#but this show subtly putting it in a line right in the first episode. like damn are you paying attention from the start

[hurlumerlu]

Aw, thank you for thinking of me! It did make me happy. Now I have two things left on my wishlist, but I am significantly less confident about them actually happening: Kant getting injured (everyone else has, so it's only fair! Give me Kant jeopardy!) and a consensual corrective to the ep 3 BDSM scene to close the circle! Speaking of the latter...surprised I haven't seen anyone talk about Bison saying he wants Kant to oppose him more, including 'in bed' - thoughts??? Don't want to get my hopes up but, much like with the trauma addressing, they could have just left it at a generic 'don't spoil me so much/oppose me more' so why specify unless...??

Well, you have been very right so far, so odds are you'll get your other wishes! (let's pretend that's how odds work. I'm manifesting.)

We did get some Kant jeopardy again this episode! I'm not opposed to getting more, of course, but I'm so happy Bison went so far as to pull a gun on Fadel to protect him. I know some people didn't like it and I can see their point, but to me it's such a huge step up compared to the times he only rolled his eyes and whined (but complied) when Fadel did the "go away, I need to threaten your man" song and dance. I liked that it wasn't only about Kant's life, but also about Bison's. That Bison's finally said "you need to stop trying to make the choices for me". The brothers are growing up, and out of the toxic patterns Khun Lilly forced them in. And Style ready to die with his bro <3 <3 <3 Kant's unconventional tiny support system <3 <3 <3 Now put Babe in there, I need him to be the apple of four insane men's eyes.

As for the "oppose me more, even in bed" convo... I believe you're absolutely right that the line was so specific on purpose. I'd say it's a good sign that they're not planning on simply dropping the BDSM themes, for sure. I'd even say you could read it as Bison subtly trying to gauge how much Kant was going along with Bison's desires for the sake of the mission, and trying to convey that he's up for a dialogue (which imo is what Bison's always wanted, even in their first sex scene: a dialogue on even grounds. Because that's how you make consensual power exchanges happen, but also because Bison genuinely enjoys the give and take, and gets to be treated as an equal so rarely. Anyway this is not the time for this) But will we get to see a fully succesful, non-interrupted kinky sex scene? I still don't have a clue, and I'm still hopeful! Though I hope this dialogue and the "daddy" flirtations are not hints that we'll see Kant dom but not Bison. It would be so disappointing to me! Bison was so excited about gettting to dom! And though the question of how much we can trust Kant's reactions in those scenes still remains, he did seem into it. (also I think about how eager to please he looks to me in their first sex scene like. a lot.) So I'm not saying they should never switch, but I am saying I'll be sad if we never see them explore that particular configuration. Come on show, turn the daddy/kitten dynamic on its head. I know you want to.

[eolewyn1010]

Downton Abbey Fashion 80 - indoors fashion in 1925

Edith has blue moving into her wardrobe this season in a prominence it didn’t have before, but she’s markedly toning down on the peach and coral shades. Let’s see what she chooses for business chic and for homely comfort.

This first outfit is, alongside Mary’s first indoor outfit of the season, only seen from afar and briefly before it never shows up again, so I never get a close-up look at Edith’s brown shirt. It pairs well enough with the blue silk satin skirt, and I like the long tassels waist tie as a playful addition. My feelings about cloche hats remain mixed.

Time to, again, out myself as a hypocrite, because while I have complained about this exact style of tie-looped-through-a-hole-in-the-dress style before, this is one of my favorites. I guess it’s because the tie loop sits right at the neckline and thus doesn’t look quite so random. Also, who could resist this print? It’s gorgeous, like painted Moroccan tiles but in brown and cream with the subtler red curlicues woven in. The gathered skirt is elegant, the cuffs pick up the white of the tie – overall, a very beautifully composed dress.

This steel blue suit is one of Edith’s preferred business outfits. I personally like it better with the first blouse and the little neck tie; the yellow ruffle jabot looks a little stuffy to me, but there’s no complaints about the color pairing. Something I noticed is that Edith in her office get-ups dresses quite similarly to her female employees – neat, stylish, but not betraying at first sight that Edith comes from a considerably wealthier background. The whole look is kept simple in 1920’s sleek lines, the only decoration element the little button closure at the left hip. And what lovely button rows they are!

Little brighter sky blue, and Edith pairs the checkered (?) vest with her preferred business blouse with the double tie collar. Love this blouse, and it gives this outfit a little necessary touch of smart when the vest could easily come off a little grandpa-ish. Also, I would like to know if the front of her skirt is just drapey or if they put in a box pleat to achieve the way it falls.

A black dress, but Edith wouldn’t be Edith if she didn’t embrace funky prints, in this case in white and red, to give the fabric something to do. The way it drapes and the translucence visible at her shoulder makes me think it could be chiffon, and Edith brings back the little tie collar and, to make it pop a little, a plain black front panel that reaches around her neckline.

Hm. A nice dress, in theory. Only, later in that episode, Edith completes the ensemble by slapping the matching cardigan on top of it. And while this cardigan is sweet with the asymmetrical opening and the rounded corners, it firstly robs me of the nice color contrast between the red checker and the cream blouse, and it secondly is not flattering for her figure which is saying something because the Crawley girls are all very thin. Also, I don’t like the cutesy bow. The dress itself is pretty though; Edith rarely goes for jewel shades, and the fabric seems to have a pile, so it might be quite warm.

Pretty similar to the dress she was wearing for breakfast further up, in that it’s black working with print in red and white shades, although I would rather describe it as silver and copper here, and they flow more into each other because the colors aren’t blotted onto the ground in contrasting shapes. It has a V neckline and one of those nice gathered skirts, and I like how it’s subtly shimmering.

Back to the business looks – okay, the blue skirt definitely has a box pleat in the front. The combination of colors is nice and the double-layered collar quite charming, but the shirt looks like it could have used a decent ironing. Come on; I can tell crepe from crinkles! I do love the printed tie though.

Seeing more blue on Edith than I’ve seen on Mary for at least two seasons. I won’t complain. For a tour of the house, she’s wearing a triple-tiered silk satin skirt and an asymmetrical deep V wrap top that’s either slightly darker or just less shiny (possibly both). The little white cuffs are a darling addition, giving it all a little contrast.

We’ve seen this crocheted shirt in soft vanilla before as an under layer of walking suits, but at home, Edith also wears this on its own. It’s got a little velvet-y looking collar, shut with a brown tassel on a little wooden toggle, and I’m here for little useless shit like this; it’s so cute. Also, slightly drapey sleeves.

Edith’s double-tie blouse is back with a little matching straw hat, and I wish I could remember if this is a full suit or just the vest with the flower print to a generic skirt. Could be the latter since I didn’t bother to keep a shot that includes the skirt. Anyway, it’s a lively print, but in subdued colors because mah gurl wants to be taken seriously at the office, and while I lowkey wish she’d sprung for a few fitted waistcoats at some points that are tailored smooth in the front, I have to concede that that’d make for more of a Mary look.

Keeping with the pale blue, but going back to crocheted clothes: This dress has short sleeves and a rose motif in the front and an overall summerly look. I love these lacey strips in the sleeves and down at the hem, and I’m glad to see Edith’s lovely flowery coat on her arm – that means that, for going out, she added some wild print on top!

Peach is not dead yet; Edith still retains a spot for it in her wardrobe, and can I just say that I’m fascinated? Yes, this is a fairly simple blouse with a tie collar as is well-established for her, but it is chiffon draped over a printed layer, with the apparent purpose of letting the print shine through, albeit without unleashing all the potential colors of it. What a sweet concept. Also, when Edith marches out, we see the beige skirt she’s wearing to this, a sort of split, layered affair that looks ruffly when she moves.

A pre-established beige blouse, paired with an orange skirt – and then the most extravagant jacket Edith ever wears in the office, quite possibly the most extravagant she owns. Chinoiserie is back in action, and there are birds and flowers and architectural elements, in a whole rainbow of pastel colors… and the worst is, I’m not entirely sure this is print. It could be embroidered. In which case, RIP to the maker. I would have murdered someone after the lapels alone.

Edith’s final day dress on the show is a surprising return to form as she reaches for something sage green again, and it’s very charming. The plunging cowl draped over the front? Peak. I’m so into this, and it’s got a fluttery gathered skirt and all, and the layering of the flower print over the plain fabric. This looks so elegant; no notes.

[boondocktalks]

Honestly, how do you feel about the fanfics and fan interpretations of The Boondocks, as well as stuff like AO3 and fanfic.net? there's a lot of them from what I've found out especially between Huey and Jaz which some of them actually well are not exactly pg but still do you think it clouds peoples view of what the boondocks is or aids it in terms of head cannon character development like shippers lol. also there's one with a million words called A story of Huey and Jazzy By: Bulmas Ego which while it really does give Jazmine a Absolutly Huge character Plot and development its kinda concerning with the fact that while aged up (14 or 16 I don't remember) there's literal CP in it or descriptive. While I love all the character development of it, it just feels sick to have to put Smut into the story between them

I am going to be 100% honest with you.

Most of the fanfics that I’ve read pertaining to “The Boondocks” have been pretty accurate with how I can envision Huey and Jazmine’s dynamic as they grow up.

I will agree that some of the ones I’ve read or heard about have been very raunchy. But, even with the ones that don’t solely focus on the explicit content as much, I would say their personalities are spot on with how they were written in the show.

As far as your question, I do think it clouds some people’s views a little bit. Those very few don’t care for the message that the show is trying to push out there. They just want to find two characters to ship, and call it a day. This is something that I have noticed in many fandoms, including the ones that I’ve been apart of. I want to emphasize that not all fans are like that.

“The Boondocks” isn’t a series based off romance. It focuses more on social commentary, race, politics, identity, etc. It also talks about every day issues, and the flaws within society as a whole.

On the other hand, even with the show not having romance as the main theme, there’s nothing wrong with shipping some of the characters, let alone writing stories about them. With the way Aaron McGruder wrote out the interactions between Huey and Jazmine in both the show and in the comics, it’s not surprising why so many fans ship them, myself included. Plus, if you read between the lines, he was subtly confirming that there were romantic feelings from both sides, and that they would end up together as they transform into adulthood.

For example, towards the end of the episode “The Block Is Hot,” Huey gives Jazmine his scarf when she was starting to shiver from being cold while it was snowing. Even in the “Fried Chicken Flu” episode, Jazmine was seen wearing his shirt. Most boys don’t share their belongings with just anybody. It’s often seen as a friendly gesture, or in their own way, showing others that a girl is off limits. From how Huey complimented her hair in the comics to how he acted in regards to Jazmine and her well being in both the lost pilot episode and in the finalized version of this show, these are just little details that makes me believe that Aaron shipped them too.

Going back to the topic of fanfiction, I do think some writers misunderstand both of these characters. There has been quite a few stories that had Jazmine play the damsel in distress or be seen as unintelligent when that’s not the case. She’s very smart, and was the only one that listened to Huey. She also had a bit of a backbone to her, and wasn’t really a pushover like her father was. Just because she was seen as a sweet yet naive girl doesn’t mean she was weak or that she didn’t have a brain. In the third season, Jazmine was written as less immature. Of course, she still had her moments, but compare to how she was in the earlier seasons, she wasn’t so bad.

Even with how some of them have written Huey, they either wrote him as someone with limited feelings or just down right unlikable. Granted, he was characterized as being stoic, but there were moments that he did showcase human emotions, especially in the first season. While he still didn’t express his emotions outwardly, Huey had a lot of attitude and was outspoken on so many things that he wanted to change. I think this is why so many people loved that version of Huey so much. Although, I can kind of see why Aaron made him be more impassive in the later seasons. Other than Jazmine, no one took him seriously. With that, as well as only being a literal child that couldn’t do much, I think it made him a little depressed.

Now with the story that you mentioned, that is problematic. To write the characters being under age engaging in inappropriate activities with each other is not okay. I’m not going to act like a prude and pretend that high schoolers don’t have sex. But, I do wish the writer would have aged them up. I would hope that they didn’t mean any harm, but I can see why you would feel uncomfortable with Huey and Jazmine being those ages.

Here’s a piece of advice: If you’re not comfortable with reading smut, I do know that on AO3, you can filter what you want and don’t want to read. Including stories with mature material. Especially if there’s other triggering factors that you don’t want to explore on there. This is also a friendly reminder that fanfiction, as well as shipping and headcannons, are for the fans to enjoy. While the originality of the show’s origin shouldn’t be replaced with those aspects, they are apart of what makes the fandom stay alive.

I’m not trying to say that you have to enjoy these things to be apart of “The Boondocks” fandom. What I will say is to not judge too harshly on those who do like creating headcannons, writing fanfics, drawing fanart, among other things.

It is called a fandom after all. Am I right?

[ultraericthered]

One Villainous Scene: The Mighty Moonlander

I'm gonna go ahead and say it - Season 2 was the best season of the 2017 DuckTales reboot series, and the Moon arc was the best story arc the show ever gave us. The entirety of the episode "Whatever Happened To Della Duck?" really showcases why it is, but the next time we saw Della on the moon was every bit as revealing, including the true unveiling of this season's main villain, General Lunaris. So let's flash back to May 2019, since when it's been exactly five years.

For his time in Della's focus episode, Lunaris seemed to us like a bold, intellectual, generous and reasonable soldier of what he and his people the Moonlanders knew as "Planet Moon", being visibly and vocally impressed with Della's motherly compassion being able to solve their problem with the Moon Mites and offering her a place to say in the moon's hidden civilization of Tranquility. It was his follower, Lieutenant Penumbra, who was more openly antagonistic and distrustful of Della by contrast. But Lunaris' insistence that Della and her Earthly compassion "may prove useful" to them was a red flag at the end of that episode, and in this one Lunaris reminisces about how his late father had always feared Planet Earth due to the rockets launched from it, gives Penumbra the order to stick with Della and collaborate on a way to fix up the Spear of Selene so that she can return home, and even subtly puts ideas into her head regarding how to set the rocket to launch so that Della may be forced to leave in it.

As the Spear of Selene is about to take off prematurely and Lunaris pleads with Della to leave the rocket manual with him so that the Moonlanders can build their own rockets and visit her on Earth, the viewer should be instinctively on edge and not wanting her to do it, fearing there's a Twist Villain reveal right around the corner. And sure enough, the second the Spear of Selene has been flown out of sight, Lunaris blasts himself in the shoulder with a devious grin on his face. The moment we'd been dreading is the moment he'd been waiting for, where he gets to stand before his fellow Moonlanders and lie to them, claiming that Della was a secret agent sent to Planet Moon from Earth who'd only been pretending to befriend them all (painting onto Della characteristics and deeds that are actually true of him) before she blasted at him and flew off back to Earth where she'll report back to her Earthling superiors and be intent on putting together a massive force of similar rocket ships to invade and conquere Planet Moon, but that he was able to snatch the manual from her so that now the Moonlanders have a chance to construct rocket ships of their own and invade Earth first before such a thing befalls them. And in riling up the emotions of his people, Lunaris makes clear what this is truly all about for him - an assertion of supremacy. A way to "prove that the Moon is the greatest planet in the universe!" Like a true dictator and demagogue, he leads his people in a war cry of "We are the mighty! We are the Moon!"

In Penumbra's talk with Lunaris afterwards, Lunaris shamelessly admits that he'd wanted to prey off of the fear, uncertainty and outrage of his people in order to give them a reason to take up arms and become a willing invasion force so that his ambition to invade and conquer Earth could finally be realized, and he did so by expertly manipulating both Penumbra and Della, and exploiting Della's Earthly compassion. A line of questioning from Penumbra that asks "aren't you afraid" sparks fury in the general, who ellaborates on what drives his actions, that he refuses to cower in fear of some other planet the way his late father did when he built Tranquility and cloaked it, as that is an insult to his sense of pride as a mighty Moonlander. He insists that the Moon is the planet that should be feared, and he will make the Earthlings fear him when the time to invade finally arrives. With a last remark about how he'd seen how much Della had taken a liking to Penumbra due to noted similarities to her brother Donald, Lunaris walks away from the scene looking like the most reprehensible bastard seen on this show, and also one of the most cold-blooded, strategically calculating, manipulative, dangerous characters.

While the writing, scripting, and animation direction for Lunaris are all wonderful, what really brings him life is his voice acting by actor Lance Reddick, who tragically passed away on March 17 of last year. Rest in peace, Lance. You were the mighty. You were the Moon.

[alilyamongroses]

Which is the earliest time Jame Seymour should have been introduced in "The Tudors"? Since Jame had scored a place in Katherine of Aragon's court in 1529, she should have been introduced sometime during the last couple of episodes of s1, along with Edward and their father John.

After a recent rewatch, during the scene at the s1 finale where a nameless girl rebukes Anne Boleyn after her wishing that all Spaniards would be put under the sea speech, I thought that that part should have gone to Jane Seymour. That rebuke could have been one of Jane's first lines in the series.

You’re right, Jane should’ve been introduced earlier. The earliest Jane could’ve been at court was 1527, or more likely 1528, to my understanding. Katherine of Aragon made her speech at Blackfriars in 1529, and The Tudors leaned into the idea of Jane as connected to Katherine - the scene where Mary gives Jane Katherine's cross to help her through labor comes to mind. As for Anne, there were an assortment of... nameless, jittery blonde women swirling around her during the early seasons. The creators could've slotted Jane into one of their places. Maybe they meant to? I know there was some kerfuffle about her casting.

If the comparison scene between Jane & Anne before the latter's murder is anything to go off of, the creators wanted to set Jane up as ideologically opposed to Anne, to some extent. It would've been nice if Jane was given a more self-actualized role in that opposition, rather than being shown as this silly, flighty girl who stumbled into a position for which we're obviously supposed to judge her. I just know she and Katherine Howard are sharing tea cakes in hell.

Sir John's offscreen death in Season 3, and the casually callous way Edward communicated it to Jane, also would've landed much better if they'd introduced Jane earlier. Her and Edward's sibling dynamic is one of my favorites in the show, communicated subtly through shared looks, close ups and such. In Season 2, Jane follows Edward's lead, allowing him to influence her decision making something like a surrogate father. Jane is certainly the passive member of their relationship, but that wasn't used to cast her as stupid, or lesser than the other wives, which I appreciated. Edward asking Jane if she'd like to be Queen once he and his father start planning for it speaks to this dynamic that's sort of childish, in a sweet way - Edward leads and Jane follows, but willingly, not slavishly.

In Season 3, when Henry starts controlling Jane more overtly, Edward remains a man in her life who she's allowed to criticize and chastise, even as he's demonstrated to be brutally unscrupulous in his own right (see: that awful sexualized torture scene.) His wife Anne Stanhope is shown putting horns on him, but Edward barely notices, never mind getting mad at her for it. Compare that to how savagely Henry reacted to the vaguest whiff of infidelity in his Anne. The first one, that is.

It's almost like The Tudors' Henry is a decent public figure, but a monstrous domestic one, while The Tudors' Edward is a monstrous public figure, but a decent domestic one. And Jane is the woman who connects the two of them, binding their families into one, however temporarily. As Jane lays dying, Henry compares her to his late mother, and Jane is introduced to Henry by her own father, himself depicted as this jolly old fat country lord. Sir John's characterization in The Tudors was sparse, but maybe that's a blessing, considering the shaft Thomas Boleyn got.

Which leads me to another comparison. Thomas and George Boleyn's posthumous reputations both took a massive hit with this show. George is rendered not just abusive but sexually violent, the shadow of early 2000s homophobia hanging over The Tudors' portrayal like a pall. His father's depiction is more unfair than offensive, but that's not much of an improvement. This promo pic of him just makes you feel dirty, as Olga Hughes pointed out, lmao. We the audience can assume that Pádraic Delaney's George Boleyn got his cruelty from his father, while Anne (and Mary) are the family's more kindhearted diamonds-in-the-rough, a position that is reinforced by George's atypical protectiveness over Anne, which is ultimately used against him. Jane and Edward's relationship isn't as emotionally intimate as George and Anne's, but Edward and George's duel positions as men who are capable of being both negligent & violent and paternal & attentive sets them up as interesting examinations of the kind of man who takes root in an environment like this, much like Charles Brandon, Eustace Chapuys, Francis Bryan, etc.

The missing piece in the equation is Jane. Henry's fatherhood is well explored, Anne's sisterhood is the most overtly sympathetic part of her characterization, Mary I's conflict as a daughter is what drives her through the whole series. Jane is a sister, daughter, mother and wife, and there are a few shining moments where she really titillates: inquiring about her family's plans, selling the necklace Henry gave her, chiding Edward for mishandling her father's death, protecting Mary no matter the cost, things like that. But her most well-developed relationship is the one she has with Henry, and that one says more about him as a man than it does her as a woman.

How did Jane feel about Sir John that encouraged her to lean on Edward, even though he was easily identifiable as a worse man than his father? How did Jane feel transitioning from Katherine's household to Anne's, especially with regards to her catholicism? What did she think about the dissolution of the monasteries when it first started? Did she want to get married and have children, or did she just know she'd have to one day? What were her prospects before Henry? What does she like in a man anyways?

Unfortunately, we don't know, because The Tudors doesn't bother to tell us. Wish it had been different, to say the least.

[youlooklikeabeeandilikebees]

i know the first episode of series 4 gets a lot of negative comments and it's sort of a weird transitional episode where nina is killed off screen and there's this big shift towards a more sci-fi-esque narrative with the threat of an apocalyptic future and it's all depressing and weird and suddenly werewolf blood is toxic to vampires but i have to highlight how many great moments the episode has:

the introduction of hal, leo, and pearl! love that barbershop scene where leo puts a mirror to the back of hal's head as if he has a reflection

dewi being the dorkiest vampire we've seen on the show

the introduction of cutler! and him making fun of regus and his lines "oh my god that is human skin" about the map and "who'd have thought the old ones would be so difficult to shop for"

tom continuously slipping in comments about how big the house is to try to subtly ask them if he can move in

tom saying "even mcnair gave me a name and he eat me parents"

"TWATTAGE"

annie naming the baby splodge

cutler's trap at the warehouse and the great transformation scene juxtaposed with the vampires staring at eve while nothing happens and they're disappointed

tom telling george "you ain't nobody's father." when you hear something like that from a sweetheart like tom you know he's right

regus not wanting to kill the baby so he keeps purposefully delaying the ritual and also him going "is that somebody's phone?"

that decapitated head just FLYING across the room followed by that badass reveal of george (but seriously how did that head travel so far??)

[fluffnflightillustrations]

A Renruki request: Renji watching anime for the first time with Rukia in the world of the living. Bonus points if they're watching it in Ichigo's house.

"This.... is the masterpiece of the human world." Rukia sat back on her bed, squished shoulder to shoulder against Renji as they shared Ichigo's lap computer atop their thighs.

The theme song brought the characters to life, the bouncy song and sparkling title screen setting the tone for the entire storyline. Rukia really needed to get one of these things for Soul Society. She tried to focus on the anime, but felt just a tad bit distracted, as any movement made by her anime-binging buddy squished up against her was maddeningly warm and enticing. "Wait-- this girl's name is Ichigo?" Renji was grinning ear to ear. "Did you make him watch this yet?"

"I've tried! Orihime showed me this one, and he refuses to watch it. Any chance of a schoolmate finding out could ruin his carefully honed teenage reputation." She snorted.

About three episodes in, Rukia couldn't bother to pay attention to the anime any more. It was alright, but magical girl anime's just weren't her favorite. They worked at a maid cafe as a guise, and they fought aliens as the bad guys. It was just a simple, overused plot line. "That guy's kinda fishy for a love interest."

"Care for spoilers?"

"Rukia, with all due respect, I'm probably never gonna watch another episode of this after today. Dump it on me."

"He's the boss of all the bad guys in disguise."

Renji rolled his eyes. It really was predictable, if even a buffoon like him could figure it out. Rukia leaned her head on his shoulder, very very subtly, so as not to draw attention.

Unfortunately, however, it was less subtle than she had thought, as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They both decided not to comment on it. Did it really need words, whatever this was? What mattered more was not defining this feeling, but relishing in however long it lasted. Defining it could wait till later. She would rather enjoy this moment as it stood.

Only 5 minutes later did the moment end abruptly, as Ichigo slammed open the closet door. "Seriously?? In my closet??"

Rukia launched her pillow at his face. "You know you could knock." Ichigo launched the pillow right back at her. "It's my closet! Not your room!" He rubbed his temples. "I need that back, I have homework to do." He swiped his computer, and made a face at the anime they were watching.

"I'm not even going to ask about it." He put his computer on his desk, and swiveled around to stare at the two shinigami, a scowl on his face, hands on his hips. "I have school tomorrow, I can't have you guys waking me up. Just get out of here soon." He shut the closet door, and his footsteps faded away as he walked to his desk.

Rukia and Renji grinned at each other in the dark. "What do you think we should do for an hour, then?" Renji's smirk was very difficult to make out in the limited light of the closet, but Rukia could well enough hear it in his voice.

"Does it really need to be said out loud?" Rukia smirked back, and rested a hand on his cheek, pulling his jaw bones down just enough to place a soft kiss on his lips.

"Stop making out in my closet!"

He was getting on Rukia's last nerve. "If it bothers you so much, put in your headphones!" Renji just chuckled. This last hour was going to be a fine one.

[yutamayo]

Do you mind if I ask your top 10 favorite characters (can be male or female) from all of the media that you loved (can be anime/manga, books, movies or tv series)? And why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....Thanks....

Oh shit!! No I have never been asked this (you're like my fifth ask ever) so I am very grateful for a chance to share!

Alright, so favorites? It'll probs be for a million diff reasons; the characters will have shaped me/my perspective on things in life bc I'm never a fan of things I don't find meaningful. But I want to make sure this list is based on the actual character and not just scenes/the media itself resonating with me. I chose these characters BC of who they are, their choices, their feelings...

Kaneki Ken

Hideyoshi Nagachika

Biaggio (The Kings of Summer)

Effy Stonem (Skins UK)

Samwise Gamgee the Brave (LOTR)

Armin Arlert

Arya Stark (GoT)

Light Yagami

Edward Elric

Hodaka Morishima (Weathering With You)

I don't think I can put it in any specific order bc I love them all for so many different ways, but here's my lil explanations...

Kaneki: Tokyo Ghoul was one of my first anime/manga, and will always hold a spot in my heart for that reason. Kaneki I love specifically bc of his character development. I'll say it now and I will say it again: character development is one of the biggest things for me. I want to be able to look at a character on the first episode and then at the finale of the show and I want to see two completely different people. That's what we got with Kaneki, but also him as a person; I personally connect with his reserved life and his complications around being a good person vs living for yourself and whatnot. We also will never get tired of a psychological break + white hair I mean, c'mon. The anime did the manga dirty 100% so if you're reading this and thinking Kaneki is shit I really do reccomend the manga; it truly shows the depth of his kindness, his trauma and his strength. Love that for him.

Hide: Fucking ray of sunshine sunflower boy my love. Anyways, I will always appreciate a subtly hyper-aware character. His nonchalance and lightheartedness wasn't a show or anything, but it was intentionally to relax the mood of the people around him all the while taking specific note of the things happening/his surroundings. Plus his dedication to the person he loves; I enjoyed that it wasn't an obvious and intense depiction (although it sucked he got so little screentime) but I do think he's intentionally shown to be someone who doesn't need to make a show of their love or dedication. Hide was in it till the end, and he didn't ever stop to get acknowledgment for that. He didn't need to BC that's just who he was and I love him for that.

Biaggio: The Kings of Summer (2013) is a movie that I grew up rewatching, it's amazing and reccomend it 1000% but my fave character is literally the side character (not the protagonist or even the second main character he's genuinely just there.) He is magnificent. This is partly a comedy movie and Biaggio is one of my favorite versions of comedy, the kind where he is clueless and absolutely on the spectrum, so fucking wholesome deadass funny and badass (I don't want to give spoilers but mans went head to head with a rattlesnake for a friend) and he's even more important to me BC my best friend and I had a special saying from the movie that we used for like personal and meaningful reference. Even going to get the line tattooed on my thigh. "Biaggio's right here." Yes. I'm getting that tattooed. And ik I'm not supposed to hype the media just the character but this movie also has one of my favorite lines in the world that I also want to figure into a tattoo. "I have no idea where he's getting the chives." (Yes, they're talking about Biaggio).

Effy: Skins UK is also one of the shows of my youth. Effy Stonem... When I first watched it she was everything I wanted to be, which, if you know Skins is a real fucking problem. My love for her used to be kinda toxic but my mental health at the time when I zeroed in on her as a character wasn't great. That being said, she probably means more to me BC of that. Her personally; her aesthetic and the way she really did not give a shit about things, but also the way it was obvious she wanted people to know she didn't give a shit, the way she sometimes cracked and asked for help, I loved the way she looked like she was unbreakable even while looking like a fucking mess. Then she turned out to be mentally ill and I resonated even more but not in a good way. I thought ab her over the years on and off, she was also smthn that fueled my ED so when things were bad my headspace was around there. Then the final season she was still a mess, but she was an adult and she was getting her shit done and making the most of her days. I started taking inspiration from that Effy. Got some character development of my own :)

Sam: Lord of the rings is smthn I grew up on (am I gonna repeat this every time...) my fam would watch the 12hr extended edition every Christmas. My main man is Samwise the fucking Brave. This man dedicated his heart and soul to his best friend. He was a dimensional character it wasn't just plain devotion; he saw the potential in frodo when he didn't himself and Sam just reminds me of support systems in general. Also my relationship with my own best friend. I'll never forget the way he cried, the way his heart was in it for a friend. He was strong yet he thought so little of himself. He's someone I can reference when I think of the fact that there are a billion different ways to be strong. And an infinite amount of ways to show love. I'm grateful for that.

Armin: Armin was my fave AOT character from the jump and still is. I saw his potential the moment those babyblues crouched over that mf book and that dumbass bowl cut hovered over the pages. I love him. He's smart, will go all the way for his friends, even if it's detrimental to himself. He grew up, well, is still growing up, and he's pretty much been forced to become confident in himself BC he's aware there's too much on the line not to be. I enjoyed that Armin as a person had those powerful qualities from the start, I enjoyed even more having them knocked out of him and put to use like cracking open an acorn shell.

Also just fucking baby non-binary twink whore baby

Arya: Arya. ARYA. I binged all of Game of Thrones like last year, I was never into the show when it was airing it was just kinda a thing. I tried reading the first book and enjoyed it but decided I just wanted to watch. So, when I start this shit, even when reading I fuckin loved Arya. Tomboy badass who won't take no for an answer and won't say yes if she doesn't mean it. The fact that from the begginging she was my fave, this little girl with trauma and determination (we seeing a trend here?) I will always appreciate that they made her wholeheartedly devoted to her revenge. No half-measures, no room for what everyone thinks should come with revenge; dissatisfaction. She was oh so very satisfied. I love characters that aren't good or bad, just people that believe in their reasons enough to devote themselves to them. And then of all fucking things, the goddamn finale she is the one who saves the world?! My girl, who I knew from the moment she appeared would do great things... Saved everybody's ass. So her.

Light: Okay now death note was actually like the second anime I ever watched and in those days (a decade or so ago) it was even more team L or team Light that it is now, it had it's own fucking Edward/Jacob twilight energy. Anyways I dedicated myself to team Light BC I rationalized his side in the begginging. The best part ab rewatching a show is seeing things in new light. At first he was badass and smart, next watch I realized he was pissboy. Even so, I fucking love him. I love that he's crazy and evil and delusional and has a god complex the size of the fucking Library of Alexandria. I like bad people, I do. I wouldn't irl but I find fictional media is a beautiful way to appreciate the ideal of things rather than the implications of them. So yes, Light lowered the goddamn crime rate and he had a great thing going. I wanna be Misa so bad, they'd have ruled the fucking world, if it weren't for L and those meddling kids.

Edward: Ed, my love. So FMAB was my first ever ever ever anime and my eternal genuine favorite. Edward, aside from the immense familial dedication and love, just really made me smile. I liked seeing his abrasiveness holding hands with his kindness. He made me personally invested in him too?? Idk why there's one scene where he saves/does something but ends up with a metal pole through his side under some rubble and yeah they get him out and it's fine but they didn't really acknowledge it and idk I remember constantly wondering why they didn't acknowledge how far Ed just went or how far he fucking goes to help people. I also love the mecha limbs aesthetic. Can't say no to that cyborg energy.

Hodaka: Weathering With You (2019) is probs my fave anime movie if I really think about it. Hodaka, I truly love BC his actions showed the purity of wanting someone you love to be safe by your side. He took notice of things that were beautiful, like in the way he was in awe of a home cooked meal. He wasn't afraid to yell or cry or push himself to the limit, if it meant protecting the people he loved. I liked that he's a "kid" but the whole time shows his maturity BC all these heavy things were thrown his way. He's dumb sometimes, whiny and essentially unrealistic.

Unrealistic. That's what you say when you've lost the determination to hope. To know and to try anyways. He never lost those things, and we could all take a lesson from him on that one.

~

So there's my silly little (Jesus it's so long) list of the silly little loves of my life. I know I'm gonna end up remembering someone at some point and wishing I had put them here but that's just the dumb bitch juice I had with breakfast talking.

Hope you enjoyed!! Y'all feel free to drop your faves and reasons in the replies!! Inbox always always open, and thank you so fucking much for sending this my way!! ❤️❤️❤️

[nellie-elizabeth]

Grey's Anatomy: You Make My Heart Explode (21x05)

Teddy and Owen are so annoyyyyyingggg...

Cons:

I'm sad for no Yasuda this week because I know we're losing her soon. I wonder if we're just phasing her out right now with not much more content to follow. It's a bummer.

Lucas and Simone have a romantic moment in this episode and while nothing was super annoying about their scene, I do just want to lodge my familiar statement that they bore me. Just so that's on the record.

Owen and Teddy are not fun to watch. In one sense they are realistically like an old married couple, but only in all the worst ways. Owen is such a whiner, and Teddy is so rude to him, and they both rather unprofessionally let it carry over into their working relationship, and then Richard has to do a Wise Old Man routine and talk to Teddy about it, and Owen has to remember how to be romantic and connect with her so they don't have to schedule sex... it's just so tedious. Better, I suppose, than the kind of melodrama that makes me hate the characters with a fiery passion, but worse than if they'd just fade quietly into the background and walk off of the show while nobody's watching. I can't believe these are the characters that are sticking around, and not Schmitt and Yasuda.

Pros:

I really liked Schmitt and Adams's dramatic helicopter adventure with their young patient! I felt some real tension for them and then felt the corresponding relief when they made it back safe. Amelia making eye contact with Lucas was a nice little touch, checking in subtly on her family... I also loved that Monica gave Levi the validation that he does belong in pediatrics and that she does believe he can be good at it. Schmitt is a lesson in how making a bad first impression doesn't mean you can't ultimately be really successful and find your place in the world. He takes a little longer to figure things out, but he always gets there in the end!

I was right about his love interest dude, too. Turns out, not a cheating thing. A dead husband thing. The comedy of Jo and Levi hiding in Jo's car from their problems as their men accost them from the outside was really funny, but I'm glad they didn't drag things out any more than that. Levi knows the truth now and they can proceed from there. I loved the line about how this is all really new for him, dating after being widowed... it puts Levi in a position to be the one trying to make someone else feel comfortable and safe, which I thing will be good for him!

Jo and Link are never going to be my favorite thing in the world, but I did at least like that they addressed the tension and fear they felt about the pregnancy in the way that they did. Link's fix-it attitude is his own way of coping with his fear, and it clashes with the way Jo needs to emotionally process. That seems like a very realistic conflict for them to be facing!

Blue ends up being an advocate for a member of the janitorial staff who has a serious health condition and can't afford treatment. I like stories about Kwan giving a shit, even though it's not like it's some big secret that he has a soft heart underneath all the attitude. I have a feeling that this will be a story-line that carries through the season, which is something Grey's has gotten better and better about doing in recent seasons - we learn that the hospital administrators want to help this guy get the treatment he needs, but the timetable might prove an issue, as the man has a son with special needs who can't be left on his own. I'd love to see Blue continue to problem solve on this and learn to be a better doctor and person through the experience.

I'm sure I've missed stuff here and there - Ben seems to be settling in just fine, Bailey is still a little anxious about it, the interns are all exhausted picking up Yasuda's shifts, but they're hanging in there. We finally saw potential movement on the Amelia/Monica front, but not a lot of development. Maybe we'll get a Meredith check-in soon? We'll find out soon enough!

7/10

[basingstokemercury]

Bank Run:

so they rob a bank which is a normal thing to do

the writing and characterisation felt rather un-bonanza-like, first comedy episode of the season but it was rather a disappointment

and NO WAY IS JOE 5'11"

the big highlight was adam's expressions throughout that man is a master of reacting eloquently without making a sound

uh i know i had more but the one after drove it all clean out of my mind

The Fugitive:

I was in tears. My eyes are still misty.

Not qualified to comment on the race aspect (which was minor anyway) being neither Hispanic nor white nor American, but what a story! What a setup! Making you think it'll be an investigation on this man but subtly twisting into a beautiful character study on my very own most wonderful cowboy!

I saw the twist coming miles off but they worked it so well which is what counts!

And of course I love it when Adam investigates things so much!

Poor guy having to face all this alone but then is he ever not alone when it really counts oh writers why must you do this...

"I put down roots on the ranch, on the Ponderosa, with my father and brothers"... I'm pretty sure that got a sob. But they cheated! Using foreknowledge is evil! But a similar line in The Savage didn't get that reaction so they must be doing something right even so.

AND HE GOT BEAT UP AGAIN AND WASN'T EVEN WEARING RED THIS TIME

"The great Adam Cartwright" THEY ACTUALLY SAID IT THIS IS GOING UP WITH THE SPITFIRE WHERE THE GUY CALLED JOE A PRETTY LITTLE FELLER

More points towards a theory I've been brewing for some time, that Adam is drawn to men who remind him of Joe.

Especially very young men but sometimes his peers, who are a bit wild and turbulent and need the right crowd to set them straight before the dark impulses and bad company take over...

Lost souls in whom he sees what his baby brother could so easily have been without love and guidance, for whom his razor-judgement wavers because he wants to save them and knows how thin the line is, and sometimes it's not too late but other times he has to accept that people make their own choices in life...

Oh, yeah the crying. Not because the ending was all that dark or tragic or unusually disturbing for this show.

This episode opened Adam's soul, and laid it out, and it was just so beautiful it brought the tears to my eyes.

Maybe that's the most ridiculously cheesy thing I've ever thought or admitted, but it's the truth.

Check out Bonanza, folks. You won't regret it.

[whovianwatchingstartrek]

A Whovian Watches Star Trek for the First Time: Part 032 - T'Pol's Repressed Memories

Star Trek: Enterprise - Season 2 Episode 7 - The Seventh

Looks like we've got another Vulcans want Enterprise to run their errands episode. Specifically T'Pol has been requested to pick someone called Menos up, and hand him over to the Vulcans. Of course, in typical Vulcan fashion, she is very vague about the details of her mission.

She also took Travis with her. I'm not sure why when it is just her who was requested by Vulcan command and she only directly asked Archer to come with her, but at least Travis is seeing some long overdue action, right? No, he's basically put to the side again. This is a repeated problem with Mayweather, the show just doesn't do anything with him, even when they decide to bring him along. He didn't even get any lines until well over three quarters of the way into the episode. He might as well have been any other faceless nameless member of the crew. It's making me start to question why they wrote him into the series at all if they're so reluctant to do anything with him. I can't even really call him a waste of a character, because they never set anything up for him either. Does the show ever get around to doing anything with him?

This is definitely T'Pol's focus episode though. This episode really shook her faith in herself with her repressed memories coming back, and her actress was really good at showing her subtly breakdown over it. The subtle cracks in her voice as she talked about killing Josen were amazing. Jolene Blalock is easily the best actor in this show, and she really got her opportunity to show off here.

The atmosphere in the alien bar was excellent. I love when sci-fi does the whole Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy thing, this was a great example of it. Everything here is so dark and grungy, which is a nice change up from the usual clean sleek ships we've been seeing so far.

There was a nice comedic B-Plot with Trip running the Enterprise while Archer and T'Pol were out. It's a small detail, but I like that Trip has picked up the captain's interest in Water Polo from back in Vox Sola. I loved this stuff. Seeing him go through all sorts of shenanigans as acting captain to prevent the Vulcans finding out that Archer went down to the planet with T'Pol was hilarious.

Parts of the episode kind of reminded me of the Doctor Who episode Boom Town, from the 9th Doctor era. You have the similar personal moral conflict of "We have prisoner, do we have the right to hand them over to the authorities if it means their death sentence. Are they lying to get our sympathies or do we believe them?" Which was a really compelling theme there, and it was here to.

I enjoyed myself here, and I really enjoyed the Character Work with T'Pol. I'm excited to see where this goes for her character arc of embracing a more Human way of thinking about emotions. Really good episode!

[5yn]

If only G-Witch'd had one more episode about [ 5nore ] my lack of creativity wouldn't have cramped me so hard with my vague ideas about how 5 has probably never seen the real sky, real landscapes, nature, weather and climate changes that can be unpredictable and pitiless on Earth when in space colonies all of that had been taken care of as much as possible through terraforming and calibrating of temperatures and climate for human living.

Like he interprets Norea's drawings of decay as a fear of demise and extinction and the show perhaps sort of encourages me to take that at face value but I also feel like it's just in-character too for him to miss the angle that maybe she was also celebrating the messiness and imperfection of nature, the way life persists in struggle, that's so opposed to the sterility and whitewashing of space-dweller living that she despises so much, right down to the sky itself being fake panels. He wouldn't fully grasp this, he has none of the context for why any of this would be worth appreciating or having sentimental feelings or attachment to - he just sees death and in that he sees fear and something to avoid or put off even thinking about or confronting directly. That's how he sees things.

...I also think it's cool how when 5 makes his big proposal speech expressing actual hope (and a desire to understand what she saw in those places she drew that she would immortalize them in art) for the first time ever it's set against a backdrop of the sky panel's lines showing their artifice being clear and glitching in some places. A subtly cynical framing to twist the knife further... Love it.

[iamnot-theboynextdoor]

sorry not sorry i'm writing actor meta about the appearance swap

this is going to get confusing when i talk about the layers of aziraphale, crowley, aziraphale-as-crowley, crowley-as-aziraphale, david-as-aziraphale-as-crowley and michael-as-crowley-as-aziraphale. sorry bout it

when we first see The First Day Of The Rest Of Their Lives, we as the audience are not supposed to know that They Are Not What They Seem, and so david and michael's performances are very subtle - so subtle that you're probably not even supposed to pick up on them on first viewing.

i love that in-universe, aziraphale and crowley have to perfectly fool their offices, and out-of-universe, david and michael have to perfectly fool us- at first, and then clue us in. and they do! spectacularly!

aziraphale-as-crowley replicates crowley's "i'm not scared of hell, i talk to other demons like i own the place" attitude, but his tone comes off as a lot more light-hearted then the real crowley's. behind his glasses, he opens his eyes wider, smiles more, even comes off as somewhat friendly. his posture is straighter; even lying in the bath, he's flat on his back, symmetrical with his gestures. his voice is lighter, but david-as-aziraphale-as-crowley keeps crowley's accent the same- until later.

crowley-as-aziraphale eschews aziraphale's politeness and holds his tongue when the angels try to dress him down, but his voice is a lower, less expressive, and he sounds very unimpressed (even when in the bookshop! looking at new books!) he frowns more, circles aziraphale-as-crowley protectively, and is decisively Not Nervous around the angels. the real aziraphale tries So Hard to get in the angels' good graces, downplaying his ideas, laughing nervously, swaying back and forth on his toes. crowley-as-aziraphale looks them all dead on with disapproval. michael-as-crowley-as aziraphale is *very* reserved in comparison to the real aziraphale, he deletes all the colour, tone, pitch, and affect from his voice.

when they sit on the bench together after the plan, that's the audience's biggest and last chance to figure out What's Going On before the official reveal. crowley-as-aziraphale is there, all pretenses gone, sitting like crowley normally does. aziraphale would never sit like that in his *life*. and he's sitting on the left side of the bench, facing camera right, which is where crowley usually is framed (unless he's driving).

and michael-as-crowley-as-aziraphale goes further into the voicework. he drops aziraphale's (or crowley-as-aziraphale imitating his) posh accent, and ends up somewhat midway into crowley's southern english accent. (apparently michael can also mimic david's voice perfectly, well enough to prank mr neil gaiman with, i so badly want to hear that impression)

aziraphale-as-crowley enters and sits, spine straight up, forward-facing, hands in his lap- crowley has never looked so well-behaved. and, of course, he's on the right side of the bench, facing camera left.

and david-as-aziraphale-as-crowley has the *softest*, lightest little voice, in a most-of-the-way-there posh accent (i wish they both had more lines, just so i could hear them talk)

watching david and michael in those scenes is like watching a gradient slowly change, as crowley and aziraphale go through layers of putting on the best performance as each other (but still having a few of their own personalities subtly showing) to blending their characteristics together- when they sit on the bench together (and it's like three lines!) they're sort of half-and-half, each, until they swap back. david and michael's performances in episode 6, both physical and vocal, are going to live rent free in my brain forever.

and i love michael's (i think it was his) idea of a stage show where they'd swap characters every night (he was originally going to play crowley), i'm glad we got a little taste of what that would be like.

[goldenroutledge]

Rafe and “i’m not worthy of anybody’s love.” “that’s not true, you’re worthy of mine.” followed by the lover breaking eye-contact… + a love confession

troubled waters

pairing: rafe cameron x reader

wc: 1.8k

warning(s): a lil angsty but ends in fluff

summary: in which rafe comes knocking at your door, in need of a friend, but you are ready to give him a hell of a lot more than that.

a/n: YESS THIS SCREAMS RAFE THANK YOU FOR REQUESTING!! 🤍

rafe masterlist

© goldenroutledge , do not copy, steal, or translate my work

Thunder shook your lonely house, amongst the lightning striking in quick and bright flashes outside but visible through the thin curtains. Curled up in a fuzzy blanket in your bedroom, many throw pillows nearly drowned you in them to tune out the noises of nature. So many throw pillows in fact that your TV show was playing at an alarmingly high volume. You could’ve sworn your doorbell went off, causing you to rewind your show 10 seconds to see if that’s where the sound was coming from.

Ok, definitely the doorbell, you concluded as it went off for a second time while the show was paused. Your parents weren’t set to return home from their trip for another week. And if anything, their postponed arrival was because of the storm. Nobody in their right mind would be traveling in this weather.

Tiptoeing down the stairs, you made your way to the front door slowly. Not without grabbing a large knife from the kitchen first, just to be safe. The porch light had been turned off because you weren’t expecting anybody, but the lightning and the street light further away illuminated the shadowy figure standing behind the stained glass door. Whoever they were, they should be thankful you had a fairly large porch that was the only thing keeping them from getting drenched in the pouring rain. In one swing, the front door flew open and left you facing your uninvited guest.

“Rafe?” You quizzed, putting the knife behind your back now that you’d identified the person. Stepping aside, you gestured for him to come inside before shutting and locking the door. “What are you doing here? And driving in this weather? Are you insane?”

A heavy sigh fell from his lips, pulling down the hood of his hoodie for you to get a better look at him. “I should’ve called. I’m sorry.” His line of vision scattered the floor. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

Peering up at him, you finally caught sight of his exhausted expression and puffy eyes. You frowned, reaching for him before remembering the knife in one of your hands that made him slightly jump upon seeing it. “What the hell? Why do you have that?”

“Oh, my bad.” You retraced your steps back to the kitchen and put the knife back in its place. “I wasn’t really expecting company at this hour.”

“Right.” He clicked his tongue in response, hands in his pockets. “Again, I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have just dropped in like this. I can go if you want.”

“No!” You debated a little too quickly. “I-I’m, uhm.. I’m glad you came, actually. I didn’t wanna be alone anyways.” You took his hand in yours, knife-free this time, and led him up to your room. “So don’t worry about it. You know my door’s always open for you.”

Rafe’s lips pursed tightly into the best smile he could give at your acceptance. Despite his attempt to look somewhat happy, the sorrow dripping off of him was evident.

To you, at least. Normally you could read Rafe like the back of your hand, and tonight was no different. Figuring out how to get through to him was the tricky part.

The both of you were leaning back on your large array of pillows, offering him a blanket to insulate his shivering body. You pressed play on your show again, shoulder to shoulder with your best friend, leaning into each other subtly.

An episode later, a wave of fatigue came over you, drawing a yawn from your lips as the end credits rolled on the screen. Now it was just you, Rafe, and the pouring rain outside. You looked over to him to see a few tears rolling down his cheeks. He blinked and let them fall as fast as they filled his eyes, mind clearly off in another world.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Rafe only shook his head no, exhaling shakily.

The two of you sat in the quiet for a few minutes, the storm still very much alive but it wasn’t the reason for the pangs of ache in your heart.

You wanted to tell Rafe he’d be okay, and that you’d be there for him. You wanted to tell him how badly it hurts to see him in pain, how much you loved him. But when the time presents itself. This wasn’t about you, not in this moment.

“Can I ask you a question?” He hummed, telling you to go ahead. “Why did you show up here tonight? Not that I don’t want you here, but in this weather, too? Did something happen?”

“I don’t know, Y/n/n. I trust you. I already told you I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Alright. I just need to know you’re okay, Rafe.”

“Now that I’m here, I am.” Rafe wiped his tears away, sniffling as he spoke up again, ready to confide in you. “My dad told me leave. Said he didn’t want to be stuck home with me during the storm, y’know.”

Your eyes remained fixated on him, showing him that you were listening. You held his hand in yours gently for support. “It’s probably better that way, too. When we are stuck home together it just gives him more time and reason to remind me of what a fuck up I am.”

Your eyebrows furrowed in disagreement. “Don’t say that about yourself, Rafe.” You debated, in a strong tone but also a quiet one.

“When you start hearing it enough, you believe it, Y/n. And lately I’ve been really trying— trying to do better for his approval. But nothing fucking works. I can’t stop messing up no matter what I do.” He ranted, hands running through his hair and at this point having let yours go.

Rafe threw the blanket off and stood up, his frame looming over your dresser as he banged his fist down on it in a single motion. “He’ll never love me like he loves Sarah.” An aggrieved sob escaped his lips as he looked up at himself in the mirror.

You followed him of course, moving across the bed and pulling him into your arms immediately. Rafe welcomed you, clutching your body to his and dropping his head to cry in the crook of your neck. In hopes to ease some of his pain, you caressed and curled some of his hair between your fingers.

“I’m not even worthy of his love, either.” He let out as he caught his breath. “I’m not worthy of anybody’s love.”

“That’s not true... You’re worthy of mine.” You argued, unable to stop the words from coming out of your mouth. The both of you froze, though you pulled back, holding his shoulders but eventually dropping your hands from them as the silence passed.

“What?”

Tears now pooled in your eyes, for several different reasons but all of the emotions combined became overwhelming. As much as you wanted to backtrack and erase the words from both of your memories, you couldn’t. You had to let Rafe know someone truly loves him.

“You are worthy of love, Rafe. I hate that you don’t see it.”

His blue orbs glimmered in disbelief, but optimism as they shined with new tears, for different reasons as well. “No.” He protested. “You said I’m worthy of your love.”

“Mhm.”

“So.. what does that mean?” He questioned with a hint of hope in his tone, though he didn’t want to embarrass himself by misreading anything. “You know I’m not good at reading in between the lines n’ shit.”

Reluctantly, you accepted his embrace for you now, resting your hands on his sweatshirt clad torso while his rested on your waist comfortingly. You closed your eyes as more tears slipped out, wishing you were dreaming right now. You didn’t want to face him. His rejection wouldn’t be easy at all, though unavoidable now.

“It means.. I love you, Rafe.”

His reaction wasn’t one you were able to gauge, your heartbeat hammering in your chest. “A-and I’m sorry if I just ruined our whole friendship because I’m an idiot who doesn’t think before I talk. It’s just so unfair that you have to feel unloved, Rafe. It hurts me too and I just needed you to kno-” Before you could finish, Rafe’s lips were on yours, intervening your ramble as he kissed you feverishly.

“Are you done?” He questioned once he pulled away, hands still cupping your face and caressing your damp cheeks.

“I guess so. But I- what was that?”

“I love you too, Y/n.” He confessed, giving you a genuine smile of relief and contentment for the first time all night. “Guess you’re not so good at reading between the lines either, huh. Even though I thought I just made it pretty clear for you.”

“Then maybe you should try again. I’m not sure that I’m following..” You teased, lips hovering over his before he kissed you once again, this time less sloppily but with the same passion.

Pulling away for air, your foreheads rested on one another’s, smiling like fools as the tears shed from you both were the last thing on your minds.

“I love you.” Rafe whispered, pure adoration taking over the look in his eyes.

“And I love you. Never forget it, okay? I’ll tell you everyday if I have to.”

He chuckled at your last comment, knowing there actually was truth to that. “Okay.” He pressed a featherlight kiss to your forehead in agreement. “Thank you.” He mumbled, expressing his gratitude for several of your actions.

Or not even your actions specifically, but how you made him feel. Rafe would never be able to thank you enough. “For always being here, for loving me. Even if I didn’t find out until a few minutes ago.”

“I’ve loved you for a lot longer than a few minutes, Rafe.” You chuckled against his chest at his joke.

“I know.” He reassured smoothly. “But it felt good to hear it. I didn’t know if I was ever going to.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” You conceded. “But I meant what I said. You deserve to be loved.”

His hand ran up and down your back soothingly. “I’m glad you told me. So now we can stop being idiots. Except we’re still idiots, but now we’ll just make out all the time.”

“Is this your way of asking me to be yours, Cameron?”

He scoffed, rolling his eyes in emphasis. “Seriously? I just told you I love you so why would I not-”

“I’m kidding, Rafe. Of course I want to.” You pinched his cheeks in amusement.

“I just had to make you work for it. I never thought you’d love me either.”

He laughed at your antics and somewhat strange logic, rain only tapping on your windows now. “Love was just a word to me until you gave it a definition, Y/n.”

a/n: i wrote this in a p r i l 😟 and forgot all about it. given it’s my one year writing anniversary i thought it would be fun to post another rafe work. the og being called ‘trouble in paradise’ & this one being called ‘troubled waters’ lol what a coincidence. anyways, thanks for stickin with me & my writing for a year <3

taglist: @ilovejjmaybank @missevi @nxsmss @cameronsrafe @msgorillagripcoochie @bibliophilewednesday @tovvaa @rudybarnes @annab-nana @babeyglo @reawritesthings @moniamaybank @outerbankspreferences @laneybobeczko-g @jjpouggues @j-j-may-bank @starrycigarettes @eifhames @outerbankies @pogueslandia @kaysapogue @mildkleptomaniac @whcclxr @mrs-cameron @maybanksslut @it-was-never-meant-to-be-boys @alanniys @sunnymaybank @amourslover

rafe: @vintageobx @chrisevansfuturewife @drewstarkeysbitchh @littlementalpolaroids @mildkleptomaniac @destourtereaux @kookkyra @iammirrorball

[mxchellesworld]

Discuss!

Spencer Reid x Reader

Synopsis; Where the team discusses the question ‘do you kiss after head’, you find out Spencer has too little experience to answer the question so you help him out

Warnings; smut, oral (male receiving), sub!spencer, praise, slight degradation 

a/n; LMAO im so sorry for disappearing again life has been actually kicking my ass but anyways lately i’ve been thinking about subby early season spence so here we go,, hope you enjoy!

***

Another Friday night and the team was out bar crawling after an easy case. But this time all members were there as it reached 11pm which was rare. Usually Hotch and JJ would have been home by 10:30 and Spencer wouldn’t have been there at all. But there was something light in the air which had all parties concerned sitting packed in a booth, laughing after each sip of their drinks. 

Since it wasn’t your first rodeo together you knew how the night went. It started off with Rossi offering to buy the first few rounds, always whiskey but he made an exception for Penelope. Then again who would deny her anything. 

Once the drinks were flowing and lips got a little loose, the questions would start popping in at the top of your heads. However these were not your run of the mill, ‘hows so and so doing?’ ‘done your taxes yet?’ oh no. The name of the game was discuss where you would all think of a question which would help you dig just a tiny bit deeper into your coworkers sex lives. 

Maybe if you were all sober then you’d avoid thinking of each other in such positions, pun intended, yet in this state your prying minds were open and your stomachs were ready to grow abs from bending over in laughter. 

You raised the margarita glass up clinking it with a fork to get the tables attention. Everyone including Aaron had a smile on their face, ready to hear the intrusive question for the night. 

“Ok my fellow profilers, doctor, and tech genius,” you added pointing at Spencer then Pen, “Do you kiss your partner after they give you head? Discuss!” you finished in your most formal voice. 

Right as you took a swig of your drink the mixed responses of yes and no filled your small space. 

“Why wouldn’t you? You guys especially, if someones willingly trying to swallow then you damn well owe them a kiss,” Emily finished earning nods and ‘exactly’s from JJ, Pen, and yourself. 

“Ok but thats weird. I just can’t explain it but its a no go for me,” Morgan finished. This only gained him a scoff and raised voices, “Hotch man help me out here,” he said looking over to the man hiding his smirk behind the amber liquid. 

“I have to agree with the ladies here Derek,” he said curtly. 

The girls yelped and hooted at Hotch for siding with them while Morgan sat with his arms crossed being the singular person left out as even Rossi agreed. Meanwhile you noticed the presence next to you had shrunk back and wasn’t too active in the conversation. 

“So Spence do you kiss your partner after they,” you trailed off shaking your fist by your cheek and poking your tongue in the side. 

He coughed as he instantly sat up quicker. Even under the dim lights of the bar you could still see the blush creeping up from his neck to his ears and the slightest tint on his cheeks. 

“Oh I uh- I never-” he said looking anywhere but your eyes. 

“You don’t kiss them?” you said raising your brows. 

“No! I-i mean yes. I would I think b-but I haven’t had the chance to actually partake in such.. activities,” he finished finally taking a look into your eyes. 

You could tell he was waiting for you to laugh in his face for being so inexperienced but you felt far from it. If anything you wished you could be the one to show him things. 

That sweet boy had you wrapped around his finger and he didn’t even know it. Maybe it was his naivety considering how exceptionally smart he was. Or maybe it was the cute sweater vests he wore and now he nervously tucked his hair behind his ears. All you knew was that you wanted Spencer Reid and tonight was your night to make it happen. 

You hummed taking in the information, “Well that’s not a bad thing Spence. Everything takes time,” you said putting your hand on his arm for comfort and giving him a smile. 

Going to turn back to face the table you almost didn’t hear Spencer go to speak again, “Do you?” 

Got him.

“Why don’t you find out pretty boy,” you said with a wink as you downed the rest of your marg. In the corner of your eye you could see Spencer shifting in his seat, subtly moving his bag to cover the slowly growing tent in his slacks. 

As the night went by you couldn’t help but really give him a show. You had popped open a button or two on the long sleeve you had on, since it was getting stuffy in the booth. Though when you leaned forward and jutted your chest out, the soft inhale of a breath from the man next to you was just serving as motivation to get bolder. 

For the last hour you called it quits on the alcohol and drank a few glasses of water before you drove home. Spencer had been uncharacteristically quiet ever since your little interactions. 

The team had all gotten up to say their goodbyes. Rossi going by and giving everyone a kiss on each cheek. Derek having to quite literally rangle Penelope from talking to passing by groups on their way out. Then there were two. 

You turned to the side where Spencer was nursing on his coke, “Hey pretty boy, it’s late, let me give you a ride home,” you said grabbing your belongings. 

“Y-yeah ok. Thanks Y/n,” he said getting up. You’d noticed how he still had the burnt orange bag over his crotch. He couldn’t still be hard could he? Well you’d love to find out. 

As gentlemanly as he was, Spencer opened the door for you to exit the building first. The whip of fresh night air cooling on your exposed chest and legs under your skirt. 

You unlocked your car and stepped in, Spencer waiting to hear the little beep signaling his side was open. As he sat down you heard him let out a little whimper. Your head shot over to look at him, you could tell from the flush on his cheeks he didn’t mean to let the noise out. 

Holding in your chuckle you started the ignition and pulled out of the lot, “Can I put on some music?” 

“Yeah I don’t mind,” he said looking over at you with his lips in a line. If it was anyone else, they’d probably think he was uncomfortable but you loved his tiny awkward smiles. 

The ride to his apartment was mostly silent besides a rare quip from Spencer about paper work or fact about an older building you had passed by. It fascinated you to no end hearing him talk. Spencer was a hand speaker, meaning he always used his hands waving them around and making gestures. The pale digits had you captivated. Probably a driving hazard but you couldn’t help but let your mind wander. 

You pulled up into one of the visitor spots and put the car in park. You looked over to see Spencer almost contemplating something. You’d seen the look on his face before when he was looking over puzzles. 

“Somethin on your mind Doc?” you said with a small smile. As cute as he looked when he was nervous, you’d never want him to feel uncomfortable around you. 

“Would you-,” he cleared his throat, “Wo- Would you maybe want to c-come inside?” 

“Of course Spence I’d love to,” you finished with a reassuring nod. 

As he led you upstairs you were giddy with anticipation. So what if nothing happened. He was your friend first and you were glad he was letting you into his personal space. Even if you wanted nothing more than to have him writhi-

“Y/n?” 

The door closing snapped you out of your thoughts. You didn’t even realize you were in his living room. The dark green walls and shelves bursting with books put a grin on your face, “Sorry Doc, just caught up in my thoughts. What did you say hun?” 

His brows practically raised to his hairline from hearing the pet name. While he was used to the names coming from Garcia they took a whole different light coming from your lips. 

“I was asking if you wanted water or something,” he said fiddling with the keys in his hands. Eyes darting everywhere but your face so you wouldn’t be able to see the flush rising on his cheeks. 

“No I’m fine thanks for asking though,” you said taking a seat on the worn leather couch. 

You reached for the tv remote making a face at Spencer to ask for permission. He nodded and you settled back turning on an old sitcom that played late at night. 

As the episode ended you both sat in silence. Again you didn’t mind but you could practically hear the cogs moving in Spencer’s brain. 

You were about to speak when he cut you off before you could even get a word out, “What did you mean by ‘why don’t you find out’.”

Gaining confidence you moved closer to where he was on the couch, slow enough for him to stop you in case he wanted to back out. 

“Well you have options pretty boy,” you said moving a leg to straddle him. Your hands instinctively going to his brown locks. You could’ve sworn you heard a little moan leave his chapped lips. Noted. 

“W-what are the options,” lust blown eyes looked up to yours. 

“One, you can put that mouth to good use on me,” you said trailing your finger over his bottom lip, “and let me cum over that pretty face.” 

His eyes shut hearing your words and you weren’t having it, “Nuh uh eyes on me honey,” instantly they were back on yours. 

“Or number two. I can suck you off and let you cum down my throat, but,” you paused making sure to roll your hips on his growing length, “ you have to give me a nice big smooch after.” 

The hands on your hips pulled you closer as he bucked his hips into you as you finished the sentence. It was clear which option was preferred. 

You moved to slide down in between his legs. You let your hands trail down his clothed thighs, causing him to jump. 

“Tsk such a needy boy,” you said mockingly, “Am I not going fast enough baby?”

“Please Y/n,” he all but whimpered. It was like music to your ears. 

Your hands went to his belt, looking up in his eyes for a final sign of permission. Once he nodded you quickly undid it and he lifted his hips to help get his pants down. You palmed him over his boxers, feeling the wet patch where he was already leaking pre cum. 

“Is this all for me Spence? Does the thought of my lips around you make you this hard,” you said taking him out of the striped confines. 

“Oh god please just,” he cut himself off. You could see his hands curling fists besides his legs. 

“Please what baby? I can’t give you anything unless you ask.” Your hands continued their task of leisurely stroking his length. 

“Fuck please put your mouth on me,” he rushed out, hips bucking to prove his point. 

The answer was good enough for you so you wasted no time in leaning forward and taking him in your mouth. Both of you let out content sighs as you tried to take him further. 

You looked up to see him with his head leaned back, eyes scrunched closes in pleasure. 

You pulled off with a pop, letting your hand work him over. “Better keep those pretty eyes on me before I decide you can’t finish.”

He looked down with a flash of worry, that was quickly replaced by a loud moan as you spit down on his cock before taking him in your mouth again. 

For a germaphobe, Spencer loved how nasty it was. He was thanking god or whatever higher being there was for giving him his eidetic memory because the sight below him was something he’d never wanna forget. 

Your eyes were teary and you had spit dribbling down your chin but he wanted nothing more than to give you more than just a kiss after you finished. Or well after he finishes. 

You could tell he was close by the way he was throbbing on your tongue. Again taking him out of your mouth you used both hands to jerk him off. 

“You’re doing such a good job baby. So good for me. You wanna cum in my mouth pretty boy?”

“God Y/n I’m so close please please please,” he whimpered out. 

“Cum for me baby, be my good boy Spence,”  you said before taking him down your throat. He was big, not girthy but long and it was a struggle but you’d be damned if you didn’t try to take him all. 

Hollowing your cheeks you bobbed your head quickly, egging on his release further. His hands finally found a place in the back of your head. Pushing you down further as he came. 

“F-fuck Y/n I’m gonna”

His moans and whines were a symphony of sounds you’d have on repeat in your head forever. 

You swallowed the salty release but before you could even wipe your lips you were being pulled up by Spencer placing his lips on yours. You moaned into the kiss, his hands gripped the sides of your face not wanting to let you go. 

The need for air made you both pull back. You looked at one another, chests heaving and looking like you ran a marathon. 

Then a sad look came across his face. 

“Spencer what’s wrong?” 

“You didn’t get any pleasure,” he said looking like a hurt puppy. Oh your sweet boy. 

“It’s ok baby, I can take care of myself,” you tried to shrug off.

He was quick to push you back on the couch, taking the spot you were previously in. His warm lips trailing down your exposed thighs. 

“I wanna do it, but only if you kiss me after.” 

[insomniactalks]

So, Ricky saw that EJ was stressed and just went ahead and flirted with Gina. I am trying to like Ricky but it's so hard. He's either extremely oblivious or just plain selfish. I can't even thoroughly enjoy the RJ scenes because he's so duplicitous.

You sent me this after 3.03, but I'm answering after 3.04 just aired, so needless to say, I'm so sorry for the late response anon!

My thoughts have actually changed about this after 3.04. I probably would have been defending Ricky after 3.03 because I really don't think that's what he was doing. I don't think he was purposely flirting with Gina and trying to be duplicitous at all. He even seeks out EJ to go on the late night adventure with him at first. So he was trying to continue to establish a friendship with him. I think they all left the tent b/c EJ was so stressed and thought that he needed some alone time. Which is understandable.

With 3.04, what confuses me about Ricky's feelings towards Gina is that it was so sudden. The first three episodes of S3 didn't have any buildup for Ricky having romantic feelings for Gina (and canonically, he hasn't had romantic feelings for her since S1). He was also trying really hard to be besties with EJ, and even Jet, but all of that was sort of put on the back burner in 3.04. He didn't seem super concerned about Jet going missing, even though Val said that he was. Also, EJ and Gina have been super public with their affection for one another in 3.01-3.03, but Ricky only seems to have a reaction/jealousy to it now. He also broke up with Lily just 4 days ago, which the writers subtly remind us of by mentioning her twice this episode. I don't believe that Ricky's trying to purposely hurt EJ or Gina, but he's clearly struggling with some kind of internal conflict towards them right now. Like he said, we "don't know the whole story" yet, and I get the feeling we're going to learn about what that means exactly later on this season. During the movie night, Gina says something about not liking liars, and we see both EJ and Ricky's reaction to this. We obviously know what the lie is for EJ (the letter), but Ricky looks over to EJ as Gina says this and then he leaves. There's clearly some secret Ricky is hiding, and looking at EJ seemingly makes him upset enough to leave movie night. (I also kind of feel like Ricky did that to himself because he chooses to sit right behind EJ and Gina of all the places he could have sat for the movie...)

I don't feel comfortable calling Ricky selfish in this situation because it's still unclear on what's happening. I don't think he's trying to be selfish, I do believe he genuinely wants the best for Gina. I could be wrong about this, but I get the feeling Ricky is extremely insecure about being the male lead, especially when this is Gina's shot at stardom. Ricky tries to sing "Love is an Open Door" with her, despite it being EJ's idea, b/c I think he's trying to make up for his previous experiences as a leading man. Maybe Ricky really wants to show everyone that he was rightfully cast as Kristoff. Corbin takes one look at EJ and decides he fits the villain role/leading man more, which leads to Portwell's (adorable!) duet. Unlike EJ's previous duet w/ Nini, things actually go well this time w/ Gina. Once EJ found his confidence, with plenty of encouragement from his girlfriend, he was nailing it as Hans/leading man. I think that probably makes Ricky feel really insecure, especially when Gina is relying on him as her co-star. The next thing we see him doing is going over his lines, b/c he doesn't want to mess this up. Slipping into the leading roles happened so easily/naturally for EJ and Gina, that I think Ricky is struggling with being a lead as well. This was also the first episode so far where Ricky seems a bit more distant from EJ. Like he's not actively trying with their friendship anymore, which again seems inconsistent. I'm not sure what the writers have planned for these 3, but I am interested to see where it goes, I guess.