#but the person she really wants there now isn't

[sports-on-sundays]

Hello hello, I am back with another request! It's with Oscar again but friends to lovers. Hear me out, the most cliche thing ever. Oscar loves her, she loves him but both too dense to realise it. They are out and about and another dude corners her and tries to make out with her, Oscar saves the day (make him protective and violent pls, make him punch the guy (side note: I would pay money to see Oscar actually punch someone, don't ask me why idk🙈)). So then he comforts her, takes her home and she asks him to stay. I will leave the rest of the convo to you🤗. Let there be a first kiss and cuddle I beg I am the biggest sucker for those bcs Oscar seems like the best guy to have your firsts with.

Holy hell that's a long ass request haha. Thank you for reading all that🤣 have fun with it and feel free to change things up a little bit if you want to!

be / OP81

Summary: Oscar x female!best childhood friend!Australian!reader - You and Oscar are finally forced to realize your feelings for each other.

Warnings: panicking, someone forcing himself onto another person, blood, crying, i did change up the request a little bit 🤏, feeling sick

Requested: Yes! And don't worry about the long request, I really liked it, and thanks so much for requesting! Long requests are better sometimes anyway.

Author's Note: Guys I'm starting to think I seriously need my very own Oscar Piastri....

"It wasn't even that funny-"

"It wasn't even that funny!"

Both you and Oscar look up to who it was mockingly imitating Oscar's friendly teasing, and your eyes set themselves upon Lando Norris, smirking obnoxiously.

"What's your problem?" you demand, crossing your arms, most of the laughter from Oscar's joke that he made fives minutes ago (yes, you were still laughing your head off at it) gone.

"What do you mean? I'm just kidding. It's just funny how your boyfriend can make the most dumb joke, and send you both into a ten minute laughing fit-"

"Boyfriend?" you and Oscar seem to ask incredulously in sink.

The smile falls off of Lando's face this time, and is replaced by a look of surprise and confusion. "Waaaait... So you're trying to tell me you guys aren't dating?"

Oscar blinks a few times in confusion. "Y/n and I are just friends. We always have been."

"Yeah," you add quickly, nodding. "I don't know why everyone thinks differently."

Lando's eyebrows raise in amusement. "Maybe because you guys act like you're mad in love...? Like, all the time? Or maybe the fact that you come to every single one of our races? Or maybe it's the way you look at each other with heart eyes, like the other one is the only one in the room? I mean, I don't know. It could be the way you're always giggling and talking and yapping to each other... But, oh, what do I and everybody else know?"

"Good question," Oscar deadpans. "What do you know?"

Lando shrugs, rollings his eyes, and struts away. As soon as he's gone, Oscar turns back to you with a little shrug and says, "Sorry about that. I guess nobody gets that two people can love each other as friends without feeling romantic feelings..."

You nod, shrugging. It makes sense to you, simply because that's how it's always been with you and Oscar, forever. The two of you practically slept in the same crib (not literally!). You always just assumed he's like a brother or something, and it doesn't pay to consider anything else. So you haven't. Too risky, and besides- that's not worth it to waste your time thinking about. You like things just the way they are, no need to change them.

"-Y/n?"

"Hm?!" you look up, snapping out of your pondering.

Oscar smiles at you, his brown eyes soft, like they always are when he looks at you. You smile back, eyes equally as warm as he says, "Did you hear me?" in amusement.

You chuckle, "No, sorry."

He nods, giving your shoulder a little pat as he stands up. "I've got to go now get ready for the race. First of the season. Wish me luck!"

"Luck isn't needed," you say with a little grin. "You've got enough skill alone to win it."

He grins. "I guess. But luck never hurts, does it?"

"Not at all." You stand up with him and give him a quick half-hug, saying gentler, "Drive safe, and bring it home. I'll be cheering you on."

"Like always?"

"Like always."

"Hey, Y/n?"

You look up from your phone, shutting it off. You're sitting alone, long after the 2025 season opening race, the Australian Grand Prix, has ended. You haven't seen Oscar since the race ended, and have just been sitting around, not wanting to go home until you have a chance to talk with him. And there he is, standing there, back in his regular clothes: a black sweatshirt, sweatpants, and sneakers, looking thoroughly sleepy.

You immediately stand up, smiling, saying simply, "It was a great drive."

"Well, I-"

"Hush. You scored points after what happened, and that's enough, for goodness' sake."

He smiles softly, and though his eyes say a lot more, he just nods and says simply, "Yeah, yeah, you're right. As always."

You nod promptly and say teasingly, "I know!"

He just rolls his eyes and says, already in a better mood just by talking to you, "Mum wanted you over tonight for dinner."

You grin, "She did, did she?"

"You know she always does, whenever I'm around, want me to bring you over. She adores you."

"She's the sweetest," you chuckle. "Well, I wouldn't mind one of your mum's home cooked meals."

Oscar nods, grabbing his coat, and saying, "I agree; that would hit the spot right now. C'mon."

You two make it to the car and get in, before you start heading to Oscar's mother's home. The car ride is mostly silent, but neither of you really mind. It's a comfortable, good kind of silence.

Towards the end of it, though, you ask simply, "So, that's the end of the first race week of the season. How're you feeling?"

Oscar shrugs, thinking for a few moments, before saying, "Hmm... I guess I'd have to say tired, but very hopeful."

You smile. "Good. You just need your beauty rest, huh?"

He glances at you with a cute little smile. "Right."

Dinner is nice. Warm, and reminds you of home, and your childhood, and everything good. And it's perfect for a rainy day like today.

Once he's finished eating, though, Oscar stands up, stretching, from the table, and says, "Well, I should be off to bed..."

"Oh, Oscar, you will give poor Y/n a ride home won't you?" Oscar's mother asks.

He looks over at you with a little smile and nods, saying, "Oh, right, of course."

You walk to the door together, but before Oscar opens the front door to leave, you gently grab his arm and say simply, "Osc."

He looks up from unlocking the door, meeting your eyes. "Hm?" he asks gently.

"You don't need to drive me home. I could get a cab or take the bus or whatever. It's all good. You've had a crazy week, as it is, much crazier than mine-"

"I mean, I was thinking maybe it'd be fine if I didn't drive you home, too, but you don't have to get a cab. I'm sure if I asked, my mum would be fine with you just staying the night or something."

You blink in surprise, but smile at the suggestion. "Oh. Well, I'd hate to bud in-"

He smiles. "You're family, Y/n. Don't worry." He takes your hand, tugging you back towards the dining room, calling, "Mum! Would it be fine if Y/n just stayed the night? We've both had a long day!"

"Oh, of course, honey! Tell her she can make herself just all nice and comfy and at home! Y/n's such a sweetheart, anyways. She's always welcome!"

Oscar smiles, looking at you. "You heard that, right?"

You smile back up at him with a little laugh. "Yeah, I heard that."

He nods, saying, "C'mon, let's go to my room."

The two of you head there, both of you knowing the way to Oscar's childhood bedroom from all the years you used to spend in there together. When you walk in, seeing all the dressers in the same place they always were, and all Oscar's old decorations from his karting days, memories seem to flood back, just like that, and both you and Oscar feel it. You crawl onto his bed, just like you always used to do, flopping down against his pillows, making yourself at home.

Oscar smiles and crawls in next to you. Just like he always used to do, too. "Last time we were both here was..."

"...right after you joined McLaren, right?" you smile at the memory.

"I guess so." He smiles down at you.

"I remember distinctly, one time, you had been gone so, so long, and I asked your mum if I could surprise you when you got home..."

Oscar starts laughing, clearly remembering it to. "Ohhh yeah. I threw open the bedroom door and flopped on my bed, even though you were on it. By the time I saw you and yelped, it was too late."

"Yeah, and I wrapped my arms around you and started tickling you," you say giggling.

He rolls his eyes, grinning. "I remember. By the end of it, I was gasping and near tears. God, Y/n, you know I was tired."

"I know. But I made you laugh and smile, didn't I? And I made you feel better, didn't I?"

"I mean, I was just happy to see you," he says, his gaze comfortably resting on yours.

"I was happy to see you. Do you know how much I missed you those months?"

"You miss me if you don't see me for a week, Y/n, still."

"Why do you think I come to every race that I can?"

"Because I pay for you to?"

You roll your eyes at that, crossing your arms, "I mean, yeah, but that's not the sentiment I was going for!"

He laughs, giving your shoulder a little playful tap. "I know, I know."

You sigh deeply, the sweet silence settling between the two of your for a little while, before murmuring, "And I hope you remember after that tickle attack, when your face was red and you were nearly crying from laughing, I gave you the biggest hug of all time..."

Oscar's face warms at that as he leans a bit closer to you. "Yeah... Yeah, I remember. You wanna know why that moment was special to me?"

"Why?"

"Because that was the moment I realized that there are some people in my life that never truly will leave me. Even if I leave them. And you're one of the best of them. That was when I learned what family is."

You nod slowly, thinking about that for a few moments, before saying, "That's... so sweet. I like it."

Oscar smiles. "Me, too. I like it too. I'm so lucky to have a best friend like you."

"And I so lucky to have a best friend like you."

Oscar smiles at that, nodding, satisfied, before letting out a big yawn, reminding you if a sleepy cat, before folding his hands up into fists and rubbing his watery eyes.

And, as if it's contagious, you let your own yawn, a few moments later.

Oscar smiles, this time more sleepily at you, before slipping his arm over your shoulders and pulling you a little closer to himself. You flop your head to lean against his shoulder, and murmur, "Time for us both to get the much-needed rest our bodies are begging us for?"

"Mmm-hm. Yeah. Whatever you said," Oscar murmurs as he drifts off, the hint of a smile still lingering on his mostly relaxed face.

And you both drift off, surrounded by that perfect warmth and tranquility that feels just like home.

A little under a week later, you're sleeping against Oscar in a very similar position, feeling like you're just as at home in China than you are in Australia, simply because of the person you're resting against, when you're awakened by the painful claims, "I ship it, the mechanics ship it, the other teams' drivers ship it, the fans ship it. My God, even my mum ships it! Literally everyone can see you're mad in love except you and her!"

You stretch, your eyes fluttering open, and murmur before you're even sure it's Lando's unwanted yapping torturing your ears, "Landooo shut uppp..."

Oscar gives your shoulder a squeeze, groaning to Lando in his perfectly alert awake state (contrary to yours), "Look at that, Lando, you made her wake up!"

"Oh, yeah, 'cause you'd hate for her to stop sleeping against y-"

"Lando, stop, it's not like that."

"How come every time a girl and a guy are friends, everyone ships them? I think that's society's problem," you comment as you rub your tired eyes.

Lando snorts, saying, "It's not every time. You guys are just obvious. And oblivious. You just need to admit it to each other."

"There's nothing to admit to each other, Lando," Oscar comments as he watches you slowly lean off of him, slipping his arm off your shoulders.

"Yeah, we're, like, brother and sister."

"Well, I wouldn't say that-" Oscar begins quickly.

"I mean, yeah, like-"

"We're more like just really close friends," Oscar finishes confidently.

"Yes, that's true, I agree," you say quickly, looking up at him. "We're family, but not brother and sister."

"Ah, so you're family, but it's not like siblings. What else could you be other than mad in love but just too dense to realize it?" Lando asks.

You just glare, crossing your arms, and Oscar comments, "I don't know, but it's not like that."

"Maybe it's just not like that simply because you both refuse to admit what you really want."

"Lando, I don't need you of all people being my psychologist. Could you just leave it?" you comment, feeling Oscar's eyes watching you.

Lando sighs (overdramatically), shrugs, and says, "Suit yourself. I'm just saying, you guys have got to get together soon, or else you'll drive yourselves and everyone else insane. We can all tell you guys just need to kiss already." And with that, he once again struts away.

As soon as he's gone, you whine, leaning your head into Oscar's shoulder, "I hate Lando!"

"Don't say that. He's just kidding," Oscar says gently.

You sigh. "I know... it's just..."

"Hm?" Oscar prompts gently.

"I don't want people thinking something that's not true."

"Who cares what they think? We both know how we feel about each other, and that's all that matters." But do we? Oscar's brain echoes.

"Yeah, you're right," you murmur, nodding, comforted by his words, not even picking up the way he stares forward, eyebrows knitted together, deep in thought.

You've heard what you think you want to hear, and that's all that matters to you.

The moment you see Oscar after his podium, after he stood on the first step, winning such a solid race as that, you run into his arms, causing him to laugh as he hugs you back, saying, "Hey, Y/n."

"I'm so proud of you!" you say excitedly. "Amazing drive- amazing!"

"Thank you, Y/n. It means a lot. I'm so happy you were here to cheer me on."

You grin up at him. "Me, too, Oscar. Me too."

He celebrated with his team after the race, you staying in your hotel, since Oscar promised you he'd like to bring you home with him to Monaco, and have a more low key celebration, without as many people. Besides, you'd like it that way better anyway. And this way, you can get some extra sleep and try to avoid some of the jet lag from the long flight to Monaco.

Now you stand in Oscar's bathroom back in Monaco, gazing at yourself in the mirror in your white crop top and silver skirt, knowing that when you step out of the bathroom, all you need is for Oscar to tell you it looks nice, and then all your worries will vanish.

And once you do, of course, he stands up from the living couch and says, "You look really pretty. Ready to go?"

You smile softly, sighing in relief, and nod. "Yes. I'm ready to go celebrate with the winner of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix." You laugh a bit, and add as you head out to the car, "Oscar, you know I'm so incredibly proud of you."

He grins. "I know, I know." You know he loves your lavishing, even if he wouldn't admit it. He's never gotten enough of it; you're one of the people that appreciate him the most, you think, at least. You appreciate him a whole lot, anyways.

Soon you get to your destination, and the night starts off really fun, you and Oscar just sticking with each other, laughing, singing, drinking, and dancing. But after too long, the air becomes stale, the noise becomes too loud, and the drinks turn bitter. You're tired, and Oscar's off somewhere, swept away with his other friends. You sigh deeply, leaning against the wall, running a hand through your hair.

It's then that you feel a hand on your shoulder, and it makes you flinch. It's unfamiliar.

It's not Oscar's hand.

You look up to see a man around your age with tangled overgrown curly brown hair and dark, cold eyes. He's wearing a gold chain around his neck and a football jersey. It's then that he shows you his unflattering smirk and says in a thick French accent, "I'm Jordan."

You just kind of nod, showing a fake smile and crossing your arms, not really in the mood for any antics with any strange guys.

His eyebrows raise as he says, "Do you have a name, or am I going to have to give you one?"

Your lip immediately curls up as you look at him from the corner of your eye, still not tilting your face directly towards him. "You're not smooth. My name is Y/n."

"Pretty name for a pretty girl. A sassy girl, too, at that. I like that."

You bite your lip, rolling your eyes in utter annoyance at this guy 'Jordan.' "Good for you..." you murmur, trying to send him the message that you really don't want to talk with him.

Jordan just hums and steps closer to you. You glance up at him for the first time, really, feeling a bit sick from how close he is to you. You murmur awkwardly, "Could you please step away?"

"No, I don't think I will. I'm enjoying your reaction too much."

"Please, stop."

He roughly grabs your chin, forcing you to look him in the eyes. You swallow deeply.

"I really like your skirt..." he purrs, leaning in closer to you, completely ignoring your protests. His hand slips onto your thigh and grips it tightly.

"Stop... I don't care-"

"You don't, don't you? Well, what a shame... I reckon there's not much you can do about that..."

"St-"

He lips meet yours in a nasty, rough kiss. Your head pounds and spins as your knees begin to shake, panic of what's happening sinking in, your thoughts raging with anxious thoughts at the same time as your head being completely empty. You push at his chest, but he pushes his whole body up against yours, pinning you to the wall, further into a shadow.

You gasp, the panic sinking in deeper, and hardly register what happens next.

Oscar's familiar voice in all the chaos says in one of the angriest, coldest tones you've ever heard from his mouth, "Get your fucking nasty hands away from her."

Jordan tears his lips away from your mouth as Oscar grabs him, Jordan turning his head to look behind him, but before he has a chance to react, you watch as a fist comes flying across and hits him square across the face. He stumbles back and as blood begins gushing from his nose. For a moment, his eyes meet yours in shock, as if he expects you to help a dog like him, but it's then that you watch Oscar grab him by the collar and murmur in the darkest of tones to him, "I told you to get your nasty hands away from her, and you didn't. That's my girl, and no one dares to touch her like that. You better not think you can go on like this, and I hope this can be a reminder for you not to." And with that, Oscar throws another punch, hitting the guy in his eye. You slowly slip down the wall, still watching in shock as Oscar finishes him off by handing one more punch to him on his bloody jaw, before letting go of his collar, letting him fall to the floor, finishing with a yell, "The pain you're feeling right now is nothing compared to the pain you deserve!"

You watch as Jordan scampers up and, just like that, without even considering a fight, stumbles off, out of sight.

And then, everything hushed, Oscar turns, and his eyes meet yours. His hair is a little sweaty and messed up, falling over his forehead. For a moment, you see that remaining burning anger, but as soon as he takes you in, that vanishes, and is replace by the familiar warmth he seems to always look at you with.

And the moment your eyes lock, the tears start coming, and you break down.

Oscar is immediately by your side, pulling you into his arms, sitting on the floor next to you and holding you in his lap, gently stroking your hair. After a while, you hiccup, slowly leaning away, your body still shaking, and murmur, mopping up your eyes with your hands, "Os- Oscar... That was scary. I'm scared."

He gently takes your hand. "You don't have to be. I'm here. Are you ready to go home?"

You nod slowly, and Oscar helps you up, leading you out back to his car, his arm around your back protectively the entire time.

Once back in the car, as the events of what just happened replay through your head, you hiccup, more tears threatening to flow. Oscar gently takes your hand, murmuring in the dark of the parked car, "Tell me what I can do for you, and I'll do it. I hope you know I'll do anything for you to feel better."

You sigh shakily and just lean into him. He wraps his arms around you, holding you for a few minutes, before you lean away again and murmur, "Let's just get home..."

Oscar nods. "Good idea." He turns the car on and begins driving, and as soon as he does holds his hand that he's not using to drive out to you. You put your hand in his, letting the warmth from it fill you and comfort you.

As he drives, you suddenly say in the empty silence, "'That's my girl.' That's what you said."

Oscar just nods a little. "I know. I did mean to say that, you know."

You swallow, thinking for a few moments, before murmuring the simple question, "Why?"

"Because you've always been mine and I've always been yours, haven't I?"

You swallow. "I don't know what that means."

"Forget what it means. You're the most important girl- the most important person- to me. You're my girl, and I'm not going to let anyone be messing with you."

That feels right to you, and good to you, to hear that. And you're glad, in a way, that he's so confidently figured that out. It frees you to say back, "Well, yeah, then... I guess that makes you my boy, then..."

Oscar smiles very softly, giving your hand a little squeeze as you arrive at his home. Once you're both inside, before you have a chance to start worrying, Oscar says gently, putting a hand on your shoulder, "I want you to be comfortable. What do you need? I could get you something to eat, run a bath for you, get a change of clothes, all three, whatever else you need-"

"Oh, uh, don't worry about it-"

"Hush," Oscar suddenly interrupts, shaking his head. He moves to stand right in front of you, before gazing down into your eyes, and saying in all sincerity, "Look, I want you to be honest. I want to take care of you if that's what you need. I want you to be comfortable."

You swallow, nodding a bit, before murmuring, "A bath and a change of clothes might be nice... I'm not hungry, though."

Oscar nods, putting his hand on your back, leading you to his room. He opens his closet and says, "You can wear whatever you can find. I'm going to go run that bath for you; I'll call you when it's ready. I'll get a towel for you in the bathroom, too."

You nod, find one of his bigger McLaren T-shirts and a pair of black sweatpants, and head to the bathroom just as Oscar is calling for you.

Oscar smiles at you gently when you walk in and say simply, "Anything else you need?"

You shake your head 'no,' saying, "Thank you."

He nods. "Of course. I'll just be in the living room, you can come there when you're done. Call me if you need anything. And take your time, too."

You smile weakly, nodding. "Alright. Thanks, Osc."

He nods, leaving you to have your bath. You peel off your clothes and sink into the water, feeling its warmth surround you like an embrace. You let out a long sigh of relief as the water touches your sore, tense muscles, soothing them. After the night you've had, it feels good to just be. To just experience something genuinely good and calming, knowing Oscar is just in the next room.

Oscar. The way he stood up for you, was so protective of you, and beyond that, has been taking such good care of you... You know Oscar a good man... He was always a really sweet boy, and he's grown up to be a really very upright and sweet man. It was crazy- crazy- to see him go off on that stranger, and beat him up the way he did.

But somehow, it felt right. It was just proving he's good. That he cares so much about and for you, he won't let anyone hurt you without knowing the consequences of it from him.

How much does he really care about me?

The question almost feels good to ask, because you have a feeling the answer is one you like.

And then the way he so confidently called you his girl.

'That's my girl.'

Just looking back on it, for some reason, it makes your heart skip a beat. It's that chest-tightening nervous affectionate feeling you get often when Oscar does or says little things. Although this time, it's not little, and every new thing he does seems to make your stomach flutter a little more. It's a familiar feeling that you're sure you've gotten hundreds of times before with Oscar, but for some reason, you're only realising it now. Why, you have no idea, and what the strange feelings could mean, you have even less of an idea.

Soon, you finish your bath, and after drying yourself put on Oscar soft, comfortable clothes, no matter how over sized they are on you. Besides, you don't care in the slightest about that as soon as you inhale his familiar, comforting scent when you put them on. You go to the living room and see Oscar laying on the couch on his phone, now in a T-shirt and sweatpants, just relaxing. As soon as you walk in, though, he looks up.

"Osc...? Do you have a brush I could use for my hair?"

He nods, hopping up from the couch, and says, "Yeah, I do. Wait here, I'll be right back. Just get yourself comfy."

He leaves, and you shrug, taking his advice, and curl up on the couch, waiting for him to come back. He takes longer than you expect him to, but soon enough, he walks back in and sits next to you, saying, "Why don't you just relax, and I can brush it for you?"

"Seriously? You don't have to," you say immediately, secretly wanting badly for him to brush your hair for you. You love the feeling of other people playing with your hair- and if it's Oscar, even better.

He smiles at you. "I know, but I want to." And with that, to both of your delight apparently, begins gently brushing through your hair. When he's done, he slowly start running his fingers through it, starting from the bottom and going up to the top. You sigh, leaning back into him, and Oscar just simply loves it. After a while he says, softly amused, "You just seem to melt when my hands are in your hair."

You shrug, smiling a little, and say, "What can I say? It feels really good."

He chuckles that low comforting chuckle that feels just like home. "I can tell." After a few more minutes he says, "I found a hair tie I think you must've left here at one point. Do want me to braid your hair or something?"

You smile, glancing back at him, and say, "You can do that? I don't know if I can trust you."

He just smiles back at you. "You should. I'm good at it. Remember, I grew up with three sisters."

You shrug again before saying, "Well, alright..."

He chuckles softly again, before he gently begins braiding your hair, his fingers gently weaving through your locks, slowly, until he finally finishes and ties it on the end. Once he's finished, you turn around to face him.

He smiles at you.

You smile back, taking his hands in both of yours.

"You're beautiful," he suddenly says, looking right into your eyes. "I don't think I've told you that enough. Because I think it all the time, whenever I look at you."

For some reason, your friend saying that makes you blush. There are a few moments of silence, before you look down at your joined hands and murmur, "Crazy that the hands that beat up that guy are the same hands that just gently braided my hair."

Oscar shrugs, smiling a little. "They have different uses in different moments. And I don't regret what I did for a moment, not any of it. I would do the exact same thing if I had to do it all again. In fact, just thinking about it makes me really angry. But what matters most is that you're okay."

You sigh slowly, nodding, your head a bit dizzy at the thought of it all. "I'm just so thankful for you, throughout it all. You, like, saved the day..." you chuckle wryly.

He shrugs, nodding a bit. "I guess." A little laugh.

More silence.

You stare down once more at your joined hands. "But Oscar..." you begin hesitantly.

"Yes?" he prompts gently.

"...I'm sorry."

"Y/n... for what? You did nothing wrong-!" Oscar begins somewhat incredulously.

"It's just... You were celebrating your win..."

"Oh, Y/n..." Oscar begins, his tone softening. "Come on, now. Look up at me, will you?"

You sigh, doing so.

"It's not your fault, what happened," Oscar says. "It's that idiot's fault, and we both know that. What happened happened, and there was no preventing it. And if you're worried about me, don't be. I had a perfectly good time celebrating in China with my team. This was more that I wanted to do something with you, for you. But look at this right now. Here we are, sitting together, anyway. Isn't that what matters the most anyway; isn't that the point? So why don't we just make the most of this moment, right now, hm?"

You sigh again, nodding slowly, before saying, you heart almost feeling like it's being squeezed, "Okay."

"Hey," Oscar murmurs, his hand touching the bottom of your chin. "You're looking down again. Talk to me." He gently raises your chin.

You swallow, and suddenly, words that you hardly knew you even thought start coming from your mouth, and only now as you hear them in your voice do they even begin to make sense: "I guess it's just that... You're so caring and gentle with me, and protective. And we like each other so much and get along so well and we've known each other for years and... I guess sometimes I wonder about us... You know, our relationship, like, what even is it? I mean, I think we'd both readily admit we most definitely love each other, but I guess... well, I don't know..."

Oscar nods slowly, before whispering, as if it's some long kept secret, "You guess you just wonder in what way we love each other?"

You swallow, nodding. "Well, yes, exactly. Because... well, I don't know."

"Can I tell you how I feel about you?"

You study his face for a few moments- his handsome face- and nod.

"I feel about you the most deep feeling I've ever known, deeper than I ever thought I could experience. The love I have for you is beyond anything I could describe in a physical sense- it's beyond a romantic love or and family love or the strongest kind of named love I could think of. All I know is that when I look at you, I see fulfillment, and happiness. I see everything I've ever needed, plus everything I've ever wanted. I see a priceless jewel- the sort of thing that anyone would honor and protect with their life. I see beauty herself, on the inside and out. I see my best friend, my favorite person, the one I would spend any and every moment with, if I could. I see comfort, I see love. I look at you and know the great lengths I would go for you. I know it's all so cliche, but it is a love beyond words. It is. I just..." he trails off, before leaning in and whispering, "Are you crying?"

You sniff, looking away, your heart pounding. "No..."

He smiles gently, his hand leaving yours to reach up and wipe a tear away off your cheek with his thumb, "Don't cry."

"That's just so... sweet... and... everything I exactly feel, too, put into words..."

"Y/n..." he hums gently with a little chuckle. "I don't want you to cry, though."

"Don't worry," you say with a little hiccupy laugh. "They're good tears."

He smiles a bit, grabbing your hand again and giving it a squeeze. "Okay."

You swallow, before daring to ask, "What would the difference be, if you were my boyfriend instead of my best friend?"

Oscar eyes seem to light slightly at the question, and he says simply, "Nothing at all, except for one thing: we would be able to express that deep love for each other in different ways."

You nod slowly, swallowing.

Oscar leans in closer to you. "How does that sound to you?"

"I... I think it could be just what I need."

Oscar smiles softly. "I mean, I feel like... it would be nice to not just have to use my words to tell you how much I love you. You know, to be able to kiss you, or something, instead."

You find yourself smile a little at the words, nodding as pinkness gets to your cheeks. "Yeah... that doesn't sound so bad."

Oscar smiles, just gazing into your eyes. "Yeah?"

"It's just that... with tonight, with what happened..."

"Oh, I wasn't meaning we had to do anything tonight- just to think about. You know...?"

You nod slowly, before muttering, "But maybe... Just maybe tonight is the night to do it." You pause, before continuing, "You know, with all that happened, maybe if we just decided... tonight, let's just take a little step... it would help me to leave that. You know, it wasn't my fault... and I have someone who really does love me."

Oscar smiles. "And I really do."

You smile back, looking back up into his sweet brown eyes.

He slips his hand out of yours and gently brings it to your cheek, muttering, "Well, is it okay if I kiss you? Just a little kiss?"

You smile wider, feeling your stomach flutter at the sincere question. Nodding, you reply, "Yes, I reckon that is okay."

Oscar nods, his thumb stroking your cheek a bit as he leans in, his other hand gently touching your waist. His hand on your cheek shifts to cup the side of your neck, and he whispers, his warm breath on your ear, "You still okay?"

You nod.

And with that, he leans in, and, pulling you closer to himself, kisses you in the most perfect way. His adoration and love for you flows through the kiss, while still keeping it short and gentle. When he leans away, he whispers, "How was that?" with a little adorable smile.

You just sigh shakily and murmur, "I think you should do it again."

And he does without a second more of hesitation. His lips meet yours as he pulls your body closer to himself, lost in the kiss, lost in his emotions. When he pulls away again, he's pulled you onto his lap, but neither of you seem to care, both too swept up in each other's gazing eyes.

"I didn't realize for how long I needed to do that..." he whispers gently.

You smile a little. "I didn't realize how long I needed that from you."

He smiles back. "We'll call that both of our first kisses, okay?"

You nod. "Does this mean I'm your girlfriend now?"

"I like the sound of that."

You smile and throw your arms around him in an embrace. He pulls you closer to him, leaning back so that you can lay your head on him, and rubs your back, whispering, "I love you so much, Y/n. So, so much. To the moon and the stars and all the way back."

You smile up at him. "I don't know about the moon and the stars for me Oscar, but I'll tell you this: I love you enough to want to spend my life with you. I love you enough to want to grow old with you."

At those words, Oscar's arms tighten around you, and he chuckles, "See how sappy we suddenly get as soon as we decide to just give it up and kiss? My God."

You grin into his chest. "Yeahhh... But I don't mind it."

"Oh, trust me, I don't either." He shifts, moving you with him, making you both comfortable, so that you're laying together, cuddling.

"I really like this."

He hums. "Me too."

"You know we'll never hear the end of it from Lando if he finds out."

You feel the vibration of his laugh in his chest. "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, let's just relax. I just want to be. Be with you."

"I think that sounds like exactly what I was made for. To be with you."

He smiles, and you shut your eyes, content to listen to his heartbeat and just be.

Just be with him.

[darlingstarkey]

think later - pt 25

series masterlist

summary - y/n, formerly a pogue princess, finally had her big breakthrough and got signed to a record label in LA. little did she, her boyfriend rafe cameron and the rest of her friends know how things would really change as soon as she becomes famous.

anything in dark mode is rafe's phone!

authors note: one more part after this! enjoy :)

warnings: swearing, escalation to an argument, third person pov

-

the joint fizzled between rafe's large fingers as he sat on the dock with his feet dangling off of the edge. a sixer half empty with cans sitting around him as he drunkenly thought of you. 'what is she doing right now?' 'is she sleeping? is she on the next plane to sweden?' 'what if she already forgot about me? moved on to the next gu-'

rafe's thoughts were suddenly halted as his head snapped to see a familiar figure behind him.

jj.

"the fuck you doing here, pogue?" rafe said deeply as he finished the last swig of his beer and took a hit of the joint.

"doing you a favor. sarah told me you'd be here." jj explained as he sat down next to rafe, daringly plucking the joint from his fingers and taking a drag himself. "as much as i fucking hate your guts, i love y/n. sarah told me that your dad needed business done overseas for the summer. in perfect alignment with her schedule, in the same cities. if that isn't fuckin' fate man.. i don't know what is.. but what i do know is that you going to europe with her will make her the happiest person in the world." jj went on.

rafe chuckled and shook his head. "nah man, you don't get it. she's way better off without me. she's living her life. it doesn't matter what my dad wants me to do out there, i just can't get in her way of her living her dreams. we broke up for a reason." rafe sighed as he cracked open another can. he passed jj the last beer that he had, a signage of appreciation for his words, but rafe wouldn't let down.

with the crack of the tab, beer splattered across jj's calloused fingers. "yeah, and that reason is because you were a fucking idiot and nothing more." jj shook his head and took a large swig. "you are the luckiest man in the world, because no matter what you do, she will always be in love with you." he said looking out into the water.

"although you may be lucky, you're also a dumbass. you don't realize that she has a million people screaming her name, but she will only respond if you're the one calling her." jj looked over at rafe and made intense eye contact with him.

rafe was statued, dumbfounded by jj's words. "i-" rafe stuttered.

"don't, dude. there's nothing to rebuttal with. just go. i promise you, it will be worth it. meet her in london, she'll be there in a month. gives you more than enough time to get your shit figured out and get her back. and do not fucking let her go." jj said, plucking the butt joint into the water in front of him and standing up. he dusted off the ash from his pants and turned to walk away.

"don't fuck this up cameron." jj said as he left rafe speechless.

-

one. last. part. after. this.

taglist: @madkohi, @yesshewrites1, @grapejuice32, @leotapes , @givemylovetoall, @inlovewrafe, @bee-43, @larvalerius, @masongetinmybed, @the-oracle-at-delphinitely-not, @mystargirl-interlude, @eddxemxnson, @sqfewrd, @pogueprincesa, @frankoceanluvr11, @raeven-marie43, @marleymarleymarleymarley, @mindfulmesses, @akobx, @spenceatiny18, @fluoxetinys, @lolxdswag123, @st8rkey, @ethanthequeefqueen, @drewrry, @jjmaybankmylovee, @disaster-rose, @sunshinedaisy21, @chillgal135, @amterasuu, @wtfisastiles, @sassyvillaintrophy, @bananaminn, @barnesboo1967, @pi4st81, @stvrkeysgal, @yktayy9669, @yesterdaysproblemm, @rafesbuzzcutseason, @dylsdaily, @jjasmiineee, @imjustagirl713, @voidangxls, @cokewithcameron, @mymadokamagica, @icaqttt, @countryclubwhore

[onlyangel4]

littlest fan. roman reigns.

roman reigns x pregnant!reader

synopsis: when you spot a kid wearing your husband's merch you call him over to give a little boy the surprise of a lifetime

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

shopping had always been something that you enjoyed but you enjoyed it even more now that you were pregnant. getting to shop for things for the little baby boy that you were currently growing made you even more excited for his upcoming arrival.

today was a regular off day for roman, he liked spending as many off days as possible with you. he had been feeling ten times more protective over you than usual, something that you did not know was possible.

you had convinced roman that you needed to go get a few more bits for baby boy, despite having two cupboards full of baby stuff, and he agreed to come with you, he liked being by your side and seeing you smile when you saw some of the cute stuff that baby boy did not need but would get anyway.

as you walked into the mall roman turned to look at you, "i've got to go get a couple things from the other side of the mall and i really don't feel like making you walk all that way, shall i meet you in the toy shop"

"yeah of course my love, could you pick up some chocolate", you gave your husband your best puppy eyes, "baby boy really wants some"

roman laughed shaking his head at your bullshit, "of course he does", he dramatically rolled his eyes before leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead before leaving your side to go and get the bits that he needed.

you headed into your favourite toy store, one with something for kids of every age but you made a beeline to the baby section.

as you browsed through the baby section of a store, something caught your eye from the other side of the store. a little boy, maybe fi six or seven years old was stood proudly in a OTC hoodie, gripping a toy championship belt like it was his most prized possession. his tiny fingers traced the gold plate, and the determined expression on his face made your ovaries burst.

you couldn’t resist, crossing over to the other side of the store next to where the boy was standing. you looked down at the boy giving him a smile "i love your hoodie! are you a big fan of roman reigns?"

the boy’s eyes widened with excitement, his head snapping up to look at you, excited to just get to talk about his favourite person. "he’s my favourite wrestler ever! he’s the strongest! and one day, i’m gonna be just like him!" his enthusiasm was contagious, and you let out a small laugh, resting a hand on your belly.

"he is very strong isn't he", you spoke and the boy beamed up at you yapping your ear off about your husband as you tried to keep a straight face.

after a couple minutes the boy's mother walked over to the two of you, "i really hope he isn't bothering you"

"no not at all", you responded, "he is just telling me all about roman reigns"

"oh jack loves him", his mother spoke ruffling his hair before the boy announced that he was going to look for a roman action figure.

once jack was out of earshot you turned to his mother, "can you do me a favour?"

the woman quirked an eyebrow

"can you keep jack here for a little longer, i know it sounds weird but you really want to trust me on this one"

his mother looked at you face etched with confusion but she nodded her head in agreement, going to find her son to distract him for a bit in order to keep him in the store.

meanwhile, you pulled your phone out of your pocket immediately finding you husband's contact info.

you dialled your husband's number and he picked up on the second ring, his familiar deep voice coming through the speaker.

"you miss me already, baby?"

you rolled your eyes playfully, "i always miss you, but that’s not why i called."

"what’s up?"

you turned slightly, watching as jack enthusiastically browsed the wwe section of the toy store, his little hands eagerly flipping through the action figures. his mother did her best to keep him distracted, giving you time to execute your little plan.

"you need to come here right now."

there was a short pause. "what did you find?"

grinning, you glanced over at jack again. "not what, who. there is the cutest little boy wearing your merch"

roman chuckled on the other end, but you could hear the curiosity in his voice. "oh yeah?"

you nodded even though he couldn’t see you. "he’s wearing your hoodie, holding a toy title, and has been telling me all about how you’re the strongest ever."

roman sighed dramatically, the sound of footsteps through the speaker alerted you that he was already leaving the store he had been in. "you’re trying to make me soft, aren’t you?"

you giggled. "i think our baby boy’s already done that, love. but seriously, you need to come meet him. trust me."

"i'm already on my way", he spoke and you smiled brightly, you had him wrapped around your little finger.

you hung up and turned back toward jack’s mother, who was still watching you curiously. "i promise this will be worth it," you assured her.

she tilted her head, still confused. but she seemed to actually trust you.

a few minutes passed, and then you felt a shift in the store. it was subtle, but you noticed it immediately. a few heads turned. people whispered. the energy changed.

and then there he was.

roman strolled into the store, effortlessly commanding attention even in just a hoodie and joggers. his dark eyes scanned the aisles until they landed on you, his lips twitching into a small smirk. you nodded your head in jack's direction and his gaze shifted to jack, who was still focused on the action figures, oblivious to the presence of his hero.

clearing his throat slightly, roman took a few steps forward and crossed his arms. "you find a good one yet, little man?"

jack froze.

for a moment, he didn’t even turn around, as if his brain was refusing to process what he just heard. but then, slowly, his tiny hands lowered the action figure he was holding, and he turned on his heel.

the second his eyes landed on the roman reigns standing before him, his jaw dropped.

his mother gasped beside you, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. she had not been expecting that.

roman smirked, squatting down to jack’s level, resting his arms on his knees. "what’s up, little man? i heard you’re my biggest fan."

jack still hadn’t moved. he just stood there, staring up at roman with his mouth slightly open, as if his brain had completely short circuited.

you bit your lip, trying to hold in a laugh. "jack, sweetheart, say something," his mother encouraged.

jack blinked rapidly, his small hands gripping his toy title even tighter. then, in the quietest voice, he whispered, "oh my god."

roman chuckled, reaching out to gently tap the centre plate of jack’s toy championship belt. "you think you could take my title one day, lil man?"

that seemed to wake jack up. his chest puffed out, and he gripped his belt with newfound determination. "one day, i will!"

roman threw his head back in laughter before nodding approvingly. "that’s what i like to hear. you’ve got the confidence for it."

jack’s mother shook her head in disbelief, still covering her mouth. "oh my god. you’re actually here."

you smiled. "told you to trust me."

"sorry if my wife spooked you, she has a soft spot for the child fans", your husband spoke, "i hear wrestling is a big deal in your house?"

she exhaled shakily, still overwhelmed. "yes, we watch every week. jack won’t let us miss a single match. you have no idea what this means to him."

roman grinned. "i think i do."

he turned back to jack, who was still practically vibrating with excitement. reaching out, roman ruffled the boy’s hair before taking the hoodie’s front pocket and signing his name in bold letters.

once he had spent a little bit of time with jack roman chuckled, standing back up. he looked over at you, his gaze softening as his eyes flickered down to your belly. his large hand found its place on your bump, thumb brushing against the fabric of your shirt.

"i can’t wait until that’s our kid one day," he murmured.

"you won't be waiting long, i feel like i'm about to pop", you spoke to him

roman smirked. "i can't wait to meet the littlest member of the bloodline", he spoke pressing a kiss to your forehead

from beside you, jack grinned up at roman, holding one finger up. "i acknowledge you!"

roman threw his head back in laughter again, shaking his head as he knelt down for one last fist bump with the kid. "good man."

jack's mother, who had been wiping away a tear, suddenly turned to you. "you know," she said softly, "watching the way you two are together i can see you’re going to be amazing parents."

your heart clenched, warmth spreading through you. roman’s hand squeezed your side, his quiet way of agreeing.

you smiled. "that means a lot. thank you."

she chuckled. "oh, trust me, i mean it. your baby is going to be so lucky."

as you and roman walked out of the store, his arm securely wrapped around your waist, you could still hear jack excitedly shouting, "i just met Roman Reigns! MOM, I JUST MET ROMAN REIGNS!!"

you glanced up at your husband, who was grinning ear to ear.

yeah, you were going to be great parents

and you couldn’t wait.

[baked-potatoes-rule]

Yellowjackets S3 Episode 8 SPOILERS AHEAD (Do not read if you haven't watched yet)

The amount of Jackie Taylor we are getting this season is just fantastic. Seeing her on screen is always delightful. But seeing her verbally roasting Shauna,just feels better and better every time.

This episode is rough for her.

She's dreaming of her dead best friend--whose death Shauna still feels responsible for-- reminding her how miserable her life ended up being. The one person who overshadowed her, who "bossed her around", who didn't care about anyone else but herself, is no longer around and yet, Shauna still keeps losing.

And once again we are reminded that they could have worked things out, had Shauna spoken up more often. The boob dress scene and now her, not liking being called that. Jackie always ends up looking confused and asking "why the hell didn't you say something?"

Lottie put her in charge and she still isn't in charge. She is being overlooked even when she gets chosen to be center stage. Natalie absolutely cooked her with one line here. Jackie is still on top, even when dead. Shauna just, cannot win. The group is still following Nat's lead and Melissa is laughing in her face.

And this is where I put most of the words I've spoken against Melissa, in my mouth.

She faked her death,she is alive,she is married AND she's happy?Oh and goes to church too! This is better than I could have imagined it.

Shauna is seething because how can Melissa get to be happy and have a normal life? It's always other people and never Shauna. And on top of that she didn't even love her. She had to go with it because Shauna scared the fuck out of her. Understandable. On one hand this is good because Melissa played her cards really well and I underestimated her by labeling her as a "lap dog". On the other hand it's really sad for Shauna, because despite everything she has done, i do believe she deserves the life she always dreamed of having. She pulled the short stick way too many times.

Melissa and Adam

Two people telling Shauna she keeps wanting to blow things up. It's a pattern with her. She never got to live the life she wanted so she keeps sabotaging herself over and over again. Put the guilt of everything they did out there and she doesn't even believe she deserves anything good. She did the same thing when she slept with Jeff behind Jackie's back.

Shauna has no control over her life. Blowing things up is her only way of feeling like she has any. Self sabotage feels good when you feel helpless and guilty.

The Yellowjackets

Lottie,Shauna and Taissa do not want to go back home.

Lottie's story line is starting to weigh very very heavy this season. She doesn't want to go home because she doesn't feel like she belongs there. This,the wilderness; this is home. She doesn't have to act a certain way to be perceived as normal here. She can be herself. Her true self. Because back home she is judged and she is told she is wrong. Something is wrong with her. Who wants to be put aside and be labeled as "damaged goods"? She has a purpose in the wilderness and she is seen as someone special. Loved and accepted unconditionally.

Taissa doesn't want to go back either. She tells Van they probably won't be able to be together when they go back. How much progress has the outside world made?Yes, to them, it feels like they have been here for too long. What happens when they go out there? Not only they have done things that will follow them for their entire lives, but they are also gay. Again, not accepted by society. Just like Lottie who has a mental illness and is ostracized because of it. But here Tai and Van can be together and be happy. Why would they want to leave?

Shauna doesn't believe in any "It". But why would she go back? She lost Jackie and she was the first one to initiate cannibalism. She lost her baby. It's not like she's going to Brown. She finally somewhat "found" herself here, although she's still kind of losing but it beats going home and being lost again.

Lost,traumatized and scanning groceries.

The division between their choices.

Natalie and the rest of the group want to go back home. Van wants to see her mom,Melissa wants to get a gym membership she won't even use, Akilah will see her nephews, Gen will do the fries thing. They just want to go back.

So why are Lottie,Taissa and Shauna refusing to? Does Van not feel guilty for what they've done?Yeah but she does tell Travis they did what they did to survive. Melissa talked about bad parts but she is far from bad herself. She did what she had to do to survive. Natalie killed Ben, but she did it because she had to keep her promise and she showed him mercy.

The three of them just don't feel like they belong anymore, or that they deserve a normal life. They're beyond broken.

But the rest of the group has hope.

The answer is,yes.

On the bright side...Misty found her glasses and baked potatoes,still rule ✨🥔✨

[wisteria-lodge]

Since we’re talking patronuses: how do you think Hermione, Ron, Luna, and Ginny’s work? I’ve always thought they (Especially Hermione’s) were a bit random.

Hermione's Patronus is an otter because JKR's favorite animal is an otter. It really isn't any deeper than that.

If I were going to give them all new Patronuses, and bounce off my head canon that I was using for Draco, that your Patronus doesn't represent *you,* it represents what *protects* you... lets see.

What protects Luna is her ability to retreat inside herself when things get rough. It doesn't matter how terrible her situation is, the beautiful world in Luna's head will keep her sane, hopeful, and joyful. That's how she survived inside the Malfoy dungeons, and actually managed much better than Olivander did. So, I'd give her an animal that reflected that, like an armadillo. Cute, gentle, and armored. Alternately, if I wanted to give Luna a Fantastic Beast (seems a pity not to...) I think it would be nice to give her an occamy. Like the occamy, Luna expands to fill whatever situation she's in. She can be small enough to stay out of trouble, or so huge and expansive that she can see answers no one else can, and show up when no one else will.

Ginny I think gets a phoenix. What protects her is the way she can be be hot, fiery and in-your-face... but also re-invent herself, when she sees something isn't working. (Harry isn't working out right now? Cool, let's date around and do something else.) I also think that the phoenix from the Chamber of Secrets would have really stuck with her. She spent that year being extremely vulnerable, putting herself at risk, putting Harry at risk... but here comes a phoenix to bail her out. I think that's core-memory enough to make it into a Patronus.

I want to go a similar route with Hermione. Her worst year was Year Three - she's working herself into the ground, she has no friends, she's stressed and out-of-control, she tries to help Buckbeak but it doesn't work. She misses this huge threat (Scabbers) that was under her nose the whole time. But Crookshanks picks up the slack for her. He's her companion, and he had the right idea about Scabbers and Sirius the whole time. I think she would have found that SO comforting. So that's why I think her Patronus would be a kneazle. They look like regular cats except for a few magical details, so they have a foot in both worlds the way she does. They're also very, very clever, and Hermione's brain is the main thing that protects her.

Ron was actually really hard, because the thing is I don't think he feels protected a lot of the time. The central experience of being Ron is - I don't feel prepared for any of this, but I showed up anyway. He doesn't feel protected within his family, half the time he's the one protecting his friends, and he doesn't have as much faith in his own abilities as Hermione does. I would actually have it be that Ron is the one person on this list who can't cast a corporeal Patronus in Book 5, and we wait until Book 7 for the reveal. And here's my kind of crazy idea. I think that Ron's Patronus is a spider, or even an acromantula. Because you know what really protects him, in Book 7? What allows him to back-talk Voldemort? It's this bone-deep knowledge of - Cute. I've seen worse.

And I actually think like a giant terrifying spider would communicate that pretty well.

[insomniac4000]

Some fluff, taking care of Chris after his surgery!

I actually already had something like this drafted!

Healing- ChrisMD

Chris groaned as he shifted on the hospital bed, the dull ache in his knee reminding him why he was here. Years of playing football, pushing himself for content and competitions, had finally caught up to him. The doctor had warned him this was inevitable, his knee had taken too much wear and tear, and now, post-surgery, he was stuck here, wrapped in bandages and feeling more useless than ever. It wasn’t his first rodeo, about five years ago he needed a surgery to shave down some bone on his foot but this, now this felt worse somehow. He knew he would be okay thought because he had his best girl by his side.

As if on cue the door creaked open, and in walked Y/N, carrying a takeaway coffee in one hand and a bag of snacks in the other. Her auburn curls were pulled into a messy bun, and her hazel eyes softened as she took in his tired expression.

"How's my patient?" she teased, setting the coffee down on the bedside table before leaning over to kiss his forehead.

Chris exhaled sharply. "Feeling like an old man, I’m going to go insane."

Y/N chuckled, settling into the chair beside him. "Well, you are an old man, you’re thirty next year. But you'll be back on your feet soon enough if you listen to me." She smiled and threw a punnet of grapes Chris’s way. She didn’t know why it was a thing to bring sick people grapes but here she was, Chris wouldn’t be in hospital long not even overnight so he just needed a little snack to tide him over and knowing he was a fitness freak, a fitness freak who wasn’t going to be able to be active for a while fruit seemed like a safe option.

Chris blinked sluggishly as the hospital room came back into focus. The bright overhead light was too harsh, and everything felt a little... floaty. He squinted, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

"You're so pretty, I’ll forgive you for calling me an old man" he mumbled, his voice slow and slurred.

Y/N bit her lip, clearly holding back a laugh. "Well, that's a nice thing to come into."

Chris attempted to lift his hand but gave up halfway, settling for squeezing hers instead. "No, like… really pretty. You’re... like a forest fairy or something."

Y/N snorted. "A forest fairy?"

Chris nodded, or at least, he thought he did. It was hard to tell when his head felt like a balloon. "Yeah. All curly and glowy and... I love you."

Y/N's lips parted slightly, a soft, surprised smile playing on her face. "I love you too, Chris."

Chris furrowed his brow. "No, but I really love you." His voice was thick with sincerity, even through the post-anaesthesia haze. "Like… so much. More than football. More than chicken." He gasped. "More than the last chicken nugget when I'm really hungry."

Y/N laughed, squeezing his hand. "That is serious."

Chris's face scrunched up, as if he had just realized something deeply profound. "You're my favourite person in the world." He tried to lift his head, but his body wasn't quite cooperating. "Did you know that?"

Y/N brushed a hand over his forehead, smoothing back his messy hair. "I had a feeling, yeah."

He sighed dramatically. "You're so smart. And nice. And you take care of me. And you smell really good." He inhaled deeply, then frowned. "Wait, I can't smell you from here. But I know you smell really good."

Y/N shook her head, laughing. "Chris, I think the pain meds are making you a little loopy."

Chris gasped again, his eyes wide. "Oh my God. Am I dreaming? If this is a dream, I never wanna wake up. This is the best dream ever. It’s got you in it."

Y/N rested her chin on his hand, still grinning. "This isn't a dream, babe."

Chris blinked at her, dazed but utterly besotted. "You're real?"

"I'm real."

He let out a deep, contented sigh. "Good. Because I want to marry you."

Y/N froze for half a second before chuckling. "Let's maybe revisit that conversation when you're not high on hospital drugs."

Chris pouted. "But I mean it. You're my best friend and the best girlfriend ever. I’d be lost without you."

Y/N leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "I’m not going anywhere, Chris."

He hummed, his eyes fluttering shut. "Good. 'Cause I love you. More than pizza..."

And with that, he drifted back to sleep, still holding onto her hand.

After a few hours Chris was given the all clear to go home, Y/N got him in a taxi safely and they made their way back to their flat. They had only moved in their together a couple of months ago and it was only temporary, they had planned to use this downtime Chris was going to have to try and look for a house together, it was scary but they were both excited, but first Chris needed to heal.

The first couple of days post-op were the worst. The painkillers dulled the worst of the ache, but Chris hated being stuck in bed. Y/N stayed with him, making sure he was comfortable,

When he got too grumpy, which was often she bribed him with ridiculous YouTube videos, snacks, and the promise of fresh air as soon as he was mobile. Despite al f this thought there was a small part of him that quite liked all the attention.

"You realise I could get used to this level of attention, right?" Chris quipped one evening as she tucked a blanket around his legs.

Y/N rolled her eyes. "Enjoy it while you can, because in a few days, I’m turning into your personal trainer."

Chris groaned dramatically. "Remind me why I thought dating a fitness-obsessed idiot was a good idea?"

She smirked. "Because I’m also cute."

He couldn’t argue with that.

A week after surgery, Y/N helped Chris onto the sofa, propping his leg up on a cushion.

"Alright, time for your first set of exercises," she announced, holding up her phone where a list of rehab moves was displayed.

Chris eyed her warily. "Y/N, be honest. How painful is this going to be?"

She shrugged. "Probably not as painful as playing on a dodgy knee for years."

He sighed. "Fair point. Alright, coach, let's get this over with."

Y/N guided him through the simple movements; quad contractions, ankle pumps, gentle stretches. She was patient but firm, making sure he did everything properly. When he winced, she softened, reassuring him that progress took time.

"You’re doing great," she murmured, resting a hand on his thigh. "I know it sucks, but you’ll thank me when you’re back running circles around the boys."

Chris managed a tired smile. "Only if you promise to be my first opponent when I’m back to full strength."

Y/N grinned. "Deal."

As the days stretched into weeks, Chris grew stronger. Y/N kept him accountable, dragging him outside for short walks, filming his progress, and making sure he didn’t slack on his exercises.

"Y/N, I swear you just enjoy torturing me," Chris grumbled as she helped him through a balancing exercise.

She smirked. "No, I enjoy watching you get better. And also, maybe, just a little bit of the torture."

Despite himself, Chris laughed. "Unbelievable."

By the time he was allowed to put full weight on his knee again, Chris was more than ready to push himself. Y/N, however, kept him in check, making sure he didn’t rush the process.

One afternoon, after a particularly good physio session, he pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly against his chest.

"You know I couldn't have done this without you, right?"

Y/N smiled into his shoulder. "Of course you could have. But I wasn’t about to let you do it alone."

He kissed the top of her head. "You're the best."

She pulled back slightly, smirking. "I know. Now, are you ready for our first post-recovery one-on-one match?"

Chris laughed. "Loser makes dinner?"

"Deal. But just so you know, I'm not going easy on you."

He grinned. "I’d be disappointed if you did."

[irenespring]

I am at this scene right now in my rewatch and it is DESTROYING ME like it always does.

Because one of Kerry's defining motivations is searching for family. Wanting to belong, to fit in somewhere, and to be loved. And she tries this in a number of ways, including trying to find her birth parents, her numerous failed attempts at entry into the ER found family unit, arguably her whole ambition that gets mistaken for pure Machiavellianism (that is a Much longer story).

Here she is literally trying to hire a father figure. She says she loves Lawrence like a father. In her mind this is the best thing ever to happen. She's still suffering from a completely self-caused social backlash (one of very few) in that deal she made with Romano, and here she can do what she always thought she could do but has never worked before and never will again: use her power to get people to love her! Her deal with the devil was worth it because now she can hire her dad! He can work with her! And now she isn't alone! She has someone in the building! Who cares about her!

And he says so. That is a huge deal. He tells everyone who will listen how great he thinks Kerry is and he tells her all the time he thinks she's amazing. He tells her fun little stories of their time working together. He compliments her intelligence and her leadership, and he respects her policies (even the goofy badge idea). Some of that is just to cover when he forgets things and needs her to focus on other stuff, but even then he means it. After years of constant mockery and constant rejection. Mockery and rejection from the people Lawrence is now praising her to. You can practically feel how elated she is to have him there through the screen. She has someone to talk to, someone who is always happy to see her. She really is just so happy. It's everything she ever wanted, going back to when she first hired that PI. She found a parent.

And then it crumbles. And she fucking grabs at the vanishing particles, the way she insists that no, it isn't possible, he isn't sick, he doesn't have to leave, please, don't make him, she needs him, please. Then, because the writers hate her and me and human decency, there's the knife twist that she has to fire him and he storms out on her. She is forced to wreck this relationship just like she has wrecked all her other ER relationships.

ER is supposed to be a found family. It hasn't been for Kerry, until Lawrence. Now she behaves exactly like the loved ones of patients who are going to die. Telling their clearly dying family members about miracle cures, telling them to hang on just a little longer. She can't let go. Because she was happy. More than that, she doesn't want to be alone again.

The suicide element, just as Kerry is working herself up about clinical trials and hope is a brilliant piece of writing. It is also fascinating given that Kerry is someone who is (or at least will be, I will probably write much more on this when I get to s8e1 because holy shit) periodically suicidal. Also the fact that the end of Lawrence's speech is "nobody coming to see me." This is also hell for Kerry. She understands this.

So the "I'll come and see you" is 1) True. When Kerry finds the woman she thinks is her mother in the nursing home, she cares for her arguably too well, beyond the woman's wishes. She sits by her bed. Talks to her. Spends every moment she can with her. Despite all evidence that woman: doesn't know where she is, who she is, doesn't know Kerry is there. Kerry will show up no matter what. 2) in Kerry's mind, enough. One person made all the difference for her these past couple episodes. Just to have one person there is a game changer.

There's something horribly ominous in the way the last scene of the episode isn't this scene but Jeanie packing up. I think it's supposed to be ending on a happier note, but it drives home that Kerry also lost HER ONE OTHER REAL FRIEND THIS EPISODE. She is now very isolated. She'll be pretty much alone facing the paradigm shift of season 7 (for the aftereffects of that, see my comment on s8e1).

In conclusion: The show loves to torture Kerry Weaver because it thinks it is either funny, moral, or standard-trope-so-who-cares to torture the neurodivergent lesbian, but this was actually very well done so it gets a pass. The tragedy here is peak.

[erinravenseeker]

there's this really fun dialogue that paranatural has with itself about parental/adult responsibility and to what extent we should shield children from the harsher realities of the world. or, as Zack puts it, Everybody's Beef With Their Weird Dad.

This is a sort of half-baked analysis that should really just be taken as my own personal observations and opinions. Also Big Spoilers.

From the get-go we can see that Grandpa Guerra's approach to training Isabel has strained their relationship immensely, because he focuses so much on making her strong enough to survive what's coming but refuses to actually tell her the risks involved. Whatever it is, is dangerous enough to convert every Consortium spy that comes into town to his side, and yes maybe he's right to think she's too young for whatever is that serious, but it also means she's also walking into this blindly.

Gwen Burger's sentiment in the dream sounds great. "Yes, let us adults clean up our mess," is exactly the sort of thing we want from our elders, that they don't destroy their homes and leave us with the wreckage. But there's another side to the coin here. She and the rest of the adults insist on shielding the kids from the truth, but withholding information means there's no backup plan if they DO fail, just that everyone's back at square one. She avoids taking responsibility for her mistakes by insisting that it's fine, she still has time to fix them, so you don't have to worry about it. We can't fix the mistakes of our elders, or avoid them in the first place, if we don't know what those mistakes are.

In this way she's also denying the autonomy of the kids. Spender & Zarei are already involved with whatever happened, so this is a burden they will have to carry later. Isn't it better to make sure they understand and are better prepared now? (Cody's section of the story has some similar or parallel ideas about autonomy and overprotectiveness but I'm not going to go into it too much, mostly because I haven't really collected my thoughts on it.) To Gwen's credit, she does realise this upon Mina's insistence moments later, which leads BL to tell them the bare minimum of what a wight actually is:

Which brings us to the main gang. Spender insists to himself that he is going to do his best to protect them, and train them to protect themselves, and he'll go off and do what needs to be done without them when the time it right, but let's face it. They're all at risk by simply associating with him. So he also tries his best to make them into a team that can protect themselves, while keeping things lighthearted and never letting them get too close to the darkness. Over the past few chapters the tone isn't really any less irreverent, but the stakes have massively shifted from overdramatic-teenage-middle-school-bullshit to oh-god-this-is-actually-serious. And part of why everything is still pretty upbeat is that none of the kids really have the full picture of all the dark corners, nor should they have to be exposed to that. But it also means that they're under-equipped for danger they're already stuck in the middle of.

And especially Dimitri. Dimitri is fantastic because he is the PERFECT encapsulation of all of these themes.

In his home life, his parents don't openly talk about their struggles, so he doesn't get to share in any of the responsibility. Instead he privately takes on all the guilt, because nobody bothers to properly absolve him of it. He takes on this same philosophy of "sacrifice [was] best honored when its cost remained concealed", sacrificing himself almost entirely for other people without complaint, which then later creates the same problem for Isaac that Dimitri's parents did for him.

In the world of the supernatural, to everyone (including himself) he can almost be viewed as the most separate from everything going on. He left the Activity Club, he doesn't actively fight ghosts or anything, his family is about to move out of town. He is entirely burdenless in this fateful struggle.

And yet he's actually the closest to the centre of everything, the fulcrum on which the spirit world of MBayview turns. Dimitri has been host to Peekaboo practically since he was born, and that whole time he has had to suppress his own emotions and play to what others want in order to appease what is essentially a toddler with the power of a god, just to keep it from thoughtlessly hurting him.

This is already his burden, the Activity Club's burden. Preserving childlike innocence is a noble pursuit and deserve not to feel burdened by the struggles of their seniors. But if these burdens are going to be thrust upon them nonetheless, is it then cruel or kind, to put them through pain now in order to make sure they have a steady footing in the days to come?

[bayetea]

this is a sweet moment from leo but I have no idea why he thinks this line. it's not true. like in every way it is not true. he's either known piper exactly as long as he's known jason or he's known piper four months longer than jason if we operate under the assumption that leo and piper were always friends and knew each other at school regardless of hera's memory tampering (a matter which is left somewhat ambiguous in the books, but I personally consider likely). it's kind of a weird take that lowkey downplays the leo&piper friendship and the only way I can think to explain it is if leo is still holding on to false memories of jason at the wilderness school

this is one of several reasons why I don't love how the jason&leo friendship is developed throughout hoo. at least piper is shown seriously grappling with the fact that her memories of jason are false and evaluating the idealized image she has of him in her mind versus the "real" jason she's getting to know. that's a really important thing for her to be doing! but leo is almost never shown pondering the falsity of his memories of jason. and honestly considering the fact that leo is characterized as a guy who actively avoids thinking about painful things in order to keep himself from breaking down, this writing has the inadvertent effect of making it seem like maybe leo doesn't think about it because he just doesn't want to. and I don't think I have to say why that isn't a good way to manage one's complicated interpersonal relationships

but I think the real reason why leo isn't shown dwelling on this much is simply because romances and friendships are not regarded as matters of equal importance in rick's writing lol. rick spends more time addressing this major conflict in jason/piper's romance because he just doesn't think it matters as much that leo, a guy who grew up without any friends, is now faced with the reality that his best friend is not who he thought he was. amnesia plots are fun and the material with the lost trio is so fascinating but god I do not care for how rick went about resolving all of these intermingling complications in their dynamics that started in tlh

[mcytshipsandmore]

Majormoon, except Scott's the trans masc one and Pearl's a cis man...

Pearl finds out Scott's trans before Scott even knows he's trans. Pearl's limerent, and with Scott being his limerent object and farfriend, it ain't hard to put the pieces together that Scott's a 'liiiil trans of the gender! Given Pearl stalks his browsing history ('is it possible for women develop facial hair?' 'is it normal to feel like you want to be a boy?' 'diets to reduce breast size?'), and monitors his activities (he watches on the clothes stores videofeed at Scott discreetly checking out the men's section on stores, only buying sports bras, looks for one-piece swim suits instead of two-pieces), and he figures out his 'girlfriend' might not be so girl after all, before Scott's even figured out his discomfort with his femininity issssssn't really normal for a cis person.

You could say he gives Scott a few nudges in the right direction. Pearl buys extra clothes for 'himself' that, woops, he ordered 'em wrong, they actually came in Scott's size, and, well, it'd be a waste to return them, wouldn't it, so why doesn't Scott just keep 'em, instead? He makes a big show of coming out as bisexual to his 'girlfriend', bemoans about how pretty men are, and wouldn't Scott just make the cutest guy? Pretends to 'slip up' and accidentally refer to Scott as a he instead of a she, even though it's far from a mistake whenever he gets to watch Scott light up at being referred to with masc pronouns like a lightbulb.

With Pearl's help, really, it's only a matter of time until Scott's egg cracks, and he admits he might want to be a boy. Pearl, of course, is unrelenting supportive... in fact, Pearl had already bordered dozens of custom-fit at-home binders for when he inevitably came out, already created him a pinterest moodboard full of potential new haircuts or fits, already created him a list of hundreds of personally-picked masculine names he thought that Scott might want to consider for his new one. Pearl makes sure it's well and known that he loves Scott no matter what and that he supports his new boyfriend unconditionally.

Pearl also makes it well known that everyone else will not.

Now, their community isn't necessarily transphobic, but Pearl makes sure Scott thinks it is. Pulls up news articles about trans-based hatecrimes in the area (who cares if they're a little dated? Scott doesn't need to know that), brings it upon himself to sneak out at night and write transphobic graffiti near Scott's local hangouts where he knows Scott'll see it, even deepfakes old Twitter posts or texts about Scott's friends being transphobic. Pearl subtly manipulates him into thinking the the truth is: only Pearl is safe. He can only be his true self around Pearl. Everybody else will hurt and hate him if they knew. His friends aren't really his friends; they won't be if they find out. Pearl's the only one who will ever accept him.

Pearl even slips estrogen into his food, occasionally, watching as he only grows more dysphoric (he can't dress masculinely in public, they'll know; he can't ask to be referred to with proper pronouns, they'll know; he can't have top surgery or take supplments, they'll know), and so more reliant on Pearl for comfort. Pearl is the only one he can trust, the only one who would accept his truest self, the only one who would call him a man.

It's only a matter of time before Scott shuts everyone else out under the impression they'd hate him if they knew who he was, convinced his entire support system is ragingly transphobic and Pearl is the only one who would ever accept him...

It's only a matter of time until Pearl has Scott isolated, conditioned, and wrapped around his finger.

Just as planned.

aw thats sweet!

What a loving boyfriend!

Well thats a strange thing to say…

What is.

Oh-

Oh….

-🍫

[murglor]

So, I want to point out that this is about @ly0nstea saying Mai, Azula, and Ty Lee were friends; you denied that; they identified the embrace and positive interaction in "Return to Omashu"; and you then wrote "Situationally she was miserable in Omashu, so the familiarity would’ve been relief for her. Beyond that, she at best just does what Azula tells her to do" and that "it's clear that [Mai's relationship with Azula] was half-hearted and one-sided at best." I disagree. In short, I think the relationship isn't one-sided because contrary to it being a creation of Ukano instructing Mai to cultivate that relationship, Mai has demonstrated she will happily disobey authority figures (Ukano and Azula alike), acts like she enjoys Azula's company more than anything else we see other than Zuko's company, is clearly seen as an individual by Azula more than anyone else in the show, and tells us (in Ashes) that being Azula's friend made her feel like she mattered. That last comment from Ashes could be because Azula's friendship gave Mai a position in society (which I gather is your interpretation), but she was already the only (later eldest) child of a high-ranking noble who was later made governor of a colony. It seems unlikely that whatever heightened social status is conferred by being informally Azula's friend and companion would make her feel like she "mattered" if her relationship to Ukano didn't. I think a much more natural reading is that Azula made Mai feel that she mattered by listening to her, appreciating her skills and sense of humor, entertaining her, and understanding Mai as a person in a way her parents (and the other people in her life) didn't. And that sounds a lot like a mutually beneficial, non-one-sided relationship ("friendship") to me.

"What the goal is in making Mai and Azula be really good buddies?"

Long Feng betrayed Azula (and Azula won), and nobody including Azula cares (or should care). Mai and Ty Lee "betrayed" Azula at Boiling Rock (and even though they were right to do so both morally and in terms of personal outcomes, I don't think betrayal is an inaccurate term). Azula responded by misplaying her hand with Ozai (when he's departing), having hallucinations, losing a fight to Zuko (arguably) and Katara (definitely) by attacking wildly without precision (abnormal for her) and without situational awareness (the grate/water), and completely melting down - which is to say, completely losing her fucking mind. The Boiling Rock betrayal has a major impact on Azula and her plotline. If it's just Ty Lee and Mai as minions who served Azula out of fear, the overreaction doesn't make sense. If it's two of only five or so people Azula allowed herself to love or care about (Ozai, Zuko, Mai, Ty Lee, Ursa though she'll deny it, maybe Iroh), all of whom but Ozai have now chosen somebody else over Azula (and Ozai rejects her), that breakdown makes a lot more sense. A real friendship/relationship between all three of the Dangerous Ladies (with actual love/affection both BY and FOR Azula, although not expressed in healthy ways) both explains and justifies the ending of Azula's arc - she breaks down and loses everything. Oh, and under this reading, Mai's line to her ("I love Zuko more than I fear you") is not about Azula miscalculating. We've never seen any evidence that Mai fears Azula. They're both speaking between the lines, and Mai knows that what Azula will really hear is that Mai loves Zuko more than she loves Azula, and that will hurt Azula. A lot.

The Boiling Rock is so much better if it's a real breakup of an important friendship circle, not just two minions giving notice. A competently written post-canon world is so much more interesting for stories about Azula, about Mai, and about Ty Lee if they had real emotional ties to one another, not just a legacy of power imbalance, self-interest submission by Mai and Ty Lee, and poor treatment / imposed fear by Azula.

Friendly reminder that Mai and Ty Lee both enjoyed Azula's company and considered her a good friend, and that Mai was far more willing and eager to join Azula at the start of season 2 than Ty Lee was

[maskygirl55]

Sonic x Epic Character Headcanons

(please note this is a Sonadow version and I'm a newcomer to the fandom armed with only SCU knowledge, fanfiction and fanwiki.)

Sonic - Odysseus

Shadow - Penelope

Blaze - Athena

Idk how to explain it just feels right.

Rouge - Circe

Tails - Telemachus

I initially wanted him to be Polites as (in my humble opinion) Tails is what drives Sonic to be a hero as he wants to both protect his brother and be a good role model for him. But also if anything happened to him I know he would lose his shit and the possible angst factor seemed glorious until I thought of someone else.

I decided on Telemachus in the end because while Tails loves his brother, he also wants to be able to stand next to him as a hero in his own right as he does struggle with self worth which I felt was perfect for him.

Knuckles - Eurylochus

Maddie Wachowski - Odysseus' Mom

I feel like I need to explain this one. So as stated above. I initially thought of Tails as Polities as he is near and dear to Sonic's heart and would be the starting point to his tragedy, but this came to me as I was considering Sonic's mom in 'Underworld'. I don't know much of his video game/comic mom besides the fact that he has siblings named Manic and Sonia (still don't know if this is canon or not) but I felt that a mother who isn't present in his life would not be as impactful to the viewer/reader.

But in the SCU, we see that there was a buildup of a relationship after past trauma and experiences, but it was eventually overcome so they could become a family. It also connects really well with the next headcanon.

Tom Wachowski - Polities

Polities was made into not only Odysseus' best friend but also his moral compass which he lost tragically in front of him because of Polyphemus.

This ring a bell to the people who watched Sonic 3??

There's also the idea that Sonic is thinking of how he's going to explain to his mom that her husband, his father, died right in front of his eyes and there was nothing he could have done to stop it. Then he goes to the underworld only to find out she's already dead because he took too long to get home. Now he's officially an orphan.

If that doesn't seem like a good reason to crash out and become a monster, then I don't know what is.

This also gives a better reason for Knuckles (Eurolychus) to doubt Sonic as their father died because he relied on wit which would fundamentally shook him.

Silver - Hermes

Silver is constantly sending messages and trying to prevent world ending catastrophes because of Sonic, I felt like it was fitting. It also allows for the flying to continue (and because I lowkey like Hermes x Tiresias)

Espio - Tiresias

Someone on Tiktok made it so and I have no reason to argue.

Amy Rose - Aphrodite

Surge - Ares

I don't know how else to explain this besides it just makes sense

Infinite - Antinous

Metal Sonic - Poseidon

This one also needs some explanation. I was initially inspired by EmmaSmoke's god au on AO3.

But then I really got into it. Metal Sonic as a god would be objectively better than Sonic as he is a god and Sonic is just a mortal, but in the end all his godliness was defeated against Sonic's unwavering determination to reunite with his family.

Metal Sonic is also a machine that could theoretically live forever but Sonic is mortal and yet he will always outshine him. And ain't that just poetic.

Sage - Calypso

LET ME SPEAK!! I know that Sage isn't who most people would think of in terms of Calypso but let me explain.

Calypso is a goddess who was punished because of the sins of her father and didn't deserve it. THIS DOESN'T EXCUSE WHAT SHE DID TO ODYSSEUS, but she was a person who was isolated and was desperate for someone, anyone to stay with her. She was also unaware of common decency. To reiterate THIS DOESN'T EXCUSE WHAT SHE DID, but we must understand this.

Sage is the daughter of Eggman and would be punished for her father's sins. She also is an ai that continues to learn and grow, the gods bringing her Sonic would be seen as an opportunity to learn in a practical manner as she's had little to no social interaction.

Also, as she is not a mortal, she doesn't understand why Sonic keeps trying to leave her for a mortal when they stay in paradise and she is a goddess, and likely never will

.

.

.

.

.

.

Now for this last one ... I don't think you're ready

Fleetway Sonic - Zeus

... I can't explain it better than that it came to me in a dream.

Fleetway Sonic is also a powerful antagonist character who is altogether unpredictable in his methods.

[sage-is-in-fact-very-tired]

so like . maybe opening a Google doc for this is a bit much however (future sage after they finished, it was not. it was not a bit much) . consider . who cares

the paragraph analysis (that isn't 2k words) - morally grey, maybe leaning more villain, some vague concepts of like- power? (of the magic kind?), probably was part of a group / company and isn't anymore . also like . getting vague toxic ex vibes from at least two of those songs.

anyway. I've gotten very good at analyzing songs as we all know. and so - a short little analysis based on nothing but the vibes of those songs <3

-> [Bones]

-> giving very morally grey kinda vibes? something about like- “I'll take the long road home that's lined with blood and snow” have they killed people? maybe their past involves some kind of death? the whole thing of innocent but they'll still serve time, maybe they're being blamed for some kind of death? The line about being your own worst enemy - do they blame *themself* for something that happened? do they think they're a bad person and keep going on anyway? Also that first like “can you believe in something that you can't even see? Can you agree we're part of something bigger than you and me?” Very ‘part of a suspicious group” kinda vibes, especially with the other lines about blood and innocence. “The mirror's always showing me a shell of who I used to be” maybe they used to be a better person than what they are now? (Looks at Little Wolf. looks at Little Wolf so hard)

-> vaguely kinda . toxic (or more than just toxic) ex vibes if you look at it in the right lens . like the lines about “you can give and take” and “Crack my bones but my heart won't break” like. yeah

-> [AC/DC]

-> this one is giving me . a time . because okay the main thought is of course like- robot. or some kind of mechanical parts, connected somehow to something like that?

-> if we go robot route, you have the obvious of like- morally grey robot being used by slightly evil group / company to do their dirty work, but in combination with all of the other songs I'm not quite sure that really fits completely?

-> could actually be more *the group / company* talking to starbound!sherb as opposed to starbound!sherb themself, which in context to the other songs I feel might be a bit more likely? honestly this song is the most confusing one to me-

-> [Rats]

-> something about how the group they work for is a little evil and they're all kind of rats and rats aren't considered good or clean or anything (something about having blood on their hands?) “Guess he's only got himself to blame” Something about how they've done bad things but (they believe) it's kinda their fault because they kept doing it without any question

-> and the other thing . toxic ex vibes . just very toxic relationship vibes . something about “love me like the rats in the cupboard” but like they wouldn't be loved because no one *wants* rats in their cupboard. the “watch me me burn and feed the flames” something about a possible partner (or I guess this could be like- okay I have brain worms and they definitely *were* apart of some kind of group so this could be referring to that but . lemme have my fun <3 - and this doesn't feel like the kinda song sherb would pick if thats the case? soooooo /silly) letting them wear themself down and feed the fire of why they're not a good person? “Do you ever get sick of watching me cave in” like ??? okay now . something about getting close to someone and then just . They don't help you and just watch you from afar. mmm. “Pull me apart and spreed me thin” do I need to elaborate . like. same reason as the last one- “told me she was back and here to stay, said she loved me and she wants my money, well I told her not today” very like- maybe controlling past partner maybe? this whole song gives very toxic relationship vibes and I dunno how else you want me to say that- “love me like the rats in the cupboard, not enough to keep a dying flame” something something starbound!sherb finally walking away from this? finally going off and trying to distance themself from this person?

-> half vaguely coherent thought of maybe like- them leaving the possible group they could've been apart of and like- getting into a relationship that isn't healthy in the slightest bc they haven't been able to process and the other side is just toxic? you know? shrug

-> [Sinners]

-> very just . morally grey vibes. not like lyric wise just like Vibe wise you must listen to it to understand I feel. “I must be good for something” so they want to be useful huh? is that a thing they wanna do? hm? /silly “oh Sinners come down, come gather round” something about maybe formerly being in a group - maybe being in some sort of higher up position? who knows, not me, clearly. “Let's go have some fun before they put us in the ground” so there's people after their group or just them perhaps? (with the addition of leave me alone later on the playlist, this is highly likely that *someone* is after them) “lions sit in solemn lines, drinking gin and dropping lines” something about whatever they do being very like- controlling? (could tie back to AC/DC maybe?) like them being on a tight ship perhaps? there's a lot of repeating lyrics in this one so there's not too much for me to look at with my eyes :(

-> [Little Wolf]

-> so this is the outlier of the group it'd seem . and . okay I've been brain worms about this one. because there's like- two ways yoou can see this one. also they're for sure not Athena I hope we can agree on that-

-> so option number one that- I think makes the most sense, is that in the context of this song they'd be antinuous. Kinda of more of that “morally grey, leaning a bit more ‘villain’” kinda vibes they got going? Just very antagonistic and stuff like that? (To who is another question but we probably can't get that just from the playlist)

-> other option is they're telemachus - a younger version of them only hoping to be a good person (perhaps joining a group in hopes they'd be able to help out with space horrors?), being taken under the wing of someone older and willing to protect them. (something about how arguably, under this interpretation, they could very easily be *both* telemachus and antinuous, trying to be good at the beginning and only ending up a worse person despite. Perhaps this is some kind of internal dialog, who knows. it's funky thinking about what's up with them)

-> [Dark Science]

-> This is the part I get the vague power vibes from? it just has that vibes and I can't explain it more than that-

-> actually on second thought it could also just be like- the group they were / could've been a part of? like something about their leader or a recruiter talking to starbound!sherb? and or star!sherb talking to like- a victim, but I lean more to the first option? something about the pre-chorus “Of your cold heart, no spark Restarting your true dark With mismatched animal parts Cannibal starved, natural Death is just the start” Feels very like- trying to convince them that it's gonna be fine and whatever they're going to do to star!sherb will all be fine (maybe they're like- cyborg? or along this song maybe some funky alien things? which could maybe also add to the powers idea that I've slightly squashed) and the chorus telling someone to not be afraid feels very “someone trying to convince someone else this group / these people are good and this is completely normal and ethical :)” also this - “With every draw I paint a picture Perfect murder scene But if these mortuary walls could talk We both know that they’d scream Hindsight is the only judge and jury that I need” feels very like- their story has *something* to do with death of some kind, be that literal or like- something else I'm not sure we can figure out. also the bridge talks about control and being a “cog” and. yeah I think their story perhaps also has something to do with control . I feel like those are the two major vibes I get. (Add the toxic ex idea to that? mmmmmm)

-> [Cavalryman]

-> something about being a soldier something about doing people's dirty work something about being apart of a slightly evil group something something. I don't have big brain worms about this song its just very big vibes honestly. also a lot of stuff about death yet again? like I feel like this could perhaps be a big part of their story… just guessing here though who knows… /silly

-> [Do What I Gotta]

-> morally grey bitch <3 /pos - also, seems like they might be on their own now perhaps? not apart of a group anymore - something like they left it for something better? (being morally grey still <3) anyway. “This city got issues lucky for us though I'm a one man armada” something about them trying to fix everything on their own (points back to that idea in Sinners of “I must be good for something” perhaps?) “I'm a bottle half full cause I got a good feeling that this world will truly start healing long as I do my part and keep a head start” very funky vibes going on here - seems a but more optimistic than the previous songs seemed? maybe they're trying to change their ways (albeit still in a definitely morally grey kinda way) or something like that so they can reverse any harm they could've done? “Imma do what's best if I get knocked down i'll start from the bottom” something about how they're willing to start all over if they get knocked off wherever they are? thyre *willing* to start over and still climb their way back up to the top. and then the . “count your days, I don't care what city you stay, I don't care what path you walk, the fact that you walks enough to get slain” Oh so like they're definitely killing people . so like regardless of what they did before they're probably definitely killing people still- “”we are your friends, we're in your crew, we are like you,” or that what they say” so maybe they're killing the people they used to associate with question mark? “Your choice is easy just pick a side but pick the wrong one and you'll probably die” funky funky funky for sure guys . normal

-> [Leave Me Alone]

-> puts my fingers together . toxic ex makes an appearance perhaps . I dunno something about this song in combination with Rats (and also Bones a little) is giving very toxic ex vibes and also probably like- their past group too but. lemme toxic ex truth here for a little bit please <3 “you took the money but the money couldn't buy a friend” points, there was a reference to money in rats and it was In a very oh this person wants this but I won't give it to them and this also maybe has that kinda vibes. also the whole just . leave me alone idea . toxic maybe kinda controlling vibes from rats and bones - it's not a *long* stretch to assume they might be after star!sherb? “The devil that you is better than the devil that you don't” perhaps like- maybe star!sherb not wanting to hurt whoever after them despite everything (the devil they know being the person after them, and the devil they don't being star!sherb? something about how star!sherb definitely is like . okay with murder-) “go fly a kite until your tangled in the hanging tree” Well that's a way to tell someone to kill themself- okay no for real something about how maybe in this case star!sherb doesn't want to get their hands dirty? and they want someone else, or even the person after them, to do it themself as opposed to otherwise (if we go toxic ex situation, something about still feeling things for them despite everything?)

uhhhhhhhh, I think that's all. word count on all of that is like two thousand words . thought that'd be shorter guess I'm just too much of a loser for that. anyway I have brainworms about starbound!sherb I hope that's clear 🧍‍♂️

[princescribbler]

I Think I Have a Fetish For My Wife/Momma/Princess

I've always been a fetishist. It's something deep within me that doesn't ever really go away. I've ignored it for long periods (Looking at you, early college years!), I've dabbled in it, I've even reveled in and embraced it (That's now). When that happens, I've picked up and discarded a few different kinks and interests. There was a time where catheter play got me going, and the idea of a stent would've made me blush and squirm. If you asked me in the past if I'd ever even temporarily tolerate chastity, much less make it a frequent, daily thing for me? I'd have said it was highly unlikely, maybe even impossible to imagine. Now, it's just on days that end with Y.

Throughout that time, I've had a lot of fetishes, and kinks, I've dabbled, I've played, I've explored and embraced and tested out and attempted a whole lot. And there's been one very strong, very present constant.

Loss of control.

That's huge for me. It's integral, a part of my very identity that fills me up and makes me feel good about myself. I have zero good explanation for this; You might argue it's about the idea of being accepted with imperfections, you could try to view it through the Freudian lens (Don't: That dude was kinky AF, and assumed it was universal, not gonna work here) but however it works, you're going to come up short. There isn't a single clear explanation, it's just something I need!

Whatever the reason, it's consistent. I crave a loss of control, the ability to let go, be 'less' than my normal self, whether it's talking about ageplay, ABDL, or a hundred side-kinks and interests. And it's very, very hard to do that when you're not necessarily the most open, trusting personality.

Then along came Momma: She was patient with me, in a way most people probably wouldn't (or even shouldn't) be. When I said, "I want to go slow" she agreed to set the pace to glacial. When I sporadically tried to speed it up, or change the stakes, or alter the terms, or anything of the sort...she was fluid, and tried to move with me. She's been my rock, and my safety, and my favorite, most wonderful secure place. And as a result of that, I've developed a Momma Princess @giggle-byte fetish.

I mean that sincerely: See, if you take away my lovely lady, Momma? I don't want Chastity play. Chastity play without Momma means denial, frustration, etc. With Momma, it's teasing, lots of fun, plenty of 'fun', not feeling denied, and in fact feeling cared for, comforted, and loved.

Take away Momma, and diapers aren't my thing. With her? Sure, 24/7, I feel secure and whole and good! Without Momma? I mean, before her I was scared to leave the house padded, much less wear full time, discretely and constantly.

You can say the same thing for nearly any sort of fetish or kink. If I've got it, it's about 10000% more fun, safe, and explorable with Momma than if I didn't have her. She makes it alright to try new things, to explore, to grow and adapt and even, maybe, sometimes take a break from things. Whether it's something I need every day, every week, or just once every few months, I know my wife, my love, my better half will be there to make it a good thing. I'm incredibly, unbelievably, UNFATHOMABLY lucky to have this beautiful partner in life. And if you ever, ever get someone half as good? You hold on tight, because you're definitely going to end up developing some lovely, fun, and even sometimes WHOLESOME new kinks!

I love you, my darling. Thanks for giving me a Momma Princess fetish. ;) -Scribbler (Or "baby-prince-papi", as you might know me, sweetheart)

[morningstar-the-king-himself]

"She'll feel even more torn as one of the more powerful beings in Hell, and still being unable to free people from their contracts. Especially those she befriends. I think in the same vein of her witnessing the deals those in her hotel may be in...well, jumping from on conclusion to another based on what she's heard of your ambition...on top of her potentially still not really wanting to accept that her mother and I are...truly over...it's a big thing for her to accept." He really was thankful that of all the people Charlie ran into and fell in love with, Vaggie was protective and able to allow Charlie to keep her innocent mindset of the world...even if it was Hell. It's not a small fete. Yet, with what Charlie's dreams are and how convoluted things have gotten with Heaven...Charlie's got plenty of lessons to learn that Lucifer can't learn for her...there's a lot of heartbreak his little girl will have to go through. Personal, familial, platonic...he could only hope that romantic isn't involved. He likes Vaggie for Charlie.

He was pleasantly surprised with the kiss. It was a tense moment, but at the mention of how alluring he was because of his outburst...well, color him intrigued.

Given the knowledge he had about Alastor in the beginning, Lucifer never wanted to cross any set boundaries. A devil must always have permission. The eagerness from the beginning was very pleasant and he couldn't help but preen with pride at knowing his touches could do just that.

And more so that it was his demonic form. It was an echo of his raw power. In the beginning after the fall, Lilith's transformation from just a human to a demon had her weakened. His power was mostly used to protect them from the earlier version that Hell was in the beginning. His powers had transformed from creation and light and purity, to this darker more chaotic, and nefarious thing. Something equal parts power and shame that took him a long time to even like. When Lilith became more powerful...well, by that time, it wasn't very kingly of him to lose control like that.

Unleashing this sort of power in an erotic way wasn't just for anyone. So far only Alastor and Ombre have seen. And he told Alastor as such.

"Only you and Ombre seem...interested. Willing. And capable of handling that side of me." He kissed Alastor yet again, never getting enough of him, and now that they were a step closer to letting all of Hell know, the less he cared who may see. If he cared any thought of mind mindful, it was solely to give Charlie time and space to adjust to the thought of him dating again, but only her.

Other than that, he just held tightly on to Alastor, "No way am I letting you go now. You and Ombre are one...and you're mine. As I'm yours."

“It’s a needed lesson.” Alastor responded to Lucifer saying he never wanted Charlie to learn it. “Deal making is a big part of Hell’s economy… She also doesn’t seem to know how deep they go given her reaction to Angel Dust’s contract making him go to work whether he wants to or not. If she truly aims to save souls she needs to know and acknowledge the anchors holding them here. As of now only three ways are known to break chains: finding a loophole, being released by the owner, and angelic metal destroying the soul.” He responded, thinking of his own chain bitterly before he was suddenly tugged down, giving a sound of surprise.

He closed his eyes and returned the kiss easily. His mind left his worries behind and he basked in the warmth that was provided to coax him instead. Lucifer’s kisses had a fun way of doing that and for someone constantly drowning in his own thoughts, it was addictive. His eyes fluttered open when the kiss ended and he smiled. “I will give her time.” He promised before sighing. “I believe the “rattling” was more so that she’s nervous for you.” He admitted.

“You know my reputation and given that I have a deal with her, she’s likely worried I’m just playing another game.” He reasoned with a roll of his eyes. “As if I would sink so low as to allow another to touch me for power. I’m a little offended, but she does love you and wants the best for you, as you do her.” He smiled before humming and leaning down.

“Now that I know I’m not in trouble, I must say, I am now upset I missed witnessing your fight with Adam, that tease of your rage was very alluring~” He admitted before pulling the king into another kiss, resting his hand on Lucifer’s knee. It felt like the king opened a floodgate in him. The fearsome demon had gone from hating touch to leaning into Lucifer’s and now he went from no sexual desire to seeking Lucifer’s more intimate touch and gaze, noticing attractive things about his partner.

“I’ll just have to work to assure her and you, that you’re never getting rid of me, I am yours as you are mine now~”

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

i have the same issue with zoe as i do with lila and it's that you can take out both of them and have the roles filled with other people. zoe just adds to the cast bloating and lila may have been here since season 1 but they never did anything with her unless they needed a plot device. she's not really a character. you could have had multiple characters fill in the roles that they have now. chloe or nathalie could have been the new butterfly villain if they insist on keeping the butterfly in a villain role. chloe could have stayed the bee or they could have given it to literally any named character. they could have given it to felix instead of giving him the peacock since him having the peacock kind of makes him look like a hypocrite with the whole senti plot and how creating one-off creatures for battle seems to be the peacock's only ability and he was all for senti rights. no matter how many disguises, aliases, and fake moms they give lila to make her look 'evil' and no matter how many miraculouses and praise they dump on zoe to make her seem like the best person ever, they couldn't get me to care about either.

That's a nice way of summing up the concept of character bloat. If you can remove the character and fill their role with existing characters without major changes, then you need to ask if that character is actually needed. The answer may be yes! Some bloat is fine, but it should be strategic.

For example, you might only need to give your lead one friend for the story to work, but you go with two or three or even four instead because your lead isn't supposed to come across as an outcast. They're supposed to be popular! This might mean that the friends are all a little generic and don't get as much screen time as you want, but if you're willing to make those sacrifices and think it's better for the lead's image, then add the bloat!

However, it is almost always going to be a bad idea to give your lead a never-ending army of generic girl friends when she already has a best friend with an active role in the story. Mylene, Alix, Rose, and Juleka were more than enough. We don't need Zoe, Fei, Aeon, Jess, and Socqueline added to the mix! I personally hate the fact that the first two specials focused on random side characters that really don't matter. Basically the Zoe issue on a mini scale. The. Paris special wasn't perfect, but was the kind of thing I want to see in a special. Heck, Chat Blanc could have been a special then they'd have time to flesh it out properly.