#but the whole situation is just so messed up

[tucsonhorse]

And when you're on the stand being questioned and the other lawyer out of the blue asks you for your child's pediatrician's name? And you hesitate because you're not thinking about that right now or you ask "how is that relevant?" because you've just been talking about something like your work hours? Those are normal responses to a seemingly sudden change of topic, but in that situation people will do exactly what you did, construe it as not caring about the child. This lawyer isn't telling the parent anything they don't already know, they're literally helping them be ready for a situation they've never been in before.

Consider also: I don't remember my *own* clothing or shoe size even when not under stress, and that's true of many people I know. Neurodivergent people may lose words or shut down in a new place like a court room and be unable to answer unexpected questions. That doesn't make them an unfit parent, it means that the situation is unusual and they don't have coping mechanisms to handle that moment. There's a big difference between being in a situation in which food is being discussed/consumed and needing to be able to ensure that your child doesn't eat peanuts and being in a court room where there is discussion of having your child taken from you and unexpectedly being asked for a list of widely varied facts and trying to come up with the words to express your knowledge completely out of the blue.

Then there are situations where one parent has information like this deliberately, maliciously withheld by the other parent. A friend of mine married a man who already had a daughter from a previous relationship (don't remember if he was divorced or they'd never married). His daughter's mother had literally kidnapped her when the daughter was like 5 and he didn't see his daughter for a couple years. When he finally did get to see her again it was only at her mother's whim because her mother constantly lied to the courts (and got her own mother to as well) about having allowed him visitation and made up nasty lies about him which were believed because he had a history of drug use.

Fast forward almost 10 years and he's happily married, has a son with his wife who is about 4, his wife and son adore his daughter who is now just barely 14 and he is *still* fighting with his daughter's mother for custody. She trained the daughter to lie about her father, which the daughter herself told the court appointed child advocate, she fights against and "forgets" days he and his wife are supposed to have custody, the mother even makes her daughter throw away any clothes or gifts she gets from her father and step mother. And because of this dynamic, he is unlikely to know her pediatrician's name off the top of his head, because it probably took a court order for the mother to tell him. And he may not know his daughter's best friend's name because maybe her best friend changed in the month since her mother has allowed him to talk to his daughter without her mother on the phone dictating the daughters every word.

So no, needing to be prepared to answer basic questions about a child's shoe size and allergies and told *why* it's relevant doesn't mean the person is a bad parent. They might just be bad under pressure, or neurodivergent, or the whole custody case may be such a mess that why does it matter if the parent knows the child's shoe size right now when the other parent is actively demanding their child lie about the first parent and literally kidnapped the child.

[everlastingserenitys]

virgin nerd!zayne and virgin nerd!Caleb

featuring (seperate): zayne & Caleb

cw. p in v, making out, raw, reassurance, submissive!!!, cùmming inside, creampie, semi public (Caleb), masturbation

a/n. just a little thirst lol

virgin nerd!zayne who didnt know how he got in this situation. but here he was. his large figure loomed over you, he was breathing heavily as he looked into your beautiful eyes.

all he did was invite you over for a project you two we're assigned to do, but one part of the project contained for you both to touch each other, and while zayne never felt the touch of another woman he didn't think he'd overreact this bad.

virgin nerd!zayne who hesitantly leaned in, his lips inches away from yours.

his hot breath coaxed your soft lips before he silently begged for him to take you. to your surprise, you didn't expect this type of question coming out of his mouth.

and so, you agree.

virgin nerd!zayne who let out a shaky sigh before he captured your lips into an intense kiss, his tongue sliding right through your lips, as he tasted every inch of it.

he knew he shouldn't be doing this but the constant times he caught you staring at him, made him feel something in him. he fantasized about you so many times, and now that you were with him, he took the opportunity to fulfil his dreams.

with the knowledge of what he's been learning the past few years from his medical class, he assumed he knew what he was doing, so he hoped he was making you feel somewhat good.

a few seconds pass and virgin nerd!zayne pulls away from the kiss, panting like he just ran a marathon. he pulled himself away from you and rested his frail fingers on the belt of his pants.

a soft whine escaped his lips before he unbuckled the belt in a quick movement and letting it fall to the ground, letting a clack echo through the room.

he swiftly removed his boxers and his searing, dripping cock sprung out of him. zayne lifted your hips to align himself with you and in a quick movement he pressed his tip against your soaking entrance.

"I think...I–ngh?!" zayne had already got the tip inside you and he already felt like he was going to cum, his hips slowly rocked back and forth as pleasure was rushing through his body.

"zay--go faster!" you whine, rocking yourself against him in a quicker movement and he tried to tell you to slow down but his vocal chords suddenly stopped working.

a loud moan escaped his lips, and thats when you felt it...

he came, right. inside. you.

"s-sorry! I couldn't hold back..." he apologized quickly, and tried to pull away, but for some reason he wanted more. so instead of fully pulling out, he sucked in a deep breath and thrusted himself in you, this time deeper than before.

you felt as if your pussy was going to rip off from his large length suffocating and stretching you out further, and further. you instinctively grab onto his arms and dug your nails in his biceps, trying to keep up with his rhythm.

"zayne! 'm gonna c-cu--mmgh" you tilt your head back and release your hands from his arms, resting them to your sides. zaynes eyes watched as his and your cum pooled out of your cunt and he pressed his finger against your clit, stretching it out watching the whole mess you two made.

a soft smile was plastered on zayne's face before he leaned in, planting small kisses on your face.

virgin nerd!caleb who was apart of the photography club. he would go to that club after school, every. single. day. and only take pictures of his muse, his only girl.

but one school day you weren't here and caleb was a little concerned. now, usually, he would never want to visit your place without letting you know. but he needed to do his daily ritual for taking pictures of you.

so he snuck into the deans office and looked through the files of the students at the college, his fingers slid through every file until he finally found yours, bingo!

he opened it up and pulled up the address on his phone, the walking distance was only a few minutes away. so, Caleb put the file away and walked over to your place.

but he was met with disappointment when he saw that your whole house was pitch black, his lips dropped to a frown and he headed back to the school, going to the printer room to pick up his previous photos of you.

when virgin nerd!caleb opened the door, he was met with a surprise he did not want to see.

you, leaning against the printer as you flipped through the dozens of prints, and Caleb prayed it was not the pictures of you.

you lift your gaze from the papers and look at Caleb, an eyebrow raised when your eyes tilted down to the camera Caleb was holding, and thats when Caleb knew he was fucked.

"I- listen, um.." Caleb stammered, but he couldn't bring himself to make an excuse, there was no point anyway. you pushed yourself off the table and strut towards Caleb, who was still shaking in fear (and pleasure)

"what do you do with these photos, hm?" you ask, pressing the multiple photos on his chest. but when your fingers barely made contact with his chest Caleb let out a quiet whine and shoved the photos in his pocket.

"I don't...do anything I swear!"

"you sure? then you're telling me you just take these photos without fantasizing about me? or pleasuring yourself to these?" you tease, poking at his chest again. but Caleb couldn't deny it, he did sometimes jerk himself as he looked at the photos he taken of you. he didnt know what captivated him to take pictures of you.

"sorry" Caleb frowned, lifting his glasses on the bridge of his nose as he continued to avoid your gaze.

"so what do you think about while you look at them, huh?" you ask, a hint of curiosity laced your voice. Calebs face flushed and he continued to look down as he fidgeted his camera between his fingers.

"uh...I don't know if I should say it here..."

"if you can't say it, then why don't you show me?"

Calebs eye's widened and he looked up at you, his eyes filled with surprise and he asked if you're being for real. and when a single nod left you, caleb placed his camera on the table and brought you into a desperate kiss.

his fingers slide through your hair and god, he didn't even know how to kiss but the feeling of you against him made him feel soo horny. he rubbed himself against your lower abdomen and a groan escaped both of your lips.

"Caleb!"

the sound of his name escaping your lips made Caleb's heart beat quicker. he pulled away and glanced around the illuminated room before pulling his pants down, pulling his cock out as he stared at you.

he wrapped his fingers around the creamy head of his cock and he stroked himself in a slow, deliberate movement, as his eyes were locked on you. your eyes dart from his slow movements on his cock to his desperate eyes, which looked like they were seeking for something more.

"please.." Caleb whispered, he pulled his fingers away and stepped towards you, grabbing onto your hips as he pushed you against the desk. you moan and slip your fingers under the waistband of your pants, pulling them down for him.

Calebs eyes filled with lust as he noticed your laced panties on display for him. when your pants dropped down to your feet, Caleb slid his fingers under the laced fabric and he pulled them down, watching the wet mess pool down you.

he shuddered before pressing his tip against your soaking pussy and in a quick movement he thrusted himself into you. his cock was stretching your tight pussy and you grabbed onto the desk as Caleb continued to push himself into you.

"Caleb- rock your hips! d-don't just keep pushing yourself in!" you warned, rocking your hips against his. Caleb obediently listens and he rocked his hips back and forth.

his cock fit perfectly in your pussy, and moans filled the room as Caleb quickened his pace in you. "am- am I doing it right? ngh." his voice stammered.

"p-perfect!" you arch your back in pleasure and Caleb was already trying to hold his release but the second your fingers slide through his hair, Caleb let a groan of pleasure escape out of him and a spur of white mixture sprawled out of him.

"thank you.." he muttered, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulled you into a tight hug.

this is just a practice and for some reason I rlly like the photography idea... kinda wanna make a whole fic about it lol

[sweetdispatch]

Boxes - J. Hughes

masterlist | Part 1 pairing: Jack Hughes x fem!reader summary: Aftermath of the words that Jack said to you warning: swear words note: thank you for all feedback to first part! if not you, i would never sat down to write continuation❤️ taglist: @dancerbailey3 @kammafffffff

Those words were ringing in Jack’ head. He couldn’t believe he said all the awful things to the woman that he loves. Every time he remembered about it, he wanted to cry. He knew you didn’t deserve them. He was mad at the whole situation. He regretted that he took out his anger on you. Every day, he was waking up in an empty bed. He knew he fucked up and knew he could handle the situation better. 

Why didn't I say that I need space? 

Why didn’t I just talk with her? 

Why did I act like a total idiot? 

Those were his thoughts that were haunting him every time Jack woke up alone and every time he was going to sleep. He missed your presence in the apartment. He missed the smell of the perfume you were using, seeing your cosmetics all over the sink, your music playing softly from your phone when you were baking. Most importantly, he missed your presence. 

This silence around the place was killing him. Jack finally understood why you were always checking on him. To be sure he’s alright. He wished he could check on you how you’re doing. He was hopeless. He desperately needed to hear your voice and make sure you’re doing fine. His favorite hobby was scrolling his phone and watching your pictures when you were happy. 

All Jack could remember, except his words, was your cry. This sound was haunting him. Never before, he heard your voice so raw and so painful. He regretted that he didn’t react. That he didn’t appear next to you with apologies and just ignored you. Days went by and he was falling into a deeper hole. 

You were a mess. You couldn’t believe that Jack treated you like that. After all those years together, he spoke to you like you were no one to him. These words he said to you were ringing in your ear. You could survive being called bitch but when he called you a shag, you lost it. You were wondering if all the time Jack was thinking about you like you’re just sex object. 

You were staying at your friend's place trying to figure out what’s next. You wanted to move out from New Jersey, you wanted to escape this city and leave him and the problems behind you. All your things were in Jack’ apartment that you earlier called home. You needed to get there and take from there but that meant facing him. 

Your friend was trying to tell you that she can get those stuff for you but you knew you had to do it. Everywhere were laying your things. In the living room were standing your figures that you’ve been collecting and Jack put them there so they won’t be in the box. In the kitchen were your favorite cups that you brought from home. 

None of your family knew about this fight. You didn’t want to tell them what happened until you figured out what you were going to do next but Jack’ family knew. His mom was calling you everyday to check on you. Quinn did the same thing and tried to apologise for how stupid his brother is. Luke was taking you out so you don’t have to sit at home alone and sink in those words. They treated you like a part of family and were fuming at Jack for treating you this way. 

They all remembered how you were always next to him, no matter what. How helpful you were to him during summer. That’s why they couldn’t understand why Jack said those words to you. He was hearing from his family all the time that he lost the best girl he could ever find. He knew that and didn’t need a reminder. 

Week went by. Jack tried to contact you everyday but you never picked up the phone. He was having updates about how you were doing from his family and it was killing him when he heard that you’re a mess. You were a mess because of him and his anger. He wanted to apologise to you. 

After a week, you figured out what you want from the future. This also means that you need to go to your old apartment to collect your things. When you arrived with boxes at the door, you took a deep breath. Sure, you could ask Luke to take out Jack somewhere but you knew that you have to face him. You opened the door and walked into the apartment. You spotted that the kitchen and living room were a mess. 

From the couch, Jack looked at you. He couldn’t believe that you were standing there but then he noticed the boxes. He knew that you came to grab your things and he couldn’t blame you but it still made him sad. He wanted to say something but the words were stuck in his throat.

“I came to grab my things and I’m gone” You said on the verge of tears. You started putting things into the box when you heard. 

“I’m sorry” Jack said, his voice was shaky. 

“Save it please” You told him, focused on your job here. 

“I really am sorry. I regret every word I said to you. I lost my temper and snapped” Jack tried to explain himself and you laughed. 

“Always having an excuse. Just drop it” You told him firmly. 

“Look, I know that you hate me now but I really regret it. Everyday it haunts me what I said to you. You’re not an annoying bitch or shag. You’re the woman I love and those words should never leave my mouth” Jack told you and from his voice you could tell that this is sincere. 

“It’s hard for me to believe you. You said it with such an ease like you truly meant them. For the past week, I was thinking about them and now, I feel like our whole relationship was pointless. Like you saw just sex in me” For the first time, you looked at him.

“You know that’s not true” Jack said with a sharp voice.

“Do I?” You fought back.

“Yes! I love you and I want to make it up to you” Jack pleaded. 

“There’s nothing you can do. I simply don’t trust you anymore. I love you but this love hurt me too much. Can I have a guarantee that you never again snap at me like that?” Jack didn’t say a word. “Exactly. That’s why I need to move with my life and find myself again. I’ve been so caught up with you that I lost ability to being myself” 

“So this means that we’re breaking up?” Jack asked with tears in his eyes. 

“This relationship was over the minute I left the door. If you would really care, you would come and check on me when I was crying over those words but you were just sitting on the couch. You acted like I was a burden” You ran your hands through your hair. “All I wanted was to help you get through this rehabilitation” You sighed.

“I’m really sorry. If I could turn back time, I would never say those words. I would tell you what was bothering me” Jack said, defeated. 

“But you can’t” You told him and went into the bedroom to pack the rest of your clothes. 

 “Can we at least stay friends? Please?” Jack begged you. He needed you to have around. 

“I don’t know. I’m moving out of town and I don’t really want to talk with you on the phone about my life” You told him truthfully. 

“Where are you going?” Jack could feel that you’re slipping through his fingers.  

“Far away. I want to leave this city behind me” You said and grabbed the box to put it into the car. You did that couple more times until the apartment was free from your things. “I guess it’s a goodbye” 

“I’m really sorry for the pain I caused you. It was never my intention and I’ll never forgive myself for ruining our relationship” Jack said and you pulled him into a hug. 

“I hope the rehabilitation will go smoothly. Good luck in your life Jack” And like that you left the apartment. For good. 

Jack stood there looking at the door, hoping that you’ll walk and tell him that everything’s alright. It never happened. You really left him and now, without your things, the apartment felt cold. Like you never even lived there. All the things he had left were the memories. This argument was haunting him and he couldn’t believe that he ruined a perfect thing. You are supposed to be his wife. Mother to his children but now, you were a stranger to him.

[fandomshenanigans]

Platonic!Yandere!Batfam x Neglected!Batsib!Reader

After getting over the initial disappointment that you might not get the kind of family you wanted, you took stock of your situation and found that you actually like this arrangement

You were already a self sufficient from the start and had a life outside of the Manor so it didn't suck too bad

Before Damian was introduced, you spent your evenings in the Manor, either in the library or just wandering in the garden

After Damian came around and made you aware of your "position in the family", suddenly you applied for a part time job in a 24/7 coffee shop and worked the night shift. So you're barely home now

(Plus, you gave the more important stuff you owned to your closest friend to keep so nothing in that room held anything meaningful to you.)

You had dreams for college, wanting to get out there and learn, create a career of your own, everything

You also remember your mother mentioning how she hopes you might be the first in her side of the family to attend college so there was also a sense of duty that made you so eager to reach that milestone

Except..

Suddenly, Bruce's attention was on you. Suddenly, Dick was the most eager to spend time with you. Suddenly, Jason is visiting the Manor, just for you. Suddenly, Tim is more interested in you as a person. Suddenly, Damian is nicer, though just a bit.

Suddenly, you're part of the family.

There were too many changes that it made your head spin but you managed to catch up with the change so now you're just going with the flow

Honestly, this just reminds you of how you dealt with creeps at the coffee store. Just do as they ask to placate them but firmly stand your ground.

If they ask for a smile, you smile at them before excusing yourself. If they ask for some time, you tell them to give you a moment and rearrange your schedule to fit them. (Though you did immediately reject them if they try to take a whole day with you. You had a schedule and you'd be damned if you let them mess that up.)

This continues on for a couple of months and you were simply continuing to indulge them whenever they tried to "make up for lost time"

Until you told your dad about your plans for college.

You had been doing so well at school, your grades were perfect and you were a great student, according to your teacher. You mention to him how you wanted to attend this one college in Metropolis since it had the best science programs

"You're not going to college. At least, you can't go to one that far."

.......huh?

"Maybe choose one that's closer to home? Or better yet, you don't have to go."

Ex-fucking-cuse me?

You gripped the collar of his stupid shirt, glaring into his eyes with pure hatred as you screamed at him, demanding to know what the FUCK that meant.

You demanded to know why is he trying to pull this on you. Was this some twisted power play?

Bruce tried to calm you down, claiming that wasn't what he meant.

But you cut him off before he could bullshit you further.

"Are you that ashamed of me, Mr. Wayne? Am I that much of a stain to your family name that you'd rather keep me locked up so no one can see me? Is that what you're trying to say?"

Then, you dropped him like a hot potato and stormed off

After that revelation, you stopped eating. Stopped taking care of yourself. Stopped going to classes because what was the fucking point? You're not going to reach that milestone in your life so why bother? You simply locked yourself in your room and refused everything.

Everyone is in a panic because it's been WEEKS since you've left your room, since you've started to rot in your bed.

They all did their best to coax/lure you out. But nothing was working.

"I'm sorry, please, just open the door. You can go to college in Metropolis, just like you wanted, okay? I'm sorry for denying you, please." Bruce pleads.

Then, the door opens and now you're hugging him, accepting his apology before you're running off to clean yourself up.

You're back to being the sweet yet distant sibling, who's smile to them was simply for show, who's more interested in anything other than family.

Might continue this but yeah, this is an idea that popped into my head.

[supercap2319]

“Joaquin Torres? Meet Y/N Maximoff. Y/N Maximoff? Meet Joaquin Torres.” Sam introduced, as a small smile plagued his face. Sam had been trying to round up any remaining Avengers that weren't retired, dead, off world, or just plain ignoring his phone calls and text messages.

Ever since the whole incident with Ross, Stern, and the Celestial Island, Sam had been thinking of ways to prepare Joaquin for the worst of it, when it comes to being an Avenger. Getting shot out of the sky was bad enough, but there were far worse things that could happen if Joaquin didn't have all his bases covered. Enter Y/N Maximoff.

Joaquin smiles as he stands there in a dark green wife beater and black workout shorts. He had secretly been hoping that Sam would loosen the reins a little bit, and give Joaquin another chance to prove himself in the field. He might have messed during the F-18s battle, but he learned from his mistakes.

“Maximoff, huh? Like Scarlet Witch Maximoff? Because that's pretty cool.” Joaquin said, leaning the weight rack. He was trying not to sound like a total geek, but he was failing miserably at it.

The young man in front of Sam and Joaquin chuckles lightly. “I guess it's pretty cool, but probably not as cool as you, Joaquin Torres. At least, that's what Sam's says.” Y/N smiled.

“I don't know if I should be happy or offended by Sam talking about me behind my back.” Joaquin said. He gives a narrowed look at the Cap, who just smiles at him. As if to say, ‘Who me? I would never talk about you when you're not present in the room.’ Which is a total lie. Joaquin decides in his head.

“Sam was just telling me about your last mission, and how it didn't go the way you planned.” Y/N explained. Joaquin frowns at that. He knew that he messed up. Tried to do too much at once, but his heart was in the right place. That should count for something, right? “It wasn't an ideal situation, but I pulled through and gained a new perspective on how to better prepare myself.”

“I am so happy you said that because I'm gonna have Y/N here show you the ropes. Give you even more insight.” Sam said.

“So, we're gonna be working together?”

“Training. Working. Eating. The whole nine yards.” Y/N said. “It'll be fun. Especially, in the presence of the new Falcon. Green is definitely your color.” Y/N winks.

The new Falcon felt his face heat up at that action. He knew Y/N was just messing around, but Joaquin couldn't help the way his stomach clenched, and his heart fluttered. He flashed Y/N a cocky smile to mask his nervousness. “Yeah, obviously. In the presence of all this.” Joaquin gestures towards his body.

“Alright you two. Am I gonna have to get you guys a hotel room?” Sam jokes.

“Only if it comes with the honeymoon package.” Y/N said.

Oh, Joaquin was definitely going to like this guy.

[kxsagi]

Hi! I was actually kinda scared requesting u since u post everyday and probs have TONS of request so humbly request this: ok so reader and isagi is at a parter and it’s spin da bottle!!1!1!1! And yk it lands on isagi and yk, peep tho, they but had a crush on each other so it’s just fate‼️‼️‼️ And then u can free style on the rest :3

“𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝟕 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧”

a/n: i do get a ton of requests, but i genuinely enjoy writing and want to make my readers happy! that’s also the reason why i post every day, i try to not make everyone wait so long lol

and since you said i could freestyle the rest, i thought why not also turn it into 7 minutes of heaven to make it a little longer 😍 (no smut)

the party is in full swing, and the chaos is at its peak. music blaring, drinks spilling, people laughing loudly, and somewhere in the middle of it all, you find yourself sitting next to isagi. you’ve been friends for a while now, but there's this thing between you two, this tension that’s been hanging around, mostly unspoken, but way too obvious to ignore. every time your knees brush, every time isagi looks at you like he’s trying to say something without saying anything, you feel your heart race. but you’ve both been too nervous to do anything about it. 

until now. 

bachira pulls out the bottle, and you know exactly what’s about to happen. please don’t land on him. please don’t land on him, you silently pray as the bottle spins in slow motion, like it’s trying to torture you. you try to play it cool, but there’s no way you’re ready for the universe to mess with you this much. 

the bottle wobbles, slows down, and... it lands on isagi. 

your stomach drops. of course, it lands on him. you’ve been crushing on him for months, maybe longer, and now you’re about to get shoved into a dark closet with him for seven whole minutes. what could go wrong? 

“noooooo,” you mutter under your breath.

isagi’s trying to hide a smile, leaning back in his seat to give off a relaxed composure. "guess it’s my turn," he says, and you can hear the nervousness in his voice. the entire group erupts in laughter, already loving the drama. 

"seven minutes in heaven!" shidou yells, and before you can even think of a response, isagi stands up and motions to the closet like it’s some kind of VIP lounge. the group is practically shoving you both toward the door, egging you on like you're about to enter some weird game show. you glance at isagi one last time before the door shuts behind you. 

the air in the closet is thick, a little too hot, but you don’t mind. it’s dark enough that you can barely see anything, but you can definitely feel him standing right next to you. you can hear him breathing, and it’s enough to make you almost forget how to breathe yourself. 

“seven minutes,” you say, breaking the silence, even though you’re already aware of how awkward this is about to be. but then, you both know it’s not really awkward, right? this whole situation has been building up for so long – the lingering glances, the little touches, the way isagi makes you laugh harder than anyone else. 

"right," isagi says, and you can hear the smile in his voice. he shifts slightly, and suddenly, you’re acutely aware of how close he is. his shoulder brushes against yours, and it feels like electricity. damn, he smells good. you clear your throat, trying to pull yourself together, but it’s hard when every inch of your body is screaming to finally act on this... thing. 

you both just stand there for a second, neither of you moving. and then, it happens. isagi leans in, just a little bit, and it’s not fast, not too much. it’s a question in his movement, like he’s asking for permission. you’re not sure what you’re doing, but you lean in too, your lips meeting his in the softest kiss. 

it’s not rushed, and it’s not awkward. it’s everything you’ve been holding back for months. the kiss is slow, tentative at first, like you both can’t believe it’s actually happening. there’s a kind of relief in it, too, like finally crossing that line you’ve both been circling around for way too long. his lips are warm against yours, and you feel a little bit lighter, like the weight of all the “what ifs” finally lifting off your chest. 

you pull away for a second, breathless, but neither of you say anything. you don’t need to. the space between you feels... different now, like something that’s always been there is finally clicking into place. 

isagi’s eyes meet yours, and there’s something in them, something more than just the typical playful teasing. it’s the way he’s looking at you now, softer, like he’s been waiting for this moment just as much as you have. you almost forget about the whole seven minutes thing, but then you remember and laugh under your breath. 

“i think we’ve got, like, five minutes left,” you say, and isagi grins, leaning in again. 

this time, the kiss feels more natural. you don’t have to overthink it. it’s easier, less clumsy. his hand comes up to gently rest on the back of your neck, pulling you closer. the kiss deepens, and you lose track of time. seven minutes feels like seven seconds, but in the best way possible. 

eventually, you pull apart, not because you want to, but because the sound of someone knocking on the door breaks through the fog of your thoughts. 

“hey, you guys gonna make out forever in there?” reo calls, laughing from the outside. 

you both laugh too, pulling away just enough to catch your breath. isagi looks at you, his smile a little too smug, a little too satisfied. “i think that’s our cue to leave.” 

you nod, feeling a little dizzy, a little bit like your whole world just shifted. you’re still not sure what’s happening between you two, but you’re pretty sure it’s exactly what you’ve been hoping for all along. 

as the door opens and you both step back into the party, your friends are waiting, grinning from ear to ear. you try to act casual, but you can’t help the way your heart’s still pounding in your chest. 

“so,” karasu says with a knowing grin, “how was it?” 

you glance at isagi, and he raises an eyebrow. “efficient,” he says, and you can’t help but laugh. 

“yeah,” you agree, “efficient... but definitely worth it.” 

and just like that, you both slip back into the chaos of the party. but now, everything feels different. like the kiss in the closet wasn’t just about seven minutes, it was about the beginning of something more. something neither of you ever had the courage to say out loud, but somehow, it was always there. 

© 𝐤𝐱𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐢

[angelyuji]

It’s a crime that there isn’t more stuff for Cecil (now that I’ve gotten into invincible). In your post you mentioned reader being in a Truman Show like situation, what if someone unfortunately messed up and gave it away, or she figured some stuff out and tried to leave? Is the tracker in her or is it like something she can leave in order to buy time? I just need more stuff for this man and the show as a whole. Love your works by the way.

omggg right!!! i got into invincible when it first came out and the lack of cecil x readers made me soo sad but im here to fix that... now...

anyways thats something i thought about while writing the headcanons but i didnt want to go off on another tangent halfway through lmao

cw // yandere behavior, made up gda employee oc, truman-show vibes, i'm not really sure how to label this... its not really kidnapping cuz you moved willingly but cecil set it all up. like he controls every part of your life, unconsensual body modification, (lmk if i missed anything)

humans make mistakes unfortunately and that goes for the gda as well for sureee.

no matter how much they're trained and how much cecil stresses that you cannot know that you're being watched or that basically your entire life/job is fake, someone will slip up.

similar to how it happened on the truman show, you wouldn't necessarily figure it out until someone slips up.

you periodically check your phone. hoping to get a call from cecil soon. you missed him: his warmth, his smile, his voice, his hands, everything about him. you could feel your heart ache.

"(y/n)?" you turn back around to jessica, sighing. your neighbor had come over, asking for some company after her husband left for work. you set a cup of coffee down in front of her and lean back on the counter behind you.

"sorry, i- cecil hasn't called me back. he said he would after his-" you pause, cecil hadn't told you what was keeping him away this time after leaving in a rush.

'i'm sorry, i know i promised to stay longer, but things are... they need me back at work.' he pressed a kiss to your forehead and you rub his back. you could still feel his misery after he pulls you into a tight hug. you tilt his face down to plant a kiss on his lips.

'cecil, go. i'll be here, waiting for you."

"his mission brief or whatever?" jessica rolls her eyes, sipping her coffee. "cecil is such a hardass. so-called leader of the GDA can't even make time for the person he's keep-" she stops, cup frozen against her lips. you stare at her, eyes wide.

"what? mission briefing? what are you-" you reach over to her, but she jolts out of her chair. the cup slips from her hand, shattering at the floor.

"shit- i'm- god, i'm so fucked." she looked frantic, eyes darting around the house before bolting. you were frozen in place, eyes at the front door she left open. you looked over to the mess your friend had left and resign yourself to clean.

i feel like once you get that small slip, everything else comes unraveling with it

cecil will find out that jessica messed up (cuz he's watching you using the cameras in your house <33) and boyyy is he pissed

not that you would know how pissed he is

cecil, to me, is a very soft yandere compared to the psychos we have in the show (and that i've written about) so he wouldn't kill jessica/whomever slipped up

but he would make them disappear from your life

he would affectively move them from the quiet comforts of the suburban town to some fuckass mission in the arctic or smth

firing them isn't enough punishment, he needs them to feel pain w/o killing them becuz he has "morals"

anyyyway you'd get distracted that day with work and then cecil coming over to go see wth jessica was talking about

you rest against his chest, head buzzing with worry. 'what did jessica mean by mission? what was the GDA? what did she mean "keeping you"? was jessica lying to you? is cecil?' you close your eyes and cling to him. "you feeling okay, honey?" he pulls you in by the waist, putting a hand to your forehead, "doesn't seem like you're sick."

you smile and rest your head back onto his chest, "just... a weird day, i guess."

"talk to me." he uses a finger to tilt your head up. you bite your lip, unsure if you should bring it up. "don't do that." you stop, just from his words.

"i- today... you know our neighbor, jessica?"

"she sounds... familiar. why?"

"well... she said something about a GDA? i'm honestly not sure, but she seemed just so weird today after i mentioned you." you feel cecil's grip on your waist tighten.

"what did she say exactly?"

"i don't know," you sigh, tired. "something about a mission and a GDA... and..." you pause.

"and?" you feel cecil stir, turning himself to look at you. your eyes trace the lines on his face, the scar on his face, and the love in his eyes.

you smile, "it doesn't matter. she was probably just talking crazy because she missed her husband." you laugh. cecil smiles, pulling you back into him, resting his chin on your head. "do you go crazy missing me, cecil?" you mumble into his chest as his hands sneak under your shirt.

"i start going crazy the moment i can't see you, (y/n)."

btw cecil's 6'4

OWY*)IDG(U:OKJD"PISA"SDOKAS{DKASDSAD im about to sloppy style on that istggg

sorry, cecil was lowkey interrogating you cause he wanted to see 1. how much his dumbass employee said and 2. how much you believed

he's pretty happy you disregarded everything...

but did you?

after that moment with jessica, you start to really notice how many eyes are on you

at first, you think you're just being paranoid but then when did you introduce yourself to the mailman? why did everybody in town know your name? you're not that popular to have people watching you over their newspaper or as they walk their dog

to get rid of your suspicions you go over to jessica's house only to find a sold sign on their front lawn.

cecil is quick to get rid of idiots, so jessica and ?maybe?fake?husband was gone literally the day after she messed up

that was the final straw for you to realize that something was very very veryyy wrong

anyway lemme add some quick thoughts before this gets longer than it needs to be: cecil def put a tracker on you.

he couldn't really put a tracker on every piece of clothing you own, so maybe he told the in-town dentist that your wisdom teeth need to come out or some tooth needed fixing

and while you were knocked out, tracker in your skin

the only way you could leave effectively is if somehow you managed to figure out where the tracker is and also somehow manage to evade the employees that watch the house and also somehow manage to disable the cameras before cecil finds out

its hard but... with a little luck (and a kinder author) you/(y/n) could do it!

i also mentioned in a different post that cecil would probably put a chip similar to mark's in your head, but i think he'd do something like that only if you were someone with powers

[littelovelunette]

The Family: Eve's Anger Issues

The tension in the living room was thick. Eve’s clenched fists were shaking at her sides, her chest rising and falling in rapid breaths. Rai, typically reserved, stood near the corner, her posture stiff as if bracing for impact.

The rest of the kids were scattered around the room, nervous, their eyes darting to each other but not daring to move closer. The air was charged, like a storm on the verge of breaking.

Eve's voice cut through the silence, low and seething, “You don’t get it, do you, Rai? You think I can’t tell when you’re just trying to get under my skin?”

Rai, looking like she wants to shrink into herself, opened her mouth but didnt say anything. Her wide, expressive eyes darted to the others, silently pleading for someone to intervene.

“I didn’t mean to—” Rai started, but Eve’s glare silenced her instantly.

“I don’t care what you meant!” Eve snapped her voice rising, hands trembling with barely contained rage. “Just stay the hell out of my way.”

The others shifted nervously, avoiding eye contact, clearly terrified of what might happen next.

They knew Eve’s anger issues well, but this felt different—more intense than before. Everyone's on edge, unsure how to handle the situation.

That’s when Luna stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. “Eve, stop,” she said, her usual composure steadying the atmosphere. “Take a breath. This isn’t helping anyone.”

Eve whirled on her, her fists now balled tightly, eyes flashing with the familiar fire. “What? You think I care about your little ‘calm down’ speech?” She spat out the words, pacing aggressively. “No one gets it. I’m tired of it.”

Luna didnt back down. Her posture was strong, like she’s used to being the peacekeeper in moments like this.

“I know you’re frustrated, Eve. But this isn’t the way to solve anything.” Luna took a slow, measured step closer. “You can’t take it out on Rai. It’s not her fault.”

Eve’s breath hitched for a second, her gaze flickering between Luna and Rai. But the anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface. “She... she’s just so damn... quiet,” Eve spat out, hands opening and closing like she’s about to punch something. “I can’t deal with her being so—so distant all the time!”

Most of them already knew Rai was as antisocial as they came but oh well…

Luna’s expression softened. “She’s not quiet, Eve. She’s... different. She’s not trying to upset you, but you’ve got to stop reacting like this.” She paused, her tone gentle but insistent. “Please, just talk to her. It’s not too late.”

As the argument continued, Evangeline snuck out of the living room, phone in hand. Ash saw her leave and wanted to call out but decided against it.

Evie sank down to the floor away from the living room, calling me. “Mama…” she whispered. “It's world war three here.”

“Hold up, Sev, it's Evie.” I said before responding, “What's going on there, sweetie?”

“It's Eve.”

As Evangeline explained what was happening there, I could see Sevika going deep in thought beside me. “We're coming.” I said hanging up.

Evangeline sighed and returned to the living room.

Mimi gave a half-hearted laugh, but it came out more nervous than anything. “Okay, okay… this is a bit much even for me,” she muttered, before looking at Libby for some kind of reassurance.

Libby, who had been avoiding the whole mess, finally let out a sigh. “Whatever. As long as she doesn’t wreck anything, I’m good.”

Ash, still standing in the corner, looked like she was trying to decide whether she should step in or not. She scratched the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable.

And then, the door swung open—

I instantly walked over to Eve, not bothering to take my beige heels off. I pulled her in a hug, her head against my chest. With a huff, she wrapped her arms around me, too but then calmed down surprisingly quickly.

“Geez, you kids.” Sevika muttered, looking at Ash, “You good?”

“Yeah, just thought Eve would eat Rai alive for a teensy weensy second there.”

Luna saw Rai shedding a few silent tears and swiftly wiping them off with her sleeve— the others saw too. Everyone started hugging Rai, Mimi being the first to squish her cheek against Rai’s.

“I didn't mean to lash out.” Eve said seeing Rai cry, she hid her face in my chest and I sighed. “It's okay.” I whispered.

After a while longer of Eve staying tucked under my arm, I gave her a pat on the shoulder. “C'mon, go join your sisters.” I nodded towards the group hug surrounding Rai.

Eve’s eyes were now glossy when she ran into the group hug, shoving Mimi away and hugging Rai— now both of them sobbing.

I exhaled deeply before smiling slightly at the scene. Sevika walked up beside me, placing a hand on my waist.

“You did well, babe.”

“I didn't do anything.” I leaned my head against her shoulder.

“I'm just so proud of them.”

“I am, too.”

[sal-absinthii]

Really, it goes back even further than that, to his parents. He had two loving parents who raised him for the first year of his life (and being in hiding, they probably also spent way more time with him than many parents are even able). That's just a basic attachment thing, that first year can make a really big difference in terms of what a kid carries through life.

I don't really see Malfoy coming into this at all; he wasn't bullied by Malfoy, as OP says, they were rivals. Malfoy was a jerk but he never had any power over Harry, and other than their fight (which Harry was more than capable of returning), all he really ever did was say mean things. Harry certainly went through a lot of shit during his time at Hogwarts, especially after Voldemort's return, when the press and government turned on him -- this is very stressful (and would be even for an adult), and in a lot of ways is worse than normal bullying would be, but we don't actually see Harry being bullied. Snape and Umbridge are the only ones I would consider to bully him at all, and that's bad but it's also still a different kind of thing. Even at his lowest moments, when almost the entire wizarding world seems to have ganged up on him, he isn't alone and he knows it. He has the support of Ron and Hermione and usually the rest of Gryffindor, as well as Dumbledore during his life, and the Weasleys, except for a bit where Percy doesn't like him, and the whole Order of the Phoenix are always on his side and believe him.

The time when he's actually bullied and abused is when he's with the Dursleys, and it's extraordinary that he came out of basically perfectly well-adjusted. He has his normal teenage angst moments, although frankly with the amount and scale of trauma he goes through during the series and responsibility he has put on him, he is WAY more normal than by all accounts he ought to be. The only thing I can see as a direct line from his treatment by the Dursleys to his later life is that he always prefers to take action himself, not trusting or believing that the authority figures who are supposed to handle it will do so, but this comes across as more of a personality trait than something that he actually needs to overcome emotionally.

His life with the Dursleys is so cartoonishly bad it's kind of easy to lose sight of how it would feel to go through all of that. Not only does his family not want him, tell him he's useless, give him much less than their son, and turn a blind eye to his emotional and educational needs (not just at Hogwarts but also during primary school), they also half-starve him, imprison him, prevent him from contacting his friends, threaten his pet, use often-extreme physical violence against him as a common occurrence, allow other relatives to set animals on him, and so on. This is horrifying abuse. Any one of those things would seriously mess a kid up, and yet Harry never once seems to internalise it. He knows it's bad of them, he knows he doesn't deserve it, he does not exhibit an unusual degree of fear around them or around others (on the contrary, he often doesn't seem to have enough fear for the situation!), he does not think of himself in any way that reflects what the Dursleys have said about and to him, and despite apparently never having had any friends until he meets Ron and being himself a celebrity, is able to have normal social interactions with peers. His first instinct when he gets a lot of money and unrestricted access to sweets -- as a starved 11yo -- is not to hoard it to himself, as would probably be expected and couldn't really be held against a kid who has never been full or had treats like that in his life, but to empathise with Ron's poverty (with the emotional intelligence to understand it and not to embarrass Ron) and to immediately and freely share what he has. I like to rag on Harry because of how utterly exasperating he must be to characters like Snape who are supposed to be protecting him through all of this, but it really is incredible.

It would not really be a mark against him if he did not intuitively have this social facility and streak of generosity in the same way that it is a mark against someone like Malfoy, who never knew the hardships Harry did as a child. The fact that Snape, who also grew up in poverty and neglect, turned out to be an awkward weirdo in school who was attracted to having strength and power does not actually imply any pathological weakness of character on Snape's part, because it makes sense that a kid in that situation would turn out that way. Is it good or healthy? No, but it is entirely reasonable. The fact that Harry turned out so well-adjusted is a credit to Harry, but it is not really a point against other abused children who did not. Snape did not have anywhere to learn this from. Harry had very little to learn this from, but at the very least, he had a stable and loving home for the first year of his life, which Snape did not, nor did Tom Riddle. Any argument that compares Snape's behaviour to Harry's in this manner is making the mistake right from the beginning of thinking that Harry is the usual way an abused and traumatised child/teenager ought to turn out...but this just isn't the case. While we do see more of it directly with him than with other characters, because it's told from his point of view and we are given insight into Harry's mental state that we don't get for other characters, on the whole, Harry's angst, misinterpretations, and emotional volatility don't seem any more severe than Ron's, Hermione's, or Neville's (he actually seems a bit better off than Neville tbh, it's fun to roll our eyes at how arrogant Harry comes across to certain biased outsiders, but he's not actually arrogant, just prone to trying to do everything himself, and for a kid who's spent his whole life hearing what a worthless ungrateful freak he is, the fact that he becomes neither an insecure wobbling blob nor an overcompensating narcissist is, again, pretty incredible). The people making that argument intend it to be a slight against Snape, but they're really just doing a disservice to Harry's resilience and the power of his early attachment, as well as showing that they've got a very unrealistic expectation that a kid who has not experienced love or stability or good role models, who has seen conflict resolved through anger and violence, and who has mostly had to fend for himself without a support system will somehow intuitively develop these emotional skills and healthy traits completely out of nowhere and in a setting where to do so would be a liability.

The fact that Snape does end up on the good side after all is because he did have one positive experience of friendship in his life. That is not to say, as some shallowly and imo unfairly interpret it, that Lily herself 'made' him good or that it was anything at all about Lily's alleged innate goodness, but just the fact that he did have one person through whom he was able to see what it was like to have a friend, to care about someone and to be cared about, however clumsy and ill-fated that young adolescent relationship turned out to be, was enough to show him that there was any other option possible. He did have a choice; that's the whole point of him as a character. And he made it. But the only reason he had the choice in the first place was because he had a friend and that friendship showed this to him. I would say that of the three, it's Tom who didn't have the same choice. Of course his actions were voluntary and he has responsibility for them, but he never seems to have known love, nor wanted it, because it's hard to want something you have never experienced or even seen around you. He learned how to act around people in order to get them to do what he wanted, but it was all calculated and none of it was genuine, unlike Harry, who gave so freely right from the beginning for no reason other than he wanted friends and had an understanding that this is what friends do, because he has empathy for Ron's poverty and embarrassment in a way Tom was incapable of and Snape was never in a position to give.

The point of comparing these three poor, abused half-bloods caught up in fate is not really that some people are born good and some are born bad and that's just that, the point is the difference the experience of love can make to the outcome of similar horrible experiences. We should have empathy for Snape, like Harry is able even when he hates his guts more than anyone else in the world, not use Harry to blame Snape, when the major difference between them -- their support system -- is the most relevant factor. It's like saying "well there's no excuse for this disabled person to not be able to run a mile when this other disabled person can" while comparing someone who's paraplegic to someone who's deaf. Yeah, they're both disabled, but they differ hugely in the extent to which that impairs the relevant skill of running. Or, to use an in-universe example, accusing Snape of unilaterally being an 'oppressor' and Lily always a 'victim' because he has higher blood status than she does and seeing their dynamic only through that one myopic Tumblrified lens while ignoring the fact that she was also pretty and popular and successful and middle-class and came from a home that was, at bare minimum, stable and non-violent.

"Harry also had a shitty childhood and was bullied, but he didn’t turn out like Snape."

True, because:

Harry found refuge at Hogwarts, where he felt welcomed, supported, and protected from the very beginning. Severus did not.

Harry had adult figures who protected him, cared about him (Hagrid, the Weasleys, Dumbledore, Lupin, Sirius...), and showed him affection over the years. Severus did not.

Harry had two friends who would have torn apart anyone who dared to strip him in front of the entire school. Severus did not.

Harry and Malfoy had a rivalry because they were on equal footing. Severus was bullied by a group of guys who attacked him together and were far above him socially and economically.

Harry was rich—disgustingly rich, to be exact. Severus was disgustingly poor.

Harry felt loved from the moment Hagrid came for him just after his 11th birthday. Severus never felt loved in his entire damn life.

Harry was favored by Dumbledore and other school staff on multiple occasions. Dumbledore forced Severus to stay silent about an attempted murder against him.

Harry had choices. Severus had nothing.

[seilnakyle]

hi, i hope you're having a good day. sorry if you've answered this already, but since you're the expert around here🫶🏼, i wanted to ask if you had any panels of the moments talia was an asshole to dick or just her thoughts about him. people tend to be so "haha he hates her because he's jealous of her relationship with damian" but i think it's very reasonable and justified his dislike and distrust of her

Aww tysm for calling me the expert haha 🤓 🫶🏻 I always try my best to be accurate, and I’m definitely not trying to spread unnecessary hate to a female character, but I do side eye her stans who try to justify her treatment of Dick when he is a teen as being his fault. Characters are allowed to be flawed, and Talia is literally a cult victim. Her not being the most moral and empathetic person is not unreasonable.

just first thing first, Dick is most definitely not jealous of Talia’s relationship with Damian…if anything, it would be the other way around lol

Dc Festival of Heros: The Asian Superhero Celebration

Second, Damian was but a sparkle in Bruce Wayne’s eyes when the Talia beef started. And YES these following panels are all pre 9/11 pre Grant Morrison moments :)

SO! First interaction Dick had w the Al Ghuls is when they sent some of their goons to shoot and kidnap him near his college.

Batman (1940) #232

Ras goes to Bruce and says that Talia has conveniently also been kidnapped (this is a lie) presumably by the same people, so the two of them head off on a mountain adventure to rescue their kids together. But when they finally get to Robin, Bruce reveals that he’s been onto Ras since the beginning and isn’t falling for it

Then after Bruce and Dick fight some goons, Ras and Talia walk out revealing that this whole crazy quest was a ploy to…get Batman together with Talia? I guess.

This issue ends here and the “cliffhanger” is never followed up on. Though the Al Ghuls do later drug Bruce and force him to participate in a marriage ceremony with Talia that ends with Bruce deciding it’s not valid bc he didn’t actually consent, and then he punches her out. Keep in mind, this happens before Dick’s next meeting w the Al Ghuls. There is one story where Dick and Talia actually work together to save a young monarch from falling to his death (genuinely a good story for Talia, she displays actual unselfish empathy for people outside her own circle) but In that entire story I don’t think they speak to or acknowledge each other a single time, so I can’t really read into any of that for how they feel abt one another.

But okay, thats the setup for why Dick is immediately upset when she pops back up unannounced in Batman #330, but from the moment she gets back, it really seems like she just wants Dick out of the way.

Then in Batman #331, she shows up wanting to move in, Dick immediately hates this, and expects Bruce to take his side, when he doesn’t, Dick is very upset and leaves the manor literally as fast as he can. Talia however, is very pleased to see him go.

I often like to go back and look at old readers letters/editor comments for situations like this just to get some thoughts untouched by the hindsight. Unsurprisingly from what I could find, most seem to sympathize more with Robin here and were equally suspicious of Talia’s intentions.

Dick goes to Selina for help after being abandoned by Batman, and of course she’s down!

During their team up, they have this moment where they’re being tortured and Talia sees them, she has zero reaction to Batman’s son being hurt like this, and moves along like she didn’t see shit

Batman #334

And her character of course becomes a mess after Damian is introduced but suffice to say, yeah, they still hate each other

[bambiblake]

Hey,

Could I maybe request a Lottie x reader where they just crashed into the wilderness, and reader can't sleep at all and Lottie has to figure out how to comfort her? <3

Lullaby - lottie matthews x reader

Summary: Lottie helps you get to sleep after the crash

Genre: fluff

Warnings: mentions of the crash, reader has anxiety but yk I’m guessing a lot of ppl would in that situation either way lol

A/n: sorry this is kinda short and not the best it’s my first post here and I haven’t written in a while and I hope I gave the asker what they wanted :)

Hours. it had been merely hours since they had crashed in the woods and you were a mess. you had gotten used to stressful situations but this was on a whole new level.

anxiety filled your body more and more the longer it took for the rescue team to arrive...if they were even coming, that had crossed your mind once or twice but lottie, sweet sweet lottie, had tried her best to calm your nerves

"they're coming for us....and until then i'll be here" she had told you even if she didn't believe it herself, but of course she'd never tell you that

night had come way quicker than any of the group had expected and they laid down for the night, everyone finding a somewhat comfortable spot to sleep, you had curled yourself up on a softer patch of grass and moss near a tree with the tallest yellowjacket not too far from you

lottie could hear your tossing and turning, she could practically feel the anxiety radiating off you and she didn't think she could stand to do nothing about it much longer. the minute she heard a soft cry escape your lips she sat up instantly turning to you

"hay" she whispered out softly as she moved closer to you, gently moving some hair away from your eyes as you look up at her "can...can i help?" she asks

she knew she couldn't ask you what was wrong or if you were ok, those were stupid questions...but she could offer her help and she would. she'd do anything for you.

looking down at you she saw your breath start to calm as you thought about her question, your brain getting too distracted to focus on your discomfort "could you...." you let out a sigh "could you...sing to me, maybe? it's just i'm so used to noise while i sleep and that could-" the dark haired girl interrupts your rambling with a soft smile "i can sing to you"

you give her a small smile in return as you move to lay closer to her, gently placing your head on her chest as her hand subconsciously made its way towards your hair. once the two of you were comfortable you could hear her begin to softly hum the melody of 'Fade into you', a song she often put on when you would hang out

Listening to her pretty humming and the beating of her heart your body seemed to loosen up, your eyes getting heavy as sleep finally started to take you over

after very softly singing about the entire song lottie realized you had fallen asleep, looking down at your now peaceful expression she couldn't help but feel a swell in her heart

she felt pride knowing she was the one to help you, you had helped her so many times with her issues and she felt so useful knowing she seemed to handle their situation better

she didn't know when they were going to be rescued, but she knew she'd be right there to protect you until then.

[perdidosbucky-yyo]

“I can forget it.. If that’s what you want.” He extended his hand to prop your chin up, encouraging you to look him in the eyes again. “But if it’s something you want to discuss further..”

He is so sweet and hot I can't😩

“Would Bucky even want to… with me..? Am I even his type?”

“Sweetheart,” Steve turned directly to you, grasping your hands in his. “You have no idea.”

I died

“I’m cutting you off,” he whispered into your ear.

“I’ve only had one glass of –”

“Baby..” Steve pressed a kiss against your neck. “Just trust me. You go back down and dance while I chat with Bucky.”

I'M SAT, I'M SAT, YES SIR I JUST, YES.

Bucky nearly choked as he turned to face Steve directly. “What? Rogers, I’m not going to .. If you are planning to fuck this up with your girl over some other broad.. I’m going to fuckin’ kick your ass and–”

This made me so happy!!! He was about to smack some sense into that punk😂

Holy fuck, you did. You really did. Jesus Christ almighty, the whole concept of Steve encouraging you to put your mouth on Bucky was electric.

“You already makin’ a mess of those nice panties, baby?” You nodded again, looking back up at Steve as he grabbed your neck. “You take care of Bucky then he’ll watch me take care of you. How’s that sound?”

Hand in her neck, hand in her neck hand in her neck 🫦 he's too powerful

You looked up at Bucky, who was scrambling to reach out and grab a nearby throw pillow from the opposite side of the couch. Without a second thought, he lifted it to rest behind his head before Steve interrupted him.

“For her knees, you dumbass,” Steve laughed, and you couldn’t help but join in.

THE WAY I LOL😂😂 he wanted to get comfortable

He collapsed against the couch, eyes blown open wide. “Holy fucking shit. Stevie, the mouth on your girl..”

🤭😋 I'm just so curious how this situation will affect them in the future...

You smiled proudly, meeting Steve’s lips for a kiss. You leaned against him again, tilting your head up to him. “Need you inside me, please?”

And this was my end 🥵

grapefruit sidecar (part 1)

part of the Sink Into Me universe

Pairing: mob boss! Steve Rogers x plus size! reader x mob! Bucky Barnes

Summary: It was just an innocent question. You definitely didn't have any ulterior motives: “Have you ever had a threesome?” But when Steve admits something from his past with Bucky, you can't help but wonder...

Part 1: The Club | Part 2: The Penthouse

Warnings: 18+!!! established relationship (Steve x reader), MFM threesome shenanigans

Notes: here we gooooo! I don't think you *need* to read Sink Into Me to enjoy this two part series, but hey - feel free to read it! enjoy! and yes in my mind these two fuck like owen gray and small hands what who said that

--

“Have you ever had a threesome?”

The question came from your lips so casually, so innocently that Steve wasn’t sure he had heard you correctly. He stilled his pen and lifted his eyes to you, curled up in the corner of the couch in his office. 

You were typing away on your phone, nursing the tail end of a hangover. Steve had insisted he could take you home to have a nap following the late brunch you shared together, but you insisted you wanted to just orbit near him for the rest of the day. 

He couldn’t say no to that. But he also couldn’t keep putting off some paperwork, so armed with an oversized iced tea for hydration, you made yourself comfortable on the couch while he worked. And now he knew exactly why you had encouraged him to get a nice throw blanket to keep at the office too. 

Steve cleared his throat, finally drawing your eyes to his. You gave him a cheeky smile. 

“And where is that question coming from?”

“Uhm,” you started slowly, sitting up a bit straighter as you put your phone down. “A weird turn of topics in the group chat with the girls.” 

Something about your smile made Steve think that wasn’t the whole truth. 

He laughed. Okay, he’d play along. “And is my response going to be the next topic in the group chat with the girls?” 

You shook your head. “I wouldn’t do that. Just because Maria loves updating us on her sex life constantly, doesn’t mean I contribute the same way. Scouts honour.” 

Steve pushed back on his chair and stood, removing his glasses as he walked over to join you. 

“Weird place for pillow talk,” he said, planting himself beside you on the couch. You were quick to adjust and cozy up at his side. “But yes, I’ve had a threesome. More than one.”

“Oooh. With who?”

One of his eyebrows shot up, scanning your curious wide eyes. “Sweetheart.”

“I mean, you don’t have to tell me. I’m just wondering how threesomes even happen. I’ve never had one, thought about it I guess but like.. who executes the idea? Do you talk about it beforehand or does it just happen? Who makes sure it’s fair?”

Steve let out a hard laugh. “When I’m involved, everyone has always had a good time. It’s been fair.”

“Okay but with who?”

He hesitated. 

“Come onnnnn. Who was it? When was it? Wait. Have you had more than one? Was it with someone I know? You know I don’t care about your history with Sharon. She probably has some attractive girlfriends.”

Steve blew out a breath. What did he have to lose here? You and him were both typically very secure in your relationship, but he still didn’t want to unintentionally hurt any feelings. 

“Okay. If you really want to know.” He shook his head, somehow confused he was even talking to you about this. “I’ve had a few. Haven’t happened in a while, usually there are just certain circumstances where… It happened organically. With a repeat participant.” 

You nodded, eager. “Whoooo?”

“Usually it was me, and that repeat participant, and a nice girl we found at the club.”

“Steve.” You groaned out his name. “Just tell me. Who is she?”

Steve’s lips grew into a small smirk as he gave you a sideways glance. “Not a she.”

You gasped, sitting up on your knees at his side. “What? Who? Oh my god, I shouldn’t have just assumed it was a woman.” You stopped your train of thought and narrowed your eyes. “Wait. Oh my god. Oh my god! Is it Bucky?”

Steve raised his eyebrows then gave you a slow nod.

“Ahh!!” You tapped your hand on his shoulder, excited. “That makes so much sense. You two have such a close friendship and honestly, that’s..” You let out a long breath, closing your eyes for a second. “That’s really hot. You and Bucky. Damn.”

Steve shifted slightly in his position, raising an eyebrow and watching as you grew excited beside him on the couch. “Sorry? That’s really what?”

“Steve.” You opened one eye and looked at him quickly. “You heard me. Listen, I’m not blind. Bucky is attractive. But don’t– I’m not, like, attracted to him. Okay, well, I am but not like that.”

“Like how then?” Steve couldn’t help but make you squirm about this whole topic now. It was something he hadn’t ever considered with you - sharing your intimacy with anyone else. Mostly because the idea of any other person on the planet even looking at you like that made him fire up with a possessive side he had a hard time hiding. But… Bucky wasn’t just anyone. 

There was a certain thrill that Bucky and Steve used to share when they’d do this together. The experiences were never really planned but Steve knew if someone caught his eye that Bucky would be interested in just as much as he was, and they were both in the mood for a little extra fun, then it was only fair to throw it on the table. They had their own signal, even. A quick side hug with a keyword dropped into the conversation, followed by a confirmation double ear tug.

It had always been a sober choice, too. 

“Stop,” you replied quietly, leaning into Steve’s shoulder again. “Forget I said anything.”

“I can forget it.. If that’s what you want.” He extended his hand to prop your chin up, encouraging you to look him in the eyes again. “But if it’s something you want to discuss further..”

You pulled back slightly. “What?” It looked like your mind was misfiring as you found your words. “But.. wouldn’t that be weird? Also.. wait. Are you – Hmm. It sounds fun but kind of scary and.. How do you even start and..” You paused and closed your eyes again. “Would Bucky even want to… with me..? Am I even his type?”

“Sweetheart,” Steve turned directly to you, grasping your hands in his. “You have no idea.”

—

Steve knew the right moment would present itself. Because the millisecond you had started the conversation with him about it, he had a feeling it would happen eventually. But, it was important that the timing was just right.

Mostly because he didn’t want you to worry or panic about it. In fact, in the few conversations you and Steve had shared about the entire threesome topic, he had made it abundantly clear that you would be in charge. That was usually the method Steve and Bucky followed anyway, depending on the third person sharing a bed with them.

Really though, after all of this chatter about the possibility, Steve could see your confidence and excitement growing. You had told Steve it was his responsibility to read your energy and Bucky’s to make sure everything felt right. And Steve had suggested maybe easing into the whole thing anyways. Maybe you didn’t go all the way right away. 

But, the right moment had to arrive.

And on a very ordinary Saturday night at the club, things seemed to be aligning. First and foremost, Steve knew you were in a great mood. You had an extra day off, you’d recently finished a big project at work and Steve had even just surprised you with a shopping spree. He knew how rarely you spent money on yourself, especially for new pieces of clothing. He had been especially generous when it came to a few pieces of lingerie. 

One set specifically he knew you had on under that new dress. While the club wasn’t always your preferred location for a Saturday night, you had been the one to suggest it this time. You wanted to dance with your girls and who was Steve to hold you back?

As for Bucky, Steve knew his friend had recently gone on a few bumpy first dates. First dates that didn’t deliver because it was clear from Bucky’s on and off grumpy mood that he was pretty pent up. Steve knew it was still a shot in the dark if Bucky would want to participate, but maybe he’d want to let off some steam and have fun.

So, when it was early enough in the night that both you and Bucky hadn’t yet overindulged, Steve started to put a plan into action.

When you came back upstairs to his private area for a break from the dance floor, Steve handed you a glass of water. 

“I’m cutting you off,” he whispered into your ear.

“I’ve only had one glass of –”

“Baby..” Steve pressed a kiss against your neck. “Just trust me. You go back down and dance while I chat with Bucky.”

You let out a small gasp, reaching out to grab the lapel of Steve’s suit. “Wait. Really? Are we–”

Steve cut you off with a kiss, then motioned towards the dancefloor. You gave him a coy smile over your shoulder as you hurried down to find Wanda and Maria again.

With a deep breath, Steve ran a hand through his hair then headed towards the bar. Bucky had his back against the counter, sipping a rocks glass as he surveyed the space. Steve stopped at Bucky’s side, giving him a small nudge on the arm.

“What are you drinkin’?” Steve prompted, matching Bucky’s pose.

Bucky furrowed his brow, turning to look at Steve. “Whiskey.”

“Wanna switch it up?” Steve asked slowly, turning his head to meet Bucky’s eyes. “Maybe we split a grapefruit sidecar?”

Bucky nearly choked as he turned to face Steve directly. “What? Rogers, I’m not going to .. If you are planning to fuck this up with your girl over some other broad.. I’m going to fuckin’ kick your ass and–”

Steve brought his hands up to stop Bucky from doing exactly that. “Jesus, Buck. Don’t think so fucking little of me, punk.” Steve rolled his neck then leaned in closer. “This invite is coming from me and my girl.”

Bucky’s eyes blew open, mouth slightly agape as he looked at Steve. “Are you serious?”

Steve grinned, raising his eyebrows up for a brief moment. “You need a second to mull it over?”

Bucky blinked, clearly letting his mind catch up. He quickly discarded his glass on the bar and raised his hand to tug on his earlobe. “Stevie, you know I’d never admit to having impure thoughts about your girl but..”

Steve laughed then grasped Bucky’s shoulder. “My office. 20 minutes.”

–

Steve came and found you on the dancefloor not long after he had pitched that tonight would be the night. And holy shit, you couldn’t believe it. You were buzzing with more than just excitement - there was a flutter of nerves and impossibilities flashing through your mind too.

Even though Steve had quite thoroughly told you how much fun you’d all have, how Bucky would enjoy himself just as much as you would, if not more. Despite those reassurances, you wouldn’t believe it could even happen until, well, it happened.

Now, as you were heading to Steve’s office - there seemed to be some sort of electricity in the air. 

God, you looked hot tonight. That was helping a lot. Out of all the clothes Steve had dropped down cash for, the dress you were wearing had been one of your favourites. It hugged the curves of your body in the most perfect way, with a generous view of your chest and a short hemline that left little to the imagination. You had felt effortlessly sexy in it, especially with the lacy garments underneath threatening to peak out at the top.

Steve’s office was empty when you both arrived, the walls dulling the bass from trickling in from the club. Steve left the big lights off, opting for just lamplight and ambiance from the illuminated Brooklyn skyline seeping in. 

Before you could start nervously pacing, Steve pulled you into his arms. He was leaning against the edge of the desk and you stood between his legs.

“Hey, remember what I said before..” Steve started, slowly tracing his fingers up and down your arms as he kept eye contact with you. “If you change your mind, at any point.. You just say so. And then it’s over, no questions asked.”

You nodded. “I know. Thank you.” As much as you were trying to keep it together, you couldn’t help but giggle. “I’m excited. But I'm nervous, too. How does this start and–”

A knock at the door interrupted your thoughts. After a few seconds, there was a voice.

“It’s, uh, me. Bucky.”

Steve glanced down at you, giving you one last look waiting for your confirmation. You responded with a coy smile and a nod, shifting around to lean against Steve. He draped his arms around you and called out for Bucky to come in.

You had always been aware of how attractive Bucky was. You were a normal, warm blooded woman after all. But there was something even hotter about seeing him cross through the doorway, knowing full well what intentions you all shared. And the fact that Bucky looked nervous, like his confidence wasn’t guarding him as it usually did, made it all feel even better.

Fuck. These men and their suits, too. Bucky was wearing black on black on black and the way his metal arm glinted under the lamplight, you nearly choked.

Bucky shut the door behind him, glancing over his shoulder quickly to look back at Steve. You sensed Steve’s nod, because Bucky made sure to lock the door, too. Then after an awkward silence, Bucky took it upon himself to sit on the couch.

“So,” Steve started, all calm and casual as his fingertips skated against your exposed collarbone. 

All you could do was stare straight ahead at Bucky, watching him watching you and Steve. Fuck, what happened now? How did you cross this line and–

You gasped as Steve’s lips found your neckline, weakening your knees as his tongue and lips explored your skin.

“Sweetheart,” Steve paused, moving one hand down your body and toying with the bottom of your dress. “How are you feeling?”

You whimpered, closing your eyes. “G-good. Yeah, so good.”

Steve grinned against your neck, pressing another kiss under your ear. “Buck?”

You looked back towards Bucky as he took a second to reply. He was already adjusting the top of his jeans, taking in slow breaths. “Yeah, so far so..” When he bit his lip, you nearly collapsed.

Steve lowered his voice, leaning down to whisper in your ear. “Baby, what do you want? You wanna help Bucky feel even better?”

Holy fuck, you did. You really did. Jesus Christ almighty, the whole concept of Steve encouraging you to put your mouth on Bucky was electric. 

“You already makin’ a mess of those nice panties, baby?” You nodded again, looking back up at Steve as he grabbed your neck. “You take care of Bucky then he’ll watch me take care of you. How’s that sound?” 

Your reply was a jumbled up moan of positivity as Steve kissed you again, hard and wet before squeezing your hips and swatting your ass. 

As you walked towards him, Bucky sat up just a bit straighter on the couch. He was still nervous but judging by how he was running his hands down his thighs, you only imagined how excited he was, too.

“Hi Bucky,” you said quietly as you very slowly got down on your knees. “Can I..” You dragged your tongue across your lips, then glanced down at his belt.

Bucky swallowed hard, sparing another glance towards Steve before looking back at you. He sucked in a breath then reached his hand out to steady your chin. “Only if you want to, doll.”

You couldn’t help but smile, genuinely. Despite being on your knees in front of him, you were grateful that Bucky was still confirming your own interest in this whole thing.

“Yes, please.” You nodded and placed your hands on his knees, slowing running them up his slacks until you met his belt buckle.

He was quick to assist you in your task, pulling at his belt and lifting his hips as you yanked on his pants and boxers. His cock was already hard and ready and you couldn’t even help yourself, immediately reaching for it.

“Fuck,” Bucky exhaled, hands clutching the couch as you ran your hands against it.

“Buck,” Steve called out from across the room. “Pillow.”

You looked up at Bucky, who was scrambling to reach out and grab a nearby throw pillow from the opposite side of the couch. Without a second thought, he lifted it to rest behind his head before Steve interrupted him.

“For her knees, you dumbass,” Steve laughed, and you couldn’t help but join in.

“Oh, fuck. Sorry,” Bucky mumbled, helping you position it under your knees.

You didn’t reply, but instead you gave Bucky a sweet smile then got to work. You swiped your tongue around the head of his cock, before trailing it down along the soft silk of his shaft. Then you took a deep breath and slowly opened your lips, sucking on the tip.

Bucky’s hands gripped the couch even tighter, barely resisting the urge to thrust his hips upwards. You appreciated his restraint, though you couldn’t help but feel for him.

Your name left his lips, like a curse word. “Doll..” You felt one of his hands against your jaw. “Look at me.” Your eyes darted up to his and he really cursed this time. “Fuck, oh fuck. Yes, look at you with my cock in your mouth. So fucking sexy.”

That set you off, attempting to take even more of his length into your mouth as you looked at him. Whatever you couldn’t fit, you stroked with one of your hands, fueled by the drool dripping past your lips. 

You got into a groove, shifting through a pattern of swirling your tongue, sucking long and hard and adding in both fists stroking on and off too. Above you, Bucky seemed to be in a euphoric state. And he couldn’t stop praising you for it, either.

“Jesus Christ, doll. This fucking mouth. So pretty, so fucking pretty with a cock in it. You do this for Stevie too, don’t you? You’ve done it right here on this couch haven’t you?” 

Something about the way Bucky talked about you and Steve really riled you up. You hollowed out your cheeks, looking up at Bucky with wide eyes as you waited for him. After a second you, pulled back and grinned.

“I let him fuck my face right here, Bucky. Do you wanna do that too?” 

Bucky licked his lips and grinned right back, grabbing the side of your head ever so gently and guiding you right back down onto his cock. Then, he did exactly what he wanted. His hips thrusted up quickly, moving in and out of your mouth in record time. You gagged against him as he held you there briefly, then slowed down.

“I’m gonna fuckin’ come, doll,” he fell back against the couch as you took over once more, both hands alternating between massaging his balls and stroking up. You took him back into your mouth, sucking harder as Bucky’s moans grew louder. 

“So close, so fucking..” You pulled back and Bucky grabbed his cock with one hand, steadying your open mouth before him with the other. He growled as he came, hard. You stuck your tongue out, smiling wide as his climax washed over him, unloading onto your tongue and lips. You let it sit there in your mouth for a few extra seconds, keeping eye contact with Bucky as you swallowed it down.

He collapsed against the couch, eyes blown open wide. “Holy fucking shit. Stevie, the mouth on your girl..”

“You can address your compliments to her directly, Buck,” Steve laughed, standing from where he had been sitting in his chair and coming over to help you up. “You might have made his brain malfunction, sweetheart.”

You smiled proudly, meeting Steve’s lips for a kiss. You leaned against him again, tilting your head up to him. “Need you inside me, please?”

“Yeah?” Steve asked. His hand rested against the base of your neck, holding you flush against his chest. “And can Bucky watch?”

You couldn’t help but giggle and nod.

Bucky’s eyes opened slowly, as a smirk grew on his face too. He didn’t even bother cleaning himself up or pulling his pants into place again, simply leaning back and watching carefully as Steve led you over towards his desk. 

Steve took his time, kissing you quite generously as he peeled your dress up towards your waist. You felt him smile against your lips as his hands tugged on your underwear, sliding his fingers towards your center. Just as he had predicted, you had clearly really enjoyed yourself, as your soaked panties indicated.

“I’m gonna slide right in, baby,” he breathed against your neck, swirling his fingers around your clit. “Maybe next time, we do this at the same time. Do you want to try that? Bucky in your mouth while you’re full of me?” 

You groaned, twitching as Steve’s fingers sped up. It wasn’t long until your orgasm approached and soon enough you were quivering in Steve’s arms, ricocheting your way up and down the rollercoaster of senses as Steve turned and pressed you against his desk.

You laid down across it, on your stomach with your ass up in the air. You could feel Steve behind you, shoving your underwear to the side as he freed himself from his own pants. You gripped the edge of the desk as he entered you, slowly at first to make sure you were comfortable and ready. 

Across the room, you watched as Bucky was gripping his own cock, somehow hard again. Steve held onto your hips and thrusted steady, letting out his own series of grunts and moans as he fucked you.

Between your own moaning and Steve’s, you could barely hear Bucky across the room but he said your name out loud. You met his eyes as he was rubbing his shaft.

“You’re incredible, doll. Absolutely fucking incredible. And look at you, taking Steve so well. You like that, huh? Being so fucking full of him?”

With your own orgasm approaching, all you could do was cry out in agreement. Steve growled behind you, speeding up as he gripped your hips even tighter. 

“Look what you did to Bucky, baby,” Steve smacked his hand against your ass, holding you tight against him. “With just your mouth..” 

Bucky smirked, biting his lip as he watched you bounce against the desk. “Gonna let me feel that pussy next time?”

Your climax felt volcanic - a flurry of neurons firing off in your brain as you quivered, safely pressed against the desk as the weight of Steve covered you like a warm blanket. He came right after, growling in your ear as he spilled into you. Steve stayed in place after, as if unable to let go as he caught his breath. 

As you came back down to earth, Steve eventually stood, taking a moment to clean you up before coaxing you back into his desk chair. Yeah, you definitely needed a few more minutes. If you stood, you might fall down like a baby deer. 

You leaned back into the soft leather chair, eyes closed as you grinned. 

Steve kneeled before you, pressing a kiss to the side of your knee as he fixed your skirt. 

“Baby, you okay?” 

You opened your eyes and looked down. He was flush and seemed awfully content. You weren’t sure you had ever seen him smile like that before. 

You bit your lip, resisting your urge to scream with joy. You glanced from Steve over to Bucky. He was still sitting on the couch, though his pants were done up and buckled again. 

“I’m really good. Like, wow. Great. Amazing.”

Bucky laughed from his spot. “Doll, you’re amazing. I..” He sat up a bit straighter. “Best  sidecar I’ve ever had.”

You raised an eyebrow, looking back to Steve again. They were wearing matching grins. You didn’t want to ask. 

“I have worked up an appetite though..” You moved to stand. Steve got to his feet and offered his hand. “How do we feel about milkshakes?”

You collected yourself as Steve and Bucky strategized the best way to sneak out of the club and find a table at your favourite diner. 

There was a shift, though. When Bucky opened the car door for you, exchanging another smirk with Steve. Something in the air felt different.

Part 2 - The Penthouse

[mindibindi]

So I rewatched this scene the other day and here is my take on the whole letter debacle. I think we all know that the whole mess was caused by them not actually KNOWING what was in the letter to begin with. Clearly, there was a lack of communication between the two shows' writing teams as well as some awkwardness around how to 1. explain Elliot's long absence, which is SO out of character for him (I don't care what they say, he would NEVER have done that to Olivia in a million years), and 2. reintegrate Elliot back into the narrative after SVU 2.0 spent several years attempting to assassinate his character and rewrite EO's history into something it wasn't (bad for Olivia who for 12 years was the pure cinnamon roll victim to Elliot's mean, neglectful and years-long mistreatment). Part of the role of fandom, however, is to clean up the messes that careless writers make with canon. So this is my in-universe fix re: what that letter was and more importantly, WHY Elliot gave it to Olivia.

So I base this theory mostly on the look above. Look at him. This is as uncertain as Elliot has ever looked. It's like he's asking Olivia a question. And he is. He is handing her Kathy's take on their whole relationship. He is saying: this is what I'm supposed to think about us, this is how I'm supposed to feel about you, this is how I am supposed to view our history. Right? Is this right? Was she right? Am I right? Is this how it was? Is this how you feel too? Cos think about it, Elliot spent years going back and forth between Kathy and Olivia, being swayed by one then the other, then the other then the other. When he was in Kathy's presence, he aligned with her. When he was in Olivia's presence, he aligned with her. It's not like he never disagreed with either but he loved both, shared values with both, respected their opinions and shared their course for many years. They were the most important emotional gauges for him of what was good and right and meant to be. And Elliot desperately wants to be good and right and follow whatever his Creator means for him to be.

Once Olivia was out of his life tho, he lacked the pivotal and improving influence upon which he'd built half of his adult existence and identity. During the time they were together, Olivia helped Elliot mature emotionally, helped him confront certain aspects of his inner life, past patterns and abiding behaviours. She helped him to understand their relationship, his relationship with his kids, his relationship with his wife. She helped him to be truthful, to do the right thing. She influenced his ethics and thinking as much as his heart. But when he re-enters her life, he has spent the last decade viewing his years with Olivia from the vantage point of his marriage with Kathy. I'm not saying that Kathy manipulated his view, deliberately or otherwise. I just think Kathy viewed the situation one way (a way that enabled her to go on, served her sanity/marriage/family/belief system) and Elliot's proximity to Kathy (and Olivia's absence) meant that he naturally came to view his relationship with Olivia through Kathy eyes (almost). His wife's stance on them helped him to come to a convenient understanding, to let Olivia go, to keep his distance, to maintain his marriage. There may have been some therapy or relationship counseling with their local priest involved in this process. But in time, Elliot fell into alignment with Kathy's view that he and Olivia were "never real", they got in each other's way and that, if he really cared about her, he would wish her a happy life with a loving man of her own. If there's one thing we know about Elliot it is that he can maintain an unrealistic and punishing belief beyond what would be reasonable for anyone else. If he had been in Olivia's presence even once during that time, Kathy's take on them would have been instantly debunked by their obvious chemistry and mutual attachment. But he wasn't. And lets also face it, the few times (one time? "Fault"?) that Elliot and Olivia actually directly addressed the state and nature of their relationship, they weren't exactly good at it. Neither were super clear or forthcoming. And that ambiguity, which was never once clarified, allows for Kathy's take, in Olivia's absence, to be the prevailing one, even if something in Elliot knows, deep down, that what he felt for Olivia was very real. Even so, during their partnership, he probably did wonder whether he got in Olivia's way, whether he truly wanted her to find someone with whom to live happily ever after. Whether she knew it or not, Kathy's take on his and Olivia's partnership activated the driving force behind literally everything Elliot does. No, not love. No, not justice. Guilt. Pure, agonising Catholic guilt.

Religions tell you how to act, what to believe, who to value, and yes, even how to feel. So no doubt, Elliot's guilt was compounded when it came time to put his and Kathy's shared belief system into words, onto paper, in ink, to sign his name to them. The honesty, authenticity and bravery Olivia had inspired in him wouldn't allow it. Because as much as he did believe in Kathy's take, some small part of him that remembered Olivia, their partnership, his own heart, still doubted. The part of him that belonged to Olivia, with Olivia, had shrunk and shrunk and shrunk over the years. He no longer had clarity on what she might have said or thought or felt, how she might have looked at him or argued with him or agreed with him. But doubt was a sin and Kathy was his wife. So he signed his name to her words, thinking that they were probably right and he was probably wrong. His doubts? Wrong. His feelings? Wrong. His memories? Wrong. What was right and wrong wasn't determined by him, by what he thought or felt or wanted. It was determined by a better being outside of himself. He was simply the sinful co-signer of their gospel.

So that's what he is presenting to Olivia here. The gospel according to Stabler. The belief Kathy gifted him, that has held him together, them together, that has enabled him to believe that he is good and right and aligned with God. That he's doing the right thing by Kathy, honoring her legacy. That he's doing the right thing by Olivia, letting her get on with the life he so selfishly delayed. He's handing it to her like Kathy handed it to him, to cosign. He's saying: I know it took awhile but this is what we were (weren't we?), this is what I think (do you agree?), this is where I am now (but I'd happily go back, just say the word). He's assuaging his guilt, guilt for staying so long in her life, for leaving it so abruptly, by presenting himself as perfectly as he knows how. At the same time, he's handing it to her knowing that there's some shrunken part of his heart that just had to act as doubting Thomas. There's a stubborn part of her in him that won't die and that it scrawled something far less perfect. Something brave and honest and resilient. In this moment above, I think that 98% of him believes she will read "his" letter and think: yes, that's how it was. What you've laid out here is good and correct and factual and mature and now that it is all behind us, we can be friends who wish only the best for each other and want nothing more than that. However inconvenient and disorienting it may prove for his belief system, his memory of his wife and his guilt-laden sense of self tho, the other 2% of him wants Olivia to say: no, that's not how it was, that's not what we were, none of this is true. You loved me and I loved you and now you're back and I look at you and you look at me and both of us know that, even after a decade, that hasn't changed. We may think it is ridiculous that Elliot thinks this way AND that he thinks that Olivia will agree with him, thank him for his generous words. But it's just the effect of time and absence. She used to take up 50, 60, 75% of his time, his thoughts and heart. But that has been whittled away over the years. He can't quite anticipate her the way he once did and has to assume that she has changed. Maybe, he genuinely thinks, she has come to the same conclusion that Kathy did. Because both of them are better, purer at heart than he is (remember him kneeling and gazing up at Liv when the truth about the letter comes out). He's just lost one of his emotional gauges, his ethical touchstones. But he still has her words so he casts them before the other emotional gauge, the ethical touchstone he lost so many years ago. He presents himself and his adopted, purified belief about their past to be judged by her however she sees fit. And, just like he did with Kathy, he will live by whatever Olivia pronounces to be true. Whether she agrees or disagrees with Kathy, whether she embraces and forgives him or casts him out, Elliot will take Olivia's word as gospel.

[addisong]

In Defense of Celine Herondale

Some of you guys are way too hard on her. She was a literal child who was abused her entire life. Valentine knew this and took advantage of it. He offered to give her exactly what she wanted (Stephen) and of course she said yes. She was 17 and very desperate for love. Does that excuse what she did? No. She still hurt Stephen and Amatis. Was she old enough to have known better? Probably. But does it give some very important context to her choices? Yes.

I'm not trying to insinuate that she's innocent in this situation or the sole victim, but I don't agree with the amount of hate some people throw at her. Stephen, Amatis, and Celine all were hurt in some way and it honestly wasn't fair to any of them. But making Celine out as a homewrecker and nothing else is also unfair.

Side note: I don't know how common this opinion actually is, but I thought I'd just give my 2 cents anyway even though nobody asked.

[aethersea]

I do think Blazing Saddles handled its one depiction of native americans very poorly, and the full extent of its representation of chinese workers on the railroad is they were literally just there. not even one single speaking line. unclear if this is worse or better than the redface.

it's fucking phenomenal at lampooning antiblack racism though. extremely blatant, extremely funny satire, which is constantly and loudly saying "racism is the philosophy of the terminally stupid at best and morally depraved at worst, and we should all be pointing and laughing at them 24/7"

plus the main character is a heroic black man who has to navigate a whole lot of bullshit but is constantly smirking at the extraordinarily stupid racists and inviting the audience into the joke. the one heroic white character is a guy who was suicidally depressed until he met the protagonist and they just instantly became buds, and he's firmly in a supporting role the whole time and happy to be there. the protagonist saves the day with the help of his black friends from the railroad, and uses the position of power he was given to uplift not only those friends, but all the railroad workers of other minorities too, in an explicit show of solidarity.

anyone saying "Blazing Saddles is racist" had better be talking about its treatment of non-black minorities. it had better not be such superficial takes as "oh but they say the n-word all the time" or "they have nazis and the kkk in there!" because goddamn if that's the full extent of your critique I very seriously suggest you read up on media analysis. there is too much going over your head, you need to learn to recognize satire.

[turtleblogatlast]

Small but significant character moments that I actually really adore are from both the times we see the boys as tots. There is a reoccurrence that happens in both of them that I find so incredibly interesting.

For the turtle tot short, Splinter leaves the boys with weapons. In the short, Raph is the one who suggests they do “what Lou Jitsu would do” and Leo is the one who takes point when Splinter comes back to reprimand them. Leo, in taking point, is the one to defend them and get Splinter off their tails.

And then, in the flashback regarding the Kuroi Yōroi helmet, Raph is the one who grabs and throws “Skully” as a way to replace their missing ball which breaks it into pieces, but Leo is the one who speaks for the group and rushes into action to fix the teapot.

I love this for multiple reasons, but the biggest are how it shows that Raph has always been inclined toward the bold and fun and making the plans to include his brothers in what he loves and believes they’d love, whereas Leo has always been inclined to be the “Face” of the group and shoulder the attention even if it’s potentially negative all while coming up with on the spot attempts to fix the situation.