#but what I think really happened with Roger is a story for another post

[youknowwhoiamassbutt]

I just adore trans Shanks and genderfluid Buggy. I've been considering making a fic with it, but knowing me, that'll probably never end up happening. So for now, trans Shanks with genderfluid Buggy will just have to live in my head.

I always imagine Shanks transitioning really young. He socially transitioned when he was a toddler, when he first learned the concept of gender and expression. Roger knew he was dealing with a ticking clock, so when Shanks hit puberty, he took him to a doctor to medically transition. Shanks had a massive glow up during his trans puberty, his delicate, pretty face becoming beautifully masculine, although, it took him a long time before he grew facial hair, something he was always jealous of Buggy for.

Buggy, however, HATED puberty. It was a much less affirming experience for him. It was awkward and uncomfortable, and while he's usually fine with his body, not really caring to think much about gender most days, using he/they pronouns so he doesn't have to bother, there were days that were just TORTURE! When Buggy was a kid and had femme days, she could just put on a different shirt, maybe wear a skirt, and no one thought anything of it, but after puberty, she had to try a lot harder on those days to be perceived as herself. Buggy was always jealous of Shanks for his easy and exciting puberty. Life just seemed to love that boy, everything always going his way.

Shanks and Buggy never really cared for gender roles or norms, both playing whatever roles they felt at whatever moment. However, Shanks LOVED when Buggy was femme. He always got to play protector, make the first move, just generally act a gentlemen whenever he wanted, but when Buggy was femme, Shanks REALLY got to play it up. He could pull out chairs for her, strut her around as his girlfriend, Buggy would even let him be clingier than normal, and what was really fun, was playing around with gender himself a little, helping her with her makeup and finding the right outfits.

It wasn't until Buggy and Shanks had split up that Shanks was finally able to obtain surgeries, and that was something Buggy REALLY wasn't prepared for at Marineford when they finally saw each other again after two decades. Shanks was fully, confidently, beautifully himself. It simultaneously made it easier and harder to stay mad at the man. He was so happy to see how comfortable Shanks was, but the jealously came back in full swing, until one day, on the Red Force, Buggy woke up and knew she was a woman that day, stuck in her uncomfortable, gross prison uniform which flattered her in all the wrong places. Shanks immediately recognized the issue, spotting her body language and change in speech, and he reminded her what it was like to be treated like a lady, no, not just any lady, like she was a queen. He strut her around the entire ship, proudly reintroducing her to his crew members, and he even gave her his shirt and a pair of pants he said belonged to someone named Uta, his button up being perfect to tie into a crop top. It had been so long since anyone had affirmed her like this that all of her anger and jealousy of him washed away. Sure, she was still mad about Laughtale, about the map and the devil fruit, about the obvious favoring that Roger had for him, and the objective potential he pissed away, but she couldn't stay jealous, she couldn't be mad at the person he was, just the circumstances that led to their falling out.

Obviously, Shanks and Buggy would have to get back together at some point, because goddamn, I cannot live in a world where these two are separated! But, that is a story for another time (cause I haven't thought about how or when trans Shanks or enby Buggy would get back together).

May I join into the transgendering with some Shuggy content?

As soon as Buggy joins the Roger pirates he cannot STAND Shanks. Shanks is clingy and overly affectionate and it’s obvious Shanks gets better treatment than him from the get go. He’s clearly the captains favorite because Shanks gets his OWN GODDAMN ROOM AND BUGGY DOESN’T. Sometimes Shanks gets days when he’s incredibly pissy and infuriated and gets away with stuff Buggy wouldn’t get away with at any rate, yet everyone’s sympathetic to him and he gets to take it easy for a whole day. Shanks doesn’t even have to fight for a spot in the showers for fucks sakes! Everytime Buggy wants to use the communal showers when he’s in there someone basically tells him to wait till Shanks is done and GOD HE HATES HIS FUCKING FACE! The only reason they hang out together is because Shanks is the only on the ship that’s his age, if there was anyone else on board he wouldn’t bother with that red headed fool. Although that time they painted dicks all over Rogers face when he slept was funny. And it’s better to peel potatoes arguing about dumb shit than spending that time peeling alone. And yes Shanks does look legitimately hurt whenever he gets those days of just being in pain for no reason and he actually needed to be told of to take it easy, because that dumbass actually WANTED to help Buggy scrubbing the deck? What the fuck is wrong with him?!

Shanks continues being clingy and annoying, gets sappy, tells Buggy that he’s his best friend and has the gall to just laugh when Buggy tells him to fuck off, they aren’t friends, Buggy hates him! “No you don’t.” That bastard says before pulling his Strawhats back over his eyes. “Where does he get off saying that!?” He hates his smug smile and his stupid face and the fact that this stupid, annoying, UNFLASHY fool is actually right. So he doesn’t even think too much of it when Shanks drags him back to his room one day, nervous and pacing. “What did you do?” “Nothing just… I want to talk to you-“ “Whatever it is I’m not interested unless there’s cash involved.” “Buggy please! You’re my best friend-“ “If you put laxatives into the beer again you’re on your own this time. I am not gonna-“ “Buggy!” Buggys head turns at a voice that is uncharacteristically sharp with him, oddly pleading. Shanks is fumbling with his shirt buttons “If I show you… please don’t laugh.” “I will laugh as much I well damn please you dick. Did you get a shitty tattoo on the last isla-“ Buggy tapers off. And just stares for a few seconds, because he’s not quite getting what he’s seeing. At first he thinks Shanks chest is bandaged, but upon closer expection it seems to be something like a cloth wrapped around his chest, held in place by several clasps in front of the garment. It’s almost the same tone as Shanks skin and it must have been made with great care, Buggy knows Rayleigh can be good with a needle. Suddenly a lot of things start to click into place for Buggy. How he never saw Shanks shirtless even if the sun was grilling down on everyone else. How Shanks seemed to prefer baggier shirts. How sometimes they would go into a town and people would look at Shanks with mild confusion,like they where trying to figure something out, before their captain put a hand on Shanks shoulder and ruffled Buggy’s hair and introduced them as “My cabinboys. Shanks and Buggy.” And how Shanks seemed to visibly relax after those introductions.

Buggy’s thoughts snap back to the now and he has never seen Shanks look so scared. He’s slumped in on himself , arms crossed and his nails are digging deep indents into his arms, his gaze is steadfast and confrontational, like he’s daring Buggy to say anything, but there is also this inherent panic to his look. It’s then that Buggy realizes he’s been staring at his crew member with an open mouth like an idiot. “Ah! I You- You are- I heard of this! So- uh- it’s not-“ “It means I’m-“ “I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS SHANKS GOD I’M NOT BRAINDEAD! I AM- God! Stop looking at me like that you fool! You think this changes anything?” Shanks lowers his head, his voice turns quiet“I… I thought.” Oh fuck. Buggy’s inner desire to weasel himself out of unpleasant situations comes through and he switches his tone immediately. “Shanks.” He says, wrapping an arm around his, now confused, friends shoulder and gesturing wildly with one hand “Shaaaanks, Shanksshanksshanksshanks. We are both men of the sea-“ “We are 14.” “SHUT UP! We are both … worldly gentlemen here. We have seen some truly flashy things in our time. Some truly mind boggling things. This-“ Buggy’s hand gestures towards Shanks makeshift binder. “Is nothing that I haven’t seen before.” “You’ve met people like me?” “Of course!” Buggy lies, a smug grin spreading over his face at Shanks incredulousness. “Most normal thing in the world. I am surprised you didn’t tell me sooner. Not that I would have been surprised and… what’s that face for?” “… Buggy…” “What’s with the tears?! I told you I didn’t care- WHATS THAT STUPID GRIN FOR?” Shanks ignores Buggy’s disgusted expressions and meek protests at being pulled into a hug “Thank you.”

Buggy awkwardly pats Shanks shoulder. “Yes, yes, you’re welcome, shithead, now let me go!” He pulls away, but Shanks expression makes his brain stutter for the second time in an hour, smiling at him trough tears and looking at him so softly. “Buggy-“ Shanks leans in closer “there’s another thing I wanted to ask you now-“ Buggy’s breath hitches for a second. Shanks has a little freckle right over his cupids bow. Huh. Funny. He never noticed. “Buggy….”

“… Wanna move into my room with me? I asked Roger and he said it would be okay if I’m fine with it. You’d get your own hammock away from the other guys and everything.” Fuck!! Yeah!!!

I am,,,, I am okay,,,, Don't,,, Please,, I am so fine right now,,,

Transmasc Shanks is so real,,, Everybody knowing except Buggy because they found him as a baby and he knew he was a boy really really soon (before meeting Buggy) and he's scared of telling him because of how he might react. Because they're best friends but Buggy often reacts negatively to him and he's scared he might actually start hating him for real,,, And he also has the biggest crush on him, so imagine how scared the boy is. And when they start sharing a room,, Buggy spends even more time with him and Shanks starts being more honest about himself. About the binder hurting. Or the dysphoria. Or his periods, which are the fucking worst and Buggy genuinely does feel bad about those. Buggy starts being protective of Shanks whenever somebody misgenders him or makes fun of him. Not that Shanks needs any protection, but his confidence fades away whenever shit like this happens. So they protect each other. It feels,,, Nice. And I just know they'd start falling more and more for each other and,,, It's just so sweet. Also, consider Buggy finding out about what non-binary means and saying "oh. OH! THIS IS FLASHY I LIKE THIS. IT SOUNDS LIKE ME!" and Shanks being his supporter number one until the end.

[callalillywrites]

His Scarred Omega Part 1

Alpha!Bucky really put me in a chokehold the past couple of days. I wasn't even trying to write his story just yet. Was actually trying write a one-shot that would happen after the main story, but yeah, he quite changed my mind and this feverish, 7-part story came to be in two days.

This is set in the same universe as Their Sweet Omega (aka It Takes All Packs to Make It Work). You don't really have to read that story first, which features Alpha!Jake Jensen with Beta!Pre-serum Steve Rogers and their Omega!Reader, but I would love it so much if you did. They hold my heart as much as Bucky does.

Relationship: Alpha!Bucky Barnes x Omega!Reader

Word Count: 1450

Summary: While helping out his friends, Bucky makes a shocking discovery. He's got a daughter he never knew existed.

Warnings: not much in this part beyond one shell-shocked Bucky

A/N: I wrote this story really fast as I mentioned above. It’s proofread but all mistakes are my own.

I also do not give permission for my work to be copied or posted on other sites or fed into an AI machine.

*****

Bucky is a weak man.

He really is.

All it takes a pretty face making those awful puppy eyes at him, and he’s putty in Angel’s hands.

She doesn’t play fair, either, enlisting Steve’s equally effective puppy-dog eyes.

Bucky kowtows in less than five seconds though he’ll forever say it took more than that to get him to agree to help them.

Spooky Season is right around the corner.

Angel and Steve feel bad for telling Jake he can’t buy any more big decorations for their home. It’s already overflowing as it is, but they do know he’s been eyeing a couple of pieces. He really is the best Alpha for them as Jake’s constantly doting on them and taking such good care of them.

One of said pieces is what Angel and Steve have wrangled Bucky into this whole mess.

They drag him to the store to pick up said piece, needing his Alpha strength and build since the piece weighs more than the two of them combined plus some. No way they can get it home, let alone carry it into their home. Delivery isn’t an option, either, without paying triple what the item costs.

So, he’s there and eyeing the piece with them.

A few grumbles come out under his breath. “I’m holding you to your promise, Angel.”

Angel simply smiles at him, knowing she still has his help and nods. “I haven’t forgotten. Name the date, and I’ll be there. We’ll take down that ogre boss together.”

“Your truck will hold this, won’t it, Buck?” Steve can’t help asking, seeing the piece himself and having his own doubts about this plan he and Angel came up with for Jake.

Bucky eyes the box holding the piece for another few moments before he finally nods. “It’ll be a tight fit, but I’ll make it work.”

With that, the trio begin working on pulling the giant statue from the low shelf and onto the flatbed cart they snagged from an employee.

With that successfully done, Angel quickly grabs up a spare ticket for the cashier to scan since the barcode is poorly placed on the bottom of the box. Not something they’re going to want to deal with and slow down the few lanes open at this time of day.

“I’ll go ahead and pay for it if you two want to start making your way to the truck,” Steve says, taking the ticket from Angel and rushing off before she can think to argue.

Bucky bites back a smile when he sees and hears Angel huff at Steve’s retreating back.

“The punk is gone, Angel,” he says.

“He promised we’d split this gift.” Angel turns back to Bucky with a look he’s come to understand all too well in the almost two years he’s known her now. He does his best to brace himself as she grabs the front of the flatbed cart. “Time to do some extra shopping, I guess. If I can’t use my money on Jake, then I’m going to use it on Stevie.”

Shaking his head, Bucky knows better than to try and dissuade her at this point. “How are you going to hide this gift from him when he’s with us?”

Rather than answer, Angel just gives him a mischievous look that has him bracing for whatever he’s about to witness.

He can’t help wondering how Jake handles these two most days as Angel drags him towards the art supply aisles of the store. A basket somehow ends up in the crook of her arm where she’s already tossing several items within it. How that happened, he can and will never be able to explain.

Within five minutes, she has the basket overflowing with supplies.

Bucky can make out a lot of the brands that Steve really likes, including some of the more expensive items that Steve only splurges occasionally to get himself.

When Angel is satisfied with her overflowing basket, she grabs hold of the flatbed and helps him maneuver toward the front of the store again.

Seeing the satisfied grin on her face, Bucky can’t help wondering if he’ll ever find someone who wants to spoil him as much as Angel, Steve, and Jake spoil each other. That’s the kind of love Bucky wants, but he’s not sure it’ll ever be in the cards for him.

It’s on their way back that they overhear a young girl, probably no older than 8 or 9 as she whined about one of the latest costume trends. “All the girls are going as Harley Quinn this year, Auntie. Please? Please?”

The woman’s voice niggles at Bucky as he overhears the woman say, “You can go as a butterfly or a witch, but I draw the line at Harley, Gracie. We can talk about Harley when you’re older.”

“Mama would’ve let me go as Harley,” the young girl named Gracie grouses back. “I wish she was here instead of you.”

Bucky isn’t sure why or how it’s possible, but it’s like he can feel the disappointment and sadness of the woman at the young girl’s words. No doubt the woman is an Omega, but he’s never had such a reaction to someone like this before. He briefly wonders if Jake has had this reaction with either Angel or Steve before. A mental note is made to ask Jake later about it.

When they round the corner, Bucky gets his first glimpse of the Omega and the young girl named Gracie.

He forgets how to breathe as he takes in the familiar features of a woman he never thought to see again. A woman who’d been little more than a young lady when he last saw her.

Has it really been almost ten years since he’s seen her?

Yet, it’s not the Omega from his past that captures his focus as much as Gracie does.

The little girl’s appearance is enough to send Bucky to his knees.

It’s not possible.

It can’t be.

Yet, there’s no denying this Gracie looks just like him. The same dark hair. The same crystal blue eyes. Even her nose and mouth match his as they pout up at her aunt.

“You okay, Buck?” Angel asks, her gaze going between him and the Omega with the little girl. “Bucky?”

Her questions don’t go unnoticed, either, as the Omega turns her attention to them. Her eyes widen and her lip instantly goes between her teeth. A gesture that Bucky recalls she does when she’s feeling guilty about something.

No one speaks for another full minute.

At least, not until Steve happens upon them and sees the Omega.

“Sapphire, is that really you?” Steve asks before his gaze drops to the little girl.

Bucky knows he’d be laughing at Steve’s comically shocked expression if he could just get the ability to breathe and function back into his own body.

“Who is this?” Steve finally asks with a soft smile at the little girl. He holds out his hand to the little girl and introduces himself.

“I’m Gracie.”

She adds her last name as she takes Steve’s hand.

Steve’s gaze bounces between Gracie and Bucky. It’s clear he’s coming to the same conclusions Bucky already has made at seeing the little girl.

Gracie is his kid, and Dot is her mother.

Dot, the woman who broke his heart all those years ago with a Dear John letter. The same woman who has given birth to his child and never bothered to tell him.

“So, I think we need to talk,” her aunt says, her gaze never leaving Bucky.

Bucky nods, drawing on his inner alpha to help him regain control of himself.

“Yeah, we do.”

He wants answers, and he’s going to make sure he gets them one way or another.

“Tomorrow at noon?” her aunt asks, naming a quiet café not too far from the store.

Bucky nods again, then turns his attention to Gracie.

A small smile grows on his features as she’s lost interest in Steve and has turned her attention to him. Her eyes study him in a way that he knows he’s done with others throughout his life. She’s taking note of everything about him, and he can only hope he doesn’t end up disappointing her.

Whatever doubts he might have, they disappear the longer he and Gracie measure each other.

She’s his.

When she holds out her little hand to him, he has to swallow the emotions clogging his throat as she introduces herself. It takes him a few tries before he can tell her his name in return.

Now, he has to make sure he doesn’t lose any more time than he’s already lost with her.

*****

Verse Masterlist / Main Masterlist

[manofbeskar]

Okay, I am interested in your Dracule Uta posts now. (She's just so cute and I just know he embroidered that flower on her onesie!!) I need to know more!!

I don't have too much details yet but this is what I have for now:

While Shanks finds her in a treasure chest after raiding another crew, Mihawk instead finds her after killing some marines and discovering her on their ship, eating a devil fruit. He figures the Marines probably don't have good intentions for her so he takes her with him.

For the first few days/weeks, he tries to find another home for her. He thinks his life as a marine hunter and lone pirate is too dangerous to care for an infant. A bit of a Buddy Daddies thing in that way, that he's too dangerous to be around and frankly doesn't want the responsibility.

When he finds out which devil fruit she ate (still the Sing-Sing fruit), he realises he can't risk her falling into the hands of someone more corrupt who can manipulate her powers. He decides to go all in and try his best to raise her properly.

He goes to Shanks for help. He himself never had good parents, but he knows Shanks had a good relationship with Roger and his crew also has older men who may have advice to offer. He gets closer to the RHP this way, learning from them how to best care for a baby.

Shanks grows close to Uta. He likes that her hair makes her look like his and Mihawk's baby. He also treats her like she is their kid, always accidentally calls himself her father. Uta also thinks of him like that. Similar to Buddy Daddies again, Mihawk and Shanks both acknowledge they have parental roles in her life but, at this point in time, don't view themselves as romantic co-parents.

(Of course, they have feelings for each other but Mihawk is oblivious to his feelings and Shanks is secretly crushing hard. He loves how good Mihawk is with the kid and how hard he's trying)

Shanks likes to bribe Uta with sweets to talk him up to Mihawk. Always backfires on him because she's way too frank about it (learned that from Mihawk). She'll just say shit like, "Mihawk, Shanks told me he wants to kiss you!" and it embarrasses Shanks every time.

Uta loves being carried by Mihawk. He carries and controls Yoru so easily. Even teen Uta is practically weightless in his arms. It reminds her of when he first found her and rocked her in his arms as they rode his boat back to his home.

Uta sees Mihawk and Shanks's feelings for each other grow over the years until on her 12th birthday she told them to get a grip and go out already. They went out and have been together ever since.

Mihawk and Shanks figured out a co-parenting arrangement a few years before Shanks docked at Windmill Village. Mihawk thinks it will be good for Uta to go sailing with Shanks every once in a while as his experiences sailing with him have always ended with fun stories and meeting new people.

Mihawk wants Uta to get out there and appreciate the world's vastness. He often takes her sailing (if she isn't sailing with Shanks) and shows her all his favourite spots. Sometimes Shanks comes along and tells her stories of "that time me and Mihawk came here ourselves and this really cool thing happened"

Mihawk let Shanks take Uta for longer than before when he docked at Windmill Village as he wanted Uta to make long-term friends that weren't twice her age like himself and the RHP, so she still meets Luffy. While he is a loner, he wants Uta to experience everything and meet people from all walks of life so she can figure out exactly who she wants to be.

Mihawk trained her to be a strong swordswoman since young. She's very skilled with the blade but told him she wanted to be a singer. Mihawk supports her preference and is happy to listen to all her new songs. As he strived to be the greatest swordsman when he was young, he now wants to help Uta become the greatest musician. He tunes in for every broadcast she does and makes sure the RHP catches them too. Uta still cares a lot about her swordsmanship and practices it often to stay sharp.

She carried a bamboo sword as a kid, then got Shanks's old one with the red hilt as a hand-me-down when she was 15. For her 18th birthday, Mihawk had a Yoru-inspired blade crafted for her. She named it "Musica". It looks similar to Yoru but the orbs are red and heart-shaped, the blade isn't black, and it's shorter.

She lives at Kuraigana with Mihawk but splits her time between there and wherever Shanks is. When Perona moved in, they became close friends. Perona loves hearing about her Mihawk stories. She also regularly duels with Zoro when he moves in, insists he doesn't stand a chance against Mihawk if he can't even beat his first student.

Uta's favourite colour is teal because it's the colour Yoru's blade shines.

Her eyes have rings as Mihawk also taught her powerful observation haki (I don't know if the rings are directly relevant to that but I like how the rings look on her)

[general-cyno]

I've been musing about it for a while, thanks to some posts I've read recently too, and honestly... one of the (many) fascinating aspects of zolu to me is the way they share parallels/connections and or similarities to important figures in OP's world. spoilers for the most recent arcs and reveals ahead!

perhaps the most blatant and one of my personal favorites, are luffy and zoro's similarities to roger and rayleigh. as OP's mc and someone who's on the road to become the pirate king, luffy's own similarities to roger have come up a lot throughout the story and they've been acknowledged or pointed out by other characters like shanks, rayleigh himself and yamato, for example. from the goofy parts of their personalities, to the strength of their wills, and their dreams, luffy and roger's parallels are consistent in OP,

and as seen in rayleigh's brief memory of their first meeting, the straw hat luffy received from shanks was originally worn by roger back when he was young.

albeit the circumstances are a little different - with them stumbling upon each other by chance vs luffy going out of his way to meet zoro after learning of his name and reputation - this first meeting is still reminiscent of zoro and luffy's, with both ray and zoro initially rejecting roger and luffy's invitations to join them in their journey.

as for rayleigh and zoro, there's also a bunch of parallels between the two!

due to his previous time as a bounty hunter in the east blue, zoro made quite a name for himself and as OP progresses, his renown as the pirate hunter and the straw hats' swordsman is only second to luffy's. he was also the 2nd straw hat to get a bounty, and he's usually right behind luffy whenever their bounties go up. similarly, rayleigh was (and still is) considered a legend second to roger himself, strong enough that garp still views him as a powerful foe the marines can't easily defeat and managed to scare blackbeard away from amazon lily without an actual fight, despite the latter's strength.

there's other stuff too: the eye scars, both zoro and ray being greatly skilled swordsmen, their love for booze, being users of all three types of haki and even their epithets! from what I've read from other OP fans in discussion threads and through some internet search, rayleigh's title of "dark king" in jp is actually the name or word for pluto (the god of the underworld, roman mythology's equivalent to hades) in said language. in comparison, "enma", the name of zoro's most recently acquired sword and the "king of hell" title that he claimed after defeating king in wano, are a direct reference to the buddhist deity of the same name in jp mythology, also known as yama - a god of the underworld in charge of judging souls.

from the most recent flashbacks of the god valley incident, too, you can see the physical resemblance between these duos:

(as a bit of a side note, I think it was nice that rayleigh not only took it upon himself to mentor luffy, he was also the one who protected zoro from kizaru in sabaody and after the timeskip, during the straw hats' reunion in the archipelago and as they bid their farewells, zoro went out of his way to thank him for everything too.)

all in all, considering how close roger and rayleigh were (to the point roger called him "partner"), their strength, reputation and their overall journey with the roger pirates crew - the fact that luffy and zoro share more than a few clear similarities/parallels to them is really good imo, and it speaks both of the importance of their relationship and of the kind of figures they're bound to become, or are already becoming, in OP's world and ongoing history.

although it'd be sweet to have zoro and luffy directly refer to each other as partners as well (which kid and killer, another captain/first mate duo, have done too) I'm not sure it'll happen, if only for the sake of keeping the relationships between luffy and the crew balanced, so to say. still, like I said, knowing how close luffy and zoro are and that they share parallels with other captains/first mates, I think that says a lot about them regardless and the importance they hold for each other and the story as a whole.

another interesting resemblance between zolu and characters who are connected to one another involves, of course, shanks and mihawk - both of which are not only acquainted with each other, as rivals and friends of sorts, but also served as luffy and zoro's mentors/guides at different points of their lives and presently stand as their eventual foes to face in order to reach their goals of becoming the pirate king and world's greatest swordsman.

aaand last but not least, because it's yet another favorite of mine: joy boy/nika and shimotsuki ryuma. I sort of talked about it in another post, and I find it pretty cool. nika and ryuma come from different eras and don't exactly have much to do with one another but luffy's DF awakening and defeating kaido led to "joy boy" (since luffy refused to take credit for it directly by name) being hailed as a hero to wano that's comparable and only rivaled by ryuma, who in the past defended the country and was considered a legendary swordsman, whose sword shusui (that zoro wielded for a while) is a national treasure even.

since the hito hito no mi: model nika is a mythical zoan and vegapunk's speculated that devil fruits come into existence as manifestations of hope and wishes (or a potential for human evolution someone's desired), among other things, nika's existence as an actual god is kind of a subject of current debate in the fandom BUT. the fact remains that whether real or myth, he's still mentioned in old texts and his story has been shared among those enslaved by the WG, as a call for hope and freedom. in addition, even though he was human, ryuma also became revered as a savior figure and a sword god by the folks of wano.

so when you have luffy embodying the sun god of joy and liberation,

and it turns out zoro is none other than a descendant of the shimotsuki (frost moon) family, who resembles the former daimyo of ringo and the god of the blade ryuma,

well. those are some crazy parallels luffy and zoro share outside of their equally kinda crazy and meaningful relationship, as individuals and crew.

[vvaspoppie]

Doc Ock x Symbiote!Reader

→ Author’s Note: Requested this from another writer (that’s also really cool), and decided to also write my own version. No specified version of Ock, pre and post evil versions are mentioned.

→⚠ Warnings ⚠: unethical science,

→ Fandom: Unspecified

→ Genre: Headcanons

→  Pronouns: They/Them

The Backstory:

You were a scientist who worked on studying the organic matter samples Colonel Jameson had brought to earth. Unfortunately, one of those samples was capable of a lot more movement than originally believed.

Long story short: Some of it bonded with you, you quit soon after due to not wanting anyone to get suspicious then started working at Oscorp.

Pre Tentacles:

He, and almost every other co-worker, is a little bit curious about the fact that you quit your last job to work at Oscorp but drops the subject after the mention of an NDA (which wasn’t true)

Notices you talking to yourself a lot, but doesn’t question it much. Most of the scientists he works with have an odd habit or two.

You totally slip up and call yourself 'we' in a conversation, which he does bring up

"There's a perfectly reasonable explanation if you give me enough time to think of a lie."

On to the actual dating

You guys keep it on the down low and by that I mean absolutely nobody knows. He likes privacy

His love language is talking about his experiments and asking you about yours (and physical touch but that takes a while)

The symbiote makes the relationship difficult, especially because he doesn't know about it

You don’t ever tell him about the symbiote, the symbiote speaks for itself (literally, and to a disastrous extent)

He takes a while to process it, but once he does he shares his work on his tentacles

He tries not to think of the moral implications of the whole situation because he loves you and knows you wouldn't do harm intentionally (he is wrong)

Post Tentacles:

Ok so in most versions Otto goes missing for a brief time after the accident™

So what happens in this brief time?

Chaos. Pure chaos and fear

Not only are you distraught and angry but your symbiote also formed an emotional attachment

Absolutely no one gets a break. Criminals, civilians, co workers, Norman even Spider-Man

The streets are filled with nothing but fear and it stays like that until you get your Otto back

At which point:

Yay, evil power-couple time!

I mean what did you expect, you’re the host to a symbiote that eats people to survive and likes to commit crimes; there is almost nothing he could do that you either 1) haven’t already done or 2) had to literally fight yourself not to do

He changed after the accident, and it reminds you of when you first bonded with your symbiote. You try and be patient, knowing that he's still the same person, just with a different attitude and outlook on life.

With some communication skills being flexed, the relationship works out well

He also gains a new thing to be mad at the world about (Tabloids keep calling him a monsterfucker and so does your Symbiote)

It's that whole Roger and Jessica Rabbit thing except no one knows who's Roger or Jessica at any given moment.

You keep working at Oscorp to keep suspicions low and provide insider information

Yes, the suit makes you look very good - now do you want to be part of the Insidious Sinister Six or not?

You don’t want to fight Spider-Man head-on most of the time (much to the Symbiote's chagrin) so you agree to work with them, but not be on the team.

Anyway you end up kicking ass and now half the team is scared of you (Much to the Symbiote’s delight) (remember that episode in the 90s show were Venom Spider-Man almost kills Rhino and Shocker? Yeah you do something like that)

His ego may be nearing the size of the sun, but even then he’s slightly scared of what would happen if your symbiote gained full control. (Your symbiote likes him so his nerves are good, but still makes sure nothing happens that affects your memories)

Speaking of which he wants to do some - totally not evil because he loves you- experiments revolving around the Symbiote

Overall, the relationship is wholesome, if not unconventional.

[neverfilth]

Started writing down my Blobs/Papermouth thoughts, and it got out of hand

One of the main reasons I'm so on board with the Blobs/Roger storyline is that I see some potential similarities between him and Raymond that could lead to some interesting developments in the relationship's dynamic.

They're both cowardly men who had very obvious struggles with their wives. Florence and Sherry are VERY different situations, but both had some sort of conflict within their marriage that stemmed from the husband's inability to communicate properly. 

Both cope with their cowardice in different ways. Though Roger is shown visiting Forghetty's, I don't see him having alcoholic tendencies. I see it as a man desperate to find someone to patch a wound he is still very clearly feeling the hurt of.

Instead, Roger uses his gun as a replacement for his cowardice. It's a very unhealthy coping mechanism, but it's clearly reflexive for him.

It creates a sort of parallel situation that, if approached correctly, could've told an interesting story for Blobs. 

When searching for info about what was officially said about the lost Blobs/Roger plotline, there was a bit of posting in a long defunct adult swim forum, and one of the things that was said was that it would be good for the both of them. I've tried to find the other pages of this forum, but they're unviewable on the wayback machine for some reason.

What does this mean for them?

Well, I think Blobs would be able to finally focus on herself by pursuing this affair. She would have someone who's finally paying her the attention she craves so badly, and as we've seen in a couple scenes Blobs has an interesting shift in demeanor when she is treated with any degree of kindness.

Being in a better headspace would potentially soften her mood and open her up to that development she needs so badly. 

But she would have to be able to accept the fact that she was having an affair, something she really never did with the whole Danielle situation. If she did want to throw it all to chance and leave for Papermouth, that would put a very big spotlight on her and her family. 

She already has one kid who is a constant reminder of her own infidelity, one whom she consistently shuns away and pretends isn't there.

So what's one of the first steps here?

Acceptance.

A couple stages of it.

First, she needs to accept Shapey and be able to form a proper bond with him, which I think is much more possible with her in a more positive headspace.

We see Shapey on track to develop more, but that plot thread is abruptly cut as the series comes to an unfortunate early end. 

But we do get the:

“When I'm thirsty, it feels how I feel when I'm alone” line.

A statement in which Bloberta has a very different reaction to. Her son is talking to her like a person, and for the first time, she finally sees him. 

This would be the starting point for her to wake up and start attempting to form a real connection with Shapey. To move past viewing him as a remnant of actions she sees as unclean.

But these actions are things she's repeating yet again, and that's another step of acceptance. 

She needs to accept that she isn't this perfect flower of a housewife who grins and bears it every day. 

She has needs and wants that are not being fulfilled in her marriage. She is a miserable shell of a person, a zombie shambling into her grave every single night. With the only strong emotion she has left being resentment.

And that creates a cycle. A vicious cycle that can only be broken if she can admit her truest self wholeheartedly. Appearances be damned.

Only then can she have an actual shot at finding happiness with a man or without. 

Could she actually do this?

Maybe and maybe not, but her and Roger can only happen properly if she does.

At that point, it's just about how they can help each other grow into better people.

Besides the running gag of him having an itchy trigger finger, Roger is mostly shown to be a well-meaning but very cowardly man who seems to wear his emotions on his sleeve. 

He's very open about how he hasn't gotten over Florence, and he very much still loves her. In sacrifice, he even cares more about defending her than himself.

Which in Moralton is definitely not the norm.

He was also very kind to Orel in Beforel Orel when he was supposed to be in trouble.

Gave him his punishment malted. A very stark contrast to how Clay and Bloberta have handled their children. (Ironically he still has the gun in his hand here)

Though there is very little to look into for Roger's character, the pieces are still there. They're just very small since he never really got to graduate out of background character status.

Despite this, we know a few things at the very least.

He's a coward, he's a bit stupid, he seems to be pretty emotional, and he has some desperation to him as well.

How are these traits good for Bloberta?

Well for one Roger is a pretty simple guy, which is already a stark contrast to Clay who has his own slew of complexities and baggage.

But a guy who's so desperate he’s willing to throw cash at the first woman he sees just for a bit of company? That's right up her alley.

She could easily become charmed by someone who would pay attention to her but add fancy gifts on top of it, and she's sold.

Or bought, I guess.

The important thing is that she would feel wanted and appreciated.

I think his cowardice would be the one thing that drives Bloberta to help him in turn. I said before that I do see some potential parallels between him and Raymond and I think that would resonate a lot with Bloberta.

Especially if she was forming a growing connection with Roger. She would potentially feel a similar way with him to how she did when she was around her father.

But she wouldn't want it to be exactly the same obviously, as that was never a favorable situation for her in the end.

So in turn she would want to help Roger in a similar way to how he helped her.

If she was able to become happier and move past the barriers that are holding her back she could begin to turn her focus to helping Roger with his own shortcomings.

Perhaps he is able to speak his mind easier, or is able to get over his overcompensation with his gun as a replacement for courage.

There's a lot of different ways this could all go and I won't get into all that now, but that speculation is a big factor as to why I like the potential of them getting together.

Notably in the way things are worded in the lil snippet summary we had from the emo orel arc, Blobs apparently tries to cheer Orel up which I think is very interesting wording and I have to wonder if this would've been during this affair arc for her.

But yeah this cut plot thread has me in a chokehold and I think it's really interesting.

At the end of the day it's all speculation but that's part of the fun of it!

[captaintoomanybattles]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤

(Not sure which blog would be best to send it)

Thank you so much for the ask! This is the blog I normally post fic on, so this is perfect.

Five favorite fics I've written:

Not a Perfect Soldier: This was the first long fic I finished, and I'm still really proud of it. Steve in canon has a lot of agency (even if I think SHIELD definitely tries to manipulate him), so I was fascinated with the idea of what would change if he started out in captivity.

In a world where HYDRA was wiped out in the '40s, Steve is found by the Army rather than SHIELD. General Thaddeus Ross wants a perfectly obedient super-soldier at his command, and to that end, he sets out to break Steve to his will. As Steve struggles to come to terms with all he has lost, his life in captivity is only made bearable by the presence of another prisoner-- another super-soldier known only as "Soldat". Then the Avengers strike a deal with Ross to "borrow" him for missions, and Steve is faced with a team who dislikes him, an organization he doesn't trust, and the question of what he's willing to do to escape Ross's clutches.

The Kind You Save: I love exploring the idea of what Steve would be like as the Winter Soldier, and what the Winter Soldiers would be like if there were two of them. I also love Sam Wilson, and it was really fun to write the relationship between the three of them!

When HYDRA sends the Winter Soldiers to assassinate the new Captain America, they expect the mission to be an easy one. After all, they're super-soldiers-- how hard can it be to kill one unenhanced human? As more and more of their attempts prove unsuccessful, however, the Soldiers' respect for Wilson grows, as does their suspicion that HYDRA's motives are not what they seem. If Sam Wilson is a good man, what does that make them…?

Six Blade Knife: Another fic with Steve and Bucky as Winter Soldiers. This is basically exploring how the Soldiers, conditioned to expect the worst possible treatment, would react to a kinder captivity with the Avengers. I started a WIP with this premise a long time ago but didn't really know where to go with it; I ended up sharing it with ZepysGirl, who helped me figure out an actual plot!

During a raid on an AIM base, the Avengers find a pair of cryotubes in a basement laboratory. When they release the men inside, they find that they are none other than the Winter Soldiers, the assassins so mysterious that most people in the Intelligence community consider them little more than a ghost story. However, as they learn more about the Soldiers, Sam and Natasha begin to suspect that the Soldiers may not have been operating under their own free will. Soldat and Kapitan wake from cryo to new handlers unlike anyone they've encountered before. Captain Wilson and Agent Romanoff seem to have no interest in hurting them, wiping their memories, or sending them on missions. As the Soldiers adapt to this kinder status quo, they must decide how far they are willing to go to protect their new handlers from their old ones.

Brave Soldier Boy (Comes Marching Home): This was a response to a bingo prompt featuring Winifred Barnes. Canon doesn't give us much information about Bucky and Steve's relationships with their families, so I really enjoyed exploring Winifred's point of view!

Ten years after losing her son in the war, Winnifred Barnes receives an unexpected visitor. The Winter Soldier needs her help with an important mission.

I Just Want You to Know Who I Am: This was based on a prompt from BulkyPhrase. It was really interesting to explore what might have happened differently if the serum made Steve look like Red Skull. How would that affect other people's treatment of Steve, and how would it affect Steve's conception of himself?

By the time Steve Rogers was selected for Project Rebirth, Erskine thought he had eliminated the side effect that turned Johann Schmidt into Red Skull. He was wrong. This story explores the question: What would change if the serum caused Steve to look like Red Skull?

[scummy-writes]

Ikemen Tier List

whoaaa two posts together whoaaa (you guys didn't witness me doing this first to see if I had the energy to post a finished drabble today)

I've had trouble with the tier lists for a while because I feel like it didn't explain how I felt about these dudes half of the time, but I figured out a better way to mark the tiers and I feel like this sums it up great. And now you too can have a handy dandy 'How does Scum feel about X?' list! If Roderic had a sprite, I would put him in the daily thing, or maybe the top one? hm

Anyway, I'm gonna explain the tiers under the cut for extra clarifications.

[*Wants to write fanfics for 24/7*] : The Current Main Blorbo. All tremble before him - for he holds the writing braincell and he's all anyone hears about forever and ever - until another blorbo takes his spot (usually takes a few years). You'll see him as icons and photos and and and--------

On my mind daily, in some form: Sometimes these characters will be paired with the #1 chara, and so by extension they're thought about often. Sometimes they're not paired with them, but still thought about often. Despite my posting habits, I do enjoy these guys still. A lot, actually.

Think about a few times a week, offhandedly: Rubs chin. I think of Chev and Elbert as a rare comfort. A type of quiet one that is a plesant encouragement in some way or another. Or I get perplexed thinking about how they'd look ordering shitty coffee. Not much of an inbetween. But really I sometimes just enjoy the quiet comfort thoughts when i need them with those two.

Think about a few times a month: They used to be higher up in the faves, but I either got enough of them at some point (in a good way), friends love them with such glee that i just enjoy watching them simp for them, or they just got naturally shifted down in the line as more characters came into view. I won't talk about them much but I do like em in multiple ways.

Scared to think about (for my wallet): legally not allowed to like because I cannot max out my credit card (a joke). I really really really like Alfons and Victor but I am terrified they'll shoot the ranks in a couple of months, and that my wallet will be screaming to be spared (darius is still up for debate)

Want to like but (and/or for reasons cannot): hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Random simping once a blue moon (idk why): I read a translated story of roger once when sitting in my car on a lunch break. I was reading as I was getting out, and nearly fell into the horn when reading about his cock. It tormented me for a week. This happens ocassionally with the others... maybe not a translated story, but i'll have a random thought that hits me like a bullet train and suddenly I'm stumbling and struggling to think about anything else for a bit. (Leonardo is here as punishment, he knows what he did)

Was Favorite when playing but ghosted game: Ikerev was the first(?) cybird game I played, followed very very closely by ikesen. I don't see a lot of stuff for them naturally on my dash, and bluntly ikerev just could not hold my attention especially after I lost my data and got cockblocked by shitty gacha pulls, but I hardcore simped for these dudes when I played. Well, jonah did get pushed to the bottom of that tier fairly quickly, but Shingen is still #1 there. Anju (oc) was originally made for him, and I suspect that when his...eternal(?) is released in eng, I'll be feral for a little bit and then go back to gil simping.

No opinion really: I just.....shrug. They're neither bad nor good. These are characters who I was either SUPER excited for and then sorely disappointed, characters I haven't felt drawn to, or characters I just....never....felt anything towards...even after reading their route... I'm assuming they're just not my type and that's why they're here.

No: I hold negative opinions due to XYZ personal reason. Or their vibes are just rancid to me. I don't care if others like them or not, I don't judge others for liking them.

[thegirlfromgonewiththewind]

Hi, again. 👋

I found the post you were talking about. The stan's account was deactivated, but yeesh. 😬 Nice replies to them, btw.

The stan that bashed on me said I was being misogynistic, even though I'm a black woman who just wanted to see another black character get their chance to shine.

Hell, it's not just the shows and movies (I think this all started with Endgame). It's also the Steve Rogers musical too. I don't know if you know about it, but Disney made the musical real, and it really did Sam and Bucky dirty.

Sam isn't even in it. Maybe he was mentioned once, but the musical showed an image of Sam as Captain America. As for Bucky, his scene from CA:TFA, where he saved pre-serum Steve, was given to Peggy instead. Bucky was mentioned once, and the musical tried to justify Steve's ending from Endgame. All for this ship.

And, frankly, I don't hate Peggy, I'm just more annoyed that other characters get shoved aside as well as this great dynamic that Steve and Bucky had, while she and her ship with Steve has been getting propped up more and more. But, seeing some of your and the others' posts, I get why you guys don't like her.

Girl, don’t get me started on the abomination that was Rogers the musical. It could have been glorious, it had so much potential, but once again Bucky’s role in Steve’s story was given to Peggy, and Sam wasn’t even there!

I feel like Marvel feels the need to tone down Stucky or their friendship overall because it was just too powerful. We all remember the hashtag that begged Marvel to make Stucky Canon, #givecaptainamericaaboyfriend. They just couldn’t let it happen, not to a main and important character like Steve, god forbid. And so ever since civil war Stucky has always had little to no scenes together no matter how well established it was in previous projects. All their scenes and dynamic were given to Peggy, their friendship was toned down, Steve’s whole ending happened. It just feels like Stucky is so menacing to Marvel that the only way to stop us is by destroying Steve, Bucky and their relationship.

I mean, Steve is given no justice in his ending and in all the other projects he appeared in. Bucky went from a victim and prisoner of war to someone who must make amends for things that were beyond his control. And the depth of their friendship was toned down and reduced every time Peggy was involved. And then they wonder why many people in the fandom dislike Peggy or why the whole Rogers the musical initiative flopped the second it went beyond Hawkeye.

Like, even if you don’t ship Stucky you can tell that they care for each other, and you can tell there was a shift after people actually wanted Marvel to take action and do something about this dynamic. Steve can’t get even one episode as his own character because Peggy must be there. Bucky had more luck, but still… and let’s not even talk about Sam, his only appearance was as a zombie!

In another post of mine I ranted about how bothered I was that Peggy was inserted in the 1602 storyline, and i haven’t changed my mind. It would have been so nice to give Steve one episode about himself, about his dynamic with his best friend and about the relationship with himself and his fellow avengers. But no, Peggy must be there too, and for no good reason as well.

I feel like Marvel trying to erase pre-existing relationships to have Peggy shine only results in fans turning their back on Marvel and hiding in fanfiction or whatever piece of media that can actually bring justice to the characters. Once someone on Tumblr said “you gave us the characters, but once you mess them up they’re not yours anymore. You don’t understand and respect them, therefore you don’t deserve them.” and I couldn’t agree more, which is why I am currently reading and writing fanfiction rather than buying into everything marvel gives us.

Peggy was the love interest with more screen time even before what if and all that jazz, she had her own show! And I fear that the day Marvel will realize that pushing a reimagined Nazi turned Mary Sue into every single what if episode where she can fit instead of enhancing the characters that are actually relevant in-universe it will be too late.

Sorry about the rant, I get carried away when it’s about my boys lol

[nekoannie-chan]

Not a common storm

Not a common storm

Title: Not a common

Fandom: Marvel, Captain America.

Ship: Steve Rogers X Agent of HYDRA!Reader.

Word count: 1075 words.

Rating: Teen.

Summary: You and Steve are trapped in a storm, what would happen?

Major Tags: Fluff, angst, implicit smut.

Additional tags: This is my entry to @witchywithwhiskey's Slasher Summer writing Challenge with the prompts:

“Location: Cabin in the Woods.”

“Trope: Enemies to lovers.”

“Quote: Things get messy when you make a deal with the devil.”

Links: Wattpad, Ao3, Spanish version.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.

I don’t give any permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or languages (I translate my work myself) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don't steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other people. The only exception is the ones I gifted 'cuz now belong to someone else. Please let me know if you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish:  Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. 

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @navybrat817 @angrythingstarlight @shield-agent78 @charmed-asylum @pandaxnienke @real-fbi @Smokeandnailz @white-wolf1940 @tenaciousperfectionunknown @xoxonotme @bluemusickid @leyannrae @Harrysthiccthighss @Marvelatthisone @caplanbuckybarnes @sapphire-rogers @lizzieolseniskinda @notyourtypicalrose @hallecarey1 @nana1000night @talia-rumlow @writingshae @alexxavicry @azulatodoryuga @daemonslittlebitch @chaoticcollectivenightmare @endlesstwanted @chemtrails-club  @marigoldreamer @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @Here4thefanfics @theestorm @patzammit @kmc1989 @somegirlfromasgard @rogersbarber

You shivered as you adjusted the scarf around your neck, but it wasn't just the cold that made you shiver. You knew he was nearby, lurking like a predator in the dark.

Steve Rogers.

The rustle of a branch puts you on alert. Quickly, you spun your weapon at the ready, scanning the dense foliage around you. You couldn't afford to let your guard down, not when you were so close to your target.

“Are you going to shoot anything that moves? “Steve's voice echoed from the shadows.

“If necessary,” you answered firmly. I won't let you get away with it.

“We're not as different as you think.

“Make no mistake, Rogers. You and I will never be on the same side.

Finally, you saw him emerge from the trees, his silhouette towering in the snow. You couldn't face him in those conditions, not without risking your life and, worse, losing the battle before it really began.

“It looks like the storm is going to get worse,” he said, his blue eyes fixed on yours.

his blue eyes fixed on yours

“. There's a cabin not far from here. We need shelter.

“Do you think I would trust you? “you spat, without dropping your weapon.

“It's about survival,” he replied, taking a step closer. If you stay here, you'll freeze to death.

You knew it was impossible to get out of the forest before the storm intensified. Reluctantly, you lowered your gun, but not quite. Steve nodded and, without another word, started walking in the direction of the cabin.

The cabin was small and old, looking as if it had been abandoned for years. Steve closed the door behind you and quickly began to light a fireplace.

“It's not much, but it will keep the heat in,” he muttered, concentrating on his task.

You leaned against one of the walls, watching him silently. There was something almost hypnotic about the way he moved, it irritated you, but it also intrigued you.

“What do you think you're going to gain from this? “you finally asked, breaking the silence.

“It's not about winning,” he answered, seriously, looking up.

You let out a bitter laugh.

“Always so noble, aren't you? But I'll tell you something, Rogers: things get messy when you make a deal with the devil.

“Don't lecture me on morality,” he said quietly. We both know the world isn't black and white. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to do better.

“Stop trying to redeem me,” you muttered, looking away. I'm not a lost cause for you to save.

“I'm not trying to save you,” Steve replied, taking your chin gently, forcing you to look him in the eye. I'm just trying to understand you.

The closeness between the two of you became suffocating. You could feel the heat of his body, his breath mingling with yours.

“Don't try to cross that line, Rogers,” you whispered.

“What if I already have?” he replied, not moving.

Without warning, he lowered his head, his lips brushing yours in a contact so light you almost didn't feel it. For a moment you thought about pulling away, but you didn't. Instead, you found yourself moving closer, deepening the kiss with a desperation you didn't know you had. His arms wrapped around you tightly, pulling you to him, and for a moment, everything else ceased to matter.

When you finally broke apart, you were both breathless, looking at each other as if you couldn't believe what had just happened.

“This... “You started, but the words got stuck in your throat.

“I know,” Steve said hoarsely. But I can't pretend it didn't happen.

You turned away from him, confused and frightened by your own feelings.

“This is a mistake,” you said, shaking your head. You and I.... We can't...

“ I'm not your enemy, and you're not mine. We're just two people trapped in a complicated world, trying to do the best we can.

“It's not that simple,” you muttered, feeling the sudden urge to escape. None of it is.

“You're right. It's not simple. But maybe it doesn't have to be.

“I don't know what to do,” you finally confessed, your voice trembling for the first time in a long time.

“Then don't do anything. Just... stay with me tonight.

“Okay,” your voice was barely audible. But just tonight.

Steve nodded, stepped back a little and took off his jacket, then invited you to sit next to him on the floor in front of the fire.

“Why don't you tell me how you got here? “Steve asked as he stoked the fire.

“It's not an easy story, but I guess none of them are. My family was... complicated. My father was involved in things I never fully understood as a child. But what I did understand was that he wasn't a good person. And by the time I realized that it was too late. I had followed in his footsteps; I had done things I couldn't undo.

You sighed, running a hand through your hair, trying to gather your thoughts.

“We've all done things we wish we hadn't done. You are more than your mistakes, more than your past.

“Why do you care? “you asked.

“Because I see in you what I see in me because I know what it's like to feel trapped by the past.

“And what about you? “You asked, deflecting the conversation. What made you who you are?

“I didn't have an easy childhood either,” he said. I grew up in Brooklyn, my mother worked hard to support us. I was a sickly, weak kid, and I spent a lot of time being the target of bullies. And then came the war.

“So, they made you the symbol of a nation? “you asked.

“Something like that. But I can't make mistakes, I can't show weakness. And that... sometimes, it's exhausting.

Steve leaned slightly against the wall, eyes closed, without thinking, you moved a little closer to him, letting the warmth of his body mingle with yours. Sensing your closeness, Steve opened his eyes and looked at you.

“I don't know where this will lead,” you confessed.

“Then maybe we can start over,” he suggested.

You took his hand, and they kissed again, continuing until all their clothes were off.

Hours later, when the storm finally ended, you both left the cabin, you would manage to make sure that no one would find out what was between you.

[sapphirerogers]

Labyrinth

Summary: You're not his first choice. But you realise you can't be mad about it. You don't have the right.

Steve Rogers x gn! reader (not dating though, they're...they were best friends), post Civil War.

[Warnings: angst (sort of unrequited love?), attempt at fluff (?), Hurt and not so much comfort, Sam is a good friend though.]

A/N: no prizes for guessing the reason behind the title. Also this is Stucky if you want it to be. Otherwise it isn't.

"You don't think he cares about you or me?"

"I never said that, Sam. It's just that..." You took a deep breath, "if you and Bucky both ended up in two separate situations where you both needed him, who do you think he'd reach first?" You stared at him, waiting for his answer, nodding and looking away when he remained silent.

"Y/N..." He started.

"He cares about us Sam. He really does care a lot. It's in his nature to care about people, that's what makes him so amazing." You sighed, wishing you felt differently about this. "It's just that...no matter what happens, Bucky knows perfectly well that Steve will always reach him when he needs help. You and me, we're another story. He will come for us, but only if and when he can. Bucky has the assurance of 'always'. We don't. We know deep down that if Bucky is in trouble, Steve will go to him first, and us second. We have to keep a backup for ourselves. Bucky will never need a backup."

A sudden realisation dawned upon him, and Sam watched you intently. He knew what was going on in your mind.

"I'm not mad at him for that, and I'm not jealous of Bucky. I swear I'm not." You continued, wrapping your hands around the coffee mug and shuffling closer to your best friend. "Steve and Bucky...they've known each other all their lives, they have a bond that runs deeper than that of lifelong friends. They're two halves of the same soul at this point. So I get it, all of it. I truly do. I just..." You drew in a shaky breath. "There's nothing to do about it really. It's good to prioritise people, else you'd be all over the place. Honestly, it's heartwarming too, watching the two of them with each other. I've never seen Steve smile more than he does around Bucky. So...it's okay. I'm okay. Or I will be. Whatever. It's fine."

Sam pulled you closer, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, then in his usual deadpan fashion, he dropped the bombshell.

"You love him."

You snapped your head up. "What-"

"We all love him, deeply. But you're in love with him."

Uh-oh.

You turned your gaze away from him, clenching your teeth to avoid crumbling. You knew he was right, but for the life of you, you couldn't accept it out loud. It would only hurt so much more. Sam, however, found all the answers he needed in your silence.

"I know what you're gonna say - I'm selfish, I'm crazy, and I'm overreacting. I understand that." You look down at your lap.

"Is that really what you think I was gonna say?"

"It's true, regardless."

"You know everything you're feeling is valid, right? You're not a bad person because of this."

"Still wish I didn't feel all of it. Sucks to have a heart."

"You should tell him."

"I can't."

"Not about Bucky. About you. He deserves to know."

"I can't tell him that either. Don't get me started on that conversation, please. I've had it with myself way too many times. Look, we're ex-Avengers, currently on the run. We have plenty of stuff to worry about, so this will fade. It only hurts this much right now."

Steve swallowed, trying to ease the tightness in his chest as he silently stood behind you two, listening to you talk. It all made sense now - you suddenly being short with him, refusing to let him come with you as you left for Budapest earlier that month, the cold shoulder you had been giving him all the time recently. He understood it all too well now; you were hurt. And you thought he might leave you alone to get to Bucky first.

Were you right though?

Steve used to pride himself on being dependable and loyal, but for the first time ever, he realised, much to his shock, that he couldn't answer that question with absolute honesty without knowing the reply would break your heart even further.

Uh-oh.

He sniffled, then cursed himself for it, because now you two were both looking back at him, Sam's expression being one of mild surprise and shit, and yours being that of pure shock.

"How long have you been standing there?" You asked, sharply, your voice hoarse.

"I'll give you two some space." Sam slid out of the vicinity quickly, his place now occupied by Steve's six-foot, two-hundred-pound frame.

"Look I'm sorry-" you stuttered out.

"If it's for pushing me away, then yes, you owe me an apology. Because that hurt." He said, doing his best to keep his tone level and calm.

"That...yes, that, and also-"

"Otherwise there's nothing to apologise for." He shot down whatever you were going to reply with.

You sat in awkward silence for a minute before he spoke up again, "Is it true, what Sam said?"

"Sam said a lot of things, Rogers." You said flatly.

"Do you love me?" He asked quietly.

You debated with yourself over the best way to respond to this, then shrugged nonchalantly. "No more than everyone else does."

That's a lie, even I can tell, Steve thought.

He patted your knee, making you look up at him, then stared deeply into your eyes. "Come here," he said softly, opening his arms.

You looked up at him with narrowed eyes, before giving in and letting him pull you into himself.

And that's when the dam broke.

"I'm so sorry," you whispered and he shook his head.

"Don't be, please, sweetheart."

"It's true," you croaked out in response to his earlier question, as you cried into his shirt. He rubbed your back slowly, resting his chin on top of your head while holding back his own tears.

The words were on the tip of his tongue. he was so ready and willing to say it and yet...it felt shallow when he said them aloud in his head. He didn't think telling you he felt the same would mean much in this moment. So he kept quiet, choosing to simply hold you instead, doing his best to physically comfort you.

Because as much as he hated to admit it...you were unfortunately right. Bucky was his number one, and even though you were an extremely close second...that's just it - you were, after all, second.

And no confession from him would take that away.

--------------------------------------------------

[I'm sorry too.

Please reblog and/or leave some feedback if you liked this. I'd appreciate it a lot <3]

@slut-for-chrisevans @royalwriteroftheuniverse @nana1000night @jamneuromain @nekoannie-chan @peace-love-fanfiction @simpforsupersoldiers @averageambivert @breethebee7 @teardrop-on-guitar @sarahrogersevans @hawkeyes-queen @patzammit @heli0s-writes @rodrikstark @steverogerssimpp @mainly-marvel

Image from Pinterest.

[beanghostprincess]

Not to keep beating a dead horse so to speak, but circling back to how the anime handles the Shuggy breakup it is personally the first time I've fully understood people who say the manga is way better & the "true" story because on the whole I think the anime is a really good adaption....except for this omg. I haven't read the manga fully either yet so now I'm wondering what else got a totally different vibe than intended & how that colors the perception of the story & characters. For instance, I'm already seeing anime onlys completely misinterpret Buggy's feelings in the shuggy breakup probably because of how brief it was.

I've had arguments in comments sections about people who do not think Buggy wanted to be Pirate King himself & his anger with Shanks isn't tied to him secretly sacrificing his OWN dream to follow him. To me the manga made it very clear that Buggy was making a great personal sacrifice in order to stay with his friend & how that all ties into his own insecurities, but a ton of anime onlys only saw it as Buggy being a whiny baby & not realizing how deep of a conflict Shanks refusing to look for the One Piece was for them 😭 and it's so frustrating! They just think Buggy is being "ungrateful" for everything Shanks did for him. I'm tired of the Shuggy dynamic being viewed so one sidedly in Shanks's favor & Buggy's detriment because they both narratively hold equal amounts of significance to each other. We just haven't been allowed to explore Shanks's side of it...yet. Oda kept Shanks's face obscured for a reason I'm sure.

And since the anime didn't frame it correctly Buggy's speech to Cross Guild about reigniting your dreams & setting sail for Laugh Tale loses all seriousness & comes off as just another gag instead & it breaks my heart because in the Manga while there is humor in it Buggy's tears are REAL & you can literally feel the spirit of One Piece flow through his speech. That speech shows us Buggy is a TRUE pirate! He ALSO inhereted Roger's will! I could literally feel the "I'm gunna become king of the pirates" OST from the anime play as I read it, but the anime framed it like another one of Buggy's "upward fialures" 💔 and it breaks my heart anime onlys don't get that. Imagine if Luffy gave up on his dream & finally after 30 years decided to believe in himself again? Imagine If Usopp really did give up in Water 7 & we didn't see him find the will to believe in himself until 39 years later? Buggy is an example of forgotten dreams & a lesson on it never being too late to go after them.

So I completely agree with you that it doesn't matter how little panel time a moment gets because if Oda can convey all of THAT in like 3 panels then the anime can do so and then some in a minute or 2. I also can't help but think this will confuse viewers later on because I'm certain Buggy is going to get to do some really cool & meaningful stuff in the last arc & a lot of them will feel blindsided because the set up was executed weirdly.

Sorry for sending such a long post & feel free to ignore If ur tired of discussing this I just wanted to give you some validation &let you know you're not the only one who thinks this way. Adaptation has a lot more going into it than just copying manga panels & the a good anime should definitely know when to expand on brief scenes & how to set the correct mood for them.

Oh, please, if it's not a negative ask you can keep sending me stuff about the episode and the breakup all you want!!! I'm just tired of having to defend my opinion. As if it wasn't just that, an opinion. But I'm sooo open to talk about it!!

And you're right!!! It bothers me so much to just think about how Anime Onlys are going to perceive this episode... If Buggy is already misunderstood within the fandom, I can't imagine what's gonna happen now that HIS episode has gotten this awful pacing and explanation (I complain but I've watched the episode so many times already lmao)

People misunderstand their relationship so much and in such levels... I don't get it because it's literally right there. You can't miss it. They're canonically crucial for each other no matter how you see it. It IS mutual whatever they have going on. I know we don't have much of Shanks' POV but you don't even have to read between the lines to see it.

And Buggy being seen as whiny because he has... Feelings... And is emotional... After his whole life crumbles down... Idk about you but if I lived in my best friend's shadow for years and gave up on my dream to trust in his instead, and suddenly when our captain dies he says he won't follow it... I'd be pretty fucking emotional too tbh. I could defend Buggy all day long and explain his character, but I believe I've done that already... So many times... (I love it it's my favorite thing ever)

I love your comparisons to other characters giving up on their dreams because it's so real. Buggy is the representation of people who once gave up on their dream and now are getting the courage back to follow it again. His speech is so emotional I think I know it by heart at this point with how many times I've read this chapter. I always cry-- Every time-- And I'm sooo angry Toei made the episode for laughs basically. It frustrates me in unimaginable ways.

Buggy is gonna do something incredible and people will complain and say it was out of nowhere because his speech in the Anime seems for jokes and like one of his schemes to get away from his problems. But this man was literally having a breakdown in the middle of a torture session and made an impulsive, emotional decision that came from the depths of his heart, because he had been holding onto it for his whole life. That's what bothers me about the animation. The pacing is bad and the way they treat him is even worse...

Don't apologize!!!!! I loved reading this. You expressed yourself sooo well and in such a polite way!!! Basically, you wrote everything I thought about the episode and I'm so glad to finally talk to someone with my same views 😭💖💖

[snowbellewells]

Self Promo Sunday: "Sky's Canvas"

This little future Swan-Jones-Mills family fic envisioning them during their happy beginning post-s6 would probably have been well suited to Father's Day last week, but I didn't think of it until too late. I hope it will still be enjoyable this week too. It's a part of my one shot collection on AO3 or ff.net (if you'd prefer to read it either of those places instead) I hope you have fun picturing this alternate idea of what might have happened - and I'd love to hear what you think!

Notes: I toyed with the idea for this one for quite some time. The prompt elements that I have used are: a museum, the phrase “it was just a joke”, and also some small art facts – mostly about the particular museum itself (which is real). I have also put in a CS daughter (my personal head canon imagined one, Morgan Ruth Jones, whom I have written about before), and a college aged Henry. So, this is set somewhere in an alternative post-season 6 reality, where Henry stays in the Land Without Magic to seek his story, and also to be close enough to visit his family often, and for them to return the favor…)

by: @snowbellewells

The bubbly, nonstop chatter of her four-year-old little girl, which has cheerfully been filling Emma Swan’s ears for the past hour and a half, suddenly stills, immediately grabbing her attention and setting off an interior maternal alarm. She turns to seek out Morgan Ruth Jones – her little pirate princess – wondering if her daughter has yet again managed to sneak away from them and find herself in some sort of trouble.

Luckily, Emma doesn’t have to look far before she hears a chortling trill of baby laughter and locates her toddler with the disheveled head of dark, ringlet curls and twinkling, mischievous eyes – an aquamarine mix of her own green gaze and her father’s ocean blue – standing before a huge oil painting of a Spanish galleon rocking precariously on the stormy main and looking up at her father with fixed adoration. “Really, Papa?” Emma hears Morgan chirp, practically bouncing on the balls of her little feet as she tugs anxiously at his hook in eagerness to hear his answer. “Was it a storm that big you sailed ‘Roger’ through when you went to save Henwy in Neverland?!”

Emma is just chuckling wryly at the changes which have transpired in her life to give her a little girl more interested in daring adventures, ancient naval ships, and sword fighting than frilly dresses or dolls and makeup, even as her husband raises his eyes just enough to smirk at her knowingly over Morgan’s head, when another voice, youthful, warm, and settling into its masculine, adult timbre, answers Morgan’s question from over her shoulder, announcing Henry’s arrival to join them. “It was bigger, Pipsqueak,” he confirms jovially, pausing briefly to wrap a wiry arm around his mom in a quick side-hug before continuing to the side of his younger half-sister, kneeling to her level and adding with a gleam in his eye, “A mermaid summoned it to drown them all.”

“Hen-wy!!” Morgan squeals with glee; the painting, and even her papa’s beloved ship, forgotten as she flings herself into her brother’s arms with enough force to nearly bowl him over, causing Henry to chuckle as he catches her close to his chest.

“Hey Munchkin,” he greets affectionately, standing to his full height again – now even with his stepdad’s – still holding Morgan, her arms wrapped around his neck so tightly that Emma has to wonder if she’s ever going to let go. Turning to include his mom and his surrogate father in his next statement, Henry adds. “It’s great to see you all. Things must be quiet in Storybrooke, if you’re still going to stay all weekend.”

Here he arcs an eyebrow in curious bemusement, a trait Emma realizes all too well that he has picked up from her dashing scoundrel of a husband and probably uses to equally charming effect on all the girls he meets in his freshman courses at Bowdoin College. It is clear he has settled easily into the small arts school in Brunswick, Maine, just under a two hours’ drive from them, and that the campus atmosphere and freeing anonymity and normalcy he has there must be agreeing with him. Emma wants to snort in disbelieving laughter at his jest, though well aware that he knows better than to ever think his hometown would go completely, boringly normal. Instead, she shakes her head resignedly, merely giving her grown son a playfully long-suffering sigh. “You know how it is,” she shrugs, “never a dull moment. But – if you don’t count the dwarves coming to blows at Granny’s the other morning because Tom Clark accidentally sat in Leroy’s spot at the counter and got his flu germs on Leroy’s plate of bacon and eggs…”

“Which I do count,” Killian interrupts smoothly, winking at his adopted son. “I am the one who risked infection from the virus in forestalling their skirmish.”

Emma rolls her eyes at her deputy husband’s interruption and mutters “drama queen” under her breath, which Henry and Morgan both clearly hear and snicker at before she continues, “Otherwise it’s been as quiet as it ever gets. No deathly dangerous villains or curses meant to tear us apart and wipe our memories blank.”

“Yet…” Killian adds on needlessly, an ominous tone in his voice acknowledging the fact that they all know it’s only a matter of time before some new threat is wreaking havoc again. Their sleepy little town might seem like a place lost in time and space, but it is still a veritable magnet for trouble, and none of them can deny it.

Killian, however, waggles his brows playfully after his foreboding aside, making Henry shake his own head at his stepfather. It had seemed a rather grim pronouncement for the reformed pirate – more like his mom, really.

Morgan grins widely back at her father, nodding in gleeful agreement, her gap-toothed smile showing where she has lost a fair few of her baby teeth recently. “Yeah…yet!” she exclaims, not fully understanding the concern behind the sentiment, but always ready – as is her entire extended family – for action and excitement.

Emma shakes her head in humored exasperation at her two “children” – wondering, as she often does, how someone who has seen and experienced as much as Killian, who has witnessed some of the worst humanity had to offer and suffered at their hands, who has lived so long and weathered such crushing heartbreak and hate, can still easily find such simple, child-like joy in the littlest things. “Really, guys?” she questions, looking to her college student son for more mature support. “Can’t we just enjoy things being normal for once?”

“Aye, of course, my Love,” Killian replies deftly. “ ‘Twas merely a joke,” he adds, leaning over to brush a quick kiss to her brow that makes Morgan giggle, hide her face in Henry’s shoulder, and cry out, “Eww, they’re kissing again!” in a frank, tickling whisper against her older sibling’s skin.

“Just a joke is right,” Henry declares, motioning them forward to venture on into the rest of the Bowdoin College Museum and toward the particular exhibit he wants them to see. The collection was an 1811 bequest from a wealthy benefactor to the school and was one of the earliest college art collections in the country, as Henry had enthusiastically told her over the phone some weeks ago when his project had commenced. His Maritime History class had done a cross-curriculum partnership with the arts department to put together a student exhibit of research and mixed media in the college’s museum, and Henry has been quite secretive about his entry, even if insistent that they needed to see it in person. “Like anyone could be around you lot for long and think you were normal!” he scoffs.

“Ha ha,” his mother laughs drolly, bumping into his side with her shoulder in playful retribution as they move ahead side-by-side, with Killian, who is now holding a wriggling Morgan once again, following closely behind. However, once the jostling ceases, Emma grasps her nearly-grown son’s hand in hers for a moment, stunned anew at how much he has changed from the little boy who had found her in Boston all those years ago, and led her into the very life she has now. Squeezing tightly with emotion welling up in her throat, she wishes he could truly understand how much she loves him.

“Missed you too, Mom,” Henry murmurs softly, pressing her fingers back with his own wrapped around them. It is more than enough and makes her heart flutter in gladness.

Once Henry leads them through a few different rooms and several intriguing displays, he slows when they reach a large, somewhat circular room with a high, arched ceiling, and then turns to them with a mysterious smile on his face and clear anticipation in his big, brown eyes, just as they have always held, even at ten years old.

At first glance, this particular exhibit, this room in itself, seems empty. Looking around with faces equally full of curiosity and confusion, Killian, Emma, and Morgan end up staring back at Henry expectantly until Killian finally speaks up, “Begging your pardon, Lad, but I’m afraid I am not quite certain what you wish for us to see.”

Henry gives a nod of acknowledgement, rather knowingly pleased, and making Emma smirk to herself with a mother’s satisfaction at seeing her son so confidently happy and in his element. ‘He’s definitely got something up his sleeve,’ she thinks affectionately, admittedly finding herself anxious to see what his surprise might be. She knows that Henry has been loving this course all term – not to mention how thrilled her husband had been at the news – and that the long term practicum research projects are being showcased here throughout the entire month of April. Emma can only conclude that her son’s hard work has paid off in a way he’s proud of, and he must believe wholeheartedly that they will be too.

All Henry says is, “I take it you’re ready then?” and at Killian’s nod and Morgan’s “Yes, yes, YES, Henwy!!” exclamation, while she hops up and down exuberantly, he switches off the lights and presses a previously unnoticed button next to the light switch.

Immediately, the light and airy sound of some sort of flute or piccolo trickles through the quiet air of the room, a gently evocative melody with a lingering, haunted quality to its tone, enhanced by the sound echoing beneath of waves washing gently against the hull of some easily floating ship or back and forth over the shore of some deserted bay. Even as the sounds which are familiar and comforting to his tiny family audience wrap around them, small pinpricks of light appear just like stars in the night sky out on the ocean, sparking to life on the walls around them and the high ceiling overhead. It is a constellation spread out just for them in breathtaking majesty. Then, the Author begins to narrate his newest story…

Listening to Henry’s words, Emma feels her breath catch just a bit in both awe and emotion, glancing quickly over at her husband and daughter, before either of them realizes they are being observed. Morgan’s green eyes are wide and sparkling with interest and excitement, her mouth an open “o” as she looks above her, dazzled at what would appear for all the world to be the stars and constellations in the night sky brought indoors and spread out for their entertainment. Killian is silent and still, so much so that Emma knows – as few others would – just how valiantly he is battling some strong emotion…how very touched he is. Emma was never as great a student of the star charts and navigational astronomy as her sailor would have loved to make her, but Henry ate it right up, and she would bet her battered and beloved old VW that Henry has recreated some particular display that holds an extra meaning for he and his stepdad alone.

Shaking herself slightly to bring her focus back to earth and her attention back to the words of Henry’s presentation once more, she hears her son’s voice – soothing, engaging, and reeling her into the adventurous stories behind the scattered specks of light arrayed above them and their meaning and guidance to generations of sailors making their ways on a wide and pathless sea.

“The Cygnus,” Killian mouths silently beside her, appearing genuinely awestruck as he takes his gaze just momentarily from Henry’s representative “sky” to look in the eyes of the young man he has for years now cared for and loved like a son; a sincere gaze of fond understanding passing between them that brings a film of unshed tears to Emma’s vision that she has to rapidly blink away. In fact, soundless though it may be, she catches Killian’s comment only because she is so focused on her husband and his emotional reaction to this gift Henry has given all of them – but her pirate in particular. Emma senses that Killian knows it in this moment and holds tightly to his fingers twined with hers while practically beaming at her son, wondering again how she ever got lucky enough that the two most important people in her world would love each other as much as they each love her.

Morgan reaches over from Killian’s arms to pat her mother’s cheeks as Henry concludes his tale and turns the lights back up. “Don’t cry, Mama,” Morgan coos sweetly. “Henwy’s story was happy in the end. The Swan leads the sailor to his home.”

Emma smiles shakily at her daughter, and then the rest of her family with their looks of understanding. “I know, Baby,” Emma murmurs softly, still brushing away the evidence, but with her smile growing broader all the while. “Don’t worry. These are happy tears.”

Tagging a few who might enjoy: @jennjenn615 @searchingwardrobes @kmomof4 @jrob64 @apiratewhopines

@whimsicallyenchantedrose @laschatzi @stahlop @teamhook @revanmeetra87 @winterbaby89

@spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @tiganasummertree @optomisticgirl @xsajx @bluewildcatfanatic

@xarandomdreamx @booksteaandtoomuchtv @anmylica @jonesfandomfanatic @motherkatereloyshipper @branlovestowrite

@linda8084 @lfh1226-linda @the-darkdragonfly @elizabeethan @donteattheappleshook @let-it-raines @ineffablecolors

[ronearoundblindly]

a jimmy for you 😌🤲🏻💕

Alrighty, I get that I have not posted any real story for Common Education but this pic is giving me vibes. Warnings for zero editing and GOOD CHRIST sexual tension. WC ??? It's not long.

Sad Sack, a Common Education headcanon/thing/idk

So imagine you're older-student-Jimmy Dobyne's history professor and you've had a few instances of realizing that he is not at all like your typical student based on his background. He knows hard labor. He knows early mornings and long days. He does not know partying or really getting out of the comfort zone of similar-minded people. Jimmy's roommate, Steve Rogers, being an artsy nerd is a bit of a stretch as is.

Imagine that the first big paper was due last week in your class, and Jimmy did...okay.

He's good at memorization, like a lot of college freshmen, but he's not been asked to analyze very much. His paper didn't give any insight or opinion, and you critiqued it as nicely as possible because you are rooting for Jimmy (probably more than you should). You want this young man to succeed.

Jimmy does not take it well.

You don't see him two classes in a row which means he's now missed a week. Yes, you videotape lectures for kids like Steve Rogers who have reason to not come into class frequently. Yes, Jimmy hasn't missed any assignments at all and his grade average is perfectly fine.

You're still worried.

So you spend more time than normal at that little bakery you first met him at, arriving a little earlier, staying until the last second before you have to get to your classroom. No Jimmy.

Finally, you brave asking Noah, one of the bakery employees, if he's seen Jimmy around.

Noah looks very confused.

"Yeah," he scoffs, "I love that guy. I haven't had back pain all week."

When you return an equally bewildered stare, Noah points toward the back.

"He's right out there."

You crane your head over the counter and lower your voice. "May I?" You point through the building. "Do you mind?"

You think perhaps...well, you don't know what to think as Noah leads you carefully through the kitchen and to the alleyway beyond.

Sure enough, there's Jimmy, hauling enormous sacks of flour off the back of a truck and just shooting the shit with the delivery men all taking a smoke break whilst your student does their jobs for them.

You don't mean to, but you hiss his name like a disappointed mother.

"What are you doing?" As the other workers around seem more interested in what such a professional, pristine lady is doing out on their loading bay, you step closer to continue asking, "Why haven't you come to class?"

Does he need the money? You thought he had enough of a scholarship to cover living expenses. It's not as if the man still donning his farm shirts and stained henley is a big spender.

He ignores you until tossing the flour onto a dolly Noah then rolls inside.

"Look, Teach--" Jimmy takes off his trademark hat to wring in his hands, calling out to the workers by the truck "--one sec, boys."

He juts his head out to lead you deeper into the alley, then crosses when he realizes that's near the dumpster.

"I'm not..." Jimmy pulls a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket, tapping one out and putting it between his lips. He doesn't light it. "I don't think I'm cut out for this. I don't know why I came here."

"Is this because of one paper? Did something happen in another class?" You stop yourself from ripping the smoke right out of his mouth so he'll look you in the eye.

Jimmy shakes his head and does it for you, rolling his tongue over chapped lips and then holding them in.

"No, ma'am."

You relax a little, waiting for him to elaborate. You're waiting the whole time Jimmy mulls over his cigarette. He takes out a lighter and then thinks better of it and shoves it back in his pants, leaving the hand buried in his pocket.

"Can't have you thinking of me like that," he mumbles. "Like what if I just get worse? What if I'm stupid and...I don't want you to see me that way."

His concern warms you inside, hitting lower than that heat of appreciation should.

You sigh, trying not to allow your smile to read as dismissive.

"You are not stupid, Jimmy. You proved that long before you walked into my class. You're skilled and curious. You work hard. You could never fail that way. You could certainly never--" you clear your throat "--fail me."

He looks everywhere else but at you, shyly adjusting the brim of his hat again.

"You're just saying that."

No, in fact, you shouldn't be saying that. You shouldn't be having any hushed conversation in a back alley with one of your students, but you can't stand the thought of Jimmy giving up. He deserves this. He deserves options and a way to elevate himself. He deserves to choose his own path beyond the plot of farm he's only known.

"Come back to class," you beg, chancing to reach out and grasp the arm--that thick, veiny, strong forearm--which fiddles with a cigarette like a silver dollar dancing between his fingers. You could be hypnotized by those hands, how they move, what they can do. "Please."

He flexes in your hold.

"You want me?"

His deep voice should not spark the high jump your heart does.

"I want you there," you allow, swallowing the lump in your throat.

For whatever reason, you can't for the life of you let go of Jimmy's arm, and your gaze raises. Your apologetic eyes are met with something infinitely more dangerous--confident, clear blue ones.

"Can't let you down then, can I?"

You're trapped, helpless, at the complete mercy of a gentleman you almost wish were naughty.

"So," you whisper, "I'll see you Tuesday?"

"You'll see me whenever you want, Teach."

Oh damn.

You release his arm finally, the breath you had no clue you were holding gusting out like a tidal wave.

"I'm taking this," you say, plucking the smoke from his hand. "It's a nasty habit. You should quit."

But you don't throw it on the ground or dispose of it in the dumpster, no. You're going to need this cigarette after you forcefully release the freight train of tension that just drove its way into your core.

Just as you turn, Jimmy lands an equally incendiary response.

"Yes, ma'am. I can do that for you."

Y'ALL I AM NOT OKAY. WHY. WHY HE END UP SO FUCKING HOTT? HOW???

My god, no wonder I haven't been able to write more than drabbles of these two--I'D FAINT. immediately. D.E.D. Ded.

Anyway, tagging interested parties is beyond my brainpower at the moment, so maybe in reblogs later. Fuk. I need a cold shower.

[Main Masterlist; Light Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

[archiveikemen]

'Black Wedding' Story Event: Premium END

Roger's Route

I do not own any of the Ikemen Series content being uploaded on this blog, everything belongs to CYBIRD. Please support them by playing their games and buying stories. Not 100% accurate, expect mistakes.

read this before interacting with my posts

≪ This story is in Roger's POV ≫

—

The believers suddenly collapsed to the ground on the spot, one after another like dominoes.

Only Kate, the Leader, and I were left standing.

Leader: What on earth… is going on…

Roger: They had a strong sleeping pill for breakfast. Ah, it’ll have some effect on them, but they won't die.

Roger: I’m a former doctor. I’m confident that I gave them the right dose, I think?

Leader: Then, this woman…

Kate: Yes, I’m a former postwoman. I’ve never dated a boxer in my life.

I couldn't contain my laughter at Kate’s words.

Roger: Hahaha. You’re so cold, young lady.

Leader: … Hahaha… haha

(... What the?)

The man had his life threatened, and yet he was still laughing.

Leader: Hahahahaha! You two are the police, aren't you?

Leader: I knew that the police have been sniffing around lately!

Just then, my ears picked up some noises.

Roger: … There are two people on the second floor.

Kate: …!?

(Footsteps coming from the second floor… over there.)

I confirmed the locations of the men pointing the muzzle of their guns at me from the second floor.

— One on the right, and one on the left.

(If I shoot one of them, there’s a chance the other will shoot me.)

I quickly assessed the situation while pulling out the gun hidden in my pocket.

(... Tch, If this goes on, Kate will get shot. I have to sacrifice myself and get hurt.)

When I decided to shoot one of the men—

Kate: Roger, I’ll take care of the one on the right!

(...!?)

I fired at one of the men, and at the same time, Kate pulled a gun out from her garter belt and fired a shot at the other man.

The bullet I shot went right into the man’s heart.

Kate shot the other man in the leg, and he remained standing with his gun pointed at her.

(... I won’t let you.)

Roger: Well done, young lady. — Good job.

With my own hands, I shot him down.

Leader: … Wha… how…

Leader: How did you notice them hiding in the shadows…

Roger: Unfortunately for you, I have good hearing. Also—

Roger: Isn’t my bride the best? But she’s mine, so don’t fall for her.

Leader: Ah… ah…

I approached him as he lost all strength and crouched on the floor in an undignified manner.

Roger: What? Are you unarmed?

Roger: After manipulating people into believing in you, you never expected to find yourself in such a dire situation, did you?

Roger: Did you really think you’ve become some kind of heavenly being?

Leader: … Save me… I’ll give you money! So…!

(... Money?)

It made me nauseous to know how that arrogant man placed money and human lives on the same level.

Roger: You stole that money from the couples you killed. Don’t mess with me.

I put the gun in my hand to the man’s forehead—

Roger: — Suffer even when you’re dead.

The familiar smell of gunpowder didn’t suit the atmosphere of a church.

Roger: Crown will come to collect this man’s body, as well as the ones in the basement.

Kate: … What will happen to the believers, who are still alive?

(... You’re still worried about other people, even in times like this.)

Roger: They’ll receive treatment at a hospital Will is supporting.

Roger: It’ll take a very long time for them to heal mentally—

Roger: But as long as they keep on living… they’ll be fine.

Ironic that I was saying that right after I took a life.

However, I was determined to continue living on the path of evil.

(I didn’t expect the young lady to shoot, though.)

I almost couldn't believe that she was the same young lady who looked like a lost puppy not too long ago.

(... Hm?)

I noticed that Kate’s fingers were trembling slightly.

(Ah… this girl…)

Without much thought, I placed my hand on her head and ruffled her hair.

Roger: The mission is completed, thanks for your hard work.

Roger: And now I shall enjoy my rare beer—

Roger: Quite a pity that you’re not receiving any reward, don’t you think?

…

Fortunately, Kate didn't get any blood on her, so I could still take her out while she was in her wedding dress.

One reason was that returning to the castle was too troublesome.

The other reason was that I wanted to see her in the black wedding dress for a while more.

The place I wanted to take Kate to was…

…

Kate: We’re at the theatre… why…

Roger: My bad. The first class seats were sold out.

I sat down on my seat, and Kate hurriedly did the same.

Kate: That’s not what I was asking, I meant to ask why did you take me to a theatre?

(Seriously, this girl wants me to say it to her directly…)

However, it wasn't my thing to outwardly express things from one to ten.

Roger: I’ve already told you. This is your reward.

Kate’s little look of protest that resembled a small child made me laugh on the inside.

Roger: Ah… young lady, I must make it clear to you about one thing.

Kate: Yes…?

Roger: As I’ve mentioned before, I have zero interest in the arts.

Roger: Therefore, I won’t be able to give you any insightful commentary or talk about my impressions after the play. I hope you won't mind.

Kate’s eyes widened for a moment before she gave me a gentle smile that looked like a flower blooming.

Kate: I’ll give you a hundred points if you manage to stay awake throughout.

Roger: I feel relieved hearing you say that.

Roger: Anyway, do plays usually take this long to begin?

Kate: Waiting and wondering when the curtains will rise is one of the joys of watching plays.

Roger: … I can never understand the reasoning behind that.

As I turned to face the front, I noticed that Kate was staring at her hands.

Her hand that had pulled the trigger of a gun earlier was no longer trembling—

(...)

(... Kate, I know you're not a strong person.)

(However, Kate. You’re not one to let your weakness affect you.)

Not only that, she even pushed herself to help me.

(I think that’s one of her strengths, but—)

She must be feeling so guilty.

She wasn’t strong enough to take a person’s life yet.

(... Goodness, she’s still the same lost puppy as before.)

Roger: Remember when we talked about my ideal type of woman?

Kate: …? Yeah.

Roger: I like a woman who can think for herself and looks good with tears flowing down her face. Now I have one more thing to add.

Roger: I also like a woman who motivates herself to be strong.

Roger: I mean it, sincerely.

Kate blinked at me and her voice shook.

Kate: … Is it acceptable if she’s not a strong person?

Roger: Yeah…

Being able to bring yourself to take someone’s life was not a sign of strength.

Moreover, blood didn’t look good on Kate.

Roger: I believe that someone who tries their best to be strong and face their obstacles head on are the truly strong ones.

Roger: Kate.

(I always acknowledge your strength.)

(.. So smile.)

Roger: Thank you for trying to help me.

Kate bit her lower lip and nodded in response.

Kate: … Alright.

(I can’t help but want to dote on her. Goodness, she IS such a lovely bride.)

A smile appeared on her face as the stage curtains rose and our surroundings dimmed.

Although my ears picked up the sound of Kate crying next to me, I pretended to not have heard it.

[mlsofh]

Vivziepop Criticism

Hello Wayward Sinners!

I wanted to do a full on post about the criticism of Viv because a lot of the things I see people raving about with Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss usually are just very hateful. I'd like to take a moment to address the fact that Viv isn't the sole creator of Helluva Boss or Hazbin Hotel, and giving her all of that hate is honestly unfair to her. She is a director and producer, yes, but this does not mean she had all creative liberty. This doesn't mean she isn't to blame but it's also not on us to solely blame her for the possible problems of both respective shows. As a person who wants to be an indie animator and even a director myself, I know the effort it takes to make a production. It's a lot of people! We have to remember that as a society, we have bias pushed onto us. We have subconscious bias to be more disrespectful towards women in media who are successful. That's because we're brought up to think women are lesser or aren't competent, but I'd like to remind everyone that Brandon Rogers is equally a producer and director of Helluva Boss. And lets not even forget that Hazbin Hotel is a whole production with multiple writers, artists, and so many more. A professional company decided Viv's designs weren't bad which means it's likely intentional. I also want people to remember that humans aren't a linear species. We aren't linear, we have learning curves. Give other humans the benefit of the doubt. If you're going to send hate then rethink why you're sending that hate. If you're criticizing I'd like for everyone to remember to criticize the whole production/direction (Not including Voice Directors. They have no say) staff who works on this production. Stop sending only criticisms to Viv, and instead send them to overall staff. It was written by Vivienne. The story is by Brandon, Vivienne, and Adam Neylan. Just because it's directed and produced by her doesn't mean she has all creative liberty. A good director takes others opinions into account when the creative process happens. I personally think it's a little ridiculous all the shit she gets for her writing skills. She gets quite a bit of shit for the "one dimensional" nature of Millie, Loona, and Stella for Helluva Boss. To which I say you're not looking at the character's bigger picture. Millie clearly deals with self worth issues, Loona deals with deep trauma that comes out in little hints, and Stella grew up in a very privileged position. Millie is incredibly well written if you look at her from her own standpoint. She doesn't talk about her deep past because she has a good relationship with her parents, didn't have a poor childhood overall, and is emotionally stable mostly. But we know that she got outshined by her sister, Sally may, frequently! She needed to be validated by teenagers for her physical skills. Millie sacrifices a lot for Moxxie, but that doesn't make her a supporting character to him. I'd love to have another episode about Millie: we all would. But she’s actually a well written character.

Don’t get me started about Loona either! Loona is very true to how people work. She is standoffish, and pretty rude in the start of most new interactions. She’s a traumatized young adult. As a traumatized young adult who has/had friends who are traumatized young adults, one of them acts like Loona! She’s really standoffish but incredibly sweet and needs lots of thoughtful attention. Loona has had lovely character development. I think even Stella being one dimensional is like how Striker is one dimensional, but I do not see a single criticism for Striker. I don't see criticism for arguably the worst written character in the series: Crimson. People want to call out when women aren't portrayed as inherently vulnerable. But what have we gotten that's good, that is so downplayed in modern media? Men being vulnerable. Men being abused, physically(implied by Stella’s interaction with Stolas.) So, yeah. Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel aren’t bad and we give Viv way too much overall flack. Give flack to all creators.

Anyway that’s all I have,

What do you think?

Stay tuned for more!