#but I’m also not seeing the same energy and anger for people using he/him for FCG

[barbara-gordons-glasses]

I am an Omni-mark and amber enthusiast, so I have a few little headcanons for their BEAUTIFUL relationship. Pry these out of my cold dead hands and I will resurrect and beat you with a rock

OKAY

1.) Amber and O. Mark met when they were kids and O. Mark was already an outcast because he’s being raised solely by his father. Amber wasn’t weirded out by him like the other kids were so they became close friends.

2.) Once he got his powers, he told her immediately. No keeping secrets. He doesn’t think it’s necessary and he trusts Amber with his life.

3.) He asked her out as SOON as he realized he liked her, which was in late middle school to early high school.

4.) Their first date was a trip around earth, seeing everything Amber’s always wanted to visit. They end their date at a nice restaurant back in Chicago, even though I think O. Mark would want to give her something special. She thought it was enough.

5.) They’re very clingy. O. Mark is more open about it, while as Amber is more relaxed about it, unless they’ve been apart for a while (which is rarely)

6.) O. Mark braids Amber’s hair and uses red and white beads in her hair like his costume

7.) Amber gets excited when O. Mark has a “human” interest such as reading comic books or watching movies and gives all her attention to him if he talks about it so that he feels safe to keep talking

8.) Nolan’s a bitch but he knows his place

9.) the first time Amber met Nolan as O. Mark’s girlfriend, he hated her and she could sense that and gave him the same energy back, thus causing an argument

10.) Amber posts O. Mark all the time (in between posts about the world’s current events ofc) and O. Mark doesn’t even have a social media. If he did, he’d only follow Amber, only post Amber, and would spend all his time stalking Amber’s profiles

11.) O. Mark helps at the soup kitchen all the time, mostly to spend time with Amber but also because he can’t help but feel a little obligated to Earth and its people. Amber cares so much for them, after all

12.) College is rough for them. Not because of O. Mark’s hero work, but because the workload is so huge that they can barely talk. O. Mark would normally dismiss his work to spend time with her, but she threatens not to speak to him until he’s passing his classes, so he HAS to study

13.) O. Mark gets jealous easy, but hides it with anger and silence

14.) Amber doesn’t get jealous often—she’s confident in her relationship and she knows O. Mark will fight a bitch for her

15.) O. Mark, Amber, and William are best friends. O. Mark tolerates William and Amber loves him for his kindness and humor

16.) O. Mark and Amber go on double dates with William and his bf

17.) Amber dominates—I’M SORRY IM SORRY IT’S TRUE PLEASE PUT THE GUN DOWN

18.) O. Mark proposes during senior year of college and they get married quickly

19.) Nolan leaves earth around the time before they start college, so O. Mark doesn’t have any family on his side to attend the wedding. To make up for that, Amber invites her entire family, her entire friend group, and literally everyone she knows

19.) thanks to her impact, more than a hundred people show up, plenty for O. Mark’s side and her side

20.) the wedding photos are the only proof to everyone (but Amber) that he CAN smile

21.) Once they’re out of college, I like to think Amber became a social worker or something in the field of helping children or the disadvantaged

22.) I suspect Omni-Mark doesn’t want to work but doesn’t want Amber to be the sole provider, so he gets a job as a comic book writer (or artist). He doesn’t tell anyone but Amber but he enjoys it

23.) Amber and O. Mark talk about children often. Amber is for the idea and is willing to accept that her children may have powers and become heroes. O. Mark wants children but it deeply afraid that he’ll accidentally raise them like his dad raised him. He doesn’t want them to go through what he did. Amber assures they won’t.

24.) my personal fav is the moment someone mentions amber (whether it be a villain, hero, kid, adult, teen, whatever) he is FOCUSED. “Amber? Did you say Amber? Amber Bennett Grayson? My Amber? Why do you know her?”

25.) during the invincible war, he travels with the other invincibles to Main Mark’s timeline, which is set in the past. He doesn’t want to be there and he can’t wait to get home to Amber but then he sees her. Not his Amber, but Main Mark’s. She’s younger, still in college, but just as beautiful as ever. He takes her somewhere safe.

26.) his heart hurts when he realizes she’s afraid of him, and it just makes him want his amber back even more

Idk I love mark and amber so much and I NEED more fanfic writers on this relationship. PLEASE.

@seleneprince helped me out with a lot of these!!! 😋🩷🩷 great minds think alike

[towards-toramunda]

(As a person who uses she/they pronouns it feels weird when people get viscerally angry at people who don’t use exclusively they/them for Ashton. Like ashton’s pronouns are he/them. It’s fine for people to use he/him or they/them for Ashton, and they aren’t disrespecting them by using “he” in a sentence. I get wanting to hear they/them used more often for them [I definitely do and will get annoyed by people acting like he’s not nonbinary], but like… saying “he” or “him” for Ashton is still valid and fine and doesn’t make a player at the table (!) or person on tumblr a bad person for using a pronoun he has in their preferred pronouns.)

[sxcretricciardo]

I’m back… pt.2

social media au

part 1 here

•

astonmartinf1 another successful weekend for our team! P1 for Alonso and P2 for Y/L/N 💪🏻

view more comments

username1 the amount of points they’re getting this season I’m shook

username2 the best decision was to get these two driving together

yourusername let’s partyyyyy

-> fernandoalo_oficial please yes

-> georgerussel63 am I invited?

-> yourusername of course! You’re part of our podium lol p3 great drive tho 😌

-> landonorris is p4 invited?

-> carlossainz55 meet you at the club 🥳

•

f1gossip a follower just sent us these photos of some of the f1 drivers partying and having fun at a club after the Aston Martin podium today! It is rumored that McLaren driver Lando Norris was also present and that there was a heated argument between him and Y/N. Waiting for more details 👀

•

yourusername me and my besties 👯‍♀️

view more comments

georgerussel63 I’m hungover

-> yourusername you need to keep up mate 💅

carlossainz55 party animals

username1 are Y/N and George looking at Lando and gossiping???

liked by yourusername

-> username2 they for sure were 🙂‍↔️

username3 I wanna know all the details about the argument 😒

fernandoalo_oficial finally someone that can keep the party alive 😴

•

real life

The club was alive with energy, the sound of music and chatter filling the space. The podium celebration was still fresh in your mind, the high of the race, the rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins. After a long, hard-fought race, you had finally made it to the top three, standing on the podium with a huge smile on your face. You had earned it. You had worked so hard for it. Fernando Alonso had finished alongside you, and both of you were now celebrating the victory with close friends and teammates.

As you stood surrounded by Fernando, Carlos Sainz, and George Russell, the four of you were laughing, sharing stories of the race, and enjoying the excitement of the moment. Fernando had his arm draped around your shoulders, a proud smile on his face, his voice full of excitement as he spoke animatedly about the race. Carlos was teasing you both about how you were going to beat him next time, and George was raising a glass to your hard-earned success. Everything felt perfect — until he walked in.

Lando Norris.

The moment your eyes met his, your stomach twisted into a knot. There he was, striding confidently into the club, a slight smile on his face, as if nothing had ever happened. He was still the same Lando you remembered: the boy you once loved, the boy who had shattered your heart.

You immediately tensed, your grip on your drink tightening. Fernando noticed the shift in your demeanor, his brow furrowing in confusion before he glanced over his shoulder to see what you were looking at. His expression immediately hardened, and Carlos and George followed his gaze.

Lando, oblivious to the sudden shift in the atmosphere, walked up to the bar with a casual air, nodding at a few people in the crowd. It wasn’t until he caught sight of you that his smile faltered, though it didn’t disappear entirely.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Lando said, his voice light, as though nothing had ever happened between you two.

You couldn’t help but scoff, your anger rising quickly. Fernando, sensing the tension, took a step back, giving you space, though he kept his eyes on Lando with a wary look. Carlos and George, too, gave the two of you some room, but they didn’t hide their discomfort.

Lando leaned against the bar casually, his eyes flicking over to Fernando. “Looks like it’s been a good day for both of you,” he said, motioning to the celebration around you. “Podium, huh? Congrats.”

You could feel the heat of frustration welling up inside of you, all the old feelings coming back to the surface. How dare he waltz in here like everything was fine, like he hadn’t betrayed you? Like he hadn’t destroyed everything you once believed in.

“Don’t act like you care,” you said coldly, your voice sharp as a knife. “You have a funny way of congratulating someone, Lando.”

Lando blinked, clearly surprised by your hostility. His smile faltered, and he glanced at Fernando and the others, as if searching for something to make this moment less awkward. But you weren’t giving him that luxury.

“Are you serious?” Lando’s voice hardened, his earlier casualness replaced with something darker. “I come in here to show some support, and you act like I just killed your puppy? It’s been years.”

You could feel the anger building up inside you, the emotions from all those years ago surging to the surface. “You don’t get to act like nothing happened,” you shot back, voice tight with fury. “You don’t get to pretend we’re fine. You cheated on me. You humiliated me in front of everyone. And when I got hurt, when I was out for a year, you didn’t even care. You didn’t even apologize.”

Lando’s eyes widened at the intensity of your words, but he quickly recovered, a defensive look crossing his face. “That was a long time ago. You think I don’t regret it? You think I don’t feel like an asshole for how things ended?”

“Oh, so now you regret it?” You laughed bitterly, the sound cutting through the noise of the club. “You should have thought about that before you—”

“Before I what?!” Lando snapped, stepping closer to you now, his voice low and fierce. “Before I made a mistake? You think I don’t know how badly I messed up? But you’ve been holding this over my head for years, and it’s not even about that anymore, is it? It’s about holding onto your grudge.”

You didn’t back down. “I’m not holding a grudge. I’m holding onto the truth. You left me broken, and for what? Because you couldn’t stay faithful? Because you wanted to feel good about yourself while I was dealing with the aftermath of your mistakes?”

Fernando stepped in, placing a hand on Lando’s shoulder, his expression stern, but calm. “This isn’t the place for this,” he said quietly, his voice laced with authority. “We’re here to celebrate a win, not dredge up old wounds.”

Lando looked at Fernando, clearly irritated by his intervention, but he didn’t argue. His eyes moved back to you, and there was a flicker of regret in them. But you didn’t care about the flicker. You cared about the damage he had done.

“You should leave,” you said, your voice colder now. “This is a celebration, not a pity party for you.”

Lando’s jaw tightened. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to lash out again, but instead, he took a deep breath. His eyes briefly met yours — there was a faint trace of apology, but it was clouded by his own pride.

“You’re still angry,” he said quietly, as if finally understanding. “I get it. But I’m not going anywhere.”

“You should,” you shot back, your eyes blazing. “Go anywhere but here.”

The tension between you two hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Fernando gave Lando one final look, his expression hardening before he stepped away from the group, signaling the others to follow him.

Carlos leaned in toward you and whispered, “Are you okay?”

You nodded, though the emotion was raw in your chest, and it would take a lot more than a few words to heal that wound. But for now, you were surrounded by the people who truly mattered — the ones who had been there for you when Lando had abandoned you.

The music played on, and for a moment, the weight of the past started to lift as you turned your attention back to your celebration. But Lando’s presence, even from across the room, lingered.

•

yourusername they want what u had

view more comments

oscarpiastri give me my hoodie back

-> yourusername next time don’t leave it unattended 🤡

fernandoalo_oficial my sunglasses 😒

-> yourusername they look better on me anyway 🥵

username1 the caption SHES ON FIRE

username2 lando really lost a hottie

liked by yourusername

•

part 3 here

tags: @angstynasty @elieanana

[immortaledd]

IS ECLIPSE ALREADY INFECTED BY THE RUIN VIRUS?????

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF A SCENE + ANALYSIS + THEORY

[EPISODE: RUIN’S PLAN TO SAVE MONTY / MAY 6TH 2024]

Something I’ve always managed to do throughout watching TSAMS…TEAPS..TSBS… I know when Eclipse is acting off. He seemed…a little off in today’s episode. Though…it’s iffy. It’s not “off” because he still seems in-character for the most part. But he’s a little less logical than normal? He’s jumping to the gun to fire first which…is and isn’t odd. (Basically, this is me shooting in the dark.)

Eclipse was VERY adamant on killing Ruin’s Monty. That Montgomery’s goal is to spread the Ruin Virus and wreak havoc upon the TEAPS universe. We know that Eclipse is…not SPITEFUL towards Ruin in any way. He’s not choosing this path out of anger against Ruin. He favors him, if anything. We even saw it when Ruin was KIDNAPPED. Eclipse was the first to try to hold him back and warn him. Along with that, Ruin has just always been patient with Eclipse and at his side in moments needed.

So, what does that mean?

It means Eclipse has an ulterior motive. No, not a “hahaha I’m a bad guy” motive, it means he has a motivation to kill Monty that is more important to him than Ruin’s motive to save him.

He also seemed more aggressive in this video. Almost like he’s relapsing to V1.

[Side claim, I refer to Eclipse as V1-4 due to personality changes and growth in character. He has always been the same eclipse. I have argued this for a LOOONG time.]

[7:11] “I give you a chance to prove yourself and you turn your back on me?!” [Eclipse]

Along with yelling at everyone, insulting them, etc.

YES, this is “typical Eclipse behavior”, but it is so subtly more emphasized than it used to be. It’s just more relevant than normal - that it feels uncanny.

[3:40] “The virus…makes you…angry! It makes you aggressive, it makes you violent.” [Ruin]

Interesting description.

NOW, NOW. I MIGHT BE GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF. I STILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TRIP AND EAT SHIT.

However.

This scene is what intrigued me most.

==============================

🔅= ECLIPSE DIALOGUE

🦊🍼= FC DIALOGUE

FC approaches the counter Eclipse stands behind as everyone else leaves to calm down.

🔅: “Am I really getting a lecture from you?”

Eclipse has stuck with his idea to kill Ruin’s Montgomery no matter the cost - to prevent disaster asap. But the team to save Monty is bigger.

🦊🍼: “you. suck.”

🔅: “Really? Is that your big comeback?”

🦊🍼: “Yep. That’s all. Goodbye.”

FC leaves the room,

🔅: “Oh, ffffuck off.”

Eclipse is left by himself at the counter, pondering to himself.

He’s “sighing” to himself. A mix between groans, or a struggle to recollect his breath.

🔅: “Sometimes I imagine—” He trails off, it’s incoherent.

. . .

🔅: “I maybe have two months before all this starts to…spiral out of control.”

🔅: “By then…I don’t even know if I’ll be here.”

🔅: “Or maybe I’ll lose my mind quicker.”

HE SEEMS FULLY AWARE HE’S INFECTED IF I AM RIGHT. EVERYTHING ELSE I TALKED ABOUT? LITTLE DETAILS…LITTLE HINTS.

He’s angry at everyone for whatever their option is.

He’s getting aggressive by yelling at them.

He’s getting violent and focusing that energy onto Ruin’s Monty…to KILL HIM.

BUT ECLIPSE IS ANRGY, AGGRESSIVE, AND VIOLENT.

If I’m WRONG, I’m WRONG.

If I’m RIGHT…DAVIS IS MAKING ECLIPSE BE THE FIRST TO GO BECAUSE HE WILL BE THE HARDEST TO FIGURE OUT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE! THERE’S WOOL BEING PULLED OVER OUR EYES AND IT’S PURPLE AND LAGGY.

THEY’VE TAKEN OUT RUIN. ONE OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE THERE.

Of COURSE THEY WOULD TAKE ECLIPSE NEXT. This is what the MIMIC DID. WHICH. HEY! STILL AROUND.

THEY’RE PLAYING US FOR FOOLS!

BUT I. AND I ALONE. SEE THROUGH IT.

SEE THROUGH MY EYES AND REVEAL THE TRUTH TO YOURSELF.

okay im losing it. Have fun with this theory! Feel free to debate, theorize, etc! :]

[restlessmaknae]

your heart is the target // jay

The last thing Jay expected when striking a fake dating deal with you was to get jealous (and ultimately, to fall head over heels for you).

➳ Characters: rich business student!Jay x professional archer!female reader/you

➳ Genre: fake dating au, high society au, olympics au, fluff, comedy

➳ Words: 5.5k

➳ Warning: mentions of food & drinks; vocab related to archery such as the usage of the words 'shooting' 'aim' and 'target'; my knowledge regarding archery comes from watching the Olympics, online research and this archery glossary, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! Jay is big time jealous in the first scene and big time in denial in the third one, so excuse him, he's just hiding his big heart!

➳ A/N: This story was heavily inspired by the Olympics, ISAC, 'Brought the heat back' aka the perfect jealousy song and this short on Youtube.

➳ Check out the college series for Enhypen’s 02z line: ‘our beginning together’

Apparently, Jay didn’t think through what kind of consequences the fake dating would bring about, and how he would react to them. To be precise, to boys around you.

But it did save him time, money, and let’s be honest, mental energy to not spend so much of his time going on blind dates his mother used to send him off to. Even though he would have plenty of time to meet girls at university, most of them only talked to him because he was 1) a rugby player for the college team 2) he had a lot of money and 3) he was handsome. He wanted more than that, but he didn’t seem to have too much luck, and it didn’t help that both of his university friends - Jake and Sunghoon - already had girlfriends, so whenever they spent time together, he felt like he was fifth wheeling.

So really, it was a sensible deal between you and him, even more so because you were a professional archer, training for the Olympics, so you had even less time to focus on dating than he did. So realising that both of you were fed up with the unfruitful blind dates you had to attend when you two had been set up, you had struck a deal. You would pretend to date for the sake of your families and yourselves, but if either of you found someone they actually liked in the meantime, you would call it off. Otherwise, you could take advantage of the other as a plus one at events, further minimising the chances of shallow-minded boys or girls coming up to you two in hopes of seducing you.

However, sitting through the opening ceremony of a music hall that Jay’s parents built where most people knew who you were wasn’t the same as accompanying you to your birthday party where all kinds of boys showed up he hadn’t seen before. Even the sight of them around you angered him, but the way they mistook him for someone else was truly dancing on his nerves.

At first, there was this tall, broad-shouldered boy who seemed younger than him, but multiple heads turned his way when he walked by, probably because of his handsome looks. Though Jay would never think of growing his hair long, he had to admit that he had a majestic feel to him because of his shoulder-length chestnut brown locks.

“Oh, noona!” The boy hollered when he caught sight of you, and Jay immediately stiffened beside you, but didn’t move when the other boy halted in front of you. As if he didn’t even see Jay, he boasted a wide grin as he handed you a gift box. “Happy birthday!”

“Thank you so much, Leehan! I’m glad you could make it,” you reciprocated his wide smile, visibly comfortable even with the close proximity of the boy. Or maybe it seemed close only because Jay was also by your side.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Though we had a bit of an emergency because Jaehyun managed to spill coffee on my suit, but alas, I look dazzling in any suit,” he blabbered joyfully, and only after you asked a few more questions about his day and silence settled on you three, did the boy turn his head towards Jay.

“Oh, you didn’t tell me that you had a bodyguard,” he noted with curiously widening eyes, and Jay’s eyebrows immediately shot up.

“Pardon?”

“Who are you then if not her bodyguard? You look so serious,” he pointed out, shrugging his shoulders casually. Jay felt like he could combust from both the embarrassment and the fury he felt, but held himself back because he was better than that. Besides, he might have stood too stiff beside you, but every approaching boy was a target in his eyes.

“Oh yeah, Leehan, I didn’t tell you. He’s my boyfriend, Jay. Jay Park.”

Leehan let out a little giggle before mentioning that it was funny that he had the same name as the singer. It wasn’t the first time he heard it, but it didn’t seem to get old no matter how much he hated it. It was just a name after all. It was like joking to every Kitty about Hello Kitty.

“Leehan and I used to be neighbours when I was living in Busan,” you explained as you turned towards him, and despite the fact that he didn’t even know you used to live in Busan, he appreciated the fact that you shared it with him. The explanation soothed his nerves a bit, but he was relieved only when Leehan left to say hello to your parents.

It was crazy, he was crazy, Jay thought to himself. He wasn’t usually like this. In fact, he was never like this. You weren’t even his real girlfriend, yet he was acting like a real jealous boyfriend. Did he even have the right to act this way? After all, Leehan was right. He was standing there beside you like a stuck up person, waiting to judge the next person that came up to you.

You took note of his behaviour as well, and asked if he was alright.

“Why wouldn’t I be fine?” Jay sulked like a little kid, hoping that the tone of voice was as close to neutral as possible, but judged by the way you let out a resigned sigh, he had a feeling that he wasn’t very convincing.

“I’m sorry that I dragged you into this. Maybe it was a bit too soon to have you here today,” you mused out loud, biting on your lower lip as you looked around, at the hustle-bustle of the guests. He knew exactly what you meant by ‘too soon’; a month into your fake dating deal, but it was what he had signed up for, so it wasn’t your fault, and he didn’t get why you felt this way.

“I’m fine, really. I just hardly know anyone, and it seems that people think I’m either your brother or your bodyguard, not your boyfriend.”

Your lips curled upwards when he mentioned this, referring both to Leehan’s bravado and Mark’s who was a childhood friend of yours, but went to the States to study, and totally forgot how your brother looked, and mistook Jay for your brother, Heeseung. In Mark’s defence, he supposedly had not only horrible eyesight but a poor face memory, too.

Coming to think of it, these were pretty amusing conversations, but Jay didn’t feel like laughing even though the bell-like sound of your laughter did awaken something inside of him. He didn’t have a lot of time to ponder what this unfamiliar feeling was though because the next guest came up to you, and you immediately welcomed him with a tight hug.

A hug.

From a boy he didn’t know.

What on Earth was going on? Why did you know so many people? Why did you know so many boys? He met like six of your acquaintances who were boys, and there was only one girl. Just why?

“... and this is Jay,” he faintly heard your voice, and when you called his name, he perked up, looking at you. He was so lost in thought that he barely registered that you and the jet-black haired boy had already started talking. He seemed kind with his big brown eyes and lips that curled naturally into a genuine smile, and even his tone was friendly when he spoke up.

“Your boyfriend, Jay, right?” He asked in a casual, conversational way as he reached his hand out for a handshake.

Now, this boy… he was a keeper. Jay liked him.

“Yes, that’s me,” Jay greeted him with a relieved sigh and shook his hand. He had a firm grip, but his kind smile wouldn’t have made him think so.

“My name is Sung Hanbin. We are archery partners with Y/N,” he explained after he let go of his hand, and now Jay didn’t know what to say. Seeing his confused face, you rushed to explain that you and Hanbin were training together as a mixed team for the Olympics.

“I thought that only same sex teams were competing.”

“There are actually 3 different archery categories. Individual, team and mixed team. We’re in the mixed team with Hanbin. It’s only us two, it’s not like fencing when there could be 4 people in a team,” you answered him in detail, and you were patient with him even though he had no idea about archery as a sport, let alone how the Olympics worked. On the other hand, he would definitely look things up after this because he didn’t want to embarrass himself like he did so.

Not like Hanbin seemed bothered by his lack of knowledge regarding the field. Instead, he asked about his side, and was super eager to learn about all the business things Jay studied at university. He was even more curious when he got to know that Jay did rugby, and asked him to show him some moves one day, he would be looking forward to it.

“You should also come to one of our practices. Y/N is seriously so amazing on the field,” Hanbin suggested, awe lacing his words. There was something in the way he said it, but he wouldn’t think that it was because Hanbin harboured feelings for you. It seemed more like respect than infatuation.

“Ah please, I’m just…”

“I’ll make sure to come by. If you don’t mind,” Jay made up his mind about it quickly, and searched for your eyes. This was the first time you wouldn’t bring the other as a plus one to an event, you would do it simply because you wanted to. It could be seen that you were taken aback by the suggestion, but you composed your features within mere seconds, and directed a smile at him.

“Sure. I’d love that.”

There was a moment when you just gazed at each other, and he forgot about everything else around you. He simply focused on the way the shiny peach-coloured lipstick sat on your lips as they curled into a smile, and the way the lights from the grand chandelier above reflected in your ocean deep eyes. The way the foundation couldn’t hide your beautiful moles, and the way you radiated confidence and chicness in your feminine pink and white body suit.

“Okay, I’ll leave you two lovebirds to have some time to yourself. I might check out the drinks instead,” Hanbin announced, pulling you two back to reality. A hue of pink crept onto your cheeks at the reminder that you were not alone, but your smile didn’t waver as you bid your archery partner goodbye.

“I’ve also brought you a gift, but I left at the table where I saw people leaving them,” Jay announced when he looked down at the gift boxes in your hand. You thanked him, and told him that you would definitely check it out and let him know what you thought about his gift.

Not like you had a lot of time to open gifts because your birthday party was more than packed with conversations with familiar and not so familiar figures, and by the end of the night, Jay had no idea how you still had the energy to greet everyone as energetically as in the beginning. Thankfully, there were no more people who assumed that he was your brother or bodyguard, but some found it surprising to see you as a couple. Like the ever so talkative Keeho who analysed the future of your relationship based on your music taste, MBTI and star sign (whatever he meant by that), or one of your mother’s friend’s daughters - Giselle - who was convinced that Jay was Hanbin because she thought that you were dating your archery partner because that would be so YA book-like.

Nevertheless, Jay truly hoped that after this night, everyone would know that you two were dating, so he wouldn’t have to go through this again. He wasn’t sure he could take that.

You didn’t know what got into Jay when he gave in to Hanbin’s suggestion because he was usually reserved when it came to such events. You would think that he didn’t want to bother with it since he hated blind dates just as much as you did, and you weren’t even dating for real, so it could have been just another nuisance in his eyes.

Nevertheless, he didn’t go back on his word, but asked when he could come by, and so you settled on a date. He made sure to ask if you were comfortable by the idea of him coming to your practice, but you reassured him that you were totally fine with it. Even though you didn’t interact that much in person, you rather texted the other, your impression of him was quite positive. He was a just person, someone who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, but he was also very attentive, noticing when the screw of your earring let go and fixing it for you at the business event you had attended, or how he had gone around to find a blanket for you when you had been sitting outside in the garden at your birthday party. Even his gift was thoughtful: he bought an Avalon archery bag for you which was a good quality bag for professional athletes. You were in need of a new one anyway, so you brought it with you to practise ever since, something that Hanbin couldn’t not notice.

Ever since the two boys had met at your birthday party, Hanbin had been asking about how you had met and whether it was difficult to keep up a relationship with your training schedule and Jay’s university classes. To be honest, you didn’t decide on such details with Jay, so you spoke the truth, and told him that you had met on a blind date, and you had made it work through texts and calls because you wanted to. Which was actually true because you and Jay were getting to know each other, and sometimes it felt like it wasn’t just for the sake of the fake dating deal, but because you really did want to know more about the other. At least, you wanted to know more about him.

The indoor archery range had a security system in place, so only the athletes and the staff could enter who had a card to use the building, so you went out to let Jay inside when he texted you that he arrived. You inquired if he found it easy to get here, and he said that it was fine, and he found a decent parking place not far, so it was alright. Because of course, he knew how to drive and he had his own car. Jay was every girl’s dream after all, no wonder that title followed him around like second skin.

“So it’s just you practising today, or will there be others?”

“We’ve booked a range for us, so it’ll be me, Hanbin and our two coaches. I let the coaches know that we would have a visitor, but it’s alright. A lot of archers visit each other’s practice to learn about techniques, so you won’t stand out too much. Or maybe just a bit,” you pointed at his sleek black cotton pants, dress shoes and white shirt that he tucked into his pants, highlighting his slender waist.

Jay seemed a tad bit coy at your playful call-out, his lips slightly puckering as he looked down at his - probably usual - attire, but he went back to his usual self immediately.

“I hope I won’t be too distracting,” he mentioned with an unbothered look, but you couldn’t help but nudge him in the side.

“What was that? Were you flirting with me?”

“I-” He was about to protest, probably not thinking too much into his words, but then, it dawned on him why you teased him. “I’m your boyfriend after all, aren’t I?” He shrugged nonchalantly, but you could see a hint of amusement prompting his lips to curl upwards.

No matter how many times you said the words ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ out loud, it still seemed unfamiliar. Yet, there was a certain thrill to it too, something that you had never experienced before. Not since you had broken up with your boyfriend of three months in high school, at least.

After pulling yourself together, you guided Jay to the right room, and told him that he could sit in the spectators’ stand, you also put your bag there. So he took a seat in the front row beside your bag after greeting the ones who were present. Hanbin gave you a knowing look before he turned towards his coach who gave him some instructions. After warming up, you attached the quiver to your waist, and you held up the bow, testing the limbs and the hand. That’s when you realised that you had left a part of it in your bag, so you jogged up to the slightly confused Jay.

“Could you pass me the kisser from my bag?”

“The what?” The boy’s eyebrows shot up so high, you were afraid that his eyes would pop. That’s when you realised that you had used the jargon that he wasn’t familiar with.

“It’s this little black button in the right pocket of my bag,” you explained to him while you leaned onto the rail separating you two. Jay’s shoulders sagged in relief, and you found it difficult to hold back your laughter seeing his bewildered expression. Well yeah, the button was called kisser because it was attached to the bowstring, and your lips usually touched this part when aiming, to give consistent vertical reference. But he must have thought of something else.

Either way, Jay found the button, and handed it to you which you accepted with a grateful smile. Your fingers lightly grazed his hand in the meantime, and you felt heat rushing to your cheeks. No matter how many accidental touches you shared, it was still unfamiliar to you, the effect he had on you.

“Are you sure you will be able to concentrate with him here?” Hanbin teased once you jogged back to him, and you gave him a long stare.

“It’s not like it wasn’t your idea to invite him here.”

“Well, let’s just say I knew what I was doing,” he shrugged, a teasing little grin stretching on his lips. You nudged his shoulder in return and told him to focus on hitting the gold target face.

Despite Hanbin’s warning, the practice went well. What’s more, it went exceptionally well. You both scored high, and even if you didn’t perform that well in a set, you made up for it in the next one. One thing about mixed archery that you liked was that you could cheer on your partner without fearing for your own ranking, and it was easy to shoot beside Hanbin because he was very supportive, and even if he took archery seriously, he knew when to be silly to ease the tension. He was determined and hard-working just like you, and your coaches often said that you seemed like you were made to be each other’s partners.

Once your coaches left and it was nearing the end of your time slot, Hanbin inquired from Jay if he wanted to try it out himself. He objected vehemently, saying that after your practice, he didn’t want to embarrass himself. You didn’t force him either, but thanked him for coming by.

“I will give you a lift,” he offered gently when you walked up to him to get your bag.

“You really don’t have to. It might take about half an hour before I will get ready.”

“It’s alright. I don’t have other plans,” he protested firmly, and you didn’t have the heart to go against him when he offered it himself. He really wouldn’t say it out loud, but you had a feeling that he was offering to give you a ride because it was getting dark outside, and he didn’t want you to go home alone.

“Thanks. I will be quick,” you promised beamingly, and off you went.

After taking a quick shower, getting changed and putting your hair up into a high ponytail, you were fresh and clean, ready to head out. Jay was standing on the other side of the security gate, leaning against the wall while scrolling through his phone. You had a feeling someone let him out - maybe the security guard or Hanbin because he always finished earlier than you -, but still, it was nice to see him standing there even though he really did stand out in his business outfit while you had sweatpants and a knitted sweater on.

Jay’s nonchalant expression turned lighter when he caught sight of you, and he immediately reached for your bag, holding it for you without saying a word. Your face flushed when your hands touched again, but you looked the other way to hide your embarrassment.

You let silence fall over the two of you as you were walking towards his car, and when you stepped inside the vehicle, you felt like you were the one who stood out in your casual, sporty outfit. Alas, you preferred comfort over style when you were off to practise or coming from practise, and you were thankful that you didn’t need to wear high heels or dresses during these times. Plus, it’s not like Jay made a comment on it, instead, he inquired if the temperature was alright in the car, and if you preferred to have the radio on or not.

“So how did you like the practice? I hope it wasn’t too boring,” you inquired when the boy started the engine and drove out from the parking lot.

“It wasn’t boring at all. I didn’t know the distance for archery is 70 metres, so I was impressed that you could control the arrow from such a distance.”

“How did you know it was 70 metres?”

Jay’s Adam’s apple bobbed hearing your question as if he didn’t want to acknowledge that he clearly made his research. You definitely didn’t tell him about that.

“Well, I read it somewhere before,” he mumbled under his nose, but you couldn’t help this warm, embracing feeling bubbling up inside of you. He might have looked cold and composed, but you seemed to shake up his demeanour lately.

You talked a bit more about archery during the car ride because he was curious about the type of arrows you used, how you controlled the draw length and the aim, and whether you enjoyed individual, team or mixed archery the most. You found it heart-warming that he asked you about this because archery meant so much to you, but when you went to high society events with your parents, oftentimes the people there only asked about whether you had a boyfriend and when you would join your father’s company. Your parents never forced you to choose a different path, but these kinds of interactions came with the type of life they had chosen for themselves when you moved from Busan to Seoul, and your father set up his company that has since become one of the most important AI consulting companies in not just Seoul but the whole country.

Time passed by in a blink of an eye while you were talking, and you found yourself at home in no time. Yet, as his car drove out of your driveway, you realised that you wouldn’t mind if he gave you a ride back home more often.

Bit by bit, you and Jay got closer, and there was no denying it anymore. He went to your practices a few more times, you showed up at business events beside him other times, and in the meantime, you continued texting and calling each other. Jay also made it a habit to pick you up after practice when he didn’t have anything else to do, and sometimes Hanbin joined you, too. Jay liked him because he could see that he was a genuine, kind guy who would want nothing bad for you, and your archery partner also gave him his phone number, so Jay could reach out to him in case you didn’t pick up your phone or anything like that. Which was really attentive of him, and despite not saying it out loud, Jay grew fond of the other boy, too.

Alas, his fondness towards you could not be contained that easily, and it didn’t take long for his friends to pick up on his antics. Jake and Sunghoon teased him ever since Jay admitted that he “wasn’t feeling neutral towards you” which, in his dictionary, meant that he liked you, and they kept bombarding him with dating advice. He would never force you to date him though, and you had enough on your plate with the Olympics coming up, so he didn’t want to complicate things even further.

However, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t be supportive of you and your dreams.

“So… are you going to the Olympics with Y/N?” Jake inquired once when they were having lunch together between classes. Jay almost choked on his food, he was so surprised.

“Why would I go with her to the Olympics? She didn’t tell me that she wants me there,” he furrowed his eyebrows, looking at his puppy-like friend. Jake and Sunghoon shared a glance, and there was a knowing smile in the corner of Sunghoon’s lips when he spoke up.

“Jay, my dear friend, you really don’t know a thing about relationships, do you?”

“It’s not like you have that much experience,” Jay snorted, pointing out the fact that he and Chaerin had only been dating for half a year. To be precise, dating officially because they also had their fake dating period when Sunghoon had tried to keep Chaerin’s douchebag ex away by pretending to be her boyfriend. But he had already had a crush on the cheerleader, so his feelings had been genuine when they had started fake dating.

“Well, it’s still more than your experience which is close to zero,” he shrugged and reached for his bottle of water. Jake found the conversation amusing as he kept smiling while shoving kimchi fried rice into his mouth.

“Well then, enlighten me. Why should I go?” Jay gave up on trying to argue with them because as much as he wanted to deny it, the thought had crossed his mind that maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be too bad if he went to the Olympics to watch your competitions. Then again, you had never asked if he wanted to come or if he was willing to come, so he didn’t bother asking either.

“To support her. I’m pretty sure she’s all nerves, especially because she had a bronze medal in the last Olympics, so she must be feeling a lot of pressure. Not to mention that she and Hanbin are said to be the most promising duo for the team archery.”

“It’s mixed archery,” Jay corrected Jake’s choice of words, and his two friends immediately shared a glance. Oh well, he had really become a bit of an expert in archery, but could they blame him? He was trying not to be too nosy during practices, so he did his own research and watched your previous matches to gain more knowledge regarding your field.

Jay didn’t need to ask how they knew about your rankings because they pulled up your Wikipedia page the moment he told them that you were his fake girlfriend, and besides, he might have been dropping hints here and there. However, he had to give it to them that they were right, and despite the fact that you wouldn’t want to show it, he could see the dark circles under your eyes, and you had even managed to fall asleep once while he had been driving you home after practice. You seemed to lose a bit of your smile too, and he hated that he couldn’t do anything about it, except trying to be extra comforting and supportive.

He didn’t even need to be told twice. After asking Hanbin about your Olympics schedule, he booked himself a hotel and a plane ticket, and arrived the day before your first official match. He didn’t want you to worry about his safety while you were supposed to focus on your performance, so he only told you that he arrived when he got the green light from Hanbin that you finished with your last practice before your first day of competing.

Locks still stuck to your forehead when you rushed out of the stadium after a shower and changing clothes, and you hugged him so tightly upon seeing him that he immediately knew that coming here was the best decision that he had ever made.

“Thank you so much for coming! I can’t believe that you’re here,” you exclaimed giddily, and despite the fact that it was your first hug, somehow it felt so good, so right. You didn’t even seem embarrassed as you kept babbling afterwards about literally everything: the food in the Olympic village, how your room looked and how practise went that day.

He listened to you attentively, his heart a lot lighter that he could see you smile, and because you must have been hungry and tired, he treated you to a meal. You didn’t even want to talk him out of it, and enjoyed dinner with him to the last moment. He didn’t even want to let you go so soon, so he offered to walk you back to your accommodation.

“This morning, I was so nervous that I thought I’m coming down with something. I was also not performing as well during practice as I wanted to, but I feel like I’m a lot lighter now that you’re here. The fact that you carved time out of your day to come here willingly means so much to me,” you admitted coyly as he was walking beside you. He couldn’t go with you all the way because outsiders weren’t allowed in the Olympic village, but you still had some time as it was on the other side of the park you were currently strolling in.

“Even just the fact that you are here means that you’re doing great. I know you might feel the pressure to do better than four years ago, but know that you’re already a winner. You’re already one of the most excellent archers in the whole world,” he mused out loud, and if it wouldn’t have been for the bright lights in your deep dark eyes, he might have wanted to dig a hole for himself because that was quite cheesy. It came from his heart though, and you seemed to appreciate it so much that you were visibly touched.

“Don’t cry…” he shushed you when he noticed you tearing up, and reached out to wipe the first teardrop away that was racing down your cheeks. You looked up at him with those beautiful eyes, and he felt like time stopped around you as you two were standing still in the middle of the walking path, surrounded by the shushing of the trees and the watching eyes of the street lamps. To him, you looked vulnerable yet strong, someone who wasn’t afraid to face her feelings and though the sight of you with tears in your eyes churned his heart, he was also thankful that he could be there for you.

“I’m just… I’m just so happy that you’re here,” you choked up, hidden away emotions surfacing as you let it out. Jay let you cry as much as you wanted, handing you tissues and letting you hug him as long as you wanted. Before, he might have thought that you would be better off without him because you had a lot on your plate already, but now more than ever, he was sure that you needed him just as much as he needed you.

But he didn’t ask the question until you were finished with all of your competitions, until you were finished with all the celebrations for your gold medal in individual female archery and mixed archery alike and 4th in team archery, and until you were leaving behind the country.

Only as the stewardesses signalled that the plane was ready to depart in Seoul, did he dare to ask the question:

“Would you like to go on a date with me? A real one?”

The smile that you gave him was enough of an answer by itself, but when you confirmed that yes, you would be more than thrilled to go, he was the happiest person on Earth. Even if you managed to confuse Hanbin who was sitting on the other side of the aisle (after giving up his seat for Jay) by what you meant by a real date.

But he didn’t have to know that.

➳ Check out: my ENHYPEN masterlist

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this story of mine! Let me know what you think!

If you want to read more stories of mine, let it be for ENHYPEN or for other artists, consider signing up for my taglist here.

Hope you have a lovely day/night! Take care! ❤️

[airas-story]

Sorry (Are We Too Late?)

(Sequel to Sorry, Sorry (I Still Love You), and Sorry (Let Me Say It Back).)

Stephen had told himself that he wouldn’t go back. He had told himself that he had given Tony the final, most important message. That he had, he hoped, in some small way given them both closure.

At the same time, he had known, even then, that he would be coming back, because this was Tony. Tony had been such a fundamental part of his life… a part of his life that Stephen didn’t want to lose. Even if Stephen couldn’t help but fear that he already had.

But maybe… just maybe.

He waited until he knew Tony was gone again. He needed to see Tony again—or at least desperately wanted to—but he wasn’t ready. But then again, he didn’t know if or when he would be.

The apartment was dim, the light of the afternoon sun coming through the windows, which were tinted just slightly to help with temperature control—and to stop the unfortunate tendency of people to try to look through Tony’s windows. He took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the sage and cedar wood—Tony must have just plugged in a new freshener—that Stephen had always favored and that Tony had grown fond of.

Stephen took a few steps into the apartment and froze.

The dim light glinted off the polished wood of the piano. Stephen’s piano.

True, Tony played, but it had always really been for Stephen. He looked down at his hands, trembling minutely. True, he couldn’t play anymore unless he strengthened his hands with dimensional energy for the interim, but…

He’d been here less than two weeks ago and the piano hadn’t been here. Stephen hadn’t really thought much about it. Tony had moved and gotten rid of most of Stephen’s stuff, some part of Stephen had just assumed that the piano had been a part of that. But Tony had kept the piano.

Tony had brought the piano back. That meant something.

Stephen moved slowly to the piano, drawn to it like metal to a magnet. He moved around it carefully, sliding onto the piano bench. His breath caught. The paper from the bedside table was there with two separate messages. But there, in between his two messages was Tony’s handwriting. Stephen reached out, grabbing the paper.

There between Stephen’s goodbye and Stephen’s apology—and how strange, that the quiet sorry was not the true apology, instead the whisper of love—were two sentences.

I’m sorry. I still love you.

Stephen’s own words, reflected back at him, but with a sincerity that made it clear it was not just a repetition, but a truth. He ran trembling fingers over the penned words. Stephen had left and Tony had cut him loose in the aftermath. One choice made out of desperation one choice made out of… well, that Stephen didn’t fully know. Had it been anger? Grief? Loss? Resignation? Whatever reason, the choice had been made and there had been no turning back for either of them.

Except maybe there still was. I still love you.

They’d both said it. Stephen knew he meant it. He also knew Tony, knew these were words that Tony refused to say if he didn’t mean it. Stephen had said it first, in their relationship, hoping for a quick return of the sentiment. He hadn’t gotten it. It had been a month later that Tony had said it back. Stephen still remembered the first time Tony had said it, the two of them together in the lab, fresh off a lively debate. Tony had stared at him, wonder in his eyes, the quiet “I love you” stopping Stephen in his tracks.

He’d known, then, that Tony meant it. The month wait had felt entirely worth it, then.

Which was why Stephen knew now that if Tony had written those words than he meant them.

He swallowed hard. Because… because what did they do, now? He put the paper back, the words still stark in his mind and on the page. Stephen looked away, down at the piano keys. He ran his fingers over the ivory keys; they were cool to the touch, smooth beneath his finger pads.

Dimensional energy had to be used carefully. Using dimensional energy to still his hands drained him of energy, something he couldn’t risk when emergencies could come at any time. It was sustainable for a person to do long term, but it was all a person could do, and Stephen had chosen a different path.

But for the moment. He channeled dimensional energy into his hands, felt the tremor still and the pain fade away. Right now the risk felt worth it. He placed his hands on the keys and for the first time in almost two years he played.

The songs seemed to dance off his fingers and something in him cracked, emotion long stifled slipping through. The sound of the door opening had him looking up, his fingers continuing to play the accompaniment to Alice Boman’s Waiting.

Tony stood there for a moment, before shutting the door behind him. He said nothing.

Stephen didn’t either, just let his fingers continue to play, the piano notes echoing through the room like a soundtrack to their otherwise silent reunion.

Tony moved slowly, taking off his shoes, putting his keys away. His gaze never left Stephen and Stephen found he couldn’t look away from Tony, either. They’d done this before, those rare times when Stephen was home before Tony—or, more often, on the days where Stephen had the day off work—Stephen greeting Tony home with piano music.

Air caught in Stephen’s chest and his fingers stumbled over the notes as Tony moved toward him in an echo of their old lives. And just as he had, then, Tony sat on the piano bench next to him. Stephen swallowed hard, looking back down at the keys as he slowly finished the song.

When the last note faded away, Stephen dropped his hands from the piano keys.

“I never thought I’d hear you play again,” Tony said quietly.

Stephen huffed a laugh. “Because my hands were destroyed or because I left you?”

Tony shrugged. “Both.” He reached out, but didn’t touch, hand hovering an inch above Stephen’s own. 

Stephen turned his hand so that his palm faced up and Tony gently pressed down, their fingers slotting together. “No tremors,” Tony said, a question in his voice.

“It’s not permanent,” Stephen said. He let go of the dimensional energy he’d been channeling, grimacing as the pain returned almost worse for the moment of reprieve he’d had. “But that’s complicated.”

“I bet,” Tony said quietly. “You’ve always gravitated to the complicated.” He took a deep breath. “I didn’t know if you were coming back after that last visit.”

“But you hoped?”

Tony laughed, but it was more soft exhaustion than amusement. “Yeah,” he said. “I hoped.” He turned, facing Stephen fully. “We need to talk, don’t we?”

Oh, most certainly, though Stephen didn’t know what he could possibly say. “Yes,” he said. “We do.”

[ashenquill]

There are people who get really annoyed about the whole “pit rage” concept, but I am a firm believer that it can serve an important narrative purpose if you present it in a way that makes sense. You have a comedy, and it’s funny if Jason crashes out at every teeny tiny inconvenience? Okay, real, I’m giggling while I read it. You want to write soul-crushing angst where Jason hurts someone he loves without meaning to and regrets it deeply? Yeah, I’m bawling my eyes out, but I support your endeavors.

Equally, I see the value of not having it; you want it to be clear that Jason is his own man who makes his own decisions? You want to give him a chance for confrontation with no excuses as to why he’s “not in his right mind”? You want him to be angry, and to vent that anger, and you don’t like the idea of someone taking away from how deeply he was hurt by excusing his actions as “pit madness”? All incredibly valid, all incredibly strong narratives, and all very much fodder for the pain and suffering of the reader (/pos). I support his wrongs, he’s earned them (as a treat).

That being said, I kind of like the concept.

Now, there will always be people who disagree, and that’s okay! But me personally? I appreciate what it can add to Jason or Damian’s characters.

The way I like to think about it best is not as a separate emotion or entity that “takes control” whenever they get remotely angry, but rather as a temptation. A promise of extra wind beneath their wings, of strength and energy that only come with anger, but also the distinct lack of control that comes with it, too. The feeling you get when you’re in a heated argument and say something you don’t mean? That’s what you’re giving in to. It’s not that you lose control of yourself, it’s that you let yourself lose control (please tell me that makes sense I’m trying my best out here). Like, it’s not an out-of-body experience in the way that being blackout drunk is, it’s a very much in-body distraction that lets you get carried away when you normally wouldn’t. It’s still human anger, just louder and more demanding.

So, when Jason or Damian are experiencing “pit rage”, it’s not that they’re in this haze of I cannot control my own body or decisions, it’s that they’re in this haze of act now, think later. They are given the choice between engaging with that part of themselves, and they still have ultimate authority over their actions.

Now, this is where it gets interesting.

Because, see, Damian grew up in the League. He was the successor, the heir. He was taught to always use the pit for its extra strength(I know he didn’t get dunked before going to Bruce but just work with me here), that it was a weakness if he didn’t. He had to unlearn that, to realize that there was such a thing as “too far” sometimes, that lethal force could be unnecessary, that anger was not the only motivation for action. It’s no secret he started out angry and violent, and it’s entirely because he wanted to be strong. Because he was scared of what might happen to him, if he wasn’t.

But with Jason? He wasn’t taught that. He grew up on the streets of Gotham, yes, but he was adopted for his teenage years, and Bruce did his best to instill his morals in that time. Whether or not it worked is up to interpretation atp, since canon seems to be very unclear about it, but anyway. Jason’s dunk in the pit changed just about everything for him. He was dead and now he gets to see just how much his death impacted. Just how much it changed. And the answer he gets? Nothing. He doesn’t get to see the grief, the pain, the blatant breaches of morality. All he is shown is Gotham, same as it ever was, with Batman and Robin and the Joker. So yeah, he’s angry. He’s angry that he went unavenged, angry that he left seemingly no impact, angry that, despite all his pleading, Batman never once listened when Jason said that some people were just too evil to be spared. But most of all? He’s hurt. It hurts that he sees a better version of himself, a replacement, working with Bruce as an equal, one he trusts and listens to. It hurts that his killer is still out there, known and yet unpunished. And it hurts, more than anything, that even though Bruce lost Jason, it wasn’t enough to break him in the way it would normally break a parent to lose their child.

So maybe Jason isn’t his child, after all.

And that’s why he gives in to the pit rage. Not for the strength, but for the distraction. If he can convince himself that he’s angry, only angry, then he can ignore the way his chest hurts if he thinks about the new Robin for too long. If Jason loses himself in rage, he won’t have to find himself wandering though the dredges of loneliness. If he’s busy being pissed off at Bruce, then that means he won’t have time to think about how much he misses him. His dad, the man who raised him. The man who doesn’t see him as his son.

[castiwls]

"your my sun, my moon, and all my stars"

having a baby with patrick zweig...

I feel Patrick is the type of guy to be absolutely terrified of pregnancy he kinda hates the idea but then the baby is actually born and he’s just smitten.

You’d barely been going out 3 months but you’d both been hooking up for just under a year when you randomly show up at his hotel with a pregnancy test.

His initial reaction is to slam the door in your face - he’s not ready for this. A baby would get in the way of his career.

After having the door slammed in your face you stood there for a moment, the hormones already seeming to affect you more than you’d known as a rush of anger runs through you so you do the only logical thing and bang on the door until he opens it.

“Patrick Zweig open this door right now or I swear to god.”

He opens the door and you have half a mind to slap him for getting you into this mess in the first place.

Neither of you was exactly ready to be parents.

You spend the first few months of your pregnancy trying to get used to your relationship and to the idea of being parents.

The idea terrified you but the fact that Patrick seemed to be slowly coming around to the idea left you feeling more relaxed.

You half expected him to run for the hills when you’d randomly shown up at his hotel yet he surprised you.

I feel he’s the type of guy to buy baby clothes based on his interests (like when they buy football kits for their team.)

He DEFFENTLY buys your baby a little tennis outfit with a toy racket and all.

“You did not buy our unborn child a tennis racket?” He shrugged placing the bag down. He looked at you with that lopsided grin which always made you melt. “I’m being prepared! My child will not be a football player.”

(He’s already looking into tennis lessons for when they're older but you don't have to know that)

He definitely cries the first time you see the baby on an ultrasound.

Also, I'm sorry but he gives girl dad energy - the idea of a mini version of him scares him more than he’d admit.

Secretly hope the baby takes after you more than him.

You both decide to do a really low-key gender reveal with only your close friends and family. When it’s revealed as a girl he completely freaks out.

This man is a MESS when you eventually do go into labour.

“Oh my god. Is…is that normal? You're not going to die right?? I can’t do this alone i don't know the first thing about babies never mind girls.”

You're considerably calmer than him for most of it. (You joke about him needing the gas and air more than you and he fully tries to grab it)

I saw this video on TikTok of a woman being like I wanted my boyfriend by my head the whole time I didn't want him to see anything but then the nurses asked if he wanted to catch the baby and he full-on sprinted to get gowned up - that Patrick.

This man full-on starts crying with the baby the minute she's out.

Holds your hand the entire time she’s being checked and cleaned. He just stands there whispering sweet nothings as you both watch.

Cries again when you get to hold her - you cry with him this time.

“She’s so tiny.” You sniffled slightly stroking a hand over her tiny head. “We made that.” He grins. You laugh quietly. “Yeah…I guess we didn’t do too bad.” He presses a kiss to your lips before running a hand idly up her tiny back. You're both quiet for a moment, watching her in pure disbelief before. “Will you marry me?”

For a moment you think that it's some sort of pain relief-induced dream. There is no way Patrick Zweig of all people just asked you to marry him. This is the same guy who not even a year ago happily lay in bed and planned his next hook-up.

Turns out to be the BEST dad!! This man is happily up at all times of the night to feed her or rock her back to sleep.

Whenever he can't soothe her he just ends up on the couch watching back old tennis games with her until she falls asleep.

Much to your chagrin, your daughter ends up sleeping best when a tennis game is playing in the background - truly her father-daughter,

“I told you she’d like tennis.” “She's 4 months old.”

You both wait a few months before going back to the marriage conversion.

This man was prepared. He had a ring and all much to your shock.

“I didn’t pit you for the marriage type.” “Well, it wasn’t high on my list but you’ve apparently changed that.”

You agree to marry him but you both wanna wait a little till your daughter is older. You make a one-off mention about how cute of a flower girl she would be and he is sold.

Overall he’s a surprisingly good dad and partner. He’s still trying to move up in the tennis world but manages to split his time so that he never misses anything big.

Though he did make you promise that when she’s older you’ll come to his games - you roll your eyes and begrudgingly agree but deep down you know that there is a good chance watching him play tennis may lead to your daughter getting a sibling or two.

[batsovergotham]

i finally caught up with what's out right now of the series and o-m-geeeee, i cried too many times to keep track of. the writing is GUT-WRENCHING, yet i'm still reading because of how good it is. i feel so bad for mark but at the same time, i'm angry along with reader. no cause imagine that your boyfriend, who you recently have noticed is suddenly becoming distant, is hanging out with EVE of all people. like as much as i try not to project and try not to hate her (i'm sorry to all the eve stans out there 💔), i lwk am jealous of eve. which is so annoying cause she's literally a PIXEL. but like she's so perfect. which is good for her, but whenever i see her on screen with mark (aka MY MANNN 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️) i literally want to cry and rip my pillow 😭 (embarrassing to admit honestly.. i can't believe i have beef with a fictional character..) imagine she was actually real. yeah, i think i would have actually combusted. so think about that and the fact that reader didn't know mark was invincible, i say it was a reasonable crashout tbh. i would've done the exact same thing. also, bruises/hickeys RIGHT AFTER we were crying about him liking her?? you kill me my dear (in the best way possible.) and also, thank you mark for not giving up on us even though we're honestly an asshole, you're a real one fr 🙏 anyways, AMAZING WRITING, i'm going to start reading the rest of your series. i just know i'm going to be in tears. i NEED some more angst in my life and i think you just might be my new supplier.. (100% sure you are.) enjoy your day, babes <33

omg no because this ask made me kick my feet and giggle irl you don’t understand… i’m so happy you’re feeling everything i wanted readers to feel because THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT. i wanted it to hurt soooo bad but still make you not wanna look away like a car crash you can’t stop staring at lmao. the fact you cried multiple times honestly makes me feel like i did my job right in the most evil little way.

AND NO BECAUSE THE JEALOUSY TOWARD EVE IS SO REAL??? like yes queen girlboss feminist solidarity or whatever but if my man is out here spending time with the pretty perfect redhead who has her whole life together while i’m spiraling?? i’m throwing hands. fictional or not idc. i literally had to check myself so many times writing those scenes like “don’t make eve too annoying you’re supposed to be neutral” but NO, i too have beef with a pixel and i’m not ashamed.

and YESSS thank you for understanding reader’s crashout!! like imagine finding all that out while you’re already spiraling, already feeling like you’re not enough… it’s not even drama it’s straight up math. she did what she had to do. and mark… poor mark, poor baby, but he had it coming a little bit ngl.

ALSO you clocking the bruises/hickeys happening RIGHT after all that heartbreak?? i’m eating the crumbs off the floor rn because THAT is the energy i wanted. pain, anger, need, love, all tangled up gross and messy and beautiful. UGH i love them so much it’s sick.

anyways omg i’m so happy you’re gonna keep reading because… yeah. the angst train has no brakes from here on out. you’re officially trapped. i’m your dealer now. welcome. love u pookie. hope you’re ready to suffer (affectionately) <33

[kakiastro]

Chiron Aries transit: Wounded Identity

2018-2027

I think this gif reflects this transit so well. It’s time to see the beauty in you and heal

We’re not discussing this transit enough because it’s playing a huge role in what’s currently going on.

Chiron is known as the “wounded healer.” It’s the wound that leaves a permanent scar on you. The pain never fully goes away but it can be tolerable. Chiron is also a healer, when you start to heal yourself, you can help others. He’s also a teacher, understanding those wounds and learning from them is healing for you on a soul level.

So how does this affect the collective?

Chiron can teach us and show us where we need to heal as a collective.

It’s been in the sign of Aries for 8 years and the year 2027 will its last until 2077(I’ll be in my 80s🥴😅). Chiron returns every 50 years back to a sign.

Aries is ruled by the warrior planet Mars. It rules our identity, Men, courage, our motivation, sex, the head.

What have we been and needs healing these last 8-9 years as a collective?

-the corrupt power of men and world stage leaders, and the downfall of them is a main theme I’m seeing here. I’m pretty sure this is when the Metoo movement became prominent in our conversations in society as a whole.

-Men/Masc energy folks are being asked to heal those old wounds that’s haunted them all their lives so they can be their best selves.

- women/fem energy folks are finding a courage and level of independence they never knew they had before.

-every single soul here is currently having an identity crisis and asking themselves “who tf am I? I know what I’ve been taught or what I’ve been who I should be, but is this really me?”

-standing up for yourself when you didn’t have bravery to before.

-lack of motivation is another theme.

Those who are going through there Chiron Return (gen x) those born in the late 60s & early 70s are really going through this. It’s the midlife crises of the self. Aries is the baby of the zodiac so that’s people are trying to relieve some sort of lost youth that they had.

Example : Leonardo DiCaprio-Chiron Aries 7h. His relationship wounds have been in the spotlight more than his movies. He has a problem with serious relationship commitment “hence him dating young non committal women”, he’s stuck in his 90s it boy youth days. I’m not saying needs to act old or anything but maturity and surrounding himself with mature (adults his age) is a big theme for him.

You know, the pandemic is also apart of this storyline. We were at home by ourselves(Aries). Life stopped and we had to face the music within ourselves.

-Anger and frustration is also a huge thing we are healing through. How we express this emotion in a healthy way. There’s lots of things to be currently angry about but Chiron is asking us “are you going to let it consume you in hurt and destruction or use it to light the inspiration flame inside you? Your choice.”

Ive always felt Aries and Scorpio chirons are the most intense because it’s Mars energy Mars is deep, intense, passionate. Scorpio is also ruled by Mars(if you didn’t know)

- with the NN Aries & eclipse Aries, this Wounded and healing energy is going to be more prevalent now than before. Neptune enters this sign next year, you’ll be asking “who am I, body and soul?”

We are in the “time to face the music and heal era” are you doing the work?

So as we move through these next few years of this transit, think on how much growth you’ve done since 2018. The person you are now in 2024 won’t even be the same person in 2027. Document everything because this is how you see astrology work in real time.

Im open for readings!

[cosmicwolfboy]

crutchie - akb vs matthew duckett !!!!

alternatively titled - cast disabled people jesus christ

listen i am having so many thoughts and feelings about crutchie and at the risk of annoying the fuck out of my partner i am putting them on here instead!

prefacing this by saying:

i do not speak for all cripples

matthew’s duckett was my first real introduction to crutch and yes i am probably biased because of it (because matthew was an absolute sweetie when i met him)

i do not actually hate AKB as much as i dislike his crutchie

★

i think the main problem i have with his crutchie (and i understand that it is not entirely his fault at all!!!!) is that it’s so sanitised in so many ways. it is so of its time and not really in a good way, it came about in a period where representation wasn’t a big focus and i very much understand that, but i also hate it.

it’s so easy for disabled characters to fall into this weird ,sanitised, almost infantilising position, where their struggles are shown (abuse from the delanceys that was directly because of his disability, the fact he’s more likely to be put in the refuge because he’s seen as ‘weak’), but they’re bound by this kind of happy-go-lucky persona where they don’t show any real anger or upset. it’s fuelled by the abled need to see disabled characters as some sort of inspiration porn. “he’s crippled but look how happy he is despite that!!!!!! if he can do it i can too!!” he has this air of innocence and can-do-no-wrong that kinda falls a little flat compared to all his friends of the same age, and whilst this wouldn’t be a problem in itself, it fits a repeating pattern of the innocent, docile physically disabled person that is shown so much.

i loved matthew’s crutchie so much because he was so much more than that. he was happy, he was kind and an big laugh, but he didn’t shy away from being truly angry or scared (in the finale when he is brought back and cuffs snyder) and he was still a bit of a dick, he felt a lot more like he truly belonged. one of my favourite examples is at the start of the show the first time we see katherine, he helps one of the boys (i can’t remember which one) steal something from darcy and keeps it on him through the rest of the show. he’s as playful and annoying as the rest of them, shooting paper balls at them with his slingshot (especially during the finale, i love him so much for that). he has an attitude. he has the energy of a boy who was raised on the streets and knows what the fuck is what.

and thats what i think changes him the most for me. it’s all the same script (?) but it’s all so different when you think about how smart crutch actually is. i think the biggest change is my idea of him specifically when he’s being so nice to weasel at the beginning, when all the boys are being annoying and dicks, crutchie is so sweet. i don’t believe he’s doing that because he’s just such a nice guy who can look past weisel and the delancey’s being assholes to them, i think he realised quickly how to play the game. he’s gonna get sympathy, he knows that, and he knows if he acts all innocent and is overly kind, that they’ll somewhat pity him and he can use that to his advantage.

i hate being pitied by most people, i hate being looked at differently, like i’m almost helpless. but i also know how to use it to help myself, i know when i can play the poor little cripple card to my advantage. and i fully believe crutch does the same.

edited to add because i forgot to add this entire section in sorry!!

when i say sanitised i also mean literally. as in they made him cleaner. specifically in the finale again when he’s brought back from the refuge, broadway crutch looks way too clean. he’s a little bashed up but he’s not dirty. he doesn’t look like he’s been battered and then subjected to awful conditions. it takes away the impact of his time at the refuge. when he got back in the uk production they actively were disgusted by how much he smelled, because he’d just got out of a place where he couldn’t look after himself for a multitude of reasons. he suffered in there, mentally and physically, and in more ways than one. he was not given nice clean clothes and a pat on the back, he was taken out and put right back into the mess without much time to check himself over, without any time to process or heal.

i just think it has a much bigger impact when you can see, from his actual appearance and the other guys’ reactions, how much he actually struggled in there. they were glad to have him back of course, but it really drove home the point of how badly it affected him.

and once again in that scene, you could see the fear on his face and the anger when he faced snyder and when he made a move at him. he was fucking scared of the man that had subjected him to all of that. even when he was being a little goofy and put on the hat to handcuff him, there was still that fear, and there was evidence to why.

(end of edit)

but like i said, i don’t think it is entirely akb’s fault or his intention, he almost definitely wasn’t aware of the way it came off and how it perpetuates stereotypes. but it’s just another reason why giving disabled roles to disabled people is so important. plus we know how to use mobility aids properly

★

shoutout to my beloved partner who proof reads my shit and also is the reason i am into newsies . thank u babie @fizzloves-blog <3

[elliotthinkssometimes]

Wrote like four paragraphs of my fic based around some weird fucking coal metaphor at like half twelve the other night but it’s got me thinking about riptide and fire as anger

Chip gaining his fire magic to me is a manifestation of his anger. He’s always been hot headed and irritable but it was for surface level stuff, and mostly a persona he wore to keep himself safe. I think the further into the campaign he gets, and the more he accepts how good he has it now, he realises truly how many people failed him. Where are his parents? Why did not one single good person after the black rose decide to take him in? Why are his friends favoured by the goddesses? Where were those goddesses for him, when he spent years all alone and with nothing to call his own? Why wasn’t he saved?

his fire is the pure rage that flows through him. His fire is every person who ever looked up to the sky and asked ‘why me? Why did this happen to me?’ His fire is the realisation that it wasn’t his fault— it was never ever his fault.

and again, when he left Reuben’s gang, he set the place on fire. He couldn’t deal with what he’d done so he burnt the whole place to the ground, ridding the land of his sin. And maybe that’s what his magic is: an attempt to rid his body and kind of every terrible thing that ever happened to him.

Jay’s relationship with fire is complicated. It’s always been a symbol of her family, something she used to take pride in. But her firey orange hair looks too much like Ava’s and worst of all her fathers, and the more she learns about her family the more she hates it.

fire is what surrounds her father on his worst days, when she doesn’t recognise him anymore due to the formalities and the ruthlessness and the yelling. Fire is what spread to her when she almost betrayed her friends, when she shot gillion. Fire hurts and fire is evil and fire is her family and she doesn’t know what to make of that.

And now fire is chip. And maybe that recontextualises it for her, or maybe it scares her more. Because she has lost two siblings to fire, and maybe she’s next.

Gillion doesn’t have many fire motifs, but I will place lightning under this category. Lightning is something that has always followed Gillion around. He’s been struck by it god knows how many times, but it’s also part of his magic. I don’t think he harbours the same kind of anger as the other two. He experiences it in a different way. He uses it.

lightning is a tool through which Gillion has learnt to focus his anger. He uses it in battle, and that’s mostly the only time we see him with any outward anger. Sure, he’s not the calmest and chillest of people, but that’s for different reasons. His morals are important to him, but he cares a lot about defending them the ‘correct’ way.

Lightning takes the discipline he was taught as a child, and combines it with his high energy, crazy personality. Lightning means using all of his resources, and making old techniques his own. Lightning is the power to protect those he cares about

I’m supposed to be writing my fic but I did this instead…

[maximwtf]

izzy hands x reader where the reader also served in the navy with izzy. reader has chronic pain and izzy helps them through a particularly painful flare up after overexerting their energy.

Izzy x Reader

words: 1600

google docs pages: 3

warnings: Slight s2 spoilers (I think :”D), smoking, back pain, platonic relationship, hurt/comfort

opening: Blackbeard was back as he used to be, but so was the fierce work no one truly missed. You could endure it, but at some point it became too much, causing a flare up. 

AN// Reader can be any gender! I wasn’t sure what kind of chronic pain you meant, so I went with what I was most familiar with myself. Thank you for the request, I had fun writing this! I hope you like it ^^ (Also take this as a peace offering for the angst I’m going to write next) Requests for him are still very much open!

 “Peace of mind”

Izzy had worked alongside you for as long as you could remember. You had both joined Blackbeard’s crew around the same time; and during the time there so far you had seen Izzy get the position as first mate, seen crew members die and watched Blackbeard change. Stede had come along at some point, and as much as you were used to ignoring people coming on the ship and leaving alive or dead, this one didn’t seem to budge. He stayed and even your stubborn mind could see that he had brought change along his arrival. Blackbeard wasn’t acting the same as before. Sometimes he’d dress differently, behave and talk differently and most of all, it felt like the ship had two captains from time to time which didn’t fit in the ideology of a pirate ship that you had in mind. This didn’t anger you though, not in the way that it seemed to irritate Izzy. He’d often come to you and complain for hours after he’d gotten nowhere with trying to convince Blackbeard to get rid of this man who called himself the gentleman pirate. 

Just as you had kept telling Izzy that Stede would eventually leave, he did. But what came back as Blackbeard was someone else other than the man you’d known him as before. Soon after his return Izzy had gotten his foot injured and refused to tell you what had happened, making you only assume how Edward was now acting. You tried to help him, but he’d become a little more distant as time went on. Which hurt you, but there was no time to think about that. Blackbeard was attacking so many ships and taking in so much treasure from those ships that the crew barely had time to rest. At that point it wasn’t just izzy who looked more than a little disheveled, it was the whole crew. Everyone was exhausted and at this point some even felt bad for the acts they had performed under Blackbeard's command. And you were no different from them.

No different, up until this point. Blackbeard had started to command for the crew to start throwing some of the treasure overboard, since he needed to make more space for new treasure to fit in. It had already been a strain on your back to carry the items in, but to carry them back out at a rather fast phase sounded like it wouldn’t end well for you. The back pain had started off as light, small stings of pain whenever you worked. And you’d ignored it, shrugged it off as something that would pass even if you internally knew what was coming if you kept this up. The feeling was all too familiar, and the part of you that was aware of this also knew that one day you’d wake up and the pain would be much more intense. But you pretended not to know this, because you didn’t want to imagine what would happen if you stopped working for a while and Blackbeard caught you slacking off. Izzy was also aware of your condition, most of the time a little more aware than you had ever been about it. You hadn’t even wanted to admit to yourself when Izzy had suggested that maybe the back pain was chronic, even if he’d been correct. You didn’t want to be known as that injured person in your unit. And that conversation happened long before this moment. 

Yet another night was setting in, and the sea seemed empty, thankfully. No ships meant no fighting and that gave the crew time to rest. And so most of the people took advantage of that and were sleeping wherever they could, giving you time to be alone on the main deck. Your back hurt, and moving made it so much more worse so you had given up and leaned your whole body weight on a mast pole. The heavy boxes of treasure you’d carried today and the days before were the last straw, and this was the flare up that followed. Crouching down at this point was not even an option, and so you leaned your head against the mast and took a drag from the cigarette you held between your fingers, blowing the smoke into the cool sea air. The pain was bringing your mood down, further down than it had already been buried with the work and atmospehere on the ship. 

As another shaky breath of smoke left you, the sound of someone arriving on the main deck rang in the silence of the night. The person made their way to the mast, stopping behind you. “You’re spending the time to rest well.” He said, the voice revealing who the person was. Of course Izzy had come to see where you were. “I was about to come down soon.” You took another drag from the cigarette, turning to give the rest to Izzy but the movement made you groan before Izzy’s hand made contact with yours, taking the cigarette. You didn’t want to look at him again, leaning back against the pole. That had been enough to alert him of the flare up, and you knew he wasn’t going to leave you alone after that. “You moron, I told you to fucking leave the heavy work to someone else.” He said, voice stern but you knew he was worried, which you hated. He looked half dead most of the time when he came back from a visit with Blackbeard, yet he found it in him to worry for you. Maybe that was the small part that was left of his past self, still trying desperately to care for you. “I can do things just fine.” Your jaw tightened, not out of anger for his worry but out of frustration for yourself. You felt useless, even if you had done the work this was always the result. Even the standing hurt, as simple of a task as that was. 

Izzy took one last drag from the cigarette, putting it out by pushing it against the mast, leaving a black mark on it. “Come on, I’ll cover for you as long as you need me to.” He turned around, your gaze followed him. He was expecting you to follow him, but you didn’t just yet. He was limping, worse than before. The feeling of worry over him eased out the scowl from your face, following him all the way to his quarters. He took breaks while walking, turning to check on you but not saying anything. 

You entered his quarters first, looking at the bed before drawing in a breath and sitting down with a groan. It hurt, and it felt like it wasn’t even getting better than this. No matter how much time you thought had passed, this always happened after a certain amount of work. And recently it had started to feel like the amount of work you could endure had begun to be smaller and smaller. And if now Izzy got himself in trouble for covering your work, that would be your fault too. An overwhelmed sob escaped, and soon another. You’d feel embarrassed if this was the first time you’d broken down in front of him, but it wasn’t. This was just another flare up to the collection of many that he’d been there for. “Come on now, look here.” He said, voice a little further away as he tried to grab something from under his bed. “Fuck off.” You groaned, keeping your eyes closed, but it didn’t block the tears from making their way down your cheeks. “I know ye think this is again it, but you’ve made it this far…” He said, the sentence sounding like he had drifted off while looking for the item and forgotten to say the rest. “So how about we talk?” He finished, voice a little more awkward. Had he picked that up from Stede? You grinned slightly, opening your eyes as the tears kept making their way down. “As a crew?” You joked. Talking things out as a crew had become somewhat of a joke for the two of you, after listening to Izzy rant about how much he despised the change Stede had brought. “Sure.” He shrugged, more amused by your attitude now and willing to keep it up. “Rum?” The first mate asked, turning to you with the bottle he had found. He reached out with his free hand and wiped away the tears racing down, but before he was able to pull away you took a hold of his wrist. “Please.” Came out as more of a whisper, his thumb caressed the top of your hand a couple of times. Izzy corked the bottle, handing it to you. “There you are.” The first mate said, almost silent enough for you to miss it. There weren’t many things on the ship anymore that brought you back to the surface, but Izzy had stuck around for reasons you could not name. But it made you feel better. Things could be worse, and the pain would pass. It was okay for now. 

AN// I'm sorry if there are any spelling errors, even though I did proof read this. I'm too hyped to write for this man to hold back anything I write to double check everything XD

[im-out-of-it]

season 2, episode 4, part 3 “day of wrath” continued (long because I went on a bitchfest so sue me)

66. I always love watching Magnus’s expression when they’re about to summon Camille. this is not something that is easy for Magnus to do but he’s doing it because it needs to be done (I don’t know how to flip it but whatever) (I don’t have a degree or common sense in IT but I tried) (so be nice to me )

67. Magnus looks so devastated knowing he will have to betray Camille

68. ah shit, my poor alec

69. now Alec looks so devastated. okay but Alec couldn’t have known. anyone would have done what he did. Valentine may be a hypocritical bad villain but he is good about making sneak attacks and using his resources. you can bet your ass that anyone would’ve done the same especially jace and clary. they would be too busy ogling each other. (how they are in charge in the books always baffles me) how was Alec supposed to know that a demon sneakily got into the institute? he doesn’t have eyes and ears all over the place

70. Simon, some people get excited about dirt (I couldn’t resist- also don’t like small gifs so I used them both AND I CANT BELIEVE HE IMPROVISED THIS SHIT)

71. yes clary, the institute loves to gossip. it’s boring waiting around for demons to show up

72. Izzy: be fucking grateful for once bitch

73. Izzy is way toooooooo nice to clary. Clary is one of those people that just suck the energy right out of ya

74. Izzy: not everyone can be Isabelle Lightwood

75. too be fair, she makes it look easy 🥰

76. “so maybe you should be glad you have one who wants to try and make things right.” MY GIRL IZZY LEFT NO DUST!!!!!! no because clary is one of thee most ungrateful people around. she’s allowed to be upset at her mother for lying, but Jocelyn does anything she can to protect clary while Maryse has been a cold hearted cunt to Alec and Izzy so just be appreciative for once clary

77. Lydia, I would suggest being nice

78. YEAH THATS MY MAN ALEC

79. meant to post these before (Alec investigates and jace has dreams of ugh clary)

80. Lydia gave it her all so maybe raj will watch his mouth next time lmaooo

81. I don’t see why they didn’t have Alec shoot the smoke but I guess they need Alec to keep suffering and enduring for no reason

82. I also want to point out from a recent discussion I had that Alec did not need to endure all of this. he’s gone through hell from season one and now. he’s almost died twice, sorted through complex feelings, almost got married, and is having my boyfriend is immortal crisis and I’m not. like did Alec really need to go through this? I feel like they wanted it to be almost payback for Alec not wanting clary around and all of the stuff he’s said

83. I’m on board for Jocelyn dying but let’s remember, alec didn’t choose to kill her. the demon finds anger and hurt and it chooses its victim. Alec didn’t go on a plan to kill Jocelyn no matter how tempting it is. and remember, Jocelyn would have been fine if Alec died all for finding clary. she didn’t seem to mind giving him that stone. so I’m just saying, at least Alec wasn’t being intentional about this. and Jocelyn knew what could happen with that stone but she didn’t care as long as clary was protected 🙄

84. I can’t stand this episode for many reasons but it felt like a smear Alec campaign. has this man not been through enough? Maryse practically disowned him, he had all his shit in season one, almost lost Izzy, was constantly betrayed by someone who is supposed to be his brother and bestie, and almost died twice. and I’m no way trying to play the gay card but Alec is in the top five people who go through the most shit but also why is the gay man going through some of the worst possible shit???

85. Magnus izzy Maia Simon also Raphael are included but Alec is constantly getting judged for other peoples decisions, the blame goes on him, he almost dies thrice for someone who wouldn’t save him given the time of day, and he’s got so much hurt and anger inside him. I’m honestly upset they never let Alec process anything. literally he doesn’t marry Lydia and dates Magnus but there’s no time to process because jace leaves so let’s make it all about jace!!!!!!! I love the show for putting Alec first but I’m hurt that he hardly gets to process anything. it’s an upgrade for sure from the books but no one really talks about all he endures

86. and clary does say she’s not upset at Alec but she still blames him in a way. Alec didn’t seek Jocelyn out but she did seek alec out with the stone in episode 2. they never processed Alec’s dark side and I think that’s a shame because Matt is a very gifted and talented actor and I think he would have excelled at that. y’all can fucking quote me- Matt would have killed a more dark serious role. and after all the shit Alec goes through, his villain arc would’ve been warranted and justified at this point. he’s very good at the comedic timing, being serious, changing his character up but having alec go dark alec would have been very fun to watch. I have full confidence that Matt would’ve pulled it off EASY

87. speaking of Matt, I always love his interviews so let’s take a breaky break

88. HE JUST GETS ALEC

89. I’m done gushing for now BUT I CANT HELP IT!!!!!! Matt talking about Alec’s arc because he is summing up how a lot happens in season one and it’s not the books and basically how Alec doesn’t matter in the books. he just really fucking gets Alec more than CC understands Alec. after all, she wanted to kill him off first book and the way she treats the lightwoods shows how much she can’t stand any of them. Matt is a hardcore Malec and Alec and Magnus shipper and I love him for that. he gave Alec the potential he so needed!!!!!!!!!!

90. where the fuck was I?????? oh that’s right, alec just saved Lydia AGAIN but she saved him too

91. trial by mortal sword ⚔️ 🗡️ ah shit

92. I’m going to post the video of Magnus talking about Camille in the next one 🫶🏼

93. poor Magnus having to make one of the hardest choices in his life. Camille saved him and has been an old friend of his. it’s going to be very painful for Magnus to do this. he’s not someone who willingly betrays an old friend and lover but Camille has gotten out of hand. I wish they didn’t get rid of her

94. I mean Magnus is still a human being with thoughts and emotions and who goes through challenges and hardships but valid Simon

95. well last time you’ll see your mother clary, say bye (also forgot this one, slay Izzy)

96. I wonder if Jocelyn knew that clary was desiring jace romantically before she had her heart yanked out (THANK YOU ALEXANDER)

97. because it’s very obvious to us

98. I’m still mad we were robbed of more Alec

99. like imagine a dark Alec arc. instead of seeing jace be saved or clary like a dark Alec or Magnus would have been ten times more fun to see plus Matt and Harry would have killed it but what do I know I’m totally fucking biased

going to stop at 100 and will start part four tomorrow and it should probably be the last one since there’s about 13 ish minutes left

[david3096]

It's almost Día de muertos once again. I can't believe I wrote this two years ago!

This has a lot of things, romance, comedy and sad moments of life. So, if you are looking for a buddie fic like that this is the one for you!

A little preview...

“It's not the same thing" Eddie repeats, and this time he can hear his voice getting louder and angrier. He starts to feel stares from the people around him, he wishes Buck had chosen a more private place to annoy him and not a restaurant.

“Why?" asks Bobby, sounding genuinely interested.

“I don't know, día de muertos is something kind of... spiritual" he tries to explain.

“I didn't think you were the spiritual type” says Chim.

“I’m not.”

“See" Buck points out "Total hypocrisy.” Buck grins directly at him. “It's like that time you made fun of me because I think a ghost called 911.”

“Buck, shut up" Bobby says, but his best friend just smiles wider.

“Seriously, Evan" Buck frowns for two seconds "Is it so bad that I can believe in this?" Buck seems to meditate it over because he stops looking at him, the smile is wiped off his face, and he remains silent.

“I don't know if my question is offensive, but" Hen pauses, looking at everyone at the table "When did you start believing?" Eddie laughs lightly, they don't really understand what this tradition means, although if he's honest, sometimes he doesn't understand it perfectly either “or does this work?" Hen adds.

“Well, this isn't like Santa Claus" he says "I've believed in this for as long as I can remember. It's something I've always done and want to keep doing" he pauses, looking at Buck "I like to remember the people who are gone. The good parts, the bad parts. Believing that their spirit, energy or whatever it is can still be in the world.”

“And is actually necessary to make an altar?" asks Chim and Hen taps him on the shoulder.

“Probably not” Eddie laughs. “But my Abuela used to say that these days is when people in the other world are allowed to cross over, to return to the world of the living.”

“Basically the movie Coco" Chim says.

“No, and you shouldn't let yourself be guided by what día de muertos is by that movie," Eddie notices that slight anger in his voice again.

“What?!" All four say at the same time, truly surprised.

“I'm just saying what I think" Eddie feels a little uncomfortable for some reason, "I'm not saying it's a bad movie, but it's not quite what I think día de muertos is.”

“But the movie is great!" defends Hen. "I couldn't stop crying at the end!”

“And don't pretend that you didn't cry when we went to see the movie with Chris" Buck speaks again, his face has a gesture he can´t decipher, but he can feel that the Buck he is a little more in love with is back. He´s also in love with the one that annoys him, but the sweet one is better.

“I know, I know" he says, "Maybe I am a bit of a hypocrite" Buck gives him a sad half-smile.

“You are not.”

“No, no, stop there" says Hen "Let's not turn this conversation into a Buck and Eddie are in love moment" they both open their eyes wide and look at each other silently "I said what I said" Bobby and Chim have a grin on their faces "I want to know what's wrong with Coco in your opinion, Eddie.”

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Normal: Final Part

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.3k

Summary: Another lunch with your parents reveals something that’s been locked in your head, but your dad makes you confused and jumbles up the truth. It’s hard enough to focus on a case with a deranged man killing people on the road, you don’t need family drama on top of it.

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If there are any warnings that exceed the normal death/kills from the show, I will list them. If you’ve seen the show, then it’s the same level of angst unless otherwise stated

x

Back at the station, as soon as Jordan knew what she wanted to say, she put together a press conference so she could get the profile out to others. It's still early in the day, so you're confident that a lot of people will watch this. You head back to the station with Spencer's lunch in hand, and he greets you with a kiss when he sees you.

"Thank you," he smiles.

Jordan is on the TV talking with the press, and everyone in the station is watching her on the news.

"We ask the public to listen very carefully to the following description. Anyone who believes they recognize this individual should call our tip line immediately. We are looking for a white, middle-aged, married father. We believe his wife is blond, approximately forty years old, resembles the victims, and drives a luxury sedan. This individual drives a blue small-model SUV and most likely lives in this area. It is also very possible this individual recently suffered a personal trauma in his life. Again, a white, middle-aged, married father. We believe his wife is blond, approximately forty years old, resembles the victims, and drives a luxury sedan."

Jordan makes sure everyone knows exactly who you're looking for, and not long after the conference is aired, there are reports of another murder. The unsub watched the press conference, and he got pissed so he went and murdered someone to get that anger out.

This time, he went off script. This wasn't a calculated plan. This was out of anger. The unsub killed two young men with multiple shots each. Everyone is gathered to watch, but the local police are doing a good job of keeping them at bay.

The energy coming from the parked car is that of two young men, but there is another floating around everywhere. It's the unsub's. He's unhinged, and his condition is getting worse by the second. This man isn't suffering from multiple personalities or anything like that, but he is suffering from a mental illness.

"Joe Karem and Timothy Calvert. DOA with no wants and no warrants. They work in the area, and detectives are notifying their families," Thea says.

"He used a sawed-off shotgun," you state. "That, coupled with close range, shot it out of the driver's side window and driving a blue SUV. It's our guy, but he went way off script. He's suffering, and it's only a matter of time before he's driving down the road and shooting everyone until he's caught."

"Something triggered him and pissed him off."

"Yeah, the press conference. It aired at two, and this happened at 2:20. He was watching the news."

"A Single witness says the shooter was driving a small blue SUV. They didn't get a plate but noticed it was a middle-aged white guy wearing a tie. His suit jacket was hanging in the back."

"If he drives the speed limit, and taking account into red lights and mid-day traffic, I'd say he came from no more than ten miles away. If he was wearing a suit with a suit jacket in the back, he was coming from work. He works in the area."

"I'm gonna call Garcia," Derek says and walks away from the group.

"You think he's gonna kill again soon, don't you?" Thea asks.

"Yes, and he's done killing surrogates."

"Did you know?" Jordan storms over to Hotch angrily.

"Excuse us." Hotch grabs her arm gently and guides her away from everyone else, but you can still hear them. "This is not the time or the place. Are you gonna do this in front of the press?"

"He killed those people because of something I said!"

"No. When we talk to the public, it's always a possibility. That is part of the job. Tell me now if you can do it or not."

"Damn right, I can do this job."

Jordan is in over her head. She thinks she can handle it but she lets her inexperience get the better of her. She was never prepared for what all JJ had to deal with since JJ couldn't teach her everything in time.

"Good. You're about to give another press conference."

Since the press was already at the scene, it wasn't hard to gather everyone. Jordan, with some help from Hotch, had everything she needed to say to them. You're standing off to the side watching her and studying her behavior.

"We are prepared to release to the public additional information about the individual responsible for the freeway shooting. The individual is a white, forty-five to fifty-five-year-old male of average build. He works in this area. He wears a suit and tie to work, and left work very abruptly shortly after two immediately after watching our earlier statement about him. If anyone has any additional information, please call our anonymous tip line. Thank you." She turns to leave but pauses and turns to the camera again. "One last thing. This individual has committed horrible crimes and must be held to account, but he is a husband and a father. He's violent and troubled, but he must be capable of some degree of mercy and compassion. So, we appeal to him... Do not hurt any more people. Please turn yourself in."

This happened so recently that no one could forget if their coworkers suddenly left without an excuse. Someone called the tip line about their coworker, so you, Derek, and Spencer headed over to the place where the call originated to talk to the caller in person. Jack's a worker at a local office building, and his coworker fits the description Jordan gave perfectly.

"That's funny, when I heard the description in the first press conference, I thought of Norman. I just thought it couldn't be, you know? He's so quiet."

"What does Norman do?"

"He's in charge of the company's travel expenses. This is his desk."

Jack escorts you to Norman's desk, and all of his red angry energy is left behind.

"Does he have access to the company cars?"

"Yeah, the whole fleet."

"What about the first press conference made you think of Norman?" you ask.

"The woman mentioned something about him suffering a tragedy. His daughter died in a car accident. She was run over after she ran out into the street."

"How long ago was this?"

"Six months. I really should have done more to help him." A woman brings Jack a file on Norman. "This is Norman's personnel file."

You take it and file through it until you get to his personal information such as his address.

"Is this address current?"

"It should be."

"Why are there two files?"

"We cross-reference married couples. Norman's wife Vanessa works here, too."

"We need to speak with her."

"She's not here. She just got a promotion, so she took a couple of weeks off."

Your phone rings, and you pick up when you see Hotch calling. Derek is already texting Emily the address since she's with Hotch and Rossi.

"Y/N, we have a high-speed chase at 117th and Pacific. It sounds like our guy."

"Alright, we're closer to that, so we're on our way now."

"Prentiss got the address from Morgan, so we're headed to his house. If he's having a break, he could be on his way there to finish it. We're on our way. Be careful."

"Got it." You hang up. "We need to go." The three of you take off back to the car with you and Derek in the front and Spencer. Norman's anger swirls out of the building which only you can see. "Go straight and make a right at the light up ahead. I can see his energy."

Derek makes a sharp right, and you have to grab onto the handlebar that's attached to the ceiling. Derek is driving fast to catch up to the car chase, and none of you are wearing any seatbelts. With his crazy driving, it's hard for everyone to stay in their seats, causing Spencer to panic. Derek is making sharp turns and weaving in and out of traffic, and you shake your head.

"Spencer, baby, I love you to pieces but you need to calm down. The more you panic, the more I panic, and if we're both panicking, then Derek panics and he can't panic while driving."

"Sorry. Sorry," Spencer chuckles nervously.

"We're just going to put our seatbelts on." You're the only one who does so, and that takes flying out the window off your chest. "Take a left at the next light."

Derek does so, but not a lot of people are seeing a big police SUV barreling their way. You close your eyes tightly because if you don't see it, then it's not really there. Derek makes it through the light without any injury to anyone, and you open your eyes to peek at what's going on.

The police are chatting over the radio, and you can hear someone shooting at them. It sounds like a shotgun, and you can only imagine it's Norman shooting.

"Repeat, shots fired! On the chase now," an officer says.

"He's losing it. Reid, does it look like the chase could be headed to his house?"

Spencer has the map of the area in the backseat. You can tell Derek which direction Norman is going, but Spencer can tell him where he's heading to.

"Uh, yeah, I think so. It almost looks like he's starting to go in a wide circle toward that direction."

"All units, pursuit now headed over Memorial Bridge."

"We're almost there. Turn right at the next light. Memorial Bridge is around the next corner," Spencer says.

Derek approaches the intersection before the bridge, and all three of you see Norman racing in the opposite direction with three police cars behind him.

"Hold on!!" Derek slams on the brakes and does a quick U-turn to chase after everyone. "Are you okay?"

"I'll get back to you on that," you mutter.

"Reid, get on the radio and tell them we're in the chase," Derek says and steps on the gas pedal.

"This is the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit," Spencer says over the radio. "We caught up to the chase and are now monitoring. We ask if you're able to stop the vehicle, you allow us to take the lead in contacting the driver. We believe him to be a severely deranged suspect."

"Copy."

Derek turns the corner and slams on the brakes when he sees the situation unfold. Norman swerves to the left and crashes into the concrete median. His car flips over and lands on the roof, shattering the windshield into pieces. Derek is the first out of the car and Spencer is the second. You take a moment to gather yourself before unbuckling your seat belt. You open the door and step out, and that's when the entire world slows down around you.

Derek yells at the officers not to shoot, but no noise is coming out of his mouth. Norman crawls out of the car in slow motion but you're not looking at him. You can see Norman's family in the car, but they're not moving to get out at all. All three of them (his wife and two kids) look at you before glitching out of existence.

They were never in the car with him even though he thought they were. They're dead and he may not even know it.

The entire world speeds up and returns back to normal, and you raise your gun at Norman like everyone else is doing.

"Norman! Don't move!"

"What are you doing? What are you doing? My family's inside!"

"Stop and listen to me! Listen to me! Nobody is in that car. Your family's gone, Norman."

"No, they're in there."

Norman's pain is great enough for you to feel it from where you're standing, and the tears start to well in your eyes.

"They're gone, Norman! Look inside. Look in the car. They were never there. It's over. They were never with you."

"No, but they were," he says heartbreakingly.

"Your family's gone, Norman."

Norman looks in the car and sees it's empty, and that's when he breaks down crying.

"Oh, god, what did I do? Oh, what did I do to my family? My family! I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"

Derek puts his gun away and manages to handcuff Norman, and you lower your gun just as the tears fall from your eyes.

"It's over, Norman. We're gonna get you some help."

You see this kind of thing all the time, but Jordan usually doesn't. She thought she could do this job, but after seeing Norman's family dead in their beds from where he shot them, she decided that this isn't the job for her. The entire ride back home was draining, but as soon as you stepped foot into the BAU, you felt relief.

"Hey, do you guys ever notice how the trip home always seems to go so much faster?" Emily asks.

"That's because the tailwinds are in our favor," Spencer answers.

You look up and see someone standing in the briefing room, and a wide smile breaks out on your face when you recognize her blonde hair.

"JJ's here."

You set your things down and rush over to the briefing room where she's standing by the table holding her son. You gasp happily when you see your Godson in her arms.

"What are you doing here?" Spencer smiles.

"Hello, handsome boy," you grin and gently grab his fist.

"Garcia said you guys were on your way back tonight. I thought you could use a surprise."

"I thought I gave you strict orders to get this place out of your head for a while," Hotch says.

"My bad. I couldn't help myself," Penelope says when she enters with a bottle of milk in her hands. "Here. I heated it up."

"JJ," Derek says and makes his way to the front. "May I?"

"Of course."

JJ hands her son over to Derek who supports his head. He's grinning from ear to ear, and you notice Hotch is even cracking a smile at this.

"Look at that. He smiles," you tease him.

"I just realized with all that we do and see in this room, it never smiles. I wanted at least one good memory to hold on to."

"This is the best memory you could have given us," you grin and hug her.

"There's no tragedy in life like the death of a child. Things never get back to the way they were." - President Dwight Eisenhower

x

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