#but the black women are discarded as hell and disrespected

[cancerian-woman]

Am I crazy or do the Bennett's give off only girls born into the bloodline vibes. Everytime I try to think of a male bennett witch my brain just goes blank

I love talking about these underdeveloped witches. My shaylas fr. No, you’re not crazy. That’s exactly how it’s presented. The Bennett bloodline produces two things for certain: a.) a daughter and b.) a powerful witch no matter what. We can look at Sheila, Abby and Bonnie for example that’s three generations. If Bonnie were to have a child she’d be a daughter and witch.

TVD writers mishandled Bonnie and characters of color period because by TVDU’s rules Bonnie should’ve had magic as a baby. The Bennett magic is so strong to continue to exist within their thousands of descendants. It’s in their DNA.

Where Emily was killed she marked the Earth with power. We can assume when Bennett women die this is what they do with their magic. Who values their connection to Earth? Bennett Women. Abby’s transition was so hard because she lost her connection to Earth.

Even the tombstones we were shown for the Bennett’s were both women. Ameila is Sheila’s mother actually. The only instances with male Bennett’s are: Stefan saying Emily’s brother helped them. It isn’t confirmed if he had magic though. Then in S8 in the flashback scenes we see some black men in the mix around the bell. However, they’re nameless and the Bennett’s are shown to prioritize women. Safe to say if a male happens (which is never) they don’t have the gift or are important. The women are the leaders here. That’s what matters the most.

The greatest accomplishments in their bloodline are done by women. Here is a beautiful masterlist made by @roisy of Bennett spells/creations and then divided by spells Bennett women performed in the series.

This is a random tidbit for me. But, I know the Old witches house was destroyed. I don’t think the Bennett witches would’ve wanted anyone in there but Bonnie or other Bennett witches. The series had so many vampires/white witches in there and people who disrespected Bonnie period. When Damon and Klaus were both threatening Bonnie in their space. Damon burned and Klaus felt physical pain but point remains that place belonged to the Bennett’s. It shouldn’t have been so freely used.

In smaller moments we know the Bennett’s were protective over their own kind. Emily wanted her descendants protected. Lucy turned on Katherine after figuring out who Bonnie was. Sheila and Bonnie self-explanatory. Abby lost her magic because she didn’t go back to her daughter. They didn’t gaf about Rudy lmaooo.

Last thought for now if the Bennett women were white they’d be considered the most OP family of this franchise. Narratively, it’s no reason why people weren’t praising Bonnie for her power or being a Bennett witch because they should be seen as royalty.

[fantomette22]

Thank you Crow!

Well hm I did that post over a year ago so a few things have changed and there’s new elements to add I would say😅 (but another time).

Now @rednether if that’s ok,I would like to give a bit of an alternative view on the overall thing if that’s ok? Or at least the interpretations on how other people interpret the thing with the doll. You will see it’s quite different from the take you write here.

Still, if afterwards what you write here is still what you believe, think, feel and interpret I can’t take that from you and well that is totally ok. Fromsoftware leave out lot of context and mysteries and it’s to us, the player to put back the pieces together and interpret. (I found that amazing to compare people interpret and see what cool ideas everyone bring to the table).

Ok first you are right to mentioned that Maria’s clothes (hunter garb) are indeed practical! It’s made for the hunt after all. You wouldn’t go hunting with pretty clothes not made for that right? (Like a dress, skirt or even a pretty and expensive tuxedo. It just doesn’t make sense).

We don’t know if Maria only used to wear clothes like her hunter garb or if she wear something else outside of it. It’s a hunting attire, for fighting, that get cover in blood so she probably wear something else outside of those hunt right? Some people think that she might have wear a few clothes similar to the doll too (we will never be sure but it’s possible and some people believe it).(Note : at the time the hunter of the healing church probably weren’t formed or at least a bit after so the black & white church garb/dress of the healing church woman probably only concerned doctors, not hunter at the point).

So there is indeed quite a bit of contrast between the 2 outfits yes but I wouldn’t completely opposed them that much either? They have similar colors and even the same boots, the flower motifs, the pendant etc. A distorted reflect in a mirror or perhaps the 2 faces of a coin are possibilities that fit better in my opinion but if you feel it’s totally opposite well that’s alright too I guess.

Also I wouldn't say her clothes are feminine to a ridiculous degree (is it because of the hat? It have the same black ribbon as Maria too. In the French translation it say it’s some kind of festive clothes :/ and we don’t know what others wear at that time) if we compared to other feminine clothes it's less feminine for me than what the women of the church, Cainhurst noble ladies or even the Hemwick & Yahar’gul women (even lonely old dear!) wear. Her skirt is a bit shorter and she have Maria boots, not some ballerina or small boots with heels.

And if I may, the Maria we saw in the dlc is in a nightmare/super hell version. She probably wasn’t exactly like we see her in the dlc, before her dead (she didn’t have her Rakuyo she discarded it a while ago and it says she hate blood blade and she used it against us. I believe because it’s a nightmare. Wouldn’t it be a bit disrespectful to immortalize her and her memory as the hunter she once was and decided to detach from?) And she potentially had a more kind and « warm » side when she was alive like the patients point too that would be another link to made with the doll but who knows.

Well for the rest there is the post I wrote and the take my friend pointed to, from a great Bloodborne artist and writer. There’s also a few other thing than can be found if you look enough for it.

But in the end, everyone is free to see things differently.

It was just noted that Maria is dressed practically, her outfit is function over form, being loose fitting even hanging on her frame, she's a strong independent woman and a lethal hunter

While the Doll is dressed exactly the opposite, her clothes are feminine to a ridiculous decree, she's submissive, meek, almost as if she's meant to be nothing more than a trophy wife

[popcrone818]

Spitfire - sweet pea x reader

Part two

Here is part two to spitfire, if you like it please don’t forget to comment on it. I love hearing feedback. If anyone wants to help out and beta my work I would love that too. Shoot me a message or ask with anything. I’m also thinking of creating a tag list so if you want to be on that then let me know.

Also gif not mine let me know if you know who’s it is

Sweet Pea POV

I watched as she walked up on stage once the music started, I couldn’t help but keep my eyes on her as she discarded her shirt looking around for something. Her eyes found mine as she tossed her shirt and I brought my beer up to my lips as she got rid of her jeans leaving her in a red lace lingerie set. My eyes widened at the sight and she never took her eyes off me. I could feel the heat travelling to my dick as she finished up and took off to the side of the stage where I could see Toni was waiting for her. Fangs and I made our way over to the two girls as Rory pulled her jeans up her legs. I took her new jacket off Toni and walked over to her. I placed the leather on her shoulders and she pushed her arms through the sleeves, I gathered up her red hair and pulled it gently out of her collar and rested it over her left shoulder before I rested both of my hands on her shoulders.

“You’re officially a serpent now. How do you think your brothers going to react once he finds out?” I lent down to whisper in her ear. I felt her tense up under my palms.

“I guess he’ll just never find out then.” She shrugged and I squeezed her shoulders gently before sitting down at the bar and looking at Toni for a drink.

“You’re brother is going to kill you Rory.” I heard Jones say from beside me. I noticed out of the corner of my eye he had taken my place behind Rory gently squeezing her shoulders. I felt my jaw clench slightly as she shrugged and took a swig of her beer.

“Honestly I think he needs to get his head out of his ass. You guys are actually really cool and I’m glad I get to call you my friends now too. Let him kill me he wouldn’t he loves me too much.”I felt something warm inside me but quickly shut it down and forgot about it as the door to the wyrm was thrown open I didn’t Bohr looking behind me as the intruders made their way up to the bar and stopped just short of Rory and I being at the end.

“Aurora! We’re going home now!” I heard the Northsider yell as I saw Rory stand up to face her brother before taking another sip of beer.

“Um, no thanks, I’m good here.” I watched as she turned her back on him and he stood taller standing over her trying to regain control of the situation and ultimately Rory. I stood up next to her slightly closer than was probably necessary as one of the other bulldogs walked up beside Red. I let her hand gently rest on my own as she placed her body in front of mine.

“You’re one of them now? A serpent?” Red asked squinting his eyes in his sisters direction looking down at her. My body stiffened and I took a small step closer, my lower stomach now in contact with her back. I felt my fists clench beside me. My anger at the disrespect for his sister settling in my stomach.

“Yes now please leave before you make a fool of yourself even more than your doing now!” She pointed to the door and Red followed her finger. I felt her hand on my bicep as she almost gave me whiplash with her strength pulling me back to the bar.

“You know, I’d still bang you Andrew’s even if you are just another serpent slut.” I heard one of the bulldogs whisper in her ear, closest to me, he seemed to be taunting her and me, knowing he would get a rise out me by saying that. I stood up and let my fist connect with the bulldogs jaw. I was not about to let him just walk all over her like that my protective instincts kicking in at the way Rory had tensed up at his words. Soon enough the bulldog landed a punch on my left cheek but I was quick with another blow to his pretty little face. I felt Jones pull me off the bulldog with Red doing the same to him.

“You’ve just made a big mistake Rory.” Red yelled as he dragged the bulldogs out of the wyrm. I turned myself back to my beer taking a swig to calm myself down in an effort to not snap again. I could taste a slight metallic flavour to the beer and and I brought my hand up to observe the damage on my lip.

“You didn’t need to do that Sweet Pea, I can handle Reggie.” She told me as she placed a small hand on my left cheek, I winced slightly, surely there would be a bruise there, she was gentle as she touched my face taking in the wince at the initial contact o her cold hands. I felt as all of my anger washed away with one simple small touch from one small girl.

“What’s serpent law number 1 Rory?” I held her gaze as I asked her the question.

“No serpent stands alone.” She recited as I nodded and turned my head away from her touch not liking how weak I felt under her fingers, but also not hating the way my skin tingled from her fingers, I would not let some Northsider have this effect on me. “I better go have a screaming match with my brother, I’ll see you guys later.” Toni nodded at her and I watched as she made her way out of the wyrm. I felt a slap to the back of my head.

“What was all that dude?” I heard Fangs ask from beside me. I shrugged at him.

“No women should be treated like that, serpent or not.” I got Toni to pass me another beer. “Round of pool before we head off too?” I asked him. He nodded and Toni followed us over to the pool tables. As I racked up the balls Toni turned her head to me. A questioning look hiding behind her brown eyes.

“You like her don’t you?” I scoffed as I took my shot.

“I barely like you two.” The game went smoothly and as usual Fangs got his ass handed to him and he pushed $20 into my chest. He’ll never learn.

“You would never let anyone touch you like she did tonight, not even to patch you up.” Toni just wouldn’t drop it. I groaned as Fangs put away the cue’s and balls.

“Just drop it okay she’s an Andrew’s anyway.” I shrugged and walked out of the wyrm up to my bike. I decided against a helmet and turned the key hearing the engine roar to life before I sped off in the direction of the Northside. She should be home by now, I just wanted to make sure she was safe, that’s what I kept telling myself as I turned down her street. I slowed down almost stopping outside her house and noticed the living room light on, I could faintly here yelling over the loud sound of my engine and I knew she was home safe. The curtains by the door shifted so I took off again revving the engine slightly before changing gears and heading back to sunnyside trailer park.

Aurora POV

“She’s a serpent now dad!” I heard Archie telling dad as soon as I walked in the door, my serpent jacket hanging from my elbow as it got a touch warm on the walk home.

“That better be you Aurora and you better have a damn good reason for joining the serpents!” I heard my dad yell as I tried to sneak my way into my bedroom.

“Yeah dad, its me.” I purposely didn’t answer the question about being a serpent.

“How did FP allow you to become a serpent?” My dad questioned as I walked into the kitchen.

“FP doesn’t know, some guy named Tall Boy initiated me. With the help of a serpent Archie’s age. It’s fine dad I’d rather be protected than not with the black hood business going on.” I crossed my arms over my chest. Placing my jacket over the back of the couch.

“You can’t be a serpent Rory! They came to our house to fight me!” Archie yelled at me getting closer.

“That’s because you waved a gun in Sweet Pea’s face! Yes I know exactly what happened and I also know that you threw the first punch, so don’t even try to tell me it was their fault or that they’re thugs because as far as I’m aware you are at fault right now not us.” I crossed my arms over my chest. Archie’s ja dropped a I mentioned us and not just the serpents. I heard a soft rumble of an engine pass by the house. Archie made his way over to the front window by the door and peaked his head out. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I threw my arms out beside me.

“Language young lady!” My dad yelled over me and Archie.

“You think they’re going to come back for round 2. Believe it or not but family members of serpents are actually protected too. So unless I specifically tell them not to protect you Sweet Pea cannot touch you again. And believe me, right now I’m this fucking close.”

“Aurora!”

“Sorry dad, I just can’t believe Archie right now.”

“I’m not too thrilled about you being a serpent either Aurora. But if you think this is going to protect you and us from the black hood I’m willing to make an exception.” Dad shrugged which only angered Archie even further.

“Dad! She’s a serpent, Jughead is a serpent, your best friend is a serpent and he is currently behind bars. Don’t you think she would be safer without them?” Archie raised his arms before laying them down by his sides.

“Look, FP is an adult, he chose them when he was her age. Jughead is just following in his fathers footsteps for protection just like Rory. Once FP gets out he can decide if she stays or goes. As for you Rory, I want you to go and tell FP about this little development tomorrow. See what your godfather has to say about all of this. Because I sure as hell cannot deal with the two of you right now, so I’m going to bed.” With a wave of his hand dad stomped his way up the stairs. Archie and I stayed still glaring at each other until the slam of a door broke us out of it.

“I seriously can’t believe you did this Rory, they’re bad people and now you have ruined your life, for what? A guy? Sweet Pea was his name? You’ve got to be-,” my hand collided with the side of his face.

“Don’t you dare even think I did this for a guy. Because in the last two days the serpents have actually been there for me more than you have since dad got shot. Ive made three really good friends and Jug and I are closer than ever before. Don’t even think you know what is going on in my life. You only care about yourself. And for the record I don’t like Sweet Pea as anything more than a friend.”

“Aurora! He’s the one that did Jughead’s initiation, you saw what he looked like afterwards.” Archie was trying to get me to turn against them.

“Yes I was there. I watched Sweet Pea with his brass knuckles get Jug in the side of the face, also I was the one to clean him up after and I went to the Whyte with him to get his jacket, where Sweet Pea was an asshole to me and I never back down you know that. Which is how I got to where I am now, but I couldn’t be happier Archie. So please for once try to be my brother instead of an asshole.” With that I turned away grabbing my jacket and headed upstairs to my bedroom slamming the door before I flopped face down on my bed. My phone vibrated with a message as I rolled over to look at the ceiling. I groaned before taking it out to check it.

Sweet Pea: hope you got home safe, also hope you didn’t get your ass handed to you by red.

I laughed silently at him being a dork. He wont even acknowledge that Archie is my brother. I’m pretty sure his brain would spontaneously combust.

Me: yes I’m home safe. I put him in his place don’t worry about me, I’m tough 🤯

Shortly after I hit send I got another message from Jug this time.

Juggie: did Archie and your dad kill you?

Me: dad wasn’t happy at first but then I mentioned how family members are protected too and he seemed to ease out of it. But I’m this close to letting Sweet Pea off his leash to go after Archie again. I’m fucking over it all. All the Northside, Southside bullshit. Juggie what do I do?

Juggie: you do nothing, we got your back and I’m sure Sweet Pea would kill anyone that gave you shit. He’s loyal like that.

Me: and another thing why does Sweet Pea keep coming up in conversations I have? Archie accused me of sleeping with him. Ive only known him like two days.

Juggie: you brought him up in this convo Rory, don’t try blame me this time, I think you’ve got a crush!

Me: I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH! He’s just a good friend now after he got over the fact that I’m a northsider.

Juggie: sure whatever you reckon. Anyway tomorrow after school meet me at pops we gotta talk.

Me: sure thing I’ll see you then. Goodnight x

Juggie: goodnight x

I changed out of my clothing for the day and into my pyjama shirt before pulling the covers back on my bed and climbing in. Before I could close my eyes my phone vibrated against the side table.

Sweet Pea: sure you’re tough, anyway just wanted to make sure your got home okay from the wyrm and to say goodnight.

Me: goodnight Sweet Pea.

I fell asleep thinking about a certain tall dark and handsome serpent that night.

A couple of months after my initiation I had gotten wind that Mayor McCoy was raiding Southside high and anyone with a jacket was going down. I ran with Jughead into the school only to see two deputies push Sweet Pea into a row of lockers. Toni not far from him with only one deputy on her. I locked eyes with Sweet Pea before he mouthed ‘run’ to me. I turned around and followed Jug down the steps of Southside high. We took off running in the direction of Northside, more specifically to my house where he and I could regroup and discuss what we just saw and what we do about it now.

“What the fuck just happened?” I asked Jug as I made us both some coffee.

“Mantle said he got JJ from a serpent for Veronica’s party the other night when Cheryl was almost raped by some guy Veronica knew in New York. So the serpents and Southside high were raided, I don’t know how long they’re going to be locked up for though.” Jug put his head in his hands and groaned, this was just one big mess.

“I’m going to fucking kill Reggie!” I slammed my hand down on the counter before leaning closer to Jughead. “I know for a fact it was a Ghoulie who sold that to him.” He nodded with me. The rest of the night Jug and I spent watching movies and trying to not think about our friends that had just been locked up.

Jug couldn’t go to school the next day as Southside high was still being raided before the serpents would be released so I told him he could stay at mine, Archie and dad wouldn’t mind so I was on my way to school, jacket hanging off my shoulders when Reggie Mantle decided to be a dick and come up to me at my locker.

“So your really one of them now? I thought you had standards, but I guess not.” He shrugged leaning on the locker beside mine, I ignored him as he lent down slightly to whisper in my ear. “I’d still fuck you, though I’m sure you been passed around the serpents enough.” I slammed my locker door shut before my fist connected to Reggie’s face. I heard a sickening crack and smiled triumphantly before turning around and walking away. “Just like that serpent toy of yours always so hot headed.” I heard him wheeze out through his broken nose. I took a deep calming breath before I stomped back over to Reggie.

“A) not my toy just a friend, and B) you’re the reason my friends are currently locked up. Get your head out of your ass Mantle, you know it was a Ghoulie who sold you the JJ, you just don’t like the serpents.” I flicked my hair in his face as he held his nose blood rushing out. I rushed into the nearest bathroom and ran my hand under some cold water. My knuckles were already starting to bruise up.

“Students of Riverdale High, this is your principal, emails have been sent out to your parents, effective immediately, Southside High will be shutdown. Students will be transferred to other schools in the district, including this one.” I heard the voice of principal Weatherbee come over the speakers, I silently did a small cheer as I wouldn’t be the only one in this school wearing a serpent jacket. Betty would be happy Jug is coming back. I was excited as I’m sure Sweet Pea, Fangs and Toni would all be coming here, the rest of the day I couldn’t focus too excited for my friends to be joining this school and I wouldn’t feel so alone anymore.

Juggie: did you hear Southside is being shut down?

Me: yeah heard he announcement this morning. I’m excited for you all to be here though. Have you heard anything about when they’re getting let out?

Juggie: yeah this afternoon they get out, want to join me in getting Toni, Fangs and Sweet Pea out?

Me: fuck yes I do, meet you at the station after school?

Juggie: 👍

I hopped in my car after school watching as Reggie sent me a death glare from his spot leaning against his precious Bella. Not long after I left school I joined Jughead at the station where Fangs, Sweet Pea and Toni were being uncuffed. I ran up and pulled Toni into a bone crushing hug which she returned. Fangs then mockingly held out his arms and I pulled him into me as Jug hugged Toni. My eyes swept over Sweet Pea who looked slightly uncomfortable at all the affection being thrown around and when I pulled away from Fangs I walked up to him.

“I’m glad your okay.” I told him before I felt his arms wrap around my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around his middle under his jacket and held him tightly. His head rested on mine as mine rested on his chest. His height is ridiculous. I caught Toni’s smirk as she watched us before we pulled away. “Who’s up for Pop’s?” I got a chorus of ‘hell yeah’ as Toni, Fangs and Sweet Pea climbed into my car and Jug climbed onto his bike. We sent the rest of the night laughing and sharing funny stories at a booth in pop’s before our worlds would be turned upside down tomorrow at school. We all knew that the Southside high students wouldn’t be be welcomed at Riverdale high and they were dreading it. I told them I would would walk through the doors with them and help Sweet Pea beat up anyone that would look at them differently. I had told them about Reggie this morning and how I handled it, Sweet Pea gave me a high five and Jughead just shook his head at us. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I looked around before pulling it out thinking it was Betty.

ToniT: you wanna be a bit more obvious?

I gave her a look and she typed out another message, three dots showing up on my screen.

ToniT: you and sweet pea are scarily alike, and you keep looking at him with heart eyes 😍😍.

Me: no I don’t. And I just don’t like being messed with. You saw the way I stood up to sweet pea when I first met him. Stop trying to play matchmaker, if you think we’re so alike wouldn’t that be a bad thing if we were together?

ToniT:mmm so you’ve thought bout you and him together? That’s so cute! No one has ever stood up to him the way you did that night. No one usually gets a chance before they’re on their ass.

Me:I’m done with this conversation.

I shook my head and pocketed my phone again.

“Who was that?” Jughead asked nudging me with his shoulder.

“Archie.” I lied taking a long sip of my coffee milkshake. I made eye contact with Toni before the night started to get away from us and we all decided to head off. Being the only Northsider I decided to walk home. Just as I left the parking lot of pop’s I heard a bike stop beside me.

“Want a ride trouble?” I turned to see Sweet Pea holding out his helmet. I grinned and nodded before taking his helmet and kicking my leg over the bike. He sped off down the road and I finally felt free. I had started the ride with a death grip on Sweet Pea but by the time we got to my house I held both arms out beside me and enjoyed the feeling of the air rushing through my body.

Sweet Pea POV

I watched as Rory pushed through the doors of Southside high just as I was pushed into a row of lockers by two deputies. Assholes couldn’t even take me one on one. I mouthed ‘run’ to her as a pair of handcuffs were tightened around my wrists. I let out a curse as they were tightened too tight and I watched and Topaz was also arrested beside me. I just hope Rory got out safe she was wearing her jacket, if she was caught wearing it in Southside high she would also be arrested. We spent the night locked up but I never saw Rory so hopefully she was going to be okay with Jones. Once we were let out we had been informed that Southside high was being shutdown. I knew Jones would be pissed but Fangs, Toni and I couldn’t be happier. I was finally going to be able to make something of myself and get out of this shit hole of a town. Jones and Rory came and joined us once we were uncuffed, she watched as the cuffs were taken off us, I never wanted her to see this I was hoping she would just see us tomorrow for our first day but I had been wrong. She threw herself at Toni. The two smaller girls holding each other close, Fangs held out his arms for Rory to run into. My fists clenched before I released them and flexed my hands. Lastly she came over to me, usually I’m not one who is big into hugs but watching the way both Toni and Fangs melted into her embrace made me crave the feeling of her arms wrapped around me.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” She told me looking down and fiddling with a ring on her right middle finger. I couldn’t take it anymore and I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her tightly to my chest, she wrapped her arms around my stomach and rested her head on my chest. I felt her small cold hands rest on my back just above my jeans. I felt my heart beating erratically in my chest and wondered if she could hear it as I placed my head on top of hers, inhaling he scent of vanilla and sweet pea, loving the way she felt in my arms. “Who’s up for Pop’s?” She asked as she pulled away from me. We all agreed and the three of us followed her out to her car as Jones got on his bike.

At Pop’s we all ended up laughing hysterically at some stories that the three of us told about our lives. Memories growing up with the two of them and the mischief we used to get up to. Rory had decided to tell us what had happened between her and Mantle that morning and how she handled it. I gave her a high five and a wide grin knowing she was capable of looking after herself regardless of being a northsider. I noticed her right hand had bruises on the knuckles and absentmindedly reached for her hand, our fingers brushed together gently before she pulled her hand off the table and rested it in her lap. I silently sighed and took another sip of my milkshake not making eye contact with anyone at the booth. I heard a vibration coming from Rory but didn’t bother to look up. More vibrations came as I heard her nails clicking away at the screen of her phone.

“Who was that?” I heard Jones ask her and my head shot up. Her eyes found mine before she replied to him.

“Archie.” She said and shrugged, I could seen it in her eyes she was lying but I thought I would leave it be for the time being. A few hours later we all decided it was getting late and we should all leave. I watched her as she started walking out of the parking lot and turned left instead of right like the rest of us would. I quickly climbed on my bike and took off after her, she stopped in the sidewalk before she realised it was me.

“Want a ride trouble?” I asked her chuckling to myself, I was one to talk, trouble always found me, and right now the trouble that found me was in the form of a Northside serpent. I held out my helmet to her not caring that I didn’t have one for myself now, she grinned and took it. I ensured that it was done up under her chin correctly and told her to hang on as I took off. I heard her shriek slightly as her grip on my waist tightened. I chuckled and sped a bit faster wanting her to hold me tighter. Halfway to her house I felt her arms let go of my body. I took a look in the side mirror and watched as her eyes closed and her arms spread out on either side of her body. She was breathtaking but I missed the feeling of her arms around my body. Once we got to her place she placed her hands on my shoulders and kicked her leg over my bike pushing her body off it using my shoulders as leverage. She handed me back my helmet and we just stared at each other not knowing what to say to the other.

“Want a ride in the morning?” I asked her clipping the helmet to the handlebars of my bike. She nodded and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. I think this is the most shy I’ve ever seen her, she usually always has something witty to say to me.

A week later and Weatherbee had given all serpents ��uniforms’ to wear as he thought none of us would be able to afford Riverdale High appropriate clothing, and we all had to cover our tattoos. Which resulted in me having to wear a turtle neck. We were all sitting in the student lounge when Rory walked in and almost pissed herself laughing at Toni and I. I glared at har as she walked up to us. She sat herself down on my lap and poked my turtle neck covered tattoo.

“Loving the turtle neck there Sweet Pea.” She giggled again as she looked around us strangely. “Where’s Fangs?” She asked once she stopped giggling.

“He refused to wear the uniform so Weatherbee suspended him until he wears it.” I shrugged at her as Jones walks into the lounge. Toni got up to greet him as he hands Rory a large coffee cup.

“So its either conform or be cast out?” He exclaims angrily.

“Yeah.” Toni sighs as she takes a sip from her coffee cup. Rory follows suit also taking a sip of her new coffee and moans as I feel her relax against my chest. I laugh at her.

“Is that what you sound like in bed?” I whispered in her ear laughing lightly. She shoved me in the chest lightly.

“You wish you knew what I sounded like in bed don’t you Pea?” I felt her breath on my ear as she leaned in closer to me.

“Are you two done eye fucking each other? Some of us want to keep our breakfast down before you start to take clothes off each other.” Jughead whacked Rory on the back on the head causing her head to knock gently into mine.

“Fuck you Jones.” I rubbed my head where hers had connected and she turned around on my lap to look at our friends. I wrapped my hands around her waist gently as Toni and Rory started up a conversation about Rory getting a few shifts either at the wyrm or pop’s. I wasn’t really paying attention to what she was saying but rather how she was talking. I watched as her eyes light up before she took her phone out of her back pocket putting all her weight onto my pelvis as she lifted the other side of her ass up to get her phone. Her tongue poked out through her teeth and she scrolled furiously through her phone looking for something to show Toni before she turned it around to show the pink haired girl. They both giggled and I felt her place her free hand on my knee absentmindedly rubbing circles with her thumb. I felt Jones kick my shin to get my attention. It shook me out of my trance as I turned my head to look around Rory at the serpent legacy. He only just raised his eyebrows at me before he looked at Rory then back to me. I shrugged and tuned back into Rory and Toni’s conversation.

“… so we need to go shopping today after school then.” I felt Rory chuckle at Toni and nodded.

“Wanna come shopping with us Sweet Pea?” Rory asked me adjusting yet again my lap.

“He doesn’t do shopping.” Toni answered before I could say I would like to go with them. I think she may have just wanted a girls shopping trip. But I also know the amount of times I’ve complained when she has dragged me shopping, so I guess she was right, but I found myself just always wanting to be around Rory. Even more now that I got to know her. Yes the first night I saw her with Jones at the wyrm I thought she was hot, then she stood up to me and said she would become a serpent just to prove me wrong and I thought the way the light captured her deep red hair was beautiful. Then she started to hang out with us more at the wyrm and I started to get to know her more, the day we were all hauled into the sheriffs station and I saw her push through Southside highs doors right before I was slammed into a row of lockers I knew then and there that I needed to protect her from everything bad that goes on in the serpents. I knew she could handle herself but I also just wanted her to see me as something more than just a hot headed serpent going nowhere. In the time I have known her she and I have gotten really close, as well as Toni and Fangs, but sometimes I feel like she enjoys our slight banter and may even be more comfortable around me than the other two. In different ways she is friends with all of us. She and Jones have been friends since they were born, so they have an unbreakable bond with each other, like brother and sister, but less fighting. She and Fangs are on the verge of that brother-sister bond as well, they play fight and play wrestle like she’s one of the guys. She and Toni have that weird girly bond, they talk about shoes and clothes and boys, when us boys aren’t around though, Jones doesn’t want to hear about who Rory thinks is bangable this week, I find myself not wanting to be part of that conversation either. But with Rory and I its just comfortable. She can come up to me and sit in my lap without it being weird, we flirt with each other and we push buttons, I can pull her into a long, tight hug and she will know I needed that then and hug me back just as tight. She gets me, and I get her. We are one in the same but yet we both balance each other out. One touch from her and my anger can dissipate into thin air. One touch from me and she’s smiling again instead of frowning. I hated to see her frown, it made me wonder what she was thinking about. Every time she touches me though I get brought right back to the night she became a serpent almost three months ago now. When the bulldogs came in and I had a busted lip from Mantle, the way she had held my face in her hand had sent electricity through my whole being. At the time I thought she was trying to make me weak, but as time went on I noticed that when I was around her I actually felt stronger.

“Hey! Serpent slut!” Mantle strode in and Toni and Rory looked over, he could be talking about either one of them, but either way I didn’t like it as Rory got up off me and walked over to him.

“What do you want mutt?” She crossed her arms over her chest having left her coffee near me in case she needed her hands.

“I’m offering you a spot in my bed this weekend after Cheryl’s party,” he reached up and tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear, I saw red as he touched her and I was on my feet and heading over to them before I saw her grab his wrist twisting it painfully before she snarled and grit her teeth.

“Let’s make this very clear Reggie. I have never, nor will I ever think about being in a bed with you. I don’t need fleas from the likes of you.” She released his wrist and I lent against the couch Rory and I had been previously seated on.

“Oh but you’ll get bitten by one of those greasy snakes? I can see a faint mark on your neck there,” he reached up again and pointed to her neck. “Who gave that to you? One of them or all of them?” Her hand flew up to her neck and she looked back over to me. That’s my cue.

“Back off bulldog! She doesn’t want you.” I pushed her gently behind me. I knew this was partly my fault anyway. Last night I jokingly gave her a hickey while we were at the wyrm when she wouldn’t stop moving around on my lap.

“Oh but she wants you? A fucking snake? Pfft as if, serpent.” I pushed him in the chest as Toni and Jones came over to us. Toni taking Rory and leaving the lounge before things got messy. Mantle, Jones and I were suspended for two days because of the fight. After school got out I heard a knock on my door, groaning I got up off the couch to open it. I stood at my front door in a pair of sweats and no shirt as the ac in my trailer had shit itself and it was stupidly hot in there. I came face to face with a pair of bright green eyes.

“You gonna let me in?” She crossed her arms over her chest and I moved out of the way for her to make her way in. She sat down on the couch and shrugged off her light jacket resting it on the back of the couch. “You know I could have handled Reggie right?” She asked me as I moved into the kitchen to get some water for us.

“It was partly my fault that he started it anyway, I’m sure if he didn’t see the hickey it wouldn’t have escalated like it did.” I handed her the glass of water and sat down beside her. I watched as she took in everything about my trailer, I started to feel a bit self conscious as I noticed a small pile of clothes by the bathroom door and a bunch of empty take out boxes on the dinning room table. She looked back at me as she took a sip of her water. I knew she was used to a fancier home, her dad owned Andrew’s construction for fucks sakes she had it good and had a nice two story home on the Northside, and I lived alone in a tiny ass trailer on the Southside.

“I know but I can fight my own battles Pea, I don’t need you to do it for me all the time. I am a serpent too and I’ve been dealing with Reggie longer than I’ve known you.” She shrugged at me as she lifted her leg up so she could turn her whole body to me.

“I know you can, I just don’t like feeling useless when I know my friends are being looked down on. And again if I hadn’t have given that to you he probably wouldn’t have started it.” She placed her glass down on the coffee table in front of us before she started to fiddle with the rings on her fingers. I placed my much larger hands over hers and pried them apart from each other making her look up at me.

“I can’t keep letting you get suspended for fights over me anymore Pea. You need to lay off or your never going to lose the reputation of hot head.” She pulled her hands from mine and stood up.

“Maybe I just want to protect my friends, did you ever think about that? He many times have I gotten into fights over anything but people talking down to the Southside? How many time have you seen me punch someone who didn’t deserve it for being vulgar or disrespectful to either you or Toni, of even Fangs? What do you want me to do? Roll over and pretend nothing is happening? Just let people walk all over you? News flash Rory, that isn’t the way I was raised. I was raised a serpent, no serpent stands alone and I’ll be damned if I’m the one to leave you alone when you need me.” I ran my hands through my hair standing up halfway through my rant.

“Damnit Sweet Pea! I don’t need you to protect me! I am my own person, I can handle a couple of dim witted bulldogs and I can even handle some serpents. I’m not some fragile fucking doll for you to protect.” She started to pace around in my lounge room pulling at the roots of her hair. This was the first time I think I had ever seen her so worked up before.

“Well I’m sorry for taking an interest in the well being of my friend, Rory.” I took a step closer to her and she held up her hands in front of her.

“Then don’t.” She stopped pacing and turned to look at my eyes the best she could. I stooped my head down slightly so I could also see her eyes. “Just forget you ever fucking knew me because I can’t keep sitting here watching as you get yourself beaten to a pulp for me.” She tugged at her roots before she turned around and was out the door. I went to go after her but the door slammed in my face and I heard her car speed off. I punched the door causing a big hole to crumble. As I rested my head on the broken wood I thought about what I could have possibly done for her to hate me. I came up blank and decided to talk to her tomorrow at school.

Fangs and Toni had come by soon after Rory left.

“Dude! What happened to your door?” Fangs asked examining the splintered wood. I stayed sitting on my couch with my hands in my hair trying not to cry at the thought of never seeing Rory again.

“I think his anger got the best of him again, but my question is; who was it aimed at?” Toni asked as she made her way into the kitchen to pull out a beer for each of us.

“Myself.” I grumbled running my hands through my hair once again. I saw Fangs give Toni a look.

“He pissed off Rory, and now he blames himself for whatever happened, if I’m wrong tell me because I don’t see her here and she usually is. You two are usually watching movies and cuddling on the couch when we get here.” I groaned and shot Toni a glare, why did she have to be right. “Thought so, now what did you do?”

“She told me she could have handled Mantle today and I told her that I did it because I care about my friends and want to protect them. She then yelled at me, something about not being a fragile doll and told me to forget I ever knew her and then walked out the door.” I ran my hands through my hair again, missing the feeling of Rory dong it whenever she was bored.

“I know why she’s pissed then, but maybe just give her a bit of space and try talking to her in like a week or so.” Toni told me. “Now I’m going to check on my other friend because if I’m right as to why she is pissed then she needs me as much as you need Fangs. And you’re also a fucking idiot Sweet Pea, Fangs talk some sense into this dumbass please.” She put her hand on my knee and I jerked away. Too many times that hand had been Rory’s. Fangs saluted and I nodded as she took off out of my trailer and jumped on her bike.

“You like her don’t you?” Fangs turned to me.

“I think I remember this conversation from a couple of months ago, answer is still ‘I barely like you’.”

“Yes, but Toni and I aren’t Rory. You let her play with your hair, sit on your lap, you give each other hickies all the time, and I’m sure I’ve seen you smile and blush more in the last three months than I have in my whole life of knowing you. You’ve also gotten into a lot more fights since meeting her too. That Jason guy was the first one for seemingly no reason until Toni explained what had happened the night she became a serpent. You like her you dumbass and she likes you, your just too stubborn to admit it yourself and to her. She left and got pissed because you called her a friend and nothing more.” I shook my head at him.

[theraputicwritings]

Fragile Masculinity

A/N: I’m back and I am soooo happy! It’s been a long two years without writing and I apologize for it. I’ve been dealing with a lot that’s made it difficult for me to find inspiration and motivation to write. But lately, I’ve felt the bug. I’ve been rewatching Criminal Minds and have really wanted to write about Spencer Reid. I’m moving next week and I plan to write a story, blurb, or maybe even start a full ass fic every night that I am on the road. Should be about five days and I’m excited for the challenge. In the mean time, I wanted to share this story that I’ve had in my brain for the past week and I finally sat down to write it two days ago. It’s my first Spencer x reader and I really hope you all enjoy it. It was fun to write which is exactly why I love writing so much!

Pairing: Spencer Reid x reader

Word Count: 2,988

Warnings: Canon-typical violence, mentions of murder, rape, torture, fluff, angst

“You could certainly say that I’ve never underestimated myself. There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious.” – Angela Merkel

Another difficult case. All of the cases had their own thing that made them unique and difficult but this one just took the icing on the cake. Five women. All cops. All tortured, raped, and then murdered. Their bodies had been discarded like trash. It had been two days and while the team had developed a profile, it didn’t feel like they were any closer to finding the unsub who was doing this.

You had just finished making two cups of coffee, one black and one with an ungodly amount of sugar.

“Here, just the way you like it,” you said, handing the coffee to the BAU’s resident genius, Spencer Reid.

“Thanks…” He took the cup but didn’t turn to look at you. His face was set and focused as he stared at the map on the case board.

You sighed and faced the board as well, staring at the different victims who had died. Two of them while you were in the small town. You couldn’t help but feel a level of responsibility for their deaths. If the team had just been there sooner, maybe those women would still be alive.

“Hey, sweetheart, why don’t you make me a cup of coffee too?”

The voice made the hairs on your arms stand up and you could feel Spencer tense up as well.

It was one of the officers of the precinct. This was the third time he’d asked you to make him a cup of coffee. The first time you were already by the pot, so you made him a cup to be polite. The second time, you were just about to give the profile and you’d declined, using the excuse of being busy. It had been annoying before, but now it just felt plain disrespectful.

You slowly turned to him and raised an eyebrow. He had a smug look on his face and it made your blood boil even more.

“First off, it’s Agent. Not sweetheart, not honey, not babe. Agent. Second, I’m not an intern, secretary, or assistant. Go make your own damn coffee. Now if that is all…”

You trailed off and smoothly turned back to face the case board and your partner. You stayed silent until you heard the officer’s heavy boots stomp away.

Before you could say anything, Spencer chuckled under his breath.

You turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

“What? Did you think that was too much?” Your voice dared him to disagree, but you knew that he wouldn’t.

You two quickly became good friends when you joined the team. Lately, you’d been getting signals that maybe Spencer wanted to be more. You wouldn’t have minded it, honestly. The two of you got along really well and you did care for Spencer. But with work, thinking of a relationship got pushed to the back corner. You didn’t have time to pine over a relationship. Especially at that moment.

“No, I’m surprised you didn’t snap sooner,” Spencer smirked and took a sip of his coffee.

You shook your head and smiled.

“He’s just lucky that didn’t happen. I don’t think his fragile masculinity could handle much more.”

With that, you spent the next several hours, pouring over the case together. Based on the victims and how they died it was so clear that this man despised women and maybe even more so women with some form of power. He saw them as a threat to his masculinity and so did everything he could to tear them down. Based on the profile he was probably in his mid to late thirties and cocky. He had a dominant personality but had probably had his masculinity squashed throughout his childhood and adult years. Now he was trying to prove himself in the only way he could think to do it.

The profile was detailed and good, but there was something missing in it. It was on the tip of your tongue, but you just couldn’t tell what.

By the time the rest of the team had come back, you weren’t much closer to finding it, but it was starting to get late into the day. You weren’t going to give up though. More than likely there was going to be another woman missing tonight and you wanted to find the bastard before that happened.

When the words started to swim off of the case board, you decided to step outside for some fresh air. It was cold, and there was a fresh blanket of snow on the ground. It woke you up more than the coffee had and it helped refresh your brain.

As you looked up at the clear night sky, you thought more about the case. Clearly, you weren’t making the connection on something but you couldn’t tell what. You were so caught up in your thoughts, that you didn’t hear the familiar heavy boots as they came up to you.

“I’ll show you fragile masculinity.”

The voice was low and followed by a swift blow to the back of your head. Instantly you dropped like a bag of potatoes and were out cold.

———

Back at the station, it had only been a few minutes, but Spencer had already noticed you weren’t back yet. It wasn’t that he stalked you, but you’d caught his eye since the day you joined. It was difficult to admit, but Spencer liked you a lot more than just a friend. You stood out in a room. You were witty, bright, and you always took an interest in Spencer. Even when the team shut his ramblings down, you encouraged him to continue or would ask him about it later. You cared for him and it made him feel good.

“Hey guys, has Y/N returned? I haven’t seen her.”

After a chorus of no’s and head shakes, Spencer stood up from the conference table.

“I’m gonna go check on her, make sure she’s okay.”

He didn’t know why but he had a gut feeling that something was wrong.

His instincts were right, of course. When he got outside, his keen eyes instantly spotted the blood on the ground where you’d been attacked. As soon as he saw it, his head jerked up and looked around the dark street. There was a clear path where your body must have been dragged off.

Spencer knew he should have grabbed the team, but with the snow coming down, he didn’t want the tracks being covered. So he drew his gun and slowly started to follow the drag marks. They only led to an alley where a car must have been parked waiting. From the tire marks, he could tell it was a large truck, but the snow made it difficult to find out which direction you had been taken in.

Quickly, Spencer ran back into the police station and burst through the conference room doors.

“She’s gone!” He exclaimed! “There’s blood outside and I followed his tracks but it led to nothing. Guys, I think the unsub has her!”

His voice was panicked and immediately everyone jumped into action. Morgan and Emily ran outside to get a better assessment of the crime scene. Meanwhile, Rossi and Hotch asked Reid questions about what he’d seen and started working on finding out who had grabbed you.

——-

You woke up in a dark room and the first thing you realized was pain at the base of your skull. The second thing you realized was that your hands were tied above your head and you were dangling from the ceiling. With a groan, you blinked and tried to adjust your eyes to the darkness.

You didn’t have to worry about that too much though, because in seconds the overhead lights had been flickered on. You closed your eyes hard as the brightness made your headache only that much more intense.

When it didn’t seem to be that bad, you slowly blinked and took in your surroundings. Your profiler brain worked quickly as you figured out that the unsub must have taken you. It looked like you were either in a basement somewhere or in a cellar. You could tell you were underground though. It was very cold and that’s when you noticed you were only wearing your underwear and a tank top.

“Well don’t you look all pretty dangling like that. I could just eat you up, sweetheart.”

As soon as he said sweetheart, your body tensed. You knew exactly who it was and you kicked yourself for not realizing who the unsub was sooner. It was the officer who you’d snapped at.

The young man sauntered down a flight of steps and you mentally willed for him to fall. That didn’t happen, of course, and has he got closer, you braced yourself.

You didn’t acknowledge him though. You knew any response wouldn’t do you any good. This man wanted to hear you be afraid of him and you weren’t going to give him the satisfaction.

As he got in front of you, he grabbed the chain that was dangling you from the ceiling. It was attached to some sort of pulley and he used it to slowly drag you down until you were forced to be on your knees in front him.

“Now look at that? Doesn’t that just feel right sweetheart? You’re exactly where a woman should be. Beneath the man, ready to submit and serve him.”

Your face was defiant as you looked him right in the eye.

“I wouldn’t submit to you if you were the last man on earth. Go to hell.”

This made him smirk and he yanked you back to your feet. You could feel your arms screaming in pain as you stretched into the awkward position.

“You know, if you had just kept your pretty mouth shut, smiled, said yes sir, and made me a cup of coffee, you wouldn’t be in here. But now you are. And by the time I get through with you, you’re going to submit.”

His voice was calm and that almost scared you more than anything else. He’d clearly had the practice of torturing women before and you mentally prepared yourself for what you knew was about to happen. All the while praying that your team would find you still alive. And if they didn’t… well, you hoped they didn’t grieve for too long. And you didn’t plan to go down without a fight. There was no way you were going to submit to this pig.

———

You didn’t know how much time had passed. The only thing you knew was the pain. But you hadn’t made a single sound, not a tear was shed. You just continued your hard stare into this man’s eyes as he performed different types of torture. At first, he had just used his fists. When that didn’t get the response he wanted he found a crowbar and started to use you as his own personal piñata.

You didn’t know how much more you could take. Your arms were exhausted from holding up your weight and if you were correct, this torture was about to take a turn for the worst. You weren’t planning to submit physically or mentally, which meant this monster of a human was going to force you to submit sexually and then kill you. It’s how all of his other victims had died and you weren’t looking forward to dying the same way.

After one particularly bad blow to your rib cage, he threw the crowbar down in frustration.

“Submit!” he screamed in your face.

Your face hardened and you calmly said, “No. I will not submit to you. I’ll die before I submit to any man.”

His face red and veins bulging out of his forehead and neck, he yanked your chains so you were on the floor.

“Fine. I’ll make you submit, sweetheart. And you’ll like it too.”

Just as he grabbed your hair by the base of the skull, a loud bang came from above you. Your face brightened as you realized your team was coming. This was going to be over soon.

“You lose. You will never be able to hurt anyone again.”

If it was even possible, his face turned even redder. He let go of your hair and let chains fall completely loose so that you were nothing more than a heap on the floor. Your arms were so exhausted, you couldn’t even hold the weight of your traumatized body.

“This isn’t over,” he growled before taking off out a backdoor that you hadn’t noticed before.

It didn’t matter though, because within seconds after, the basement door had been kicked in and you heard people running down the stairs. You felt warm hands on you and you looked up to see a concerned Spencer trying to get the chains off of you.

“He went outside, he went that way,” you managed to get out.

You’d kept your head level that entire time, but now that you knew things were safe, it was like you could feel all of the emotions of panic, fear, and hopelessness bubble out of you.

You gasped out a sob and fell into Spencer as he finally freed your arms from their chains.

“I know. Morgan’s going after him. You’re safe now.”

Spencer carefully held you up as Hotch’s stern voice called for a medic. You felt a large hand caress your head and despite your fears and panic, you felt the safest you’d felt all day.

——

It didn’t take long for the medics to come down to whisk you away to the nearest hospital. Spencer stayed with you the entire time, but the two of you didn’t say much. He kept his hand wrapped around yours and would occasionally give you a grounding squeeze but that was it.

You didn’t mind though because it gave you time to ponder over this new side of Spencer. You knew that Spencer cared for the team like they were his family, but the protectiveness and worry he’d shown over you was different. It made you reevaluate whether a relationship could happen between the two of you. It made you question everything you felt about the doctor sitting next to you.

When you arrived at the hospitals, paramedics quickly wheeled you in, breaking the contact you had with Spencer. You turned your head to look back at him and again was met with a look of concern that no one had ever shown you before.

It wasn’t until you’d been settled into a room that you saw Spencer and your team again. The doctors had given you a nice dose of pain medication and explained that you had a few broken ribs and lots of bruising, but nothing that required surgery.

“We’ll be leaving tonight, but the jet will be coming back to take you and Reid home in a few days. I’m really glad you’re okay, Y/N.” Hotch’s voice held the same monotone undulation, but you could tell his words of comfort were genuine by looking at his eyes.

After a few more pleasantries among the team, a nurse came by to inform them that you needed to rest. A round of hugs, kisses, and goodbyes later and it was just you and Spencer.

There had never been such a thing as awkward silence between the two of you for as long as you’d known Spencer. But there certainly was now. Finally, you broke the silence by taking a long deep breath.

“You don’t have to stay with me tonight, you know? Or the next couple of days either. I know you’d rather sleep in your own apartment.”

Spencer smiled slightly before shrugging.

“It’s alright. I want to be here with you. You shouldn’t be going through this alone.”

Another awkward silence fell between you and it hung for a few more minutes before you both started talking at the same time.

“Thank you by the way-“ “Will you go out with me sometime?”

The question seemed to shock both of you and you blinked twice.

Again, your voices interrupted each other.

“Sorry—“ “Wait, what—“

Before you knew it, you were both giggling at the awkwardness. It was like you were two high school kids in a rom-com.

The giggles were cut short though when the movement caused pain to sharply spread across your chest.

“Ow,” you groaned as you wrapped your arm around your middle.

“Y/N,” Spencer started, moving his chair so he sat right next to you. With slight hesitation, he reached across and took your free hand.

“When I realized you had been kidnapped, I realized something else. And that’s that I have strong feelings for you. I have for a while. I don’t know if it’s love or affection, or maybe it’s both. But I do know that when I saw you in that man’s basement, I couldn’t wait much longer to tell you how I feel. So if you’ll allow me, I’d like to take you out on a date.”

The declaration surprised you and you took a moment to think about it. You’d be lying if you didn’t have feelings for Spencer as well. But you’d done everything you could to suppress them. This job was obviously dangerous and you and Spencer both knew how it could be to lose someone you love because of it. And there were also the worries of if you were to break up at any point. You’d still have to work together and you didn’t want to lose the work dynamic you two had over a breakup or a lovey-dovey relationship.

But you didn’t want to say no. Today had made you realize that life could be ended in a moment's notice. You didn’t want to waste it on what-ifs and could be’s.

So you didn’t hesitate for too much longer before saying, “Spencer, I would love to go on a date with you.”

“I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.” – Marissa Mayer

————

Thank you so much for taking the time to enjoy my story. As promised, here is your tag @dr-reid-ismyspiritanimal I hope you all enjoyed my story. If you have any suggestions for stories or requests, please fill my messages! Love you all!

[john-smith69]

Ranking my favorite characters of each of my favorite animes / mangas

For the record: I don't own any of the following artworks bellow. All the credit go for their own original artists

Top 10: Olivier Mira Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Olivier Mira Armstrong (オリヴィエ・ミラ・アームストロング, Orivie Mira Āmusutorongu), also known as Major General Armstrong is the primary heir to the illustrious Armstrong family, the commanding officer charged with the protection of Amestris' northern border at Fort Briggs and the older sister of Alex Louis Armstrong. Olivier is a severe woman who has a fearsome and commanding presence where she is harsh with her subordinates and peers and coldly merciless to her enemies, the deceptively beautiful woman's schadenfreude has earned her the nickname "Ice Queen" among the Briggs soldiers. Sharp-tongued and highly combative, Olivier is no stranger to furious chastisements and bursts of fiery violence, especially toward those who fail to live up to her high standards and staunch adherence to the "survival of the fittest" philosophy.

Top 9: Mikasa Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

Mikasa Ackerman (ミカサ・アッカーマン Mikasa Akkāman) is the adoptive sister of Eren Yeager and one of the two deuteragonists of the series, along with Armin Arlert.

After her biological parents were murdered by human traffickers, Mikasa was rescued by Eren Yeager and lived with him and his parents, Grisha and Carla, before the fall of Wall Maria. Though she desires only to live a peaceful life, Mikasa entered into the military—where she is considered the best soldier among the 104th Training Corps. She later enlists in the Survey Corps to follow and protect Eren, becoming one of its greatest assets. She is currently serving as an officer (上官 Jōkan) in the Corps. Mikasa cares deeply for her friends and caretakers, seeing them as the last remnants of a family she cannot afford to lose. Mikasa also appears to have a soft spot for children, and she has a strong sense of right and wrong, doing everything she can to make her most impulsive friends to follow what she thinks is the right track. Despite that, she knows well that she cannot always sway them in decisions and makes it a point to follow them whenever they go, just so that she can be around to help out when trouble arises.

Top 8: Kamina (Gurren Lagann)

Kamina (カミナ, Kamina) was a young man from Jeeha Village, the founder and first leader of Team Gurren and deuteragonist of the first arc of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. At first glance, Kamina is boisterous, hotheaded and arrogant. He demands recognition and seems hungry for greatness, illustrated in his tendency to call himself "the Mighty Kamina" and his signature catchphrase, "Just who the Hell do you think I am?!" He is an undeterred idealist, often to the point of ignorance; Yoko has described him as "a man of unlimited stupidity." Kamina is also very perverted, declaring that the urge to stare at beautiful women is the definition of a man.

However, Kamina is also extremely determined and never lets anything keep him down for long. Even discovering that his father was dead only made him solemn for a night or two (visibly at least). He is also devoted to defending and supporting his friends and loved ones, fighting with all his strength to protect them. In turn, he is very charismatic in the heat of battle, able to inspire even the timid Simon to accomplish great feats and almost single-handedly set the foundations for Team Dai-Gurren.

Despite his often brazen and practically insane actions, Kamina is fairly insightful, as his bombast and seemingly blind confidence usually mask his true intelligence in planning and combat. He even personally admits that his bravado and fearlessness is mostly a device he uses to hide his own worries and to support others, and that he thinks people like Simon are the real heroes.

Top 7: Sebas Tian (Overlord)

Sebas Tian (セバス・チャン), alas "The Iron Butler", is the head butler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick with several manservants and other butlers under his command. He was created by Touch Me. He is also the leader of the Pleiades Six Stars.

Although he is not one of the Floor Guardians, his power closely rivals theirs. In a way, he is independent of their chain of command. He originally served as Nazarick's last line of defense alongside the Pleiades on the 9th Floor, to give time for the guild, Ainz Ooal Gown, to prepare for their final stand in the Throne Room. Like his creator, Touch Me, Sebas Tian has a great deal of personal justice. Unlike many other denizens in Nazarick, he does not completely despise humans or see them as inferior creatures. Instead, he believes that some humans are good people and it is the duty of the strong to protect the weak. However, humans with an ugly nature disgust him and he will not hesitate to kill anyone who dares to oppose Nazarick. Sebas has a stoic nature, but also tends to question his own actions whether it was right or wrong of him to do them contrary to his master's order. Not sure why he does it, Sebas does believe that Touch Me's will is what encouragingly motivates him to act the way he does and that it conflicts with the will of his current master.

Top 6: Brago (Gash Bell)

Brago (ブラゴ, Burago), alongside his partner and bookkeeper Sherry Belmont, are considered the rivals of the main characters Zatch Bell and Kiyo Takamine, even though the teams fought a relatively small amount of times. Since their first appearance, they were one of the most powerful teams in the series, and have been seen burning more spellbooks than any other one. Brago is very quiet and is rarely seen socializing with other mamodos, he is often described as being "strong and cool". He is often seen crossing his arms or sticking them in his pockets. Not much is revealed about his life or personality, other than he resents weakness and especially requiring a human's help to win the demon kingship. However, despite often complaining that Sherry is too weak to help him, he thanks her for all that she has done for him in the final battle. He is extremely strong, often defeating other mamodo teams without even requiring the use of spells; because of his strength, which was gained from undergoing special elite training, many mamodo have come to fear him as one of the strongest. Brago's specialty is Gravity Magic.

Top 5: Guts (Berserk)

Guts (ガッツ Gattsu) , renowned as the "Black Swordsman", is a former mercenary and branded wanderer who travels the world in a constant internal struggle between pursuing his own ends and protecting those dear to him.

At one time driven solely by his will to survive, Guts finds purpose in life upon joining the Band of the Falcon, greatly helping in the faction's storied successes during the Hundred-Year War as captain of the band's raiders. He eventually becomes dissatisfied with clinging on to Griffith's dream, and departs from the band in pursuit of his own. Following the horrors of the Eclipse prompted by Griffith, Guts embarks on a two-year war against the God Hand and apostles, becoming increasingly embittered on his one-track quest for retribution. He in time realizes protecting his regressed lover is more important to him, as well as something he cannot do alone, and thus seemingly abandons his quest for revenge while fostering camaraderie with his new companions. Known for his air of austerity, Guts is a gruff, cynical man holding an overall bleak outlook on life. This is a consequence of enduring waves of suffering and numerous betrayals since his youth, with nearly all highlights of his life having, in time, become lows. In spite of his guarded, brooding exterior, he shows a more easygoing, compassionate side around the people he trusts, appearing markedly less unsociable and distant, though still retaining his dry candidness. Even as his inner darkness festers deep within him and its temptation becomes increasingly harder to resist, he retains his empathy and compassion, refusing to completely discard his humanity.

Top 4: Akemi Homura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Homura Akemi (暁美 ほむら Akemi Homura) is one of the main characters in the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series. Ever since her arrival at Mitakihara Middle School, Homura is immediately depicted as being very intelligent, athletic, distant, and cold. It is revealed in episode four that she is only like this because she has seen so much suffering during her tenure as a magical girl. Because of this, she does not want Madoka Kaname to become a magical girl and tries to do anything in order to stop her from making a wish with Kyubey, going as far as to attempt to injure and even kill the cat-like creature. Despite her cold attitude towards others, she still very much cares for Madoka, as it is her sole objective to protect her due to the countless amount of blood, sweat, and tears she has shed over her jumps in time. Despite being regarded as emotionless by Sayaka Miki, Homura is far from it. Although she does not easily show signs of remorse, sadness, or pity, it is only because she had grown used to the suffering around her, and must put up a strong front to continue fighting for her goal. Homura herself has stated that she always feels badly with each life she's unable to save or alter, but nevertheless, it does not slow her down from staying true to her main objective in saving Madoka Kaname.

Top 3: Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (Bleach)

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (グリムジョー・ジャガージャック, Gurimujō Jagājakku) is an Arrancar and was the Sexta (6th) Espada in Sōsuke Aizen's affiliated army. While appearing to be a laid-back individual, Grimmjow possesses a brutal, impulsive, and excessively violent personality alongside a lethally short temper. However, despite his aggression and obvious blood lust in battle, Grimmjow possesses a feral cunning and has a knack for quickly exploiting any opening his opponent reveals. In addition, he is blunt, sarcastic and quite sadistic, revealing a psychotic grin or laughing maniacally whenever he becomes excited. He is also very rude and quite disrespectful. Grimmjow uses none of the honorifics in the Japanese language, except when addressing Aizen (though he is quick to discard the formality when Aizen is not around), and refers to Orihime Inoue as woman in conversation. Grimmjow displays little respect for authority and says whatever is on his mind, regardless of whether or not it is appropriate. However, he does have some form of a code of honor, as he is unwilling to fight an injured Ichigo, bringing Orihime to heal him beforehand so that their battle will be a fair one, though he also wants to defeat Ichigo when he is at full strength.He also saves Orihime from Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia, who were beating her up, to repay the debt of restoring his arm, though he immediately demands another favor afterwards.

Top 2: Kujo Jotaro (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Jotaro Kujo (空条 承太郎 , Kūjō Jōtarō) is the protagonist of Part 3 and also appears in Parts 4-6. Jotaro is the third and most recurring JoJo of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series.

Jotaro is a delinquent who lives an ordinary life until the Joestar Family's old enemy, DIO, returns. Jotaro travels to Egypt in order to save his mother and stop the Vampire once and for all.

Wielding the incredibly powerful Star Platinum, Jotaro is the first JoJo introduced with a Stand, and is among the most well-known characters of the series. Jotaro is introduced as a rough delinquent, but he has a gentle heart, and is loyal to those he likes. He is highly perceptive, intelligent and quick-witted while keeping a perpetually cool, slightly neutral or disinterested attitude. Jotaro's most noticeable trait is his seemingly aloof nature. He is a quiet individual, often satisfied with expressing himself in short phrases. While he was shown to be mildly anxious when something unanticipated happens, Jotaro almost never goes as far as to lose his cool.

Top 1: Charlotte Katakuri (One Piece)

Charlotte Katakuri ( シャーロット・カタクリ , Shārotto Katakuri) is the second son and third child of the Charlotte Family and the elder triplet brother of Daifuku and Oven. He is also one of the Three Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates and serves as Totto Land's Minister of Flour (粉大臣, Kona Daijin), governing over Komugi Island.

Due to his actions and role, he is the secondary antagonist in the second half of the Whole Cake Island Arc. Katakuri has a very serious, no-nonsense demeanor, caring greatly about his crew and family's objectives. With his heightened Kenbunshoku Haki allowing him to see a little bit into the future and make smart judgement calls, he is dedicated to efficiently dealing with all possible threats within his vicinity, and is thus among the few Charlotte children that can be seen taking action without instructions from Big Mom herself. Katakuri is a pragmatic individual who puts efficiency above almost everything else, to the point of being considered a perfectionist. He rarely brags about his abilities, instead being rather focused on accomplishing his goals as fast as possible, intercepting and defeating his enemies in a quick, effective manner while prioritizing the elimination of threats he perceives as potentially serious, going as far as taking extra steps to ensure they are stopped in case his mother and siblings fail to do so. He is also capable of extreme brutality as shown when he pondered on how he should maim Luffy with his trident. Though ruthless to opponents, he is extremely caring towards his family and subordinates. Katakuri is also a honorable man who dislikes other people interfering with his fights. Though he considers Luffy his enemy and desires to eliminate him personally before he can become a threat, he wishes to defeat him fairly. After discovering that Flampe was the one attacking Luffy and lowering his performance in the fight, Katakuri injured himself in the same spot he injured Luffy to compensate and angrily shouted at Flampe for interfering in his fight.

[cartoonfangirl1218]

BTS Inspiration of Winner’s Curse

I know not many people read my descendants fic, but hey it’s my Bday tomorrow and I feel like revealing some of the inspiration for it. This world building was actually what inspired me to start writing it down. Originally it was going to be from the POV of a Vk, and explore all the dynamics of the “new” Isle under the Coven of 13, and get into the motivations of each but as you can see that did not happen. I was intrigued by the idea of exploring a “sidekick” trying to be the hero and all that. Other notes are

Circe was originally going to be the mother of Malik, after having a fling with Mozonroth when she got sent to the Isle. Decided it was too much drama and discarded that.

There was going to be more focus on the power struggles between the mercenaries, the Coven and the authority figures. Was going to reveal Uma and Freddie to be siblings. Ended up sidelining Freddie.

Gaston’s daughter, Cosette, was going to have a role, becoming closer with Gil.

Atlantis characters were going to be part of the main group. As well as Black Cauldron characters. Also discarded.

Was going to redeem Drizella because I heard the original plans for Cinderella III was going to be Drizella redemption but they changed so they could give more development to Anastasia. So I decided I was going to do it. Dizzy would have been given more of a role.

Hans was going to be revealed as the cruelest villain. (Yeah I was going to make him a twist villain again. Be glad I did not).

Nasira and Mozonroth were going to be lovers before I decided on mother and son.

Diego and Ivy De’Vil would have had more a role.

Hercules characters would have had more a role. Including the Muses.

Ben would have had more a role somehow.

And that‘s about it.

But some things I am proud of in Winner’s Curse. Passing the Bedchel test.

A POC majority cast (This was completely unintentional but now I see it and counting it out, there’s four Agrabians, two WOC, and three European. Though I’ll admit I have not given Harry, Calix and Gil as much spotlight as I should. So my bad. But does Greek count as a white Euro? Idk, point is, unintentional diversity. Woo)

There‘s only two romances. Both are interracial. Also unintentional. Uma and Harry are totally together. And Aziz and Lala’s burgeoning crushes that will not end in a kiss after the final battle because it’s not important. Oh well. Attempts to explore PTSD, abuse, sexual assault and poverty.

The emphasis on family and friendship between characters.

Exploring the negative side of Auradon including it’s classist system, the Magic Ban, and the Euro-countries getting more resources and riches compared to the likes of Kuzcotopia and Atlantis and Atlantica,

Psychological studies(ish) and more character exploration.

Jay faces his dad!

Hook siblings!

Getting to mention tie ins to the Aladdin animated series, Legend of Tarzan animated series, Hercules animated series, Ariel‘s Beginning and soon Disney fairies books. And adding those characters.

That I finished 20 chapters! This is my longest fic ever! And just ten more chapters to go! I’ll get there.

Coven of 13: Villains dedicated to using their old magic to take over Auradon and be restored to their glory days once more. However they all have conflicting wishes with what the final plan should be.

Maleficent: Since being “overthrown” as queen of the Isle. Maleficent had to settle herself with working with others until she can be mistress of all evil again. Is in a constant battle for dominance with Queen Nerissa, Ursula, Mozenrath and Jafar.

(Evil) Queen Grimhilde: Though she may be pre-occupied by her looks and seem to be passive, Grimhilde is secretly gunning for complete control of the Isle and Auradon when they invade. She feels there should be a new queen that doesn’t get into such petty tantrums as Maleficent. Queen Nerissa: Queen Nerissa is the unofficial leader of the coven since it was her idea but it is impossible to convince the others of that. She wishes to get her ultimate revenge on Giselle, Edgar and the rest of Auradon by becoming the tyrant.

Ursula: Ursula is smartly setting her sights on just ruling Atlantica. Unless she gets bored. Then she might expande her pool of options. She mainly just wants to stick it to King Triton and when it comes to execution time. She isn’t going to make the mistake of keeping his soul, she wants to destroy it. Mother of Uma.

Circe: Very bitter about ending up on the Isle even after Helen of Troy vouched for her to stay in Auradon. So to say that she wants to crush Adam to the bone is understatement. She wants him to grovel. And if she can find that one good man while she’s at it, that would be a plus. Mother of Calix.

Mother Gothel: Though she has an intense rivalry with Grimhilde since day one about hoarding the scarce beauty products available on the Isle, she is her closest supporter now when it comes to finding magic for revenge and curing wrinkly skin. She is the mother of Ginny who she doesn’t dote on nearly as much as she did with Rapunzel.

Yzma: She wants Kuzcotopia and she will do anything and everything to get it even if it means teaming up with a bunch of “old hags” (yes pot calling kettle). Still remains overdramatic and delusional. Has a semi-dependent abusive relationship with her children Zevon and Yzla.

Morgaine Le Fey: Morgaine Le Fey, like Grimhilde, is quiet when it comes to group work but she is always observing for everyone else’s weaknesses and flaws that she will undoubtedly exploit when she becomes Queen of Camelot. Mother of Morrían.

Nasira: Sister to Jafar and mother of Jade and Mozonroth. She isn't nearly as enthusiastic about ruling Agrabah as her brother and Mozonroth are but she is just in it to get revenge on the stinking alley rat, Aladdin.

Queen La: Without her staff, her kingdom or leopard-man army, La has resorted to her Atlantean priestess magic again in hopes of getting off the Isle and reclaiming her staff. Still delusional, still lustful and hates having to depend on the rest of these people. Mother of Ranavalalona.

Jafar: Wishes to rule Agrabah and execute the royal family that “mistreated’ and “disrespected” him so much. Is in a constant battle with Mozonroth on the fact that he is the best sorcerer and will be ruler of Agrabah when they take over. Mozonroth: Finds Jafar to be a blowhard and believes that since he already took over the Black Sands and overthrew his former mentor that he should be doing far better plots. But with the Isle’s Magic Ban, he has to go with what he has. Besides that he would like to give his half-brother, Aladdin, a taste of “brotherly love” when he puts him in a headlock to crack his skull. Father to Malik and Imran Abbas.

Dr. Facilier: Like Ursula, Dr. Facilier smartly works on the fringes, setting his sights small on the Bayou before ruling the rest of Auradon. Father of Freddie and Celia.

All-Powerful Quartet: Generally speaking, if any villain was going to be taking over Auradon, it would be these 4. But due to their all-powerful status, they’d rather not exert themselves to do such menial tasks when they have other things to do.

Mirage: Evil Incarnate. So she does get to go off-Isle to maintain some balance of good and evil in the universe but generally enjoys the place. There is just so much evil and chaos everywhere and she glories in it. Mother of Illusion and Chimera.

Chernabog: Since being put on the Isle, Chernabog remains asleep on the mountain, waiting for his day to rise again.

Horned King: Without his deathless army, the Horned King remains in his cave, slowly wasting away. Mainly convenes with Hades.

Hades: God of the Underworld. So yeah, he has a full time job to do.

Mercenaries: The muscle behind the Coven, these are people who can’t adjust to domestic life, more 20th century living and miss the thrill of a fight. They deal with the dirtier deeds of murder and treason. The big boss (literal mob boss) is Sykes who rents their services out.

Sykes: Mob boss. Basically owner of the unofficially named, “Mercenary for Hire.” He never gets his own hands dirty but he has plenty of people who will do it for him. He keeps his people in line with his files of blackmail he has stocked up.

Clayton: Desperately misses the thrill of the hunt and more modern conveniences like a well-polish gun with enough ammo to shoot all these thieves to hell. Has a coworkers- with-benefits relationship with Helga. Father of Clay.

Rourke: Since being screwed over by magic, Rourke has kept a very rigid condition that he will only deal with non-magical situations. Still maintains his treasure-seeking ways and often pilfers from Jafar’s shop.

Helga Sinclair: One of the most intimidating humans on the Isle and of the mercenaries in general. She is known for her efficiency in work, stoic demeanor and same condition to her jobs as Rourke, no magic.

Muviro: Finds mercenary life to be very suitable since being exiled from his tribe. He does it less so for the money but for the glory and bloodlust. Father of Renavalalona.

Lady Caine: Self-proclaimed, “Queen of Thieves” and pirate extradonier. She is Captain Hook’s only real competition on the piracy front leaving a lot of punch-punch kiss tension between them. Many suspect that she is CJ’s bio mom since they share the same manipulativeness, “devil may care” attitude and self-centeredness. However she has no time for any child-rearing, and leaves James to do whatever neglectful work.

Gaston: Another mercenary that does it for the glory rather than the money. He needs something to do since his hunting days are over. Unfortunately he has not won a lot of admirers on the Isle for his chauvinistic attitude (Bad move considering that many of the women have actual powers). Father of Gaston Jr. Gaston the Second, Gil, Gaston (IV) the Great and Cosette.

Shan Yu: Finds himself very low being part of a mercenary gang instead of invading foreign countries. But it does provide some thrill that he can work on his own and make his homicides as bloody as he wants them to be.

Sa’Luk: Former “King of the Thieves,” Sa’Luk uses his mercenary work to get rid of his excess energy and anger towards his enemies. He joins Rourke in pilfering from Jafar’s shops and has a penchant for shiny gold trinkets.

Lt. Col. Jean Staquait: Former French officer and best to hire when you need someone to torture prisoners.

Authority Figures: Villains who are used to have some amount of power in more domestic/civilian pursuits. Pretty much like big corporations that constantly drain the other villains of cash, small trinkets, food and whatever other valuables are on the Isle.

Queen Saleen: One of the most malevolent mermaid, well only mermaid on the Isle. She spends most of her time in the Isle’s waters, avoiding the annoying two legged people. She is often in some sort of feud with Ursula.

Lady Tremaine: Guardian to Anthony Tremaine. Lady is getting on with her years and remains more or less infirmed in her house with a dozen grandchildren. She runs her house with an iron fist and is the most vocal on the Isle in support of child labor. She misses her days of richness and convenes with other elder women about how low they have fallen.

Medusa: Just like she did before the Isle, Medusa owns a pawn shop that is on a constant losing streak to Jafar’s so she has opened a small casino next to it too. She rather delusionally considers herself to be an entrepreneur and tries to work with those higher up in the social ladder to get more money herself.

Cruella De’Vil: While she spends most of her time tending to her furs and car and drinking, when she is sober she tries her hand at fashion design as in the olden days. She works closely with Lady Tremaine and Medusa.

Prince Hans: More or less the least-adjusted to the Isle with his loss of kingdom, servants and anyone gullible enough to believe his lies or manipulations. He is in close cahoots with Mozenrath and bought Drizella as his mistress. Father to Lars, his only son and heir since Stalyan refuses to ruin her figure again.

Sheriff of Nottingham: Serves as the Isle’s one man police force and a sucky job at that as he lets his henchmen squad do most of the work while he serves as trial judge and executioner with the Queen of Hearts: She works a bit on the judicial system, mainly the one who suggests the executions. She can also be found bringing most of the cases to court against henchmen who have wronged her or disobeyed her Tea Shop’s rules.

Captain Hook: The sole owner and commander of the coasts of the Isle while Ursula controls its seas. He is still as obsessive as ever about Peter Pan, his hand and crocodiles and can be found frequenting bars and other brawling areas on the Isle where his hook serves as a nasty weapon. Father of Harriet, Harry and CJ.

Gov. Ratcliff: The only one on the Isle that deals with paperwork. Sort of a treasurer of sorts. Not so much in organizing it but guarding it with his life and spends his time staring longingly at the piles wishing it were genuine gold than copper coins. Claude Frollo: Father of Claudine. Maintains his strict preaching and inflaming others against sin and towards prejudice. But he also tends to lose his inhibitions more and is a regular at the brothels of the Isle late at night. No woman has replaced his lust for Esmeralda though. Claudette seems to becoming close to that though.

Stalyan: Hans’ wife and Lady Caine’s part-time lover which drives Prince Hans crazy. She has her eyes on one thing and one thing only, money and bad boys that make her look good. She has no real ambitions of her own and depends on her father, the Baron, to give her what she wants. Mother of Lars.

Regular Citizens: Citizens that hold no sort of power and are pretty much everyone’s punching bags.

Morgana: Morgana would have been put part of the coven, but her sister, Ursula forbade it. Besides everyone knows that Ursula is far more powerful and talented than her sister. Instead Morgana is blackballed from any real position of respect and takes care of Ursula’s restaurant when she is away.

Marina Del Ray: Since losing her job to Sebastian she has become the Madam of the Isle’s seaside brothels, using the money to spiffy up her gaudy wardrobe.

The Bimbettes: Claudette (red dress) used to be Gaston’s gf but left him after he tried to “throw away” their daughter, Cosette, to try for a boy. She has since then been seen with the likes of Prince Hans, Mozenrath and Frollo. Laurette (yellow dress), the mother of Gastons 1-3 is Gaston’s favorite. Paulette (green dress), Gaston’s official wife is more or less his servant/punching bag and mother to Gil.

Drizella Tremaine: Since she couldn’t be married to Prince Hans, she has settled for being his mistress whenever he and Stalyan have a fight. A thankless position since she regularly bends over (literally and metaphorically) to his will and gets discarded like trash every time.

Lefou and Smee: Live together and own a kinda profitable gun and fishing shack. By far the best parents on the Isle due to their goofy more sympathetic natures.

Jasper and Horace: Still devoted henchmen of Cruella, they serve as secretaries, gophers and all manner of assistance to her. Fathers to Jace and Harold.

Ivy De’Vil: Mother of Diego, is the brains behind Cruella’s beauty designs since she isn’t drunk all the time. Can be considered one of the better mothers on the Isle.

Animals: No explanation needed

Scar, Zira, Shere Khan, Sabor, Benzai, Ed and Shenzi, Tublat, Hista

Couples: Captain Hook and Lady Caine (fight-hate sex rivalry. Child- CJ)

Lady Caine and Stalyan (with-benefits)

Stalyan and Prince Hans (Married. Child- Lars)

Prince Hans and Drizella (affair, possibly Dizzy?)

Mozenrath and Hans (Hans swears it was an accident. Or he was too drunk. Or it was magic)

Lady Caine and Hans (Revenge against Stalyan)

Queen Grimhilde and Prince Hans (One night stand)

Ursula and Dr. Facilier (fling, potentially Freddie and Uma)

Frollo and Claudette (with-benefits)

Gaston and Laurette (Affair/borderline married. Children- Gaston Jr. Gaston the Second, Gaston (IV) the Great)

Gaston and Paulette (Married. Child- Gil)

Lefou and Paulette (Lefou deux, drunken night of pity sex because Gaston’s treatment of them)

Smee and Lefou (Couple. Adopted Sammy)

Ivy De’Vil and Frollo (One night stand. Child-Diego)

Mozonroth and Morgaine Le Fey (Fling)

Clayton and Helga Sinclair (co-workers with benefits)

Queen La and Muviro (Married and dumped. Children- Ranavalalona. Musala, Taytu Betuvira, and unnamed, deceased)

Queen La and Clayton (Fling- Leopold, deceased)

Queen La and Gaston (Fling. Children-Amina and Shaka, deceased)

Queen La and Rourke (Fling. Child- Euware, deceased)

Queen La and Mozonroth (Fling. Child-Sarounia, deceased)

Shan Yu and Sa’Luk (Once- There’s no straight men in the trenches)

[lavenderafro]

White America overlooks Black women until White America NEEDS something. And after they get it, rest assured, Black women will be discarded yet again.

Black women are overlooked and regulated to the back burner until White America says, “Look, White People, it’s a bird, it’s a plane. No! It’s a Black Woman coming to save us!”

Let me be clear…Black Women Do Not Owe This World Shit!

NOT. ONE.THING.

It takes a lot of White audacity even to ask a Black woman to step up and save this nation. 

This nation that enslaved Black woman. 

This nation that raped Black women. 

This nation that committed medical malpractice against Black women. 

This nation that mutilated Black women. 

This nation that murdered our husbands. 

This nation that kills our children with impunity. 

This nation that co-opts anything a Black woman does and pawns it off as their own. 

This nation that ridicules Black women. 

This nation that mocks our appearance.

 This nation that despises our hair.

This nation that called us “crack mommas” and didn’t give a damn about giving us treatment. 

This nation that labels us, “The Angry Black Woman” for having the nerve to have feelings. 

This nation that refuses to pay Black women our worth. 

This nation that incarcerates Black women at an alarming rate. 

This nation that overlooks the medical needs of Black women. 

This nation that continuously turns its back on Black women.

And still, this nation has the unmitigated gall, the White audacity to ask Black women to save it from itself. Right after spitting in our faces election after election.

Not today! And tomorrow aint looking good either!

Black women have paid our dues in blood.

Black women are tired of cleaning up your messes!

Black women will no longer let you suck at the bosom of our brilliance.

Black women are not this nation’s mammy. Our titties are tired!

If you want to save this nation, take a long hard look in the mirror. Do not ask us to save you.

Stop asking Black women to swoop in and save this nation. Black women only make this look easy. We are tired. Overworked. Underpaid and highly disrespected. 

This world treats Black Women like an ATM always coming to us for withdrawals and very rarely if ever depositing anything of any value back into who we are. 

We aren’t playing wetnurse because of mistakes y’all made. 

Here is a thought, support Black Women doing whatever the hell Black Women want to do and in turn that will bless this nation. 

That’s the part this nation fails to see; when Black women rise, EVERYONE rises!

But that’s too radical of a thought, huh?

[alarickane]

Life is not a love song, we can try

The holidays were supposed to be a time for family and yet Alaric had been avoiding his family even before the holiday season fully settled in, happy parents holding hands and window shopping for their children while Alaric dodged all inquiries and invitations that he could from his own parents.

They'd wanted to know who he was going to the Yule Ball with and he'd prevaricated, insisting he wasn't sure if he'd be going and questioning if a date would be appropriate considering Gisela's death. Basically, he'd lied through his teeth while smiling at his mother because he knew that if he told the woman that he had a date with a muggleborn girl, a girl he was in a relationship with, that it wouldn't go over well. He remembered the way they reacted to Dirk, after all, and he didn't want the list of politely suggested pureblood women to turn into something else like a short list of future brides.

When Christmas grew closer, there were owls. A lot of them. Eloquent missives from his mother asking about his plans and if he'd be joining them, how work was going, and wanting to know how much time he'd have away. Really, his mum nearly wrote his excuse for him that time, making it easy for Alaric to claim that work was busy, there was a large order that had been destroyed and needed to be dealt with, that he wouldn't be able to make it home and sent both his parents his best like it would really have been difficult to step through the floo for an evening to see them.

That was just another thing that was politely ignored.

Of course, Alaric's parents weren't fools and there was only so long he could avoid them... which was better than Ari, at least, because Alaric had never managed to avoid them. He usually didn't want to, but it seemed that the older they became, the fewer opinions they held that remained the same.

You need to come home

it was his father's bold script and short, no nonsense manner, the one that said there were certain things that Avery men did and certain things they did not. Alaric knew that tone and knew he was going home.

December 28th, 2pm.

The letter arrived the day after Christmas and that didn't seem like enough time to prepare for facing his parents, but it was enough time for him to begin to panic about what they could know. It could be something innocent, it could have been about Ari's time being questioned by the Ministry, it could be that something had happened to his aunt in Azkaban, it didn't necessarily have anything to do with the fact he kissed a girl in Hogsmeade after Halloween, that he let her stay with him after her roommate disappeared and that she was his date to the Yule ball.

Maybe it didn't have anything with the fact he loved her.

Getting ready to go back to his childhood home and see his parents felt akin to slipping on an old skin, dressing himself in layers of propriety and perhaps shame that he'd slowly been discarding since... well, since the first time he'd met Pandora, hadn't it been?

Although he couldn't give Pandora all the credit, talking to Dirk had helped him as well and that was another thing his parents likely wouldn't take well to. They'd warned him about Dirk's influence last time and told him what they thought about his 'proclivities', after all, hadn't they?

"Alaric."

It was his mother that greeted him first after one of the house elves showed him into the study, one of the poor thing's ears looking blackened, charred as if by the fire in the grate and Alaric wondered almost absently what the creature had done to provoke enough ire for that. Maybe the silver hadn't been polished properly.

They approached each other just enough that they could take hold of each other's elbows, exchanging air kisses as the smell of her perfume made him think of dying flowers left over from a funeral decaying upon a gravestone. Her dress was dark, a burgundy reminiscent of wine and she was clearly in good health, so he hadn't been called because anything was wrong with her, and the fact neither of his parents were in black led him to believe his aunt hadn't been given the kiss, either. Not that she would have been dead, just soulless, which really had already been a subject for debate.

"Hello, mum," He said in response before turning to his father. Nothing but a handshake there, but that's how things had been for years. Since leaving for Hogwarts, probably, so it didn't really matter and it wasn't unexpected, but it did help remind him of how casually affectionate he'd become with people lately. He'd hugged Delilah that last time he'd seen her and could probably get away with hugging Gil, too.

Actually, it was Gil, so cheek kisses might be acceptable, too.

"What was so urgent?" He said it with a mild tone of concern and a look of puzzlement, but if he was concerned about anything, it wasn't for how his parents were doing. He wanted to think they'd summoned him there because of Ari, but Alaric couldn't really bring himself to believe that. The idea of Ari needing someone else to help look out for them seemed too far fetched and if they needed a lawyer or an alibi, his parents wouldn't be going to him.

"Son, sit down." His father said as he sat down and steepled his fingers, and oh, that wasn't good. That serious 'you're in trouble' stuff and Alaric's jaw tensed as he bit back the instinctual 'yes, sir' and sat down.

"We know you've lied to us." The man started, his tone dripping in disapproval.

Well, bless his father for never beating around the bush.

"You've been seen repeatedly with a blonde woman that we've been told works for the Quibbler." The man's lip curled as if the word itself was distasteful and Alaric was aware of the reputation the Quibbler had, but that didn't mean Pandora wasn't good at what she did. "And who is muggleborn."

And there it was, the real issue they had. It wasn't about her job or her name or where she was from, but her blood. It always seemed to come back down to blood in families like his and as Alaric remembered the worry that had choked him when he first told Pandora about his family, he felt a sort of distant anger prickle at his skin. "I'm sure I've been around several women that are blonde. As for muggleborn, it's not a habit of mine to check their blood status." He responded as neutrally as he could, mentally recalling every blonde that he'd spoken to recently before adding on as an afterthought, "I don't check their occupation, either."

How the hell did they know Pandora was a muggleborn, anyway? Some blasted Ministry contact, most likely. But not Ari. He hoped not Ari.

"Lies, Alaric. You took this woman to the ball."

"Mother wanted me to attend," Alaric countered, stubbornly defiant in a way his parents likely thought he'd grown out of it. It was almost nice in a way to prove them wrong, even as his stomach churned anxiously, their disappointment running over him like an oil slick.

"You're not going to use her name?" He asked, letting out a disbelieving huff before shaking his head, hair falling in his eyes. "You seem to know everything else about this woman, don't you know that?"

His father's lips thinned, anger flashing in his eyes, but it was his mother that spoke next. "And what are your intentions towards Miss Kane?"

Oddly enough, it was his mother's ire that he feared more than his father's, her cold precision and cool manners more intimidating and Alaric swallowed back the first thought to come into his head. To court her. It was the truth, he wanted to make sure that Pandora felt special and important and not like entertainment on the side that didn't measure up to other options his family would approve of. To love her. Well, he'd found himself doing that without much thought on his part, hadn't he? Besides, it wasn't like love was something that mattered to his parents. He'd loved Dirk and they rewarded him for that by arranging his marriage to Gisela.

Lowering his head, Alaric noticed a scuff mark on one of his boots and knew what his parents wanted to hear. Nothing, he didn't have any intentions towards Pandora, just like they didn't have any regard or respect for her at all. They accused him of lying to them before, but that felt like the ultimate lie and Alaric couldn't bring himself to say it, didn't want to. He didn't want to disrespect Pandora or his feelings for her lie that and besides, he's promised her better.

The fall out from Dirk had taught him better.

"I'm... not really sure," Alaric finally said slowly, lifting his eyes and wondering where Ari was, why they weren't present. It was probably a good thing they weren't, but he thought of them anyway, of the way they'd always fearlessly announced their decisions and who they were. Their parents may not have always understood or initially approved of Ari, but it always seemed like they were proud of them in the end. They certainly weren't going to approve of what Alaric was doing and they weren't going to be proud, but that was fine. They weren't the ones that Alaric wanted to be proud of him anymore.

Instead, Pandora was, and Dirk, too. And maybe even Gil, who'd grinned at him so brilliantly at the ball while showing off his engagement ring and mentioning Pandora. He couldn't let them down.

"But I know this much. I know she matters to me and that I don't care where she works or what her blood status is."

His mother's laugh was harsh as she leaned back in her chair, settling herself in while Alaric's father stood up, circling around to grab a glass. Scotch, of course. The only thing a real Avery would drink, and Alaric only watched his father long enough to determine his path before returning his gaze to his mother, ignoring the sound of glass on wood.

"Foolish boy," His mother chided. "You said the same thing about that Cresswell man, didn't you?"

Mentioning Dirk felt like a low blow, but it was true and Alaric knew that was something he had to live with, prompting him to lift his chin up and push his shoulders back, readying himself to have painful, shameful memories pulled back up. "Yes, I did." He said.

And I shouldn't have failed him, he thought.

"Good," His mother said, throwing Alaric. He hadn't expected her to be pleased, of all things. "Then we'll handle this situation the same as last time. You'll end this ridiculous dalliance and we'll find you a proper match, but we might need to do something to discredit this girl first. We'll find someone better this time - It can even be another blonde, if that's to your tastes, I think the Greengrass family has a child around your age..."

It was happening again, like someone had set a record on to play and it was finally starting to repeat. It felt like the bottom of Alaric's stomach had dropped out, his skin cold despite the fire in the room and Alaric's chest felt tight like there was a metal band restricting his breathing. Once again his mother was detailing his life while his father sipped and scotch and nodded, like she was handling some minor inconvenience to him that he didn't really care about and was only waiting to sign off on, like party expenses or house elf replacement or something like that. This was his life, they shouldn't do that.

"No." It came out quietly and not entirely evenly, something that Alaric soon realized and he cleared his throat before repeating. "No. I'm not going to do that."

"No?" His mother repeated, the word admittedly not one he said to either parent much and the sound of it had caused her to instantly shut up. "And just what do you think you're going to do instead?"

Standing up, Alaric glanced over at the scotch with a sense of longing before sighing. "I don't know, but you're not going to try marrying me off again. It made me miserable and besides, you're already getting a perfect marriage out of Ari. Leave me out of it."

His mother stood up as well, the distance closing between them as she stalked forward on tiny spike heels and glared, pink dots on her cheeks. "Excuse me?" She said, dangerously quiet and still completely polite, his father watching them with interest in the background. "Do you really want to disappoint us again, Alaric? Do you want to bring shame to our name? I won't let you do it, you're not bringing our family down for some illicit affair with a muggleborn. You'll either find a proper girl to marry or you will no longer be part of this family."

The shaking feeling was back, but he didn’t know if it was from anger or fear as he thought about the future his parents wanted before thinking with unwavering certainty, If I'm marrying anyone, it's Panda. "Fine." He said. "Then do it. Disown me. Burn me from the family tree because I don't want to be your ideal son anymore."

He saw it coming, but Alaric did nothing to stop it as his mother's hand flew through the air and slapped him across the face, the stinging sensation swift and sharp. It wasn't the first time she'd done it, there was a reason Alaric didn't like people reaching for his face, but it would likely be the last time.

"You've never been an ideal son." His mother hissed, and it was only at that point that Alaric realized his father stood up.

"And now I'm not a son at all," Alaric reassured her, turning away and going for the fireplace instead of the door that would take him out of the front. The chair on the mantle had held floo powder for as long as he could remember and it still did as he lifted off the lid and took some in his fingers. "Make sure to tell Ari they're an only child now, won't you?"

Not waiting for their response, Alaric tossed the floo powder into the fire and stepped in, yelling "Diagon Alley."

If he was lucky, his parents would thinking he was bluffing or they actually would get in touch with Ari in an attempt to make him change his mind. It didn't really matter what they did to Alaric as long as it bought him a little bit of time. He knew they would follow through on their threat eventually and disown him, but before they did, he planned on making it to Gringotts and getting as much money out of the family accounts as he could.

And after that, he was going to buy a damned engagement ring.

[robotclownery]

I've seen black panther getting a lot of backlash recently after its best picture nomination with people saying it didn't deserve it and that it was overrated etc. but even if you think it's not the best marvel movie or even if you personally didn't like it, it is super disrespectful to just discard it as another marvel cash grab!

Don't just ignore the impact it had as marvel's first almost entirely black superhero movie directed by a black man that also tackles the negative effects of collonialism from a black perspective and the positive influence this movie has for black kids that now can finally look up to superheros they can relate to! It also had a balanced number of male and female characters in its main cast and an elite warrior group that consisted of only women!

This is just a stupid white girl talking here, but if you can support love simon and crazy rich asians for gay teens and asian main characters in mainstream media, then you can sure as hell defend black panther

[whitetrashphilosopher-blog]

Who virgin thoughts 1:4

Ask and you shall receive! My man Mickey is back!

He’s so awesome. He spent twelve months researching the Doctor with precious little information to go on and searching street corners for blue boxes all to find the woman he loves while his community turned on him. But that unfortunately brings me to the big problem with this episode… Sigh.

Look, this episode is leagues better than the Unquiet Dead, and not just because that episode sucked. This episode was good. It was interesting, creative and funny. The opening sequence was clever and dramatic. But… Let’s just get the bad stuff out of the way so we can focus on the good.

The Doctor is a prick. There, I said it. Mickey did nothing wrong. He has throughout both of the episodes he has been on so far, demonstrated that he is a very clever, compassionate and competent person. Yet, the Doctor treats him with nothing but derision and disrespect. Why?! Mickey didn’t do anything wrong! The Doctor refuses to even show him the barest minimum of respect you would show any stranger and use his proper name! Mickey was questioned concerning Rose’s disappearance five times. Five times! I’m not from the UK, I’m an American. I don’t know how things work over there. But here, a white woman going missing with a black man as the main suspect is a recipe for a lynching. Look, I believe the Doctor made an honest mistake when he brought Rose back a year late (or the TARDIS has a mind of its own and wanted the Doctor there to prevent the invasion, but I’ll get to that) however, you would think the least he could do after everything Mickey went through would be, I don’t know, a Goddamned apology, or at the very least, using his correct name! Is that really such a tall order?!

I have a lot more to say about Mickey's mistreatment, but I really don't like negativity, and I actually enjoyed this episode, so I'm going to move on to positives.

So, that opening sequence. I loved it. It was brilliantly crafted. The sound design was especially incredible. The background music put you on edge, but was still very subtle, so you got that sensation of being uncomfortable but not really knowing why. The emptiness of the street and hall was another factor that went unnoticed by the surface brain but still set the audience (me) on edge. But the true MVP of the scene was the actress who played Jackie Tyler.

Heh. That was enjoyable.

Jackie looks like a ghost haunting her own home in her first scene. It's clear the disappearance of her daughter has had a profound effect on her. Her shock and amazement are brilliantly portrayed. The actress also does an incredible job of balancing Jackie's relief to have her daughter returned to her and her frustration with that same daughter's odd behavior.

It's clear that Jackie loves her daughter more than anything on Earth. Based on the stacks of posters on her kitchen table we can assume Jackie has spent the last year searching for Rose the more conventional way (as she has no knowledge of the unconventional nature of Rose's disappearance) just as Mickey spent the last year searching for Rose by trying to find the Doctor.

What I love about this episode is how two characters that would be severely underdeveloped in a lesser drama, Rose's mom and boyfriend, are fleshed out and given great personalities here. Instead of being elevated pieces of scenery, given little thought and quickly discarded, Jackie and Mickey are very likeable, persistent, devoted and loving people, which comes through in their actions and dialogue. In a weaker show I would probably be rolling my eyes at Rose's family, thinking she should ditch them and just hang out with her new time traveling alien buddy for the foreseeable future. But instead I completely understand why Rose missed her mother in The End of the World and was so eager to see her in this episode. The two women have a very healthy and loving relationship that I greatly admire.

Oh yeah, this episode also has a plot.

One thing (of many) I really liked about this episode was that even though it's a two-parter that ended on a cliffhanger there was still a satisfying payoff within the episode. I hate TV episodes that are all build up with no payoff. I'm not asking for everything to be resolved by the time the credits roll, nor do I think that would even be a good thing, but if I'm going to give you an hour of my time you damn well better resolve at least one plotline. Give me some kind of satisfaction.

This episode is a brilliant example of how to create an enjoyable first half to a two-part episode. Is everything explained at the end of the episode? No. But we know the origin and reason for the spaceship crash. We know who the real threat is (not everything about them, but the basics, which is enough) and why they took the actions they did. All of these were satisfying resolutions that upped my anticipation for the resolutions that are sure to follow.

I thought the plot twist was really very clever. Gathering all the alien experts in the world to assassinate them isn't a bad first step for an invasion. I also immensely enjoyed the portrayal of the aliens. They looked like they were enjoying the hell out of their coup and it must have been infectious, because I enjoyed it too. These characters seemed exactly like the types to doll up a pig and call it a day when creating a fake alien and I love it. Rarely do you see alien invaders giggling and smiling at their comrades. Usually we get dour somber invaders. I much prefer these guys. If we're going to be conquered let's at least be conquered by someone with a sense of fun.

Yes, you are, and I support you.

My final observation before I wrap up this overly long post I had to rewrite half of becuase Tumblr mobile shut down while I was writing it 🙄. This marks the second time the Doctor landed the Tardis at a different time (or location) than he was aiming for. One might be tempted to chalk this up to the Doctor being a shitty driver, but I choose to believe the Tardis takes him to these places on purpose so the Doctor can prevent the catastrophes that nearly occurred at each one. I don't actually know anything about what the Tardis is or how it works though other than stuff I've read on Tumblr (Yeah I'm spoiling the hell out of this show for myself. I can't help it.) so take my theories with a grain of salt.

[whereareroo]

R E S P E C T

WF THOUGHTS (9/30/20).

At the risk of vomiting, and simultaneously causing gastric distress for you, I feel compelled to say something about the presidential event that occurred last night. I refuse to call it a debate. It wasn't a debate.

Based upon the event, I have nothing to say about any policy issues. Why not? There wasn't any real discussion of policy. The moderator, Chris Wallace, desperately and ineffectively tried to steer the discussion towards policy. Joe Biden was clearly interested in discussing policy. Unfortunately, the event was hijacked by Donald Trump. Trump's disgraceful behavior blocked any real policy discussion and turned the event into an embarrassing circus.

I think the debate was valuable anyway. We had yet another opportunity, just a few weeks before the election, to evaluate the candidates on a personal basis. What kind of men are they? Are they normal? It was glaringly obvious that these two men are very, very different people.

Before launching into our evaluation of these candidates, let's talk about respect. It's a good place to start.

We all know what the word "respect" means. For normal people, it's not a foreign concept. For good reason, normal people respect various people and various institutions.

But why do normal people respect people and institutions? Because normal people value those people and institutions. They recognize the importance of the people and institutions. They understand that the people and institutions play a worthy role in society.

Last night, once again, Donald Trump showed the world that he is incapable of respecting anyone or anything. At a minimum, it is a very serious character flaw. It might be a bigger issue. It could be that Trump suffers from a deep psychological problem. Experts have spoken about his narcissism, paranoia, and stunted emotional maturity. My guess is that he suffers from a combination of all three. He certainly isn't a normal, well adjusted, person.

Why is it impossible for Trump to respect anybody or anything? Because he doesn't value anything but himself. If you don't value anything, you can't respect anything. That's Trump. We all saw his derangement, on full display, for 90 minutes.

Do you think that 90 minute test was too short or otherwise inconclusive? Do you need additional evidence before you conclude that Trump has a sick mind? Let's take a quick look at a few examples from Trump's history:

▪ When Trump first started working with his father, neither man placed any value on Blacks or other minorities. In their book, only Whites mattered. To Trump, Blacks and minorities weren't even people. Trump showed his disrespect for Blacks by banning them from his housing projects. Trump was sued for violating housing discrimination laws, and he settled those cases to avoid being labelled a racist by the press. Over the years, his racism has become increasingly obvious. Last night, once again, he refused to denounce White Supremacy. How sick is that? What does that say about the man's values and his ability to be respectful?

▪When Trump announced his presidential candidacy, in his very first speech he showed his disrespect for immigrants and migrants. To him, they have no value as humans. He said that, "except for a few good ones," all immigrants and migrants were criminals, or rapists or gang members. Trump's aides have reported that he was very, very happy about the program to hold immigrant children in cages.

▪Trump has repeatedly, and frequently, shown his total lack of respect for women. Except to provide amusement, Trump doesn't think that women have any value. They are toys to be used and discarded when Trump is no longer amused. That explains Trumps multiple marriages. It also explains the dozens of "groping" complaints. He feels free to exploit women because, in his mind, they're without value. In Trump's mind, women are not worthy of respect. (Don't try to tell me that Trump "respects" Ivanka. That's hogwash. He views her as one of his creations. He believes, and he's probably correct, that she'd be nothing without him. She's a prop. He exploits her to improve his brand. That's not respect.)

▪ In his construction ventures, Trump was notorious for stiffing his workers. He did not respect them or their work. Trump places no value on "little people." He treated workers like trash.

▪The free press is a bedrock institution in America. Because Trump only values things that he can control, he places no value on the free press. Thus, he has no respect for members of the press or their work. Everything is "fake news." (To Trump, the only real news is the stuff that's favorable to Trump.)

▪A White House aide, who sat on the Coronavirus Task Force, recently revealed an anecdote that tells you everything you need to know about Trump. At a Task Force meeting, Trump said that he was happy about the Coronavirus because he now had an excuse to avoid shaking hands with the "disgusting people" at his rallies. Yes, he called his supporters "disgusting people." He doesn't see them as humans. They are simply creatures that he needs to exploit to achieve his goals. That's Trump in a nutshell.

I could keep adding to this list, but you probably got my point. Over and over again, Trump has proven that he doesn't respect anything or anyone because, except for himself, he doesn't value anything or anyone. He has a sick outlook on life.

Like them or not, the Presidential Debates are an important part of our electoral process. In our democracy, American voters have the right to be informed. The purpose of the debates is to inform the voters. Traditionally, the candidates use the events to explain and debate their policy positions. Since the election of 1976, the Presidential Debates have been part of our political landscape. The League of Women Voters ran the debates in 1976, 1980, and 1984. Starting with the 1988 election, the debates have been run by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The Commission is an independent nonprofit corporate, jointly established by the Republican and Democrat Parties, for the sole purpose of organizing and controlling the debates.

For almost a year, Biden has been beating Trump in the polls. Trump knows himself. He knows that he is weak on policy issues. He knows that he fumbles when a tough questioner, or a tough opponent, presses him on a substantive point. Thus, he knows that substantive debates have no value for him.

What does Trump do when something has no value to him? He acts disrespectfully. That's what happened last night. I don't know why anybody was surprised. Trump doesn't care that these debates are a longstanding political tradition in America. That doesn't matter to him. Trump doesn't care that the Presidential Debates are an important American institution.

Please forgive my language when I give you my take on what happened last night. In essence, Trump dropped his pants and he pissed all over the institution of the Presidential Debates. He pissed all over the stage. He pissed on the moderator. He pissed on his opponent. In the process, he pissed on the American voters and our democracy. That's what happened. It was a disgraceful and embarrassing scene. It's impossible for Trump to behave like an American president.

Biden, on the other hand, generally behaved rationally and respectfully. Not surprisingly, he lost his cool a few times. Whenever possible, he looked into the camera and spoke directly to the American people. He explained his positions, and he critiqued Trump's positions. He told the truth. He was dignified. It was classic Biden. He's a good man who cares about people and our democracy.

The contrast between the two men was very, very clear. One man is a jerk who acted like a jerk. The other man is a decent guy who acted like a decent guy. The contrast is important because the personal character of the person in the White House is important. When you hire somebody for a job, don't you care about their character?

If you want a President who is an irrational jerk, a morally bankrupt man who is incapable of showing respect, Trump is your guy. With him at the helm, we will suffer through another four years of ugliness, embarrassment, chaos, division, and international ostracization from our allies. (For good reason, none of our allies want to work with Trump. That's understandable, but it's also very dangerous for America. If you were in charge of another country, would you share any of your secret information with Trump? Hell no!)

If you're sick of the constant upheaval and darkness, you should strongly consider Biden. Biden is normal. He values people and our institutions. He respects people and our institutions. He's thoughtful and rational. He can stop the craziness. For many reasons, too numerous to itemize here we need to stop the craziness.

I thought the basic takeaway from the debate was very straightforward. Do you want a maladjusted third grader in the White House, or do you want a normal adult? The election will answer that question. In addition to choosing between the candidates, the answer will be a referendum on the American people. What kind of person do we want to represent us at home and abroad? Who are we as Americans? The election will tell us, and the world.

[beforeiselfdestruct88-blog]

LGB no T.

I am so sick of this. The black community has worshipped dick and centered black men in everything since day 1. Now silly handmaidens and black men who 'identify' as black women want to speak over actual black women to prop themselves up. How dare you disrespect our existence and use patriarchy in a dress to make yourselves the focal point of female oppression. It's called SEXISM not genderism for a reason. Being female has been the sole basis of our abuse and you have the nerve to pretend all of that can be redirected to being about your "mentality". Get the hell outta here. You don't get to redefine things to suit your agenda. Now you're out here peddling the lie that "black trans women" face the highest level of violence. Bull fucking shit. Black women have experienced more violence than ANYONE ever, especially if we are dark skinned. Black people have been enslaved by other black people, whites, arabs and Natives, all of whom raped black women . Some even forced us to breed in astronomical numbers and take care of all the children regardless of color because all we were good for was production. Black women have suffered FGM, have been forced into marriages as children, our bodies have been placed in human zoos for people to gawk at our 'unusual' figures, our bodies have been used against our will to advance science. Present day black women carry those scars with us because trauma against our humanity for daring to exist while black and female is generational. Not only are we missing and trafficked at ridiculous rates but we are also raped, assaulted and killed under the radar. We have become the punchline for black 'entertainers' and black men everywhere from our skin tone to our character to our mannerisms to our genitalia to our diction. We get cervical cancer more than anyone but we better not say it because "not all women have a cervix." 😑 We are the poster children for everything wrong in society. When society talks about welfare queens and single motherhood, they're not thinking of 'trans' black women. When we get blamed for "destroying the black community with our feminism", they're not thinking of 'trans' black women. When society talks about black women being ugly and ghetto they're not thinking of 'trans' black women. When people approriate our culture and style to give themselves an edge, they're not taking it from 'trans' black women. Black women have attitude. Black women are fat. Black women are raising thugs. They're not talking about 'trans' black women. Day in and out, black women are society's scapegoat while all you care about is being able to use the bathroom you prefer and being able to date straight men without opposition. That is what we call a First World Problem. Your identity crisis and the elective surgeries you get to appease it do not take precedent over the global and never ending disrespect of black women. We didn't have to alter ourselves and go out of our way to be oppressed like you. Just by existing as is, the world has told us that is enough reason to take endless craps on us. Stop acting like black men haven't always found it ok to fight black women like men because our blackness allegedly discounts our womanhood. Stop acting like black men haven't embedded it in their mind that black women are not human but their mules to take care of them when life is hard, only to be discarded when they become successful. Stop acting like black girls aren't constantly robbed of our innocence with assault and dubbed 'fast' so our pain is overlooked and our fault. Stop acting like people haven't always called black women, men because we are the antithesis of white beauty standards. Stop acting like every woman doesn't get an ego boost on our backs. We are woman enough to be raped, trafficked, called bitches and hoes but too 'manly' to reap the finances, protection and reverence patriarchal society's claim to give women. Stop acting like black women are not abused physically, psychologically, emotionally and financially and haven't always been by white society, black society and everyone in between. Acting like you have it so hard when we have always been treated like an other just for being born. "The most disrespected and least protected person on the planet is the black woman." - Malcolm X He said black woman. Not black 'trans' woman. Cis privilege my ass. You think because you've been feeling for the last year what black women have been feeling since FOREVER, that you have it worse? You are only experiencing a sliver of what we get anyway. It's just that typical fragile masculinity you were born into that has you thinking you are the peak of oppression. You went your whole lives ignoring and/or capitalizing on the degradation of black women because your maleness allowed you to put it on the back burner. Your internal issues with gender did not negate the external privilege you received. But now that you 'identify' as one of us, we need to make you a priority or you slander us with poor reverse psychology. How narcissistic can you get? Womens rights are only worthy of attention when you are involved? "TERF" is not a thing btw. Stop using racism, sexism and homophobia to make yourself valid. You cannot compare white privilege, male privilege and straight privilege to this nonsense. Women have never had privilege. Or do you just wanna ignore the last thousands of years? You were born on the side of privilege and into the dominant oppressing class. Now you want access to a marginalized group with no questions and throw tantrums when we say no. It's almost like your male privilege conditioned you to force yourself onto women at any cost and taught you how to play victim when women don't fall for your shit. You want equal footing in womanhood but won't hesitate to remind us you "have it worse". You want to call lesbians bigots if they exclusively like women and vagina... because hey, how dare some women not want penis in any way, shape or form. Blasphemy! You have no concern for women in shelters fleeing abusive men. You invade their spaces and tell them to suck it up if they don't like your dick and masculine energy. You say nothing when born males use their advantages to dominate female sports. But you're the victim, right? I will say it again. It's called SEXISM, not genderism for a reason. You don't get to keep playing the "being born in the wrong body is not a privilege" card to ignore your advantages and complicity at our expense. Gender identity issues are low priority in comparison to everything else. Every day black women leave our homes, we are subjected to antiblackness and misogyny just for being ourselves. Doesn't matter how we dress or speak, it is hurled our way just for being in a female body via a black package. It will be a cold day in hell before those born male and their delusions get to define womanhood but those of us born female and our realities that came with it don't. Yes, we are the arbiters and gatekeepers of womanhood and it pisses you off there's nothing you can do about it except rally your naive liberal handmaidens and scream TERF. Interestingly enough, there are countless instances of 'trans women' raping, assaulting and killing women but not ONE woman has done that to you. Yet here you all come... into our spaces IRL and on the internet to force yourselves onto us. Why don't you go after the men who fuck you in private but don't want to publicly be seen with you and take your lives with the same gusto? Is it because you have no privilege over them and instead, it's easier to gang up on the 'weaker sex'? It's almost like you devalue women so much, you wanna speak over, redefine and attack us all while blaming our words for violence against you... well what do you know, patriarchy strikes again. We will not give into your demands. We don't negotiate with terrorists. (If misgendering you is 'violence', well propagating existent violence against us is indeed terrorism.) 😊

#blackfeminism #feminism #womanism #womenfirst #saynotopatriarchyinadress

[ryleesfanfiction]

Bloody Knuckles- Chapter Six/Phan

Dan nearly slipped on his wooden stairs when he hurried to the door, afraid to keep Phil waiting.

"Hey." Dan smiled when he opened the door, his dimple poking through his cheek.

"Hi, you look nice." Phil smiled, walking inside.

"Thanks, so do you."

Dan had on a black button up shirt and black jeans, Phil wore a white button up shirt with a black bow tie and his skinny jeans. Dan chuckled at their outfits.

"What?" Phil asked.

"I've always dressed up for underground funerals, not dinner dates."

"Well I'm glad I'm your first." Phil chuckled.

"Me too." Dan smiled brighter.

The pair filed into Phil's car, it was nicer than the truck. Dan rolled down the window, letting his hand hang from the car and the wind seep through his fingers. Phil stole small glances at Dan from the corner of his eyes, admiring the way the boy looked and staring long enough to try and see what he was thinking. Ten minutes later and a town over, Phil opened the door for Dan, the younger boy letting out a soft 'thank you' as he climbed out of the car. Phil got their seats and only moments later did a women arrive asking for drinks, Phil ordered a bottle of white wine and poured them both a glass. Empty plates and hours later, Dan and Phil walked up to the front to pay.

"Are you two dating?" The women asked.

Phil looked at Dan, the brown haired boy dropped his gaze to his feet hoping to hide his blush and small smile.

"Not yet." Phil admitted.

"We don't serve fags here." The women said with a straight face.

"What?" Phil snapped, blinking at her rudeness.

"Phil, don't." Dan whispered, rubbing Phil's arm hoping to calm him.

"No," Phil said to Dan, looking back at the women. "Why can't we be together?"

"It's disgusting, Sir. Me and plenty others would like it if you would just pay and leave, you're affection is against God, it's very rude to disrespect people's religions." The women sneered.

"Plenty others and I." Dan correct.

"It's very rude to harass people just because you don't like who they bone." Phil rolled his eyes, interlocking his hand with Dan's, pulling him to the front door.

"You're going to have to pay." The women called.

"If you're going to insult me and my partner, then fuck you. I'm not paying." Phil flipped off the women.

"Security!" The women yells.

All of a sudden Phil takes off in a run, tugging Dan behind him. Before the pair can make it to the car, a security officer pulls Dan backwards, causing Phil to come to a stop and the pair having to face the cop.

"What is the meaning behind this?" The officer huffs.

"This women over here isn't respecting my partner and I's values." Dan sasses.

"And what are your values?" The cop asks, looking between the pair.

"We're together." Phil says, his grip on Dan's hand tightening.

Dan looks up at Phil with a smile, happy he said that.

"You know what, just go home. I would like to go home to my husband as well, but Mrs. Bitch over here won't let me." The officer says, his voice dropped down to a whisper.

"Thank you, officer." Dan smiles.

"Anytime, enjoy your night." The officer nods, turning around and walking back.

Once Dan and Phil are in the car, their hands still together, Dan looks up at Phil.

"So we are together?" He smirks.

"Whatever you want, babe." Phil smiles, looking back at Dan, causing the younger boy's heart to swell.

They go to Phil's place, not his base with his boys, but his actual apartment. Once their both inside and the door is locked, Phil grabs Dan by the hips, shoving him against the wall.

"I can't stand you in his shirt, I could eat you alive." Phil says, attaching his lips to Dan's.

Dan's arms go to Phil's chest, pulling off his bow tie and flinging it into the darkness of the room, eating their sins whole.

"This tie is too cute for you." Dan smiles against Phil's lips.

"You're too cute for me." Phil chuckles, pulling away and unbuttoning Dan's shirt.

Once both of their shirts are discarded on the floor, Phil picks Dan up by the hips, Dan wrapping his legs around Phil's waist and brings Phil down with him when the older man throws him on the bed. Phil attacks Dan's neck making him squirm and giggle. Phil sucks a hickey before kissing down Dan's chest and softly scratching down Dan's sides, sending shivers down the younger boys spine. Before anything could escalate anymore, the door flew open. Both boys jumped from their positions, not enough time to register that a smoke bomb rolled into the room. Without any warning, three men in all black, bullet proof suits walked in, their guns trained on Phil's head. Phil put his hands up in surrender as someone walked to Dan, grabbing him roughly by the arm and tugging him off the bed.

"Get the hell off me!" Dan threw punches, the man blocking everyone and eventually hitting Dan over the head with his gun.

"Hey!" Phil jumped up.

Without hesitation, a fire rang out as one of the men shot Phil in the shoulder, causing him to fall backwards against the wall, blood spraying everywhere. The guy who hit Dan, throws the smaller boy over his shoulder and walks out. As soon as Phil know's their gone he dials Chris.

"Hey, they got Dan."

side note: i forgot to add but phil got chris back when he shot up mark and all them.

also,

shit's about to go down.

also, also sorry this is a shorter chapter; don't kill me.

- rylee I-/