#but the people-pleasing is something I haven't really tackled yet so I guess that's my next big thing to analyze

[neverendingford]

.

[gracev0609]

Between the Two of You

Jake X Chris X Reader

A @lipstickitty / gracev0609 collaboration.

WC: 4K+

Warnings: 18+ Only, Minors DNI, Explicit Sex, Slash, M/M, F/M, Threesome.

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Jake set his glass down on the bar top with a clank, the condensation making the pint glass slippery between his fingers, with a slight slur,”Ya know, we're really doin’ it man. Mirador is coming to fruition, it's it's own entity, people are loving it.”

Across the table Chris let a small laugh through his nose, his bandmate clearly feeling the alcohol he's consumed,” We really are Jake, this is a good thing we've got going here, I feel like we can grow creatively.”

He watches as Jake's eyes focus on something, someone, over his shoulder. He turns his head, twisting his body almost one hundred and eighty degrees when he sees her.

Jake utters,” That's Y/N! Fuck, we haven't seen her in years! What… since 2019?”

Chris turns right side round and picks up his own pint glass, ready to take a sip to clear his throat, he always thought she was breathtaking. Before he knew it, a less than sober Jake was waving and calling her name, beckoning her to the table.

Y/N rushes over to the table, eyes bright with excitement at the sight of her friends. She tackles Jake in a hug, squeezing him tightly before turning to Chris and giving him the same treatment. “What the fuck!! I haven’t seen you in so long, how have you been? What are you up to these days? I’ve kept up with the band page a little bit, you guys are like full blown rockstars now!!” She giggles, one hand on each man’s arm.

“And we weren’t back then? Ouch.” Jake teases, clutching his chest in fake pain.

He grasps at her ringed fingers, covered in tarnished silver jewelry,” Come drink with us honey! Please?”

She glances between Jake giving her puppy dog eyes and Chris who's nodding his head in approval,” Alright alright, just a round or two.”

Chris rises from the booth allowing her to scoot in before signaling to their waitress that they needed her to come take drink orders.

The waitress makes her way to the table for their orders, shooting sneaky little glances at both men which they don’t even notice, their attention fully on the woman seated with them. “What can I get ya?” She asks with a smile. Jake orders a craft beer that Y/N teasingly rolls her eyes at the name of, Chris orders a simple stout he’s probably had a hundred times, and Y/N politely requests a Blue Moon.

The woman tries once more to make eye contact with either man seated in the booth, again to no avail. She huffs quietly under her breath and walks off to put the orders in.

“That’s pretty mean, you know. The poor girl just wanted your attention.” Y/N laughs, playfully shoving Jake’s shoulder.

“Did she? I guess my attention was focused elsewhere, darling.” Chris says, voice sweet like honey but a little rough from the liquor. She smiles, suddenly feeling butterflies from the male gaze she's under, her eyes meet Chris's first, then flit to Jake's, both are heady and familiar. She's not a stranger to their flirting, both of them attempting to take her out the last time they met up years ago, originally she denied them due to her relationship status, but fortunately, things change. The waitress interrupts the heaviness between the three of them, setting their beers down with a heavy thud while yet again Y/N thanks her.

As their glasses were emptied and refilled a few more times, the men moved closer and closer to her in the booth. Soon enough Chris had his arm around her, resting along the top of the booth, playing with her hair every once in a while, and Jake had his hand on her thigh tapping his fingers and tracing soft patterns. Their chemistry was incredible, soft touches and laughter filled their booth. As Jake set down his once again empty pint, he quietly asked, his voice soft and gentle,”Do you guys want to get out of here? Go back to my hotel room?”

Y/N fakes a scandalized gasp while Chris lets out a slightly nervous chuckle. “What will the church elders think?�� She teases, feeling a little drunk on the liquor but very drunk on the two men currently draped around her. “Honey, the church elders can suck my dick.” Jake laughs.

“Jacob, I’m pretty sure that was blasphemous in about a hundred different ways.” She leans in and presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Let’s pay the tab and get the fuck out of here.” She lets her hand drift to Chris’s neck and slide down his chest before resting at his waist, prompting him to rise from the booth and pull Jake up by the hand so the three of you could settle up at the bar and make your exit.

Both boy’s minds were a little hazy from the liquor and excitement, only made worse by Y/N’s hands cheekily roaming both their bodies while they were trying to get the bill paid and get her alone. “If you keep touchin’ me like that, we’re not gonna make it back to the hotel, baby. I’m gonna take you right here.” Jake growls in her ear. Immediately she bites her lip and neatly folds her hands, resting them on her stomach, she can push him later in the sanctity of his hotel room.

One short cab ride later they arrived at their hotel. As Jake fumbled with the key card Chris had his hands roaming her body, his skilled calloused fingertips leaving tingly trails. He kissed her jaw, his arousal evident against her backside, and she shuddered out a breath as wetness pooled in her panties. Silently she was pleading with Jake to get the damn door open any faster. After what felt like an eternity the door unlocked and he ushered them inside. Jake wasted no time, eagerly pressing her body against Chris's, his rough kiss stealing her breath. Her eyes fluttered closed as she felt both mens lips against her skin and their erections pressing into her body. She felt positively drunk on them and they were still fully clothed. She let out a shaky breath. Once she felt Chris's fingertips lightly lifting the hem of her shirt gruffly he asked her permission,” Can we get this off of you, love?”

Jake growled,” Please sweetheart, let us see those gorgeous tits. I've been wanting to play with them for so long Y/N.”

She feels her panties sticking to her skin a bit more at his admission, trying to rock her hips into both of them while being trapped in between their bodies. She nods, face flushed. Chris wastes no time pulling her shirt over her head, leaving her in her lacy black and green bra. “Fuuuuuuck. I knew they’d be pretty.” Jake groans, gently stroking the pad of his thumb across one nipple over the material while his other hand dips under the other cup, gently massaging and kneading, familiarizing himself with the feeling of her soft skin. “She’s so god damn soft. Feel.” Jake takes one of Chris’s hands in his own, guiding it to the band of her bra. His rough fingertips trail across her skin until they come to the clasp on the bra.

“Can we take this off, honey?” Jake whispers. At her breathy ‘yes’, Chris’s skilled fingers easily unhook the clasp, letting the straps slide down her shoulders until the garment hits the floor. Her nipples harden even further once they meet the chilled air of the room. Jake’s jaw hangs open while he takes her in, committing the way she looks to memory. Then he pushes his lips against Chris’s just over y/n’s shoulder, sandwiching her even tighter between their heated bodies. He moans into Chris’s mouth while both their hands explore the flushed skin of her torso, her head swimming from their proximity and the show they’re putting on for her right now. She shivers underneath their palms, nipples pebbled and aching under their touch, while the sinful audio of their lips colliding echoes in her ear. She turns her head, whispering just loud enough for them to hear,” Come on, let's keep going. Both of you, take something off.”

Chris backs up, and Jake audibly whines,” Aht, you heard her Jakey… undress for the pretty girl.”

She licks her lips as she watches the both of them remove their shirts and pants, leaving the boxer briefs on, barely concealing their arousal. She smiles coyly as she spies matching patches of arousal dampening the fabric of their underwear.

Jake points, gesturing between the three of them,” Fairs fair isn't it honey, take your pants off and let us see your pretty panties.”

She slowly unbuttons and unzips her jeans, she can tell she is torturing the poor men, as they desperately palm at themselves as they watch her little strip tease.

“Please baby… let us see. We just want to worship that pretty pussy,’ Chris utters, voice strained.

Taking pity on them she hooks her fingers in her waistband and pulls both her jeans and underwear off, confidently bearing herself to the beautifully crafted men before her.

Jake roughly squeezes the tip of his cock through his underwear shakily proclaiming,” Fuck. She's so fucking beautiful. Please honey, come closer let me touch you.”

She relents, giving in to the desperation in his voice, she sidles up to where he sits on the bed. Jake leans forward kissing her lower stomach, making the ache bloom in her core. Her mouth hangs agape as he breathes deeply before placing another kiss this time on her mound. His eyes flutter,” You smell delectable. Can I sweetheart? Can I put your pretty clit in my mouth?”

Unable to deny him, she nods her head agreeing. Jake sticks his tongue out, eager to dive into her folds, and she yelps as he licks against her sensitive nub.

“Does she taste as good as she looks, Jakey?” Chris murmurs, sliding up behind Jake to kiss down the back of his neck and across his shoulders. His hands stroke down Jake’s spine before slowly making their way around his front to cup his covered cock, gently squeezing.

“Mmm, fuck yeah.” Jake groans into her folds, unwilling to disconnect his mouth from her for even a second. “Come find out.” His voice is deep and raspy, slightly panting. Chris wraps his fist in Jake’s hair, tugging him up to smash their lips together. It’s brutal, all teeth and tongues as their inhibitions completely melt away and they give in to the pure lust swirling through them. Chris lets out a groan when the taste of her arousal hits his tongue mixed with a hint of the liquor Jake had been sipping on plus something else that was inherently Jake and entirely intoxicating.

“Oh my god.” Y/n whines, disappointed at the loss of Jake’s mouth but unable to will herself to be truly upset when she’s watching the two guitarists devour each other that way, hands roaming each other’s bodies as well as hers.

“Go on, baby. Eat her pretty pussy.” Chris whispers against Jake’s lips, using his grip in Jake’s hair to push him back down towards her dripping heat. Jake hums happily, letting his tongue swirl over her clit before sucking it past his lips just for a second. Then his tongue trails down to her aching entrance before plunging deep inside, her back arching off the bed as a strangled moan rips from her chest. “That’s it. Good boy.” Chris growls before maneuvering so he can lap his tongue over her sensitive bud, letting his tongue brush against Jake’s making their heads spin. He’s licking and sucking over her clit while Jake’s tongue forcefully fucks into her opening over and over. Y/N has one hand tangled in each man’s hair, grounding herself while she takes in the overwhelming pleasure they’re showering her with. Her eyes clamp shut as she feels the knot in her stomach tightening, gasping out she cries,” Need more, please!”

Out of her view Jake grasps Chris's hand, pulling it towards her entrance. His mouth licks up to pleasure her clit in tandem with his band mates, gently Chris plunges his fingers into her sopping wet heat. His fingers slowly pump in and out, carefully stretching her out for what's to come. Once she relaxes enough around Chris's digits, Jake slides his pointer finger in. They work together, pumping and curling their fingers until she's ready to take another one of Jake's. Once both mens pointer and middle fingers are nestled deep inside her they work in harmony to bring her to orgasm. Between the curls of their fingers against her walls and their tongues swirling on either side of her clit the knot in her stomach snaps. With an obscene moan her vision whites and her legs shake, her pussy contracting around their fingers. They lick her to completion, gently guiding her down from her orgasm.

She huffs out a breath, leaning up on her elbows,” Fuck, you two are good at that.”

Both men grin at her, mouths wet and glistening with her cum.

Her chest still heaving,” I need one of you in me, right now, please.”

Chris is the first to remove his final layer, his cock bobbing red and angry in the cool air of their hotel room. Quickly he positions himself between her legs, running his swollen tip through the mess between her legs. Jake removes his underwear and nestles himself into her side, his hot wet mouth kissing and licking her breasts. She tilts her head back groaning as Jake's tongue flicks against her hardened nipple, while in sync, Chris taps his leaking tip against her puffy orgasm swollen clit. Her body jolts at each targeted tap of Chris’s tip against her still overly sensitive clit, making both men chuckle at her already fucked out state.

“You need it bad, huh love?” Chris breathes, tapping his head against her teasingly once more before lining himself up with her entrance.

“I need it so bad. Please.” She whines shamelessly. With that, he pushes his swollen tip into her, relishing in the gasp that leaves her lips at the feeling. He stills, attempting to let her adjust for a moment but only serving to make her needier.

“Will you fuck my mouth, Jakey? Need you inside me too, need to taste you.” She moans, one of her thighs hooking around Chris’s hip and her hand tugging at Jake’s hair. He leaves a little red bite mark between her breasts before lifting his head to meet her gaze.

“You want my cock in your mouth, honey? While Chris fucks your perfect little pussy? Who knew you were such a dirty girl?” Jake rasps out before crawling up the bed to straddle her chest. “This okay? I’m not hurting you, am I?” His cocky persona fades away for a moment, making sure she’s completely comfortable with everything he’s doing before he proceeds any further.

“Yes, fuck, please.” She grips his ass with both hands, trying to push him forward to her mouth.

“Okay, okay, Jesus.” He giggles, fisting his throbbing cock. He taps the leaking head against her extended tongue twice before guiding the tip past her lips with a shaky sigh. She hums softly around his tip sending vibrations through him. She looks up at him doe eyed while she swirls her tongue over his skin, savoring the taste of his arousal on her tongue. His eyes meet hers with a soft gasp.

“You feel so fucking good, love. Pretty pink pussy wrapped around my cock so tight. Does it feel good sweetheart?” Chris grunts as he’s finally fully buried inside of her, just barely rocking his hips into her to get her used to the feeling of him moving inside of her. Jake barks out a laugh that quickly dissipates into a moan,” Dude, she can't exactly answer right now.”

Chris chuckles as she removes her hand from Jake's hip giving him a thumbs up. He gently picks up his pace and his eyes roll back as she clenches around his length, squeezing him tight. He pants as he grabs at her hips, the plush flesh squeezing under his nimble fingers, his eyes settle on the sight in front of him, Jake's round ass. After a few stutters he synchronizes his trusts with Jake's, fucking into her together. In and out they plunged their throbbing cocks into the holes she offered. Acting on instinct Chris leaned over her body, his teeth biting quickly into Jake's butt cheek.

Jake tossed his hair over his shoulder, looking back at his friend,” Hey! What? Need something to do with your mouth?” He grasps onto Chris's shoulder pulling him into his body, their lips lock again, teeth clanking as they consume one another. Their tongues dance, and they moan, still able to taste her.

Jake grips y/n’s jaw gently as he starts thrusting his hips against her face with more force. His other hand threads into her hair, gently guiding her head up and down on his pulsing length. “Fuck, honey, I just knew you’d look so gorgeous with my cock in your throat. Shit, just like that.” Jake moans. Y/N is letting out near constant moans and whimpers muffled by Jake fucking into her throat, her eyes rolling back. Chris can feel her clenching tight around him more and more frequently.

“Gonna cum for us? C’mon beautiful, cum all over me.” Chris grits out through clenched teeth. He snakes his hand in between their sweaty, writhing bodies to press two calloused fingers to her clit, rubbing tight circles around it. The added stimulation sends her into her second orgasm, cumming hard, soaking Chris’s cock with her release. Jake slips himself out of her throat and turns his head to watch, giving her a minute to calm down.

Once her body relaxes Chris slows his pace, trying to gently guide her through the overstimulation and carry her into another high. “You came so pretty for us, love. Such a good girl.” He whispers, pushing deep into her but slowly, letting her feel every inch.” Jake, rub her clit for me. That's it, good boy, she's clenching around me.” Chris dips his head down, his hair covering his face, his eyes totally entranced in watching himself slip in and out of her while Jake rubs fast circles over her swollen clit. His ears ring with her moan,” Good girl sweetheart, cum for us love… need to feel it one more time on my cock, and then Jakey can have a turn.” She clenches, her whole body tensing as she meets her climax yet again. Chris slows to a stop and Jake removes his hand letting her fully calm down. Jake anchors his hand in her hair and pulls her up to meet his face, kissing her hungrily, he's been patient so far, but he's throbbing with need. Jake leans back up, maneuvering in between her thighs when his primal urges kick in. He leans over both of their legs, face hovering over Chris's cock absolutely soaked in her cum. Jake licks up from his base to his tip, tasting them together. He wraps his plush pink lips around his tip, gently swirling his tongue and bobbing his head, totally overwhelmed by the flood of flavors on his tongue.

Chris throws his head back onto the pillows, blonde locks splaying out behind him, and he wraps a fist loosely in Jake's mane encouraging him to keep going,” Jesus Christ Jake… fuck your pretty mouth is good at that.”

After a few more moments Chris chuffs and pulls him off of his cock,” Okay babe, enough of that, getting me a little too close.”

Jake gives him a drunken smile before returning his attention to Y/N.

“Hi sweetie, are you ready for me?”

He gently gathers some of her arousal on his fingers before fisting his cock, pumping himself slowly. She spread her legs wider and tilted her hips up while squeezing at her chest, wordlessly letting him know that she was ready. He canted his hips forward and pushed into her dripping wet heat.

His head tilts back, exposing his neck,” That's it love, fuck you feel incredible.”

He sinks into her fully, resting inside of her as he twitches.

“I feel that Jakey.”

“It's because your pussy feels too good Y/N, just give me a second baby.”

After a few more moments he gives her a soft thrust, enough for her to get used to his size. He presses his large palm flat against her stomach adding some gentle pressure. “That's a good girl. Feels so good wrapped around me honey.”

She lets out a loud moan, nails digging into Jake’s shoulder at the pleasurable stretch. “You know, I’ve imagined how you would feel hundreds of times over, but my imagination never could’ve compared to the reality.” Jake groans, punctuating his statement with a slightly rougher thrust. “Harder, Jake. Please.” She whines. Jake gets a mischievous glint in his eye and leans away from her body to hitch one of her thighs over his shoulder, gaining a deeper angle. He starts pulling out slowly and then pounding into her tight walls, abusing her g-spot and making her cries grow increasingly louder.

“Harder, yeah? That better, sweetheart?” He says with a smirk on his pretty pink lips, but his voice shakes slightly with exertion.

“Yes, Jesus Christ! I need more, please!” Y/N cries, rocking her hips up to meet Jake’s thrusts. Her eyes land on Chris, sat back on the bed watching everything unfold with his fist wrapped around his cock, stroking in rhythm with Jake slamming into Y/N.

“More?” Chris teases. “Pretty girl wants me to lick her sweet pussy while Jakey fucks it?” It’s rhetorical, proven by Chris’s form already sliding down the bed to maneuver his head into her lap, sucking her clit into his warm mouth, his tongue constantly tracing patterns around it and making her see stars. Jake speeds up his pace just slightly- the chorus of moans, whimpers, obscene wet sounds, skin smacking, and the headboard hitting the wall increasing in volume and tempo. “Yes, yes, yes, don’t stop!” Y/N sobs, one hand wrapped in Chris’s tangled mess of hair and the other clawing at Jake’s back.

“That’s it, dig your nails in baby. Let me know how good it feels. Cum on my cock sweetheart, cum all over it.” Jake grunts out between thrusts, feeling her walls tightening around him making his head spin. “You’re so fucking tight, honey. Jesus.” He moans, letting his eyes slip shut and his head fall back. Chris brings one hand between her legs to gather some of her arousal on his fingertips before reaching around to gently massage them over her back entrance. With that, her orgasm slams into her and her walls squeeze impossibly tight around him as she drenches him. Jake stills with his eyes clamped shut, willing himself not to cum just yet- he wants to feel her a little longer, he’s not ready to give her up yet and he knows Chris isn’t either. Quickly he pulls out of her, his cock pulsing on the edge of release. Jake steadily fills his lungs with oxygen and exhales, willing himself to calm down.Once he feels the burning in his stomach dissipate he motions to Chris,” Why don't you suck on him for a little bit, then you can come back to me.”

Y/N sits up in bed, pulling on Chris's hand dragging him within her reach. She kisses his stomach, trailing down to his hip bones, lightly nipping at the taut skin,”You're close aren't you?”

He breathes,” Wanna cum soon, wanna cum for you.”

Her nails dig into the skin of his hips,’ Yeah gonna be a good boy and cum? I want you both to cum on my chest together.”

“We can do that.”Chris responds eagerly, his hips subconsciously rocking towards her.

She grasps his length in one hand, and lets him enter the warm chasm of her mouth. She eagerly works him, her tongue teasing his length to swirl against his tip nudging into his slit to taste his precum. His hips buck at the overwhelming sensation, and he pulls out of her wet mouth. He fists himself slowly, just enough to keep him from toppling over the edge. Twisting her body to the right she connects her mouth with Jake's length, bobbing it down and burying her nose in his soft downy pubic hair. Her free hand comes up to toy with his tightening balls, Jake groans,” Yeah that's it baby, fuck. Mmhmm gonna give it to you, gonna cum all over those beautiful tits.”

A few more moments of her throat swallowing his length was all he could take, he ripped himself away and began hurriedly pumping himself to his finish.

Her eyes glaze over as she watches her beautiful friends bring themselves to their peaks. Chris breaks first with a groan, his hot cum splattering over her chest. Shortly after Jake reaches his bliss, his calloused hands flying over his length as he spurts his own cum onto her breasts. Once they come back down she makes eye contact with them, dragging her middle finger through the semen dripping down her sternum and rubbing it over each still pebbled nipple before gathering another drop and sucking it from her appendage like it was the finest dessert.

After picking his jaw up off the floor Jake maneuvers himself off the bed, padding into the bathroom. He locates the wash cloth and runs it under hot water before taking it back to Y/N. She goes to take it from his hand but he doesn't relent,” Just let me do it sweetheart, just let me take care of you.”

She accepts flopping back onto the mattress next to Chris. Gingerly Jake cleans her chest the best he can. Once done he carelessly drops the rag onto the floor, joining them in the cuddle puddle. After a few moments of silence Y/N speaks,” Ya know, I never thought I'd end up in bed between the two of you, but I'm certainly glad I did.”

Chris grasps her hand in his, twirling her rings around,” I think if we ever cross paths again like this, we should have a repeat.”

Jake chuckles, agreeing with his band mate before placing a soft kiss against her lips,” Just so you know, you're always welcome in my bed.”

[nerves-nebula]

This might not be the most coherent, sorry. Please bare with me.

I think there’s something really beautiful about your art, even outside of its particular and fascinating style. You have a vulgar, ugly way (/pos) of designing characters; the way you draw both your human and non human characters makes me feel strangely seen, and has in the past year made me so much happier with my own body.

Looking at your drawings always makes me want to draw too! Everything you made, down to the simplest doodle, inspires me, and makes me feel like I could try do that too.

My fascination with your OCs might be less to do with any inherent story or detail to them (although the themes I know I’ll find and nuances in their design and personalities are something I can always rely on ur art for) and more to do with the fact it’s coming from you. That I trust you tell a story or tackle a topic in a way that I trust few other creators to. Not withheld by censorship or any strict format, you are a case and point to what I love about freelance artist who have the time and means to create. Anything you write and draw will hold leagues of depth. That when you present an idea it will be interesting, and my attention and focus will be captured in a way few things can manage anymore. Your art is so unabashed in its everything and it makes me want to scream.

Your unabashed approach to tackling dark themes in such an unveiled, first person account, way, has had me reflecting on my own experiences so many times. Your art has done more for me than attempts at therapy ever did, and while I’m sure that might be more to do with the way my brain works and how I heal and reflect, personally, it doesn’t change the fact that you helped me. You changed the shape of my art and my interests and the way I consume media. I feel so much more comfortable in my own skin and mind, now, and I owe so much of that to you. You truly are my favourite artist, and if I had money ever, I’d commission u so fucking often.

(Also your casual posts are funny and based a lot of the time, and I really like how organized your tags are too.)

You have a vulgar, ugly way (/pos) of designing characters; the way you draw both your human and non human characters makes me feel strangely seen,

:DDD so glad you guys get what I'm going for here.

awww oommggg haha awwww you guyssss you're making me blush <3

genuinely this is so sweet and kind I dunno what to do with it really. i feel like it deserves a long response to try to put into words how it's making me feel but I can't come up with anything haha. like, this is kinda what I do it for? i mean i mostly do it for myself but this is something I hope for when making art too so like. aoguashg.

I guess I'll just say that hearing that i can help people this much just by Posting On The Internet makes me glad I haven't killed myself yet and I'll leave it at that.

[macabremoons]

Writeblr Positivity Tag

@hallwriteblr did a post of this tag, and I knew I had to try it out! Doing what they did and putting the blank format underneath the cut!

Gently tagging: @squarebracket-trick, @leisoree, @serenanymph, @immortaladrien, @thesoftestofpetals, and anyone else who wants to join!!!

1. What motivates you to write?

The plot threads I have later down the line in my wips and my characters. Both of these points are really the same. I am excited about the things I have planned because they highlight the characters, and I am excited because my characters for the things I have planned.

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

I have to pick just one????? Oh lord.

Undead things aren't supposed to grieve other undead things, and yet so many vampires were now without fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters.

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

@mouseinthegreenhouse's Maximilian. They have to put up with my simping sm HIOEWHOIW. It's hard to describe Max in a way that does not boil down his character. He just has this presence that you feel in every page, this captivation. A slow, measured way of speaking where he knows no one would dare interrupt him. Love him to bits.

4. What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

I haven't really gotten to the editing phase with any of my OG works, so I guess I have to say drafting?

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

Character. I try my best to write characters that are analysis worthy. That have a deeper meaning in their existence and that have a lot to say about the world. Of course not all of my characters are as well thought out as others, but when I do put my all into it there is so many intricacies that go into them.

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

THE PEOPLE. I LOVE YOU GUYSS. I love seeing your works and hearing your feedback and the tags and the asks. And the mutuals. The mutuals. Getting to know other writers and getting to talk about writing more deeply with them is so much fun.

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

I use WPS Offcie for my more serious projects. It's like Word, but free, and also not owned by Microsoft. This helps me not write in the middle of the night on Daycycle and work on it healthily. It is the bane and boon of my existence.

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

Why must you continually make me choose a favorite child? I like how I tackled the elements on daycycle, I suppose. The fact that every element has it's own ideology behind it gives me a lot of freedom with what I can do with it. It also helps me say a bunch of stuff with it! And I enjoy making none of the elements good or evil but keeply neutral with their own psychological behavioral patterns.

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

People are going to tell you to just keep going and you're going to think that it's impossible. I'm sorry to tell you that it's hard, but it's possible. I believe in you and your ability to write through this.

Unless you are going through writing burnout TAKE A BREAK. TAKE A BREAK. TAKE A BREAK. "But what if--" NO. BREAK. NOW.

10. Tag some people whose works you love/have been your biggest supporters

@squarebracket-trick for her amazing writing. I really feel like I could have a discussion about any form of writing with her and she'd have something to say. @sugar-phoenix, @lyra-brie, and @leisoree for listening to my rambles and sharing their gorgeous juicy ideas to me. @wipsbymor for RJ. What I have to say more? Sigh, also for her continued support and kindness. @hallwriteblr, yes tagging you again, for being such a kind person in this community and for writing that sage one shot. @serenanymph for being one of my first mutuals and a talented writer to boot. And to everyone who is my mutual! I love you all!!

1. What motivates you to write?

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

4. What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

10. Tag some people whose works you love/have been your biggest supporters

[bleedingcoffee42]

Ha, it is interesting that Winters didn't take Tab with him. But, maybe just because he was not an officer? Dunno. Poor Tab tho.

You know, no idea how they were in reality, but for me Winters did like Sparky and they could be close, but the fact is he lost command of his beloved Easy to him, so a little green eyed monster probably poke his sides from time to time with the "oh yes, splendid officer ... BUT". He felt like someone who gave his fave toy car to a kid and then had a one hour instruciotion talk about how to play it and not leave a scratch on it and then watched the kid playing like a hawk. Poor Spakry had a biiiig shoes to fill.

Besides, Dick was petty from time to time. It's canon.

Please, write a fic about Sparky bitching about Dick being a bitch to Nix. And hey! You post some fics again! *dances around the room*

Btw, have you watched Generation Kill? Because there is a super duper interesting Lt x Sg interactions and the Lt had some suicidal mad runs while people shoot at him, what I find hilarious. And super cool.

Hope life treats you well!

He could have used a staff sergeant or something. End of the war and Battalion CO he genuinely could have made up a position for him. Winters would just snag a guy for a runner, just to get them off the line for a while. I'm kinda with Tab on this one. Why not? Alton Moore got to be a Jeep driver with an album under his ass. Dick could be creative. Maybe he wanted someone he trusted still in Easy but it seems like there was a personality clash with Speirs in addition to a longing to be with Dick? Guess we'll never know.

I feel like his tune changed a little after the book. Not that there is any evidence to say how he felt before the book, but from BoB info gathering forward Dick's opinion of Speirs fluctuates. I do feel feathers might have been ruffled when Sparky stole some of the spotlight because you can't really underplay the bad-ass shit he did. Sure the first question is "Did he really shoot those people?" but it doesn't dampen the awe any. Got worse after the movie.

I have so much material I need to write for. The Chuck Grant saga just keeps getting more involved, I'm sure "Please get your man under control" and dropping Dick's letters on Nix's lap will be in there. Has to be. But honestly having Nix being the voice of reason for Dick Winters tickles something.

I haven't watched GK yet. I have to tackle one thing at a time. Just BoB has my head buried in research trying to track down all these guys. I can't handle more of them at the moment, I have to hit Winter's research boxes again but instead I'm looking at marriage records and Plastic Industry magazines from the 50s and the occasional one on Glass Manufacturing executives. It's a deep hole I've dug.

[blurrypetals]

Funny Story by Emily Henry - blurrypetals review

originally posted may 6, 2024 - ★★★★☆

I guess Emily Henry's 5-star streak had to end sometime for me! While it still had the humor, charm, and sweet romance Henry's works are well known for, I couldn't help but feel like this one was a little paint by numbers, especially in comparison to her previous work, Happy Place, which absolutely blew me away last year with its surprising amount of depth and the way it tackled how difficult adult friendships can be.

That said, this book does have that theme as well, but it ended up feeling a lot more hollow in comparison to Happy Place. In that book, it was much more about having friendships an the struggles we go through as adults to keep those friendships, while Funny Story is more concerned with making new friendships as an adult, which just didn't resonate with me emotionally in the same way.

I did really enjoy the romance here, though! I thought Miles was a wonderful love interest and between him, Wyn, Alex, and Gus, (sorry, haven't read any of her pre-Beach Read work yet!) Henry has done a great job making four very different yet rootable love interests who support their ladies in totally different ways. It definitely keeps things fresh instead of just copy-pasting the same dark haired jackass like so many worse authors do to write quickly and get money. Henry's work is a step above the rest for things like this. (It's also worth mentioning that the way Miles is physically described reminded me a bit of my newly-minted husband so that made him a little extra fun for me)

And speaking of characters, I do like that her heroines are all very distinct as well. While I didn't care for Daphne as much as I did for January or Harriet (and god, I just love the names Henry picks for her female leads; they're all lovely old lady names and they absolutely kill me, never change, Emily) she's still a very different person from them. Again, no copy-pasting there.

With characters out of the way, the way this lost its fifth star for me the way its predecessors didn't simply came down to story. Even though we had a countdown and a straightforward goal in mind, this book meanders quite a bit, especially in its middle, and the will-they-won't-they of it all starts to feel a bit stale, especially because I feel like this book would have been more interesting if these two had more of a FWB thing while denying their true feelings. While it would have been a different cliché, I feel like it would have worked a little better, since they seem to hook up a lot anyway for people who aren't interested in each other Like That.

I digress. The part that really got to me was, just like Beach Read and to some extent Book Lovers as well, the ending. Light spoilers to follow!

I think it's possible to do the eleventh hour breakup or have the "We so totally can't be together, goodbye for a month until the finale where we finally have a human conversation," sort of thing well, but I think it's a crutch Henry leans on a little too much for some last-minute drama and in this book's case, I finally got tired of it. I also felt like Daphne lashed out at Miles in a totally unrealistic way, even considering her past and trust issues.

I understand its point, I get it, it fits logically for her character, but I think this last minute "Dear me, we've had a misunderstanding that's led to us not being together, what EVER will we DO?" thing is getting old and I want something more fresh, interesting, and unpredictable. Can we have that next time, Emily? Pretty please? I know she's capable of it.

Anyway, this review is on the verge of overlong and sort of became a review of 4 books instead of just 1, but in summary, I liked this, but I did not love it. I thought People We Meet on Vacation would always be the bottom rung but just like she surprised me with new heights with Happy Place last year, she surprised me with new lows this year. Better luck next time! I know I'll still be reading it!

[the-avengers-ate-my-tongue]

The Storm

Summary: You work with Jack Crawford and Alana is your cousin, both of you live together for a long time. She gets caught up with a flat tire far away and asks you to let Will in, for he's expecting her. A storm is coming, and she keeps taking longer and longer to show up. Will the universe conspire in your favor?

Pairing: Will Graham x reader

Warnings: swearing, insinuation of smut, fluff.

Word count: 4.328

A/n: I'm starting to consider changing this tumblr for a Hannibal one, mostly Will Graham, so some requests from other fandoms would be nice haha hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing ♥️

*not my gif

There wasn't a thing such as a boring day at the BAU. 

At least not when you're part of Jack Crawford's crew. There was always an interesting case to focus on, a disfigured body to study the reason of death, it was always a thrilling hunt for evidence. The best experience I've ever had so far in my career, and I could only thank my cousin Alana for putting me on the Guru's radar. I was a great crime scene investigator, albeit a little younger than people gave me credit for. I taught people not to underestimate me over the years, though. I got here by my own effort, being a tenacious, hard-working woman who wouldn't get a no for an answer. 

I got along well with my crewmates, Beverly Katz, Brian Zeller and Jimmy Price, though our relationship hardly extended for life outside work. Except for Beverly, we went out for a couple of beers sometimes, she was fun, witty and I really liked our conversations. Jack was the big boss, and that was it. I had a lot of respect for him, and I knew he didn't regret bringing me to his team, I could see it in his eyes in the first case I've got. I was very cunning when I shared my insights about the cases, sometimes I saw things no one else could, no one but…

Of course, I was far, far away from being a Will Graham. But ever since I was younger, I've had this sort of intuition that helped me to solve problems, I would solve riddles easily and when people asked me how I got to the answer, I wouldn't know the steps, I just knew deep in my bones I was right. That happened a lot when I was growing up and was even stronger now that I knew how to use it. It was some artifice of my inconscient, something I could always count on. It included everything in my life, math, logical thinking, riddles. My brain picked things I couldn't perceive clearly, bringing them to the clear waters of my conscience. 

Will Graham was a curious man. He intrigued me from the very first moment I saw him at the house of one of the last victims of The Minnesota Shrike, Garret Jacob Hobbs, now dead. He was practically hiding in a corner, his eyes closed behind the lens of his glasses, dark wavy hair, jawline for days. He seemed highly focused until Beverly started to talk to him, pulling him out of his daze. He could barely look at her, or at me, and although he looked socially awkward and troubled, he still managed to look like a daydream. I studied every inch of his face, lowering my gaze when he seemed to get uncomfortable, after smiling lightly. I was a bit shy myself. I lived with Alana and, when I got home that night, I absentmindedly asked her about that curious handsome man who seemed to be out of place, yet so connected to that scene. She started to talk about him, but stopped once she noticed my interest. Then, she told me he was a very unstable person, that she wouldn't even be alone in the room with him because of her professional curiosity. As time passed and he solved more and more cases, I could see how people looked at him like an attraction of the zoo. However, not me, and later, not Beverly. Brian didn't seem to like him very much, I could see. Envy, perhaps? Nevertheless, the more I saw Will, the more intrigued I got. He avoided eye contact like the plague, but as I was always friendly and tried my best to treat him like a normal person, not focusing only on work, dead bodies and serial killers, I saw more of those beautiful blue eyes. He knew I was Alana's cousin, and I sooner realized he had a fling for her. 

And boy, did that break my silly little heart. I wasn't surprised, though. Who could blame him? Alana was amazing. I never felt resentful for that, but as time passed, I started to detach from the idea of Will being somewhat more than a simple acquaintance. That afternoon, I was going home from work when I got a call from Alana.

"Speak fast, I'm driving." I said, keeping one hand on the wheel and the other holding my phone.

"You're going home? Great. I invited Will so we could talk about a profile I'm building, but I got caught up here. I already spoke to him, he's almost there, can you let him in? He said he'll wait, and I'll be home in about fifty minutes, no more than that, hopefully." She said in a hurry, and I felt my cheeks burn a little. Will and me? Home alone? 

"I…" I hesitated, chewing my bottom lip nervously. "You won't be long, right? Heard on the radio there’s a storm for later."

"I won't, promise. Just let him in, he's already aware I'll take a little longer to be there. See you soon. Thanks, Y/n!" She hung up, not leaving me any time to answer. I put the phone down, still chewing on my bottom lip. I could feel excitement rising on my stomach, making me feel slightly nauseated, and noticed my hands starting to sweat.

Please. That was ridiculous. What was I, a teenager? I was a grown-up, well-succeeded woman, for God's sake. I rubbed my hands on my jeans, driving a little faster than I usually did almost unconsciously. I got home after twenty minutes, parking outside the pretty house. Will was already there, leaning against his car, so lost in his thoughts he barely noticed I'd arrived. I looked at my reflection at the mirror hurriedly, fixing my hair, pinching my cheeks to look less pale, brushing my eyebrows with my fingers to make them look neat. I wasn't even wearing any lipstick today. It had been a long day at work. 

I opened the car door, exiting the vehicle, the noise from shutting the door finally bringing him out of his daze, and he finally seemed to notice me. He smiled lightly, lowering his eyes. He had his glasses on, but as soon as he saw me, he took them off, hanging them on his shirt.

"Hey, Will. I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. There was a little bit of traffic." I justified, walking to the porch and waiting for him to follow me. 

"Y/n. Not at all, I just got here. Alana explained what happened, thanks for coming to let me in. Hope I didn't ruin any appointment you may have had." He waited until I unlocked the door, and we finally were engulfed with the warm air of the heater.

"Nope, I was coming home, no appointments lost. Please, come in. I'm not sure you've ever been here before, but make yourself home." I hung my trench coat, sighing with the pleasure of being home. I loved the atmosphere of that place. "Can I get you anything? Water, soda, beer…"

"Thank you. I'm fine. And no, I haven't been here before." I held back the temptation of saying "good", biting my bottom lip as I watched him sit on the couch. I just stood there for a while, not sure of what to do next. 

He frowned a little, probably thinking why I was acting so weird, and that made me nervous, because it was just an easy step to realize my silly crush on him. Did he know? What if Alana said something? Said something? For fuck's sake, he was Will Graham, he could probably see that written across my stupid face! Shit, he knows. I'm making a fool of myself. Why do I even…

"Is everything okay?" His voice startled me a little, pulling me out of my neurotic breakdown, and I wondered how my facial expressions looked. Was I blinking only one eye like the stereotyped madness of cartoons? I certainly didn't look normal. I cleared my throat, laughing lightly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess I'm not really used to having people over anymore. I've been working a lot lately. People are dying like flies." I sat on the armchair in front of him, sighing. 

"What we do can be overwhelming sometimes. What we see every day. It just… stains you." He said, with a dark look on his serious eyes. 

I nodded. I felt that way sometimes, but I was used to it. I stopped feeling that sense of inadequacy on my chest years ago. 

"I guess you just begin to cope with it, though. Our brain adapts to that harsh reality. But it's always nice to vent somehow. What do you do in your free time?" I asked, wondering if I was getting too personal. Did I sound like I was probing to ask him out?  I felt my face getting warm. Damn it.

Either he didn't realize, or he was just too chivalrous to point, but he didn't mention anything.

"I fish." He said, simply. I nodded with a light smile.

"And you play with your doggies." I pointed, smiling wider. I loved dogs. He'd mentioned them before, so I just brought the subject up, trying to shift the attention from me to them. Will smiled back, his eyes with a subtle glow. He really loved them, and that was so sweet. "Fishing sounds nice. Unfortunately, I could never. I'm too restless. I'd probably startle all the fish and wouldn't catch anything."

He laughed, and that was the first time I ever heard that sound coming out of him. I felt like I was someone deaf that was able to hear the sound of Mozart's symphonies for the first time, and I just knew. There was never detachment from the idea of Will being more than an acquaintance. It was tackled down inside my brain somewhere, for the brain tends to adapt to harsh realities, but it was still there, just waiting for some incentive. 

"It's just a matter of training, getting used to it. I could teach you someday… if you want." He blinked a few times, as if he was surprised with his own boldness, smiling lightly. "And you? What do you do to vent?" He asked, seeming genuinely interested.

"Well, I read a lot. Maybe I could read by the riverside while I watch you fish." I said, shrugging with a subtle smile.

"It's a date, then?" Will inquired, making me mortified. Caught me by total surprise, and when I was about to say something, my phone rang.

"Excuse me." I answered the phone. It was Alana. "Hey. We're already here waiting for you."

Not that I wanted her to arrive any time sooner, but she didn't have to know that.

"You won't believe me; I've got a flat tire. There's a guy helping me out, I was lucky, I'm in the middle of nowhere. But I'll get there in about fifty more minutes, more or less. Can you put Will on the phone? I'll explain everything to him."

"Do you need one of us to pick you up? I'm sure he wouldn't mind, I wouldn't…"

"No, he's almost done. Thank you. Let me talk to Will, I'll be there soon. The storm is about to catch me, I wanna hurry."

I sighed, grimacing at him. 

"She wants to talk to you." I passed him the phone, studying his expressions while he talked to her. As I looked at the window, I could see the dark clouds gathering up, making the end of the afternoon murky. The storm was about to hit hard. I could see a few thin drops of rain starting to wet the glass.

"I can stay a little longer, no problem. I'm being well attended." He traded looks with me, biting his lip slightly. "Okay. I'll see you soon, Alana."

He gave me the phone, but Alana was already gone. I put it on the coffee table, getting up.

"I think I'll pour myself some wine. Do you want some?" I asked politely. "It's one of the fanciest ones; Hannibal gave us a bottle when we dined at his house a few days ago."

"Yes. Thank you." He waited for me to come back with the beverages, and I did my best not to spill anything, sitting on the couch beside him while I gave him the glass. "So you're acquainted with Dr. Lecter?"

"Oh yeah, he's an old friend of Alana's, sometimes he invites us to dinner. He cooks the best meals I've ever had in my entire life, so I don't exactly decline the invitations. And he's one of the most brilliant people I've ever met, so it's always interesting." I took a sip of the crimson liquid, moaning low in pleasure. Good wine. I preferred a good cup of hot oolong, but it was impossible not to appreciate the quality of that drink. 

A few glasses after and a lot of talks about dogs, fishing and other hobbies, he finally felt safe to bring back the topic. The rain had started really pouring, the now thicker drops hitting the windows loudly. Alana hadn't called again. It was nighttime now, the sky seeming to be darker than usual. I was low-key worried about her, but the conversation was too great to interrupt. She was a good driver. She would be just fine. 

"I've been seeing Hannibal Lecter in his office. Not exactly his patient, though. A courtesy of Jack Crawford to keep an eye on the coping of my brain functions." He sounded a bit bitter, drinking a few sips of his wine.

I could see he didn't like therapy. Must be hard with someone with a mind like his.

"You know, sometimes, Alana psychoanalyses me. Like, she doesn't even notice. It's cute, but sometimes it creeps me out." 

"She has a professional curiosity about me, but she's too polite and considerate to let it slip out. We've never even been alone in the same room together."

I held back a bitter comment, not wanting to talk shit about my cousin, but he saw it right through me. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to put you in a complicated position."

"I know. You're sweet." The word slipped through my tongue before I could contain it. Will blinked a few times, seeming surprised, and I felt my cheeks burn, starting to stutter. "I meant… I'm sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No, no. It's just… no one's ever called me that before." It was my time to get surprised. He didn't seem to be complimented much, and that just made me flabbergasted. I couldn't be the only one who saw how fantastic Will was.

"... Ah. Well, some people are just shy. I'm shy as hell, don't even know how I had the nerve to say that, it's probably the wine starting to kick in. Hope I really didn't make you uncomfortable, though. Don't need to be polite, it's okay to tell me."

"Actually, I'm curious to know what else you think of me. I sense it's not the only word you have to define me." He sounded bolder, and his eyes were on mine, giving me shivers down my spine. 

"Well… I think you're too exceptional to be defined with a few words. You're… Kind, brilliant… I see how seeing what you see, doing what you do, how it wrecks you sometimes, and you just keep doing it because you're saving lives. That's so selfless, Will. That's…" I was going to say more, but at that very moment, a loud thunder just made the house practically tremble, and I let out a real inelegant weep, coming closer to Will and holding his arm firmly, my fingers grabbing on the fabric of his shirt. He could've thought it was an artifice to get closer to him, but he could see how frightened I was, trembling like a cornered wild little beast. I hated thunders, fireworks, anything loud. Feeling ridiculous, I released his shirt, apologizing with embarrassment.

"It's okay. It's just noise. I'm here." He put some of my hair that had fallen to my face behind my ear with such a tenderness that I felt my stomach twitch, realizing suddenly how close we were. He was looking at me as if it was the first time he was actually seeing me. 

The phone rang again. Alana! I grabbed it from the coffee table, turning to face Will. He wasn't avoiding eye contact anymore, his pupils were dilated. My breathing was accelerated, and I knew it had little to do with the thunder.

"Lana, is everything okay?" I asked with genuine concern. "Are you close?"

"Ah, Y/n. I'm so sorry. I don't think I'll make it in time, I'm driving slow, the roads are slippery because of the storm and it's pretty foggy. I'll stop at a motel and spend the night, or at least wait for the storm to pass. I'm so furious with myself!"

"It's okay cuz, do what's safer for you. I'm sure Will will understand. I'll pass him the phone." I gave him the phone and he talked to Alana for a few minutes, but I wasn't listening. She'd ruined the moment unintentionally, and now he was probably going home. When would I have an opportunity like that again? 

"Okay. Don't worry. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Alana. Take care." He gave me the phone and I put it on the coffee table again. Before any of us could say anything, another thunder cracked the sky, and this time, Will held me so I wouldn't be afraid. The lights went out, and he held me against his chest protectively, making me smell his aftershave and some perfume. He smelled so good. For a moment, I just stood there in his arms, feeling his warmth, his breath, the steady beats of his heart. 

I moved away just a little to see his face, very close to mine, but it was so dark I could only see shadows. A lightning lit up the room and, just for a little moment, I could see his gorgeous eyes staring at me. After a soft touch of his thumb on my lips, he finally kissed me, so gentle, like I could break as fine china with any rougher move. I touched his neck with both my hands, playing with his hair, feeling how soft they were. He pulled me closer, his hands on my waist, and the kiss started to get deeper, voracious, as if we were hungry for each other. Maybe the wine was helping to raise the lust; all I know is that I've wanted that to happen for a long time. Will's kiss was everything I imagined it would be, but entirely different at the same time. All I could say was that he was great at it. His hands traveled through my body, and I grabbed his hair, pulling it slightly. That made a low growl echo through his chest, and I started to feel my body fervent as a bonfire.

I couldn't say much because I was breathless and I didn't want to stop what we were doing, so a single word left my lips as I kept my forehead on his.

"Stay."

Will bit his lip, kissing me again, and that was all the answer I needed.

xx 

Morning. Thin sunrays illuminated my bedroom floor through the curtains, waking me up. The storm was gone. I haven't had a nice night of sleep like that in ages. I looked at the other side of my bed and there was Will, sleeping heavily. It wasn't a dream, after all. Last night really happened. I smiled, staring at the roof with disbelief in my eyes.

I stared at him for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. Should I just let him sleep? He looked so heavenly, his hair was messy, his breathing steady, he seemed so less troubled than he usually was. I touched his hair lightly, caressing it with tenderness, and he started to move. I could see his neck, and a few hickies we marked on his albescent skin. That made me blush a little bit, and I laughed silently. 

He opened his eyes while I still touched his hair, but I didn't stop, and he didn't seem to want me to. We stared at each other in silence for a few moments, and he smiled, a different smile than the usual ones he gave me.

"Hi." He said, pulling me closer by my waist, stroking the skin under the sheets. I pecked him on the lips, then kissing his forehead, his cheek, his jawline. 

"Hey there. Good morning. I'm starving, are you having breakfast with me?"

"Actually, I gotta go home. Feed the dogs." He said, stroking my nude shoulder with his finger.

"Of course. Your dogs. I won't keep you then, poor babies must be so hungry." I kissed his cheek and was about to get up when he pulled me again, gently kissing my lips. I smiled, probably looking like an idiot. A joyful idiot. "I'll let you get dressed. I'll be in the kitchen."

I dressed up in my long and black robe, smiling at him before I left the room, going to the kitchen, where I started to make some french toasts. After a few minutes, I heard the front door open, and an exhausted Alana came in, her hair frizzy and her coat looking still a bit wet.

"Oh, Lana! Go change, you'll get a cold!" I stopped what I was doing, going to her and helping to take off her coat.

"That storm was a nightmare. I swear I won't ignore the warnings ever again. I'm so sorry, I had no idea it would get this bad, yesterday was one of those days where everything just goes wrong. Hope Will arrived well at home, did he seem disappointed or annoyed before he left? I was so inconvenient…"

I didn't even have time to answer, because Will opened my bedroom door, coming out while buttoning his shirt, suddenly realizing Alana was there.

"Oh." Alana said, looking so flabbergasted I almost laughed at her. Will rose his eyebrows at the sight of her, seeming a bit unsure of what to do or say. I wasn't planning for her to find out like this, it was a bit early, I wasn't expecting her to arrive so soon. "Hi, Will."

"Alana. Hi." He avoided looking at her, staring at me, and his eyes immediately softened. I smiled, he smiled back, and that was it, Alana was forgotten.

"Off you go to feed your children." I joked, biting my bottom lip. "I guess I'll see you later, then."

"Definitely." He simply said, kissing my forehead while caressing my hair, certainly a little embarrassed to kiss me in front of Alana. "See you later, Y/n. Bye, Alana."

"Bye, Will." I waved with a soft smile, and he grabbed his jacket, leaving the house.

My smile grew larger and I left my head fall back, squeaking low in commemoration. What a night! What a morning! I never thought I would thank a storm so much, let alone a bloody thunder.

Before Alana could say anything, I realized Will had left his glasses at the coffee table, and I picked it up in a hurry, bursting through the front door and calling him before he left, waving in front of the car.

"You forgot your glasses!" I said, and he opened the car windows, raising his hand to pick them.

I leaned against the car window, putting the glasses on him, and kissing his lips fiercely. He moaned in surprise, holding my face to deepen the kiss. After a moment, I pulled away, appreciating the view of his lips so reddish. 

"Go back inside, it's cold." He said with a cheeky smile, and before I could say he actually made me hotter, he took off with the car.

I went back inside, where Alana was waiting for me with her arms crossed. 

"What the hell did you do to Will Graham?" She asked, sounding severe, but a smile was trying to escape her lips "I mean, besides trying to suck his soul with your mouth a few moments ago."

"Oh, shut up!" I laughed, blushing violently. "You made that happen, you know? Thank you. Was that a set up or did the universe actually conspire in my favor?"

"I wish I'd planned this. That would mean I would've had a plan b and I wouldn't have stayed at that disgusting mote… Y/n, you're full of hickies, I can't believe you!"

"You're starting to sound like my mom, Lana. I'm gonna wear a turtleneck, don't worry, I don't want Beverly all over me like a bloodhound and Brian and Jimmy's witty comments today. In fact, keep it to yourself, okay? Will's discreet. I won't even tell Beverly, if she finds out, the whole bureau will know, hell, maybe even Freddie Lounds."

"I told you to let it go, Y/n. Will's very unstable right now. I… I only want what's best for you." She said with concern in her bright blue eyes. I sighed, walking to her and kissing her cheek with affection.

"You're a good cousin. But I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself, okay? Unless this isn't only about me, unless it concerns something else." I raised an eyebrow while staring at her, more confident that I've ever been. "Is there something you wanna tell me?"

She hesitated, clenching her jaw, but never spoke. 

I smiled, tapping her cheek very lightly in approval.

"I gotta get ready to work. Wanna grab lunch with me later?" I asked in a casual tone, a cynical smile on my face. She shrugged. "See you later then, cuz."

[levis-hazelnut]

Summary: when you and your best friend, Hanji, were younger, you had made up stories about your dream guys - what they would look like and how you would meet. What happens when the one you had made up appears to be real?

Warning(s): suggestions of sex i guess? please do tell me if there are anymore.

Taglist: @castellandiangelo @fandom-addict19​ @20coldhearts​

Status: finished!

part 11 > part 12 (final)

series masterlist

FIVE YEARS LATER...

"So...?" I spoke, looking at Hanji who had a massive grin smeared over her face. It wasn't creepy like her usual grin, it was pure ecstasy and excitement.

She had just come to my apartment (yes, it was now mine and Levi's since she moved in with Erwin) and she burst into my room, which obviously wasn't locked, with the screech of my name. Levi was only in his boxers as he towered over my naked form, so Hanji had immediately scurried out of our room and I grumbled curses as I pulled on a bathrobe. Levi stayed in our room and I went to the living room where Hanji was acting fidgety and was grinning.

And here we are now - me waiting for her to tell me what happened.

"... ERWIN AND I ARE GETTING MARRIED!"

"What?! Really?! Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for you!!" I squealed and brought her into a hug, squeezing her tightly. "Ahh, I’m actually so excited!!!"

"I never thought I could feel this happy. I actually burst into tears when he proposed. Oh my god, I'm so excited!"

"Tch. What's going on?" Levi grumbled, entering the room, wearing just trousers, which meant the bites and hickeys I gave him on his upper body were exposed. "I didn't expect to hear pigs squealing in the living room."

"Erwin proposed to Hanji!" I told him, ignoring his insult.

"Congrats. Can you leave now?" he said blankly with his arms crossed over his chest. Obviously, he wouldn't be happy if someone just barged into his home and interrupted something.

"Levi!" I scolded with a frown as Hanji continued to smile.

"No, no, it's fine. I'm sorry. Just wanted to tell you the big news. Also, you're going to be my maid of honour, of course."

"Yeah, okay. I'm so happy for you, Hanji!" I beamed at her and walked her to the door. "By the way, can I have your keys? I don't want you to barge in here whenever."

"Yes. Sorry."

"It's fine. I should just hurry up before Levi gets all grumpy."

"Okay. I'll see you soon, (Y/N)."

"I'll try to find a day where we can spend time together. But my job is taking up my time."

"Whenever you're free, don't worry. Anyway, bye."

"Bye, Hanji."

As soon as I locked the door, I was scooped up by Levi who carried me bridal style to our bedroom. I laughed softly as he gently dropped me onto the bed.

"You're getting it twice now," he growled quietly in a husky tone.

~/~

"What about this one?" Hanji asked.

"Aww!!! This one is the best! I love it, it suits you so much and I'm sure Erwin's going to love it!" I replied, clapping my hands a couple of times.

Hanji and I were out looking for a wedding dress. We visited many shops, she tried on several dresses but none of them seemed to be the perfect one. However, the one she was wearing now was something that made her look like the perfect bride and it caused tears to gather at the brim of my eyes. Though, I stopped them from falling and Hanji gave me a sympathetic smile, embracing me.

"What's wrong?" she inquired with a light laugh.

"... I'm just so happy for you. I can't believe my best friend's getting married."

She embraced me until I calmed down, even though no tears had fallen.

Once we decided that the dress she was currently wearing was the one, she got measured and pointed out things she wanted to be altered. The worker told us that she should expect the dress to be done and will be able to pick it up in a few months, which will be around one month before the wedding.

We left the shop and decided to get something to eat since we've been walking around all day with empty stomachs.

"After this, we'll go shopping for your dress," Hanji told me after taking a bite of her burger. Yeah, she should be trying to eat healthy to make sure that she can fit into her wedding dress on the day, but she deserved it after doing so much.

"Okay," I beamed.

~/~

I laid on the sofa, on my stomach; one hand was barely touching the floor and the other was holding my phone to my ear as I waited for Levi to finish cooking dinner.

"Wait, what?" I spoke, frowning and shifting to lay on my back.

"I'm sorry, (Y/N)."

"No, but, wait. I haven't seen you in over three months. And that was the only day I was able to make time for just us two. We barely see each other now and I miss you, Eren. Also, Hanji's wedding is next month so I'm going to be even busier because she'll need my help, and I'll still have work, so I'm obviously not going to have time."

"I know. And I miss you, too, princess. But--"

"Don't try making things better by calling me 'princess'. I understand that you have work as well, and you need to go with your boss on this business trip. But why can't you just squeeze in one day for us? That's all I want."

"... I'll try," he sighed. "I'm leaving this weekend and I'll be gone for a week. Maybe I can try to take a day off as soon as I come back. Is that okay?"

"Fine..."

"Stop sulking. Be happy that I'm trying."

A small smile snuck onto my lips, replacing my pout. "How did you even know I was sulking?"

"Are you really going to ask that even though we've been friends for nearly fifteen years?"

"Damn, time goes too fast," I mumbled, as if in thought. Levi came into sight, placing two plates of food on the coffee table in front of the sofa. He tapped my legs, wordlessly asking me to move them, so I did, deciding to sit up. "Anyway, I need to go. I better see you soon."

"You will," he replied, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Bye, princess."

"Bye," I grinned before hanging up.

"And you say you're not cheating on me with that guy," Levi murmured.

"I'm not, idiot. And he's dating Petra. So just hush and eat your food."

"I doubt you smile like that when you're talking to me on the phone."

"Baby, you know I love you and would never cheat on you with anyone, or do anything to hurt you," I told him, pecking his cheek before picking up my plate of food. "... You're so cute when you're jealous."

"I'm not jealous. Just curious."

"Mhm." I playfully rolled my eyes. "By the way, have you taken a day off of work for Hanji's wedding?"

"Yeah, and the day after because I know I wouldn't be bothered to go into work."

"Yeah, I took off three days."

"Well, I know what we can do for the extra day we're both free," Levi smirked, facing me to kiss me but I dodged it, causing his expression to morph into a frown. "What are you doing?"

"I want to eat," I responded, causing him to roll his eyes (food can be such a cockblock).

When he put his plate down on the table, I did the same so I could tackle him. Once I dominated him, I smothered his face with kisses (being the lovey-dovey person I am) and he scrunched his face up, not enjoying it as much as I was. I giggled when I stopped and got off of him, deciding to finish off my food.

"You're an idiot," he muttered as he sat up.

"Thank you, my wonderful and kind boyfriend," I replied sarcastically.  

~/~

I fixed Hanji's veil and straightened out her dress, making sure everything was fine. I then walked around her so I could see her face and my face broke into a wide grin, tears welling up for the like third time today. I was just so thrilled to see Hanji so ecstatic. And memories of when we were younger flashed through my mind, reminding when we were just immature and stupid kids that didn't know what love was. But now, she was getting married to the man she's loved for the past six years.

"(Y/N), please don't cry. You're honestly going to make me cry and we can't ruin our makeup."

I laughed softly. "Sorry. I'm fine. It's just emotional seeing your best friend getting married." I took a deep breath and didn't let the fluid spill. "I'm fine. Anyway, you look amazing. I love you and I'm happy for you."

"You look beautiful as well. I'm sure Levi will propose to you one day."

"Just the thought of that will make me faint. Okay, okay. I'm wasting your time so I'm going to go. I'll see you out there, okay?"

"Okay!" she grinned and I quickly hugged her before leaving.

I walked outside, where everyone was waiting, including Erwin who stood at the altar which was a floral arch; the flowers were a mix of white and light pink. The ceremony was being held outside on a grassy field which was part of the venue the reception was being held at. White chairs were set up on either side of a white aisle that led all the way to Erwin.

I shot the groom a reassuring smile as I made way to Levi who was at the front. I sat down next to him, which was the same row where Jean and Petra sat. Eren would sit here as well but Hanji had asked him to walk her down the aisle.

I gripped the raven's hand that rested on his lap and he gave it a small squeeze as I leaned my head on his shoulder, making sure not to ruin my hair.

People were conversing, music was playing, and everyone was waiting for the bride.

After a couple of minutes, Hanji had made her entrance, and I could see her excited expression through the veil. God, these tears won't spare me.

Hanji and Erwin had said their vows, exchanged rings and kisses as everyone celebrated for them.  

Soon after, everyone was moving inside the venue but Levi had asked me to stay outside with him for a few minutes. I didn't question it, I just assumed that he didn't want to go inside yet and wanted to spend more time where there were no people. And I wanted the same because there was obviously no fresh air inside that hall.

I wandered up and down the aisle, glancing inside at all the people through the massive windows every now and then.

"... (Y/N)?" the grey-eyed male spoke softly as my back was towards him. I hummed and turned around to look at him, only to find him kneeling down in front of me, a miniature box in his grip.

No. It can't be. Is he actually going to propose? Damn, my eyes haven't watered so much in one day before.

He inhaled and closed his eyes before quietly exhaling and revealing his beautiful eyes again, locking them with mine. "I know I barely say it, but I love you, (Y/N). I love that you're a weirdo, pervert and idiot. I love your positive energy. I love how much of a sappy idiot you are. I love your face when you're sleeping, and now that I just said that aloud, I realise it sounds creepy as hell," he said, causing me to laugh under my breath as I let him continue.

"I just love you so much, (Y/N). No one can compete with you and I wouldn't be able to think of a world without you. I don't know what you did to me, but here I am, sounding like a sappy idiot. I don't know how, but you stole my heart when we first met, even though I had never experienced something like this before. Just every time I look at you, I know that deciding to spend the rest of my life with you is the right choice. So, (Y/N) (L/N)... will you marry me?"

"... Damn, I love you so much," I whispered before raising my voice a little and saying, "Of course, I'll marry you."

A smile, which seemed both relieved and happy, settled onto his face as he slipped the ring onto my finger before standing up. I cupped his face with both of my hands and briefly kissed him before embracing him, squeezing him tightly.

I pulled away from the hug, resting my arms on his shoulders as my fingers locked behind his neck, and his arms were still wound around my waist. I gave him a tender smile and he pecked my lips, a pretty smile widening on his lips. He was so handsome and I to this day, I can’t believe that I’m lucky enough to be with him.  

We both decided to finally go inside, and as soon as we entered the hall, applauds sounded, causing us to come to a halt and glance at each other in confusion.

"CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! AHHHH!!!!" Hanji screamed and ran towards us.

"Hanji, you're a bride, you can't be crazy like this. And you could've tripped because of your dress and heels," I mildly scolded her.  

"Do you think I care about any of that?! You're engaged! I love both of you!"

"How do you even know?" Levi inquired.

"Do you not see those big-ass windows over there?" I motioned to them, where we could see the open space outside.  

"Ohh, Shorty!! You look so happy and cute, and I feel happier for you two than when I got engaged!"

"Hanji, you know I always love to fangirl with you, but today's your wedding day, so it's about you. So, go enjoy yourself. Also, everyone's looking at us and I feel uncomfortable," I told her quietly.

"Oh, okay. Sorry. But I can't wait!"

"Yeah, I know, we’ll fangirl later. Now, go to your husband."

"Okay. Bye, (Y/N)! Bye, Shorty!"

I shook my head and sighed with a smile on my lips as we began to walk again, heading to the table that our friends sat at. I rolled my eyes when they all gave us goofy grins.

"I never knew you could be such a romantic person, Levi," Sasha teased.

"I'm not."

"Well, your proposal speech seemed longer than average," Conny pointed out.

"... Because--"

"He's such a soft baby, who loves to cuddle and loves to be loved. He's like an adorable puppy and--" I told them, knowing Levi was shooting me a glare when he cut me off.

"Oi, shut it, brat."

"He's not even denying it," Jean snickered as he tried to imagine a vulnerable and loving Levi.

"Tch. I was wrong, this was the worst decision I could make," the raven muttered.

"Haha, I know you don't mean that," I beamed at him, booping his nose with my index finger.

"I can't imagine him being like that," Eren smirked.

"Yeah, because it's not true."

"Whatever you say, Levi," Farlan taunted.

"I hate you, (Y/N)."

"It didn't seem like that a few minutes ago," Isabel grinned.

"Love you, too, my adorable, little baby."

"I'm older than you, idiot."

"It's just by a couple of months. And how can I not call you a baby when you pout like that?"

"I'm not pouting. Just shut up."

Once everyone got back to their own conversations, I smirked and leaned in closer to him to whisper, "Just wanted to let you know that you look so damn hot in that tux."

"... And you look beautiful," he mumbled back, only loud enough for me to hear.

The day went on, everyone ate, people danced, and everything was joyful.

It was such a fun day with so much happiness being spread everywhere. However, towards the end of the day, all I wanted to do was relax and lie down in bed with my beloved.

And that's what happened.

Levi and I were lying down in bed later that night. And since he had claimed that he wasn't a soft baby that loves to cuddle, it would've been surprising for our friends to see Levi clinging onto me like a child and burying his face in my chest as I ran my fingers through his silky hair.

"My love?"

"Hm?"

"... If I tell you something, you have to swear that you won't freak out or break up with me."

He removed his face from my chest and looked at me. "How bad is this confession? Is it bad enough for me to break up with you just after proposing to you?"

"Well, I just think you're going to freak out and not want to be around me anymore."

"I'm scared to know, but sure, tell me."

"... About eleven years ago, when Hanji and I were thirteen, we used to make up some scenarios that included specific people. We liked to fantasize about our 'dream guy'-- You know what, I'm not going to tell you."

"You can't just start a story and not finish it. I want to know about your dream guy."

I sighed heavily. "... He looked and acted just like you, Levi," I blurted out, afraid of his reaction. He didn't say anything, just stared at me as if waiting for me to give him more of an explanation. "... Hanji made up a scenario of us meeting in uni, extremely similar to what happened in real life, and, um, yeah... I guess that's all I wanted to tell you. Please don't freak out."

"How the hell do you expect me not to freak out?" he retorted in a slightly raised voice, shooting into a sitting position. "You're telling me you made me up? And in your perspective, I'm basically like supernatural?"

"No... not really. You’re obviously just a normal human being, so it could literally all be a coincidence because you were obviously born normally and not summoned by some kind of sorcery or witchcraft."

"... That's crazy..."

"I know. I was planning on not telling you, but I just had to."

"... You and Hanji are seriously the weirdest and craziest people I've met," he huffed as he laid back down.

"I know, Levi. And you knew that from the start."

"Yet, I still fell for you - an idiot who can't grow up."

"I love you, Levi," I hummed, resting my head on his chest. "You're so much better than what I expected my dream guy to be."

a/n: it’s finally finishedddddd. thank you to all of you that stayed with me until the end of this series and i hope you enjoyed reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it! 🥰🥺 

[oikaw-ugh]

Calling your HQ Boyfriend by a different name (Tiktok)

THAT HELL OF A TIKTOK TREND WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME IS2G

Characters: Bokuto, Kuroo, Oikawa, Tsukishima, Kenma,

Warning: Inaccurate characterization

For personal reasons, you will be calling them with the name 'Renato'.

∆ Bokuto Kōtaro

100% HIS MOOD SWITCHES

To cover up your prank, you lied to him saying you're going to teach him how to do the throw it back step

That is if you can lmao 💀

And so, the two of you are in front of your phone, you're behind him as you guide Bokuto's hips or something

You: Okay, that's cool, now do a wave motion-

Bokuto: Like this?

You: Renato, no, more of-

Bokuto. Immediately. Freezes.

Bokuto: Renato? 🥺

OHHHH THE LOOK IN HIS EYES AS HE STANDS STRAIGHT, STARING AT YOU AS HIS SHOULDERS SLOWLY SLOUCH

Bokuto: Baby, who's Renato?

And you're confused whether you tell him the truth or you continue on acting

You: Baby, I said 'Bo' not 'Renato'.

Bokuto 🥺 does 🥺 not 🥺 buy 🥺 it

Bokuto: You said 'Renato' though.

AND LIKE HE'S REALLY REALLY SLUMPED AND HE'S DRAGGING HIS FEET AWAY FROM THE CAM

You had to stop faking as you tackled him with a hug as you frantically explained it was all a prank

You: Bo, I'm sorry, I was pranking you for a Tiktok video!

Bokuto and his spirit slowly lifting: Really?

And when he recovers, he ends up laughing with how ridiculous it was as he hugs you back but oh boy is his hug very tight!

Bokuto: Baby, you got me!

∆ Kuroo Tetsurō

A cool guy, dare I say

He is sitting at the couch beside you, eyes preoccupied on his screen so he didn't notice how you're in a front cam, phone facing him.

You: Renato, love, can you please pass me my charger-

You haven't finished your sentence yet but the moment you said the wrong name, Kuroo's eyes widens in surprise. Like, cool surprise.

But nah, he's cool. Like, I see him smirking as his brows raise.

Kuroo: Renato, huh?

You can't help but laugh with how nonchalant Kuroo's approach is.

You: What?

Kuroo: Who is Renato?

You: *laughing* I don't know who's Renato, Kuroo.

Kuroo: You called me 'Renato' though.

You: I said Kuroo, though...

Kuroo: Uh huh? Then why don't you let Renato pass you your charger instead?

Note: He's still saying this without lifting his eyes on his screen.

You end up cracking while your phone shakes badly.

You: Kuroo!

Kuroo: Nope. I'm not Renato.

He says that while you rot at his side with laughter.

∆ Oikawa Tōhru

FINDS IT ABSOLUTELY INSULTING

While at your car, you place your phone at an angle that would catch him.

Imagine Oikawa's head wobbling along the music from the car's stereo? Ugh what a sight

You: Renato, Sweetie, can I-

Oikawa: *gasps*

You: ???

Oikawa: eXcUsE mE?

Imagine just like, his face dramatically gasping as he turned the steering wheel and like, he glances at you and at the road back and forth with an offended look on his face

Oikawa: Renato? RENATO?

And like, you're there cracking as he still complains about you calling him Renato

You: I said Oikawa-

Oikawa: OF ALL THE NAMES, HOW CAN YOU MISCALL ME AS RENATO?

Oikawa: You know what? How can you even miscall me? My name is extraordinary, how can you forget my name?

Oikawa: God, the audacity 💀 I hate it here

And you're just dying at the side, laughing as he continues to ramble about you miscalling him

Oikawa: This is ridiculous! I want a divorce!

You: We're not even married yet 💀

∆ Tsukishima Kei

He's triggered

Like, he accompanies you as you do the groceries. He's in front of your cart, gently pulling it as you walk from isle to isle so he wouldn't know that you're actually filming.

You: Hey, Renato, do you think I should buy some new toothbrush?

Tsukishima: *looks to your direction faster than the speed of light*

Tsukishima: The heck did you just call me?

The actress that you are: Tsukishima...?

Tsukishima: You ain't fooling anyone here, Y/N

You: Tsukki-

Tsukishima: Do your groceries alone. I don't date people who don't even know my name

Now the next scenario is up to you: if you successfully caught up with your long-legged boyfriend, then you go home in peace. But if you don't, expect this little prank to spark an argument that would probably last for a couple of hours. Worse, a day.

Yes, Tsukishima can be this much

∆ Kenma Kozume

It's always the gamer boyfriends who sometimes give bland reactions.

Idk with Kenma though

You sit across Kenma, your phone focused at your boyfriend who is now looking down at his Switch. He seems to look like nothing can disrupt his concentration-

You: Renato, can you reach for the water bottle at the counter behind you?

Kenma pauses whatever he's playing.

And he just stares.

The kind of stare you cast when something is...weird.

You know how a cat stares at you wide-eye as their head wobble slightly to the side? Kenma is giving you that look.

You wanted to laugh but you're an actor I guess.

You: Hey? You okay?

Kenma: What did you just call me?

You: ....Kenma?

Kenma blinks and is2g, you can see how his face scrunches with your response. NDHSJSJSJS

But anyways, Kenma warily reaches for the bottle behind him, his eyes not leaving you.

Take note: he looks at you with suspicion

You: Thanks, Kenma.

And even when you drank the water down, his eyes never left you.

But in the end, Kenma sighs and he resumes on playing his game instead.

But joke's on him, it bugged his mind. He dropped his Switch as he looks at you.

Kenma: You said Renato.

You: I know, Kenma. It was a prank.

And the worry immediately vanishes as he rolled his eyes before reaching for his Switch again. He should've known better, of course.

[just-a-fangirl13]

MacGyver s5 theories..Time jump? MacRiley? Trust issues and more

OKAY! So we finally got our first (3) SNEAK-PEEKS at 5x01 and I have soo many thoughts.

Here are the links incase you missed it: https://just-a-fangirl13.tumblr.com/post/636474561109639168/the-new-sneak-peeks-for-macgyver-5-01-are-out

Firstly let’s talk about the elephant in the room...The TIME JUMP....? 

MacGyver writers really like their time jumps. From season 3 to season 4 we lost about 18 months, and in that span of time the Phoenix shut down, Mac and Desi dated, lived together, had a pet? and a “nuclear breakup” and then proceeded to live their lives, Riley also started seeing someone then moved in and had been living with him (Aubrey) for about 6 months and of course Bozer directed his own movie. So clearly a lot happened.

This 10 month jump might not be as eventful (or can it be?!) since it seems that the writers have included the pandemic into the storyline. Now if the characters were quarantined like we were I have tons of questions..

IS THE PANDEMIC OVER IN THEIR WORLD? WAS IT A DIFFERENT KIND OF PANDEMIC OR COVID? WHAT ARE THE REPERCUSSIONS?

DID THEY STILL GO ON MISSIONS? or were they literally just doing nothing like the rest of us? *I wonder if Mac burnt down the house....hehhehe*

DID RILEY MOVE OUT? or was she stuck quarantining with Mac and Desi?

DID MAC AND DESI BREAK UP? I cannot imagine them quarantining together for 10 months and maintaining their sanity. 10 months is a long time for MacDesi and if they survived it... It is possible them breaking up this second time around (for MacRiley to happen) just got a whole lot more complicated.

So there are 2 possibilities because we know Mac and Riley have to happen at some point RIGHT?!! *I WILL LOSE IT IF THEY DONT*

1. Mac and Desi broke up a few months in and this press release photo has more going on then meets the eye. At face value it seems like Mac and Desi might still be dating but I doubt that very much. Why? ill talk about that in a minute. Also if they broke up a few months (into the 10) that would leave sufficient time for Mac to get his head back in the game and if he and Riley happened then she wouldn't look like a rebound. (OH GOD PLEASE BE THIS!!)

2. Mac and Desi haven't broken up but knowing their track record they haven't exactly had a smooth 10 months. Now this would mean that when they do break up eventually, (there is a certain chance they may not at all and MacDesi might be endgame...NOOO) we will actually see it happen but I dont know why the writers would want to risk pulling the show down by anchoring Mac and Desi in this chaotic relationship not a lot of us are even fans of and slowing down the whole timeline of things. This is the theory I am not a big fan of but I guess we will know in the next 48 hours.

Okay now that we have the relationships out of the way lets talk about the plot.

We know Codex isn't done yet. LeLand is still out there and they seem to be the main focus this season. Again we dont know much about this and only time will tell. 

The team does seem to be back and going on their usual missions but you have to remember there are around 4-6 episode from the original season 4 that never aired (due to covid). Plus the show runner changed so it will now be an alternation between the old s4 episodes that are definitely more Codex focused and the usual missions that might somehow tie into the big picture (even if they dont im not complaining!) This will give them time to develop the other plot lines and hopefully give us some happy moments too! (can we not kill anymore of Mac’s blood relatives? oh wait THEY ARE ALL ALREADY DEAD!!)

Another HUGE THING that I am very happy that the writers decided to tackle in terms of inter personal drama is trust issues.

As we all know when Mac kinda-sort-of went rogue towards the end of season 4, Riley was the only one who had complete faith in him while Matty and Bozer knew there was clearly more going on....BUT Russ and Desi didn't stop for even a second to consider that Mac might be doing the right thing. 

Now you have to know this. Russ and Desi are not only new to the team but the world is very black and white for them. (Desi more than Russ actually) While Russ did some very gray area things he always thinks like a soldier just like Desi. For them people are mostly good or bad. You cant do (kinda) bad things for good reasons.

As we saw in the sneak peek where Russ doubts Mac and Mac gives Russ a piece of his mind about not trusting him, there is definitely a lot of conflict going on. (I expect Mac to have the same issue with Desi because if I remember clearly unlike Russ, Desi never apologised to Mac about holding him at gunpoint. How pronounced that issue is and if Mac and Desi break up because of it..only time will tell.) 

I have to say though Mac telling Russ off was pretty amazing. It seems like he’s finally talking his mind and not taking shit from people. I cant wait to see more of sassy Mac!!! (wonder what brought that out...hmmmmmmmhmmm)

The events of season 4 are definitely going to influence a lot of what happens in season 5 and I cant wait!! Less than 48 hours to go!!!!!!

P.S. One more quick thing. Everyone has been saying that since MacGyver now has a LA unit Jack might be back since George Eads wanted to be closer to LA but all the shooting for MacGyver happened in Atlanta so that problem might have been resolved (I dont know how likely or unlikely that is its just something that came to my attention).

Also our favourite psychopath aka Murdoc could show up in S5 too since David Dastmalchian the actor who portrays Murdoc is also in LA right now (or at least he was till the 29th of Nov) along with Meredith Eaton for whom travelling to Atlanta is dangerous because she has several health issues. (I am happy they haven't written her out completely just because of COVID) We shall just have to wait and watch!

[norgestan]

I'm going back for seconds! Viri/Hugo, Nora/Miquel, Lucasim, Emma/You. Lol tbh I just want an Emma ship and I feel like we haven't properly settled for one. 😔 Who should end up with Emma, Mia excluded since you haven't watched Druck yet?

ardi round 2, i loooove this :)

VIRIHUGO:

i think at the end of the day i’m just resigned to virihugo’s existence. do i hate that they just Start pining for each other with no setup at all? yes. do i hate that their relationship was a noorhelm+vilde esque get-together where dylan is the one who ends up alone? yes (imagine if noora had told william something like “oh lol vilde is just some slut that goes for every boy around her, she’ll get over it soon and she doesn’t really care about us being together ;)”. bc that’s essentially what virihugo did LOL). do i hate that half of their clips are they just standing still and monologuing about each other? oh yes. do i care? not really. i would resent them a lot more if viri had been the protag of s3, but eskam had really compelling couples with noriquel and norandro so i just spend my time focusing on them and not the lesser part of the season.

viri is an endearing character, and although i didn’t like most of her subplot in s3, i do think eskam made her an interesting character with what they had and i’m happy she got a nice boyfriend that she has lots of fun with. moreover, norandro was lacking the enemies-to-lovers snarky interactions (too busy being a really compelling couple!) and the trope was picked up by hugo and viri. which i kinda dig, because those interactions were the only things that i enjoyed about various noorhelms in the skamverse - if most of them were like that and less bad abusive boy feminist girl jerk-fest, i wouldn’t loathe noorhelm as much as i do. although this also makes me wish viri and hugo had been that kind of dynamic from the start, and just gotten a lot of will-they-won’t-they glances from their friends throughout the show until they finally got into each other on s3. but i guess that would’ve made it impossible for eskam to use dylan just to *checks notes* make every person in the love triangle insanely infuriating, oh well.

tl;dr: they are allowed to exist.

NORIQUEL:

ardi, you just want to see the world burn LMAO

to me it’s hard to dislike any pairing with nora on it because she’s a very good character and that just means she’ll always have great dynamics with other good characters. and oh is miquel a good character. in a lot of ways, eskam gave us two great williams in one season: my boy alejandro, who is the perfect candidate for a nora love interest, who earned his place and then helped nora earn her place as the best candidate to be his love interest as well, and then miquel, that has just enough characterization to be exactly what the narrative of the season needs him to be - not only a mustache-twirling antagonist who will punch out then smirk his way out of situations, but a real person.

see, they could’ve made miquel into a one-dimensional asshole that nora is stupidly into because he’s hot (does that sound familiar to you? LOL) but oh no, miquel is way more than that. he earns nora’s trust because he’s not an asshole, he resents olga for cheating on him and you can see how nora waits until the moment where he’ll call her a slut but it NEVER comes, he defends nora in front of his friends... he gives her what she needs, and he fits right where she expects him to. and that’s so important in a season where every other character is challenging nora in one way or another: alejandro doesn’t fit in her box of “incorrigible fuckboy”, viri doesn’t fit in her box of “helpless friend who needs my pity”, emma doesn’t fit in her box of “s/a victim”. being with miquel is easy, when he just humors her and spits out thoughts that nora agrees with all the time. it’s just REALLY great to watch. not only is her season a display of how emotional abuse looks like, but also her entire relationship with miquel showcases her shame, her flaws, the things she needs to work with to better her relationships with the people who ask more of her because it’s only fair.

i honestly never was in the miquel hate train. once you get the point of the character, it’s easy to love him for what he is. as i said before, miquel was also a call of attention because the conversations that he had with nora reminded me of talks with male friends i’ve had in my uni years, and it really put it in perspective and made me realize that i have been humoring numerous miquels by sitting through their “i’m actually a feminist, ya know” think-pieces and agreeing with the general feeling of it. and i don’t think a character like niko could EVER make anyone feel like that.

i’ve checked the middle square because that was my reaction every time eskam made a point to parallel noriquel to noorhelm. like YES. YOU DO GET ME. TRULY A SEASON FROM NOORHELM ANTIS TO NOORHELM ANTIS. what a skamverse treat. this relationship is good for the SOUL. that’s why i never got infuriated watching the couple, despite knowing what the point of their existence was: at the end of the day, i knew that the signs of abuse weren’t pointless and just fillers for an end-of-season sex scene, but they were actually going to do something interesting with them. and that’s exactly what they did. noriquel is actually a perfectly crafted relationship for what its message is and it deserves to be remembered as that.

LUKASIM:

oh BOY.

i just.... kasim is in this relationship. that already makes this REALLY difficult to tackle it. the thing about kasim is... if you only watched the season as the movistar+ channel shows it, kasim is simply a plot device. he’s not a character. he’s only there to introduce conflict and stir some shit and then fuck off to the sunset. he doesn’t have an og counterpart which meant that eskam didn’t have to actually try with him, and kasim is just what they need him to be: a way to introduce the main conflict, a reason for dounia to hate amira, boy on boy action for that sweet fanservice, misogynist microaggressions towards amira, a loose way to wrap things up at the end of the season and absolve her from any guilt or shame, etc. he just shows up when the plot needs him and then walks away very swaggily. and that’s why kasim is an essay kind of topic because to talk about him, you have to tackle the racism in s4 and all the ways they could’ve made a conflict-inducing gay muslim guy actually likable. which i won’t do here.

but then if you look at the lucas extra clips... he’s actually LIKABLE. he’s a character: he has personality, he’s funny, he doesn’t take lucas’ shit, he will only be with him if lucas apologizes and changes first. and as someone who desperately wants to protect kasim from the shit characterization and treatment he got in the show, i treasure those clips immensely - which i don’t think a lot of people do, and i can see why. it’s just sad that the moments where kasim was a likable, real character were hidden behind a paywall, and drown in a convoluted plotline of outing people when they behave badly as a good punishment. the thing about their get-together is that their impact relies only on amira, and is meant to make her life a living hell. other than that, there’s not really a narrative or character reason why they’re both into each other. is it only because they’re conventionally attractive guys and the only recurrent mlm in the show? wow, that shit’s BORING.

sigh, anyway. in a slightly better world, kasim being gay wasn’t actually a nuance as it was presented in the show. rather, kasim was out and confident about it, close to his sister, probably a regular in las labass where he could also work with organizations of other queer muslims in madrid. this also means that lucas and kasim’s relationship wasn’t the typical hidden gay love story that they were in the actual show, but they’re just, ya know. typical gay kids who made out in the club and then became just friends. or lucas’ activism on s2 warranted some instagram dms and then they upgraded to acquaintances. it’s upsetting that lucas is the only eskild who doesn’t really get to hangout or be in queer circles like other eskilds are implied to, so it would be great for him to actually have gay friends that he enjoys just as much as his primarily friend group. like, their version of lucas’ queer lifestyle being going to bars and hooking up with older guys it’s so....................... why. they didn’t have the time to say anything interesting about it and so obviously they didn’t do it lol. at this rate lucas’ only platonic queer companion is cris, which is lackluster to say the least.

the decision of making kasim lucas’ endgame is just another one on the list of things s4 got so, so wrong. what for? why does lucas need (another) boyfriend, again? why does every queer person in this show have to be dating someone and also come out to their parents? again, their relationship is just another rushed hidden gay love story that i found interesting at 13 years old and then never again. they could’ve taken it into ANY other direction, please. i’m begging.

anyways, you had really nice headcanons of lucas being the only eskild willing to revert to date a muslim guy, so that’s the only reason why i’m open to the idea of them being a couple. in a better universe, eskam actually made a case for these two being a good couple, and i agreed with it. as it is for now, it’s just really pointless, and rooted on the fact that kasim is not a real character to begin with. so i’m OBVIOUSLY sending them to superhell <3

EMMA/ME:

standard wlw relationship that would probably get sooooo much backlash about how neither of the characters Really feel like wlw and the emma love interest being boring as fuck, tbh.

alright, now that we’ve covered all that.... should dear emma grace even end up with someone in the skamverse? maybe one of the skamau girlies, given the proximity? maybe she’ll hook up with the female eskild that i know so many people dislike? idk. emma deserves a nice love story, in the same wavelength as nora. she deserves someone who is patient, who communicates well, who establishes boundaries and asks for respect, who understands she’s not only the act of crazy party girl and there are really interesting, carefully placed layers around her. maybe someone who went through a similar situation or at the very least sits down with her and tries their hardest to understand all the things going on with her life. like... there’s something about emma dropping the accusations and then dipping to another country, away from her parents and even her hometown in the states, just to throw herself in a city as busy as nyc is, that is desperately asking to be explained and explored. in a lot of ways, emma’s story is the other side of the noora story that couldn’t be told through nora’s perspective. in a perfect universe, there’s a spinoff that takes place right between s3 and s4, where emma gets the news of how much of a shithead miquel actually is and she has to question all of that yet again, and break the sense of normalcy and comfort she had built during all those years. it would be great if that story featured her closest friendships, and a newfound love. yes i was serious when i talked about the emma grace spinoff @ movistar+

[ianthedisastrous]

Write your RPer Resolutions for 2021! (What are some goals for yourself as a writer? Improve descriptions? Plot with more members? Etc.)

Plotting! Mostly for Edward because the boy needs more to do! He's got an entire life to learn how to live. But, admittedly I have a habit of having two or three threads for a character at a time, which works best for me so far as my plot-intensive habits but not so great at interacting with a wide range of characters. I need to figure out a good midpoint because I have a lot plotted but I'm usually waiting to actually start things.

Win that battle with events. Because the truth is about 70% of my event threads become full fledged discord threads that keep going for weeks after the event. Probably need to work on focusing on specific plans for events in discord rather than scattering myself too much. It's more fun that way but I'm playing catch up a lot after the fact. And while I don't mind that, it probably gets things hung up for other people?

Meet the newer people! I'm slacking a bit on this and need to plot with several of them. Not for lack of wanting to, more for, again, that I have that determination to focus on a handful of threads at a time. Which is fine, except that with the sheer amount of characters in the RP it's going to take me years at this rate to make connections with them. So new people! Focus on them!

Write at least one resolution, or “goal,” that you have as an RPer for your character(s)

Ian: My earnest child, my endearing, emotional, confused boy. How I adore him. How much I put him through some real hell. But the next year is all about Ian growing up some, figuring out what he wants and trying to weed out some of the static of expectations on him. Also very much about him reaffirming his place in relationships, friendships and just with people in general.

I keep mentioning magic so that's a goal; he doesn't like it but he has to learn. And with so many new and upcoming magic connections possible it's the perfect chance to shake up his stubbornness.

Teach this boy how to stop being a hazard on social media. He doesn't even try to cause problems! But every time Ian does anything on Twitter he manages to start an argument - honestly his snarking with Tony doesn't even count but everyone else? Why are you such an instigator Ian! His social media skills are hilariously messy and he's so much with a screen to hide behind. Among Us is a whole other area too. Ian is always in the middle of some bizarre online drama and I love it...but somebody take his phone away though, please.

Edward: My over the top, entranced, confused child. He's so much fun, just so much everything. He's also blindly in motion right now and that's normal for him but not helpful. He's got plots for a job lined up, a few missteps along the way and a lot of the excessive sort of drive he tackles everything with.

I've got to get this boy to slow down a little, he's enjoying it all but responsibility is something Edward struggles with and that's a battle worse than dragons and curses he's going to have to face down.

Write at least one resolution IN CHARACTER for your characters. What do THEY want to accomplish or change in the New Year?

Ian: Struggling to come to terms with his own missteps in understanding himself. Fear has led him to hiding even being an elf and the next year he's determined to reconnect with that, even as nervous as he is to approach the idea of exposure given his childhood being so riddled with prejudice. The way he's handled some things have been wrong and he's starting to reach the emotional maturity to understand that.

Edward: As hilariously weird as it is? Edward is determined to learn enough about modern fashion to not require poor Barbie to pick out all his clothes. He feels bad asking her to basically dress him for every event. As much as he appreciates it he really does want to learn to do these things by himself.

List one or more characters you have never interacted with that you would like to do so.

Everyone my boys haven't met? Can I say that?

I guess more specifically? Ian needs to meet some of the more seasoned sorcerers out there, and I'd love for him to meet Howl because only knows of him but still finds him so intimidating. Ha.

Edward needs to meet more Magicks! He is fascinated by magic so he is very curious. I'd actually like for him to meet Marlin, because...fae and that's something Edward hasn't realized is real yet, and that man would probably find him frustrating. Same thing for Jun; really need to see Edward asking poor Jun a million questions around the market.

Plotting Exercise! Pick one of the resolutions/goals in #2 and plan a rough guide outlining it. 

Vanessa's less than helpful (but admittedly effective) attempt to teach Ian what should be a simple spell.

Ian's complaints over his lack of ability to control magic gains the attention of Vanessa, who still is confused over his odd regents.

Vanessa convinces him (a bit forcefully) to let her show him a simple spell. Her end goal of course is bringing this weird boy into the coven she's building but first things first, right?

After demonstrating, several times, a basic telekinetic motion spell - Ian assures her that telekinesis is in fact where most of his magic lies - she urges him to try.

None of his attempts go anywhere. Literally. The glass he's supposed to be moving off the table in the common area outside the dorms where they've opted to practice this spell in doesn't move an inch.

Vanessa gets progressively more frustrated. Ian just stresses worse, leaving them both at a standstill. This becomes an ongoing project; day after day for weeks. No foreseeable end in sight.

Finally, a few weeks in, Vanessa hits a breaking point and can't help but yell at him over it, setting off a panic attack and, amusingly, causing his magic to flare defensively; the lash of it knocks the table across the room. The glass still doesn't move, aside from falling to the ground.

But it's close enough to a victory and Vanessa appoints herself to helping Ian with his ongoing magic studies, much to the inward dismay of Ian himself. But she isn't going to let him slink out of it.

Ian reluctantly adds yet another person 'helping' him to the list of ones who really do mean well but also kinda exhaust him.

[glass-expanse]

This is something like the first time in three weeks I've actually checked my social media. I'll tell you something-- living without social media is liberating.

Nothing ever really changes on these sites. Not really. Popping back on them, it just feels like everything's the same. All the people are making the same sorts of posts, with the minor differences in hyperfixations. All the Instagram stories are still basically the same. No one has anything productive to say on Facebook-- although there was one post that I wish I had the guts to tag my best guy friend in XD it was very much him.

Overall, though, I don't feel like it has added anything to my day. If anything, I think it subtracted from the value of my morning.

Since I dropped social media, my depression has gotten better. I've been reading 4 chapters of the Bible a day and writing in my journal every two or three days. I've begun a search for a second job.

I've been talking more with friends via text and even a couple phone calls. I feel more connected, more in tune with life, than before. And it's not always perfect. Sometimes I feel more zoned out than others. And I still haven't properly cleaned my room. But you know, that's alright.

Some days I still feel stuck. Although I have decided on welding school and have a plan to earn money for the tuition and supplies, I feel a bit in an odd spot. I haven't made any progress on a second job in a couple weeks... The last progress I made was getting the understanding and support of my best guy friend. (He's honestly a financial genius and I have loads of stuff to learn from him so that was a pretty big thing.) I don't feel like I'm actively moving towards a big part of my goal though. I mean sure I'm working most days of the week, but I haven't gone through with further investigation of any job opportunities.

I guess one thing I wish is that I were less exhausted on days off so that I could tackle things more easily. Even eating right is a huge struggle right now. I have essentially dropped the idea of inktober and NaNoWriMo this year in favor of working harder on getting the money I need.

And then we have Sundays. I visited a church near my home for the first time a few weeks ago. I went there two Sundays before work began to start at 10:30 again. It kind of makes me sad to think I can't go to church. I know people who go there, but that's not even the most of the reason I miss going... The sermons are great and really feel spiritually refreshing.

I've begun to question what a Sabbath really means. Because ultimately on my days off I'm only sleeping and struggling to eat well and wishing I could go hang out with my friends (although now that I have a driver's license and a freeway worthy vehicle (2010 RAV4) that should be easier). I'm not devoting those days to worshipping God or anything.

I'd like to start maybe a Monday morning Bible study with my best gal friend, maybe at the Tim Hortons the next city over. But I haven't brought it up or anything yet. At least it would be a start.

But yeah overall I feel like I'm beginning to really desire more time with God even when I feel so washed out that I can barely do my daily Bible reading. So that's a good thing and also a little bit of a bad thing because I haven't really done anything to move closer to ANY sort of goals. Not Jesus goals, not job goals.

So while cutting out social media altogether has definitely had a positive impact, it's not doing all the work haha. If anything, I feel like I've been awakened to a new state of being-- one not trapped to endless scrolling. I may still look up a ton of stuff on Google and read a lot more articles than usual... And I may watch YouTube videos a bit more frequently... But overall I've been quite pleased with the decrease in meaningless time on my phone.

I'm looking forward to whatever my next step in faith will be. I just know that I don't think social media will have a part in it.

[blackhakumen]

Fanfic #19: The Time When Oscar (Somehow) Got Invited to Smash Bros. Bonus Chapter 2: The Random Arrival

After a long day in the city of Atlas, Oscar decides to go back to the apartment, where his friends are waiting.

Upon his stroll, the farm boy suddenly smelled something burning a few miles from where he's walking. So he began to rush to where the fire is supposed to be located immediately.

Oscar couldn't believe what he saw once he got to where the smoke is coming from. He saw a giant, fiery symbol (the same symbol he saw on the back of the letter he received the other day), while also seeing a bunch of unfamiliar faces standing right in front of it.

Before the farm boy could even question all that is happening, an Italian plumber, who was one of the people who was standing in front of the burning symbol, begins to greet the young Farmer.

??? (Happily): Hello, Oscar Pine! I bet you didn't expect all of this, huh?

Oscar (Surprised about what is happening) N-not really, no....Okay, just who are you guys?

???: (Laughs embarrassedly) Where are our manners? Its-a me, Mario!

Oscar: Wait...Mario? As in, THE Mario?!

Mario: That's correct!

Oscar: (....No way....is this really happening right now?)

Mario: If you don't mind, I would like to introduce to you my friends over there.

Oscar: (Still unsure about what's even happening now) .....Suuure...

Mario begins to introduce Oscar to the rest of his friends, who was also standing in front of the symbol. From his brother, Luigi, to the tomboyish princess of Sarasaland (and Luigi's girlfriend), Daisy, to even Mario's arch enemy, King Bowser, a giant monster like turtle with spikes for his shell, they all seemed to greeted the farm boy with kindness. But even still, Oscar is still very confused on what's going on right now.

Oscar: It's really nice to meet you guys and all, but...what exactly you all are doing here?

Luigi: Sorry to barge in like this, but we're actually here to take you to the tournament with us.

Oscar: The tournament?

Daisy: Well...yeah. We sent you a letter telling you about it, remember?

Oscar: (Instantly remembered the letter that was sent to him the other day) Oh yeah. That letter....look, guys, I'm really honored that you would invite me to your tournament and all, but.... I don't think I can go.

Mario: (A Little Surprised of Oscar's answer) You couldn't attend the tournament? How come?

Oscar: I-It's not like I don't wanted to go or anything. It's just everything is happening in Atlas lately and-

Before he could finish his sentence, Oscar and the others immediately noticed someone is screaming the farm boy's name.

Bowser: Who the hell is screaming like that?

Luigi: I think someone is calling for you, Oscar.

Oscar turns around and see red like corkscrew from the distance, coming towards the group, while screaming the farm boy's name.

???: (Charging closer) OSCARRRRRRR!!!!!!

Oscar: (Instantly figured out who it was) R-Ruby-

Before he could say anything else, the red corkscrew begin to tackle Oscar to the ground. Once that happened, Mario and the gang sprint over and saw a girl in red, who was that red like corkscrew a seconds ago, is sitting on top of the farm boy. That girl was none other than the Huntress herself, Ruby Rose.

Oscar:(Surprised) R-Ruby, what the heck are you doing here?! Also where did you even come from?

Ruby: (Worried) We were looking everywhere for you! You haven't picked up your phone so we made up a search party to find you. We were so worried too...(Looks at the burning symbol and Mario and crew before frowning sadly) Oscar, what's going on? Why is Mario and the others are here?

Mario: Umm.... Hello there, uhh Ms. Ruby, isn't it?

Ruby: Hi Mario! (Turns back to Oscar) I'm still waiting for an answer, Oscar.

Oscar: Ruby, I can explain but.... could you please get off of me now?

Ruby: (Blushes in embarrassment) Oh umm right. Sorry...

Once Ruby got up from the farm boy and pulling him up on his feet, Oscar begins to explain everything that happened so far.

Ruby: (Frowns Sadly) Oscar, we talked about this. You can't be in Super Smash Bros!

Oscar: I-I know we did! That's why I declined their offer.

Ruby: (Surprised) You did?

Oscar: Of course I did, Ruby. You guys are my best friends and I would never leave you all like this. Not while there's so much is going on right now.

Ruby: (Touched by his words) Oscar....

WBY: Oscar!!!!

Weiss, Blake, and Yang runs towards the duo while giving Oscar a tight hug.

Yang: Thank, Oum, that you're okay, bud!

Blake: Where have you been, Oscar?! We were so worried- wait.....(noticed Mario and the gang) Guys....who are these people?

Yang: Ah man! They're the Mario Bros! Princess Daisy! And even King Bowser! But....why are they here?

Weiss: (Furious) AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FLAMING SYMBOL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY?!!!!?!

Mario: Uhhh....

Oscar: ('Sigh') It's a long story, but I'll try to explain everything.

30 minutes of explanation later....

Blake: Ok, so somehow these guys came to our universe just to invite you to the Super Smash Bros Tournament, you guys mentioned, in person?

Oscar: Pretty much, yeah.

Yang: (Frowns) Oscar. You didn't take up on their offer, did you?

Oscar: No, Yang. I already declined their offer. You know I wouldn't leave you guys here.

Yang begins to look at Mario and the gang to see if Oscar's telling the truth.

Luigi: (Shrugs) It's true. I think he was telling us that the reason was because there was something going on here that's important before his friend tackled him...

(Ruby nervously laughs in embarrassment.)

Blake: Well... he's half right. Long story short, we have to save our world from a woman named Salem and her forces. Trust me, it gets even more complicated from here...

Mario: Hmm that does seems to be pretty serious...

Daisy: Yeah....(Comes up with an idea) Hey, we could all pitch in and help you guys out if you-

Ruby: That's really nice of you guys, but I don't think that'll be necessary. Salem is our problem now, and we don't want you guys getting involved with something like this. Plus, Oscar is a part of our team. We need him here to help too.

Mario: Well...if you're really sure....also, we want to apologise for coming by here unannounced like that. We all thought we could invite your friend to the tournament with us in person....we never realized how serious your situation here was and how much you need him to help out.....

Ruby: No no i-i-it's okay, Mr. Mario. We face stuff like this all the time. So it shouldn't be too much of a problem (Or...at least I really hope it's not). And as with inviting Oscar.... that's not really the only reason why he don't want him to enter...

Luigi/Daisy: It isn't?

Ruby: Yeah... another reason is because we don't think Oscar's ready for this kind of thing yet. I know that he can take care of himself and all, but he still needs more training in order to be a Huntsman. And also, (Gives Oscar a hug) we would be completely worried sick if anything were to happen to him out there. He's already been through a lot lately and the last thing that any of us wanted is to see him getting hurt. So we're sorry....but we cannot let Oscar enter that tournament.

Oscar: Ruby's right about this one. I know I could fight my own battles and all...but in all honesty, I don't think I would stood a chance in that tournament. Plus, everyone needs me here. I hope you all could understand.

Mario: Why, of course we do. We wouldn't want to force anyone to join the tournament if they didn't want to. We'd only asked because of our fans' votes.

Oscar: (Surprised) Wait... people were voting for me to join?

Mario: Well... you were a fan favorite in our universe.... kind of.

Ruby: (Smirks) D'awww look who has fans?~

(Oscar Groans in embarrassment)

Mario: Anyways, if you really couldn't attend our tournament this year, then we completely understand. You have some really good friends here, Oscar. And it wouldn't feel right to take you away from them like this....

Oscar: Thanks for understanding, Mario sir. And yeah.... (Smiles Softly) I'm really glad that these guys are my friends.

Ruby: (Touched by Oscar's words) Oh, Oscar. We're glad that you're our friend too!~

Blake: (Smiles Softly) Yeah. We never really said this as much, but we're all so glad that we met someone like you, Oscar.

Yang: (Pulls Oscar in a one arm hug while smiling brightly) Yeah, buddy. Thank you so much for staying by our side.

Weiss: (Smiles at the others) Well, while I'm glad that's all worked out, (immediately gets upset) that still doesn't explain who's responsible for this monstrosity! (Points at the burning symbol)

Mario: Oh yeah....that...well ummm you see we-

Bowser: (Points at Mario) It was all the plumber's idea.

Mario: Bowser!

Bowser: (Rolls is eyes) Oh don't act like all surprise on me! You do this every time we introduce new people to join Smash Bros.! Nearly give them nightmares with that crap.

Mario: I was only trying to leave a great impression! I wanted them see how special this tournament was. Isn't having a first impression important?

Luigi: I guess...but don't you think the whole flaming symbol thing is a little too much?

Daisy: Yeah... couldn't we just...I dunno...do some kind of musical number or something?

Mario: I doubt anyone would be interested in doing something like that.

Weiss: (Groans in irritation) Nevermind. I'll put it out myself....

Weiss set one of her dust onto her Rapier before using it (gracefully) to put down the burning symbol. Much to everyone's, except for RBY and Oscar, surprised.

Weiss: The next time you people visit here, maybe not create something that could cause a huge fire hazzard around our city.

Mario: (Laughs Nervously) Noted....sorry about that.

Yang: You know, you guys are welcome to join us on a tour around the place if you like.

Mario: We would love to...but I think it's time for us to get back to the Smash Universe about now.

Ruby: You're leaving already?

Luigi: Afraid so, Ms. Ruby. Master Hand wouldn't be too happy if we came back late.

Weiss: (Confused) Master Hand? What in the world....

Daisy: It's basically a talking hand who host the whole tournament.... it's best not to think too much about it.

Ruby: Thank you guys so much for dropping by here! And just know that once everything starts to calm down, you're all welcome to come back to visit.

Mario: Thank you and you are all welcome to come by and visit us whenever you like. (Gives Oscar a handshake) And it was nice to finally meet you in person, Oscar.

Oscar: Thank you, sir. It was nice to meet you guys too. Good luck on the tournament.

Ruby: W-w-wait!! Before you guys go, you think we could...sign us an autograph?

Mario: Why of course we can! Where do you want me to sign?

Ruby: (Smiles Brightly while bringing out her Crescent Rose in sniper mode) On my Crescent Rose please?

Yang: Hey, Mr. Luigi. You think give me an autograph too?

Luigi: Oh umm sure. Where you want me to sign it?

Yang: (Grins while showing him her metal arm) On my arm, please?

Luigi: (Surprised) Oh umm of course. Right away.

After a minute of autograph signing, Daisy begins to open up a portal in order to go to their universe.

Daisy: Mario! Weegie! Come on! We gotta go!

Bowser: I swear, if any of us gets yelled at, I am blaming you idiots for this!

Daisy: Oh quit whining and go in already.

Bowser: (Grumbles inside of his breath while walking into the portal)

Mario: (Bid his farewell while walking towards the portal with his brother) So long, everyone! And good luck on your quest on stopping Salem!

Ruby: (Waving Goodbye) Bye, Mario! Thanks for the visit!!

Yang: (Waving Goodbye) Keep being awesome, you guys!!

Oscar: (Waving Goodbye) It was nice meeting you guys!

As the portal closes in, Ruby and the gang decided to walk back to their apartment and call it a night. While the Mario Bros, Princess of Sarasaland, and the Koopa King's visit was the most random moment they've ever encountered so far, it was still great to meet all of them in person. But now all of that out of the way, our five heroes could get back to what's more important. That is to find a way to defeat Salem and save their world from her wrath.

@littlemisssquiggles

@miki-13

@miraculouscorazone

@lythecreatorart

@journalsandjasminetea

@kira-vera

@che1sea-xiao-long

[seyaryminamoto]

I've been browsing your blog for Sokkla research as I feel like it has similarities to what I'm trying to write with Azula and Soren. I haven't begun tackling Gladiator yet, as it looks a little daunting, but I feel I should since I keep hearing so much. I am a little hesitant over accidentally using anything you wrote for my own story. I'd be proud if I could make it as long and epic as yours. It's very personal to me. What motivated you to write Gladiator and keep writing for so long?

Yeah, I saw your post about your crossover ship having potential similarities with Sokkla and I agree that it would, since Soren shares a few traits with Sokka, character-wise. Admittedly, Azula interacting with a character like Soren would present quite a lot of fun possibilities, so it seems to be an idea worth exploring :)

As for reading Gladiator and accidentally using similar tropes… well, I don’t know if it will ease your mind much, but there are several tropes that I’ve run into in many Sokkla fics, mine, other people’s, just… lots of them xD and it’s not really a problem. Storytelling can lead to similar places, but usually, every writer handles their tropes and character development differently.

My plan for a certain, poignant scene in Gladiator’s 96th chapter was set in stone in my head back when I started plotting the fic (like I said in that ask I answered yesterday). The scene in question is one I depicted in some artworks for Gladiator’s second anniversary: Sokka defeats Azula in combat for the first time, pins her down, aims his sword at her, and they just stare at each other before things take a pretty heated twist...

A few months after planning this, I read another fic where practically the same thing happened between them (it’s a Spanish fic, I hadn’t tried reading it yet because it was incomplete, sometimes I still scold the writer in question for never finishing it), only, rather than it happening when they could no longer resist the attraction between them, it happened when they were barely getting to know each other: Azula followed Sokka into a forest clearing, where he was training on his own. Upon noticing someone was hiding in the bushes, he leaps at her and pins her down, aiming his sword at her as well. Of course, he freaks out upon realizing it’s her, she isn’t very happy, and no heated things happen other than a lot of blushing, especially on her part xD

So, as you can see, even if the trope is “Sokka holds Azula down, at swordpoint”, the context was entirely different, the outcome was completely different and heck, the wording and even language we used was 100% different.  I came up with the idea for Gladiator before reading Majesty, later on I found out that someone had written a very similar scene already (and it was a close associate of mine, no less xD). As much as I didn’t feel like I was all that original anymore… I didn’t change my plans because of that. As long as I didn’t pull a Cassandra Clare and copy-pasted the whole scene my friend wrote into Gladiator, where was the harm in trying my own hand at it? I wrote the tropey situation in my own way, with my own words, and it’s completely my own thing.

There was something else that happened with Gladiator, another friend read it and thought I was taking inspiration for my portrayal of Sokka and Azula from a couple in a TV show she loved. Turns out I’d heard about the show, but I hadn’t watched it until she nudged me enough to do it (no regrets!), and after watching it I understood where the similarities were, but the context was all different. More than that, a certain situation (Sokka admitting his love for Azula for the first time, she asks him to say it again) was close enough to what happened between the main couple in said TV show…

… But I actually had been inspired by another couple, in ANOTHER TV show, that had a slightly similar exchange too xD

Therefore, tropes are tropes. I’ve recycled so many tropes in so many things I’ve written that people could probably psychoanalyze me and figure out all my brain chemistry damn easily if they did. I tend to have a very particular structure when writing, too (the original story I wrote and finished had 3 parts, Gladiator has 3 parts too, to name the most superficial similarity only), and I’ve frequently explored similar topics in them. It’s hardly a crime to do it again, but as long as you do it in a unique way, there’d be no harm in testing how some tropes would turn out with Soren and Azula. It could be worrisome if you portrayed Soren reacting to events exactly the same way Sokka does, but that’s not very likely to happen. As similar as they can be, they’re also different in several ways and in the post where you compared them you seemed to see those differences pretty clearly.

Therefore, I don’t think there’s any real harm in trying your hand at certain tropes and situations. If the context is different, if there’s logic to what you’re writing, and of course, as long as you write it yourself, there’s absolutely no need to worry about repeating things other people have done before.

That being said, don’t feel pressured to read Gladiator at all. I’m glad people have recommended it, but I understand if it feels not only daunting but that maybe you won’t be sure what to write if you see all the stuff I’ve done so far. Gladiator is many things, and one of them is my playground for testing Sokka and Azula’s relationship in just about every way I can xD it’s so long that I’ve been free to play with all sorts of possibilities with them, to fulfill all my shippiest wishes for these two. Therefore, if you’d rather be true to your own ideas and not get too influenced by it, it’s absolutely understandable not to read it until you feel comfortable about giving it a shot (presumably, once you’ve plotted plenty of own story and feel like you won’t be at risk of taking too much inspiration from it).

As for what motivates me… well, I guess there were many factors. One of them is that Gladiator was an idea worth digging into, with so much to explore that I was completely overwhelmed by the possibilities and I got completely caught up in it. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted the story to exist, so I decided I needed to make it happen. As it’s practically a full re-write of ATLA’s storyline, I had a chance to just… handle everything on my terms. And that meant the developments I didn’t like from the show could change: I could improve on things I thought needed improvements, I could add things that I felt the show needed, and so on and so forth. There were nearly no limits, really, and as I was absolutely lost in the beauty and glory of my OTP, I couldn’t help myself and I decided to dive right in.

It helps a lot that Gladiator’s kind of a multi-faceted thing: as I’ve been developing my art too, whenever I was bored in class I’d sketch things related to it and then, if I had a chance and the sketch was good enough, I’d finish the art digitally later. I have a lot of music that inspires me, so sometimes I just sit down, listen to it, and I let myself evoke scenes that I want to write or draw. Fact is, the whole fifth anniversary project was a mix of art and music: the songs that inspired many arcs of Part 1, along with images that referenced them.

Lastly, though… I generally know where Gladiator’s going, so I don’t usually reach a point where I’m like “Woah I have zero plans for what to do next”. I plot things for the story whenever I have nothing to do (when I’m traveling places, when I’m showering, when I’m waiting for something? Just, whenever, wherever). If an arc isn’t shaping up to be particularly fun, I try to figure out what to do to make it more interesting and appealing for me to write. Whenever I come up with something I’m hyped about writing, it helps me keep on writing until I get there. Sometimes that’s also a curse because I go overboard and write like… 12K in a single day because I am that hyped about whatever I’m doing :’D happened a couple of weeks ago xD

Anyways, always try to fulfill your own needs with your story, first and foremost. Sometimes your public won’t be 100% receptive to your ideas, but sometimes they’ll actually want exactly what you’re putting out there for them. The magic of fanfiction is that, if someone doesn’t like what they’re getting, there’s absolutely nothing to stop them from taking to writing a story they do want, right? So, why should we try to please other people instead of writing what we’d want to read?

Make your story something you can revisit and smile about, make your story something you can find value in, regardless of whoever tries to undermine it. Make it yours, make it everything you want it to be. Want humor? Set up humorous situations (I mean, your lead couple would be Azula and Soren, humor’s basically guaranteed xD). Want tragedy and angst? You can have it too. You really can do anything, as long as you make up your mind to get it done. Figure out what it really is you want to write, the key scenes, the development you’re looking for with your main characters, come up with plans on how to get them where you need them to be, and once you feel you’re in solid grounds for it, feel free to start writing and always keep on looking forward to the big things you’ve wanted to write for your fic.

[dingoes8myrp]

Mom and I React to Game of Thrones 8x05

Before the Show

Mom: "I hope we don't cry. They're killing characters. That poor girl just got beheaded and she was totally innocent."

Me: "I don't think we'll cryat t his one. I think we'll cry at the last one."

Mom: "I just wanna see The Hound kill The Mountain."

-

Recap

Cat hears the recap and hops over to the bed. We haven't watched all week and he's missed it. We hummed the Game of Thrones theme during the Handmaid's Tale recap but it wasn't the same. He knew.

Mom: "Stupid, Jamie. Stupid. Stassi's gonna kill him."

Cersei. She means Ceresi.

-

The Map

We hum the theme with gusto to make up for trying to fake the cat out yesterday and the day before

Me: "I can't tell what's on the ring. A dragon and something else."

Mom: "Okay, I couldn't tell either."

-

Dragonstone

Varys writing a scroll about the true heir to the iron throne

Me: "Ohhh Varys!"

Mom: "Ohhh shit!"

Tyrion watches Varys talk to Jon

Me: "He's going to tell her."

Sure enough

Daenerys decides Jon, Sansa, Tyrion, and Varys all betrayed her

Me: "Oh, man. She is LOSING it."

Varys writes on a scroll

Mom: "He's sending them everywhere."

Me: "He's not going to get to send them out."

Varys hears footsteps and burns the scroll, takes off his rings

Mom: "He's about to get killed."

Varys is escorted out and Tyrion tells him he was the one who told

Me: "Tyrion knows! He knows she's out of her mind!"

Mom: "He thinks he can influence her."

Daenerys: "Dracarys."

Me: "Look at Jon eyeing her like 'What the fuck?'"

Daenerys dismisses Grey Worm but calls him something else

Me: "Did she rename him at some point?"

Mom: "I think so."

Daenerys tries to kiss Jon

Me: "They're related and that weirds him out."

Mom: "They're not really, though."

Me: "She's his aunt."

Mom: "But... He's only half Targaryen."

Me: "Her BROTHER is his FATHER. She's his fucking aunt."

Mom: ".... Oh."

Tyrion: "Please, if you hear them ringing the bells, call off the attack."

Me: "Oh boy."

Mom: "She's not gonna have any mercy. She's going to kill them all."

Me: "I never thought I'd be rooting for Cersei to win."

-

King's Landing

Mom: "What are all these people moving in?"

Me: "Yes. Cersei's bringing the townspeople inside the walls so Daenerys will have to kill all the innocent people to get to the castle."

Mom: "SO THOSE PEOPLE ARE JUST BARRIERS FOR HER?! Oh, this is fucked up."

Arya: "I'm Arya Stark. I'm here to kill Queen Cersei."

Me: "Hah!"

Tyrion goes to see Jaime

Mom: "Stooge."

Me: "Tyrion's gonna have to let him out."

Tyrion produces a key

Mom: "Well, they're both dying now."

Tyrion tries to convince Jaime to escape with Cersei

Me: "He's like 'You don't get it...'"

Tyrion tells Jaime to convince Cersei to surrender the city

Me: "This whole thing hinges on Jaime?! FUCK."

Tyrion: "You were the only one who didn't treat me like a monster. You were all I had."

Me: "Aww. He's so scared for him."

Mom: "He knows he just sacrificed his life for that. Ring the goddamn bells. Do you think it's gonna matter? I don't think she's gonna care. She just wants revenge, they're all gonna go, because those people don't love her. She's gonna fill the city with her own people who live her."

The armies prepare for defense

Mom: "She's not gonna leave. She is not gonna fucking leave."

Me: "Jaime's gonna leave her."

Mom: "He's gonna die with her."

Arya and The Hound

Mom: "I hope she kills her and I hope he kills The Mountain."

Me: "He's gonna have to kill The Mountain for her to get to the Queen."

Jaime walking with his golden hand plainly visible

Mom: "COVER YOUR FUCKING-- Oh, he IS dumb."

Daenerys's army is revealed in full

Mom: "Oh Christ!"

Me: "Well because now they also have the wildlings and the northmen."

Mom: "She's not going to surrender. But she doesn't know The Hound and Arya are coming in. Shit, they closed the gate! They didn't get in!"

Me: "Arya and The Hound got in."

Mom: "Oh. Oh, HE didn't get in! But he knows the castle like the back of his hand."

Me: "Hah!"

Mom: "Oh! That wasn't even on purpose."

The army waits

Mom: "The air's changing. She knows about the harpoons so she's gotta have a plan."

Me: "Coming at them from behind maybe?"

Drogon comes barreling down

Mom: "Ooh right in the middle so they have to spin around to aim."

Me: "They can't spin them fast enough."

DRACARYS

Mom: "And they gotta reload. Not fast enough."

Me: "Jaime's gonna see all this and go 'Fuck.'"

Grey Worm, Jon, and the Essos army

Me: "These guys are just waiting."

Mom: "She's not done with the fleet yet."

BOOM

Mom: "WOW! She just took them all out."

Me: "And this guy doesn't even know what happened."

Dothraki

Mom: "Dead."

Me: "She's got people on foot, people on horseback, and the dragon in the sky."

Mom: "And there's only so many harpoon things and he's burning them all."

Me: "And this isn't taking very long at all."

Cersei watches

Mom: "And she's watching it all."

Tyrion walks through the carnage

Mom: "No bells."

Me: "Nope."

Kyburn gives Cersei the rundown

Cersei just nopes him

Me: "So she's just delusional then."

Jon and co get to the castle guard

Mom: "Throw your arms down."

Me: "Tyrion's waiting for the bell and nothing's happening."

Mom: "Nope."

Dragon lands and the castle guard all look at each other and drop their weapons

Me: "She's still gonna do it."

Mom: "They're all yelling to ring the bells."

Me: "Jaime's gonna do it. He's just gonna run up and ring it."

Mom: "The queen hears it."

Me: "Daenerys hears it too."

The bells ring

Me: "She's gonna do it anyway."

Daenerys hears the bells and looks psychotic

Me: "This is like Carrie 'They're all gonna laugh at you!'"

Mom: "She's flying right for the queen."

Drogon lights up the townspeople

Mom: "SHE'S DOING IT ANYWAYS!"

Me: "Jon's going to lose his shit."

Army starts attacking

Me: "Jon can't believe this. Because they surrendered. Jon's gonna kill her for this. He's horrified."

Mom: "He's gonna kill Grey Worm."

Me: "No, he and Grey Worm are in the same boat."

Brutal carnage

Me: "This is horrifying."

Cersei just stands there

Me: "Bitch, she is COMING for your ass. Like, grab a sword. Do something."

Yuron: "Kingslayer!"

Me: "Oh!"

Yuron vs Jaime

Me: "Really? This is what we're watching right now?"

Yuron gets a stab in

Me: "REALLY?! THIS IS HOW HE'S GONNA DIE? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!"

Jaime wins

Me: "I guess he's not dead yet."

Yuron: "I'm the man who killed Jaime Lannister."

Mom: "No one's gonna know it, dingaling."

Castle legit is falling apart

Mom: "So much for the iron throne. She's not gonna have one."

The Hound: (to Arya) "You come with me, you die here."

Mom: "He saw it in the fire."

Ceiling caves the fuck in as Cersei and co are running down the stairs

Me: "Oh my fuck."

Mom: "Nothing left! It's all open."

The Hound: "Your Grace." *cuts down some soldiers*

Me: "'Sup? No big deal."

The Mountain kills Kyburn and abandons Cersei and Cersei awkwardly shuffles out

Me: "She's like 'Um... byyyyyye.'"

Cersei crosses the map on the floor

Me: "Is she gonna go right by Arya?"

Mom: "No! Jaime!"

Me: "He's about to die. He's bleeding out."

Mom: "They're both gonna die."

Me: "He's gonna tell her there's a boat, or try to get her there if he makes it."

The Hound vs The Mountain

Me: "All he has to do is throw Big Bubba over the side."

Mom: "He stabbed him!"

Me: "Yeah, but he's inhuman now."

The Mountain shoves The Hound down the stairs

Mom: "Arya's gonna go back to help him."

Arya's gauntlet run

Me: "She's gotta get the fuck out of there. She didn't see any of this She got in before this happened."

Arya falls

Me: "OH NO!"

Keeps switching between The Hound and Arya

Me: "Did this become Inception? The fuck?"

The Hound keeps trying to stab The Mountain

Me: "Head! Eyes!"

The Hound stabs him in the head

Me: "HE'S STILL FUCKING ALIVE!"

The Hound tackles The Mountain off the side

Me: "They dead."

Green explosions

Me: "The fuck is that?"

Mom: "Wildfire."

Me: "Oh fuck!"

Jon sheaths his sword

Me: "Jon's like 'Fuck this. I'm out.'"

Arya passed out

Mom: "Oh no!"

Me: "I don't think she's dead."

Arya gets up, then gets quickly blown aside again

Me: "Jesus fuck!"

Arya finds survivors and tries to usher them to safety

Me: "Arya, MVP as always."

Suddenly we're in the tunnels

Me: "..."

This rapid scene switching is ridiculous

Mom: "It's all caved in! They can't get out."

Me: "That's what you fucking get, Jaime. You dumb fuck. You could've had a happy life with Brienne, but NOOOOO."

Cersei finally realizes she's not fucking immortal

Me: "TOO FUCKING LATE!"

Cave in

Mom: "That's it, they're dead."

Ashes

Mom: "She destroyed the whole place. So where's your fucking throne, under rubble? There's nobody left."

Me: "Jon is going to fucking kill her for this. She just murdered an entire city and made his people do it too."

Mom: "And they surrendered."

Me: "Arya! There's Arya! She can't believe it either. She's like 'What the fuck?' There's the little girl and her mother she tried to save, burned alive. And those were innocent people. She's like 'What the fuck?'"

Mom: "Oh, a horse! Get on the horse!"

Arya rides off

Me: "BYE!"

Mom: "She went insane! She just went absolutely insane."