#but teaching adults? easy peasy

[holographicbutch]

Training people is actually so fulfilling I see why people become teachers now

[faeriekit]

I imagine that the batkids do know how to pump gas but they do the thing where there's one slightly more competent person so they make THEM do it every time they leave state borders, while the rest of them whine in the car about how it's too hard. Jersey girls don't pump gas.

Least funny options to funniest options on who's sacrificed to the gas station:

Jason. Would be annoyed, but wouldn't blink. Easy peasy.

Tim. Stone cold silent. Doesn't admit he's struggling so it just takes like an extra fifteen minutes for no reason.

Dick. Oldest child. Probably out of practice but can get it done. Fumbles with the gas cap. Whines the whole time.

Duke. Does not know how to pump gas. Has to have someone who works there explain it to him the first five times he does it.

Steph. Took the motto too seriously. Genuinely can't pump gas. Resents that she's been made to.

Cass. Who taught her? When? How? Why?! She's so smug the entire time. Competency Queen. She doesn't even have to be pushed to do it, the showoff.

Damian. Of course he knows how to. Knowing him, he probably teaches Jon Kent how to do it too. Tiny icon. Short king. Has to stand on his tiptoes to reach the gas cap. Meanwhile the whole car is stocked with adult vigilantes who really, really, REALLY don't want to, the losers.

Not a batkid:

Bruce. Regularly forgets non-combat-based skills. Usually only gasses up in his stupid man cave. Has to call Alfred to remind him how to use the damn machine.

[rainbluealoekitten]

this is definitely not a witchcraft blog but regardless i do participate occasionally with online witchy theatrics and i have an opinion i'd like to share.

there's too much pressure on learning the basics and not enough resources that teach damage-control.

this is in relation to fear-mongering discourse, bc almost every witchy "content creator" (hate that term) and almost every witchy book, podcast, whatever, seems to put a focus on protecting yourself, putting up wards, easy peasy baby beginner witchcraft. which! yes, that is important, but it also means that it perpetuates the idea (and often full out says) that you should never do blood magic. you should never talk to these entities. you should never make bargains, you should never do divination without cleansing, you should never curse, bla bla bla don't go outside at night!! it's spooky!!!

great, now we've got a bunch of witches who are scared shitless and won't actually do anything beyond blow cinnamon through their front door.

there are a lot of people who claim to be teachers, but a good teacher is someone who pushes you. not someone who limits you.

some witches love to tell you to fuck around and find out, but again, only provide resources on warding. we've got witches who ward so much that they can't even get friendly spirits to talk to them. banishment is seen as a basic skill, but if everyone is too scared to practice their craft, they're not going to even end up with an entity to banish!

i'm starting to ramble, but my point is that i want to see more content, more books, more generalised resources that teach you how to unfuck a situation. not prevent it, unfuck it.

you did blood magic? great, it's not always going to work out, here's how to unbind yourself from this entity, now you know to do this slightly differently. you've done a curse and it's backfired? don't panic, these are some ideas on how you can undo your spell, and next time you might want to choose your words/ingredients more carefully. you wandered into the wrong part of the woods and upset some ancient spirits? it's more common than you think! luckily, there are plenty of ways to go about this situation.

etc etc. people do dumb shit. that is part of life. just like with sex ed, teens aren't going to abstinate, they're going to be too scared to go to an adult when they get an sti.

yes, some practitioners will basically stop practicing out of fear of doing things wrong, and many others will do things wrong and end up entirely alone, scared, and with no resource that can guide them out of it, all because you should have known better, you should have warded, you should have stuck your head in a fucking hole.

anyways. this is the end of my rant but i hope it also comes off as encouragement to anyone who is in some way sharing their practice and sharing resources, especially the much wiser witches who have fucked around, please share what you've learnt. <— i'm asking this in a very sincere, very hopeful way, i really wish it was normalised to share spells and prayers and basic actions to help witches through really tough times.

[saganandkatelynindc]

Washington DC

On Saturday, July 15, 2023, I will FINALLY take my 13-year-old grandson, Sagan and my almost 12-year-old granddaughter, Katelyn for their "Damma teaches Washington DC" trip that they were supposed to do respectively in 2020 and 2021. Thanks for screwing up EVERYTHING Covid!! 🙄

The trip was a big deal in this family - a rite of passage - and it happened the year you were 10 - until Covid. We left early on Friday after Thanksgiving and came home the following Wednesday. My first trip was with my sister-in-law, Michelle, nephew Bowen and Kepler in 2011; next trip was with Mark's cousin, LaVerne, her granddaughter Rachel and Anson in 2014; then LaVerne, her grandson Will and Colin in 2015; then my BFF, Gwynn, her granddaughter Charlotte, my former colleague, Amanda, her son, Dylan and Kylie in 2018. I started putting together Sagan's trip in 2019 for November of 2020 - when... well, you know. So, I moved everything one year ahead and included Katelyn since her trip was supposed to be in 2021, but that got changed too. November of 2022 would have worked with Covid, but now Sagan was in middle school and pulling him out of school seemed just plain wrong - so I said "nope." And that takes us to now.

I found my adult traveling companion - my friend Daphne - secured the date with the kid's families, bought the plane tickets and booked the hotel last summer. Before we left for South Korea and Japan I spent a crazy amount of time, re-doing my workbook and organizing our schedule - just ask Mark. I made it a flipping full time job! Since Covid, most everyplace requires time-tickets for entry. The tickets are free - but you have to know when the tickets are being released to get them. Every place has their own rules. Some places release the tickets at 8:00 AM one month to the day before you go. Some places release the tickets in blocks of 3 months at 10:00 AM; some in 6 weeks blocks at 12:01 AM. It is complicated - and I really wish they would talk to each other. The point is that I worked that out and got on line exactly a few minutes before release and refreshed until the place opened. The ONLY place I was unsuccessful was the Washington Monument. They release at 10:00 AM one month out. At 10:00 AM one month out I was going through security at the airport heading to South Korea. But no worries - I logged on at 10:12 AM. To my shock I discovered ALL the tickets for the entire day were gone. 12 minutes late!!!! They will release a few ticket at 10:00 AM the day before we wanted to go - but we will be taking a tour of the National Cathedral then - so we may or may not be going up to the top of the Washington Monument. (I'm putting my money on NOT.)

I gave the kids their required reading list and their assignment for their 5 minute oral reports the week after school ended.

I gave Sagan:

This is the Day:  The March of Washington. - Leonard Freed.

This collection of mini-books (easy-peasy)

What is the Declaration of Independence?

What was D-day?

Who was Neil Armstrong?

I gave Katelyn:

The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights   - Russel Freedman.

This collection of mini-books (easy-peasy)

Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?

Who was Amelia Earhart?

Who was Ida B. Wells?

These books had be traded after they finish them.  The toughest book on this list is “The Voice…”. But I wanted them to read it and I knew they could.

I also gave Katelyn: Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free,  - Alexander Jefferson (one of the Tuskegee Airmen). Mark and I met him at an event at the African American Museum in Detroit.  I want Katelyn to be my Tuskegee Airmen expert at the Air and Space Museum. 

I am also giving Sagan:  Lincoln: A Photobiography - Russel Freedman. I want Sagan to be my Lincoln expert as we go through the Lincoln Museum in the lower level of Fords Theater.

The last 2 books did not need to be traded.

I also sent a Washington DC postcard to Sagan and Katelyn about their “teaching assignment.”  I wanted them to research and teach us about two men that gave their fortune to the US to enable so many to learn so much at no cost.  Sagan has James Smithson and Katelyn has Andrew W. Mellon.  I asked them to prepare a 5 minute oral presentation on their guy. They have worked hard and both have powerpoint presentations. I am taking my computer so we will be ready.

Notebooks are ready, timed entry passes are organized, Metro Cards have been refilled with $$$s, packing lists are sent, the kids have notified me that they completed all their reading and reports are ready.

We are ready to GO!!!

Here is what we have planned:

We are going to have a blast!!

Stay tuned!

[transpidergwen]

I’m obsessed with the Imperfects

Now four episodes into the Imperfects and honestly what a show. I was expecting horror and I got comedy. Juan is terrified he’ll turn into the Chupacabras and terrorize his girlfriend and lose her forever. Instead she’s obsessed with it because she saw some adult version of Beauty and The Beast growing up and now has a monster kink. She named it Chupi and she’s drawing softcore fanart of them snuggling. Later when he transforms to bite a dudes nose off to protect his niece she jumps up and down cheering at how cool her uncle is. Peak comedy, absolutely unparalleled.

Science mom Sydney is unfazed by metallic rage monster invasions and a dude blowing himself up on her back porch. Grab a mop and some buckets, where’s my wine, I need a nap, parenting is exhausting. She’s amazing. Her house is slowly being destroyed by her newly adopted super children who answer the door like the scooby-gang when cops come around and steal her expensive wine collection. She has accepted that she’s just a mom now. She teaches by doing: here help me make chlorine poison that may or may not kill the angry dude on the other side of my military grade barricade. Phew, it didn’t kill him, I mean yeah I knew it was safe, absolutely. Oh the kids went on a field trip and got kidnapped by baby mad scientists and then murdered their way to freedom? Sounds like a wild Tuesday. Her children come and go like outdoor cats that sometimes come back drenched in blood. Just don’t get any on the carpet. 

Abbi is so excited to help her new science mom in the kitchen. She’s so nervous that she’ll miss out while she’s on her field trip. Please leave some science for me. Mom says yes of course sweetie have fun and murder is okay if they chained you up in a warehouse first. I love how unbothered they are with killing those scientists. Abbi is like “whoops” and Juan is like “it’s not murder if the Chupi does the killing.” I adore them.

And then there’s Tilda, she’s a hands on girl. Oh the guy we killed came back to life on the dissection table? While everyone else screams she grabs a buzzsaw and chops his head off, easy peasy. She has no problem using her superpowers for murder. If you fuck around, you’re gonna find out. She’s a sarcastic queen who doesn’t care except when you don’t come home then she sits on the couch watching the door for hours fighting back tears and traps you in a bearhug when you finally get home.

[thebeautyoffanfics]

Hey there Savi.. could i request a kou,mitsuba and tsukasa x reader where their s/o gets bullied alot?? I've been struggling with it recently and now that school is going to start again im dreading it .. thank you in advance <3

kou minamoto x gn!reader, mitsuba sousuke x gn!reader, tsukasa yugi x gn!reader

a/n: of course!! I’m really sorry that you’ve had experiences like that, but I also genuinely hope that this year will be better! You’ve got this-!! And don’t be afraid to ask for help <3 you’re so so welcome, tho I’m sure schools probably started by now, therefore I’m super sorry for the time this took- and thank you so much for requesting <3

Waaaaaah i’m also sorry if it’s OOC, cos I know Tsukasa’s at least is;;; writer’s block is aaaaaaah-;; I’ve genuinely been writing this since September 19th,,,,

warnings: bullying

word count: 2,044

kou minamoto <3

You glanced at your phone screen, the date flashing up at you. It was depressing. Thoughts of previous years danced in your head, as you shut your phone back off. You currently stood outside of your school, “open house” finally over. School was starting back in just a few days. Your days of freedom could be counted on one hand… this was, by far, one of your least favorite times of the year.

“(Y/N)! Do you still want to walk to the park?” Kou questioned, running up beside you. You nodded, hoping that spending time with your boyfriend would get your mind off of school, and memories related to such. As the two of you began to walk, you could practically feel the question on the tip of Kou’s tongue. He always made himself rather obvious- his hands fidgeted a bit, his gaze lowering to the ground.

“Say, (Y/N)... you seem sad. Is it because school’s starting back?”

You thought for a moment, unsure of how to put it. He certainly wasn’t wrong…

“Yeah, that’s basically it… last year was just… not a good year, haha.”

“Oh? Well, I’m sure this one will be better!! If you want, we can make a list or something? All the bad things about last year can be something we change this year-!”

Despite bitterly knowing that it wasn’t exactly something within your realm of control, you laughed a bit. “That’s… insanely corny, Kou. I didn’t say a terrible idea- just… corny.”

When you glanced up at him, you noticed his red face, as he blurted out an excuse. A moment of fumbling over his words passed, before he gave up, glancing off to the side once more.

“Wh-whatever- I mean, just… like, tell me what’s wrong, if you want to. And I’ll try to help. Alright?”

“It’s really not something either of us can help, Kou.”

“So? I’m your boyfriend,” He seemed a bit embarrassed to say, most likely not used to pulling that sort of card, “If you don’t want to tell me, I can’t make you. But, if you’re alright with telling me, I want to know. Either way, I’m here for you...”

“Ah… I know it, Kou. Honestly, I just… dealt with some bullying last year, so I’m really not looking forward to this year. No matter how much I hear ‘oh, the bully does it to feel better about themself’, it’s just emotionally… hm, awful, you know?”

“Oh… I understand, (Y/N). I do remember some people picking on me, since I have a big brother like Teru- it’s not fun at all. Here!! I’ll stay with you, 24/7! Sit with me during classes, and I’ll hang out with you during free time!” “Thanks, Kou- but we probably won’t have every class together.”

“Then- just tell me if something happens during the class,” He spoke, crossing his arms rather seriously. “I’ll talk with the teacher! Easy peasy!!”

A moment passed, before Kou took your hand, looking at the ground, then back up with you. His eyebrows were furrowed just slightly, his eyes not as wide as they usually were. Kou was being serious- as serious as his sweet mind could let him be. He almost seemed to resemble his big brother even more- when the two were serious.

“If something happens, tell me, okay? I mean it. I don’t want this year to be bad for you- as your friend and boyfriend! Let me do what I can to help, alright?”

You blinked a bit. Kou’s words were so sincere, you felt your heart beat a bit quicker. “A-alright. Thank you, Kou. I really mean it.” You spoke, bringing the boy into a hug to hide whatever sort of expression you were making.

“Of course! You don’t need to thank me, (Y/N). I’m happy to try and help-!”

mitsuba sousuke <3

“(Y/N), if you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I’ll give you something to complain about.”

Ah, Mitsuba… he spoke, his arms crossed as he sat next to you, silently noticing your slightly disheveled clothes. Judging by the slightly down look you wore, too many things were now adding up. Something was bothering you, and he was bound and determined to find out what it was.

“Mitsuba, it’s okay, really. Here! Let’s eat, I’m starving!” You opened up your bento box, sliding one his way, and sticking the chopsticks into your mouth. Though you hummed happily, Mitsuba was… in Detective Mode, to put it lightheartedly. Your every move was being analyzed, as he tried his best to figure out what was wrong. Your eyebrows furrowed, as you swallowed a bit harder than usual.

“What’s the point of lying to me, dummy? If you aren’t hungry, it’s probably because whatever is bothering you is ruining your appetite. Talk to me. I’m serious.”

You sighed, feeling as if the food was stuck in your throat. Or maybe your throat simply felt as though it had a lump in it…? Either way, you were painfully aware of the unpleasant feeling. Along with the creeping suspicion that Mitsuba wasn’t going to leave this alone. Was he good at reading people?? Were you just easy to read…? Or maybe, he was just far too accustomed to the way you reacted to things. Able to focus in on the little things, especially when he wanted to. Perhaps it was the talent of a photographer? Being able to read the entire picture??

Perhaps you were thinking too much into it, desperate for a way to get your mind off of the things going on around you.

“I’m just… dealing with some stuff.”

“Well, duh. What kind of stuff?”

You kept your gaze glued to the floor, fiddling absentmindedly with the chopsticks. You knew you could confide in Mitsuba… yet, something about it felt practically impossible. What would happen if you told him? Could he do anything? He was merely a ghost…

“Oi, I asked a question. Listen, and listen well, you idiot- I know I can’t solve all your problems, but I can at least listen- which is what you’d better be doing right now. You listen to me, though who wouldn’t want to is beyond me, so I can at least do the same. I’m not your therapist, but I am your boyfriend.”

Those words danced around in your mind for a bit, as you considered how to put it. For a moment, you simply nodded, letting Mitsuba know you heard- and were acknowledging- what he said. A few more moments passed before you began to speak.

“Lately, there have been some students… picking on me, I guess. It’s… discouraging, and makes school feel like a living nightmare. You’re the only good thing in my day at this hellhole.”

“Oh.”

You tightened your grip on the chopsticks, trying to read Mitsuba’s tone. Suddenly, it clicked- remembering Mitsuba mentioning being bullied for being “feminine” and “foul-mouthed”. He truly, genuinely, understood where you were coming from.

“I see, then… I’ll tell you what to do, (Y/N). Tell an adult, lame-o. I don’t give a flying flip about ‘oh, they won’t believe me’ or ‘what if the bullies blah blah.’ At least try it- it’s hard, but I don’t care about that either. Also, freaking ignore them. Obviously, you don’t want to pay them attention, so don’t.”

“Mitsuba, it’s not that easy-”

“I know. (Y/N), I’ve been in your shoes. Maybe it’s different- I dunno what kind of bullying they’re doing. Still, if you’re good enough for my standards, you know you’re at least worth something. So don’t let those low-lives get you down. I promise you, if I could, I’d give them a piece of my mind. But, since I can’t, just… do it yourself, or something. Don’t endure it, you rat.”

(“Mitsuba, all your insults lowkey feel like bullying-”

“Shut up, stupid-face, you can’t tell a teacher on a ghost. What’re you gonna say?? Waaaah, sensei, school mystery number 3 is calling me names!! Hah.”

“Tsuchigomori-sensei can see you, you know. And he teaches both Minamoto boys!”

“Lalalaaaa, I can’t hear you-”)

tsukasa yugi <3

Tsukasa… knows.

There was no other way to put it. You knew he knew, and you knew he was just waiting. A part of him wanted you to ask him for help- to confide in him, even if it took some pushing. He was… a bit different in that sense- I mean, how was he to know you didn’t enjoy being bullied? Was it the same way he felt when Amane looked at him with such hatred?

“(Y/N)!! What’s with such a sad look?? Did you get a bad test grade?” Tsukasa questioned, floating alongside you as you entered the broadcasting room. You simply shook your head, placing your bookbag on the floor, then standing back up.

“It’s just been a day, Tsu,” You added, taking a seat near Sakura. As you did, she pushed a cup of tea your way, her gaze as it usually was. She looked right through you, as if you were nothing but a ghost. Still, it was a much better look than the ones given by the bullies. Muttering a ‘thank you’, you lifted the cup, fiddling with it slightly.

“If there’s something bothering you, feel free to share it,” Sakura spoke, her gaze staying on you, then finally closing as she sipped from her cup.

“If there’s something bothering you, share it.” Tsukasa added, placing his head on your shoulder and staring at your eyes. His gaze drifted to your hands when you brought the cup to your lips, then over to your throat as you struggled to swallow.

“Runt, if you don’t back away from them, you’ll the the one bothering them,” Natsuhiko spoke, raising his eyebrows at Tsukasa, then offering you a slightly concerned look. His expression was enough for you to know he wanted to know if you were alright- to which you shrugged, reaching up and patting the side of Tsukasa’s face.

“Don’t worry, guys. I’ll be fine, really.”

Sakura pondered for a moment, before standing. “Mitsuba, would you like to walk with me? I should go grab something.”

Mitsuba, who had been sitting off to the side- glanced up, his usual puppy-like expression on his face. “Sure,” He replied, standing up, practically in sync with Natsuhiko.

“I’ll go as well, my lady!”

Oh. She’s doing that on purpose.

Your eyes followed the trio as they left the room, and you could feel Tsukasa’s eyes still stuck on you. The moment the door shut, he spoke. “(Y/N), tell me what’s wrong. You don’t seem to enjoy being miserable!”

“Am I supposed to?” “You’re miserable then? What’s wrong, c’mon!!”

“I didn’t say I was- just that I don’t think many people like it,” You spoke, taking another sip from the tea. The warmth of it made your throat feel hot, but it didn’t help the lump stuck in it.

“(Y/N). Just admit to me what’s wrong, and I’ll do what I can!”

You sighed, not wanting to grow frustrated. Tsukasa was… trying. He just didn’t understand everything- the boy who enjoyed seeing people wear normally unpleasant expressions, of course he wouldn’t personally understand. He wanted to help you, but how could a ghost help? Much less, the ghost of a boy such as him?

“(Y/N)-” “I’m just dealing with some bullies. It’s fine, Tsukasa- I’ll figure something out.”

“I’ll kill them <3”

“Tsu-”

Tsukasa stepped away from you, crossing his arms. “So, (Y/N), you don’t like it when people bully you? I’ll take care of it! Promise!” “Stop it right there, Mr. Only-grants-wishes-for-the-dead. Don’t ‘take care of them.’ I just need to get enough confidence to tell a teacher or something…”

Tsukasa paused, pouting his lips slightly, before nodding. Quickly, he floated back over to you, and trapped you in a hug. His arms wrapped around you securely, making you feel rather safe for being in the arms of such a destructive boy. “Fine. I’ll go with you, then, (Y/N)! I’ll even hold your hand!! And I definitely won’t let those bullies bother you any more~.”

“Tsukasa, please, don’t do anything drastic-” “Whatever you say, (Y/N). You know I can’t go against the wishes of my cute partner~!”

[earnestly-endlessly]

hello! do you have any fics where erik and charles are childhood best friends now in a relationship?

Hi anon, thanks for the ask. There are a fair few fics where Charles and Erik are childhood best friends and are now in a relationship but there are actually more where they are childhood best friends and end up in a relationship in the fic. So, I decided to include those in this list since it kind of matches what you're looking for.

Childhood best friends now in a relationship

Work/Life Balance - pocky_slash

Summary: As teens, Charles was the star of a super popular tween/teen television show and Erik was his best friend. As adults, they're a frighteningly domestic married couple and Alex, Darwin, and Sean are Erik's nosy co-workers.

Some Forgotten Corner of the Universe - Black_Betty

Summary: Erik remembers the boy he met on Osiris.

Charles is no longer that boy, but that doesn't mean Erik loves him any less…

A Winter in New York - nextraordinaire

Summary: Charles and Erik have been childhood friends for as long as they can remember – Erik, living with his mother in Queens, and Charles in the big mansion in Westchester. For all, expect themselves, it was just natural progression that they'd end up together.

A series of ficlets from the same universe – can be read as separate and are out of chronological order.

A Very Cherik Sleepover – Penguina

Summary: When Erik invites Charles for one of their traditional sleepovers he doesn't expect it'll turn out that way. Instead of taking the upper bunk bed as usual, Charles decides to curl up in Erik's bed with Erik to keep them warm... However, it gets a little too hot.

Something in the way you move – BrightDream

Summary: Erik and Charles have been best friends for years now, but four months ago their relationship secretly became something more.

This means that when Erik's mom leaves them alone in the house, it's their chance to figure it out just what they can do to make each other feel good, even though there are some deep insecurities that might get in the way...-

Quiet Like a Fire - kianspo

Summary: Charles has been in love with his best friend for years without realizing it. When he finally figures it out, Erik is married to a wonderful woman and has an adorable daughter, who thinks the world of Charles. Erik has the perfect life that Charles helped him build, so there is only one thing for it - get over his feelings. So what if his methods are unhealthy or if Erik has an opinion on the matter? Charles is determined to do the right thing.

Love Story - Sophia_Bee

Summary: Charles and Erik are best friends, until they're not. A love story in three parts.

Curve Fitting - kianspo

Summary: The weird thing is, Charles always introduces Raven as his sister, but he never calls Erik his brother. Erik would be bothered, except he prefers not to think of Charles as his brother, either. He can’t figure it out for four years, and then suddenly he can.

Or. A non-powered AU in which Sharon Xavier never remarries, and Charles 'adopts' not only Raven, but Erik too.

Bad things happen when you mix siblings with spite - inazumaghostking

Summary: Erik is determined to fuck Charles.

Raven is determined to stop them.

a.k.a. a sibling fight ft. two gay boys, a concerned sister, and a closet

Did You See This, Erik! - Iggysassou

Summary: "What if Charles and Erik grew up together, Charles absolutely convinced that he was the one protecting Erik and being super proud of himself for it when in reality, Erik has always secretly protected him with his powers because Charles is simply the most adorable person on Earth."

Hot Cocoa Magic – nextraordinaire

Summary: Charles takes Erik out to the skating rink. Erik has never stood on a pair of skates in his life, but it'll be easy-peasy, right?

For Us Two – aliceecrivain

Summary: Erik is five years old the first time he meets Charles in the forest outside his new home and quickly discovers the other boy is more than he appears. Despite being accidental, the event defines the course of his life in ways he never could have expected.

The two boys grow up together, mutually braving the ups and downs of adolescence, and, over time, become inextricably attached. Initially intimidated by the limits the attachment puts on him, Erik yearns to break free in spite of his own feelings, but learns with time that the connection between them is not something he can live without.

Practical Cartography - pearl_o, pocky_slash

Summary: When Charles discovers how frustrated and self-conscious his best friend Erik is about his ignorance about sex, he's eager to volunteer to help teach him and practice. Charles might not have any more direct experience than Erik, but he does have a telepath's mind full of accidentally picked-up fantasies and memories, as well as knowledge of a few dirty books - and more importantly, he's been madly in love with Erik for years. This seems like a brilliant, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he can't pass up.

Now he just needs to manage to keep his feelings in check, and not ruin their friendship forever.

A Kiss is Just a Kiss – Penguina

Summary: Charles Xavier has always been in Erik's life. However something always gets in the way of Erik actually realizing he has feelings for this adorable dork who was so obviously crushing on him since high school. Until one day, years after their first kiss, Erik finally understands what that feeling he always had for Charles really was! But is he too late? Did he miss his chance to tell Charles 'I love you'? It's been years and did Erik really think Charles would wait for him his entire life?

You and Me Against the World – madmalina

Summary: One important thing to remember: this is a love story.

Twenty years and two lifetimes later. Just two boys learning to mutant, grow up, and love each other.

Wicked Game - obstinatrix, seutedeern

Summary: Erik's reputation as a defender of the weak in elementary school isn't undeserved. He wouldn't have expected a Xavier to fall into that category, but it seems that other people don't see Charles the way Erik does, as a warm, lovely person who should be protected. As the years draw on, Charles and Erik become best friends, inseparable. Everything is perfect, platonically ideal, until it isn't.

Believe (One More Time) – luninosity

Summary: For the prompt, Charles and Erik dated during college and had a bitter break-up right before graduation. It's five years later and they both meet again at their class's reunion for a weekend. Someone was even stupid enough to have them room with each other for the weekend…

If We Met Differently – swoopswoop

Summary: Erik wasn't the only mutant 'taken in' by Shaw, Erik learns this the hard way when a new mutant is dropped into his cell. They manage to escape together, but things aren't all roses after that. Erik has a score to settle and needs to make sure Charles is safe.

With pulses that beat double – aesc, pearl_o

Summary: It has been thirteen years since Charles watched his beloved childhood companion walk out of his life. Now, in fin-de-siècle Paris, a chance overheard remark may lead them to each other's sides once more.

Change is Constant – Black_Betty

Summary: Erik and Charles knew each other in high school, might have even called themselves friends. At their ten year high school reunion, Erik realizes how much has changed.

There is No Future Without You – EnchantedPhoenix

Summary: Charles and Erik were friends when they were children - Until certain circumstances tore them apart. Many years later, when Erik moves to England so that he can study at Oxford University, he certainly doesn't expect to run into his childhood friend again. In fact, he doesn't expect any of the events that follow.

The Cost of a Good Man – archipelago (arcanewriter)

Summary: Erik and his mother flee Europe before the advent of the war to live on the Xavier estate. Charles never questions their good fortune, or his own.

[prpledusk]

PSA: Kids please fucking stop.

In regards to recent events I just wanna go ahead and make something clear about where I stand on certain subjects, I dont have a lot of followers and for all I know I might actually lose a couple by writing this but eh. Fuck it, its tumblr.

So my oppinion when it comes to children the internet. Kids are fucking stupid.

I say that not to be mean spirited but more in the sense of "Kids do stupid shit when given the power of anonymity."

Specifically they do stupid shit when it comes to nsfw content.

Throughout my time on Discord and tumblr Ive come across muiltible sitations involving both children and adults as well as controversial and nsfw content, from a child lying about their age to gain access to said content, to adults posting minor/adult content under mine and my friends noses, to someone actually attempting to groom a minor. Its the Kingdom hearts fandom, we've had problems with preditors, and people spreading things like noncon fics since the early 2000's! Put simpley Ive seen some shit. And have a zero tolerance when it comes to Minors on the internet for reasons dealing with experience and also for the fact that I have a daughter and plan to teach her Internet safety when she becomes of age.

So here's a few bits of advice to help those in the fandom and maybe to assist in understanding why children shouldnt be posting or activly participating and comtributing nsfw content.

Children are not permitted to post pornographic content online. Ya'll can write and draw it sure but do not share it or post it online. Its illegal and can get you in serious trouble.

Do not write noncon as it not only helps in the spread of rapeculture but its insulting to actual victems, especially in cases where you may not be cappable of understanding things like nuance or lack the world experience that would tell you w h y its bad. To top it off, most of the time these fics are written by children whove never hhadto experience such a thing and see it as just an edgy way to get their kicks which again, just rubs salt in the wound.

Kids dont have to tell you their age, but if ever theres something that requires age identification simpley say "I identify as an adult/minor". Or just dont identify at all and stay away from adult areas. Easy peasy kill me pleasy.

If someone says "no" or "Im uncomfertable" please. Back the fuck off. End of discussion.

Do not post, contribute, or even dabble in minor/adult things. Yes Im looking at you Akuroku fans. I wish you all a very perish. By comtributing any minor/adult ships all your doing is helping pedophilia and MAPs become more normalized and for a minor online that is definatly not a good because it increases the chances of you becoming a VICTEM of those people.

The amount of times I had to call out adults for thinking theres nothing wrong with minor/adult things is staggering and I want to swallow glass and grind my own bones because of it, but its worth it if it makes a safer inviroment for the children around you. That being said, adults reading this: call that shit out. You obviously dont have to if you dont want to but you'll be shocked how many people you end up helping because of it.

If a minor has been getting nsfw from you, block them and cease contact. Its really the best thing you can do, and Minors? Please dont interract with adult artists and writers, you wont face any consiquence for getting nsfw from an adult but the adult can be legally charged with distribution of porn to a minor you have the potential to ruin someones life and you do not want that on your conscience.

Kids? Please do NOT share porn with other kids? Thats distribution of porn to a minor, which a minor can be charged with.

This list may be subject to update but ya'll get the picture. Back when I was a kid I made a lot of mistakes and yes even I wrote some things that I wish I never did but the difference is I kept it all PRIVATE. I made certain that Only I ever saw that stuff and never ever posted any of it publicly, and dammit it hurts to see kids who already remind me of myself when I was younger make those same mistakes within the same fandom no less.

I remember demyx time and how it consistantly made noncon jokes at the expense of minor characters, I remember Saix puppys :You got served! and how the characters where constantly sexually harassed and molested for the funnies,

I remember the near constant stream of noncon fics and how NO ONE was ever calling out this behavior in the fandom but times have changed. The fandoms changed and most of those kids have grown up and are now highly against all of that bullshit from the past and are currently calling out shit behavior and irresponsible posting but thanks to those mistakes of the past kids today see things like pressuring people into things they dont want, gaslighting, guilt tripping, and streight up minor/adult ships are fine and should even accepted. Hell proshippings apparently a thing and the more I think about that the more I get the Frenzy status.

I want this fandom to be safe. I want peoplr to come to my blogs and feel safe. I want people to talk to me and feel. Safe.

So I guess hopefully people read this and try to understand the basic do's and donts of being a kid on the internet.

In conclusion

Kids need to practice basic internet safety and creepy adults need to fuck off into the abyss.

[mydisasteracademia]

SFW Alphabet: Shouta Aizawa

Ah, the grumpy caterpillar. I love this man so much.

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

He’s a lot like a cat. Generally doesn’t care for public displays of affection, but when he goes to you he likes to do little things like hold your hand or wrap his arm around your waist. He’s quiet with his affection.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Honestly? Not that much different from the usual, aside from him being a little bit more friendly. He’s incredibly private with most matters of his life, but if he’s a good friend at least he’ll go out drinking with you sometimes. Your friendship likely started away from his work, given that he doesn’t like to mix his working and personal lives together.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

If the two of you are alone, he loves cuddling. Sitting on the couch? In bed? He’s curled up to your side, head in your lap as he dozes off. If he’s sitting and reading or going through papers, he might pull you in to sit in his lap and rest his chin on your shoulder as he works.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

This man. This poor man. He utterly sucks at cooking. Can’t make dinner to save his life. Once burnt a grilled cheese sandwich so bad both sides of the bread were black. Still ate it because, well, food. He’s a little better at cleaning, if he could get enough energy to commit to the task. I don’t picture him as the type to settle down. He’s got too much trauma and far too many trust issues to fully commit. That, and he’s a Pro Hero. There is no way in hell he would ever expose his crush/significant other to the stresses that come with being married to a hero.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

He’d probably sit you down and say it flat-out. “I want to break up.” His face is blank, but he’s sad on the inside -- he really liked you and he doesn’t want to end it, but he has to for your own safety. He doesn’t blame you if you hate him after this; it’ll just make it easier to protect you.

F = Fiancé(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Fucking terrified of getting married, and not because he’s a forever bachelor. He was already nervous about getting into a relationship due to his job; he would never be able to live with himself if you got targeted because someone figured out who he was and wanted to get back at him. He would definitely drag it out until you finally demand answers as to why he’s hesitant to take your relationship to the next level.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Shouta is a relatively blunt individual, but he can have his tender moments. These usually happen when you’re alone together and he doesn’t have to keep up appearances. He can get fairly clingy when cuddling up to you and you can see the affection in his eyes and when he speaks to you. But when you’re in public again? The only way you see it is in his eyes and the way his hand lingers near yours.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Doesn’t like hugs when in public. He prefers people keep their distance, but if his students are having a rough day he’s not gonna shove them off if they need a hug. With you, however, he prefers to save any and all outward displays of affection for when you’re alone and he can really unwind. When you’re alone, he loves hugging you.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

You’d probably end up saying it first. He’s really nervous about dropping the L-word in the beginning because he’s paranoid. He’s very protective of his friends, and as long as he considers you a friend, he’s gonna be scared of finally admitting his feelings to you. Might end up saying it to you when he’s totally smashed, and is regretful and avoidant the next morning until you finally corner him about it.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Doesn’t really get jealous easily unless your relationship has progressed quite a bit. He doesn’t mind if Hizashi or Nemuri get really close and affectionate with you because he knows they wouldn’t purposefully try to get a rise out of him like that, and Tensei is respectful and friendly from a distance. He definitely doesn’t get jealous of his students hogging your attention whenever you meet them, because they’re still just kids and he knows you wouldn’t do something stupid. When it comes to other people, however, he can get irritated easily the more friendly they are with you.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

His kisses can be deep and purposeful when you’re alone. He kisses you to make a statement - “I love you”. Sometimes they can be quick but no less meaningful. Just something to get him through the day until he can relax in the evening.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Doesn’t really care. He can handle children well enough, but he doesn’t prefer them. He cares about Eri, but he’s been her guardian for a while and she has her ways of winning over even the most hardened of adults. Generally can handle kids easier than teenagers because he considers them troublesome and unpredictable.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Despite how it might seem, he’s really regimented in the morning and can even get up before you do. He takes his job very seriously and is always awake and sipping some coffee at the same time each morning. Of course he’s going to nap during the day, but that’s during off-time when he doesn’t need to be teaching. (Or when the kids have study time.)

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

He spends the daytime finishing work so that he can come home and relax with you. During the early evening he likes to eat dinner with you and relax on the couch afterwards, head in your lap as you talk about your day. As the night winds down, if he’s not already napping with you on the couch he’s heading to bed with you, curled up with you in a deep sleep.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

He’s really private about himself, and it takes a lot to get him to open up. Usually it’s a couple of things at a time while you’re friends; a story from his time at Yuuei, some silly stories about his friends, maybe something ridiculous that his students did the other day. When he gets really depressed (and you’re far enough into the relationship that he trusts you enough), he might talk of his dead loved ones - Oboro, maybe a previous student that he couldn’t save from a traumatic event, his fears for his current batch.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

To his credit, he has a lot more patience than most would think. He brushes off insults about himself, easy peasy. But even he has his tipping points, and it’s usually when someone insults his friends or students too many times. Especially when they start insinuating that one of his students would be better suited as a villain.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

He can be forgetful about little details sometimes, but he remembers the most important things about you. He makes it a point to remember every anniversary and birthday and will sometimes give you little presents he knows you like.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

His favorite memory of you is when you stood up and protected his students during a villain attack. You were out on a shopping trip (really, why can’t they go anywhere without something happening?) and some random villain cornered a group of students and threatened them. You wasted no time in getting between them and the villain and keeping him away from them until he could be subdued.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

He can be incredibly protective of you. Due to his job, both as a Pro and as a teacher, not a day goes by that he doesn’t worry about you being caught up in an attack, especially by the League. He would drop everything to aid you if you were attacked (especially considering you aren’t a hero). Although he doesn’t go looking for it, he greatly appreciates it when you’ve got his back too.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

He does do his best to split things with you, but sometimes he’s too overworked and he has to shift some responsibility onto you. He hates doing this and tries to do his fair share so that you don’t get frustrated. He does his best to do things for anniversaries and dates, but his schedule is packed and unstable, and he sometimes has to apologize and reschedule. If he knows he can’t make something, he does leave you a present and a written apology.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

He can be standoffish and curt, especially in public. He has an image he wants to uphold, and he doesn’t appreciate attempts to undermine that. He can be fairly lazy when he wants to be and naps quite a bit.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

He’s not that concerned. As long as he doesn’t look like he just rolled out of bed five seconds ago, he’s good. He does make attempts to clean up nicely when it comes to press conferences, as rare as they are.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

To be blunt, not really. He appreciates your company, but if you broke it off, he would be able to move on.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

I have this serious headcanon that Hizashi bought Eri a matching sleeping bag because she wanted to be like Shouta, and his heart promptly melted. The two take naps together during some afternoons and it’s the cutest thing in the world.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Anything villainous or dangerous. He wants to make sure his friends, colleagues, and students are save above all else, and if he suspects that you’re either a turncoat or a dangerous person? He’s going to call you on it. He doesn’t appreciate judgmental people, either. Say one comment about his kids and he’s already looking at you a little more cautiously.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

Horrible sleep schedule. Considering his full-time job being a teacher now (as well as the occasional mission undercover), he doesn’t get nearly as much sleep as he should. He staves it off somewhat with coffee, but it’s an extremely common sight to see him get into his sleeping bag and just doze.

[crimsoncobaltblue]

Crushed – Louna

(Original title was Falling For You but I figured that was way too cliche my dudes x3 Oh and everyone is in their late teens, Lena being 19, Webby is 18, and Huey, Dewey, and Louie are 17)

————————

“For the last time, Webby, no.” Lena said without feeling in her voice as she continued to stare at her phone.

“Come on, Lena!” Webby flipped off the top of the slide, landing in front of her best friend. Webby put her hands on her hips and glared, clearly pouting at Lena.

Lena had yet to care.

The summer sun was blazing down but thanks to the cool shade of the giant trees in the park and the gentle breeze blowing through trees kept everything cool.

“Yeah... No.” Lena said finally, looking up from her phone.

“Why don’t you wanna do some parkour with us?!” Webby exclaimed, pointing back at Huey and Dewey. Lena looked back at them and saw Huey only jumping off the shortest objects. She looked at Dewey who was just repeatedly doing the same flip Webby just taught him over and over and over.

Lena looked back at an expectant Webby and said, “No thanks. Besides Louie isn’t doing parkour.” Lena pointed at the green clad triplet who was sitting on a shady park bench, recording Dewey it seemed. Lena smiled, believing she’d won before going back Feathr on her phone.

Webby’s mouth gaped, as if shocked Lena would dare refuse.

But then Lena caught a glimpse of an evil smirk on Webby’s face. She had forgotten how good Webby has gotten at those after years of teaching her.

“But don’t you want to impress Louie?” Webby inquired innocently as she sat next to Lena.

Lena tried her hardest to pretend she wasn’t blushing. “I don’t know, do I? And if I do, why?” Lena shot back, faking ignorance.

“BECAUSE YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH HIM!!!” Webby yelled, getting the attention of the triplets, several children and their parents, and one old couple that had been yelling about how they couldn’t hear.

Lena told Webby once, just once, that she may have a crush on Louie and the duck who still wore the pink bow had yet to let it go.

“Ooh, there’s a him?” Louie said, making his way over at the sign of something interesting going down. “I wonder who on earth it could be.” Louie said aloud curiously, as if he were trying to puzzle it out.

“Yeah, who’s the lucky duck, Lena?” Huey asked with a grin as he adjusted his hat. The triplets all stood around her, obviously curious.

Webby sat down next to Lena and whispered to her in a sing-song voice, “This can all go away if you do parkour with us.”

Lena sighed, finally giving in.

————————

Lena gasped, cursing as she clung to the top the slide as if it were a lifeline.

“Language!” Huey called patiently while Dewey and Louie were snickering.

“Shut UP!” Lena yelled at them while she slowly got to her feet again.

“Alright Lena,” Webby called up to her friend. “Now we want you to jump from that slide,” she paused and pointed from the slide to a big tree a few feet away. “To that tree trunk then to the ground. And you’re done! Easy peasy!” Webby explained simply.

Looking down at the ground that was twenty feet away, it didn’t feel so ‘easy peasy.’

“Alright.” Lena managed, taking a shaky breath as she built up her courage to jump. ‘The things I will do for my repuatation amazes me,��� Lena thought sarcastically.

She glanced down at Louie and almost slipped off the slide. She really wished she didn’t like him as much as she did sometimes.

Lena let out half a breath before jumping toward the tree trunk, trying to flip as she went so her feet would be toward the base of the tree.

Before she knew it her feet touched the tree truck successfully!

Then her instincts kicked in which made her launch herself toward the ground, her back about to feel lots of scrapes and scratches.

She prepared for the pointy pain to come but it never did, just a thud as she hit something soft.

Lena opened her eyes quickly and saw that she had catapulted herself into Louie!

Or more accurately, he had moved away from the group to have Lena crash into him.

Lena opened her eyes and shook her head. Nothing hurt her. Well until she realized she just crushed her crush.

“Oh my gosh!!!” Lena exclaimed, leaning onto Louie to check his neck for breathing and pulse. “Louie are you okay?!?! Can you hear me?! How many fingers am I holding up?!” Lena said loudly as she held her hand in front of his unfortunately handsome face.

Louie groaned, sitting up suddenly and rubbing the back of his head, completely ignoring her questions as he grinned at her.

Lena did her best not to blush but ultimately failed. “What’re you smiling at?” She accused, hoping her blush wasn’t as evident as it felt.

“Just at the fact that I can honestly say that I caught an angel today.” The green clad duck said with a chuckle as he stood up and brushed himself off. He then reached down and helped Lena up.

She was too surprised by what he said to notice really.

Boy, she thought her blush from earlier was bad, now her entire face was red and she could hear the voices of their friends around them, asking if they were alright, but she was only focused on Louie, who was grinning kind of smugly at her.

She glared at him before stomping over and grapping his collar, pulling him closer to her face.

Everyone was silent except Lena. “Listen you little punk, I have feelings for you and I don’t like them beeping toyed with like that. You got that?” She threatened as Louie just smirked.

Lena looked up at him glaring fiercely but she could her glare losing its edge as she realized just how much taller he was than her and how close they were.

“Why I’d never toy with your feelings like that!” Louie declared, putting his hand over his heart as he smiled. “Not when I like you the exact same way.” Louie stated with a wink and a tongue click before he said something about heading home.

So Louie started back toward McDuck Manor, leaving Lena and the rest of the gang absolutely flabbergasted.

Lena came to her senses first and she stomped over to him, screaming, “YOU GET BACK HERE, LLEWELYN!!!”

Louie paused, only a few feet from the rest of the group, letting her catch up. “Don’t you use my real name!!” He said, looking around as if worried someone they knew heard them.

Lena gripped his collar again, unsure of what she’d do from there.

Louie held up his hands in surrender. “Now now, Lena.” He started off calmly. “We’re adults. We can work this out reasonably. You know I love you.” Louie said innocently, bending down to make it more comfomtable for him.

“Yeah, we could do that.” Lena said, giving the green clad duck a knowing smirk.

She leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on his beak. Lena backed up, smirking still. “Or I could do that. I think that covered everything.”

Louie blushed and grinned, nodding. “For once, I’m at a loss for words, Angel Face.”

Lena laughed. “Don’t ever call me that again.” She threatened.

Louie pointed at her, still smiling. “You got it, Angel Face.” Louie said winking, gesturing to walk with him.

Lena rolled her eyes and sighed. “You’re lucky you’re cute, Greenie.” She teased and Louie shrugged, still smiling.

Meanwhile:

Huey, Dewey, and Webby were all staring as they watched Lena and Louie walk off.

“What just happened there?” Huey asked, sounding concerned.

“True love! OBVIOUSLY!” Webby piped up, very excited now that what just happened clicked.

Dewey and Huey made gagging noises before the duck in the blue spoke. “OH GROSS!! Don’t talk about my brother that way, ick!” Huey nodded his agreement.

Webby gasped, slapping Dewey’s arm lightly, causing him to laugh a bit. “You two are so immature!!” Webby yelled at them.

————————

(Oof please don’t read this story, it’s literally awful like how am I even able to write things. X3 Anyway hope you enjoyed my garbage writing, don’t know why you would tho. Oh and I wanna thank @dailyau for the prompt)

@pinkpearlapple here ya go my dude x3

[crisp-ofhurricane]

If Bee Gees asked “how deep is your love”, this would be my answer

Strangely, that night we didn’t talk about Bee Gees at all. We were on the phone, discussing about work-life and marriage in the future like decent young adults. And then, we bumped into this common assumption that married couples tend to have deeper connections and frequent arguments about many things.

I said to AR, “does that always happen only to married couples? Because those stuff do happen in our relationship and we haven’t gotten married yet.”

He agreed. We always argue about every thing under any circumstances. From easy-peasy problems like what to watch on Netflix, the place to have late lunch, which color of shirt should we buy; to more serious topics like feminism, domestic policies, finance, and our own traits. I mean, the depth of connections and love itself actually counts on the couples themselves regardless the status of the relationship.

This triggers me to prepare an absolute answer in case people impersonate Bee Gees and start asking me a question, “so, how deep is your love?”

For all I know,

it’s the depth that can allow us not only to have memorable arguments, but also meaningless ones. You know, when we don’t even know why we’re arguing about, sometimes it takes a lil bit emotions to keep our own arguments win, and end up laughing after it’s over. Laughing because we realize how juvenile we were acting, and... realize how tiny wee arguments actually have no meaning in comparison to what we mean to each other. It’s cheesy, but as much as we want to kill each other, you mean the world to me —and vice versa, I guess. Hahaha.

It’s the depth that teaches us that being heard is seamlessly important. We don’t have to ask a permission to make voice or beg to be taken care of. It’s more like discovering each other with relentless curiosity. To me, it’s a wonderful feeling every time he reveals a new part of himself, I fall harder and deeper. Wanting to listen about each other’s passions, hopes, inner-most thoughts, dreams is always a bliss.

Oh, I won’t forget to mention that it’s the kind of depth that brings us to the extreme level of silliness. Yep, it’s a privilege to be incredibly weird with another person — especially if he’d never be that weird in front of anyone else. Creating bizarre, funny languages no one would understand; laughing so hard until losing breath; getting high because of delish food and refuse to talk for 20 minutes; dancing in the living room for no reason; watching stupid movies without taking a shower. In a blink of an eye, our lives are better.

Also, it’s the kind of depth that always encourages us to be inspired. It never gets old to wonder about how someone whose differences compliment ours. In some other time, I might think differences are able to tear people apart, but then it’s surprising that differences can bring us closer than ever. It can mould together to form a beautiful little mess — and again, surprisingly fits well inside each other’s heart. Eventually, those differences that keep us both to improve each other and feel grateful... to be inspired.

Well, I guess the most important thing is it’s the depth that caring and healing. The kind of love when we’re not discourage if each other’s vulnerability starts to be seen. When you’re at the lowest point, I never doubt to reach out my hand to get you back up. It’s the kind of love that is selfless. You don’t need to think twice to care. It’s unconditional.

How deep is your love, then?

Most of the time, it’s unexplainable. No matter how many words spilled out from my mouth or filling my head to be typed in, it’s hard to explain why or how it happens. But when you find it, you’ll find yourself twisting your mind only to decipher your own words to describe it. It’s magical.

—To AR,

I love you.

[dramallamadingdang]

Game-loading time replies!

Even though it’s gonna take me a lot longer to reply to these than it will take my game to load. :)

These are for @nuttydazesublime, @tamtam-go92, @nekosayuri, @dunne-ias, @pensblr, @alicenorthernlights-blog, @taylors-simblr, @eulaliasims, @immerso-sims, @fuzzyspork, @katatty-main, @nyshabrokeit, @mswn, @quill-of-thoth, and @worldstarsimblr   Topics range from maligning AGS to custom unis to asparagus to veganism to pixel volcanoes to age mods to making Sim-life more complicated/difficult to...Well, other stuff. :) 

nuttydazesublime replied to your post “OMG, I’M SO EXCITED! :D So we partied tonight and when we came home I...”

Congratulations! I had the same problem for a long time, but not any more now! Yay! :D

I am very happy. The fact that I could not create an empty neighborhood on my old machine/install was very frustrating! Especially because it worked once, using AGS, but then after building a few lots in that empty neighborhood it suddenly decided to add the AL stealth hood when I loaded it once, and then after that whenever I attempted to make an empty neighborhood, it would “Create Magic.” And if I made a regular new neighborhood, it would “Create Magic” twice. So somehow, somewhere, there was a second AL stealth hood template that got created I-don’t-know-how, but damned if I could find it. My game sure could, though. :\ But, new machine, new install and AGS is never coming within 100 miles of my game ever again. Sorry to folks who might not have all EPs (Mac users, especially), but...nope. Nope nope nope.

dunne-ias replied to your post “OMG, I’M SO EXCITED! :D So we partied tonight and when we came home I...”

we need more custom unis!

tamtam-go92 replied to your post “OMG, I’M SO EXCITED! :D So we partied tonight and when we came home I...”

I agree with ias!

I agree, too...but I’m not sure I should be the one making them, at least not to share. I can’t build anything attractive yet remotely complicated without CC for the life of me, and no-CC is really the way to go for this sort of thing. Also, these are going to be built specifically to play my crazy college scheme, with playable classroom buildings and whatnot, so I’m not sure that they’d be appealing for other playing styles. But if I manage to create anything that wouldn’t be a galaxy-sized pain in the ass to share...I’ll share.

nekosayuri replied to your post “OMG, I’M SO EXCITED! :D So we partied tonight and when we came home I...”

Now I'm curious about the thing you wanted to check out!

Well, it was something that could be considered of a rather “adult” nature, so I didn’t want to link directly or anything. (Not that I think genitalia of either type by themselves without anything sexy happening are necessarily “adult,” but a lot Americans people do, so...yeah.) But basically? Much better-looking pixel penises. As a person who likes anatomical accuracy, I was very excited and wanted to see how they looked in my game, so before I napped, I went off and had my playable dudes in the “downtown thing” neighborhood take a shower so I could adjust ‘em a bit. :) (And yes, they are AMAZING. A huge improvement over Crammyboy’s, even though they have fewer options.)

pensblr replied to your photo “This seems to work, so… OK, so here’s the deal. To sum up a long post...”

Have been happily using Hat's mod for a couple of years now, and tweaked it as well after a few months of it being installed. While I wanted adults to have more time (so that I could sort of create a middle-age span), the elder span was just way too long for my taste. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy playing all of the life stages, but, yeah... elders were shaved down to a max of 50 days. Overall, I love how Hat's mod can be easily tweaked to suit one's own game.

Yeah, aging mods are just about the easiest thing in the world to make, if you can run SimPE. Heck, they’re easier to make than walls/floors! :) The trick, of course, is modding the ACR controller if you use ACR. Then you have to muck about with its BHAVs to adjust fertility curves to match your new lifespans, and since I don’t understand BHAVs, that intimidates me. But since I realized I didn’t have to alter the ACR controller...Yeah, easy-peasy. :)

tamtam-go92 replied to your post “Lately, me=long text posts. Sorry. :)”

I also saw that mod, and I would really like to have an age mod (this was the one thing I loved about TS3!) But I always saw the transition to elder in their mid 50s. I don't use ACR so the natural occuring infertility of female sims one week (I think) before they age up would be perfect. I would really like an age mod that was that way, but I really have no Idea how to do such things (I can't even make Simpe work for me '-_-)

Hey, if you want a specific age mod, feel free to hit me up! :) I can certainly make one for you, since you don’t use ACR. :) You’ll just have to tell me exactly how long you want each non-elder lifestage to be and about how long you want the elder one to be. (It’s not an exact science, with elders. :) ) Like I said, easiest thing in the world...If you can get SimPE to run.

That being said, most people who have problems with it are running the UC. If that’s you, then a good place to ask for help is MTS’s help forum. Maybe Leefish, too, if you’re a member there. 

alicenorthernlights-blog replied to your photo “lowedeus: MAXIS HOOD DECO CATTAILS Thickets of cattail (Typha,...”

I would like to have some nice realistic looking volcanoes as deco.

Are you aware of these? They’re deco volcanoes converted from Castaway. IMO, the two larger sizes are too large, and all are a little pointier than they should be. (Volcanoes are generally rounder on top, from accumulated lava flows. Heck, mountains in general aren’t that pointy.) But I have used the “dwarf” size (which are still pretty big) to pretty good effect, especially when they’re half-sunken into the terrain.

nekosayuri replied to your post “The college madness continues. :)”

I love everything about this! So thought out and complicated! Feels kinda like my (Sims) life right now with all the stuff I'm trying to do, but one thing I wanna take from this for my game is making more use of Sims' interests and their actual personalities to decide what will happen with them. For born-in-game, this would be even more fun :D...

Yeah, that was actually one of two “I need to do this better” goals with this “downtown” scenario I’ve been dreaming up as I play it. I wanted to incorporate both hobbies (which I’ve never really done a WHOLE lot with) and interests (which I’ve never done ANYTHING with) into my playing somehow. Interests still aren’t very integrated into regular playing yet, but they will definitely be things of consideration for the spawn of the founders of the scenario, who will be the first eligible for uni. The first of those is 4 or 5 days away from childhood, so I’ll start thinking about her “path” then, seeing where her interests/hobbies lie and how that might dictate how I’ll play her. (I don’t really “play” toddlers much. They run pretty much 100% on free will, only interrupted to attend to their motives or for a parent to teach them the skills the toddler wants.)

taylors-simblr replied to your link “Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta | Minimalist Baker Recipes”

Sounds great, I’m always after more pasta sauce recipes :) and asparagus is awesome, we had it for dinner, it was the only thing on the plate that daughter ate, despite there also being pineapple, sweet corn and sugar snap peas to pick from

I’m frankly astonished that your daughter picked asparagus over sweet corn! It has that bit of a bitter taste that I would’ve thought would turn off toddlers, whereas corn and pineapple are just flat-out sugar. (Peas at least have some protein. :) ) So good on her for her good taste! :D

eulaliasims replied to your link “Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta | Minimalist Baker Recipes”

Yum, thanks for the link! Almond milk is what I drink normally, so I'm intrigued to try it in a sauce. :D

It works well! I think the key is to slowly add the flour as it reduces. I kinda dumped most of it in in one go, and the sauce came out a little thicker than I would have liked, but I didn’t want to dilute it. (It was still good, though!) Next time, I’ll add it in smaller increments along with the incremental additions of the milk. I’m also going to try cashew milk instead of almond next time, since it’s thicker/creamier to start with.

immerso-sims replied to your link “Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta | Minimalist Baker Recipes”

I love asparagus, so will try to make this :) I always do a pureed pea & roasted asparagus soup. Yum!

Cream of Roasted Asparagus is my very favorite soup! :D I never thought to add peas, though. It’s an interesting idea. I imagine it’d be a little sweeter than asparagus alone. Also more nutritious which is always a good thing. :)

fuzzyspork replied to your link “Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta | Minimalist Baker Recipes”

I have a mini food processor whose soul purpose is for mincing garlic because I hate doing it by hand! (okay, I also use the mini processor for mincing hot peppers and chopping small amounts of nuts and sometimes emulsifying mayo and... a lot of stuff I guess)

Yeah, but then you gotta wash the food processor. *whine* :) 

I hate washing up. Even with a dishwasher I hate washing up. Especially since we don’t use the dishwasher a lot. Since it’s just the two of us, unless we’re cooking a big, elaborate meal, it takes forever to fill the thing up, and it’s such a waste of water to run it less-than-full, especially since we’re in a state of extreme drought here. :p So, yeah, gimme my tubes of garlic paste! *laugh* I am totally that lazy!

dunne-ias replied to your link “Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta | Minimalist Baker Recipes”

even non-vegans can use plant based milk and nutritional yeast :P #milkisforbabies this sounds delicious though!

#milkisforbabyCOWS, even. :)

But yeah, you’re right. I’ve made vegan stuff -- chili, mostly -- that was loved by people who would run screaming for the hills if they were told it was vegan. :) But when it comes to cooking for themselves, non-vegans are far more likely to have cow milk on hand than non-dairy milk, unless they happen to be lactose intolerant. And even then they’re more likely to have that cow-milk-with-predigested-lactose crap instead. *eye roll* And I’ve yet to meet a non-vegan who’s even heard of nutritional yeast, much less had any on hand. :)

nyshabrokeit replied to your post “So. I now have a list of 18 custom Uni majors that I want to make....”

They're easy peasy! ;)

Yeah, I made one just to test out the process and...Very easy! I haven’t tested it in-game yet, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Thank you for that tute! :D

quill-of-thoth replied to your post “Does anyone out there...”

I don't have it, but I use magazines to adjust interests to see if my sims are a good match, and I'll probably use them to increase interests when sim kids have the appropriate "traits"

Well, I can now confirm that the mod works in an all EP/SPs game, but I’m not sure the magazines are working as they should. :/ But I should probably make a separate post asking others about how they work in their game rather than burying it in this wall o’ text. :)

mswn replied to your photo “iCad Does Brainstorming AKA: Curse you, @dunne-ias!! So, Dunne-ias...”

‘If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.’ :p

OMG I LOVE THAT MOVIE! Even though I think baseball is the third-most-boring-game/sport ever (after cricket and golf), I love that movie. And that -- Not “There’s no crying in baseball!” -- is my favorite line from it because it is so very true.

worldstarsimblr replied to your photo “iCad Does Brainstorming AKA: Curse you, @dunne-ias!! So, Dunne-ias...”

I love it! I would definitely like to implement this into my gameplay! Also about the custom careers, mog has that mod that has all the jobs appear on the job board as well as I think Monique's computer (could be wrong) but yeah I love Mogs job board because you're right, they won't ever find a job with the computer or newspaper

Oh, yeah, I have that job board...although I’m more likely to just assign careers using the Sim Blender, where any custom ones you have will show, too, but one of the rules of this particular scenario is that jobs must be found in the newspaper. Just the newspaper, not even on a computer, where you get five possibilities instead of three, AND they’re not allowed to take any other job than the one they have an LTW for. It’s because the whole point of this scenario is to make things harder and to use money a little more realistically than I usually do. But this is partly why it’s age-modded because, even without eleventy billion custom careers, it sometimes takes a long time for a Sim’s desired career to show in the newspaper. Like, one of the founders of the scenario JUST got hers, in the Artist career...after checking the newspaper every single morning for 5.5 seasons, which is just about the length of the normal adult lifestage. (Yay, maybe now she can stop being homeless! She’s the last of the four who still is. I mean, talk about your “starving artists!” Knowing her luck, though, she’ll get fired on a chance card and have to start all over.  :) )

dunne-ias replied to your photo “iCad Does Brainstorming AKA: Curse you, @dunne-ias!! So, Dunne-ias...”

ooooh this is way more ambitious than what I do, but I LOOOOVE IT and would very much appreciate a peek at the spreadsheet when you're done with it!

I will definitely share it when it’s all done. Some of the “requirements” I’m imposing rely on some mods/modded objects I use (Like Monique’s computer, for its article-writing function), but generally speaking it’ll be pretty applicable to even a “vanilla” game. Very complicated, though. But I like complicated. :)

eulaliasims replied to your photoset “EDIT: Oops, I noticed that the file for the Butterfly machine doesn’t...”

Dude, *every* time I send a sim to the gym, I think about how annoying it is that NPCs hog the treadmills and ignore everything else. Thanks for the fix! It's dearly appreciated.

You’re welcome! And yeah, I thought the very same thing and finally got off my butt and fixed it! :)

Although...in my game, at least, the visitors still seem to avoid the “multipress” machine, and I can’t figure out why. They love the separate bench press/butterfly/leg extension machines, but not the “combo” one. Don’t know if I boo-boo’ed or if there’s other things going on in its programming. Let me know if you experience the same thing.

katatty-main replied to your photoset “EDIT: Oops, I noticed that the file for the Butterfly machine doesn’t...”

thanks for this! i've been filling all my gyms with nothing but tredmills because of this problem, now my sims can finally use the other equipment!

Yeah, I’d do the same thing. And even so my playables hardly ever got to use the treadmills because the non-playables wouldn’t leave them alone! I still don’t understand Maxis’s logic with this at all... But, y’know, screw Maxis. :)

[backatfour]

day 166: have you ever had a teacher that changed your life?

Literally, I couldn’t think of any... sad. But there’s this one person who changed my perspective in life and she’s younger than me. And I’m grateful that I came across her social media. 

Anyway, I just realized that the best teacher in your life is you because everything you want to learn depends on you... it will always up to you.

day 167: funniest movie you have ever seen?

Tbh, idk. I can’t think of any movie that made me laugh out loud. I become an unemotional human being whenever I watch movies. Idk it just don’t affect me that much.

day 168: how do you feel about cyber bullying?

Cyberbullying has been an issue since the emergence of social media. I really don’t understand why certain people does bullying and I am against it. Cyberbullying hurts people in major aspects of their life and can lead to depression, anxieties, negativities, and the worst is... suicide. No one deserves to be bullied at all.

It took me years how toxic social media was. It just one of the major problems social media is facing... and everything has to stop.

day 169: what is your life motto?

Will it matters 5 years from now?

From the time I started to put this on my head... every problems I face doesn’t hurt at all. I started to be selective on things I have to focus on that’s why life has become bearable. 

Start now

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of productivity before but now I am an advocate of making importance of your valuable time. It is such a great feeling to accomplish something because it’s something you’ll be grateful for when you look in the past. Productivity benefits your life, and it makes you confident. So do it now because you’ll regret it.

day 170: what is something you notice throughout highschool? 

Uhm... that it is easy to pass even you don’t do something. Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of people passed without exerting effort and maybe that’s why some take subjects for granted. They missed what learning is all about because they can easy peasy get through with it. AND NOW, look how they struggle with life today. I hope schools consider this... they really need to level up their leniency regarding with grades.

And it also sucks that they don’t teach what’s really to be in adult life. We all need to learn early, and not later. Idk if they did that on purpose just because life is all about surprises.

[renkocchi]

The difference someone makes.

My Secret Santa gift for @hakuzo-k ! It’s short cause I didn’t have much time, and there are still things I think need fixing, but i think I like the outcome, and I hope you do too!!

Thanks @natsume-ss for hosting this event!!

Also thanks to @kou-is-sketchy for helping me even though she was so busy. Lots of love! Natsume Takashi could say with confidence that Christmas was not his favorite holiday. He never received presents; he was always excluded from family diners, eating alone in a corner of a room. Happenings like these were but minor examples.

  Just recently taken in by the Matoba clan, he wasn’t sure what to expect that year.

  Takashi passed by the Clan Head’s office just in time. The man was about to call him.

  Taking a sip off his tea, Matoba Seiji signaled the boy to come inside. Takashi closed the door behind him, and, following Matoba’s gestures, he sat on the wooden chair, never raising his head enough to look the most important person in the manor in the eyes.

  “Tomorrow is Saturday so you don’t have any homework to do, right?” he asked. The boy nodded. “Good. We have a job. Go get the tools ready, it’s getting dark soon.”

  “Uh, yes, Matoba-san.” With a slight, rushed bow, Takashi was out of the room.

  To Takashi, Matoba was truly a weird person. Whimsical, too serious or too relaxed –it was as if there was no in between. Sometimes he would speak formally and dress in yukatas and kimonos and suits, but others he’d also joke around and wear sweatshirts and jeans. He showed up suddenly, taking him away from the family he used to stay in. Strict and sometimes even manipulating, but still a kind young man with values… Takashi often found himself wondering what was really going through the Clan Head’s mind.

  As the sun was beginning to set, the two entered a black car. The ride was silent. It didn’t take them long to reach their destination, they could have gone on foot too. However, going by car did earn them some time. Plus, it would be hard to walk on mountain paths wearing a kimono.

  They got out of the car. While Matoba was talking with the driver, Takashi turned to look around. His breath turned visible as he let out a sigh. His eyes caught a Christmas festival happening below the cliff, in the town. From what he could see, the people seemed to be having fun. There was a big ice rink for teens and adults and a smaller one for children, both of which were surrounded by stalls. He had never been to a Christmas festival before. He was always left behind to watch the house, whichever one he was staying at. He narrowed his eyes. It would be nice to go once…

  “What are you looking at, Natsume-kun?”

  “Eh? Ah, no, nothing…” stepping back, startled, he lost his balance. Just as he was about to fall down, Matoba managed to catch his arm, pulling him back into place. “I’m, um, I’m sorry. Thank you.”

  “No need, you’re a valuable member of our Clan now, aren’t you.” Takashi lowered his head and nodded.

  Suddenly, an unknown voice was heard from the entrance of the forest, some steps behind them.

  “Who are you bullying this time, Matoba?” the two turned around, one of them wearing a crooked smile, and the other lowering his head even more.

  “Natori!” He sounded unexpectedly happy. “Perfect timing.”

  “Huh?” The blond man stopped in his tracks, taking off his glasses.

  “We’ve got a job up ahead but I just got a call from a client in a more serious situation. Can’t you take care of it for me?”

  “Why should I?” he got a bit closer. “I’m not free either, you know. I came here for a job too.”

  “Oh come on. A man with powers as yours could surely take two jobs on easily. Or perhaps you’ve gotten weak? One simple exorcism is too much for you?” Matoba’s smile was unfaltering and Takashi was beginning to worry. Matoba was lying to that man but he wasn’t going to give that away. He mustered up as much courage as possible before he spoke up.

  “Uh, Matoba-san, shouldn’t we hurry?”

  “Where are your manners, Matoba? Won’t you introduce me?”

  The Clan Head stayed silent for some moments, before resuming to his ironic, manipulative smile.

  “Of course, excuse me. This is Natsume Takashi, a new member of my clan.” Before Takashi could react and greet the man, Natori had already began approaching him.

  “Why hello there. I’m Natori Shuuichi. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Full of hesitation, the boy shook his hand.

  “Pay him no attention, he’s always like that.” Matoba shrugged as Takashi nodded, slightly amused. It had been a lively couple of minutes and that didn’t bother him at all. “Well, now that you know each other, Natori. Will you do what I asked?”

  “Fine, I will. But you’ll owe me one.”

  “Sure.” Matoba passed Natori the piece of paper with the information and walked back into the car. Takashi followed after he greeted the man.

  “Matoba-san, why did you cancel the job?” he asked with a low voice.

  “You will understand soon, Natsume-kun.”

  The car pulled over next to a truck and the both of them got off. The street was illuminated by Christmas lights and the boy’s ears were filled with cheerful voices and laughter. He moved behind the truck and let an unintentional gasp escape from his mouth.

  “Won’t you come?” without him noticing, Matoba had already gotten a few steps closer to the festival’s gates than he was.

  “Uh, but, Matoba-san, the job was more important than this… we should go.”

  “And let the newest member of my Clan look at such a simple setting with eyes full of longing? I don’t think so.” Takashi was at a loss of words. “Now come, this ice rink is the biggest in this area.” He almost froze in his steps when Matoba actually took his hand and dragged him through the gates of the festival.

  “But, uh, Matoba-san, I don’t know how to skate…” he did his best to protest, even though he had to admit to himself that he was pretty happy with the fact that he was in a festival like that.

  “It’s okay, I’ll teach you.”

  Without any other words, they got to the center of the festival and put on the ice skating shoes they were offered.

  “How are we going to do this with kimonos on?” Takashi expressed his hesitation before entering the ice rink, hiding a bit of exitement and agony.

  “Ah, well, easy peasy.” Matoba didn’t sound too confident. He clinged on the wooden railings, his legs shaking, trying to keep his balance. The worst thing was, Takashi was in the same sorry state.

   But, he didn’t really mind. He did want to expirience something like that for once and… well, he imagined it wouldn’t be that bad to try and do something he wanted, for once. Laughing, he tried to catch up to Matoba.

  “Didn’t… didn’t you say you knew how to ska-” he slipped and landed on the ice, pulling Matoba’s kimono and dragging him down with him. 

   “I, uh… sorry.” without him realizing it, Takashi  was smiling. Matoba could see it though, and what the man felt at the time was pure satisfaction. maybe a bit of joy, too. the people skating around them all kept staring at them, a few tried to help them up.

  “Turns out I didn’t know how to skate.” Matoba smiled, not ironically or sarcastically, for once. “But wasn’t this more fun than actually skating?” Takashi smiled back and gave the man a deep nod.

  “I guess it was, Matoba-san.”

   …Maybe… he thought, …Christmas won’t be such a terible expirience from now on…

   With a warmness of hope in his chest and a constant smile on his face, one he didn’t even realize he had, he continued on enjoying the fesival with Matoba.

[honchkrow2017]

“and they were roommates” - a pokémon IRL AU

i said i’d type this up so i’m going to whether you like it or not

basically it’s just a lot of fairly incoherent ideas about my 2 faves, team galactic and team rocket, in a kind of... mundane au? everyday au? What If Pokémon Was In Real Life au. of course evil crime syndicates very much exist in real life, but where’s the fun in that when you could just make them work in like, tech support or something

PART 2 COMING... maybe tomorrow if i manage it. by sunday, anyway.

the ultimate irl profession for giovanni, aside from like, Crime Lord, would i think be something very shady and capitalist and just about obscenely high-paid... something like investment banking. something in The City. anyway, that’s how the story begins - giovanni, charismatic and ambitious as he is, the man who ALWAYS gets what he wants, swooping down on young starters and plucking off the ones he thinks he has the most use for (though petrel was more of a pity choice). he ushers them into his sphere of influence, even giving the three young men a place to live in his house (more than big enough, being a 21st birthday gift from mummy to her beloved only child). technically they all work for the same company, but everyone knows that archer, proton and petrel really work for giovanni and giovanni alone.

after a little while giovanni finds he has a rival. her name is ariana and she has seemingly come out of nowhere, an unknown less than a year ago but rapidly earning herself a fearsome reputation. she is intensely secret about her home life, and despite her talent has no interest in picking up lackeys like giovanni does - in fact, she doesn’t seem to want to socialise at all. but giovanni is a determined young lad. he can see how valuable ariana could be to him, so he turns his charm up to previously unforeseen levels. i’m talking off the charts. he has the exact right balance of suaveness and politeness. he defends her against that good ol 80s office sexism, without being a white knight about it. he knows what he’s doing.

of course ariana doesn’t just sway to his influence easy-peasy; she has her reasons for being solitary. she and giovanni find each other equally challenging and, in a horribly heterosexual tale as old as time, things take a turn for the romantic. and once that train gets started, it doesn’t slow down. there are a lot of motivations for making things serious so quickly - giovanni for one is under STRICT orders to produce grandchildren - but the biggest is the reason behind all ariana’s secrecy in the first place.

she has a young daughter named minerva at home. the father abandoned the two of them before she was even born, and though devastated ariana pushes it down, channeling her despair into the ambition and ruthlessness needed to keep a roof over her daughter’s head (just barely, anyway. she earns half of what giovanni does for the same job, and without the family wealth to fall back on). when giovanni finds this out, or rather ekes it out of her, he’s alarmed to notice that he actually CARES. not just for ariana herself, but even somewhat for minerva. if she’s safe, it’ll make ariana happy, so in a lifetime first and last, giovanni does something purely to make someone else happy and invites them both to live with him too.

having a child in the house is difficult. only petrel is any good with children; proton shows open disgust, and archer is too busy sulking because giovanni has a new favourite person. even ariana isn’t the most naturally motherly person, and uses her new support network as a chance to focus on her career, this time with giovanni as her ally instead of a rival.

not pictured: madame boss rubbing her hands in delight over this power couple and the sort of grandchildren they’re going to produce. and produce they do, though rather sooner than planned, and necessitating a hasty wedding as lipservice to giovanni’s very lapsed catholicism. they have a son. he is named silver, after ariana. though minerva is still only a toddler, she’s able to notice that she’s being sidelined. silver, after all, is Giovanni’s Son, the rocket messiah. the family heir. minerva is more of an unfortunate footnote.

that’s not to say silver has an easy time growing up, though. the house isn’t much of a place for children, a place where money rules above all else. the adults are too busy working overtime to teach lessons of compassion and humanity (petrel tries, though he didn’t have the most solid start in life himself). and though the little giovanni-ariana-silver family is all well and good for a little while, it can’t last. giovanni happens to be an extraordinarily self-centred person, in case you couldn’t tell. he is not what you’d call ideal husband/father material. that’s not to say ariana isn’t almost as bad, too. the two get wrapped up in long arguments that are hardly even arguments as that implies listening to each other - more like competing monologues.

then - when minerva is about ten and silver eight - big shit goes down. giovanni, in a bid to finance his mother’s expensive retirement village, has embezzled tens of thousands from the company he works for. he’s actually exposed by an eleven-year-old visiting on ‘bring your kid to work day’. but to cut a long story short, it’s BAD. the other four go down with him, but giovanni has the furthest to fall, so he does what any reasonable person who’s spent his life getting everything he wants but is now faced with catastrophic failure would do - he fucks off. leaves behind ariana (though they’re now separated), silver, the whole gang, without so much as a word. the only one he doesn’t leave is his cat pierre, much to minerva’s despair.

from then on, things are catastrophic. minerva enters her teenage years neglected and sometimes treated with outright malice from the adults in her life. the ‘family’ goes into financial ruin, involving themselves in less-than-legal things to make ends meet (there might be more kosher ways of making money, but for these guys exploitation is the default setting). minerva is near-solely responsible for her brother, a difficult task as she still resents him, though it’s a long time since he’s been the favourite child. he keeps running away to try and find his father, until minerva starts to get tired of chasing him.

she has other things on her mind, anyway. she has decided she is in love. he’s older, a physics student at a nearby university who she first met when desperately enlisting him into a search for silver, back when she cared about such things. as soon as she finishes school, he will be her ticket out (or she hopes so, given they haven’t exactly talked about it yet). there’s the matter of his friends from university - jupiter, much taller and older and ruthless towards minerva, then later saturn, an earnest first-year environmental studies student. minerva may not be as clever as them, but it doesn’t matter, because she understands cyrus like they don’t, she can tell. it’s just a matter of time before she’s the only one, and he can see properly how much she cares and how devoted she is. he must care too, a little bit, because he has given her a new name - mars, the god of war.

[lesbian-ed]

I don't know if this is a stupid question, but how do people handle the feeling that being gay is wrong, like how do you work against the culture that tells you this. It's something I find so hard, knowing I'm a lesbian, even if it's just in the back of my mind.

Hey, there, cutie!

First of all I wanna tell you this is not a stupid question at all! I wish it were, to be honest, wish I could tell you it’s all easy peasy, and you’re the only one who struggles with this.

But you’re not. So many lesbians, baby lesbians, adult lesbians, ancient lesbians, even the dykes who fought for us in the 70s, everyone… We’re constantly bombarded by homophobia, left, right, and center.

Lesbians who work in LGB centers, lesbians who are activists, who would punch a homophobe in the face… All lesbians are still exposed to lesbophobia, and to internalized lesbophobia. It’s common, it’s normal, unfortunately, because society grooms us to be men’s property, and any woman who dares rebel against that is seen as a shrew, a monster, innately wrong, innately in the “bad path”.

I once was told by a complete stranger who knew nothing about me, except for the fact that I have some weirdly placed facial hair, that “people would think I look like a dyke”. When I told him he was too late, that I already am one, that I didn’t have time for his stupid lecture about what I should and shouldn’t do with my body hair, he told me “I still have time to repent”.

When complete strangers feel free to tell us we are sinners, wrongdoers, pariahs… How could we avoid not repeating those nasty mantras to ourselves? How could we not hate what all of society hates the most, a woman independent of man, a woman who would never need a male in her life to be completely and utterly free and happy?

We’re the ultimate “castrated” women, like Freud would call us, these women who don’t need a phallus, who are only self dependent, and dependent on other women. Lesbians are a force to be reckoned with, we are patriarchy’s worst fear, an that’s why we are taught to hate each other and ourselves.

But the epitome of rebellion is to refuse to hate. The way you avoid these fears, this internalized self-phobia, is by taking every thought that gets you down about yourself, and turning it around.

Every time someone makes you feel less-than, every time you make yourself feel less-than… You turn it the fuck around, and make yourself more-than. Lesbians are bigger and better. We cannot be dominated, nothing about us is meant to please men. We are self made, self built to please ourselves. There’s strength in being a woman who doesn’t need any man, and you are that woman, and you should own that strength and use it as a shield.

You’re a lesbian, and lesbians love, and lust, and want, and are. Lesbians are. We just are; there’s absolutely nothing broken in us, there’s nothing to be fixed.

You are an amazing, great woman, and it takes time to figure that out, but the best way to do it is to rationalize every single little self deprecating thought. Think about why you feel like being a lesbian is not good, and prove yourself wrong.

Is it because lesbians should have been straight? Well, most women are straight, or bi. Lesbians are a fraction of society. We are okay. We’re not harming anyone by loving our wives and building our families. We are as we are meant to be; sexuality is inherent, we have been born this way, and this way is the best way for us.

I think the best way for a lesbian to defend herself against lesbophobia is for us to understand misogyny, and understand why misogyny harms us as lesbians specifically, and fight against that. Become a feminist, become a radical feminist. Feminism helps us strap up our big girl shoes and go off into the world ready to feel we are good as we are. Feminism restores self respect in women, it restores our sense of wonder. There is strength in all of us, and feminism unleashes it. It teaches us we are okay, we are great, we do not need to change, no woman needs to change, no woman is defective.

I wish you the best of luck, my sister, in learning to love yourself and your lesbianism. Read up, educate yourself on lesbian culture and lesbian history, and defend yourself from your own lesbophobia by debunking all the arguments the world fed you. They have no proof, they have no way to back up their hatred, so theres no reason why you should repeat their homophobic lies to yourself. I love you and I’m proud of you, and I wish you the best lesbian life.

TL,DR: Arm yourself with knowledge, and surround yourself with knowledgeable women!

/Mod A