#but maybe the trauma would be too much…

[gangstalkerbarbie]

Yes, you don't owe anyone your time and intimacy. These things are freely given to people whose company you enjoy. They're not a reward for performing the mechanical actions of courtship correctly, they're a logical consequence of two people mutually liking one another on a profound human level. Courtship is a game between two people who already like each other, and the thing is that there is no reward, the reward is getting to spend socially sanctioned time together that could lead into nesting and raising children. The win condition of dating is a pair bond capable of weathering life and maybe sustaining childrearing, which for most people involves sex because it's fun, bonding and is what leads to children. The win condition of dating is not mechanical sex for mechanical sex's own sake.

The thing that progresses dating into greater seriousness is therefore also not a kiss, not a handy, nothing — you can do all of that with whoever you're dating, I don't care, but call me a boomer idk, the period of time that you're in love is supposed to be safe and fun for both parties. The progression of a relationship is about trust, which dies instantly the second dating is no longer both fun and safe.

If feeling safe and having fun does not, in your heart of hearts, include being alone together or handies or head for you (and let's be honest with ourselves, it often doesn't, no one really thinks these kinds of risks to her reputation and human value are fun and safe; when girls engage in these behaviours it's because they live in a bizarro world where for some reason horny boys are allowed to set the rules of mate choice and girls are taught to value being wanted above anything else), that should be respected. If it isn't, stop dating this person.

Lack of willingness to respect women's nonconsent (and telling you not to be a prude is, in fact, disrespect) leads to rape, which used to often lead to children out of wedlock whose lives were doomed to be miserable, which is why so many patriarchal cultures wrote not being in private with unwed women into ritual or customary law and usually tied in metaphysics.

Even back then, people knew that rape can be a profound sociological trauma with very far-reaching consequences and wanted to keep their children from experiencing it, and their grandchildren from living whatever life these circumstances gave them. Not everyone alive in a prevailing social climate agrees with it, but they do all know what the consequences are for acting like it doesn't exist.

And after marriage too, you may not always have the right to say no, but on principle you deserve it just by existing as a human being. No still means no even with a ring on it.

I would (and I have) stop talking to a guy even at the implication of any entitlement to sex; in my culture it's normal to be a virgin until 24 or older nowadays, because marriage is a very long commitment, and sex is always a risk for the woman, and no shit she has the right to discretion. If he wants to gently try to wheedle or pressure you into sex while you're still reasonably in the public eye as a distinct person now, imagine what he'll do when you're married, you're in private together with no witnesses all the time, and his grandma thinks he's entitled to it!

He's not entitled to fuck or damn, but marital rape is much harder to get any recourse for than rape, comma, vanilla (which itself is the farthest thing from a picnic), and not everyone who blogs on the internet has a right to no-fault divorce. Universally applicable advice: either the man you're with is capable of understanding that no means no, or you just don't get into that position with him to begin with. If he has bad vibes, don't give him a chance, leave. If he says or does some weird shit, don't give him the benefit of the doubt, leave. You are always morally in the right for leaving and telling everyone about why.

There may be very little you can do once you're too far in — I'm not saying you shouldn't have the right to leave a bad marriage, I'm saying a lot of people wake up one day to find they don't — so if at all you can choose whether you end up in that position, do everything in your power not to.

There should, also, in principle be standards you should be able to hold men to. Leave if they refuse to be held to standards; they do believe in standards even if they claim not to, just standards only for you. You want the guys that believe sincerely in standards for everyone that you also believe in.

They will be hard to find because their path is thankless and often also considered to be cringe or even juvenile (because very young boys don't know they're supposed to want to hurt women yet, not wanting to hurt women is widely perceived as naive, feminine or infantile among men), but it's the only way to safely be heterosexual. If you need a man (I'm a lesbian but I have brothers I love who feel they need women, and I know full well that it is possible to feel you need a man), pick a good one.

You may be waiting until you're 30, even 40, but the good news is that gives you time to make nesting money and learn who you are, so, you know, different time periods, different priorities.

Secrets of the mothers of Israel or whatever, special for Tumblr: make good choices about your box and hold the men in your life to standards. Otherwise they will make up bad one-sided standards to hold you to and make your stupid box choices for you.

The social coercion women face to date people they’re not attracted to is fucking insane. I remember distinctly thinking “well, I can just force myself to be attracted to him…”

Films, books, etc, all show the trope of beautiful woman and unattractive man. There is still the myth that an unattractive man will treat you better than an attractive one (more women are waking up to this, but still). Even now the left thinks that activism happens between the legs of women.

Don’t date people you’re not attracted to. Don’t feel guilty for not giving them the time of day. No means no.

[blueteller]

The "Scent of Arm", according to Ron

There was that bit early on in the TCF series that I didn't get for a really long time.

Ron, on sight, recognized a certain scent "lingering" on Choi Han, which made him and his son Beacrox believe that he was a member of Arm. He recognized it from many years ago when the Molan residence was attacked by the members of the secret organization.

The thing is, the scent disappeared after Choi Han washed up at the Henituse mansion, thanks to Cale's hospitality, causing a major divergence. In TBOAH, Choi Han would not get the chance to "freshen up", and the Molans would follow him out of the city, abandoning their jobs as servants of the Henituse family solely because they suspected him of being from Arm. Later on, that suspicion would get cleared up and they would stay because they got actual trace of the organization.

However, in TCF, after Choi Han got cleaned up a bit, Ron instantly changed his mind and decided "no, it couldn't have been Arm after all, there is no way those guys could have come here all the way from the Eastern Continent".

So, that begs the question... what was the "scent of Arm", exactly?

My first thought, on my first time reading, was "of course, it was the scent of blood and murder, because Choi Han just came from a massacre". But that.... doesn't make much sense, does it? Ron is an assassin. He used to deal with murder and blood on a regular basis, it was literally his job. Why would such a generic scent would immediately make him think "it has to be Arm"? Even if we think of it as trauma because Arm destroyed his home, that still doesn't really add up. Especially when after Choi Han cleaned up, he instantly changed his mind. Just because the guy washed up that didn't make him any less dangerous or strong. So blood and murder as the scent of Arm, that's out.

My thoughts on the second re-read went into a slightly different direciton. Maybe it had something to do with the scent of the Forest of Darkness? Specifically, the dead mana from that forest? We know it's special, since dead Dragon mana is basically non-existent in the natural world, due to the fact that Dragons who died a natural death would turn into dust, not decay and create dead mana. The swamp with the Dominating Aura also acted as a container and let it thicken up over time in the poisoned water. That kind of rare, specific smell would make more sense as something that Ron could recognize on sight, right?

However, after thinking it over, I realized that also did not make that much sense either. Even if we accept the fact that ordinary mooks from Arm could have dead mana smell just because they traded some of it to the mermaids to help them fight against the Whales... all of that happened MUCH later than the fall of the Molan family. Why would Arm lackeys in the Eastern Continent smell like the forbidden region of the Western Continent? We can't even assume it was the extremely general dead mana smell that Ron confused as the scent of the organization, because Ron isn't an idiot; even if he doesn't know any dark creatures personally at this point, he KNOWS what dead mana is. And that's still too common thing to see Choi Han smell of it and instantly decide: yes, this guy must be related to Arm! Like, come on. That's such a farfetched conclusion. Ron wouldn't be that dumb.

My third take, was Black Despair, which is something that is EXTREMELY specific and directly related to Arm. Think about it: it does not occur naturally, Arm mass-produces it for demonic purposes, and the lackeys can all smell of it on both continents regardless of the timeline, since the White Star has been doing this stuff for a 1000 years. Also, Ron would not realize what it is, being a regular human and all, just know the smell of it and have a very averse reaction to it due to the traumatic memory it was tied to, as well as the nature of Black Despair itself. Now, I finally felt like I was getting somewhere!

There was still that lingering doubt in my mind, however. Would regular Arm assassins really smell of Black Despair? Like, all of them? Really? There's no way the Red Stars let their disposable foot soldiers anywhere near the stuff. Of course, there was the possibility that they were using it for some brainwashing black magic ritual, that let them "create" those type of suicidal pawns. But, still. I was a bit uncertain. Would Choi Han really smell of the same stuff simply because he killed a bunch of people who smelled of it??

That's when it hit me.

The smell wasn't Black Despair specifically... it was simply despair!!!

Think about it! All Arm forces SHOULD smell of despair. Either because they cause it, they feel it themselves, they spread it, and the black magic they use is fueled by it!! With despair being a literal force one can sense, of course it would have a powerful, lingering stench.

And most importantly? Choi Han's attribute is also despair!

It you think about it this way, it all becomes clear now! Choi Han was soaked both in despair from the Arm assassins he killed, the despair of the Harris Villagers that were murdered, AND his own lingering despair that radiated from him because of his trauma and the attribute he developed!!! So when he came to the Henituse mansion, of course he was a huge red flag for the Molans! They recognized the exact same despair and instantly decided to get rid of the threat!

HOWEVER. What happens the next day in TCF? Choi Han washes up. Choi Han's clothes are new, clean, his attribute is safely tucked away due to lack of danger, and most importantly? His despair starts to disappear because of CALE! Choi Han has hope, a new objective – paying Cale back – a goal in his mind, and he shows a softer, vulnerable side when he tells Cale "but you don't even know who I am". Choi Han's despair isn't all gone of course, not even close. But he isn't soaked in it anymore.

And Ron SEES all of this, sees this guy who was just REEKING of despair the day prior but has a whole new vibe today, and begins to doubt. Because of course he does!! If Choi Han was really a member of Arm, there's no way all that scent of despair could have disappeared after a single bath. So he comes to the very reasonable conclusion that he was wrong, and stops worrying about Arm's return.

Of course, later on he catches onto the scent again as he travels with Cale, so he follows the trail, separates from the group as early on as the Plaza Terror Incident, and after getting the very public confirmation that Arm is, indeed, on the Western Continent, he goes off to track Redika down all the way to Hais Island 5.

And that's why, my friends, I believe that the "scent of Arm" that Ron was talking about was Despair. Not Black Despair specifically, just the scent of Despair that Arm causes all around the world. A bit different from Choi Han's own despair, but similar enough to be confused with it.

[idontcare4urmom]

˘ ͙ᵕ˘͈ “LACY,OH LACY”┊͙ ˘͈ᵕ˘͈

when being a bit too much of a secretive and insecure person lead to your best friend getting what you always wanted since kid,matt sturniolo

���*⁀➷ angst,mentions of insecurities and self doubt,traumas,mentions of crying,envy,jealousy,etc. (inspired by the song «lacy» by olivia rodrigo ✧*)

!! first language is not english ¡¡ (masterlist,taglist)

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you’ve always been secretive, quiet,never sharing your personal information or preferences with no one. not because you wanted to be, but because the world never felt like it had space for you. your words, your wants, your feelings—they have always seemed like things to be swallowed, locked away. you never speak much.you never ask for too much.

you are the kind of person who lingers in the background, watching rather than stepping forward,observing in silence. it started young—this creeping sense that you were never quite enough. maybe it was the way people overlooked you in conversations, the way your parents never quite celebrated your achievements the way they did for your siblings, the way people always seemed to forget your name until they needed something from you.

you watched girls who were louder, who took up space without apologizing for it. girls who could make a room bend toward them, who didn’t hesitate before speaking, who didn’t second-guess their worth. you watched them and wondered what it felt like to wake up in a body that didn’t feel like something to be ashamed of, to exist without the weight of self-doubt pressing into your ribs.

and yet, deep in the marrow of your bones, you have always wanted him,matt.he is the boy who was once completely attached with you, but now only existing in the deep past,leaving you only with the heavy weight of vividly memories.

he was there in the soft haze of your childhood, in summers spent running through golden fields, in winters where you watched the snow settle in his dark hair, his laughter curling into the air like smoke. he was the first person who ever made you feel something close to special. the first to hold your wrist when you almost tripped, the first to call your name like it actually meant something.

but he was also the first thing she took from you.

your best friend. the girl who never needed to ask for things because the world placed them at her feet. the girl who shined so brightly, so effortlessly, that people mistook her glow for their own warmth. you love her —because how could you not? but love unfortunately does not erase envy,even though you really wish it did.

you compared your face to hers—the shape of her lips, the curve of her nose, the way her eyes caught the light just right. you compared your voice to hers, how easily she spoke, how people listened to her without her needing to beg for their attention. you compared your body, your laughter, your very existence, and every time you did, you came up short.

it all happened quietly and maybe way too fast.you saw the way he would start looking at her all the time, and the part of you that is still a child—still hopeful, still stupid—pretended not to notice. you watched as his laughter becomes softer whenever she would be near, as his hands would find her waist, as she would lean into him like she has a right to.

then one evening,sitting almost peacefully on the hardwood floor of your balcony,she told you that she decided to test out committing a relationship with him—she said it all so simply,so calmly, sickeningly unaware that it shatters you in the most silent way possible.

you forced yourself to remember that she loved you. that you were not an afterthought to her, not something lesser. but love does not make comparison disappear. and comparison was something you carried with you like a second skin,

and now—you try not to see the way he touches her. you try not to hear the way he says her name. you try not to remember what it was like when he still looked at you like you were something to be seen. but trying means nothing when the universe has a cruel sense of humor, placing them in your path at every turn.

she tells you stories about him, as best friends do. how he surprises her with coffee in the mornings. how he texts her goodnight with little inside jokes that make her giggle. how he kissed her in the rain like something out of a dream,

you only could listen,not realizing that you were slowly becoming an echo of your older self,the one who wished to be heard by anyone.

then it also comes the worst part—the guilt.the shame of it,curling around you like a suffocating fog.you weren’t supposed to ache for the person your best friend chose, and he had chosen her.

yet you couldn’t resist your thoughts,wondering what it would be if things were switched,different.if he ever would glance at you again as if you were something sacred,if you were the one someone had reached for instead of just passing by.

———————————ღ————————————

one evening, after too much pretending, you slip away from a party neither of them noticed you at and find yourself by the lake. the moon hangs low, it’s reflection fractured in the water, and you feel like something unraveling,

you swore your heart skipped a few beats when you heard a familiar soothing voice behind you,the one who would send tingles in your body and make you all warm,him.

you don’t remember when exactly you fell for him, it wasn’t sudden, not some grand realization that struck you like lightning. it was slow, torturing, like the tide pulling in, so gradual that by the time you noticed, you were already drowning.

he had a way of making the world feel lighter. he could turn anything into a joke, could tease you without it ever feeling cruel. and you loved that about him. loved the way he never treated you like you were fragile, like you were someone to be handled with careful hands. he made you feel real, solid, like you weren’t just floating through life unseen

but that of course,didn’t last long—cause when she stepped into the light,he followed right behind.

“are you okay?” his voice was practically dripping with kindness and softness,and it only made you feel like you were some sort of a pity,

you honestly didn’t know how you were even supposed to respond to him,the lump in your tight throat suddenly roping like a knot,desiring to basically let your emotions wash over and to cry your heart out.

instead you hollow a smile in the corner of your lips— explaining that you needed some air, and he hesitantly lingered his gaze on you,causing your stomach to flutter pathetically,

“you can go back,i will be there soon” you whispered out,afraid that if your voice was a tiny level louder it would betray your hidden tone of sadness.

he could sense you were yearning for some alone time,so he only nodded,eventually walking and disappearing in the shadows so he can step back inside,where she is waiting for him—like you always have been secretly,even though it wasn’t enough,and the truth is that it will never be.

———————————-ღ———————————-

ev’ note: colliding olivia with the sturniolo’s cause why the fuck not?😛 by the way i don’t know if it’s painfully obvious that this is my first angst,i hope it doesn’t suck but i can already picture it flopping hard🥹

love youu<3

taglist: @wiidfi0wer33 @chrislova @cutiepaiquill @zainabthescientist @jetaimevous @toysizee @chratts-left-ball @savvyratatouille @bellassturniolo @justexisting12 @mattsbrowser

[r0-boat]

I had very close friend who was bpd and ı kinda see him in leviathan

But just bit not too much few things are similar like crashouts and panic attacks and trying to gain control lol

Yeah... I see a little bit of myself in levi(maybe that's why I'm so attached)

---levi and Ch7 rant incoming---

Just want to let you know this is from the eyes of a Leviathan fan! So it's not going to be too harsh hehe!

Leviathan is a very emotionally complex person, and if we are dependending on PB to write him we are going to be disappointed.

Chapter 7 was really weird.

Like the whole MC flash back to all his abuse before sobbing... And the random Levi trying to kill us thing, after the last few chapters when he said that he would protect us???

Leviathan's character is not bad, in fact if done right it's really emotionally satisfying and rewarding.

For example:

Leviathan's bath card

Although not perfect, I felt that is was better at showing leviathan's character.

Let me explain: as you know the story of normal bath cards. Angel's with toxic blood explode on the devil king It immediately soaks into their skin and you have to wash them and save their life before they die.

So the reason why I love this card very much is because this plays into Levi's agoraphobia.

Even if MC is trying to help him he feels That he is in great danger. Levi is covered in an angel's blood and he is quickly losing control of himself as he is having a mental breakdown pushing away sometimes a violently MC who is trying to help them.

The reason why he's pushing them away even though they're trying to help him is that he feels helpless He doesn't have any control over the situation. This is included in his backstory since he was not only a prisoner but also a slave and sometimes even a test subject.

Levi finally explains why he's acting like this.

This is far more meaningful than whatever the fuck was in chapter 7 because it was Levi himself that trusted MC enough to explain what traumatized him. Despite not trusting them, he still seeks comfort from them, trying to play with them, trying to hold their hand while practically reliving his trauma.

After he explains himself he admits that it felt good and he trusted MC more to actually help him.

I have to point out that Leviathan cannot the toxic blood off himself nor can other devils he puts his absolute trust in because if they touch any of this blood they will also be at risk for their lives. MC has to do it, a person that he trusts very little.

But at this moment as MC reassures him that they are not a danger and that he could trust them His guard drops completely his mercy completely in their hands.

Leviathan's feelings for you are complex; he both once you and wants to be with you, But doesn't trust you and is afraid of what you're capable of, He also finds you very annoying.

Knowing in this situation that he can trust you with his life (And this is a porn game, and the MC is a vicious horny goblin) He wants more of you and the two of you don't just have sex The two of you make love. He kisses you softly he holds you like he cherishes you and he doesn't want to let you go.

It's so funny, out of all the Seven Kings that fuck you only Leviathan has made love to you. Leviathan when he's not being complete asshole to you He gets you gifts, He plays with your hand, he kisses you softly.

Anyways TLDR Levi bath >>>>>>>>whatever the fuck chapter 7 was.

[austinsten]

I do not think that would be your fate.

What I always wanted for you was to be the fearless and bold like we both know you are. You are very strong and brave. Thats who you are and you shouldn't be afraid to show it. You shouldnt take anymore shit and you shouldnt give yourself to anyone that doesnt love you like you deserve. Even if you have to do it to me. In fact you especially have to do it with me. shut me out, threaten me, hate me. Fine, so be it. As long as you're standing up for yourself when you're right and taking accountability when you're wrong. If I can't have you at least maybe i can help you and someday you can find a guy who will treat you how I always should have and actually be ready to keep him. Is that weird? Idk you're the girl I've always loved so much I just want you to be happy. I feel like you never believed i loved you or thought you were the most beautiful woman id ever seen. You should be with someone who makes you believe those things. I know you also carry the same sadness and unbearable anxiety from childhood trauma. I know i broke your trust When I yelled. I pushed you away when you couldnt talk to me. That is my own trauma and was never your fault. Its still no excuse and I can't save face. i should have learned your love language a lot sooner. I know you just wanted to be held and kissed like there was only us. I lost myself feeling so alone and just CRAZY because I wanted you to fight for us with me, I wanted to hear every thought and desire you hadn't shared so BAD i just wanted to reach you and help you. I just wanted to do it for real without playing any games, without manipulation. It was so hard to find a middle ground between being loving and being firm to not feel walked on. I laughed when you were mad because it was the only time I saw you truly express yourself and i just loved you so much I couldn't contain it. It made me so happy just to hear what was on your mind. I never asked you how your day was enough, i never kissed you like i should have. It was never just about sex for me, i was nuts about you from the start. i was truly your love fool for so, so long. But i also knew you kept secrets between us and i pushed you way too hard about it, i understand there was overlap. Its hard to settle on a feeling about it because you also would not have put yourself in that situation again, much less so many times after, if you weren't seeking attention and you did actually regret it. I know you were broken and in the dark. But I've also accepted if I'd shown you the love you deserved you may never have sought it elsewhere. If things were good between us youd have never been with them. If we could just stop being so stubborn and be vulnerable enough to actually speak what were so afraid to. Its just sucks! Its so painful when we didnt even do this to each other were just fucked up from our childhood and cant stop hurting each other! Even knowing that. Sigh, i never wanted to make you feel small or unheard i was just so afraid to lose you! I never hated you I was just heartbroken. I wanted to stay forever, but we couldn't talk to each other. I just wanted the truth not more manipulation. I wanted to hear i was your love and the only man you wanted. Sigh. I never wanted to silence you or talk over you. Quite the opposite. I loved you in ways you may never understand and it's my own fault.

- What do you fear, my lady? - A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002)

[lesmiix]

hii!! could you write hcs/oneshot of hyun-ju finding out reader has a daughter? like how she would react and bond with her?

have a lovely day/night!! ❤️

Hyun-ju finding out you have a daughter!

Hyun-ju x Fem!reader

Summary: You started dating Hyun-ju not so long ago, but she still doesn't know you have a daughter.

a/n: OMG THIS IS SOOOO CUTE Thank you so much for this request!!!

Hyun-ju requests are OPEN

You would have told Hyun-ju about your daughter not too long after you two have started dating, maybe 3-4 weeks later.

Wether you told her accidentally or directly.

"So, uhh... Hyun-ju, there's something I really need to tell you." You said nervously, playing with your hands, you really didn't want to take too long on telling her that little secret, so you decided to tell her right after having dinner in a really nice restaurant.

"Sure, what is it?" She asked, seeing the nervoursness in your face.

"I... uh... I had a boyfriend some years ago, it was not the best relationship but we were too immature to realize what we were doing so... I ended up getting pregnant and..." You chuckled a bit. "When I told him about it, we had a really bad fight and then he just dissapeared. I didn't have the guts to abort her, so... well... I understand if you want us to stop having all of these little dates." You couldn't stare at her in the eyes, fearing to see any disgust or dissapointment look on her face.

After some seconds of silence, you heard a soft giggle.

"That's okay, pretty girl, I don't have any problem with that so, can you tell me more about her?" She said after letting a small peak on your soft lips.

She would be the best mother ever, as a result of her childhood traumas, she wouldn't want your daughter to go through the same tough stuff as her did, so she would always make sure that the little girl knew she could trust her 2 mommies.

She'd help you preparing her food, and if she was still a baby and you were not at home, she'd be the most delicate while preparing the milk, always being really carefull with the temperature. If you decided to breastfeed her, she would silently watch you both with a cute smirk on her face, resting her head on your shoulder, wondering what has she done to deserve such a beautiful family.

Hyun-ju doesn't really like to stay at home all day everyday, so she would make plans for the three of you, like going to an aquarium, amusment parks, small trips on close cities or simply going shopping to the mall.

She truly loved spending time watching movies or playing hide and seek with your daughter, even though sometimes you and your girlfriend needed some privacity and hired a babysitter for the night.

Before you moved in together, if you had to work until very late, you'd call her to ask if she could babysit your daughter for a while until you got home.

"Hey, my love, I'm going to stay a little longer at work tonight, is it okay if I asked you to babysit Sheila? I'll try to finish as soon as I can, I won't take too long, maybe three hours more, I guess... I just have a ton of paperwork to fi-" You couldn't even finish your sentence as she cut you off.

"Baby, it's okay, take the time you need, I'm on my way"

As Hyun-ju doesn't have contact with her parents anymore, you would spend christmas with your family.

She would be this kind of "respectful parenting" mom, like, she would NEVER raise her voice or her hand at her, but NEVER NEVER NEVER, doesn't matter how bad your daughter screwed up. They would have a long chat if she did something bad, but Hyun-ju would speak to her very softly.

Overall, she would be the greatest mother your daughter could have ever had.

a/n: AWW I loved how this turned out!! 😭

[supercorpkid]

I Should Hate You

Supergirl. Baby Danvers Reader. Kara Danvers. Alex Danvers. Lena Luthor. Lex Luthor.

Word Count: 3260.

Notes: heavy on angst and PTSD trauma. Ending coming soon.

Being Alex and Kara’s little sister was never a bad thing. If anything, it made life easier. You had two built-in protectors, two people who made the world feel safer just by existing. No one would bother you at school, and your mom never had to worry about you.

That is, until Lex Luthor came into the picture.

Because now, he knows. He knows. Not just who Kara is, secret identity and all. But also what she cares about, who she loves, the lines she would cross to protect the ones important to her.

And now, you do too—more intimately than you ever wanted to.

Lex didn’t just figure out Supergirl’s identity; he figured out yours. He knows your face, your name, the exact pitch of your voice when you’re begging not to die. He knows how easy it is to take you, how powerless you are against men like him. And worst of all, he knows something you can’t unlearn either—just how breakable you are, how easy it is to snap your psyche like a twig.

And that’s the difference, isn’t it? Alex has her training, her weapons, and alien tech to help. Kara has more than a dozen powers to choose from. And you? You have nothing. No armor, no defenses, nothing to stop someone like him from reaching out and plucking you off the street whenever he wants. And now that he’s done it once, what’s stopping him from doing it again?

Nothing.

And that terrifies you.

Kara keeps saying you were never really in danger. That she never would have let him hurt you. That she had it under control. But control means nothing when you remember the way the cold air clung to your skin in that cell, how every second stretched into eternity as you waited, helpless, for whatever came next. It doesn’t erase the way your body locked up when you heard footsteps approaching, the way your breath came too fast, too shallow, because you knew—you knew—you were just a means to an end. Not a person. Just a way to get to her.

And now? Now the nightmares won’t stop.

You dream of steel cuffs biting into your wrists, of walls pressing in too tight, of guns’ barrels freezing up the back of your neck, of Lex’s voice curling around your name like he owns it. And it’s not just when you sleep. Sometimes you’re in the middle of a conversation, or walking down the street, or trying to be normal again—only for your brain to snap back, to drag you under, to make you feel like you’re still there.

But the worst part isn’t the fear. It isn’t even the exhaustion of pretending you’re fine.

It’s the anger.

It sits heavy in your chest, impossible to shake. Because if Kara weren’t Supergirl, none of this would have happened. If she were just your sister—just Kara—Lex would have no reason to know your name. No reason to take you. No reason to remind you just how small you are.

Of course, you’d never say that out loud. How do you tell Supergirl that you wish, just for a second, she wasn’t the mighty powerful being she has no choice but to be?

And then there’s Lena.

You know it’s not fair. You know it. She’s not her brother. She’s not responsible for what he’s done, for what he knows, for the way your hands still tremble when you reach for a glass of water. She didn’t take you. She didn’t look you in the eye and smirk like you were already broken.

But she still has his name.

And maybe that shouldn’t matter, but right now, it does. Because every time you see her, every time she so much as says your name in that soft, careful way she does, it’s his voice you hear in the back of your mind. It’s his face you remember. It’s the shadow of him curling around her, reminding you that if you were just a little more like Alex, a little more like Kara, if you weren’t so easy to take, maybe this wouldn’t have happened at all.

And so, you flinch at the sight of her. Not obviously, but enough that she notices; that her brow furrows just slightly when you pull your hand back too quickly, when you shift a little farther away. And she doesn’t say anything, of course. She just watches.

And that might be the worst part. Because you can feel the questions in her silence, the ‘I didn’t do anything’ just barely biting back at her tongue. And she’s right. She didn’t. But her last name did.

And right now, you are having a really hard time separating the two.

It starts small. You tell yourself it’s just one more day of staying home. Just one more day where you don’t have to face the world, where you don’t have to pretend that everything’s normal. But after a while, ‘just one more day’ turns into a week. Then two.

The hardest part is how everything starts to feel too much. The thought of walking out that door, of seeing people, of hearing sirens in the distance or feeling the weight of a stranger’s gaze—it’s all so loud, so sharp, it’s like the world has become a minefield. One wrong step and it’ll all come crashing down again.

You quit work. You stop answering texts. You skip class, then tell yourself you’ll catch up later, but you never do. You become a shadow, existing only within the walls of your apartment, where it feels safe, even if it’s not.

It’s strange. You’ve always been independent, always handled things on your own, but this? This is different. This is too much.

You don’t even realize how bad it’s gotten until you hear your own voice on the phone with Eliza. You’ve called her every day for the past two weeks, something you’ve never done before. Which triggers her 'mom intuition’ for sure. She keeps asking if you need anything, if you’re okay. And you lie every time. But she knows you too well. She can hear it in your voice, feel the cracks forming beneath the surface. Your mom knows you're just the ghost of her daughter.

The silence in the apartment is thick, suffocating, and you’ve been letting it surround you for days. The TV hums softly, but you’re not really watching—your mind is too far gone, trapped in its own spiraling thoughts.

Then, the door creaks.

The sound slices through the quiet, jarring and sharp like a knife. You stiffen, your heart leaping into your throat, and before you can even register who it is, you spring to your feet. It’s a knee-jerk reaction—instinct, the kind you don’t even question. Your breath catches in your chest, and for a split second, you're frozen. Every nerve on edge, every muscle tense, as if the world is suddenly closing in.

When you finally focus, your eyes meet Alex’s. She’s standing there, the same steady presence you’ve always known, face full of concern.

“Whoa, hey, hey—” Alex starts, but you can’t stop the tremor in your hands, the pulse hammering in your chest like it’s trying to tear you apart.

You’re already backing away, your mind screaming at you to put as much distance as possible between yourself and the door. You barely register her words as they blur together, and all you can think about is getting away from the noise, the danger.

“Y/N, it’s just me. Alex.” She raises her hands up, defensively. "Just your big sister, checking in on you.” Her voice cuts through the spiral, sharp and grounding. 

You drag in a few shallow breaths, struggling to steady your mind, telling yourself that it’s okay, you're safe for now.

“Shit, Alex! Just knock next time. I don’t fucking have x-ray vision.”

Alex's brow furrows at your choice of words. She scans your messy apartment quickly, but it’s you she turns back to, her gaze sharp and focused on your face.

“You okay? You look like you haven’t slept or left the house in days.”

Sleeping isn’t the problem. In fact, you’ve been falling asleep easily enough. It’s staying asleep that’s the issue, with nightmares clawing at you every time you drift too far into sleep.

“I’m fine,” you say, a little too quickly. You know she’s overanalyzing every little movement, every tiny shift, so you need this conversation to be over fast. “Why are you here?”

Alex tosses her keys onto the kitchen table, then takes a cautious step forward. “You’ve stopped answering everyone’s texts, and you’ve been calling mom every day.”

“Oh, so I can’t call my own mother now?”

“You can…” she says softly, but there’s a quiet concern in her voice. “But you usually don’t do that every single day. She’s a little worried.”

“Gotcha. I’ll only call her every other month,” you exhale, annoyed, as you move back toward the couch. Alex lets out a frustrated sigh and follows, stepping closer.

“I thought I’d find you at work, but your boss said you quit.”

“Sorry if I don’t want to work in a coffee shop forever. I’ve got savings. I’ll find a better job in time.”

Alex doesn’t respond right away, but you can feel her eyes on you—heavy, searching. Doing what she does best, investigating. She takes another step closer. 

“Y/N, this isn’t about work or mom,” Alex says after a beat. There’s a hint of frustration in her tone, but it’s not aimed at you. It’s at the situation. “You just went through something traumatic, and now you’re hiding away in your corner of the world. Do you honestly think we’re all that stupid, that we don’t see what’s going on?”

You’re pretty sure she doesn’t understand. She doesn’t know what it’s like to be completely helpless and hopeless, at the mercy of someone like Lex. Doesn’t know the rage you feel at your own sister for allowing it to happen. Doesn’t have the faintest idea of how every bit of your once-best-friend now reminds you of the worst thing that ever happened to you.

“God, I hate when you do that. I hate when you walk in here all high and mighty.” You roll your eyes, every word coming out so bitter it makes yourself flinch. “You can either believe me when I say I’m fine, or don’t. I don’t care. But don’t just barge in here like you know better than me what I’m feeling, okay?”

Alex’s face tightens, but she doesn’t back off—she never does. Her eyes flicker between you and the apartment, as if she’s trying to read something deeper, something unsaid.

“Peaches,” She starts again, her voice quieter, and the use of the nickname shows just how well she knows how to handle you, to break through the walls you've put up. “I don’t mean to treat you like a kid, but this isn’t you. This… this isn’t how you’ve ever been. And I’m worried, okay?” Her voice wavers slightly, and though the frustration is still there, it’s now mixed with something softer, something that aches. “We all are.”

But you? You’re just getting more frustrated by the second. “Okay, fine. What can I do to make this conversation end and get you to leave me alone?”

Alex considers for a moment, just long enough to make you antsy, before she says, her voice surprisingly calm:

“Movie night.”

“Movie night?” You repeat, incredulous. You can’t help it—you feel a little ridiculous, but if going to a movie night is what it takes to get Alex off your back, you’ll do it. “That’s it? That’s the deal?”

You make sure, because nothing with your sisters is ever as simple as it seems. And this feels oddly easy.

“Yep. Come to movie night tomorrow, and I’ll see how ‘fine’ you are. Then you’re off the hook. I’ll even call mom and tell her not to worry about you…”

“And you’ll leave me alone too?”

“100%.”

“Okay, then. Deal.” You exhale, giving in with a resigned sigh. “See you tomorrow at movie night.”

You can’t believe you agreed to this. Sure, at the time it sounded like the only possible solution. You had to get Alex out of your apartment before she started sniffing the old pizza slices and your fears. She's too good at both. But now, as you stand in front of Kara's door, you can’t believe this is actually happening. You’re about to show up here and pretend that everything is fine for at least the duration of a whole movie. How on Earth are you going to pull this off?

The soft thrum of your pulse beats in your ears, drowning out the world for a moment. You stare at the door, heart twisting in that familiar, anxious knot. If you just turn around now, slip away into the night, you could avoid all of this. Avoid them. 

If you could just… 

The door creaks open, Kara is standing there in her usual flannel and sweatpants, looking as if she just stepped out of a pile of laundry. Her smile is wide, brimming with that annoyingly kind energy—the kind that could melt the hardest of hearts. And that’s exactly what makes this so damn complicated.

“You made it!” she says, her voice ringing as if everything is fine and normal and not at all like you’re about to implode just by standing here in front of her.

You cross your arms over your chest, already feeling a little defensive. “Yeah, well, I’m here, aren’t I?” You try to sound nonchalant, but your voice cracks at the end, betraying the nervousness roiling beneath the surface.

Alex steps into view behind Kara, arms crossed, like she’s been watching you since the second you knocked. She raises a brow, her gaze narrowing slightly, scanning you for any cracks. And, of course, she’s the first to speak up, because she always has to poke the damn bear.

“You good?” she asks, her tone a little too honest. Too knowing.

You force a tight smile. “Fabulous.”

Kara nods, stepping aside to let you in, that ever-present sweetness in her eyes, too soft for you to handle at the moment. There’s something about the way Kara moves—so gentle and eager—reaching out for the simplest of hugs, that makes you hurry inside to avoid her touch.

As you look around, Lena’s there, curled up on the couch, her presence like a quiet storm you didn't see coming. Her hair falls loosely around her face, and her expression is so open, so raw—a clear vision of innocence. So tender it nearly hurts. And, for a moment, you forget about the weight of the world. You almost forget who she is. Almost.

She is a Luthor. Her brother probably has eyes on her at all times. He's probably watching right now, already plotting how to take you all down in one strike. Hell, every second near Supergirl and Lena Luthor is another second closer to a cell, to having a gun pointed to your head.

"I thought we'd go with something light, so I picked a comedy. What do you think?" Kara says, grinning like she’s been waiting all day for this. And knowing your sister, she probably was.

You nod, trying to fight back the sense of danger creeping in. Everything is fine. You just have to pretend. Pretend that nothing matters but this movie. Pretend that Lena isn't sitting across from you, that Supergirl isn't here in her pajamas offering you a big bowl of popcorn.

You take a seat on the far side of the couch, keeping a careful distance from Lena, as if the space will somehow protect you from whatever may happen if her brother shows up. She doesn’t say anything, just watches you from thick eyelashes and green-eyed gaze, and it takes everything you have not to crumble under it.

Kara is already settling in, practically buzzing next to you. Her hands moving to adjust the throw pillows like this is the most normal, casual thing in the world. 

“I’m so glad you could make it! I missed you so much these past few weeks, Peaches.” Kara says, her voice soft and warm, like she’s trying to make this feel safe. Like she doesn’t notice the way you’re pulling inward, trying not to let your breath shake.

You force a smile, something that doesn’t reach your eyes. “Yeah, well, I did make a promise.”

The movie starts, but you can’t concentrate. You should be watching, should be laughing like Kara and Alex are, but every sound seems too loud, too sharp. Your pulse drums in your ears, and the quiet ticking of the clock on the wall is like a countdown. 104 minutes of this. Come on, you can do it.

But then—then the first gunshot in the movie rings out.

It’s too real. Too close to home.

Your chest seizes, and for a split second, everything blurs. The room disappears, the movie fades, and you’re back in that cold, dark place. The silence presses in around you, thick, suffocating. The same kind of silence that used to follow every threat. Every decision he made. The sound of your own breath in that small, damp space, the taste of metal on your tongue.

Your hand tightens on the edge of the couch, nails digging into the fabric, the tension pulling you taut. Your breath comes in short bursts, like it’s too much to take in. The sound of the movie becomes a distant echo, muted, fading out as the walls of that cell close in on you.

You don’t hear Kara's voice calling your name. You don’t see Alex’s concerned expression. All you hear is your pulse ringing in your ears; all you see is the shadow of Lex, looming over you, wrapping around you.

And then you feel it—a soft hand, barely brushing your arm, and it shouldn’t feel like this, not like fear. But it does. So you jerk back, hard, your breath catching after a shriek leaves your mouth unbidden. It’s an instinct. A reflex. A warning.

The room goes completely still.

All eyes are on you.

Kara’s face is filled with panic, her lips parted like she’s about to say something but doesn’t know what. Alex’s jaw tightens, her eyes scanning you like she’s trying to figure out how to make it better. But it’s Lena—Lena who doesn’t move. Lena who just watches, her hand still hovering in the air like it’s caught between reaching for you again or pulling back.

You can’t breathe. Your chest is tight, too tight, like the walls are closing in again. And Lena’s eyes—those quiet, searching eyes—are burning into you, and you can’t look at her. Not now. Not with everything you’re carrying.

“Are you okay?” Kara’s voice is soft now, gentle, like she’s scared of shattering something fragile.

You don’t trust anything, anyone. You don’t even trust your own voice at the moment. 

“I just... need some air,” you manage, barely louder than a whisper.

You don’t look at any of them as you stand, pushing the blanket off your lap and stumbling toward the door. You need to get out. You need to breathe. You've been holding your breath ever since you walked in this room.

You need to go. Where? Anywhere! Home! No—Midvale! Farther! Just go. Keep going. Somewhere Lex can’t find you. Your sisters won’t find you. No one. No one shall find you.

[camilaflores]

"Your worst nightmare, for sure." She said with a nod of her head because she could be relentless and a bit vengeful. It wasn't anything to be proud of but it was a side of her that existed. Likely something she'd need to work out in therapy once she grew the nerve to actually go to therapy and face all the trauma she was harbouring. "I better be the first person, but I don't think you're going to break." Certainly it would only be normal for him to feel that way but he was better, and stronger, than she'd ever witnessed him being before. "I know I have told you, kind of. But if you needed to hear it again, I'm really proud of you and how far you've come. It's no small feat." It was impressive and while she always liked every version of bear she'd seen, this was her favorite.

She tilted her head and grimaced because she couldn't exactly tell him straight off the bat. "Maybe I don't know what I want." She admitted to him. Sure, she wanted a decent fuck. She'd gone through way too many mediocre ones to know that she atleast deserved to find someone who would take the time and energy to return the favor. She narrowed her gaze and waited for him to laugh and indicate he was teasing but when it didn't come, she swallowed hard for a second. "Yours." It was always the option she chose in case she needed to make a quick escape. But this was her friend, someone she cared about, so it would naturally complicate things regardless. She followed, mainly intrigued to see if this was going to happen or not. Partly feeling he was testing her just as much as she was him.

"Well, that depends... what does an annoyed and pissed off Camila look like?" A smirk formed on his lips. Sure, he'd likely been on the receiving end in the past. Especially when considering how Bear used to be all those years ago but he didn't have those most solid memory of those times. "If something happens and I feel like I'm gonna break," Bear paused, at this point his sobriety wasn't a fragile thing, "I'll give you a call. You'll be first on the list." A list of one. For a long time now Bear's life had been sure and steady, other than facing some difficult losses pertaining to his job or tough days, there wasn't much to it. But he did appreciate having someone in his life that wanted to be there.

"What is it you're wanting then... because it's not even clear to me." She seemed to lean and hint one way and then start leaning the other way, it was confusing and men were rather simple. "If all you want is a hookup then that shouldn't be hard at all to find." Especially with how attractive Camila was and to learn that she was struggling with it told Bear she was thinking way too hard on it and complicating it when it didn't need to be. "Then do that," he chuckled softly, "can't have it both ways, Cam." But, ready to leave, and with ideas she'd set in his head, Bear reached back for her hand as he strolled toward the exit. "Your place or mine?" Blue eyes glanced at her just before they passed through to the parking lot where his truck was parked not too far away.

[adddddiiii]

hello, can I request a Jameson x reader with a reader who flinches in an argument? (maybe one with Grayson too if you get the chance)

Flinch

Author's Note: Sure, and I'll write one with Grayson some other time 💕

Contents: Jameson Hawthorne x reader

Warnings: Arguing, flinching, slight angst, reader is implied to have trauma from past experiences

Jameson Hawthorne had always been passionate — loud, expressive, full of fire. That was part of what made you love him. But sometimes, that passion burned too hot.

Tonight was one of those times.

The argument had started small. Something about him taking risks, pushing limits, not thinking things through. You had voiced your concerns, and Jameson, in his usual way, had brushed them off with a cocky grin.

“You don’t get it,” he said, throwing his hands up. “I need to do this.”

“No, Jameson. You want to do this,” you shot back, frustration creeping into your voice. “And you’re not even thinking about the consequences.”

“Since when do you care so much about playing it safe?” he challenged, stepping closer.

And then-

He moved too fast. His hand lifted. Not toward you, not even in anger, just a gesture as he spoke. But instinct took over before logic could catch up.

You flinched.

It was small, barely a second. But Jameson saw it.

The air between you shifted instantly. The fight disappeared, swallowed whole by something heavier.

His expression dropped, all the fire in his eyes extinguished in an instant. He went completely still.

“Did you just…?” His voice was quiet now, careful.

You swallowed hard, looking away. “It was nothing, Jameson. Just reflex.”

But it wasn’t nothing. You both knew that

Jameson took a slow step back, like he was afraid of getting too close. Like he was afraid of hurting you. “Have I ever-?” He stopped himself, shaking his head, as if the question itself was unbearable. “Has someone else?”

You exhaled shakily, arms wrapping around yourself. “It’s not you,” you murmured. “It was never you.”

Jameson’s jaw tightened. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration laced with something deeper, something like guilt.

“I would never,” he whispered, almost to himself.

“I know.” And you did.

For the first time since the argument started, Jameson wasn’t trying to win. He wasn’t pushing or teasing or challenging. He was just there, his green eyes searching yours for something. Reassurance, maybe. Forgiveness.

Then, without thinking, he dropped to sit on the floor, crossing his legs like a kid. The suddenness of it caught you off guard.

“What are you doing?” you asked, furrowing your brows.

Jameson looked up at you, softer now. “I don’t want to stand over you,” he admitted. “Not if it makes you feel like that.”

Your chest tightened.

Carefully, you sank to the floor too, sitting across from him. For a moment, neither of you spoke.

Jameson reached for your hand, slow enough that you could pull away if you wanted. You didn’t. His fingers curled around yours, warm and steady.

“I don’t care what we were arguing about,” he murmured. “Nothing is worth making you feel unsafe. Ever.”

A lump formed in your throat.

Jameson Hawthorne — reckless, wild, untouchable — was now sitting on the floor with you, holding your hand like it was something delicate. Like he would never let it go.

[sickfictropes]

Love it when Whumper A is sadistic/enthusiastic and Whumper B is reluctant/unwilling. Whumper B goes behind Whumper A's back to give Whumpee food, water, medicine, etc. Bonus points if Whumpee tries to turn Whumper B against Whumper A, but Whumper B is either too afraid of/trauma bonded to Whumper A to betray them. Bonus bonus points if Whumpee tries to take Whumper B with them when they are rescued, but Whumper B either a)still can't leave Whumper A, or b)sacrifices themself to aid in Whumpee's escape. SUPER MEGA bonus points if Whumpee then feels tremendous guilt for not being able to save Whumper B.

ooooh this is so interesting!! i really like the henchman being secretly kind behind the villain's back. the way that it would take so long for whumpee to trust them, but through consistent kindness, they finally form a relationship. especially when so much time goes by and the henchman is the only person who shows whumpee any kindness. maybe when their team finally comes to rescue them, they want to take the henchman, but the team doesn't trust that they don't have sinister motives and leaves them behind </3

[supacutiepie]

I have a firm belief that Lucanis has a really fucked up relationship with sex. Not just because he may be demisexual, but because Caterina has used sex against him in the past. Illario is the one who seduces and swoons and can have sex for fun. He can yap about it, go on about all his encounters. But for that exact reason I'm sure Caterina was especially strict with Lucanis about who he was allowed any form of personal relationship towards: i.e. none. I don't think for a second that she would have hesitated to put some kind of trauma into it. Because Illario plays too fast too loose, it'll get him killed. She can't lose both of them, and she especially can't lose Lucanis. So maybe she tricked him, maybe she set him up, maybe she made his own fumbling attempt at puberty so humiliating and demoralizing he shies away from it entirely. Personally, as for my story telling, I'd be able to see her using his youth against him. Maybe there was some young crow fledgling like him, someone charming enough. He gets close, close enough to Lucanis to make him start to feel things... which means this went on for months. Maybe there's a street festival, maybe Lucanis sneaks out for the first real time - he's slipped to the roofs and the diamond before but not out into the streets without telling Caterina... but he goes with this boy and they run through Treviso and he feels alive and he's having so much fun-- A gondola ride, street snacks, fireworks, his one single kiss with a boy under the bridges-- And then the gondola turns down a canal, and he's at the private dock to the Dellamorte Villa and Caterina is waiting for him and he knows immediately he's been had. Knows before that boy disappears. Caterina doesn't even have to punish him. She puts one withered hand on his nape and guides him up the steps, into the house. Demands he changes, burns the clothes that smell like the market spices. He goes to bed, they don't speak on it. They don't have to. The lesson is clear: Lucanis can never trust someone's affections.

[signcfthetiimes]

there's a part of her that wished maybe he didn't remember. that she could just kick him out and not face this right now. maybe she should have kicked him out last night. but violet knew that's not really what she wanted at all. when a silence lingered on them, violet had to look away from him. actually eating some of the breakfast on the plate in front of her. when he finally spoke again, she drew a breath, steadying herself as she watched os fumble through his words. his earnestness was undeniable, but it didn’t ease the knot in her chest. her thumb rubbed a slow, nervous pattern against the edge of her plate as she tried to sort through the whirlwind of thoughts crashing around in her head. she wanted to say something comforting, something that would make this easier for both of them. but none of it was simple. when he admitted that he wanted to be with her, that he'd stay or leave depending on what she needed, her heart twisted in a way that was both painful and relieving. the part of her that was still angry wanted to call bullshit. but then there was the part that remembered how it felt when he was close. the part that never wanted to let go in the first place. "i want to believe you," she said finally, her voice steady but soft, carefully controlled. "and i do, a little... but i’m scared too, os." she looked down at the table, not quite meeting his gaze. "you say you won’t run, that you want to be here. but you’ve already left once. what happens next time you get scared? if we have a fight and things get hard?" there was no accusation, only a raw uncertainty that she couldn’t shake. "i love you," she admitted quietly, the truth slipping out again despite every instinct telling her to protect herself. violet looked back up at him. "so much that sometimes it feels like my chest is going to explode." and she didn't want to feel sad anymore. she already had too much trauma and emotions to deal with and the only person that helped her forget about all that was os.

He mostly moved the food around, hardly eating anything, silently listening to Violet speak. "Yeah, I don't really shut up when I'm that wasted." A truthful drunk who couldn't quite keep his mouth shut. Most of the time, it got him into trouble. "No, I remember." He reassures her quietly, staring down at his plate, almost too scared to look at her. "It wasn't bullshit." He confirms her words with a nod, gaze drifting back up to her. "You should've hit me." He breaths out a small, awkward laugh. He deserved as much. Os stared at her for a while, trying to speak but ultimately failing each time. He had so much he wanted to say but couldn't find where to start. "I know I hurt you," He finally found his voice, but he spoke more quietly than normal. Guilt, shame, remorse, all weighing heavy on him. If he felt this way, he couldn't even begin to imagine the way she felt. "I know I fucked up, I decided on my own what was better for you, I didn't talk to you, I just--" Her words from last night rang through his head, every raw emotion smacking him right in his chest. "I ran, how fucking pathetic." He mumbles under his breath, letting the fork fall from his fingers and onto the plate with a small clank. "...I want to figure this out, I want to be with you." He locks his gaze with hers, desperately trying to convey everything he felt. "If you want that, I'm here. I'll do whatever you need." He felt himself holding his breath, so he exhaled a shaky sigh. "If you need space, for me to piss off, anything at all -- I'll do it." He tried his best to form a smile, but there was still too many emotions filtering their way into it. He wanted to be strong for her, to be the support she needed despite ultimately being the cause of her pain. "Thanks, for not kicking me out."

[magicpiano]

I have seen multiple Demon Twins AUs where Damian sees Danny, assumes he is a clone and tries to kill him. Then after the truth is revealed, Danny is just like, "oh okay no big deal! He just thought I was a clone." Then they hug or something. But I disagree?

Yes, Danny is very forgiving of harm done to him, he is friendly with a lot of ghosts who have attacked him. But how friendly is he with people who hurt those he cares about? Even more so, those who aren't even sorry about their actions? I can see Danny forgiving Damian for trying to kill him. I am more skeptical about him forgiving if it was done purely because he was believed to be a clone.

Danny, who has a clone he actually cares about, would be more pissed by this explanation, not less. I can see him thinking something like, "Oh you thought murder was okay because they were a clone? You don't think their life has value?" This explanation would do the opposite of reassure Danny. I can even see him feeling a kinship, a brotherhood, with Damian's dead clones. I can see him, a dead teen himself, mourning them.

This isn't really fair to Damian for sure. He has a lot of legitimate trauma around cloning. Even more so if we use the idea that he (and Danny in this AU) were test tube babies. And he has worked so hard to grow and change and leave his more violent upbringing behind him. His long lost twin believing him to be nothing more than a violent murderer would hurt a lot.

But even so... No matter what their relationship was like before, Danny would not trust Damian after this. How could he trust someone who would have killed Dani?

Idk, I just haven't seen a single demon twins AU where Danny is defensive of clones and I think it is a huge missed opportunity for angst and drama.

[dailytogachako]

okay, but do you think that himiko is not used to being praised and treated with affection, so when ochako does this to her, her first reaction is to be suspicious, act rude and then apologize because she knows that uraraka would never hurt her or...

[eclecticopposition]

seeing personality disorder discussion on the dashboard. the impulse to share all the self-therapy books and tools we have has never been stronger

[mage-ical-character-person]

You couldn’t find the staff as a Gmod asset?? 👀 ooh!

It doesn’t function like the flesh goop or the shadow goop but it’s a little similar to Puzzles when he’s at full power with the making the imaginary/fictional real.

Personally I think the demonic goop (both black and red) is/are a virus. Because…

because similarities to Niles and God Box but it’s not meme energy. And Niles and the Godbx and Eldritch Zero and Ax0l are also eye imagery. And SMG3 and SMG4 harnessing anti-memes in the Godbox is visually similar to IGBP

Now you see: virus replicate in host and do its best to find more hosts. This is true of both regular and computer viruses. So! Yeah. Here is more rambling about the virus flesh goop and the Mr Puzzles’ robot body having similarities to Clench and the error screen from WOTFI and.

also um. Friend mutual @vox-exe.

Pointing out how Karen connects to the recent themes of family really well, and Puzzles did focus test his shows on her kids. But yeah, Melony’s mom leaving and Melony repressing it so hard she forgets she even has a family until her dad shows up and does Slenderman things to her friends.

Then we have Karen and her kids, with the father absent. Based on context, probably divorce or he did something stupid and got himself killed.

There’s also the whole “Luigi Doesn’t Need Mario” episode, if we’re talking about family. But it’s very different in what it focuses on and stuff.

There’s also the fact that… there’s all this focus on family and childhood… and none of the SMGs have either of those. (Well, Four and Three have their sons but yknow) Four has had a crisis over that before.

Would be interesting to see more of him grappling with that. In addition to everything else he’s dealing with. If all this is leading up to Four.

As for Puzzles, I predictably have a lot to say.

1st: I very much believe Puzzles’ dad is still alive. After all, he doesn’t just say he’ll prove his father wrong, he says “My ‘dear’ father will finally see”

I honestly like the idea that Puzzles’ dad was a movie critic… like as a job. Telling your kid they lack “creative vision” is just oddly specific wording. Sounds critic-y. AND I love the idea that one of the critics at the beginning of the Puzzlevision Movie was Puzzles’ dad.

Secondly, we never see Puzzles’ mom. She’s not mentioned at all. Considering we’ve got Melony, whose mom left, and Karen and her kids’ absent father… could be she was similarly out of the picture in Puzzles’ life.

I’d… like to bring up this moment from WOTFI:

The shadow that approaches Little Puzzles at first is not Meggy-shaped, despite being “revealed” to be Meggy. Kid Puzzles and his dad are both depicted as shadow people. Consider the idea that this silhouette is his mom, but she left when he was too little to really remember, hence the “Who- Who are you?”

I mean.

You know?

As for if Karen knows about Puzzles interacting with her kids, I’m not sure. However I feel that if she did find out the same guy that built death trap theme park that brainwashes you was anywhere near her kids, Puzzles would be killed in a timely manner.

Considering the TV representing Swag’s trauma… maybe overhearing Puzzles’ deranged ramblings while guarding the guy is getting to him a bit. Maybe some of the stuff Puzzles says reminds him of being bullied and excluded as a kid the same way Beeg does? I don’t know. Much to think about

AGGH NEW EPISODE GREAT!!

I love Karen and her kids and I love seeing her kids interacting with the other kiddos and getting more individual development. Corey got to do a facial expression. Adorable

Eggdog how could you. How could you side with the kitties over your brother. Betrayal. Also what happened to Eggdog, JubJub, and Frankie? They just disappeared? Also where are 3 and 4. Take better care of your kids guys you’re supposed to be Guardians. Also

👀 Will we learn soon? Cool. Hints!!

Speaking of hints

New parallels just dropped

/j but really

TV? And scary eyeball demonic thing? And Swag who is supposed to be guarding Puzzles at the prison? A TV is there? To represent the childhood trauma? The childhood trauma that the weird freak man is going to be destructive about? Could have done any magic staff design and picked red one with eyeball?? Eyeball like vision? Creative vision? Puzzlevision? Desire to be seen?

eye imagery beloved

hmmm (I miss the TV man I miss him a lot)

and…

We’re just leaving experimental government scary eyeball staff on the playground for anyone to take? (Marty? Marty is apparently a sorcerer that can make a traffic pocket dimension. And Puzzles still in jail for now. Chris does a good job guarding I’m sure.)