#but honestly it makes sense for the story

[strayaliencat]

I really like not only the casualness of this, the other person's implied "real life is not a story, it doesn't need to make narrative sense to a person", but also… the frame with the dishes. The characters are not doing the dishes, they're *going* to do the dishes. Later. Without words it shows us these two people will have other conversations after this one is over. They will do the dishes. Because real life doesn't just end like that, when it's convenient for the camera to cut out. And it honestly is an hopeful message in these tiring times. Even if the countries of the world squambled for power in the soon-near future, even if good people die for no reason, the world isn't going to end. Even when everything around someone is falling, they can always remember that if they get buried in the fall there will be people, strangers perhaps, left going around the world. And of course, you don't want your sink to be full, in a metaphorical way. You will do the dishes, we will all try to create a better future. But I want to remember that we're making the future better, but there will be a future anyways. It just might be worse.

day 17 / apocalypse never

[enzosbabyangel]

ᥫ᭡ Day 2 . . . party sex with Theo

cw: 18+!, mdni, porn with very very minimal plot, public-ish sex, i honestly didn’t know what to do for this, mean!Theo, protected sex, degradation, suddenly obsessive/possessive Theo afterwards, Theo lowk getting an obsession on reader, light dark!Theo and content? If toxic and obsessive behaviour bothers you DON’T READ !! I don’t know how this of changed to a super mini story with the premise of party sex but uh yeah.

You scratched at the back of the man who had you held up and pinned to the dirty stall door of the club you were at.

How you got here was simple. You and your friends came to the club for valentines figuring none of you had dates. Spotted a cute guy who seemed to be here with his own friends. The man looked like he’d be such a softdom ‘n gentle fuck, but one of your friends didn’t agree, thought he’d be controlling and demanding. So what better thing then make a bet? you get a fuck and possibly money.

So you flirted the best way you could. Writing ‘Be my valentine’ on a condom and giving it to him with fuck me eyes. And now that you’re here it’s easy to say neither you nor your friend will be getting that cash.

You let out a choked moan as Theo’s hand made way up to your neck and roughly banged your head on the stall door. His thrusts fast and seemingly effortless as they managed to reach that special spot in you without fail each thrust.

“Is this what you do? give any half decent guy you see a condom and fuck me eyes then let them take you in the bathroom like some cock desperate slut?” He degraded. The occasional grunts from his own pleasure just making his words even hotter. It was confusing, he seemed so disgusted in you with one sentence but then the complete opposite the next. “But i doubt it, pussy to good ‘n tight for someone who whores around. Already addicted to your pretty ass pussy.”

He was being so mean and rough. Not even controlling, it was like you were a doll to him. He didn’t care about what you did, like it had no effect on him. Even when your legs around his waist kicked at his back from overstimulation or simply being too much. Or your nails scratching at the fabric of his sweater ‘n pulling some of the threads loose. Your hips banged into the door with each one of thrusts, hard enough to leave bruises.

Theo’s thumb made its way up to your mouth, pushing past the barrier of your lips. “Like this? Practically being used like a doll.”

You could only desperately nod. Your senses completely overwhelmed in such a delicious way.

Your simple and desperate obedience got Theo completely coming undone. Groans leaving his lips while his thrusts grew sloppy. He forced his thumb deeper into your mouth, pressing it against the back of your tongue as a rather sadistic grin formed on his unfairly handsome face.

“God.. you’re fucking mine now alright? Already so obsessed with you..” He’d say through pants before hiding his face into your neck. Sucking hickeys onto the soft skin where anyone would be able to see it before biting roughly into your neck to stifle his groans ‘n moans as he came, his hips stilling in you. Thank lord for a condom.

Your poor little fucked out brain didn’t really process his words, thinking they were said out of nothing but lust so you just babbled agreements. But after all was all said and done and he practically forced you to introduce him to your friends and immediately started acting like you two were officially together, not even allowing you to go home by yourself.

At first you found it hot, most likely due to the alcohol in both yours and his system. But when it continued even after that night it got worrisome, his behaviour getting more and more possessive, even more so after you confronted him about it. And got you hated how your panties got absolutely soaked at the clear red flags.

“No no. I don’t think you get it. I practically own you now, you agreed to that remember? Trust me, no guy would care about you like i do.”

₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . written by enzosbabyangel, 2025 on tumblr! © do not repost on any third party website or repost as yours. Doing so will result in me blocking you and reporting.

tags: @mattheoriddles-sluttt @weirdogirl888 @jennieonline @bella-713 @txzii @couch-potato69 @chalametlover444

[genderqueerdykes]

I'm so sick of perisex trans people telling me I can't be transmasc as an amab person. I'm fucking intersex and never had a real puberty let alone a really masc one. I grew some tiny tits and almost no beard, just some fluff. People constantly called me young lady all my teenage and young adult years. I was always looking too fem to be seen as a man but also not fem enough to just pass as a woman. But yea sure, no transition required here at all because i was born with a fucking dick. Cause what's in my pants is the only important thing when it comes to me being allowed to use the trans label.

hey, thank you for taking the time to send this! your story deserves to be told

i honestly don't understand why perisex trans people get so worked up about it. it's a very common, just not talked about experience. i get feedback from amab transmasculine people all the time, nobody wants to listen. amab transmasculine people get talked over so hard for the sake of petty internet drama it's so sad. that doesn't need to be happening. who does that benefit?

people really are way too focused on genitals right now. it's disturbing, and you should say it. that's just literally what we're dealing with right now. people are being predatory as hell right now, feeling like they NEED to know A.) the genitals someone currently has and/or B.) the genitals they were born with. i really just don't understand why that's the state of affairs right now. but every time people try to talk about it, it gets shut down. no matter what.

i just don't quite understand why perisex people are getting so defensive on the "behalf" of intersex people right now, it's so rude. it's hurting people, and we didn't ask you to do that. intersex people don't like you more when you hurt people for no reason. also, no one should feel obligated to divulge whether or not they are perisex, intersex, or something else. i don't like that people have to divulge any of this. you are allowed to control how much information you share about yourself on the internet. your safety and privacy is important. i think people feel way too entitled to very personal details about strangers at all times and it's frightening.

harassing you doesn't help me. i'm intersex. how does this help me, or any other intersex person? it just creates a situation where someone else has to step in to help. you're not accomplishing anything. i have no idea why people think hostility within queer spaces is a good thing but it's just so old. i want you to live as yourself, however you want to identify yourself as

of course you're transmasc. that's a very transmasculine experience, it doesn't make any sense to me why it matters to anyone. you are the arbiter of your own lived experience, nobody has any right to tell you how you identify. besides, in my eyes... aren't more transmascs a good thing ? that's what i thought, anyway. like that makes me happy. the more diversity in transmasc spaces, the better. i don't need to know anything about your body, or anyone else's. i don't like that. it's not productive. it's predatory. it's creepy. it's gross. it's invalidating.

thanks for stopping by, i hope things just like. calm the hell down. i just can't entertain that behavior it's damaging and i don't know why anyone is enjoying getting riled up anymore. just let people be. let amab transmasculine people talk

[saessenach]

Thinking many thoughts about Miss Andarateia Cantori tonight because what do you mean we get to be in her house for the entire game, in which she and her boyfriend/partner-in-crime run a gambling den, assassin guild ANd find the time to argue with the public administration while opposing a military occupation?? who does it like her??

Joke aside, I think she's an incredibly fun character, and I'm really happy that hers was the lens through which we saw the Crows this game. Whenever I see random posts and critiques commenting that the Crows were too "sanitised" or "found-family", I want to yell a bit, because DATV never claims that to be the case!! Obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but what we see is anchored in a very specific context: not just Treviso under Antaam occupation, but also the Cantori Diamond, which falls under Teia's jurisdiction.

She's an elven orphan turned Guildmaster and Talon, who desperately wanted to find family in the Crows! While the other Talons resisted her attempts at every step (some more succesfully than others ksks), that implies 1) her approach towards her own House was probably not dissimilar and 2) it got her the Talon position in her 20s. Ergo, her modus operandi was probably fairly successful.

For all that she threatens to evict anyone who treats her like a landlord (lol), the Diamond is very much a reflection of her as a character. It's all completely in line with both her general characterisation in 8 Little Talons and with the point she reaches at the end of that story when confronting Emil. I don't think it's a coincidence that out of our two POVs in 8LT, she's the one discussing Crow ideology with their would-be-murderer:

and

and

Following this particular set-up, of course orphans like Jacobus are treated kindly; of course fledglings have time to gossip in quiet corners while training; of course she helps the Dellamortes however she can?? She decided these people are family to her, and she wants to do better by them than what she got. This is wildly compelling to me personally, because she's such a delightful mix of idealism and disillusionment, honesty and manipulation, compassion and retribution - and she's so fucking obstinate about it!!!

There's also the little connection with the Crows' beginnings, specifically in Treviso. Iirc, it's mentioned in 8LT that her base is Rialto (she's also got gardens there), so a part of me wonders whether the Diamond was an inherited property from a previous Cantori Talon, or whether she got it up and running between then and the events of the game. I think that between that little tibdbit and with Lucanis being named First Talon at the end of the game, it's pretty obvious that the theme of rebirth is very much the point in the Crows' plotline - a messy, hopeful and spiteful rebirth.

All of this is to say, what we get doesn't at all negate the other aspects we've seen from the Crows in previous games, but rather puts them into perspective. The game just goes on to ask - isn't there another way to do this? what else is there room for us to be? is there any chance we might find some kindness in this world? and one of the ways these answers are explored is through Teia's character (we start this series with Zevran's story within the Antivan Crows - an elven orphan bought from a brothel, who doesn't have the power to change this guild, and end with Lucanis, Viago and Teia, who is, specifically, an elven orphan picked up (?) from the streets, who remains one of the powerhouses of the organisation. I love a bit of narrative symmetry ✨)

And honestly, I find this entire thing delightful - it's cheeky and dramatic and a lot of fun, and it makes sense for these characters, if you only sit with it for a second and give it a bit of thought!

(PS the way she draws Viago into her orbit and the way their partnership works is another rant entirely, and they drive me absolutely insane nghhh)

[lu-is-not-ok]

hi there! i’ve been motivated by previous asks, so i would really like to hear your thoughts on hong lu’s relationship with yi sang, as it is currently and how it may progress with the story… they have very interesting parallels to me and i wish i could see their relationship explored somewhere other than my own head lol

also, (if you would allow me two questions) do you have any particular thoughts about hong lu’s particulars (bachelor and sheltered)? i find the sinners’ particulars to be really interesting too but i never see them discussed anymore. thanks for your time & have a good day <3

When it comes to Hong Lu and Yi Sang, their relationship is much more straightforward but also much more genuinely positive.

The two don't really interact with each other in any notable manner until Canto 4, which is also where their dynamic Truly gets established. Canto 4's Dungeon is where they both end up connecting, as Yi Sang recognises Hong Lu as someone who heavily resembles Young Ji from the League of Nine, while Hong Lu himself appears to relate to and understand some of Yi Sang's struggles.

This all comes to a head when Hong Lu is the one to recognise the emotional core of what was happening and gives Dante the advice they need to actually reach out to Yi Sang at his lowest.

From this Canto onward, Hong Lu appears to consistently check up on Yi Sang during moments that remind the latter of his past with the League. Hong Lu shows that he not only holds concern for Yi Sang's emotional well-being, but also wants to make sure he doesn't bottle up his thoughts the way he learned he did in his past.

Likewise in Canto 7 Yi Sang is shown to be returning the favor to Hong Lu so to speak, though he's shown to struggle a bit more with processing how Hong Lu responds in comparison.

Outside of these moments, Hong Lu and Yi Sang are shown to generally have a cordial and amicable rapport, both showing curiosity towards each other when they share their respective knowledge and likewise jumping off of each other's observations to add their own. While Hong Lu does tease Yi Sang once or twice, it doesn't read nearly as mean-spirited as some of the shit he pulled with people like Heathcliff and Rodya.

Their relationship is perhaps one of the few on the bus that I can genuinely say is an entirely positive one for both of them. They both clearly care for each other and enjoy speaking with one another, even if they might struggle to understand one another at points. No ifs or buts, they're just straight up honestly decent friends.

It really makes me wonder how Yi Sang is going to take it once Hong Lu's lies are revealed... Compared to a lot of the relationships Hong Lu has with the other Sinners, his bond with Yi Sang seems the most genuine. Will Yi Sang be able to recognise that and will he decide to still stand by Hong Lu side?

Now. As for your second question.

I don't have much to say on Hong Lu's particulars beyond mentioning that their translation is. Interesting to say the least.

According to someone who speaks Korean, the term that got translated to "Bachelor" would more accurately be translated to "Young Master", aka it doesn't really have anything to do with marital status in its original language.

Similarly, the original wording for the "Sheltered" particular is more so an allusion to Hong Lu having a different sense of reality to what is considered normal. It's an interesting specificity that the English translation added that from my understanding wasn't there in the original text.

I don't have much else to add beyond the fact that people are too quick to trust the Manager Instructions as being the ultimate truth on what the Sinners are like. Their description of Ishmael as someone whose "patience runs deep" is proven incorrect in the fucking Prologue where her impatience is directly called out. This shit isn't a trustworthy source of info.

[azaharinflames]

Hello! I apologize for any awkward expressions, as I'm not American and not very proficient in English.

I wasn't part of the 9-1-1 fandom and watched it whenever I had time. It was a light show for me, but while watching 9-1-1, I hoped that Buck would find a partner to settle down with and be happy. (And I never felt even 1% of romantic feelings between Buck and Eddie.) When Buck broke up with Taylor, I understood the reason but felt regretful. After that, Tommy appeared as a meaningful LI. I sincerely cheered for Buck, seeing him happy.

I had high expectations for S8, but in 801, Tommy appeared briefly, and until 804, no one mentioned Tommy, which I found strange. Then I watched 805 and thought Henren's story was forced, but I liked Buck and Tommy's story. Then I watched 806, and... Buck and Tommy can break up. If it had been for a convincing reason like with Buck and Taylor, I would have been sad but understood. However, I couldn't understand the story in 806 at all, and the characters felt unfamiliar, as if they weren't the characters I knew. And the interviews with Tim and OS gave me trauma after enjoying watching 9-1-1 all this time.

Only Lou understood and empathized with me. I didn't know Lou and didn't remember Tommy from S2. I supported Buck and Tommy solely because Buck was happy... Especially OS's interview made me feel like Buck and Tommy were ignored as if they didn't exist. I don't usually have expectations for actors, but I was really disappointed. So, even though I subscribed to Disney+ annually because of 9-1-1, I no longer watch 9-1-1. I know that my not watching won't change anything. And I know that Tim doesn't have the ability to create good, creative stories. Knowing that Buck will just keep running in the same hamster wheel, I really lost expectations for Buck. Of course, knowing that other 9-1-1 characters besides Buck will also run in slightly different hamster wheels without development, I lost interest in the show itself.

Furthermore, I was honestly disappointed with the production team and the broadcasting company for not thinking of protecting the actor who was insulted and attacked in all sorts of ways just because they were Buck's LI. In the country where I live, if such a situation occurred, there would have been an official message from the broadcasting company and production team to stop the attacks and hatred.

I'm sorry for sending such a negative and pessimistic message. I wanted to confide in someone. Even if Tommy doesn't appear again, I plan to continue enjoying BuckTommy content on Tumblr and AO3, but I really miss the time when I was looking forward to and waiting for S8.

Hi, Nonnie! Sorry for taking a bit, physical therapy is kicking my ass rn lmao (kids do not tear your meniscus)

Okay by points. First of all - your English was perfect, don’t sweat it. English is my third language so Iunderstand where you come from, but you’re good!! Now:

you🤝me with this whole post. You were on my mind fr because I do share all of your thoughts.

Perhaps confession time: I liked Taylor! I ultimately understood why it wouldn’t work between Buck and her, but I liked her and I thought they were really cute. I was sad to see her go (although I’m glad by leaving we were able to eventually get Tommy)

Season 8 is the perfect illustration of something I’ve been thinking about 911 for a while - it is the land of missed potential. I’ve gone about it a few times so I won’t go over it again, but Season 8 is the perfect example of having lots they could do yet refusing to attempt to do it.

Your point on the break up is 100%. I would’ve actually understood and accepted it if it made sense in a larger scale, or if we had been introduced to it better. As it is, you do understand Tommy’s motives, but only if you look at the episode. Meaning: everyone acted so out of character during 806, it seemed like a different show. Therefore the break up (to me) does not make sense in a broader, more general view.

Your point on interviews: yeah I get it, sadly. The interviews left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth, because it did seem like Lou was the only one who truly cared for the couple and its fans. And for everyone who had been harassed for months for liking them, the nonchalant attitude of nearly everyone felt cruel and hurtful. It’s more than normal that many people felt like stop watching the show after it (me included). It does seem like OS has started to realize how big Bucktommy actually was and how liked they still are. So, progress? But it feels too little too late. Idk.

I also understand it does feel bad to see how they’ve ignored the bad treatment LFJr has received. Ofc we lack a lot of context (meaning: perhaps Lou himself asked them to ignore it, perhaps he did have a lot of support BTS), but the fact is that they let a group of deranged ‘fans’ bully and threaten an actor, and did nothing. No, instead it very much felt like those fans were being rewarded. It’s normal for us to not want to support that. I know I feel uncomfy with the idea of doing so.

We are lucky (infinitely lucky) that the Bucktommy fandom is filled with truly lovely and amazing people - people that are lovely to read, discuss with, and enjoy their art from!! If 911 doesn’t got my back, I know the BT fandom does ♥️

I hope you can continue to enjoy fandom life, anon! Ultimately they cannot take away what we enjoy!

My inbox is open for ranting, venting, giving opinions and confessions! And if you do not want them publish, please say so in your message 🥰 it’s cool with me, but I do need to know!

Take care <3

[fangdokja]

I would like to ask a question. Do you have any yandere omegaverse x female reader stories?

Thank you and have a good start to the week. 🩷

Yeahh I do. I haven’t made any new ones though. Because I’m still brainstorming a proper sequel to this novelette, since I originally made this as a standalone. I don’t think I’ve made any fandom omegaverse yanderes though.

Only a Yandere! OC from “A Heart Devoured”.

Yandere! Alpha! Wolf Hybrid & Little Omega

Drabbles

“You look prettier when you cry.”

“Do you know what I love most about you?”

“You don’t get to decide anymore,”

“And treasures don’t get to escape.”

“You’re waiting for someone to come for you, aren’t you?”

“Cry for me,”

“But don’t worry, darling. I’ll fill it with something better. Me.”

“You’ll only ever have one choice with me,”

Novelette 1 : Marked and Mated

🔞Run all you want, little omega—I love the chase.

This Yandere is recommended for those who prefer a more emotionally and mentally unstable Yandere. A Yandere who isn’t above physically assaulting the darling, beyond just mere rape. So please read the trigger warnings before hand, so you know what you’re getting into.

He’s not emotional in how soft yanderes work, make no mistake. Still has elements of my signature style sadist. But, compared to characters like the Yandere! Russian! Mafia Boss for example; Yandere! Alpha! Wolf Hybrid's character personality still has a sense of moral awareness and leniency for the darling.

This Yandere isn’t part of my unhinged Yandere collection personally. He still cares for the darling and her opinions. But, he’s definitely still a bit crazy, especially when compared to my fandom yandere content. Though, if you dig predator x prey or hunter x hunted dynamic, try reading this.

Sorry not much content right now since I prefer fleshing out their main stories before making other stories.

Have a great week as well, Reader. Thank you for the support. It honestly makes me so happy to hear simple but meaningful things like that. Haha. (Also you really like Levi huh? Haha.)

And, I hope all you Readers have a wonderful productive and fulfilling week as well.

[riotbrrrd]

No I know you weren't contradicting me, I just realized it's one of those fandom discourse posts that doesn't give any actual example and so everyone who sees it interprets it based on their own present and past circles, so I made mine clearer.

And, related to that, I just wouldn't know what kind of narratives are most common. I don't think you're wrong, it's just more me admitting to not knowing enough to pursue this line of thinking. My job has been having me read a lot of stuff for kids where abusers and victims tend to be better identified as such and the abuser usually gets punished one way or another, because they are stories for kids and want to have a clearer teaching moment for the readers. But it's a matter of perspective, kids books aren't the entire media landscape, you know? It makes sense that other people have another experience of abuse storylines and don't see things the same way.

Anyway, you make good points. Maybe it would be different if canon more often "pulled the rug" from under fandom regarding killing abusers. And there certainly is space I suppose to explore this kind of narratives in interesting ways - what would drive characters to such extremities, what toll could it take on someone to become the killer, is it easier, is it harder... and that's also what I was vaguely reaching for in my original tag, there's genres where killing comes easy to many people (idk, thrillers and police procedurals, dark fantasy or scifi, horror) and it tends to be handwaved as "well its fine because the hero is killing bad guys" but honestly I would like to see it interrogated more in general too. Is killing the abuser worth killing someone? (Babel was doing something great with it for example, balancing the main character on the edge of "grateful to the abuser" and "revolted at the abuser" until the killing happens by accident and forces him to take a stand on it.) All this to say, it can be an interesting way of progressing the situation, if you put in the work.

“this character should kill their abuser” i agree. unfortunately they wouldn’t do that.

[animentality]

I've always harboured a mild dislike for x reader stuff. I never really held it against people because I don't have the time to antagonise them, but it was so upsetting when every time I opened the fandom tag and all I saw were posts and posts and posts of bland x reader stuff that clearly is ooc with no real substance to them at all. So many of the RP blogs seem the same way.

As someone who tries to make analysis posts and art for the same fandom, it is disheartening when I spend hours and hours on an analysis post about a character and it maybe hits 120 notes while an OOC x reader of the same character soars to the thousands. Maybe it's selfish of me to say but I say it anyway.

The fandom is full of youngsters and I never felt comfortable voicing my opinion for the same because it just felt wrong to tell kids to stop existing in communities. But the amount of times I've been put down for shipping characters with each other rather than myself is an honestly surprising number.

Um. I don't really know where I was going with this.

But your post definitely opened my eyes a little bit on even why I dislike x reader so much. It's sinking in a little bit. My hatred for OOC stuff seeps into this, I suppose. So I wanted to say that. Yeah. I agree with you.

Thank you for saying it.

Signed,

A fellow analyser / artist / fanfic writer lmao

— @lunarcloak

I get you, man.

I know self shippers have always existed.

I don't mind them. If that's how you enjoy the media, then fine.

However.

I just don't think that the sudden rise of self shippers over fan analysis and shipping is a good sign.

I think it comes from a lack of media literacy and willingness to actually engage with a piece of fiction. At least shippers and fan analysts actually talk about the world and plot itself.

self shippers imagine themselves dating a character in an au that is completely disconnected from the story, and acting in a way that's not even close to how they are in canon.

which to me is like... you have a creative writing prompt but it's not a story you're actually engaging with. someone showed you a picture of a handsome man and said write a story about how he'd kiss you.

and it's like... ok. there's no crime in just being horny, but... when that's all a fandom is... I don't consider it a fandom, it's just a masturbation fantasy.

I thought the whole point of fiction was to dive into the human experience and try and understand ourselves better. See the perspectives of others. Live vicariously in another person's shoes.

Fan analysis about themes? Perfect. You're thinking. You're feeling. You're articulating. You're growing as a person as you decide what you like or don't like, or try to put together puzzle pieces so that the whole picture makes sense. Shipping? You're imagining scenarios. You're bending canon to fit your interests. You are developing your own ability to write characters, and growing as an artist and a writer.

But self shipping...?

Eh.

You're writing, I guess, but when you reduce yourself to just... idk, some generic girl that Gojo decides is the Bella to his Edward... I mean I'm glad you're happy and all.

But how happy are you

Are you happy at all, or are you frustrated by this aching loneliness deep in your gut that you just don't understand, and it never quite feels whole bc you keep cramming nothing into it.

And it's not the loneliness or the social awkwardness that I'm criticizing here ok, shippers and fan analysts can be just as lonely. I just think that the human relationship to art should be confusion and appreciation.

you should be trying to understand others or yourself.

you can insist well what's so wrong with escapism? why does everything have to be an intellectual exercise?

it doesn't have to be ... but there's a reason people feel so hollow watching marvel movies.

art without substance is consumption. it's a distraction from your own humanity, it is not anything more.

not to you, anyway.

and I don't know.

that's really sad.

I've made so many friends through ships and babbling about canon and gushing about narrative beats.

I feel like I got something out of fandom, if other people force me to see the world in another light. I feel like a story has done its job if it's made me feel something. and it's really done a great job if I feel invested enough to hope two characters smooch.

but self insert?

eh. so you just like the character and think they're hot. that's fine.

not that interesting to talk about either. requires very little analysis on your part.

they just provoke sexual feelings or romantic feelings , which are easiest for you to process, and then you can move on to the next pretty boy you can turn into a Dom.

it irks me, man.

just a tad bit.

[elrielffs]

I have a wild theory for the future books. I believe Azriel is Elain’s true mate, however the mating bond between the 3 bat boys and the 3 Acheron sisters would mean they hold too much power, and since we know the Cauldron is corrupt, decided to give Elain to Lucien in a fake mating bond to avoid having the 3x3 mating because they will be too powerful.

We all know the Koschei prophecy and Mor’s paining, Elain and Azriel are end game, but it makes me question why Lucien and Elain developed a mating bond and why Azriel can smell it.

I think you're absolutely right on the money anon. It makes sense narratively, especially why Koschei tried to so hard to go for Cassian and Nesta too before they accepted the bond while Elain and Azriel were stalled by Lucien.

We know the Cauldron is confirmed corrupted and I don't think it's a stretch to say that Koschei might of had a hand in that working with Daglan since he is an Old God, Death God, powerful wizard. (We honestly just don't know enough about him or the Death Gods in general.)

I def think that Azriel and Elain are true mates. It really wouldn't matter to me if they were or not but I think there's just too much evidence for it to be ignored. The "only a mate can know what's wrong" and Azriel figuring it out, Azriel ready to die/burn down everything to save Elain from Hybern, Azriel being able to smell the bond when he shouldn't be able to, not to mention staying away from Elain physically effects him--he's drawn to her, he's protective, all classic mate behavior and hints.

And there's definitely something SJM is cooking with the power of 3. It's a purposeful pattern woven into ACOTAR and is brought up more than once and with SJM's Jewish background, 3 is a significant and powerful number.

"Ithan angled his head. “A six-pointed star,” he said. Like the one Bryce had made between the Gates this spring, with the seventh candle at its center. “It’s a symbol of balance,” she explained, moving away a foot, but keeping the dagger at her side. Her crown of cloudberries seemed to glow with an inner light. “Two intersecting triangles. Male and female, dark and light, above and below … and the power that lies in the place where they meet.” Her face became grave."

Along with Mor's painting and this post by @bright-side20 I think illuminates it nicely that the 3 Bat Boys and 3 Archeron sisters are destined for each other.

It's also plays nicely with the story of Koschei and the Deathless which SJM has stated she's drawn inspiration from.

In this case Ivan would be Lucien and Marya Morevna would be Vassa. It all ties in neatly with how SJM plays fast and loose with fairy tales as her inspiration.

Idk, to me this all seems pretty clear and obvious and I feel like a lot of readers and especially Elriels have picked up on how the story is generally gonna go. We might not know every single detail but we have a good grasp on a broad speculation, which you should be able to do if an author has done their job right imo.

But who knows, maybe we are just a biased hivemind since Elriels do tend to all come to the same conclusion.

[hypnobeauty]

a chance encounter - a cho hyun-ju x reader fic (part 9)

summary: a story about how you and hyun-ju met and the following years of your relationship. masterlist cw: no use of y/n, reader is afab, slow burn, sexual tension, mutual masturbation. NSFW, mdni. a/n: smutty chapter! the amount of times i've rewritten this chapter is honestly embarassing. i tried my best not to be objectifying and respectful! enjoy xx as usual, comments are always welcome (now it’s for real, school is back—i’m a teacher—so it might take a while to update) taglist: @strayteez3staner @dekiruxxx @jeongteen @sunnysurvives @3leni @etta-huracan @honeyhyunju @basoressia @antisocial-aina @googie-jeon @christinamadsen @deernat @vvlwvvy

part 9. slow burn, steady flame

things with hyun-ju had always been slow when it came to physical intimacy. she was never shy about holding you, kissing you, pulling you close—but whenever things started to shift into something more, she would hesitate, pull back. you never pushed. you knew she wanted you just as much as you wanted her, but desire alone wasn’t always enough. she had her boundaries, her insecurities, and you never wanted her to feel anything less than completely safe with you.

you had talked about it before—really talked about it, without sidestepping the details.

one night, curled up together on the couch, she sighed, running a hand through her hair. “can i tell you something?��� she asked, her voice soft.

“of course,” you said, squeezing her hand.

she exhaled through her nose, like she was gathering the words before speaking. “i know i always stop when things get… heated,” she said, glancing at you briefly before looking away. “it’s not because i don’t want to. i do.”

“i know,” you murmured.

she squeezed your fingers, her grip firm, grounding herself. “it’s just… my body doesn’t always feel like mine. most days, i’m fine, but sometimes, it sneaks up on me.” she swallowed, searching for the right words. “i get stuck in my head. it’s like… i want you to touch me, but at the same time, i don’t.”

you nodded slowly, absorbing her words. “that makes sense.”

she blinked. “it does?”

“of course,” you said, threading your fingers through hers. “you’ve been through a lot, hyun-ju. your body has been through a lot. it makes sense that some days it feels like home, and some days it doesn’t.”

she let out a quiet laugh, almost disbelieving. “you always make it sound so easy.”

you shrugged. “it’s easy to be patient when i care about you.”

her grip on your hand tightened slightly. “i just… i haven’t been with anyone in a long time,” she admitted. “more than a year, actually.”

that caught your attention. “more than a year?”

hyun-ju nodded, shifting slightly. “yeah. i mean, i started transitioning a year ago, but even before that… i hadn’t done anything with my ex for a while.”

at the mention of her ex, you couldn’t stop the small twinge of jealousy that flared up. “your ex, huh?”

hyun-ju glanced at you, immediately catching your tone, and smirked. “you’re not jealous, are you?”

“no,” you said too quickly, narrowing your eyes. “i just didn’t know you had an ex.”

she let out a small laugh. “it’s not that interesting. it was over before i even started transitioning. she wasn’t a bad person or anything, just… we weren’t right for each other.”

you studied her for a moment. “did she—was she supportive?”

hyun-ju hesitated. “not really.”

that answer was enough for you to understand. you let out a breath, swinging your leg over her lap and sitting on it, so you could face her properly. “well, for the record, i’d like to formally apply for the position of ‘right person for hyun-ju.’ i think my credentials are pretty solid.”

she chuckled, shaking her head. “you’re such an idiot.”

“but a lovable idiot,” you pointed out, leaning towards her and giving her a light peck on her lips.

“the most lovable,” she admitted, brushing her nose on yours.

there was a moment of quiet, warm and safe. then she spoke again, softer this time. “i do want you,” she said. “i think about it. a lot. more than i should, probably.”

you smirked, “oh? how often is ‘more than you should’?”

she groaned, covering her face with her hands. “aein, don’t make me say it.”

you pried her hands away, laughing softly. “hey, i like knowing you think about me.”

hyun-ju exhaled, “ i just want to be ready. i want to feel good when it happens.”

you reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “then we’ll wait until you do. no rush.”

she searched your face for a second before sighing, a small, lopsided smile forming. “you’re going to combust, aren’t you?”

you groaned, dramatically flopping to the side. “hyun-ju, i’m dying here.”

she laughed, the sound light and teasing. “patience, aein.”

you turned your head toward her, smirking. “no promises.”

she rolled her eyes, but the way she squeezed your hand told you everything you needed to know. she kissed you then, slow and grateful, and you knew she believed you.

it was another two months before you saw her fully bare for the first time. by then, you had settled into the routine she had pulled you into—early mornings at the gym, where she trained like it was second nature and you, well, tried your best. exercise was a necessity for you, something you did for your health, but for hyun-ju, it was something more. it was control, it was care, it was a way to feel strong in a body that had once felt like a cage.

and maybe, just maybe, it was her way of slowly letting you see her.

that day, after an intense session, she invited you to her place instead of heading home separately. it was casual, something you’d done before, nothing out of the extraordinary.

the apartment door clicked shut behind you two, the sound muffled by the weight of your exhaustion. you’d just finished a grueling workout at the gym, bodies slick with sweat, muscles aching but alive with that post-exercise buzz. you wiped your brow with the back of your hand, peeling off your damp tank top and tossing it over your shoulder. the sports bra clung to your body, the fabric damp and cooling as you stood there, gulping down a glass of water.

you caught hyun-ju staring, her eyes lingering on your body with a mix of admiration and something else… something that made your skin prickle with anticipation.

“enjoying the view, aein?” you teased, setting the glass down on the counter. her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t look away.

“yes,” she admitted, blushing. her gaze was unwavering, and for a moment, the air between you felt charged, like the static before a storm.

you stepped closer, closing the distance. your hands found her shoulders, then slid up to wrap around her neck. hyun-ju didn’t pull away, instead, she leaned into you, her body pressing against yours as you kissed her. it wasn’t a gentle kiss—it was hungry, desperate, like she’d been holding back for too long. 

“we’re all sweaty,” you said, breathless, when you two finally broke apart. you pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, feeling her sigh against you. “how about we clean up a little? a shower together might be nice.”

she bit her lower lip, her eyes flickering with a mix of nervousness and curiosity. “a shower… together?”

“mmhmm,” you murmured, my fingers tracing circles on her shoulder. “just being close, washing each other. nothing you’re not ready for. and if you feel uncomfortable at any point, we stop. promise.”

she hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “okay. i… you think i’d like that.”

this was it. after four months of dating, of stolen kisses and whispered promises, you were finally here. the thought made your stomach twist with a mix of excitement and nervousness. you wanted this—you wanted her—but you also knew how vulnerable she felt, how much this moment meant to both of us.the bathroom was softly lit, the warm glow of the overhead light making everything feel intimate and safe. you turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature until it was just right—warm, but not too hot. steam began to rise, clouding the mirror and filling the space with a comforting haze.

she stood in front of you, her back turned to your front and you could see she was fidgeting with her hands–a habit she had whenever she was anxious or nervous. you reached for the hem of her shirt, pausing to ask her. “can i?”

she hesitated, then nodded again, her breath catching as you slowly lifted the fabric over her head.

then, her back still turned to you, hyun-ju pulled her sports bra off. you couldn't help but admire her body, the muscles of her shoulders and arms defined from years of workouts. she hesitated for a moment before turning around, and when she did, your breath caught in your throat.

her small, perky breasts were perfect, her nipples soft and blush, inviting. her belly was toned, faint abs visible beneath her smooth skin. she moved slowly, almost nervously, as she hooked her fingers into the waistband of her jogging pants and pulled them down. her legs were strong and smooth, her hips narrow but feminine. she stood there in nothing but her white cotton panties, and you could see the outline of her half hard cock, tucked to the right, the shape of her balls visible beneath the fabric.

your pulse quickened as you stepped out of your shorts, then your panties, leaving yourself completely naked in front of her. she glanced down at me, her eyes dark with desire, and you saw her cock twitch beneath her underwear.

she reached for the waistband of her panties, her hands trembling slightly, and you held your breath as she pulled them down. her cock bobbed free, and you couldn’t help but stare. it was beautiful—perfectly shaped, the right length and girth, a vein running along the top, the tip pink and sensitive-looking. the hair around it was light, kept trimmed short, and her balls were round and shapely.

you took a step back, mouth watering, your hands groping blindly for the shower door as you kept your eyes locked on hers. she didn’t look away either, her gaze burning into you.

“come, aein,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “join me.”

she hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, her body trembling with anticipation. the shower was warm, the water cascading over us as you reached for her, pulling her close. you took hyun-ju's hand, leading her into the shower. the water cascaded over us, soothing, and you heard her let out a soft sigh as it hit her skin. you grabbed the bottle of body wash, squeezing a generous amount into your palm.

“turn around,” you said gently, and she obeyed, her back facing you. you started at her shoulders, your hands working the lather into her skin in slow, deliberate circles. she leaned into your touch, a soft moan escaping her lips as your fingers kneaded the tension from her muscles.

“that feels amazing,” hyun-ju murmured, her voice almost lost in the sound of the water.

you smiled, hands moving lower, tracing the curve of her spine. you washed her with care, taking time to explore every inch of her body, making sure she felt every touch, every caress. when you reached her hips, she tensed slightly, but you didn’t push, moving instead to her legs, kneading the muscles there until she relaxed again.

“your turn,” she said, turning around to face you. you handed her the body wash, and she took it, her hands trembling slightly as she squeezed some into her palm. she started at your shoulders, her touch tentative but growing more confident as she worked the lather into you skin. her hands moved slowly, deliberately, as if she were memorizing every curve, every dip of you body.

when she reached your breasts, she paused, her eyes flickering up to meet you. “can i…?”

“of course,” you whispered, your breath hitching as her hands cupped them, her thumbs brushing over your nipples. you let out a soft moan, head falling back as she explored the mounts, her touch sending jolts of pleasure through your body.

she leaned in, her lips capturing you in a hungry kiss, her hands still working their magic. you moaned into her mouth, your hands tangling in her hair as the water beat down on you, the steam making the air thick and heady.

when she pulled back, her eyes were dark with desire, her breathing ragged. “i want to touch you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “all of you.”

you nodded, heart pounding in your chest. “anything. always.”

hyun-ju's hands moved tentatively to your thighs, sliding up to your hips, and then she dropped one hand lower, her fingertips grazing you clit. you gasped into her mouth, the sensation sending a jolt through you. god, she was good at this. her touches were tentative at first, like she was learning the rhythm of your body, but as you moaned softly, she grew bolder.

“is this okay?” she whispered, her voice trembling with both nervousness and desire.

“yes,” you breathed, your hands moving to her shoulders, steadying yourself as her fingers began to circle you with more purpose. your head fell back, and you let out a breathy sigh, body responding eagerly to hyun-ju's touch. “just like that.”

hyun-ju's cheeks flushed at the praise, and you could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. but even as she pleased you, her movements growing more confident, you could feel the tension in her body—the way she hesitated when you hand drifted lower, toward the part of her she still struggled to accept.

you stopped suddenly, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. her eyes were wide, almost scared, and kissed her again, softly, reassuringly. “can i touch you?” you asked, your voice steady but gentle. “please tell me if it’s too much.”

hyun-ju swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she processed your words. for a moment, she looked like she might pull away, but then she nodded, her voice barely audible. “y-yes. i want you to.”

your heart swelled at her bravery, at the trust she was placing in you. you kissed her once more, a slow, tender press of my lips to hers, before letting your hand drift lower. your fingers grazed her length, and she shuddered, her hips twitching involuntarily. she was already hard, her cock straining against your palm, and you could feel the heat radiating from her.

“you’re so beautiful,” you murmured, fingers wrapping around her gently. hyun-ju let out a shaky breath, her eyes fluttering closed as you began to stroke her slowly, the soap making every movement smooth and slick. her hips bucked into your hand, and you could feel the tension in her body beginning to unravel, her uncertainty giving way to pleasure.

“oh god,” hyun-ju whimpered, her hands gripping your waist tightly as you worked her. her breathing grew ragged, her body trembling under my touch, and you could tell she was close. the way she responded to you—every gasp, every shiver—was intoxicating, and you couldn’t help but moan as her fingers continued to tease you, the dual sensations pushing you both closer to the edge.

“that’s it, aein,” you coaxed, your voice low and husky. “let go for me.”

her eyes snapped open, locking onto you, and something in her expression shattered. her orgasm hit her hard, her body convulsing as she came, her release spilling over your hand. the sight of her unraveling, her face twisted in ecstasy, sent you over the edge as well. your own climax crashed over you in waves, your legs buckling as you cried out her name.

you clung to each other, both shaking and gasping for air, the water from the shower still cascading down around you. her forehead rested against you, and you could feel hyun-ju smiling—small and hesitant, but genuine.

“that was…” hyun-ju started, her voice trailing off as she searched for the right words.

“perfect,” you finished for her, brushing her wet hair from her face. “you’re perfect.”

she blushed furiously, burying her face in the crook of your neck, and you laughed softly, holding her close. we stayed like that for a moment, just breathing each other in.

“ready to get out?” you asked softly, brushing her hair back from her face.

hyun-ju nodded, her eyes still glistening. “yeah. but first…” she leaned in, capturing my lips in a slow, tender kiss. “i love you,” she whispered into your mouth. “so much.”

“i love you too,” you murmured, heart overflowing with emotion. “always.”

you stepped out of the shower, the cool air hitting your skin and making you shiver. you grabbed two towels, wrapping one around her and the other around yourself. she leaned into you, her body warm and soft against mine, and you held her close, lips brushing against her temple.

“let’s get cozy,” you whispered, leading her back to the bedroom. she nodded, her hand in you, and you knew that no matter what, you were in this together.

[void-galaxy-shenanigans]

I hope it’s okay to take a related but different turn on this. I have this happen sometimes, but I have a fun D.I.D. experience with it that I want to share.

I (Nico) write a lot of stories. It’s my primary coping mechanism for stress & trauma. That means a lot of OCs, a lot of AUs, a lot of outlines or plans for stories.

(acronyms here: Dissociative Identity Disorder (D.I.D.); Original Character (OC); Alternate Universe (AU))

However, we also have D.I.D., and because I find the most comfort in fictional stories & in characters I relate to, I often split my own OCs.

Sometimes they take over their story. I’m leaving Nightwalker’s Dream to Harley & Azure; it’s their (love) story. (Harley & Azure are fully taking over; it’s out of my hands now (/not upset).)

Sometimes people front to add something & then let me continue. Sometimes they add notes in my document/notebook of where they want the plot to go.

But sometimes, something even funnier happens. (Or something really sweet.)

I start writing a new piece, and they pop into co-con to make commentary on what I’m writing. They critique, they laugh (/supportive, positive), they smile at the sweet parts.

(co-con = co-conscious, AKA they’re awake/able to communicate but not in control of the body; co-front/front = taking over the body)

It would probably be startling to anyone without D.I.D. if your characters started talking to you / literally writing their own story. But it’s quickly becoming my favourite part of writing LucKai.

LucKai is a ship name, like in fanfic, but they’re both my OCs - Luciano (he/him) & Kairo (he/they).

Sometimes Luciano takes over. He usually adds a line or corrects phrasing (I automatically write in first person, & sometimes he’s like ‘I understand what you mean, but I’d say it like this’). Honestly that’s rather in character (he tends to be very logical, in part to hide from/avoid emotional vulnerability), so it makes sense.

But usually it’s Kai, and he’s a sap (/affectionate). He takes over to gush about his partner*. He’s a poet and his emotions spill all over the pages (/metaphor, positive). On occasion he’ll contribute something factual, especially something on trauma-informed psychology that he remembers researching for us**. But usually he’s here to brag about Luc. (That’s also in character.)

(* using partner because whether they’re mutually-crushing-in-denial, dating, or fiancés varies by story, & they’re married in our system 🤷‍♂️)

(** Kai & Spirit do most of that research so I forget the specifics 😅)

Their (Kai’s) rambles are my favourite part now. I got a whole paragraph out of him when I wrote a confession scene for one of my pieces (I can share if people wanna see). They’re the sweetest lover (/sincere, positive).

(And of course now LucKai are in the background grinning sheepishly (/amused, affectionate). They love to gush/brag about one another, but get shy if it’s acknowledged. (Not in a please-don’t way but in a yeah-I-do-that-but-now-I’m-extra-aware-of-it kind of way (/affectionate, supportive).)

But yeah, this is a thing. I get to witness my OCs write (or chime in to critique) their stories in real time. ☺💜

~Nico (he/they)

the best part of writing is when your characters start ignoring your outline and you realize they’re better at this than you.

[dapper-lil-arts]

You mentioning the Big Mac comic made me removed just how much I love that story lol. It’s one of the only times we get a sense of real interiority for his character and it’s just fun to see him play off of so much of the supporting cast.

I especially love the running gag where he’s just effortlessly pulling mares left and right without even trying (including Luna? Maybe? Now THERES a ship for the ages).

It’s even funnier when you consider the fact that he was canonically a chatterbox when he was younger, so his whole romantic arc throughout the series is basically “man tries shutting the fuck up for once in his life, immediately starts drowning in women” lol.

Anyways, all that preamble to bring you to my ACTUAL question:

Which other(s) of the non-main and/or background characters do you Headcanon as having ungodly amounts of game? Just having others swoon over them without even trying?

I always assumed Maud’s romance game was untouchable personally (pulling Mudbriar, Starlight, and hell probably Trixie too lol).

HARD MODE: Can’t say Sunset.

Yeah that comic run is so cute, it shows a little slice of life of a festival day in ponyville and it feels so loving and fun and just cute, everyone is having a good time and enjoying themselves, even Luna! And I love that Big Mac, the big farmhand handsome quite man pulls so many bitches. Honestly I wish Applejack got the same treatment, she really really fucking deserved it, but the show is allergic to having the protags have any romantic relations.

Women literally fighting for him in the background. Good.

WOMEN REQUESTING AFFECTION, PERFORM EVASIVE ACTION

I wasn't gonna say Sunset bc she's not a sidecharacter 😎

Also I'm not sure I even agree with the idea of Maud pulling a lot of bitches, I think it makes more sense for her to be someone that pursues that a lot, but rarely gets lucky because people are 'off put' by her. I feel like she and every Pie sister would suffer of this exact issue, tbh. Sure, Pinkie might get more bitches than the average because she's much more outgoing than the other Pie sisters, but even still, how many people could even stand Pinkie on average? Most ponies hate all the noise she makes in canon and are always annoyed when she's around. By all means both pinkie and maud got lucky... Limestone and marble didnt.

But about your question, honestly, that's a hard one. If nothing else, most of the show is like. So loveless and sexless when it comes to romance, and the little romance that is there tends to be incredibly monogamous. Like, I'd LIKE to say that Cadance should be a love madwoman that has dated dozens of stallions and mares but thats just unrealistic to all of her canon.

I'd like to say applejack, I've done dozens of jokes where every femme in a mile radius can sniff her out and wants to get closer, but still. Again, tragically goes utterly against canon. Even saying that a more obscure character like Raven Inkwell regularly visits gay bars is tragically reaching... So sadly I don't think I got an answer.

[class1akids]

do you think bakugo’s character growth was regressed both in the final war and the epilogue?

I personally do, yes. To me, the Bakugou we saw during all of Act 2, the PLF War and after emerging was this amazing, driven team player, who could bring along others, inspire them...

So I honestly was expecting a moment in the Final war where Bakugo takes charge of a desparate situation leading / inspiring others and putting together everything he learnt about interacting with people, to rallying them, to putting his faith into Deku for a breakthrough.

But this narrative was cast aside, as even in the Floating UA, Bakugou acted mostly alone and he "inspired" others to work together to save him by dying. His teammates who sacrificed themselves for him got left behind. And then his "resurrection" was a mostly solo moment of self-exploding sweat, and got a solo kill-shot on AFO which Hori then tried to frame as a team moment (but only a lip service way).

Even Bakugou joining the "Everyone is there" for Izuku comes a solo moment, where he is singled out for praise. I never would have guessed that Bakugou's combo moves would be limited in the entire final war to the handhold with Deku and the (offscreened) jump platform with Todoroki.

I think it would have worked much better to give the solo fight highlight to Bakugou earlier in the story and have him in the final war interact with others more, pay off his relationships with others better and make his power-up not be just due to another quirk awakening, but due to the relationships he built, the people he inspired and made stronger, the spirits he could lift, etc. To me, that would have been a more attractive narrative.

I find "regression" in the epilogue in the sense that to me, Bakugou was always willing to work on his own weaknesses to achieve his goals. So his slide from 4 -> 15 doesn't make sense due to his attitude. His attitude has steadily improved in the manga, so sliding him back into anime!Bakugou to deny him No 1 spot doesn't make so much sense.

I understand that when Hori decided to take away all of Deku's dreams, it became necessary to take something from Bakugou too. I agree that it would have left a bad taste if Bakugou got everything he wanted, while Deku lost everything he worked for, but I think Hori did it really in a lazy way that was inconsistent with the maturing Bakugou we saw emerge.

Bakugou not getting No 1 because the ranking system is abolished, or because his arm recovery has limits or because his quirk causes often property damage are all better options than to just have him be his own gag!version who for whatever reason can't stop being rude to people.

I also didn't like particularly the narrative about not taking sidekicks. If he himself lost the motivation to be a challenger to the 14 people ranked above him, he comes across as an entitled hypocrite when he rejects sidekicks for not challenging him.

To me - apart from a few moments here and there - Act 3 Bakugou, or rather post-362 Bakugou felt like a person who left half of his arc (the half I loved more) behind. I feel still very nostalgic about Act 2 Bakugou who was a fascinating character to me and whom I loved dearly, but a lot of that got lost in the final war and the epilogue.

[pomrania]

Here's an example that's almost certainly not a spoiler in any practical sense, since it's a webcomic from twenty years ago, that might not exist online any more, where I've forgotten what it was even called.

The first page has the main character reading about weird-to-him stuff, then deciding to go off on an adventure. His hair colour changed between the second-last and the last panel, where he gets up to do something, and that's the colour it stays with for the rest of the comic. I hadn't noticed anything at the time; if I had, I would have just thought "huh the artist made a mistake".

Hundreds of pages and a few real-world years later, it turns out an this character is a manifested thought-form, which took shape when the person (from the first few panels of the comic!) thought "huh I wonder what would happen if I left to go on an adventure". His hair didn't "change colour", he's a completely different character.

Another example, which I've decided to actually share here because the fic needs more love, and because the middle bits are worth reading even when you know one particular twist: My Dad, the Boogeyman (Naruto) by Alcadanon. Further details are under the cut, so go read the story first (24k words) if you want to see what you can maybe predict, simply from knowing what it's an example of.

It begins with a character who, in canon, died by drowning in a river while injured; he finds himself alive, uninjured in a way that REALLY doesn't make sense, washed up in the sewers that connect to that river, and wrapped in a blanket of some weird material. There's the question of "how is he alive and uninjured", but then it gets replaced with "what will he do now that he IS alive", and then "how will Shenanigans continue to unfold"; then in the last chapter there's a situation involving some other characters and a river; and it turns out the answer to the first question (which by that point I'd honestly forgotten about, and had mostly just written it off as "not relevant to the story") was "rescued and healed by river spirits".

I don't know if this is common writing advice, but: if you want to hide a twist, put it at the start.

Have it be hidden as part of the assumed status quo, because the audience doesn't yet know what's normal and what's unusual, and they won't likely come back to that bit later on until they've already gone through the whole story. Or, have it as the inciting incident, which leads to B which leads to C which leads to D, and by the time the story's gotten to Q which leads to R then people won't be thinking about A or B, they'll be too busy considering what Q or R might mean.

It can make something FEEL like it came out of nowhere, especially if the plot hasn't let you have a moment to breathe and think about what's already happened, then you get to the explanation and you're like "oh yeah that WAS a thing, how did I not remember it this whole time".

I should clarify that this is distinct from a Chekhov's Gun, where something actually IS normal at the time in-'verse but becomes important later. THIS is where something is either recognized as odd at the time, but then the story moves on and deals with other things so the audience forgets about it or doesn't believe that it's relevant; or, when the audience doesn't REALIZE that it's odd because the "rules" of the story haven't been established yet, and by the time the audience knows what WOULD be "normal", they've forgotten about what happened at the start of the story.

This is however hard to give examples for, because by its very nature it's a major twist and even saying "yeah there's something important very early on, which you'll have forgotten about by the time it becomes relevant" can be a spoiler as it "localizes" what to pay attention to.

[sdv-confessions]

Honestly, story wise, anything regarding Harvey/Maru shipping at the Flower Dance could easily be explained as an instance of "pair the spares".

Leah and Elliot are artsy friends and always spend time talking together.

Abigail and Sebastian are the alternative kids whose parents don't really get them. Usually Sam is also with them.

Sam and Penny are the "kids next door" types who interact a lot because of Vincent.

Emily and Shane talk every day because he always goes to the saloon, where she works, and they both love birds.

Alex and Haley are Jock-Prep solidarity and clearly had something going on before the Farmer came to town.

So who does that leave of the eligible datable characters? Harvey and Maru, who work together.

Unless the other pairs, who are clearly comfortable with each other, are willing to split up, the options for those two are extremely limited. It makes sense they'd dance together. They're friends and coworkers, and their only other options are Clint, Marlon, Willy, Gus, Pam, and Marnie (since Lewis is a coward).

.