#but this raging thing in me isn't fair either is it

[pleasehitmewithabus]

pLease tell me this is rage bait??? This has to be willful misunderstanding of why the fandom is outraged. The fandom is upset about tlok's blatant mischaracterization of katara as a general rule, not the accomplishments that she canonically has! No one is arguing that she shouldn't have been politically involved in the outlawing of bloodbending or whatever else strawmans fallacies people can come up with to try and warp the fandoms upset at straight up bad writing. The point of the outrage is that they (bryke) took everything that made Kataras character into something Meaningful and Original and dumped on it.

In ATLA, katara was a fighter, a healer, a revolutionary, and the greatest water bender alive. She wrote the book on kicking ass and taking names while being kind and compassionate. Which in of itself was an amazing thing to see in early 2000s media.

In TLOK, yes she is briefly mentioned having outlawed blood bending, but do we see her in this role or even as a part of Yakones trial which would make sense narratively? No. We don't. Seeing Sokka was great and I get the whole councilman thing but let's be real, it didn't make sense for him to be there or hold that role. Why was he not in the swt, a chieftain there? Why was katara not the council member? I'll let you figure that one out.

She's korras water bending instructor which, yeah cool makes sense no arguments here, but also stood by while the white lotus isolated Korra her entire life and treated her in a reprehensible manner. This doesn't make sense either.

She isn't even at Jinoras air bending ceremony which is just?? Insane? She's not at her grandaughters big fancy Very Important Cultural Ceremony, for a culture that she literally single handedly rebirthed (pre-korras restoring the spirit world thing). That is not good writing.

She's not shown in the city that she supposedly helped build whatsoever and lacks any meaningful interactions with any character other than MAYBE tenzin and Korra, (which furthers the issues I have with her neglect of her children mentioned below)

She should've gotten a statue the same way that Suki should've been at least fucking mentioned. If not for a common sense narrative-driven reason, then for a fucking fair one. We know katara wouldve loved a statue, and that she Deserved one, but somehow she ends up being the one person who doesn't get one?

I'm not sure what the chip on ops shoulder is with toph and zuko, but honestly, pretty sure this is one of those strawmans fallacies I was mentioning earlier so I'm not gonna bother.

Canonically, Aang was kind of a shit dad, and katara was canonically a Doormat for this shitty behavior. She never once intervened in his neglect of bumi and kya? Katara? KATARA, the justice and fairness for all girl, let her husband neglect her children??? I have no problem with her being a wife and a mother. But to have written her as such a crappy one? get out of my face with that bullshit.

Sure, it kinda stings to only see her represented as a healer, but that's not what the root issue is, and everyone knows that.

Long story short, the IssueTM with TLOK is the writing and the straight up abandonment of previously established characterization. Yes, some people are upset about her becoming aangs wife, some people are upset that she didn't have a statue, but the root of these issues is the way the characters we all grew up with or discovered or identified with or whatever were completely yakked on. Toph became a cop? You're kidding me. Katara turned her back on the neglect of her children? Be serious. The Complete and Total absence of Suki? Why???

Yeah we get it, it's a show about a new group, focusing on new people, but that's no excuse for bad writing. And to pretend like everything is on the up and up bc it hurts your (ops or anyone else's) feelings to consider that maybe not everything is perfect about tlok, is just plain willful ignorance. Learn media literacy.

Honestly the whole "Katara got erased and had no accomplishments post canon/ Katara was just a healer-wife" thing is exhausting because its blatantly false and I'm TIRED of people completely ignoring her accomplishments instead of celebrating them

Like Katara is explicitly mentioned to be involved in politics, to have been powerful enough to be the person to be solely credited with outlawing bloodbending. Her impact on Korra's life couldn't be understated she's one of the most important figures in Korra's life. She worked with the white lotus, but also didn't follow them blindly and she was willing to encourafe Korra to go up against them, kickstarting the show. She took part in the Civil War on the side of the South, healing fighters and creating a base of operations for the rebels. She was the only person at the centre of the ceremony of Tonraq becoming chief that wasn't directly involved with the battle at Harmonic Convergence, which probably implies at least Some Political relavance idk.

Like why is that all tossed into the garbage can? For what? Like why are we so obsessed with this woman having a bad time and being so mistreated does it get you guys off or something.

"bUt ZUkO anD tOPh gOT to FiGhT!" Zuko had like 2 mediocre action scenes and got his ass handed to him almost immediately and proceeded to peace out right before the final battle. Toph beat up an ex paraplegic (whom KATARA healed might I add) and bullied her a bit and then got one good hit in on foes that didn't even know she was there. Big whoop. Frankly, their inclusions were so clunky and clumsy and clearly there just because people were bitching about not getting the rest of the Gaang, that I much perfer Katara's organic and actually meaningful inclusion in the show.

"bUT thE stATue...!" Please remember that in B1 and B2, when we see most of the statues, they are there because the rest of the Gaang don't appear, or are Dead. The doylist explanation of thos complaint is that Katara was actually present in the show, so the others got to be there as statues. Post B2, we actually don't spend as much time in Republic City, and the only new statues we uncover are the ones of Toph in Zaofu, which makes sense and is narratively significant. I would've loved to ahve seen Katara get a statue, but the reason she didn't get a statue isn't because she's being sidelined by the creators, its technically the other way around..

Like is the "victimized housewife" narrative so much more appealing to you guys than the "accomplished politician, martial arts teacher and woman in stem" storyline we got because that is so Depressing and, frankly, creepy.

[envolvenuances]

I also need to learn to not see pity as a personal attack. every time I try venting to someone in my life they give me that look and I just wanna bite their throat off

[crispy-bonnie]

MK1 guys attending the fair with their S/O

(Tomas Vrbada, Bi-Han, Kuai Liang, Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Raiden, Kenshi Takahashi, Syzoth, Liu Kang)

i just need to write these down because oh my god they've been stuck in my head for too long

this also ignores canon a bit (cough cough lin kuei cough cough) because i'm delusional and refuse to believe anything that bi-han did was canon /lh [lighthearted]

also not proofread and just a bit ooc , just made this outta impulse

• • • 🍟

Tomas likes to go on the rides, specifically the more intense ones. He just finds the thrill of being tossed and turned around fun. He will do his best to comfort you if you don't do well on those kinds of rides and will even bring motion sickness meds just for you. Also please hold him whenever you're scared on those rides because it makes him feel so happy to know that you're willing to cling to him shdbsb

Tomas also enjoys the fair games a lot, the both of you trying and failing miserably to win the games and simply laughing about it. There was only one time he ever won a game, and it was only because he used a bit of his magic to toss the ring around one of the poles. Even so, it was a win in his book.

• • • 🍟

Bi-Han doesn't really care for the fair. He's only there because both you and his brothers dragged him along. However, he seems to lighten up just a tad when he sees you gushing over how adorable one of the prize plushies is. He wastes no time in buying play tickets and making his attempt to win it just to impress you.

He eats shit every attempt that he tries. Eventually runs out of tickets and gets mad so he just uses his cryomancy out of pure rage. The poor guy at the stall is scared shitless and just claims that he won before handing him the huge ass plush out of fear. Bi-Han immediately hands it to you and just smiles tiredly at your giddy behavior as the two of you walk away hauling the big ass stuffy.

• • • 🍟

Kuai Liang has you on a leash because you get lost easily. Either that or he's just worried about losing you in the crowds. The leash is most likely latched to some kind of bag or belt that you might be wearing. Whether or not it's you or him taking the lead, he always makes sure he's got a firm hold on the leash.

If you get distracted or overwhelmed, Kuai Liang will tug lightly at the leash to bring you closer whilst muttering 'C'mere' under his breath. He'll hold your hand to keep you from straying and as a means of comfort. If you're too overstimulated, he'll cradle you to his chest and shield your face from the noise, whispering sweet nothings and reassurances for you to focus on.

• • • 🍟

Syzoth has had very little experience with fairs. Closest thing he's gotten to one is the Sun Do festival, and he's only experienced it once. You'll have to guide him through a lot of the stuff. He doesn't really like the rides (aside from the chill ones) but will do his best not to projectile vomit acid anywhere if you do.

You two are strolling down the place while munching on some fair food when you spot a cute looking prize at one of the game booths. You decide to use some tickets to try and win one, but you don't seem to nail it. Syzoth offers to give it a shot, scarfing down the rest of the turkey leg in his hand (that both of you were supposed to share together) before trying it out. He wins, like- perfectly, managing to win you the prize in one shot while leaving some fairgoers and the vendor stunned.

• • • 🍟

Kung Lao is absolutely destroying all the food at the fucking stalls. It's a wonder how this mf isn't built like a 1x1 lego piece from the sheer amount he powers through. He likes to share portions with you so that you can have a nice taste of whatever high-calorie junk is being served.

Oh my god and don't get me started on the stranger sides of the fair food. Kung Lao would happily order the weirdest shit only to regret it two seconds later. Except for once. There was one time where he tried pickle drink, which is just pickles in Dr Pepper. To your misfortune, he liked it, and now it's something he whips up at home every now and then. I hope you like pickles.

• • • 🍟

Raiden prefers to just have a chill day with you, doesn't want to do anything intense. He just walks around with you, looking at the shops and such while eating some fair food or something. He doesn't go on any of the dizzying type of rides, and will simply watch from the ground if you decide to do so.

Even without all the thrilling shit, Raiden does his best to make it enjoyable, mostly through romantic actions. Like- my dude will get matching stuff for you, stuffed animals or treats with the cheesiest lines ever—it's like you two are on a first date with how he tries to treat you. You find it adorable, especially when he gets flustered after you return the favor.

• • • 🍟

Johnny Cage thinks he's an absolute legend at the fair games. He's really not, but he will always boast about it anyway. He'll most likely drag you towards where most of the games are and use his fuckload of tickets to play. If you point out a prize, he will absolutely fight tooth and nail to win the prize.

He never does and eventually the vendor gets so tired of his attempts that the guy just hands him the prize. Johnny will probably go on about how he totally won that while you simply chuckle and roll your eyes as the two of you move on. He also will be taking an excessive amount of photos during the fair—but that's pretty par for the course on anything with him.

• • • 🍟

Similarly to Raiden, Kenshi isn't very fond of the intense rides, especially the ones that spin a lot. He just likes to stroll around and chill with you. He also doesn't really favor the games all too much, and if he does play, he's probably using Sento to help out.

Kenshi likes to hang around the animal-petting zoos, seeing as it's one of the few things he really can enjoy with his blindness. The two of you like to play this game where you hold an animal out to him or guide his hand towards one, and he has to guess what animal he's touching. The animals also seem to be very fond of him. Especially the fluffier ones.

• • • 🍟

Liu Kang is kind of a mix of Raiden and Syzoth. He doesn't really care as much for the fair than he does your happiness and enjoyment. He'll happily go along with you around the fair or on rides, except for the dizzying ones. He'll gladly try some fair food, play some games, all to see you smile.

While Liu Kang often chooses not to play any of the games, he's actually jacked at this shit. Point out a prize and he'll fuckin slam dunk that game like it's nobody's business before handing you the thing you were eyeing. He doesn't pay mind to the shocked stares around him, content with watching that grin of yours shine as you giggly thank him. He also likes to go on the ferris wheel—he finds it relaxing and it gives him time to just be able to sit in peace with you whilst the fair goes on from below.

• • • 🍟

[covetyou]

sleepless

ao3 ⋆ main masterlist

pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader rating: Explicit (18+ only!) warnings: unprotected PIV, creampie, fingering, cumplay, pet names (baby, sweetheart, darlin’), mild praise kink, very mild dubcon (sleepy reader), bratty reader, no use of Y/N. word count: 3.5k summary: It’s been days since you last got anything resembling decent sleep. You’re exhausted, but more than that, you’re angry. Every little thing is pissing you off, and you just want to be left the fuck alone. Joel, ever the gentleman, has a solution to your sleeplessness, and your bad mood.

A/N: This was an out of body experience and I don’t know how it happened. Seriously, I stood up out of bed and wondered what the fuck I’d done. I haven’t written a single thing in an entire year (and that was for a funeral), and I have never written smut and don't know what I'm doing. So. Enjoy?

This one is for all of us who get really grouchy when tired. Or hungry. Or if the phase of the moon just isn't right. I see you honeybuns, and so does Joel.

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terrible graphics by me

“What's got your panties in a bunch?”

You were in a shit mood. It was a shitty day, and you were in a shit mood and Joel was not helping.

“Nothing.” You huff out. Totally believable.

Joel runs his tongue over his teeth, eying you. “Okay… You need to go make yourself come or somethin’?”

You slam your mug on the counter, hot tea sloshing over the edges with the force. ”No Joel, I don't need to fucking come.”

It was true. You didn’t. What you needed was to be left the fuck alone with your bad mood and misplaced rage. What you needed even more was to get some goddamn sleep.

“Right.”

“Just fuck off, Joel.” You say. And he does.

An hour later and you still haven’t left the kitchen. You haven’t seen Joel again either - he knew better than to bother you when you were like this. He’d just piss you off more, which hardly seemed fair when he wasn’t the one to piss you off to begin with. You were the one to piss yourself off to begin with. You’d barely gotten more than a full night's sleep across 4 whole days, you were tired as hell, and the sleeplessness-induced irritation was starting to seep into every part of your day. You didn’t want to inflict your bad mood on anyone, but you would if it came to it, just to be left the fuck alone in peace and quiet.

Slamming doors as you tidy away the things you'd used that day, you continue to stomp around the kitchen. It was your mess. You'd used the coffee pot. You'd used a mug, a spoon, a plate. But it still pissed you the fuck off and you were trying to conceal the blind rage that was flowing through you.

You slam yet another door, putting a plate away - why did you use a fucking plate instead of eating over the sink - and suddenly your front is crushed against the counter, a warm, solid mass pushed against your back and strong arms boxing you in either side. Joel. You could hit him. You could fucking hit him. But you don't.

“Fuck off, Joel.” You say through gritted teeth, gripping the counter in front of you.

“When did you last sleep?” He growls in your ear. You feel his warm breath ghost the side of your face. How the fuck did he know. As if it wasn’t obvious.

You don’t answer, and he nudges a shoulder forward, momentarily pushing you more firmly against the counter to get you talking.

“At night.”

Scrubbing a hand over his face, he sighs. “Which night, smartass.”

You’d taken the opportunity given by the movement of his arm to slip out from where he’d pinned you. You were not in the mood to play this game.

“I don't know.” You sneer at him as you fold your arms over your chest. It may have been childish, but you didn’t care.

“Yeah you do.”

“I said I don’t -”

“Yes. You fuckin’ do.” He was stern now, pointing a finger at you, daring you to be a smartass one more time. “Because I know it sure as fuck weren't last night.”

Busted. “The night before.” Looking away, you busy yourself with folding a dish towel.

“Really.” It’s not a question. Joel cocks an eyebrow at you with a twist of his head.

Shrugging your shoulders, you mumble back to him. “Couple hours.”

“And the night before that?”

“Didn't know you were the fucking Spanish inquisition.”

He cocks an eyebrow. Again.

“A couple fucking hours, Joel. Now fuck off and leave me alone or I swear I'll -”

He grabs you as you’re about to slap the dish towel onto the counter in anger and pulls you forward into his chest. His nose is practically touching yours and his eyes are impossibly dark.

“Shower. Now.” He means it, but you resist, trying to pull from his arms. You're pissed off. Now is not the time for him to be telling you what to do.

“No, I-”

“Get in the fucking shower.”

You can feel your top lip preparing to curl itself into a snarl. 

Instead, you turn on your heel and head for the shower.

You’re still damp, wrapped in nothing but a towel, when you exit the bathroom.

“You done?”

Joel is stood there at the foot of the bed, his t-shirt already discarded somewhere in the room. His belt is unbuckled and he’s beginning to unbutton his jeans and pull down the fly. You can’t help but stare. The sleep-deprived rage that’s flowed through you all day feels an awful lot like arousal when your brain is too muddled to know which way is up. And when you’re looking at Joel. Especially when you’re looking at Joel. 

You gawk at the hard planes of his body. Broad shoulders, muscle built from years of working on construction sites, and a softness around the edges given to him by the comforts you know he loves so much.

It’s only 6pm. You were now more tired than angry, some of your anger washed away in the shower, somewhere between scrubbing your body and rinsing conditioner from your hair. 

You float toward the dresser and open a drawer, planning on readying yourself for bed - you suspect that’s the plan anyway. “Shower and bed” is your usual routine, after all. You distantly register that he’s talking again, but the words don’t compute until he’s twisting your head toward him with a firm finger on your chin.

“No panties. Get on the bed.” He cocks his head toward the plush bed in the middle of the room. You don’t move. “Get on the fucking bed.”

Dropping your towel, you move to the bed. You’re compliant. So tired you’ve given up. So tired, the rage can’t take hold in the same way any more. So tired, you’d do just about anything to get a few hours sleep. The fight in you has all but fucked off. For now.

Your limbs feel like lead as you pull yourself onto the comforter and fall back somewhere toward the center of the mattress. You’re too tired for grace right now. You just need to sleep. If only you could fucking sleep.

There’s a rustle of discarded jeans, and a moment later, the mattress is shifting under Joel’s weight and the heat of him radiates up you as he shifts his body on top of yours. At some point your knees were knocked apart and his own had settled between them, but you don’t remember exactly how. All you're focused on is the heat of him. 

A large hand ghosts over your hip, down the soft swell of your thigh and between your legs. He starts stroking gently at the soft skin of your inner thighs. Moving up, and up, and up, he switches sides just before meeting the apex of your legs and moves to give your other thigh attention.

You don’t know if you’ve been breathing, but you’re not dead yet so you must have remembered at some point. All you know is you’re somehow sensitive and numb in equal measure - feeling everything so harshly, but so distantly.

Soft kisses are being pressed to you - your neck, jaw, temples, chest. Up and down, just like his hands. The movement of him could send you off, but the heat above of him is burning through you too much for you to be lulled to sleep.

Swapping from side to side, he caresses your soft flesh until he’s so impossibly close to your center yet not close enough to be touching. A soft sweep of his hand over your cunt, and you’re pulled from your daze with a jolt.

“Joel, I said I don't want to come.” You try to be firm, gripping his arm and lightly tugging, but you don’t want to be. You do want to come. You’re tired, you didn’t want it before, and you’re being stubborn because fuck you always are, but now that he’s here - now that he’s there - you want it.

“I ain't makin’ you come. I'm gettin’ this pussy wet so I can fuck it.” He says it so matter of factly you could headbutt him.

Instead, your mouth falls into an o-shape and you stare at him. Your grip on his arm weakens, partly with your resolve, and partly with exhaustion.

“I -”

“Shut up.”

“But I -”

The firm fingers that were caressing your thighs so softly a moment ago are suddenly gripping your chin hard, and your eyes snap directly to his. “I said shut the fuck up.” He lands a gentle peck on your lips before releasing you, trailing his hand back down the contours of your body. His nose brushes up and down the side of your neck and jaw, occasional soft kisses being pressed to the sensitive skin there as he breathes you in. 

You are floating.

His fingers meet your folds again, relentlessly teasing and stroking the softness of your labia, a flare of something coursing through you that stokes a fire no longer built of rage, but arousal.

Joel looks down the stretch of your body as he feels at your entrance, parting you with two fingers. Teasing, he swirls his finger tip just outside of you, collecting the veritable oil slick you'd generated in the last few minutes of his careful teasing.

“There we go. We got there, huh?” He almost sounds condescending and you want to slap off the smug look you know is on his face.

“Now. Here's what we're gonna do.” He murmurs into your ear as he still teases around your cunt, dipping a little further in but never down to a knuckle. 

“You're goin’ to shut the fuck up and take what I give you. Then you're goin’ to go the fuck to sleep whether you like it or not.” 

He pulls his finger from your cunt, and before you have a chance to protest the loss of sensation or his instruction, he’s slipping the slicked finger between your lips. Your brain stutters to a halt and all you can do is gently suckle on his digit, tasting the sweetness of your own pussy.

“That taste good?” He strokes your hair, your face, and a soft whine escapes you. “Yeah I know it does baby.”

He brushes your hair back as he takes his finger from your mouth and puts it into his own, tasting the remnants of you. You stare at him, dumb from sleep, dumb from the wetness you know must be dripping out of you. 

“I know.” He coos as he sits back on his haunches. His heat is so far away now, and you almost whine again until you feel him notch at your entrance. Your eyes widen. “I know.” He pushes in the weeping tip of his cock - you don’t know how long he’s been hard but you can feel it- and slides in with a gentle thrust. Rocking his hips, you take more and more of him until he slides home and pushes his hips until they’re flush with yours. 

You are so impossibly full, stretched without much warning, and your mind so deliciously blank that breathing has to become a conscious effort.

He pulls out slightly, giving you room to breathe, before pushing back in, deeper than before. “That's it. You take it. You're getting your medicine now, huh? I'm goin’ to come in this pussy and you're goin’ to go the fuck to sleep. Ain't ya? Huh? Answer me sweetheart.”

Practically going cross-eyed with the effort, you look him in the eyes. “Mhm.”

“Good. There's a good girl. Just take it and then you'll sleep. You been needin’ this. Too damn pissy for your own good to be able to ask for what you need.”

He’s fucking into you so deep, so gently that you can do nothing but quietly gasp with each rock of his hips into yours.

“Once you get some come in your pussy that'll send you right to sleep.” He’s right. You know he’s right and it’s all you want. You need it, but words are lost to you so you nod your head softly, before letting out a deep moan. He’s pushed himself even deeper and he’s holding there for a moment before releasing. He repeats the action a few times, and your moans get higher and higher pitched.

“I'm goin’ to get it nice and deep, just how you like it. This is where you need it, ain't it?” He pushes low on your stomach. He’s always been big, but like this he feels even bigger. You let out a whine. If you had the energy to sustain your rage and be fucked, you'd be furious at your own pathetic noises, but you were so past any of it.

“Yeah.” Too sleepy and too cockdumb, it’s the first word you’ve been able to utter for what feels like an hour.

“Oh, baby, I know, you're so tired.” He tuts and picks up the pace of his movements, his solid length slowly drawing out of your messy cunt before punching back in.

Maybe if you were even more tired, the smooth, rhythmic movement of his hips slapping against yours would let you drift off to sleep, but it has the opposite effect. You can’t possibly sleep now. You need him, you need more. He’s everywhere but not everywhere enough and your arousal pools and drips down from your needy hole, down the crevasse of your ass and onto the bed below. 

Words are gone again, so you whine, high pitched and needy.

“You're taking your medicine so good baby. So good.” His words shoot right fucking through you. You could come. Oh fuck, you want to come. But you don’t know the words anymore - you don’t know any words.

So you whine again.

“Oh, it's okay, it's okay.” He shushes you, kissing your temple. “I know what you need.”

He doesn't tease. He simply brushes a hand down between your legs, never breaking the rhythm of his cock thrusting in and out of your dripping cunt. He splays his fingers around your pussy for a second, feeling his length as it slides in and out of you, collecting your wetness in the process.

Those same fingers trail up and find their place on your neglected clit, circling lightly.

He searches your face, waiting for the connection of his fingertips with your clit to register in your eyes. There it is.

“That's it, huh? That right there.” He adds a firmer pressure to his fingertips as he swirls them around your slicked clit. Your eyes have glossed over and you let out a keening whine at his ministrations, your pussy already twitching around him. 

“Thank you. Thank you.” It’s barely a whisper, but it’s words, so you’ll take it.

“Oh now she's polite, huh. Gettin’ what she needs and suddenly she remembers her manners.” He teases. Asshole.

He was so good at this. All of it. He knew the exact buttons to push, the exact way to get you wet, the words to say, the way to be. If you wanted it hard he'd give it hard, if you wanted it gentle he'd give it gentle. And this, some delicious no-man's land in-between where his movements were gentle but his words were somewhat harsh, was sending you over the edge.

The rhythm of his fingers and cock is so in sync, so perfect, that you feel your whole body begin to quake as the beginning of your orgasm flares through you.

“Oh that's it, you fucking come. You come. Didn't even know you needed it huh. Don't even know your own pussy like I do, baby. You needed all this. Needed my cock in you, feelin’ so good, needed to come around me.”

Your walls flutter around his rock solid length, gripping him, and your legs clench, trying to snap shut but unable with the press of his body between your thighs. Your orgasm washes over you, briefly blinding you and you feel Joel’s fingers and thrusts speed up, fucking you through it and rocking you back and forth as your mouth opens in a silent scream. 

One ragged intake of breath later and you go limp against the mattress. Joel stills, removing his fingers from your oversensitive clit, stroking at your arm and making you twitch.

He nuzzles his nose into you and gives a deep press into you with his hips. You gasp and open your eyes. His face is softer now - no condescending wrinkle of his raised brows, no smirk.

“You gonna play stupid next time? Huh?” He softly traces a finger over your chin and mouth.

“No.” You try not to pout at him, you really do. You’re not sure you succeed.

“You gonna ask for what you need when you need it?” His finger moves to trace over your nose, your forehead.

You nod, soaking in the feeling of his hands, acutely aware of his cock still impaling you so deeply. “Mm.”

“Good. Good girl.” He mumbles into your mouth, kissing you, licking at the seam of your lips.

With a sudden movement he pulls out and snaps his hips forward, swallowing your gasp with his mouth.

You’re fucked out and exhausted, but he’s not finished.

“You're gonna take this come now.” He practically whispers it, and you want to scream with how it reignites every nerve ending in your body to his touch. “I'm gonna come in this pussy and then we're getting those panties on you.” His head ticks over to the dresser, where the drawer still lies open from earlier. Oh. You’d forgotten about that.

“Then, you're goin’ the fuck to sleep.”

“Mm.” You nod weakly. You'll do anything. Anything he says.

“We'll deal with the messy panties when you wake up, sweetheart. See how much of a mess I make in you.” 

His movements barely speed up, barely get harder, but you know he's close. He’s been close for a while - he likes it when you fight but he likes it when you’re feeble too. 

"Yeah. Ohhhh - fuck - yeah." He doesn't stop moving, fucking you in the same steady rhythm as he empties himself deep into your cunt, thick ropes of come filling you and making you feel even more impossibly warm and wet as it leaks out of you already, still stuffed full of Joel's cock.

"Fuck. There we go.” He says with a sigh, stroking your shoulder and kissing your neck. “There we go baby.”

His cock twitches as it starts to soften, but he holds it, and his come, inside of you for a moment until it’s an impossible task.

You’re delirious from the orgasm, from the constant rhythm of Joel’s fucking setting a metronome up in your body, and from so little sleep.

A deep kiss is pressed to your lips, you try to catch it and return the pressure, but your reflexes are so slow that he’s away and sliding out of you before you can even register what’s happening. Another stroke of your shoulder and his weight is suddenly off of you completely.

You could float away without him there to tether you down.

Distantly, you hear the slide of a drawer in the dresser. You're dozing when he slides one foot then another into the legs of your panties, before pulling them up your legs to your knees. Fingertips ghost up your legs, and meet at your dripping core. He looks at the mess made of your pussy, clicks his tongue, and he fingers some of the escaped come back into you with two thick fingers.

“Up.” His voice gruff with post-orgasm relaxation and his fingers still gently moving inside of you. You lift your hips, probably barely, but it's the most you can give right now. Joel shimmies them up the rest of the way with one hand, and pulls his fingers from inside you once they're settled in place.

He rubs the soaked seat of your clean panties. "We'll keep that right there, right where you need it.”

"Mm." You nod, barely seeing him now through the haze of your sleepiness and that post-fuck haze. He was right. You did need it. He was always right.

Another soft kiss is pressed to your temple, and you feel a soft caress across your arms, shoulders, neck, face. 

Just as you register the cold you feel without him on top of you, you feel the weight of a soft blanket fall over you. Your eyes are impossibly heavy now, but you realize you haven’t been seeing anything for a while anyway. You almost don’t recall ever being angry - your frustration from the day flipped into arousal so quickly, and melted away with the waning of your orgasm.

“Sleep.” His voice is so deep and so inviting. Your body so relaxed and ready to give in to him, give in to sleep.

You’d been chasing sleep for weeks, only for it to evade you. Being given dregs of what your body would let you have. But this time, for the first time in weeks, you don’t let your eyes fall closed, you close them. You don’t let sleep take you, you take hold of it. 

“Sweet dreams, darlin’.” And you’re gone.

follow @covetedfics and turn notifications on for updates on future work

[convexicalcrow]

"Cub, please, go rescue the Allays, please, we can't let them stay there, they're so distressed!"

Scar's voice was also distressed, but Cub hadn't needed to hear him to understand. It had been a long time since Cub felt that deep Vex rage well up inside him, and it was both strange and also familiar. At least he knew why he felt that way.

"I'll get them, don't worry. He's not still there, is he? He's gone to do other things?"

"He's not there, no. Just, hurry. They're so scared! We gotta get them outta there!"

"Alright, leave it with me."

-

Jevin was easily distracted, it's fair to say, and in his Vex form, Cub was able to sneak into the place where he'd kept the allays with ease. He could feel their distress as he got close, and they flew to him once he broke in, clinging to him in fear.

"Don't worry, we'll get you out of here. You'll be safe with us. The Vex will avenge you," Cub murmured, giving as much comfort as he could.

There were small sad trilling sounds coming from the Allays. Cub could see the scars on their bodies where they'd caught Jevin's sword but had somehow survived. Cub wasted no more time in whisking them away to his base, hoping he could find a way to calm them down a little. He wouldn't defeat their trauma, of course, but that wasn't the point. At least he could give them sanctuary.

-

A lot of people assume Allays and Vex are enemies. That Vex corrupt Allays into Vexes. But this isn't true. Vexes are the rage Allays can't express. When Allays seek revenge, it is deep indeed, and handed over to the Vex, who can act in ways they simply cannot. And when the rage is over, the Vex are becalmed by the sweet song of the Allays, both comforted by their own presence. That is why Allays reside in mansions and pillager camps. Anywhere the Vex are, so too are the Allays.

-

"Cub, I've left a creeper in Jevin's house! That'll sort him out!" Scar said as he arrived at Cub's base later on. He wasn't surprised to see Cub still in his Vex form. "I named it CatDog! That'll teach him to kill Allays!"

"Very good, very good. It's certainly a start, that's for sure. I think we can find other ways to torment him, though, as the season progresses. These poor Allays, man, you gotta come see them. They've got scars, it's awful," Cub said.

Scar gasped. "Scars! Oh no! How dare he! Come on, show me where they are, I gotta look after them!"

-

Cub led him down into the basement of his house and flicked a switch. It opened a hidden door that led to a staircase going down.

"They're down here. They wanted to be far, far away, so I dug a hole at bedrock, and that seemed to suffice. They were sleeping last I checked," Cub said.

"Good, I'm glad they're resting. They'll be okay, won't they?" Scar said.

"I hope so, but you never know with traumatised Allays. Sometimes it's just too much. But I'm hoping we can give them enough of an outlet so they feel okay again."

-

It was, of course, a long way down. There was some soft conversation, but both Cub and Scar felt their anxiety and rage grow the closer they got. Part of it was empathetic; they were both feeling that way anyway, but part of it was coming from the Allays as well. Eventually, they arrived at a room, with a door closing it off. The soft sounds of Allays could be heard from within, their songs still very soft and mournful.

"Just be quiet and gentle, they're really on edge," Cub murmured as he opened the door as slowly and carefully as he could.

Scar nodded and followed him in. The room was small and confined, the two Allays sleeping under a blanket on a pillow in one corner. A soul lantern in one corner offered a little light, enough to see how much dimmer the Allays were. Cub sat down beside the Allays, watching over them.

"Just sit and be quiet. They like knowing we're here. I promised we'd get revenge for them. If you want to Vex yourself up a little, I'm sure they won't mind that either," Cub said, keeping his voice low.

Scar grabbed a spare pillow and sat down. He closed his eyes a little and let his Vex features come through a little bit. Vex magic always felt more powerful when he was in Vex form. "We'll avenge them alright, don't you worry about that, little Allays. I'm still so angry! Gods. I'm a zookeeper! How dare he just kill Allays like that!"

Cub shushed him. "There's a time and a place for anger, and right now isn't it." He reached down and gently touched the Allays, who opened their eyes and sat up a little. "The Vex are here, little ones. We'll protect you. We'll avenge you."

The two Allays made soft little cries before allowing Cub and Scar to hold them. Cub held his close to his chest, offering a little Vex magic to comfort the poor creature. Scar wrapped his in a blanket and cradled them in his arms. The rage was building, and for an Allay to feel rage, well, something very bad had definitely happened to cause it.

"This is just like the one I rescued last season. The one Zed got to kill him by holding thorns armour. Man, that Allay was messed up," Cub murmured.

"I did hear about that one. I hope they're okay now."

"It took a long time, but we got there. And these guys'll get there too. And if that means we get to have a little fun along the way, well. So be it."

"So be it. Long live the Vex."

"Long live the ConVex."

[ismaeldrawsthings]

Thinking about the contrast between Thetis and Mary mother of Jesus ok I am NOT crazy just hear me out

I'm thinking about how Mary just got married with a man she loved so deeply and was chosen by her God to give birth to his child, still a virgin. She felt honored. Her womb, a blank canvas that would paint an amazing story. Her son the embodiment of God, characterized by his gentleness and compassion, how he spent the years of his life spreading the word of God, messages about loving one's neighbor and peace. His child, whom she saw die humiliatingly and cruelly in the hands of a people who feared his message of love and peace. Who she saw coming back to her even after death.

And then we have Thetis. Thetis, daughter of Nereus, maybe the fairest one of them all. Zeus and Poseidon wanted her, and did she feel honored by this? Did she boast of being the envy of her sisters and cousins? Being desired by Olympians is no small thing. Let's say she did. Let's say she was excited to be chosen by the King Among The Gods and The King Of The Seas to dispute among each other for her hand. But then the prophecy, "greater than his father", came, and she was no longer desired. She was feared. Her womb was feared. They all knew what happens to those Gods who are greater than their fathers; Zeus still reeks of Cronos remains. So she was arranged a marriage to this man she knew nothing of nor cared about. In fact, in the standard myth, Peleus rapes her. He was told how exactly to do it. This mortal, who she hated—she couldn't stand mortal blood—, forced his child into her. They get married and her pregnancy begins. In some versions, Thetis has 6 children before Achilles who she kills because she couldn't stand the idea of having a mortal child. It's not fair. What did she do? Why was she being punished for something that was not up to her to decide? She has her son, and calls him ἄχος, suffering, because isn't that all that thing has caused her? Isn't all her suffering because of this dammed thing that grew inside of her? It should be easy to hate him. In fact, she should hate him.

Yet she doesn't. She loves him. She loves her little suffering. And she loves him so much she finds it all unfair. Unfair he will die and she will live carrying all this sorrow inside of her. She wished there was a way to grant him with godhood, but there is none. He is no God. And that is cruelty, that isn't fair.

Even if she tries to protect him, her suffering is sent to war afar from her. And he's full of hate. And isn't all that hers? He was born out her hatred, out of her rage. That's what he was born to feel, that's what he was made of. No matter how much her or the people around him try to do, his destiny if full of hatred, and violence, and blood, and all things bad. He's named the Best Of The Greeks because of how many Trojans have died by his sword. He steals, and kills, and kidnaps. He's not just her suffering alone, now, he's the people's suffering, Αχιλλεύς. He dies and he doesn't come back, because he's mortal, she can't make him a God. And she will live forever with her sorrow.

Jesus was Mary's blessing. Achilles was Thetis' punishment. And yet they both loved their children like only a mother can.

Also to add to that contrast, Mary is dressed really modestly ofc because she's a virgin and God's mother and she has to have a lot of cloth to cover her. Thetis is illustrated showing a lot of skin most of the time. The cultural differences play game into that fact of course but this comparison is not even like implying that they're equivalent to either religion so wooooo woooooooo

Anyway it's 2 AM why am I yapping this much

[professorspork]

Not sure if you've already done this but could you either rank or tier list the Glindas and Elphabas you've seen?

lmao you know, very true to form for me how even with 59 different boots and 6 live performances under my belt i'm still like "NO I CAN'T POSSIBLY CHOOSE, I NEED MORE DATA"

like. girl. you know your own taste, be real, how much more do you really need???

but constitutionally something about me still resists lists and tiers, so instead i'm gonna do CATEGORIES.

so welcome to:

THE OZCARS

every category will have explanations, five nominees, and one winner. nominees will be listed in chronological watch order, and specific boot dates will be noted when appropriate. fair? FAIR, I THINK.

also lmao there's no way i have the self-control to limit myself to just gelphie, and please note the obvious caveat that this is a time capsule of opinions that are as ever subject to change, and this may be revisited after more things are seen

i have no idea how long this is gonna get, so maybe let's put this under a cut, huh.

BEST FIRST IMPRESSION (Elphie Edition)

(i.e.: the actresses who really impressed and made a mark on me right from the jump)

NOMINEES:

Shoshana Bean [Bway 1/9/05]: Smol Bean Too Good For This World, Too Pure

Nicole Parker [Bway 3/8/09]: Oh That's Why They Say Comedians Make The Best Dramatic Actors

Mamie Parris [1NT 11/30/11]: Green Bean Thinks Of Nothing But Murder All Day

Emmy Raver-Lampman [1NT 5/31/14]: Shockingly Steady Standby Holds Night Of Pure Chaos At Bay Like It's Easy

Mary Kate Morrissey [2NT 8/4/18]: Wow People Weren't Fuckin Kidding About Double Name Witches Being Gay On Purpose Holy Shit

WINNER: MAMIE PARRIS

I'm still two installments away from talking about this particular bootleg in the Punctum Project, but my WORD what a tour de force Mamie is. she stalks onto stage in act 1 frothing at the mouth and full of charisma and bile, and you just can't take your eyes off her. fucking amazing stuff.

BEST LAST(ING) IMPRESSION (Elphie Edition)

(i.e. the actresses whose performances have really clung to my bones and have longevity and mental staying power)

Shoshana Bean, giving YOU THINK YOU DON'T LIKE NICE ELPHIE? TOO BAD MINE WILL HAUNT YOU

Eden Espinosa, giving YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST

Carmen Cusack, giving WHY THE FUCK DID THEY NEVER LET YOU DO BROADWAY WHEN YOU'RE THE BEST AT THIS

Mamie Parris, giving NO SERIOUSLY DID I MENTION THE RAGE

Laurel Harris, giving WATCH ME GROW WATCH ME CHANGE WATCH ME MATURE WATCH ME BE SO BISEXUAL

WINNER: EDEN ESPINOSA

Reader you have no idea how hard this was for me to pick, because I do think this comes closest to "favorite" or "best" and i ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE CAVEATS. like especially I need to shout out Sho for making both lists and just like... doing the impossible work of opening the door to a post-Idina Elphaba and what that might mean and doing it with such fearless brightness. and also shout out to Carmen who I do think is maybe the most "complete" Elphaba for me, who comes closest to like, the version of Elphaba who lives in my head and whose voice I would use as my litmus test when writing fanfiction

but Eden was my first Elphie when I was a girl of but 14, and there's no getting around the fact that so many things I love in other Elphabas are, fundamentally, Little Eden Things. the combo of humor and pathos and riffs is just. in my DNA.

BEST FIRST IMPRESSION (Glinda Edition)

(These ones ARE in watch order despite not seeming like it you'll just have to believe me)

Kara Lindsay [LIVE on Bway 10/24/15, no boot exists to my eternal sadness]: My Glinda Girlie Awakening

Katie Rose Clarke [Bway 5/12/2013]: Reactivated Me Like A Sleeper Agent

Kendra Kassebaum [1NT 3/14/06]: Listen to the Sound... of Violence

Brittney Johnson [Bway 9/XX/19]: I'll Never Do It As Gay Again But My God Was This So Gay

McKenzie Kurtz [Bway 5/30/23]: Playing The Classics And Don't They Sound Great

WINNER: KARA LINDSAY

much like with Eden above this isn't really one I can like, make an argument against with any real strength or integrity. falling for Kara's glinda got me hooked on wicked for YEARS last time, and getting to her era of boots was a big motivator for how i approached the great rewatch. ultimately i fear they may not translate to those who never saw her live and can only go by recordings-- her early boots are marred by matt shingledecker giving her NOTHING and in her later boots she was lowkey carrying jenny dinoia, so you kind of have to squint i think to See It the way i know it in my bones, but. when she was good she was perfect. and so much of what i love about McKenzie was that she was Giving Kara.

BEST LAST(ING) IMPRESSION (Glinda Edition)

Megan Hilty, giving I MADE GLINDA SWEET THAT WAS ME I DID THAT

Kendra Kassebaum, giving I MADE GLINDA WEIRD THAT WAS ME I DID THAT

Annaleigh Ashford, giving I MADE GLINDA GAY THAT WAS ME I DID THAT

Katie Rose Clarke, giving I MADE GLINDA AUTISTIC THAT WAS ME I DID THAT

Kara Lindsay, giving I MADE YOU OBSESSED WITH GLINDA THAT WAS ME I DID THAT

WINNER: KATIE ROSE CLARKE

I mean. a) she's the longest Glinda so she kind of had a leg up here but b) lbr she was the longest Glinda for a goddamn reason. SO MUCH of what is now codified by fiat as things glinda Must Do are things krc just like. made up on tour and lbr got in trouble for at the time! her impact isn't just on how i understand Glinda but how EVERYONE understands glinda and like, i don't think anyone else really has a shot at that crown here other than maybe Cheno herself (who, yes, wasn't nominated and I realize that but having the staying power of being on the cast album is a whole other thing)

BEST AT GIVING GELPHIE

(Self-explanatory, but PAIRS ONLY everyone's gotta pull their weight or there would be too many caveats, even though LMAO that does skew this somewhat)

Stephanie J Block & Annaleigh Ashford: We Are The Gay Agenda and The Gay Agenda Is Hands

Carmen Cusack & Katie Rose Clarke: This Bitch Is Everything To Me (Even When She Drives Me Nuts)

Donna Vivino & Katie Rose Clarke: This Bitch Is Everything To Me (And We Have To Cry About It)

Mary Kate Morrissey & Ginna Claire Mason: Gay Agenda II Electric Boogaloo, We Have Clearly Spent Hours In Our Shared AirBNB Optimizing Every Moment Of This Show

Laurel Harris & Katie Rose Clarke: This Bitch Is Everything To Me (And For A Moment You Can Dream We Might Make It Work)

Honorable Mention: YES I KNOW I'M CHEATING but if I'd seen more boots of Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz they had a chance of knocking out one of the Katies I think and it's worth saying so

that said

WINNER: Mary Kate Morrissey & Ginna Claire Mason

This one was AGONIZING to narrow down and yes pitting Katie against herself three times does skew the results somewhat. but like. i think that if I met someone who was like "I've never seen Wicked but people tell me it's gay, what's the gayest version?" my instinct would be to point them at Double Name Witches before anyone else. I do love that (with the slight aberration of Laurel coming AFTER double name witches) this is two bookends of actresses very clearly going in with a game plan and executing, and then the insides of the sandwich is krc just like going into a dykadelic fugue state for several hours for years at a time and occasionally lucking into people who could keep up with her

BEST AT GIVING THROPPLE

(Yes this is a whole other thing than Gelphie, NO THE VENN DIAGRAMS ARE NOT IDENTICAL YES THERE IS CONSIDERABLE OVERLAP)

Carmen Cusack & Katie Rose Clarke & Cliffton Hall: True Love In Three Directions Has No Chance Of Running Smooth

Donna Vivino & Katie Rose Clarke & Richard H Blake: Crying Breakfast Friends Wish To Be Gentle And Fail

Mamie Parris & Katie Rose Clarke & Kyle Dean Massey: Young And Dumb and Full of Cum

Rachel Tucker & Carrie St Louis & Jonah Platt: Two Stressed Cheetahs And Their Zoo-Assigned Therapy Golden Retriever

Laurel Harris & Katie Rose Clarke & Ryan McCartan: Teenage Dirtbags Can't Do Feelings But Can't Stop Having Them

WINNER: LAUREL & KRC & RYAN

Blame my wife for this one y'all she converted me; the more I think about this trio the more I feel like they really do just have a balance to them that's very appealing -- getting both the sharp corners and the soft underbellies

FIYERO MOST WORTHY OF HAVING A CATFIGHT OVER

David Burnham, giving ACTUAL POPULAR GUY CHARISMA

Kyle Dean Massey, giving MOVE THEM HIPS

Michael Campayno, giving GENTLEST BOY

Ryan McCarten, giving DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME MEOW MEOW

Xavier McKinnon, giving IT WILL NEVER OCCUR TO YOU TO CALL ME MEOW MEOW *slutty wink*

WINNER: XAVIER MCKINNON

It took 20 years to find the man who was MADE IN A LAB TO BE THE PERFECT FIYERO but we did it boys, we found him. do you have any idea how hard it is to make his goofy-ass lines actually sound suave and THIS BOY MAKES IT LOOK EASY. he PULLS OFF THE GAZELLE LEAP. WHAT CAN'T HE DO. (well the answer is give thropple he's a fiyeraba truther but he's only been on tour less than a year give him time)

MORRIBLE BEST AT BOTH THE ACTING PART AND THE SINGING PART WITHOUT MAKING YOU CHOOSE

Carole Shelley: the OG

Alma Cuervo: Always Serving (all entendres intended)

Myra Lucretia Taylor: That's My Mom

Sheryl Lee Ralph: That's My Queen

Aymee Garcia: Those PIPES

WINNER: SHERYL LEE RALPH

Sheryl should have gotten a goddamn Tony for her turn as Morrible, she stole the fucking show, she was perfect in every possible way, the MENACE the HUMOR the VOICE my god.

WIZARD WHO MOST MAKES YOU GET WHY HE'S THE WIZARD:

Sean McCourt: I'm An Understudy Making A Meal of It (Pt I)

Lenny Wolpe: That's My Dad

Gene Weygandt: Peak Used Car Salesman Energy

Wayne Schroder: I'm An Understudy Making A Meal of It (Pt 2)

Michael McCormick: He Just Loves Drama

WINNER: LENNY WOLPE

Michael gives Lenny a real run for his money, but I have to go with my heart. Lenny talks like the penguin in Toy Story with the broken squeaker and 97% of the time he's the most nonthreatening sweetiepie ever and then he'll suddenly Get Serious and it's like OH DAMN OK.

BOQ BEST AT BEING NOT JUST TOLERABLE BUT TRULY LOVABLE

Telly Leung: bright spot in dark times

Alex Brightman: SO BABY

F. Michael Haynie: flustered and sweet

Jesse JP Johnson: didn't mean any harm

Michael Wartella: genuinely kind

WINNER: MICHAEL WARTELLA

I PROMISE THIS ISN'T JUST RECENCY BIAS Michael I think truly is best at navigating the swings Boq has to take without ever coming off as creepy or over-the-top. He's so GENTLE, even with Nessa, even at the end, and I'm very pumped to see more of his early work in my second go-around of boots

NESSA MOST EQUALLY GOOD AT BOTH ACTS OF THE SHOW

Deedee Magno Hall: unafraid of conflict in act 1 without being cunty about it

Stefanie Brown: makes the high highs and low lows tonally of a piece

Catherine Charlebois: years of excellence

Gizel Jimenez: Care Bear Stare

Kimber Elayne Sprawl: hell yeah i'll growl

WINNER: DEEDEE MAGNO HALL

And no, she's not winning just because my wife and I can't stop giggling any time she says any line and we mentally fill in it starting or ending with "sTEVEN--"

Deedee just has such a memorable presence, and never phoned in a single second; the line deliveries in act 1 for nessa can be so rote or surfacy and NOT FOR THIS LADY NOPE.

MOST PAINFUL FLUB

Bway 1/9/05: Joey McIntyre cannot find his note for like a full verse and a half of ALAYM and there's nothing Sho Bean can do to help him

1NT 2/26/09: Paul Slade Smith as Dillamond tells Elphaba to "go enjoy your students," leaving poor standby Merideth Kaye Clark (WHO HAS THE FIRE ALARM GO OFF ON HER LATER DURING NGD) to have to quickly improvise "That's okay, the other students aren't my friends."

Bway 6/30/2017: Kara Lindsay gets so lost in Jenny DiNoia's eyes that she ALSO sings "two good good friends" at the end of One Short Day

Bway 3/XX/20: Lindsay Heather Pierce flubs Elphie's entrance by saying "No I'm not green, yes I've always been green" instead of "seasick."

Bway 3/XX/24: Donna McKechnie says "Miss Elphaba!" instead of "Miss Upland!" as she enters the Ozdust Ballroom

WINNER(?): JOEY MCINTYRE

I'm so sorry Joey but this was your personal last show and it will live in infamy and there's nothing anyone can do about it

KOOKIEST GLINDA

(i.e. who is most in danger of being accused of having "a lot of personality")

Kendra Kassebaum, giving FISTICUFF REALNESS

Katie Rose Clarke, giving I AM AN AUTISTIC BABY DEER FROM OUTER SPACE

Alli Mauzey, giving THE ONLY THING I LOVE MORE THAN ME IS ATTENTION

Amanda Jane Cooper, giving MY FAVORITE GLINDA IS KATIE ROSE CLARKE LET'S TURN IT UP TO 11

Jennafer Newberry, giving I HAVEN'T FOUND MY GLINDA THESIS STATEMENT YET SO I'M GONNA DO THIS UNTIL I DO

WINNER: AMANDA JANE COOPER

Believe me, I am more shocked than anyone that someone was able to out-Katie Katie on this, but like. My word. Amanda Jane Cooper is A Lot, bless her, and VERY inventive. I stand by my decision to not include Annaleigh Ashford as a nominee; considering how Annaleigh plays every other role I've ever seen her in her Glinda is shockingly normal.

MOST BULLYABLE ELPHIE

(i.e. whose "The Wizard and I" and classroom scenes most have me going "oh honey good luck with all that, no wonder people keep putting Kick Me signs on your back.")

Teal Wicks, giving THEATER KID TRIES AND FAILS TO ROUGHLY APPROXIMATE DARIA

Dee Roscioli, giving MY POSTURE IS AS BAD AS MY SELF-ESTEEM

Jackie Burns, giving RACHEL BERRY OVERACHIEVER

Jessica Vosk, giving IT'S NOT MY FAULT NONE OF YOU LOSERS CAN SEE MY VISION

Natalia Vivino, giving INSUFFERABLE KNOW-IT-ALL

WINNER: DEE ROSCIOLI

Dee I think visibly has Glinda most stressed out and helpless during Popular because she cannot do it which takes the cake here

GLINDA I FIND IT EASIEST TO BELIEVE IS POPULAR WITHOUT THE SCRIPT TELLING ME SO

Kristen Chenoweth: Literally I Invented This Why Do My Predecessors Struggle When I Laid It Out

Annaleigh Ashford: Who Wouldn't Be Obsessed With Me?

Meggie Cansler: JAP Regina George And Making It Work

Gina Beck: The Fact That I Cannot Mask My Accent Is An Asset Actually Because I'm A Fascinating And Mysterious Exchange Student, Go With It

Brittney Johnson: Best Hang At Girl's Night/Throws Awesome Bachelorette Parties

WINNER: GINA BECK

I've only seen Gina once but I was fascinated by her Glinda, and how she commanded every room she was in with such ease. She's just someone you Pay Attention To, she's got this effortless magnetism that shows-doesn't-tell why it's not about aptitude it's the way you're viewed.

BEST POPULAR OOPSIE

(i.e. the improvs that weren't planned)

Bway 1/9/05: After like a FULL MINUTE of trying to get the flower to stick behind Sho's ear, Jennifer Laura Thompson gives up and puts it between Sho's tits instead

Bway 3/13/08: Annaleigh takes the flower off in the scene transition because it was falling out and stashes it in the shoe closet, then forgets which pair she hid it in when it's time for the finishing touch, has to dig through every single one, and chirps "I keep things in my shoes!" when SJB asks what she's doing

1NT 11/1/08: Katie Rose Clarke, still holding the lipstick she almost dropped as she grabs the mirror to set it on the bed, blurts out "I got so much stuff in my hands"

1NT 11/2/08 (yes literally the very next night): Katie Rose Clarke bodyslams herself so hard into her bed at "Fiyero and I are going to be married" she not only breaks a shoe and has to do the rest of Popular barefoot, but the impact sends the preset lipstick tube flying so that she has to spend the entirety of "when I see depressing creatures..." scrambling to find it in the pillows only to realize it's not there and then do a casj lean against the headboard and give Carmen a nod like she meant to do that

Bway 09/XX/19: Brittney can't get the flower to detach from her wig and finally has to let Hannah do it for her with a sad little "help!"

WINNER: 11/2/08 KRC

This one takes the cake because it's a two-parter, and because there are also like 18 different bonkers things that happen in that Popular that we do not have time to get into

IF THERE ARE OTHER CATEGORIES YOU WISH FOR MY OPINION ON, KINDLY LET ME KNOW. but this is getting quite long so I'm gonna stop it there for now

however, some people are so far and above in their respective categories, it was not worth naming four other nominees. so!

Various Senior Superlatives:

Elphie whose lack of a full video boot most kills my soul: Lindsay Mendez

Glinda whose lack of a full video boot most kills my soul: Patti Murin

Most Equal-Opportunity Bisexual Elphaba: Alyssa Fox

Most Affecting 'The Wizard and I:' Saycon Sengbloh 3/29/06

Fiyero Happiest Just To Be Invited (bc he ships Gelphie): Jon Robert Hall

Most Sizzling Sexual Chemistry Between A Wizard and Morrible: Michael McCormick and Alexandra Billings

Most Original Take on Morrible: JoAnne Worley and her ten packs a day American working-class accent

Most Frustrating Missed Opportunity for Comedy: Kyle Brown taking over for Timothy A Fitzgerald as Fiyero mid-show on 5/31/14 and NOT going for a laugh on "Fiyero, you frightened me. I thought you might have changed"/"I have changed!" LIKE COME ON MAN YOU LITERALLY HAVE CHANGED, LET IT BREATHE AND GIVE THE AUDIENCE A GIGGLE IT'S RIGHT THERE

Performance as Elphie closest to book!Elphaba: Mary Kate Morrissey 7/21/23; the most uncannily unsocialized and autistic Elphie I've ever seen and VERY unlike MK's usual portrayal. strikingly original and almost painful to watch at times. sensational.

Best sustained low note at the end of INTG: Julia Murney

Best delivery of "Yeah or maybe it scratched me or something:" Kristoffer Cusick

Best 1NT tour stop to use as a punchline: Appleton WI

Best Dillamond at actually making his lecture sound both interesting and like a legitimate classroom interaction: Harry Bouvy 9/24/17

All-Time Horniest ALAYAM: 2NT 2/XX/25 Carly Augenstein and Xavier McKinnon. No this is not recency bias, they kept kissing so long after the song ended the audience literally started to get uncomfortable. it ruled.

ANYWAY THANK YOU FOR ASKING I HOPE THIS SATISFIES

[andcars]

# 𝗠𝗔𝗫𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 : 𝗖𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 ─── THE FRIEND IN YOU MASTERLIST⠀MAXTOBER⠀REQUEST ME⠀TAGLIST⠀PATREON GUIDE⠀AO3

THE RESULTS IN THE GRAND PRIX has got him so riled up. max is frustrated with his position, checo isn't even in the race by the last few laps, and the media is out for him. he needs something to calm him down

TAGS . . . # semi-public sex, brat max verstappen, needy max verstappen, demanding max verstappen, light dom/sub, top sergio perez, bottom max verstappen WORD COUNT. . . # 1.6k

────── AO3 VERSION

It's not fair. Max is doing good–he knows he’s doing good. Yet, at the same time, the car is not doing anything fucking good. So what happens is that he is bordering in P10, losing his fucking life on the turns and needs to battle Williams for a place. All the while Checo gets taken out at the last few laps.

The entire thing is stupid, it’s unfair.He wants to act calm, to at least look calm, but he is fuming with rage right now. Right now, the least he needs is the media twisting his words and actions again to something more extreme. He calms himself. He’s well and collected. 

But once not a single lens is even in his direction and he’s in Checo’s room, he fucking loses it all.

He doesn’t give the man anything to say. He pushes him to his couch and their lips lock. Checo tries to say something, but he refuses to let him up.

Between kisses, Max is panting hard as he undresses the rest of his suit. It’s forgotten and completely dismissed. 

Checo still needs to be undressed. Pulling away, he moves his lips down to unzip his suit with his teeth.

“Max,” he groans, “what are you doing?”

Max huffs as he uses his hands to push the man’s fireproof down. “I need something.”

“Come on…” Checo sighs, nthough not pushing Max away when he pulls out his cock.

It’s rushed, it's messy. Max doesn’t want to hear anymore complaints when he wraps his lips around Checo’s cock.

“Fuck,” Checo groans, hips jittering a little into Max’s mouth. He breathes out, eyes unwavering to his lips wrapped around to the base of his cock. Max drools, swallowing around as much as he can.

With Max guiding him, Checo’s hands come to pet his head. Checo’s rough fingers don’t tug at Max’s hair, rather they softly tangle itself in it, making its way to the short strands and to keep it there.

To Checo’s confusion, Max doesn’t move. He doesn’t really do anything, in fact. Max only spreads his legs more on the floor, relaxing his legs apart so he can kneel comfortably. His cheek is pressed against Checo’s thigh, finding comfort in the heat and the intimacy of it.

Checo isn’t really surprised. He hums, leaning back so that he can get comfortable.  “Max,” he coles, placing one hand on his cheek now. “You’ll get a better race, they will fix it.”

Max acts like he’s not responding, but he hears everything. It gets Checo to only dote on him more.

“Is that why you want me like this?” he asks, “You want me to make you feel better?”

That gets him to moan.

“Okay,” says Checo, “I’ll stay like this, okay? But I want you to move up later, I wanna see your face.”

That gets Max to blush. He doesn’t say anything in return but pushes his head to nose at Checo’s pubes. Both of Checo’s hands hold either side of his face, keeping it still while Max noses at his hair. The small notion gets him to relax a little more, passing off the growing discomfort from sitting like this.

Staying like this is calming. The dullness of being on your knees, of letting someone be so close to you without even giving anything in particular. Max is so calm right now he could almost forget about—

He tongues at Checo’s cock and tries to bury his head deeper, getting the thoughts to leave his head. Checo pets him like he knows what he just did.

Tugging on his hair, Checo gets his attention, “None of that, Max. You want to stay still, right?”

Max doesn’t respond. Checo calls him a good boy under his breath.

It takes moments for Max to do anything again. His brain is completely mush as he kneels. He’s not even sure what time it is and he’s almost worried if anyone’s going to come and find them.

Without saying anything, Checo pulls his head off. He whines. “Checo—”

“Max, come on, we need to go soon.”

“I don’t care,” he whines, leaning over him and practically humping his leg. “Checo, I fucking want you right now and I was enjoying it..!”

“I know,” he sighs, caressing his face. “On the jet, okay? I can take a ride with you to Monaco and I’ll just take another jet back to Mexico, okay?”

It bothers Max a little that he’s making Checo go two flights insead of one. But whatever. He suggested it first anyways.

He’s pulled onto his legs and forced to come outside, acting like nothing is wrong. There are way less people here now so it doesn’t really matter to him if anyone sees him cling onto Checo.

On the jet, he asks for them to be left alone. The stewardess leaves without question.

Checo sits on the couch and Max climbs on top of them. Their jeans get discarded quickly, not even worn properly out of pure impatience. Or at least Max wasn’t, as his was unzipped while Checo was tidier than him.

When he gets the both of them stripped down, he’s reaching for the lube in the jet. Checo knows already that Max stocks up every flight. Max is keen to let it be warmed properly, so Checo doesn’t complain when he just pours it on top of his hardening cock.

“You gonna stretch yourself?” Checo asks, not getting a response when Max silently strokes him. “Okay,” he smiles.

Positioning himself on top, Max slowly takes Checo inch by inch. It’s satisfying, in a way. Checo isn’t even fully hard yet and he still feels so fucking good inside of him. He moans. The feel of Checo’s half hard cock growing inside of him feels so good.

He doesn’t move anymore, simply embracing Checo in his arms as he sits on his lap.

There’s a strong sense of dominance that comes out of Checo. Because when Max is pliable like this, Checo spoils Max in affection.

With one hand on Max’s hip, Checo strokes his back with the other. “Good boy,” he moans. “You feel good like that? Feels nice?”

Max whimpers, pressing his face against Checo’s neck instead to muffle his moans. Checo continues to whisper into his ear, “My good boy, just taking me like this. So sweet for me, so good.

“Fuck, Max,” he moves in his seat a little, rubbing against Max’s insides as he does so. “Don’t be stressed, okay? We can do better next time. I know you. I know that you’re so good, my boy.”

“Checo…” he moans, grinding down on Checo’s lap a little. His cock is trapped between their clothes chests, teasing against the fabric. “Stop saying—fuck—stop saying that.”

“Saying what?” he asks, shifting his hips a little. “Max, I’m not going to stop you. You’re never gonna make me say no.”

“Checo,” drawls out, panting a little as he humps Checo’s chest. “You’re so fucking good. Don’t—ugh, you’re so…”

He can’t find his words. Max is lost on himself as he moves a little, wanting to get just a bit more friction to cum. As much as he wants to stay still, Checo is petting him and calling him all these cute fucking names while he’s getting desperate for his cock.

“Ngh, yeah,” he moans, pressing down on Checo’s lap and getting him to groan, “yeah… I want you like this, Checo.”

“And you have me, Max,” he whispers, pressing kisses on his cheek. “Take all you want.”

Max doesn’t even hide anything anymore. He stops sitting idle and starts riding Checo. His little moans come out with each thrust, rutting against Checo’s shirt with his neglected cock.

His legs close around Checo’s waist. He whines in his ears and bites on the skin, stifling as he cums all over their shirts. He’s not so sure if Checo cums yet, so he rides him properly. Pulling out until only the tip is left, and slamming back down just to hear Checo let out a pained moan.

“Max—” he moans, holding his hips a bit too tight. “You’re going to push yourself.”

“No!” he says, pushing his hands off him. “Let me make you cum, please, just cum inside of me!”

He cries a little as he feels his prostate getting abused as his oversensitive cock is twitching. Checo is letting him do whatever he wants. He’s just letting Max act like some sort of fleshlight to satisfy Checo’s needs.

With each passing moment, Max feels like he’s going to cum again. He’s crying on Checo’s cock now, feeling his cock twitch uselessly on his stomach. “Checo,” he moans, “Checo!”

It doesn’t take long for him to cum inside of Max. After that, Max stills, using his hand to pump himself quickly to cum again on his wet shirt.

Checo sighs as Max pulls out, the cum dribblings down to his thighs. “Tissues.”

Everything in Max is used as he reaches for the tissues on the table. Wet tissues, of course. It’s not like Max was fully unprepared for this.

It’s Checo who wipes the both of them over, letting Max just slump against his body to rest. “Next time,” he starts, “if you want to be comforted, maybe don’t do it when we’re in public.”

“It doesn’t seem to matter at all.”

“GP walked into the room and you didn’t even notice.”

Oh. Fuck. Max blushes and hits Checo in the chest, complaining about how he didn’t even fucking warn him. Checo doesn’t even say anything to defend himself.

🗒 𝗣𝗔𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟 . . . may have went a bit crazy on this one . if it feels like there's sergio perez was about to be called daddy in this fic at any point, know that i was going to actually write that in . idk why i didn't . ˎˊ˗ ᝰ. ──── 📨 @delululeclerc @hiireadstuff @rtorresblog @tribbisweetdear @jamie2305 @yunnie-f1 @mv1simp

you support me best on tumblr with reblogs and comments ! ── by andcars ⟡

[secretly-tword-obsessed]

Deja Vu

Hello Gigglers!

This is a Hwang brothers fic, as requested by @ryoko-loves-roses and @stay-123

Hope you enjoy!

Summary: An aggressive clash between brothers takes a surprising turn when In-Ho is reminded of his brother's peculiar weakness.

This is a TICKLE FIC! Not your thing? DNI.

"Why would you do this?!", Jun-Ho cried out, not knowing if his older brother was capable of processing the desperation of his words through that stoic demeanor and blank expression.

"I was desperate", In-Ho responded matter-of-factly, "I needed the money".

"Don't bullshit me!", Jun-Ho yelled back, trying but failing to repress his raging temper, "I mean why did you become the leader?! The one in charge?!"

"The Frontman", the elder brother corrected him simply, saying this expression in English, which made the whole situation feel all the more off-putting to the younger cop.

They were standing right outside the game building, face to face, amongst the trees. Jun-Ho's team of policeman, as well as Gi-Hun's trained army of loan sharks, were currently raiding it, stopping the games and rescuing the remaining contestants. But Jun-Ho felt the need to confront his brother personally - a need that was mutual.

Jun-Ho had always remembered his elder brother as gentle - he'd always admired him for how calm and collected he would be, even when things didn't go his way. He had also seen in In-Ho's genuine care for others and concern with his little brother's wellbeing. And behind all that stoicism, there was a touch of sensitivity that only a brother could pick up on. So how In-Ho could possibly do something so vile was completely beyond him.

"Why?", he repeated, trying to fight back tears, unable to prevent his lip from quivering.

"I did ask you to join me", In -Ho said, as if he hadn't heard his younger brother's pained query, "And you refused".

"And you fucking shot me!", Jun-Ho snapped back. This was when his tears finally began to flow. His own brother had tried to kill him - that kind, loving figure who he'd always looked up to and who thought would never hurt him had attempted to take his life.

With that remark, he noticed In-Ho's eyes flash with what was either a sudden realization of his failure to protect the games from infiltration or a genuine feeling of guilt at what he had done to Jun-Ho. Jun-Ho hoped it was the latter, but feared it was the former.

"I know I shot you, and I apologie", he responded steadily, as if Jun-Ho had simply accused him of stealing his shirt for a job interview, (a crime they had both committed a fair share of times). "Also", he added, "I kept that man who saved you around the island. As soon as I recognized you, I kept him stationed, ready to rescue you if anything went wrong. I also aimed at your shoulder so it wouldn't be lethal".

This made Jun-Ho's heart sink a little. It was a sink of both disturbance and hope. Was this true?

He was taken out of his thoughts by In-Ho's completely unexpected chuckle of amusement, "Of course, with you, having your shoulders targeted has never exactly been a walk in the park either". In-Ho reached out to grab at the right shoulder of the man who was standing in front of him, pinching it gently, causing Jun-Ho to squirm, flinch and let out a weak yelp.

The Frontman smiled genuinely at his younger brothers reaction, as if it gave him fond memories - "Huh, just as bad there as you used to be I see?"

The tone was teasing, and Jun-Ho couldn't help but blush. This was just how In-Ho used to behave when they were younger. Ever cheeky, always striving to mess with his little brother, to playfully exploit his weaknesses.

"Hey", In-Ho continued, "Since you asked me a question, I guess I'll ask you one back. Than we can trade answers. That's only fair, isn't it?"

Jun-Ho didn't know what to say, his grief steadily returning as he remembered again that they weren't just young brothers having a fun skirmish.

"Okay", he responded.

The Frontman smirked, "Okay, so you want to know why I became the Frontman, so I may as well ask you, why did you become the hero?"

Jun-Ho was a bit taken aback by that question.

"You could have left me here", In-Ho continued, "You knew I wasn't in danger. You could have let me keep running the games. But no, you were determined, desperate even, to rescue all of the players. Why? A sense of duty? Your cop instincts kicking in?"

Jun-Ho just sighed, "You know why I had to try and stop these games. Their innocent people In-Ho, just like you were when you played". Realizing that he had addressed his brother by name, his heart skipped a beat. It only reminded him that this wasn't just some criminal, it was his blood relative. They shared a generational name.

"Okay", In-Ho responded, "I'll accept that. Now for my motives. I wanted to lead the games because they had given me a lifechanging opportunity. Heck, they had saved my life. I had nothing, and than I won, and had everything. I wanted to give others like me a second chance. And, if not, I wanted to put them out of their misery - be a mercy killer".

Jun-Ho couldn't believe what he was hearing, "What, so you're a fucking charity worker now?!"

At this In-Ho's expression hardened a bit, "Oh come on, you haven't even tried listening to my side of the story. Why wouldn't you trust me? I'm your brother!"

On the word 'brother', he reached his hand behind Jun-Ho's back and scribbled at the middle of his left shoulder blade, making the younger squeal and jump.

The Frontman chuckled at his brother's flustered attempt to regain his composure. "Wow, I really thought this sensitivity would have faded with age", he mused.

"This is no time for messing around", Jun-Ho responded sternly, a slight shake in his voice.

In-Ho recognized that tone. It was the voice and facial expression that his little brother had always wore as soon as he found out that his mean big brother was about to tickle him to pieces.

"Your'e right, this is no time for messing around, you really need to take this seriously", the elder responded, giving his brothers' side a quick finger taser.

This made Jun-Ho buckle backwards with another squeal. "See!", In-Ho continued with a feigned tone of revelation, "You really need to stop making these funny noises and pay attention to what's at stake here!"

Again, the Frontman lashed out at his little brother, but this time Jun-Ho dodged and ran. In-Ho just grinned evilly, this all bringing him a sense of Deja Vu from his childhood. Despite being smaller and sixteen years younger, Jun-Ho had never gone down without a fight. He was too prideful - and ticklish - to just let his brother win.

"Oh Junnyyyy", In-Ho sung, pacing slowly behind him as he ran.

Meanwhile, Jun-Ho was dashing through the shrubbery. He too was getting a sense of Deja Vu. But he wouldn't be caught, not this time. He needed answers, not bonding time. Such revelries could wait until after his brother had given him an explanation, after Jun-Ho had forgiven him, if he ever could.

That was when he slipped. His leg got caught on a branch and down he went.

In-Ho chuckled - how predictable. This was always how it would go. In-Ho would never waste his energy running, as it was inevitable that Jun-Ho would lose his balance and trip at some point. Than In-Ho would seize the opportunity, sprint toward him, topple on top of him and win the chase.

"Honestly", In-Ho said with a sigh of fake resignation, crouching down on top of the younger cop, "You never learn do you?"

Jun-Ho smiled despite himself, the anticipation driving him mad.

"There's that smile!", In-Ho remarked, "You should have greeted me like that brother, it looks so much better than that scowl of yours-"

Jun-Ho was about to respond, when In-Ho started sliding his fingers up and down his belly. The thin cloth of his shirt provided little protection, and the helpless man just bit his lip and squeezed his fists into balls, refusing to let any laughter escape.

"Awww", In-Ho said in mock disappointment, "You used to be so ticklish here. Shame, I guess you grew out of it because your such a big strong police officer".

Jun-Ho's face went red. Part of it was because of the agonizingly gentle tickles he was receiving from his elder brother - those fingers driving him absolutely mad. It was also out of embarrassment and frustration that their vital conversation had been taken completely off course. But it was also because he felt sheepish about the fact that he may have been enjoying this, just a little. He had never told his older brother, but he'd always secretly loved these moments of playful affection. Of course, In-Ho could figure this fact out easily, and it only motivated him further.

"Hmmm, I remember that you used to react really badly to this back in the day-"

With that, In-Ho squeezed the flesh of Jun-Ho's knee. The younger man cried out at the unexpected change of spot and, when the Frontman just kept squeezing, he couldn't help but dissolve into high pitched, bubbly giggles.

In-Ho beamed - he hadn't heard this sound from his brother in forever. It definitely seemed out of character.

"Oh, so I guess that one still works on you", the Frontman said matter-of-factly.

"Stahahap!", Jun-Ho blurted out, his head shaking a bit, his legs weakly kicking but getting nowhere as In-Ho sat on top of them, pinning him.

"Stop? Already. But little brother, I just started-"

If the deathly ticklish sensations on his knees weren't getting to Jun-Ho, the teases definitely were. He just let his giggles out in disbelief. This is beyond the last thing he would have excepted from this confrontation.

"You know, you sure are helpless in this state. I should have just gotten those guards to tickle you, would have saved me a lot of trouble and ammo".

Jun-Ho screeched as In-Ho reached his right hand to scribble under his little brother's knee, and lifted the left hand to scrape his side, just below his armpit.

"Hehehey!", he cried desperately.

And that was when In-Ho noticed something. Jun-Ho's desperate giggles had seemingly made him forget about what led of to this tickle attack. Or maybe he did remember, but was trying to suppress it. Either way, his younger brother seemed genuinely joyful, which brought a sense of warmth to In-Ho's heart. All he'd seen from Jun-Ho over the past few years had been pain, stress and, more recently, looks of betrayal. But now the man seemed legitimately happy and, although he may have been the ruthless Frontman, In-Ho's big- brotherly instinct remained, making him ecstatic to see his brother cheered up.

"Hey", In-Ho noted absentmindedly, still not slowing his fingers clawing at his victim's knees and sides, "We haven't done this in forever. I really missed tickling the shit out of you".

Jun-Ho went dark red, "Nahahaha!"

In-Ho just chuckled, taking the hand that was scribbling at his brother's side to poke instead, causing Jun Ho's whole upper body to jolt forward before he started contorting his torso in a futile effort to avoid those brutal fingers.

"I used to do this to you all the time when you were little", In-Ho continued, highly amused by Jun-Ho's silly and highly un-cop-like movements. "Remember when you used to come and wake me in the middle of the night, when I was in my second year of cop training and you were in preschool? How you used to complain about nightmares and interrupt my precious sleep schedule?"

In-Ho than squeezed his brother's hip, making him jolt again and let out a piercing shriek.

In-Ho, trying to hide his delight at his ticklish brother's expense, continued his anecdote - "And than I would punish you by scribbling here-" In-Ho crept both of his hands to Jun-Ho's belly - "And poking here" - the Frontman gently prodded the side of Jun-Ho's neck.

All the while, the younger man was collapsing in sweet giggles, even letting out an occasional snort. Why did his brother have to be so mean?

Suddenly, In-Ho withdrew his fingers. Jun-Ho panted a bit, his chest heaving.

"You know, even though I always tickled you whenever you woke me up in the middle of the night, what was always so peculiar to me was that....you kept coming back"

Jun-Ho watched as his older brother flashed him the most evil grin imaginable.

"You kept waking me night after night, even though you knew what was to come. It made me think that you might have....liked it when I tickled you"

Jun-Ho felt his heart leap out of his chest, felt his body sinking into the ground beneath him. Just as he was about to stammer out a response, his older brother went for the kill.

As soon as In-Ho attacked his underarms, there was no going back.

"NOhoHOhoHOHhoho!"

Jun-Ho wasn't one to scream with laughter, but his bubbly cackles kept getting louder and louder, bordering screeches. He shook violently, slamming his fists into the grass below him, his head buzzing with laughter and, as much as he would never admit it, a much missed sense of happiness and comfort.

In-Ho just kept grinning at the sight, trying to make it look like a malicious smirk as to hold back his overwhelming joy at making his brother this carefree.

"Is this how you learned to fight criminals at the academy?", In-Ho teased, "Just thrashing and flailing uselessly?"

Jun-Ho snorted and squealed, "ShuhuhuHUHUhuhut it!"

In-Ho gasped in mock offence, "Why you little-"

This went on for a few more minutes, until the younger cop's giggles went silent. That was when the Frontman let up.

He waited for his little brother to recover - a rather adorable recovery of residual snickers and a lasting grin - before extending his hand to help him up.

Than Jun-Ho remembered what he had been talking with his brother about. And how unnecessary and immature this whole situation was. He shot In-Ho a piercing glare.

Yet, despite how pissed he was, he had to admit that he was feeling a little better. Maybe this was exactly what he'd needed to regulate his terror and rage - it would be best to hear his elder brother's story with the most open mind possible.

Hope you enjoyed!

[acewritesfics]

The Clap | Tommy Shelby 

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x Fem!Reader 

Request: No.

Warnings: Swearing. False accusations. People spreading rumours. For the sake of the fic there is some slight Lizzy bashing.

Word Count: 1,325

Tommy Shelby Masterlist | Main Masterlist

Tommy sat enraged as he watches Y/N sitting at a table in the centre of the restaurant, laughing and smiling while having dinner with a man he's never met before. He is having a dinner meeting with a potential ally in an up and coming business deal and couldn't afford for anything to go wrong. But through out the meal he couldn't take his eyes off Y/N. He hasn't seen her since before she left Small Heath a month ago. She looks absolutely beautiful in the royal blue silk and beaded dress she's wearing. It's the same dress she wore when he first took her to the races. It looked so good on her that he spent a majority of the day watching her instead of the horses.  

To say he is jealous of the man in her company would be the understatement of the century. He didn't often get jealous and when he did, he could hide it in his stoic expression and thinly veiled threats. But he couldn't deny his jealousy in this moment. He was jealous that it is no longer him sitting across from her, making her laugh and smile. He was jealous that it wouldn't be him taking her home tonight. 

Before he can stop himself, he's excusing himself from the table, ignoring the confused looks the potential ally was directing towards him, and walked over to the table Y/N was sat at with her date. Her look of shock didn't deter him either. "You don't want this one, mate." 

"Tommy!" she gasps, her eyes filled with confusion, anger and bewilderment.  

"And why's that?" the man replies standing up from his seat, not thinking about who he is standing up to. He's a good few inches taller than Tommy but the Shelby man isn't the slightest bit intimidated. He's dealt with taller and meaner looking blokes than Harold before.  

"She's beautiful to look at, but that's as far as it goes, trust me," Tommy's eyes dart towards her, taking in how beautiful she looks even when she looks like she's about to kill him, before looking back at the man in front of him. "Because she has the clap."  

Y/N's eyes grow wide with shock and rage as the patrons around them start to murmur to each other. Her cheeks heat up with embarrassment as angry tears build up in her eyes. 

"Fuck you, Thomas Shelby!" Y/N shouts at him and storms away from her date and the Peaky Blinder. She walks as hastily as she can away from the restaurant wanting to get as far away from Tommy and the embarrassment she is now feeling.  

But God wasn't on her side tonight because Tommy quickly caught up with the angry woman. "Y/N, wait!"  

"I've had enough of your shit, Thomas!" she growls as she continues walking, "I never want to see or speak to you again!" 

Tommy stops her by grabbing her arm and turning her to face him, his face remaining calm but she could see the agitation in his eyes. He wasn't going to let whatever was bothering him alone. She's going to hear about it, whether she wants to or not. 

"You end our relationship so you can go on dates with other men?" Tommy glares at his former love. 

She glares back, not believing what he was saying. This wasn't like Tommy at all. He's making a fool out of himself as people found what's going on between them more entertaining than what they were doing.  

"You're the one who ended our relationship when you went and fucked Lizzie Stark," she says smacking him in the chest with her handbag, when he wouldn't let go of her arm. "I told you Thomas, the one thing I won't tolerate is you fucking cheating on me!" 

Y/N was born to two parents who didn't love each other. They'd been forced to marry because of an unexpected pregnancy but neither of her parents wanted to end it officially. She watched many women as well as men come into her home as both parents had their fair share of affairs. Y/N didn't want to end up like them, she refused proposals from decent men because she was afraid of becoming her mother and marrying someone like her father. But from the moment she met Thomas Shelby, everything shifted. She fell head over heels for the intelligent and dashing but sometimes stupid Birmingham gangster. She opened up to him more than she did with anyone else. It was the same for him. The two found solace within each other as well as a peace that they never found before.  

And then it all ended a month ago, when she heard rumours that Tommy had spent a few hours in the company of the local whore, Lizzie Stark. When Y/N went to confront Lizzie, the tall woman gave her a triumphant look proud that she had come between Birmingham's most powerful couple. Unable to confront Tommy, her heart too shattered and broken, she went to stay with her sister out in the country for two weeks. It would have been longer but she longed to be back in Small Heath for reasons unknown to her, whether it was with or without Tommy. 

"I never fucked Lizzie fucking Stark!" Tommy yells at her after she manages to yank her arm out of his grip. "You are the only one who I have been with since we got together. I would never do that to you because I love you too much." 

"Then why is every body talking about it?" she yells back at him. "Now they're going to be talking about me having the fucking clap, thanks to you." 

"I'll let every body know it isn't true because it's not," he tells her. "You don't have the clap and I never slept with Lizzie. I went to ask her if she had a client by the name of Andrew Jenkins, that's all. I was with her no longer than a minute."  

She looks into his eyes, seeing no trace of a lie. Despite who he was, Tommy had never lied to her about his feelings or what he's done. "It's been a month, why didn't you say something?"  

"Because I'm a fool," he tells her. "and got inside me own head. Told myself this was your chance to find someone better, someone who doesn't have blood on his hands and someone who can bring you more happiness than heart ache." 

She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Tommy. I shouldn't have listened to a bunch of rumours and believed Lizzie over you," She apologises. It was her fault they broke up. She should have faced Tommy instead of running away. "I should have stayed, spoken with you and listened." 

"I shouldn't have let you walk away," he begins to apologise also. "I am sorry for saying you have the clap, but I am not sorry for interrupting your dinner," he continues, moving his hands to her hips and pulling her close. "I'm a selfish man. I get what I want and what I want is you. It's always going to be you." 

"I only went on a date with him to shut my sister up," she admits. Her sister was happy when Y/N told her that her and Tommy were no longer together. She didn't wait a day before she was setting Y/N up with one of her friend's brothers. "All the dates I've been on have been to keep her quiet. They have taught me one thing, though." 

"Yeah? What's that, eh?" Tommy asks, cupping her face, his thumb stroking her cheek.  

"No other man could ever compare to you, Mr Shelby," she smiles softly looking into his intense blue eyes. 

"I'm one of a kind, love," he returns her smile, looking back into her eyes as he brings her into a kiss, expressing how much he loves her and missed her. 

[babyangelsky]

Back in March when I was doing the BL Challenge (brought to us by the lovely @negrowhat), I mentioned in my post about Korn Theerapanyakul that it isn't often that we get an actual villain who isn't just a love rival in a BL. The presence of an antagonist in a story doesn't necessarily make them the villain and not every story calls for one either. That being said,

Jak is a villain.

I want to break down this shot because it tells us a lot about the dynamic at play and Jak's point of view.

There's a lot going on here. The first thing my eye is drawn to is the line between them (and how Mut is just slightly crossing it since he stepped into the lion's den). Once you see that, the differences between both sides of that line become more obvious.

Mahasamut is dressed in a dark cool color and he's in shadow but his face is catching the light. The flowers, fireplace, candles, and TV behind him feel warm and homey. Fitting for a cafe. On the other hand, Jak is dressed in a warm light color and he's sitting in the light but his face is in shadow. The windows behind him and his positioning makes it feel like he's sitting at a desk in a corner office in a high rise instead of a cafe.

I weirdly wish they'd shown us when they arrived at the table because I would bet you anything that Jak sat down first. He's the older one, he's relaxed, etc. It makes sense for him to have sat first which means he chose that specific seat and the only reason I mention it, and really the only reason it matters, is that it tells us how Jak sees himself in this situation.

He's sitting there in the light in his dad sweater telling Mahasamut about wanting to fulfill his role as Tongrak's father and that he's so sorry about his behavior in the past and wants to atone for it and it's all bullshit because look at this man's face.

It is completely shadowed, just like his intentions and his agenda whereas Mut's is completely in the light.

And the difference becomes even more stark once Jak tells Mut to break up with Tongrak.

Jak is spewing nothing but ill-intentioned bullshit and Mahasamut sees it for what it is and makes it clear that he isn't going to fall for it, which is why things devolve.

Now. Just so we can get it out of the way, yes, obviously Mut should not have agreed to that meeting. He shouldn't have engaged and should've put the baby in the car and driven in the opposite direction. I was screaming at my screen for him to do just that, as were many of us I'm sure. However, I have to point out that it is not inconsistent for him from a character writing standpoint to have agreed.

Lest we forget, he said this to Tongrak last week when he was explaining why he turned Prin down when she tried to buy him.

"But Leah the dad is so much worse how could he not see—!" I know. Trust me, I do.

I'm gonna put on my baseball uniform and go to bat for my man for a second though because I think part of the reason that he agreed to talk to Jak is that he vastly underestimated him. And to be completely fair to Mahasamut, I did, too.

If I had to guess, I would say that he was expecting to be dealing with someone cut from the same cloth as Prin. Maybe a little worse since he knows what Jak has done in the past but certainly nothing he couldn't handle. Mahasamut is not a reckless or a thoughtless man. I don't believe for a second he would've even walked in the building if he didn't feel confident that he could deal with Jak.

The problem is that Jak is very much not cut from the same cloth as Prin.

I noted in my expressions post that it looked like the only time Jak was actually feeling something was when he accepted Prin's offer to destroy Tongrak but that's not entirely accurate. Having gone back to watch his scenes, there's a second instance where genuine emotion peeks through.

There's such a cold rage in his expression when he reproaches Tongrak for choosing his mother and cutting ties with him. And make no mistake, he's not angry because he loves his son. We already know that he doesn't. He's angry because in his eyes, he lost to a woman he felt nothing but disdain for.

If Tongrak and Kwan had chosen Jak over their mother, do you think Jak would be out here causing problems? No, he would've flat out ignored them. He wouldn't bother keeping such close tabs on Rak and his relationships because he would've already won and if he's doing it now, it's because he wants to win.

This is a game to him. This is fun for him.

His son is terrified and begging him not to hurt an innocent little girl and a young man and Jak's response is, "Don't be greedy."

He tries to force his son to choose which one of the people he loves most in this world gets to be safe but the choice isn't really a choice. He says he'll choose for Rak and he already has. Jak had already had Mahasamut beaten by the time he comes to see Tongrak and we know that because Mut's injuries have been treated when Rak gets home and Vivi is already there.

Matter of fact, the only reason Jak is even here talking to his son is because his attempt to convince Mut to leave has failed and he knows that going to Rak won't fail. He knows his son is afraid of him and he knows he can use that fear to get what he wants, which is why he brings up the uncle doctor.

Although we've gotten little of Jak so far, it's safe to assume that he is not a man who makes empty threats. Tongrak knows this, too, which is why he becomes so panicked when the doctor is brought up. We as the audience don't know who this doctor is but we can surmise from Tongrak's expression that he's important enough to be used as a weapon by Jak.

Until this point I don't think Tongrak realized that his father had anything to do with whatever happened to this doctor, he looks genuinely surprised. But all Jak had to do to prove how serious he is about his threat is mention the man. That's all he does. Rak puts the pieces together himself.

And here is where I bring up next week.

If you can look at this man's face as he rips the contract and think for a moment that he's going to try to push Mahasamut away for some flimsy petty reason, I am here to tell you that you are dead wrong. If I so much as SEE the words 'noble idiocy' I'm going to kick off.

Because we know that by the time Tongrak picks up this contract to rip it, Mahasamut has already been beaten twice and that Jak made a barely veiled threat to have him killed. Rak is rightfully terrified of his father and afraid for his boyfriend's life and wanting to keep Mut safe and ALIVE is not noble idiocy.

Now is it going to work? Smart money says no, wild horses couldn't drag Mahasamut away. He loves Rak too much to take any threats lying down. But as much as I understand why Mut talked to Jak, I understand why Rak wants to keep him safe even more.

Jak didn't accept Prin's offer because he wanted to help her. He doesn't give a single shit about her agenda except to mock her for it. He agreed to destroy his son because he wants to, because doing so will allow him to win and get back at his ex-wife. The money is just a bonus.

Jak is a Villain.

[hxney-lemcn]

Why must you plague me so Misty? I’m supposed to be productive here but now all I’m thinking about is knight Dark Link being smitten with his princess. Zelda is full on going feral trying to send Link after the two, claiming they have some evil scheme. What she doesn’t know is princess reader is just making a town around her castle cause she pays her staff well and treats them great (Dark Link is grumpy and can eviscerate them verbally but he likes seeing others bow down and praise his princess). Link full on does not see a reason to mess with them, sure Dark is mean and will 100% stab someone for speaking I’ll of princess reader, but Zelda expects the same. So imagine Zelda’s rage when the other leaders of the different species start coming to Princess reader and Dark for talks about trade and such. …dangit! I don’t have room to write more fics. Don’t get me hooked! /j

AHHH OMG (more people are joining the cult)

I mean...Zelda lowkey has a point...While there isn't some grand scheme or evil plot to topple her...prince/ss! reader isn't innocent either per say. (can you be when you have Dark Link by your side?). It started with Dark Link wanting a royal to guard and now there's a whole new goddamn kingdom. I find that hilarious. First its just servants that you bring in, some people are desperate enough to leave their village/town to go live in some ancient castle with a random hylian and monster guard if it pays well enough.

Then they bring their families, and they need houses, so you hire construction workers to build a few. Why would you deny your servants something when they are willingly joining you with no questions asked? Not only are nobles spreading rumors, but common folk are as well.

"Did you hear the heir/ess of the dark castle? I heard they torture their servants in the dungeons when they make the smallest mistake!"

"I heard they offered free housing for those willing to work for them..."

"I heard the servants eat like royalty alongside their ruler!"

The rumors start out dark, making anyone fear you, but as more people pass through, talk to the people living there, and even start moving in, the rumors become more extravagant. From death to living like royalty themselves. Your title also changes. You didn't think much of it at first, until you had diplomats from other kingdoms come and make trade offers. The rumors of you being the ruler of a new kingdom don't seem as silly anymore...

Zelda is more afraid than anything. You have Link's evil counterpart by your side, at your every beck and call. Who knows what things he's whispering into your ear. She tasks Link to visit you and bring her back a report on your supposed kingdom. She expects to hear tales of woe, of people in great poverty and hylians kept as slaves for monster masters.

Instead she's told a tale of happiness. Of people jovially walking down the dirt streets, new houses being built, new streets being paved. It's still in a state of creation, but people seem to be genuinely content, and you seem to be a fair ruler. Zelda will be skeptical, waiting for the ball to drop, but she's a diplomat through and through. She won't start a pointless war if she doesn't have to, and she won't harm innocent people. Begrudgingly, she will work alongside you, unsettled at the reflection of her and link that sat across from her.

[eggbedthewriter]

My ✨️official✨️ rant on Kipperlilly Copperkettle in relation to the bad kids and rat grinders:

WILDLY unpopular opinion, the bad kids/intrepid heroes were correct in leaving her dead, both narratively and morally.

OKAY hear me out PLEASE! I LOVE Kipperlilly's character. Imo, she's VERY well written and crafted. I also don't necessarily believe she's evil, or unfixable, or anything like that. I won't say she's a good person, because she isn't, but she's also not definitively a bad one. I actually got attatched to her too. So... why on earth would I think she should be left for dead? Well... there's a few reasons.

1. She is not trustworthy.

2. She isn't a good person, just a good character

3. It wouldn't make any sense story-telling-wise.

Let me elaborate:

1: Kipperlilly was SHOWN to be untrustworthy. She didn't have a rage star in her chest like the others. She chose to have the rune in her chest without the alternative literally being death. Every other rat grinder had a horrible, horrible choice to make; save your soul or your life. Lucy chose to save her soul, her essence, her innocence. In the words of (I think Ruben?) Lucy "stuck to her guns". The others chose to save their lives. To go back to loved ones, each other. I don't think either choice was wrong, really. These are kids who had never faced the possibility of death, and may have been the only ones in their grade to never do so. When confronted with it for the first time, it was a lose-lose. They didn't know what would happen when they came back, didn't know the extent of the rage stars or what they'd be made to do. Kipperlilly never had this choice to make. Don't worry, I'll address the fact that she was being manipulated by an adult. Kipperlilly was angry from the start. I'm almost positive that, with what the bad kids learned after stealing her file, she didn't always have that rune in her chest. She got it later in her time at Aguefort, evidenced by the fact that Brennan says there's a notable switch in what she's saying about the bad kids- "it's not fair" to "I hate them". Anger issues and jealousy OBVIOUSLY don't condemn someone to death, but that isn't all. She either murdered Lucy or let her get murdered. Lucy, her BEST FRIEND. Think about what could make you kill your best friend, because I'm willing to bet it's next to nothing. Even though she was being manipulated and groomed, she did kill Lucy/let her die for power.

TLDR P1: There's no evidence that Kipperlilly would be different had they resurrected her. With all that the bad kids have seen, they just can't risk that.

2: This is a BIG problem in I think every fandom: Kipperlilly is not a GOOD person, she's a COMPELLING one. She is not a morally good character, she's a deeply interesting one. I don't hate her, please don't get me wrong. And like I said, I don't think she's a bad person necessarily. But I do worry that a lot of the reason there's so much defense for her is that people like her and so they want to convince themselves she's perfect. No character is perfect, that would make them SO boring. Kipperlilly isn't perfect by ANY means. I don't want to make it sound like shes remorse-less either, because we don't know that. I'm sure she felt IMMENSE guilt for Lucy, but an apology or feeling awful about something like that doesn't change that you did it.

TLDR P2: A lot of things defending her may come from the fact that she's a compelling character, rather than a good person.

3: Okay, final part! Pretty much the reason I'm even making this post is to defend the bad kids/intrepid heroes, because some people think that they were cruel for not bringing her back. Here's the thing, narratively, it would've made zero sense for them to revive her. They seemed a bit loathe to even bring the others back, considering all they went through. Kipperlilly was not only more concious for what she was doing, but she also pretty much voluntarily did it. Heres the thing- she WAS technically manipulated and practically groomed by Porter, which is why I don't want to say she herself was evil. I agree that she was a kid being used. That doesn't mean everything she did is excuseable, though. Kipperlilly wasn't loyal to the one person (we know of) who cared about her. Not to mention she was literally jealous of the bad kids TRAUMA. She was a traumatized kid, sure, but... so were the bad kids. BY shit she did. My final point (promise 😭) is that it's cruel to blame the bad kids for not reviving her. She was trying to kill them, and just like in every other battle, they had to protect themselves and the world. What evidence did they have that she wasn't going to be evil when she was brought back? That she wouldn't do it all again? Buddy clearly is working with Kalina, do we REALLY think that Kipperlilly wouldn't too? Narratively, it wouldn't have been a satisfying ending. They brought the other rat grinders back because the rage stars would be gone. It was akward, sure, but they had reason to trust them. Could you imagine how it would've gone with Kipperlilly if they'd saved her? "Hey, I know you chose to work for evil... but you probably won't do it again!". Okay, I'm being so dramatic but you get my point 😭. I adore fan work (whether fanfic/fanart) where Kipperlilly IS good, where things are different and she's redeemable. This is NOT a post meant to hate on those works, because I love them and they're amazing!!! I just don't like when people call the bad kids evil for not bringing back someone who was responsible for a LOT of evil, and could likely cause a lot more. Imo, Kipperlilly being brought back just wouldn't have been a satisfying ending within the story we were given.

TLDR P3: Keep making fan works where Kipperlilly is good/saved!!! I love reading/viewing them, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with making them! I just think that in the story we're presented with, letting her remain dead was the kindest and most sensible ending.

I REALLY hope this doesn't come across as mean or passive aggressive, because I fucking adore this fandom (and honestly adore Kipperlilly too!). I'm so so sorry this ended up being so long 😔. If anyone actually read the whole thing tysm! I'm really sorry if the conclusion I reached wasn't satisfying to you, and I'm always up for a (civil 😭) discussion about her!

[jynxedshapeshifter]

Something I didn't fully acknowledge until now (not that I didn't realize it, I just didn't really acknowledge it for some reason) that I've decided is a really interesting parallel between Kazuma and Barok that deserves to be talked about a hell of a lot more is that Kazuma puts Barok in the same position Barok put Genshin. I vaguely remember Ryunosuke mentioning this (although I might be misrembering what Ryu was actually referring to) and that being one of the things that snaps Kazuma out of his vengeance-driven rage but it's so interesting to me. For the Asobaro fics I've read, there doesn't seem to be a lot about them talking about this?? Like Barok's trial is so similar to Genshin's because Kazuma made it that way and probably doesn't even realize it. Jigoku even breaks the witness stand in both cases.

Here's some similarities between the cases because I'm going insane:

Prosecutor has a grudge against the defendant for killing a family member (Barok has a grudge against Genshin for killing Klint, and Kazuma has a grudge against Barok for Genshin's death sentence. Yes, Barok didn't technically kill Genshin, but Barok did get him his sentence)

Jigoku breaks the witness stand in both trials

Both trials are part of the same conspiracy/cover-up

Both involve the victim's autopsy being tampered with

There's a fundmental issue regarding trust in both trials, specifically regarding Barok's ability to trust the people around him. He was betrayed by Genshin in the Professor trial (and I don't think it's fair to say he wasn't just because Genshin wasn't the Professor because Genshin still killed Klint) and betrayed by Stronghart, his own apprentice, and (arguably) Klint in his own trial.

I feel like there's more I'm forgetting about, but this isn't nothing. I think this was very purposely done to provide parallels between Kazuma and Barok, and I'd be surprised if I'm wrong there.

I don't think either of them would ever forgive the other for how these two trials went. I don't think Kazuma's ever going to forgive Barok for Genshin's death sentence and I don't think Barok's going to forgive Kazuma's desire to get Barok indicted very easily, if he does at all (in fact I think the fact that Kazuma was so determined to get Barok a guilty verdict for most of the trial would've caused him to have trust issues regarding Kazuma). I don't think they need to forgive each other either; Barok took Kazuma's father from him and Kazuma tried to get Barok a sentence that would've resulted in him being hanged. Neither of them deserve forgiveness, Kazuma for trying to get Barok sentenced to death and Barok for indirectly getting Kazuma's father killed.

Kazuma wasn't just putting Barok in the same position Barok put Genshin; he took the same spot Barok was in during Genshin's trial for the same reasons.

There is SO much you can do with that, especially because Kazuma probably doesn't know how similar to Genshin's trial he made Barok's trial. It just adds another layer to Kazuma and Barok's relationship. I need to see more fanfiction that talks about how similar these two trials were. I need to see Barok do introspection on how much he fucked up Genshin's trial after being put in the exact same position Genshin was. I need to see Kazuma realize exactly how fucked up what he was doing was. Their dynamic is made so much more interesting by Kazuma inadvertently turning Barok's trial into a recreation of Genshin's.

[elysiae]

sorry, i HAVE to talk about this. spoilers for the technocyte coda below! specifically about Zeke because im going insane over his voicelines. long yapping post under cut

this one specifically.

"you can't do anything to hurt me that won't make a great headline."

can we. can we talk about this? like listen, i might just be spewing, but this line is so intense.

first of all, the way and situation with which he says it. after the extravaganza that is the final showdown, a battle side-by-side with his boys, flashy and powerful, just like the band itself. after all this fight, he's defeated, at the mercy of his enemy. he looks it in the eyes, and he pretty much says, you cannot hurt me in a way that won't benefit me. you can beat him down, physically or mentally. you can kill him. you can do something worse than death. but it will ALWAYS benefit him. why? he's the star, and all it will do is bring more attention to him. more attention, more fame, more money and love. and he knows it. he's not scared to point that out, either. i mean, with it sounding like the coda is echoing things on-lyne has said rather than making up their own (other than certain character breaks), it probably wasnt in such a life-or-death situation, but... y'know, Zeke still said that. about what? to whom?

and then there's the delivery. first of all i LOVE Zeke's voice actor, biggest props to him. second of all. holy fuck. you can hear the smile in his voice. he's not saying that with a grimace of rage, or as a last ditch effort out of desperation to be spared, he says that with confidence. he says that smiling, almost like he's about to laugh or scoff. he's not scared, and if he is he's doing a damn good job at hiding it. he's so confident. he knows. its like it's happened before. everything and anything done to hurt him has only made him and his boys even more of a powerhouse. why would this be any different?

and yeah, i know the coda isn't Zeke, so who knows how he'd really react? but i bring it back, the coda leeches off his personality. thats just a slightly fucked up, mangled version of our starboy. hell, we dont even know if theyre really a part of the techrot hivemind. we know the infested can be scared, at least to some extent what with how they refer to us as 'demon' and their known fear of hybrids.

to be fair, just from what ive heard (only DJ & Zeke really, i didnt pay full attention to Drillbit cuz i was so enamored by the fight) none of them seem particularly frightened. but i just. i dunno. a lot of DJ's voicelines struck me, which i'm DEFINITELY going to get to later, but that one voiceline from Zeke really got me for some reason. a couple others too, but thats for later. TLDR i am absolutely fascinated with this goddamn boyband and DE better bring them back for more content or i will riot

[tuliptiger]

Bro I hate Silco so much. Bro. And don't get it twisted right. He's a good character, he's well written or in THE VERY LEAST incredibly interesting and compelling. To me I guess. I still can't stand him, I hate him and I think he embodies every human flaw a person can have. And every bad decision we make at our lowest points.

And for that I can't stand him in the purest way and I think that's kind of awesome. Get him out of my face though lol fuck that guy. Great presentation of what I feel a lot of people in the world are like or have the potential to be like rn.

For what he was meant to be, having just found out the original plan for him which I really shouldn't consider. Or maybe I should in favor of him, as a little grace for him. I guess Jinx and him were supposed to be like romantic. If that's your thing go for it I guess but I'm not going to talk nicely about it and it disgusts me as a heads up. Fair warning.

I'm forever grateful they didn't pull a Joker/Harley Quinn but because jesus christ I think I actually would've hated Arcane for that. For all you people complaining about Arcane, sure that's your right and it's all personal tastes anyway but it could've been actually, sincerely awful. It would've ruined Jinx as a character and undercut all of her nuance, her autonomy as a real, deeply thought out character. Her struggles, her mental health, her trauma, it would've fucking sucked.

I hate Silco for even the possibility of that and unfortunately i think it explains a little bit about some things. But anyway, back to hating Silco.

1.) He betrayed every single thing he's ever cared about in his life. He betrayed Felicia by trying to and knowingly kill her children. He betrayed the promise he made to not JUST Vander but to Felicia and himself.

Because what? Vander betrayed him first? Because he tried to kill him? Because he probably does feel genuine regret about maybe enacting the event that got Felicia killed? We never get the story but I think it's implied. Either that or Vander really was just deep in grief and rage and put that on Silco. I think they both fucked up for the record but Vander didn't CONTINUE that for the rest of his life.

What did any of that have to do with Vi and Powder/Jinx though? He's the reason everything bad happened, maybe you could blame Viktor since he went back to give Jayce the rune but every bad moment after that is almost exclusively Silco.

2.) He bribed Marcus contributing to the corruption in Piltover and Zaun. He fed drugs to Zaun for the point of nothing in my opinion. Because he couldn't come to terms with his grief, he couldn't make Piltover pay the way he wanted them too? He justified his own terrible actions for some idea of an independent Zaun for what? For who? Piltover may have taken from him but he actively chose to burn whatever he had left by trying to kill Powder and Vi.

3.) He's the reason Vi and her crew lost their loot, and their lives NOT Powder. He's the reason or at least the means for Singed to create more fucked up abominations and shimmer.

4.) He IS A HUGE SOFTIE he's soft as fuck. He loves and he loves deeply but he could never get over himself to do better. And this is possibly the main reason I hate him, he sincerely loved Vander and Jinx and Felicia and Zaun. People get hurt all the time, and it isn't the same as the trauma he faced but I DON'T think a reasonable series of decisions is to betray everything you are and have worked for to fuck over literally everyone around you. He is the scorched earth method, he wanted to hurt everyone and everything for what he felt and experienced. He's so incredibly selfish I cannot stand him.

5. A close contender, maybe even tied because I love Jinx so much. I hate that he is directly related to all of the hurt Vi and Jinx have experienced. I hate, I loath, I detest what he did to Powder and to Jinx. I feel so fed with season 2 episode 7, we DIRECTLY see what happens when Silco doesn't decide every day to hurt the world around him and hurt everyone in it. What happens to Powder without his fucked up influence.

I never thought anyone made Jinx specifically, like there isn't someone to blame because it felt diminishing to Jinx herself. But I'm rethinking it, I would say with certainty Jinx wouldn't have existed without Silco. I don't give him full credit, not in the creation of her and not her herself but the REASON she was reborn into a different person. Powder and Jinx created Jinx, but she created her because she had to, because Silco brought her into a fucked up world where she had to be different to survive.

Silco didn't support her, he enabled her, made her fear the world, fed her insecurities and projected himself into her. And because he does love, he really really did love her I think, that was what she felt she needed as a TWELVE year old girl. She needed a guardian who had her best interest at heart and not just love. Whatever support she had before, he ripped it from her and shredded it, and from that pile of rubble and ash Jinx had to find herself and emerge. But she picked herself up and chiseled herself into who she is in the series not Silco.

She's smart as a whip, she's so incredibly clever. She knew to some extent the reality of what was happening. But reality didn't have any real gravity anymore for her without something to hold her to it. Silco, at any time, could have stopped what he was doing. He could've seen her hurting and said, this isn't it. This isn't worth it. But he didn't, and she didn't need a reason to change because she had someone who fed her love when she had no one. When she thought it was all her fault and where Silco tried to convince her Vander and Vi weren't good people and that they didn't love her, won't love her.

I could go on, I fucking hate Silco. Once again, I think he's the weakest character emotionally and mentally but certainly not writing wise. He's spineless, he can kill sure, but in the main universe he couldn't get over his own feelings of guilt and hurt to do better. Nobody is satisfied with the slow progression of equity, of freedoms and peace. Silco wanted to take it all violently, take it all and take everything around it down with him.

In another universe, he's better. He makes better decisions because a different set of events led to reconciliation between Vander and him. Because Piltover made the first move of peace after Vi had to be sacrificed. Because Marcus saw a dead Zaun child in the arms of her younger sister. Because a lot of things, Silco is a better man and I think he's stronger for it.

The main universe Silco was wrong about everything he did, he made every possible bad decision on purpose over and over and over again.

The fact that I just wrote what feels like an essay on this bastard should at least show how I hate him, in the way I don't like hate hate him. I hate him in the way good art makes you hate it in just the right way. I think he's interesting enough to think about. I don't hate the alt universe Silco, I just hate the main one. He's multifaceted, he's a villain, he just kind of sucks, he moved the story in permanent ways. He forever changed the world by facilitating the events that led to Jinx as a person in Runeterra.

Anyway Yeah I really really hate Silco. Thanks for reading lol If you have some good points or different interpretations of events with Silco I would genuinely love to read them especially if they are different. I'm the first to admit I don't fully understand all the subtleties in Arcane and I love it for that, but I miss things. Changing my view on what actually happened in scenes is one of my favorite things to do right now. I crave the richer and fuller offering of a closely inspected Arcane provides tbh.