina nodded, โIf you all are done yelling, I was about to tell you guys how we can get them out of there.โ
Bakugou buffed one last time, feeling Izukuโs hand on his bicep, pulling him away softly. The message was clear, โstand down, Kacchan, and calm downโ. He took a deep breath and let Izuku drag him a few steps back.
Everyoneโs attention was back on Mina, as she explained in good detail what they were going to do.

a.n; just so everyone is aware, i do NOT make taglists. sorry. don't hate me, please๐ฅบ
#mha fanfiction#bnha fanfiction#mha bakugou katsuki#bnha bakugo katsuki#bnha bakugou katsuki#bakugou x reader#katsuki bakugou x reader#mha bakugou x reader#mha x reader#bnha x reader#bakugou katsuki x reader#mha bakugou katsuki x reader#bnha bakugou katsuki x reader#bnha angst#mha angst#prohero!bakugou katsuki x villain!reader
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Some Fun Facts According to Sparking Zeroโs Encyclopedia (aka Girl Talk)
Chichi still thinks ALL Super Saiyans are delinquents (and yes that includes Friezaโs golden form) meanwhile Bulma defends the Super Saiyan forms.
Chichi considers Krillin to be just as tough as a Saiyan because of all that heโs been through.
Bulma LOVES Vegetaโs red hair when he turns into a SSJ God.
Videl wonders if she and Future Gohan ever crossed paths in the future timeline. She also wishes she was there to fight by his side when he faced the androids.
Chichi thinks SSJ3 Goku and SSJ4 Gogeta are scary looking.
The girls all agreed that Krillin hit the jackpot with Android 18.
According to Videl, Vegeta is a good cook.
Chichi still hasnโt forgiven Piccolo for kidnapping Gohan, but looks past it cause Gohan looks up to Piccolo.
Bulma thinks Piccoloโs fusion with Nail and Kami is unimpressive compared to the other fusions sheโs seen.
Bulma has a biased towards SSJ Blue, cause well, blue hair lol
Videl believes Goku and Bulma were positive influences on Vegeta (sheโs right).
The girls donโt like Paragus for what he did to Broly (Super).
Bulma thinks SSJ4 Vegeta is โcool lookingโ and โwildโ.
Videl thinks Baby Vegeta is scary.
The girls donโt understand the purpose behind Frieza stretched out head in his 3rd form. They think he looks gross.
Bulma defends Vegeta as a father and husband, saying heโs a good dad to their kids.
Videl hopes that Yamcha will find love someday.
The girls think Garlic Jr is Pilaf
Bulma is glad Trunks doesnโt have a tail, fearful of what would happen to the house if her husband and kids could transform into a giant apes.
Bulma mistook Recoome for Android 16.
Videl is shocked to learn Piccolo was once a villain.
Videl wants a โfoodie buddyโ like Whis is to Bulma.
Bulma confirms sheโs the breadwinner of her family while Vegeta is the protector.
The girls wonder and are envious that Android 18 will most likely stay young and beautiful forever.
Bulma wonders why Zamasu didnโt steal Vegetaโs body instead of Gokuโs.
Videl did not know that Bulma and Yamcha used to date.
The girls criticized Baby Vegeta for constantly changing forms so quickly XD
Chichi respects Bulma for slapping Beerus across the face.
Chichi hopes to one day meet Bardock in Otherworld and thank him for bringing Goku to her
#dragon ball sparking zero#dragon ball#dragon ball z#dbz#dragon ball super#dbs#dragon ball gt#dbgt#bulma#bulma briefs#dbz bulma#chichi#dbz chichi#videl#videl satan#dbz videl#Vegebul#hanvi#gochi
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Beyond The Bat
(Neglected Reader x Yandere batfam)
Chapter 2: Hidden Truths
TW!!! Cursing !!Dark AU!!Mentions of Rape and Violence(not towards reader)!!
(N/N)- your nickname
3rd POV
The long twisting halls of the manor glowed radiantly with a childlike joy. Colorful drawings were plastered on walls and little trinkets and toys were scattered along rooms and hallways causing the young boy walking down the hall to chuckle and smile amusedly. 'What am I going to do with you' he thought to himself, smirking as he heard the small giggles of his sweet little sibling coming from his room. The boy walking into his room smiling at the sight of the young child laying on his bed kicking their feet as they drew.
"(N/N) you know you have to pick up after yourself after playing"
The little child immediately jumped up with excitement and ran towards the boy who opened his arms for a hug.
"Jay!"
(Y/N) squealed with joy as they jumped up into Jason's arms giving him their best attempt of a bear hug. Jason ran his fingers through their soft locks as he sat on the bed peering at their drawing.
"So what did you draw (N/N)?"
(Y/N)'s eyes lit up with excitement as they scrambled off Jason's lap to grab their drawing.
"Look Jay it's you, me, Dickie, and daddy! We're on one of those night adventures you guys promised me I could go to when I'm older!"
Jason looked at his little sibling, who held up their drawing proudly, with an affectionate smile. The drawing was as colorful as the others scattered in the manor, it depicted four figures on top of a tall building looking at the city hand in hand. Jason loved that his little sibling wanted to be with them, when they get older he hopes that they'll still want to go with them even after knowing the truth that these midnight adventures are more dangerous than their innocent mind may think. The image of him helping his beloved younger sibling train and fight by his side makes his heart swell with joy.
"It's beautiful (N/N), just a few more years and it'll be real"
"Really?! Pinkie promise?!"
Jason smiled fondly at little (Y/N) and wrapped his pinkie finger around theirs
"Yeah, pinkie promise..."
(Y/N) POV
I woke up huffing and sweating, looks like I fell asleep working on my project. After school I had met up with Cyrus and he dropped off the supplies I asked him to get. I was currently working on the biggest project of my entire life I need to get serious, no more sleeping or slacking off. Gotham was easily one of the most dangerous places in the US, even with all the heroes patrolling the area crime rates are through the roof. Despite what most think Gotham Prep isn't filled with only rich kids, there's also kids coming from middle or low class families who work their asses off to make sure their children have good lives. Unfortunately most who work here are bastards who submit to bribery or are just simply biased towards the rich, I however have no such bias. Casualty rates are extremely high for children, buses and schools are constantly in the crossfire of massive fights and unfortunately due to bad city planning there's pubs, clubs, and bars dangerously close to many schools. Rape and death are nothing new to even young children, it's sick and horrible but it's true. The police and heroes are preoccupied with keeping people safe from villains and bigger threats, so I've put it on myself to make something to at least help all the children, poor or rich, because at least most have themselves and loving friends and families to live for. I want to make some sort of public child safety technology and years of seeing Tim work and learning about technology has given me some sort of advantage to figuring this out. I have only the resources to make one for the school but hopefully it's successful and spreads to other schools and homes.
"Oh you're awake.! Mornin sleepin beauty."
I looked up to see Cyrus walk in chuckling and holding a plate of food.
"why are you here... you didn't have to wait here at the school with me."
"Oh no it's no problem at all! Plus I was worried about you, you've been workin yourself to the bone as of late."
I froze and looked at him but he just stood there with the same grin he always wears as if it was truly nothing. Why the hell would he be worried about me? No one ever worries about me so why does he? Why why why why why why why why why why why why why wh-
"Hey it's ok (Y/N), breathe in and out... breathe with me..."
I could barely hear anything he was saying but when he put a hand on my shoulder and guided me to breathe slower I could feel myself calming down.
"(Y/N)... I know your situation at home isn't the greatest but trust me you're safe with me... I care about you (Y/N)..."
I looked up at Cyrus, he was almost unrecognizable, I've never seen him this serious and worried before. Usually he's the stupid silly one and I'm the collected one-. Red hot embarrassment shot straight though me as I scrambled away from him and straightened myself out.
"I'm sorry you had to see me like that Cyrus, I would appreciate it if we never talk of this shameful event."
I turned and walked away, missing the way Cyrus' face crumpled further with worry, despair, and longing. Missing the words of reasoning he tried to make me listen to, 'No (Y/N)... it's ok... nothing shameful...come back'.
Author's Note: I'm so sorry for being gone for so long๐ญ๐ School has been killing me plus practice ugh shoot me now๐ฅฒ๐ซ Anyways I hope y'all like this chapter and like always thank you for reading and I hope y'all have a good day/night!
Credits to khaer for the dividers
@simpingpandas @rosalietodd013 @sirenetheblogger @cim0nnin @00hellohello00 @crazycaoticsimp @lovebug-apple @youdontknowshtaboutfk @kittzu @h-ib @classicsimpforaaronwarner
#x reader#yandere batfam#batfam#neglected reader#yandere batboys#yandere batfam x neglected reader#yandere platonic#barbara gordon#batman#bruce wayne#damian wayne#jason todd#dick grayson#tim drake#cassandra cain#stephanie brown#alfred pennyworth#duke thomas#platonic yandere#batfam x neglected reader#dark au#alternate universe
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What grinds my gears is what when people say that the reason Kana5 is bad due to it trying to make Mafumon sympathetic.
A couple have even gone as far as saying that Kana5 is as bad as Toya5 for the same reason and I-
Look. I deeply understand the idea of abusers being more complicated than simply โevil trashโ is hard to comprehend. And I may sound insensitive but,
They need to grow up. They should not let their biases cloud their judgement and assume something is bad just because a piece of media has something they personally donโt like
the difference between harumichi and mafuyumum is their awareness.
harumichi - fully aware of what he is doing, fully aware his son is his own person and does not stop him despite heavy disapproval
mafumum - completely oblivious to what she is doing to mafuyu, projecting an idealised version of mafuyu onto her (and possibly an idealised version of herself)
harumichi working toya to the bone is him applying how he learnt to toya. the intent was not to physically/emotionally harm toya but that is what ended up happening (physical exhaustion is to be expected, he should not have forced toya to keep working but he deals with the same so he probably doesn't think it's a big deal). that said, he is fully aware of the fact he is taking away from toya's childhood, and admits this in concerto that toya's life was not "normal".
mafumum is entirely unaware of her abuse to mafuyu. this is repeatedly made clear in events post sayonara persona. mafudad relays to her what mafuyu tells him and she's incredibly distressed to learn that she'd been hurting mafuyu and she doesn't know what she did wrong. she can be manipulative, but she's not aware that she's being malicious, she thinks she's genuinely doing what's best for her child who she loves. there's also some context clues such as her young age compared to other parents, the fact she doesn't have a job and the fact she's at a lower social standing to her husband that suggest she may also be projecting the life she didn't get onto mafuyu.
harumichi being given the attempted sympathetic backstory doesn't work. he is neglectful towards his son, but is slowly easing out of these ways a little bit. toya has already begun to make ammends without the need for making harumichi sympathetic. he's a bad parent who did a bad thing knowingly.
with mafumum it is justified. in her first appearance, we see her from the biased viewpoint of kanade, who sees her as a cold and neglectful parent towards mafuyu. however from mafuyu's pov, she is a loving mother who is misguided in how she shows this love. this is what unreliable notes is about. mafumum is a bad parent who did a bad thing unknowingly. she is sympathetic because she is a troubled mother coming to terms with the fact she ruined her child's life.
both characters are loved by their children by virtue of them being their parents. the story is going to convey that no matter how bad they are as people. yes, forgiving abusers in fiction is overdone and to some degree unrealistic, however we do not yet know if that is where the story will go. all we know is that there will be a reconciliation. but even if mafumum specifically gets forgiven, it would not be unjustified. i feel like the first impression we get of mafumum from Kanade POV left a strong impact on a lot of people that they can't let go of. the whole point of the current arc is to let that go. the game builds her up as this malicious antagonistic force so that it can deconstruct that when we get to see her from an unbiased POV. she's not a villain like many people make her out to be, she's a human who made a mistake. a very bad and very big mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. she is a loving mother who fucked up really badly because she was too obsessed over perfection to actually see her daughter for who she is.
if the writers try and make us forgive harumichi though fuck them he fucking sucks. like i feel like toya will because he's like that yknow but i don't think the audience should feel sympathetic towards him.
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you know what no I'm not done I'm not done raving about the 2025 Lilo and Stitch like a lunatic. Have to get it outta my system I wanna be a BITCH today
This is coming from someone who is very biased towards the original movie and decided to do their first hate-pirate watch just so they knew exactly what they would be raving about. So it's not an analysis really. If you like the 2025 movie then I'm happy for you, buuuut maybe don't read this ๐๐
This is not meant to discourage anyone from watching the movie, this is just me ranting and nitpicking lol. If you are interested do watch it (PIRATED) and form your own opinion!
Spoiler warning, long post
Pleakley

Hey let's talk about the changes made to Pleakley's character other than 'no dresses'
Live action: Here's the thing. They seem to understand that an inseperable part of Pleakley's character is his love for fashion. So to work around the dress ban, they decided to give him the love for human fashion from the very start. He first shows up in front of the councilwoman in a cowboy outfit. Every time his human disguise is out, he is always wearing something different (flowery shirts and hats, a mini concert backpack, etc).
But to me this further simplifies an already comedic side character. He can't even have the progression from 'mosquitoes are cool' to 'fashion is cool', or be redeemed in his view of humans from fascinating specimens to thinking feeling beings!! He has nowhere to go as a character because they moved his end point to the starting point, erasing the road!!!
By taking away his discovery of his love for fashion, he remains the same throughout the whole movie with only half the competence of his animated counterpart so he can't even be a funny punching bag character. Idk how else to explain it
Og: A smartass dripping with condescension but also scientific fascination, his disrespect to the councilwoman comes from his confidence
Live action: His disrespect to the councilwoman comes from a lack of understanding of boundaries, he constantly gets so excited he asks to hug her.
Live action: Actually he's oddly enthusiastic in this movie??? He is HYPED to be teamed up with Jumba and clings to him on first sight, he is HYPED to go to Earth and stay on Earth. He has a bit of a nervous golden retriever energy. They did keep him high-strung about the mission, which is kind of entertaining to watch when played off of Jumba.
Live action: Speaking of Jumba, they really committed! People are saying Jumba turned on Pleakley and that Jumba was the twist villain. Not true! Pleakley turns on Jumba and Jumba was always a whiny heartless ass. The councilwoman orders him to arrest Jumba after they fail and Pleakley moves to do so with a shrug. Go off buddy cops who hate each other give us nothing
To read me bitch more about Jumba, it's all here in this post, Nani is also talked about a ton in it lmao
Lilo
(No hate to the live action actor, she's delightful)
Og: In hula, she has a violent outburst in response to an insensitive comment.
Live action: In hula, she gets actively shoved onstage. I am neutral about this tbh
Live action: Lilo asking 'we're a broken family, aren't we?' is replaced by 'Am I...bad?' for Nani to comfort her. watch the Sims negative relationship points appear above my head in real time
Live action: Most of her scenes are now dedicated to being chaotic cute or encouraging Nani. The scene in her bedroom where we learn about how her parents died is dedicated to Lilo talking about Nani's backstory I am not joking
Live action: does not discuss how their parents' death affect Lilo. Lilo is a side character and a troublemaker in her own movie. Watching her gas up this college plotline because the script thinks Lilo should be more understanding of Nani is so awkward
Og: About family, Lilo says 'What happened to yours? Do you dream about them? I know that's why you wreck things. And push me.'
Live action: Lilo says 'Do you have a family?' and Stitch says 'No.' and Lilo says 'that's okay, you can be a part of ours ๐'
It's a fine change I think, all the same it shows Lilo's emotional intelligence, but the vibe is off. I can't place it
Og: Lilo tries to explain Stitch's behaviour all the time: 'He needs desserts!' 'It's past his bedtime!' 'He's an orphan and we adopted him!' 'Be careful of the little angel!' The angel I wished for, Lilo doesn't say, he has to be the one I wished for!
During the Elvis Presley beach scene in the og Lilo cries out for the spectators to stop crowding him!!! and she is correct, the camera flashes overwhelm Stitch and he lashes out again!!!
Live action: Lilo sticks up for Stitch but it's slightly different, she says 'He's just exploring his new home!' 'He's just curious!' as he's sticking forks in the blender - it feels more like she's oblivious to just how destructive his behaviour is and excusing it. She's still a really sweet brave child but her naivety is played up on purpose here to frusrate Nani even more! She only tries to seriously get on Stitch about good behaviour when everyone around keeps telling her to control her dog - Stitch is an escaped convict, he's not actually a dog does the 2025 movie know that it's important to me that they know that
Og: Lilo is so defensive of Stitch because she sees herself in him (and also he's just a magic talking animal to her). Not in the way that the 2025 movie thinks, that she's getting a taste of her own medicine (she's 6, why do you want a grieving 6 year old to learn a Cat in the Hat lesson, Lilo ALREADY KNOWS CONSEQUENCES) but in that she believes Stitch is capable of more than just a destroying beast!!!
Live action: But in the 2025 movie she sees Stitch as top tier playmate material that needs to be controlled sometimes??
Nani

Live action: Listen she still loves Lilo. Tickle fights and concern for her and laughing at her antics, there is effort to show they care, she cares.
Og: When Lilo says 'I like you better as a sister than a mom' it's sad because that's the role Nani is in now. Nani doesn't know what to say, she wants to be a sister too!!
Live action: When Lilo says 'I like you better as a sister than a mom', Nani says 'Ouch.' in like a jokey way and I don't know what to make of that.
Live action: The movie gives her Fiona Gallagher levels of stress when they added two whole characters who live NEXT DOOR that have a close bond with Lilo and know their situation super well. She is not Tiana, why are we doing this (I've never watched Shameless I just know the entire plot through TikTok osmosis ๐)
Horror just flashed before me at the thought of a Princess and the Frog live action remake in the future
Live action: They added a wise playful grandma and social worker to constantly explain the plot to Nani and the audience ughhh
The grandma tells Nani she is smart and deserves college. The grandma tells her to make up with her sister after they fight. Social worker doesn't sit Lilo and Nani down to counsel their situation and set goals, she only sits Nani down. The grandma takes Lilo to get a pet behind Nani's back and explains what pets are for to Nani. The grandma says 'hey we're ohana too' and then later we have a scene where Nani says Ohana isn't realistic.
The grandma and the social worker keep telling Nani she's so smart and selfless and she works so hard, after the movie shows that Nani is smart and selfless and works so hard. She works so hard and is struggling so much that she misses Lilo's hula show and it's sad for everyone.
Basically they gave away Nani's sillier side, understanding and patience of Lilo, and time spent with her sister that isn't scolding, to the grandma. Leaving Nani with just the tragedy
They also do a reoccurring thing with Nani struggling to start her car until the end? I don't know what that's about. I think it's symbolic for her life or something. someone tell me why they gave her car troubles on top of college troubles
Nani is a mouthpiece for the movie too. The scene where Lilo tries to use Ohana to stop Stitch from being sent away, Nani interrupts her and rants at her about how unrealistic Ohana is now, and Stitch doesn't bat an eye, still a background nuisance. Huh
How does one fuck up the record player joke I hear you ask

One morning, Lilo places a record in front of Nani and demonstrates Stitch's biopunk capabilities, absurdly transforming him into a flesh gramophone.
Og: half the punchline is Nani's utter baffled reaction at madness. This is her life now and she's more certain than ever the dog is radioactive
Live action: Nani is so busy she barely acknowledges it. Lilo has to explain why this is cool actually, falling on deaf ears as Nani is more anxiously focused on being late and having to bring Lilo along to her job applications.
Again, along with the missed hula show, they want to show how stressed Nani is to the point where she CAN'T be in Lilo's life, that Lilo is a distraction, and that's why the separation is for the best. The HOOPS this movie is jumping through mate
If you want to read more about what I've said about og Nani, it's in here
Councilwoman alien

This is the figurehead of the alien plot that they kept
Live action: Why is she talking so fast. Why are all the alien scenes going by so fast. The beginning, from Stitch's courtroom meeting to Jumba and Pleakley being sent after him, takes like less than 10 minutes in the new one.
Og: Councilwoman is wise enough to find loopholes in her strict rules in the name of ethics, she's a grumpy governor whose every move is methodical and speaks sharply to get things done.
Live action: they only halfway did that here?? At the end Cobra didn't even make up the mosquito conspiracy here, he just tells the councilwoman 'Hey. Trust me. I won't tell the government about this. ๐ฅบ'. and the councilwoman is like 'okay sure Stitch can stay.'
Stitch

Live action: A full-on dog, a puppy, a goofy creature that gets guilt halfway through instead of also being motivated by a desire for companionship
Live action: In the surfing scene, Stitch sees a dog surfing and wants to mimic it. That's it, that's why he gets on the water
Live action: New home adjustment scene, Stitch does not falter at Lilo using Ohana to stop Nani sending him away.
Here's Stitch's progress in the original film:
Destroy everything, evade the cops, find a city where I can kill everything rawr
Gets humbled by earth
Gets humbled by Lilo just hanging out
Gets humbled by Jumba and Pleakley on his ass
Hears Ohana just as he's about to get kicked out, sparking something in him
Lilo calms him down then tells him to redirect his energy towards something constructive. He makes a model of San Francisco to terrorize but it's a start
There's no memories for him to visit in the night, no other purpose than to destroy, so he starts looking through books to find it
He plays along with Lilo teaching him to play music, albeit chaotically, but he's such a natural tornado that he just brings destruction everywhere he goes. And now he's in an environment where destroying is both purposeless and not even fun, and he questions everything again
Getting humbled by surfing, placed into a situation with his natural enemy element (water) where he doesn't have the advantage. Seeing how much fun Lilo and her sister (+ future brother-in-law) are having, he finds himself yearning again, what intelligent creature doesn't? He willingly returns to water, he's scared but he's learning that water can be fun, he HUGS NANI'S LEG AND NANI FINDS HIM BRIEFLY ENDEARING
He breaks everything again, not even on purpose, the more he learns about Lilo he feels like he should remove himself from the picture, he's lost again and again. Aka consequences, he is forced again and again to grapple with consequences
He reveals himself as an alien to Lilo, he's honest on purpose because he knows he fucked up and she deserves to know the truth
During his arrest he decides to motivate Nani with Ohana again, because he's not leaving this time without them. And he gets them to save Lilo, then he ends the movie as ohana who helps with the chores
Stitch's progress in the live action: he just feels bad when Jumba calls him out and gets protective of Lilo out of nowhere!! The bond is them causing chaos together which is just more stress for Nani???
Live action: He willingly gives himself up for capture. Touching and noble, but they've missed out on yet another opportunity for Nani warm up to him.
When they make the surfing scene just surfing and the capture scene just capture, there's no reason for Nani to save Stitch from drowning the end of the movie other than an obligation to her sister and 'Ohana'! Again, it feels like obligation!!! And for plot reasons, to give Nani the selfless spotlight yet again and throw in a fakeout death scene for Stitch.
Live action: He doesn't shove Lilo like a petulant bully, his chaos feels more like playtime. It changes things when the 2025 movie makes him tear up the house with a wide-eyed smile on his face as opposed to the original where he's snarling and hissing the whole time. They're both carrying out their purpose to destroy everything they see but again. The vibes are off
He's not just a cute freak!! He's SOMETHING THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO EXIST WHO LEARNS TO LOVE AND HAS A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM!!! Agahgahhh
Extra:
The shot of the Hawaiian flag during a monologue near the ending? Cool I guess. I'm Malaysian, I recognise an intentional flag camera shot when I see one ๐ซต
CapriSun placement is also very unexpected and kind of funny. They did it like twice lmao. 'With the power of CapriSun you too can beat up Jumba in your own home!'
A lot of the 2025 movie removes if not changed the decisions their characters make that would affect the plot. It rearranges scenes without any consideration of why those scenes were there in the first place. And the scenes from the og that aren't totally altered go by so quickly with a dozen jokes per second, like the movie wants to move on and get to the new stuff they added.
Aaaah I think that's everything
Gonna go now
#my post#personal stuff#pleakley#jumba jookiba#nani pelekai#lilo and stitch#lilo and stitch 2025#lilo and stitch live action#lilo pelekai
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I get that in general a lot of kids shows do utilize the protagonists ('good guys') in ways where they're supposed to be role models, particularly because some do have a "lesson of the week" where the character does bad things, then clearly learns and explains what they should've done instead by the end of the episode.
That has just... never been how TDP has operated, and I don't get how and why people think we're supposed to take what anyone does in the show as being unilaterally good or evil. Particularly in arc 2; any moral simplicity that was hanging on by a thread in arc 1 has been taken out back and shot numerous times by now.
TDP very rarely calls anything Evil or Good, and when it does, it's always filtered through the characters' biases, and rarely does more then 2-3 characters ever have the same opinion on something for the same reasons. Soren and Rayla, who have inverted character arcs, are some of the only characters to ever use the term villain / good guys or bad guys, and are two of the most staunchly black-and-white thinking characters, heavily to their detriment, I might add, in terms of coping with the increasing complexity of their lives. They have cognitive biases. They're not always right, and are frequently wrong. This is true for everyone in the show.
The show refuses to condemn murder, indirectly and directly condemns the expulsion of humans from Xadia routinely (Evrkynd being a city for everyone, Ezran arguing with Karim, who is the most wrong about the most things), and shows a variety of viewpoints on all things.
The show understands that the choices people makeโwhether the same character trait is a flaw or a strengthโas well as 'moral' choices are all circumstantial.
Are you wrong to burn people alive? Mostly yes (2x07, 6x08) but also no (3x09). Are you wrong to kill people? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes whether it's 'wrong' or 'right' doesn't even factor in. Are you wrong to use dark magic, or use the dangerous Staff of Ziard, or coin someone and condemn them to a 'fate worse than death'? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Is lying or hiding the truth to protect someone wrong? Sometimes yes (1x06, 2x03, 3x03, 5x01, 7x04, 7x06) sometimes no (1x02, 2x03, 6x06, 5x08, 7x08).
Are you doing the right thing?
Do you have no choice? Is that true, or is that just what you think, or how you rationalize it yourself?
When is it right or cowardly to leave (Viren, Lissa, Rayla, Callum, Ezran, the Cosmic Council, the offer made to Karim's troops)? When should you stay? When do you decide to share resources (2x05) to your potential detriment or withhold them in the name of protecting yourself and your own people (Xadia and magic)? At what point(s) do you prioritize your own pain and grief, or someone else's (i.e. the Keeper vs Callum vs Ezran)? At what point is someone too dangerous or 'too far gone' to keep alive (Runaan about Harrow, Ezran about Aaravos)? At what point do you decide someone cannot change? When do you refuse to change (Karim, Terry) who you are no matter what happens, and when do you decide that you must (Ezran, Soren)? When is it wrong to use illusions to trick someone (3x09 and 7x06) and when is it more reasonable (2x03)? When should you be willing to sacrifice others (Rayla with her family, Runaan and Rayla with Callum, Soren with Viren) and when should you refuse? When should you sacrifice yourself, and when it is wrong to? Did you betray them, or did they betray you, or both (usually both)? When should you betray or stay loyal to your family? What is the right thing to do?
The show, tbh, doesn't know, at least 90% of the time. It's not interested in knowing. It's interested in exploring. That's the whole point. At most, it says you should work towards harm reduction, but what constitutes harm, and what peace looks like, is also something that greatly differs for all the characters.
Rayla is willing to sacrifice the love of her life, Ezran is willing to create weapons of mass destruction and wield one, and Callum used a torture spell on someone when he absolutely did not have to. The idea that any of the protagonists are meant to be paragons of unblemished virtue who are always 100% right, or that any of the antagonists do not canonically have a good point of contention with anything that's happened and are always 100% wrong, is reductive to everything the show is and explores, because it is Quite Literally not what the show does, ever tbh.
They literally spelled it out this past season as a core theme; I don't think they needed to have a character directly point it out every time a main character did something that was Kinda Fucked Up or Complicated But Understandable to know that the show knows it was Canonically Fucked Up or Complicated But Understandable.
There is not a single character or action in TDP that is always right, and there is not a singular character or action in TDP that is always wrong. Hell, even narrowing it down to "this is 'right' or 'wrong'" feels counterintuitive because it's so subjective within the narrative.
Every choice the characters make is often well reasoned, aligns with their values and world views, and fits into how they work through problems. Every choice has benefits and consequences, for them or for others. That doesn't mean it's Right for everyone involved. That doesn't mean it's Wrong for everyone involved. That's what makes the show interesting. Everything has nuance. Everything has Complexity. I'm not interested in a simplified version of TDP. I'm interested in the show as is.
I hope you are, too.
#tdp#the dragon prince#analysis series#analysis#mine#im so tired#s7 spoilers#like i truly cannot fathom watching viren walk away from claudia or the illusion plan in 7x06 and thinking#'the show wants us to think this was 100% the right thing to do no ifs ands or buts' like. what#like rayla thematically has always been an antagonist#it just always seems like ppl are like. the show doesn't know the magic system is unfair#or the cosmic council are gonna be good guys. and it's like. the show has known the magic system is unfair since s2#that's the point of s2. the cosmic council will be dismantled. they have to be. that's why they're there#it's a hand of god narrative structure. they executed a child for no reason. where else would we go#have a lil faith#'humans can do whatever they want bc they were oppressed' that's not how life & morality works#just look at world affairs (atrocities in gaza)
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i am but a simple-minded crow give me the shiny
the actual reason i became an eah fan is because the book pages were so pretty and so they were by default the best books i owned as a child
#don't say they didn't know their target audience#those books could have said anything and i would have said 'this is a masterpiece'#anyway the two books i had were next top villain and once upon a time a story collection#and i have to believe this is why i am so biased towards the wonderlandians duchess and cedar
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