#can’t believe I’ve never seen anyone compare them before

[gothicwill]

The Abigail Hobbs and Claudia iwtv parallels…brain go brrrrrrr

[paucubarsisimp]

Can you write for Phil Foden or Lando Norris (or Oscar Piastri), in fact the one you prefer. An imagine in which the reader is insecure about her small chest? If you're not comfortable with that, there's no problem (I'm specifying just in case, I'm not asking for anything smut)

Thank you if you do it and Good Luck for your exam 💕

more than enough

pairing: oscar piastri x reader

summary: in which you’re insecure about your small chest

warnings: none

tagged: @madwolia, @barcapix, @universefcb, lmk if you want to be added to the taglist!

a/n: js a reminder that you’re all gorgeous 💋

the hotel room in monaco was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the distant noise of the city winding down for the night. oscar had barely put down his phone, but you were lost in your thoughts, the exhaustion from the race weekend settling into your bones. it was supposed to be a time to unwind, yet you couldn’t shake the discomfort crawling under your skin.

you sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped up in a blanket, fiddling with the hem of your shirt. your mind kept drifting back to the same nagging thought that had been consuming you for days—the one that always seemed to appear when you were around oscar’s world. your chest.

you had picked out a cute outfit earlier that day, one that usually made you feel confident, but now, in the dimly lit hotel room, you just felt small. flat. compared to the women you’d seen today—confident, busty, with curves that seemed to demand attention. you couldn’t help but feel invisible, like you were fading into the background.

oscar looked up from his phone, his gaze flickering to you with a soft frown. he had that look on his face—the one that meant he’d noticed you’d gone quiet, withdrawn, something bothering you. he set his phone down with a sigh, his eyes never leaving yours.

“hey,” he said, his voice low and soothing, “what’s going on? you’ve been zoning out all evening.”

you didn’t want to talk about it. not now, not here. you wanted to bury it deep and forget. but oscar’s quiet concern always had a way of drawing things out of you, no matter how hard you tried to hold them in. you shrugged, not meeting his eyes, your fingers nervously tugging at the fabric of your shirt again.

“it’s nothing,” you muttered, but your voice gave you away. “just… i don’t know. i feel stupid. insecure. i guess i’m being ridiculous.”

oscar was immediately at your side, his body close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from him. he gently placed his hand on your knee, leaning in slightly so you couldn’t avoid him.

“you’re not stupid,” he said softly, his voice rich with understanding. “but you’re not fooling me. something’s on your mind, love.”

you hesitated for a moment before you finally whispered, “it’s my chest. it’s… too small. i don’t know. i just feel… less.”

there was a beat of silence, and you could feel oscar’s gaze on you, the way he processed your words. his hand slid from your knee to your own, fingers brushing over your skin, offering comfort, but also a kind of heat that made your heart race for a different reason.

“what do you mean, ‘less’?” oscar asked, his voice low, but not unkind. “you’re anything but that. your body… it’s perfect.”

you shook your head, biting your lip in frustration, still not meeting his eyes. “but i’m not like the other women you’re around. they have… curves, you know? the kind of bodies that turn heads. i don’t even fill out a top properly.”

oscar’s hand moved up to your chin, gently tilting your face to meet his gaze. his thumb brushed over your lip softly, the touch sending a spark through you that only made the nerves grow worse.

“i can’t believe you think that,” he said, his voice quiet, yet full of something deeper—something raw. “it’s not about curves, sweetheart. it’s about you. i’ve never looked at anyone else the way i look at you.”

you felt a flush creep up your neck, but oscar didn’t let you look away. he took a breath, leaning in just a little closer, his face inches from yours. “you think i don’t notice how you make my heart race when you walk into a room?” he murmured, his lips just brushing against yours as he spoke. “or how i can’t stop thinking about the way you laugh… or the way your skin feels when i touch you?”

you swallowed hard, your pulse quickening. you hadn’t expected this, the heat building between you so suddenly, and it made the insecurities feel… different. not gone, but quieter. less significant.

“but i’m nothing like—”

oscar cut you off with a kiss, soft and gentle at first, his lips brushing over yours with a tenderness that made you forget everything else. when he pulled back, his eyes were dark, filled with something unspoken, something that made you feel desired in a way you hadn’t expected.

“sweetheart,” he breathed, his hand slipping to your waist, pulling you closer. “i’m not talking about anyone else. you are what makes me crazy. the way you feel in my arms, the way you look when you’re thinking too hard about something. i don’t care about anything else. it’s you who’s always on my mind.”

you were close now, close enough to feel the warmth of his body against yours, his hand sliding up your back to the nape of your neck. your breath caught in your throat as he leaned in again, his lips grazing your ear, his voice a whisper that sent shivers down your spine.

“your chest is perfect, just like the rest of you,” oscar murmured, his voice thick with desire. “i don’t need anything more. i just need you. you’ve always been more than enough.”

you shivered as his words sank in, the way his lips brushed your skin, sending a heat through you that made you forget all about the insecurities you’d been carrying around. oscar pulled back slightly, looking at you with a smirk that was both reassuring and a little daring.

“you’re so damn beautiful, it drives me insane,” he said, his hand resting on your side, his fingers grazing lightly against your skin. “and i’m gonna make sure you know it, every single day.”

the intensity of his gaze, the heat between you, made you feel a little dizzy, but in a way that felt right. it was like the self-doubt had melted away under his touch, his words, the way he made you feel like the most important person in the world.

“oscar…” you breathed, your voice barely a whisper. “are you sure? i mean… i’m really not—”

he silenced you with another kiss, this one deeper, more urgent, as if he couldn’t wait another second to prove how much he meant it. his hands roamed down your back, pulling you closer, making you feel seen. wanted.

“i’m sure,” he said, his lips still against yours, his voice rough with sincerity. “you’re more than enough. always have been.”

the moment hung between you, both of you breathless, and you couldn’t help but believe him. maybe you didn’t need to be like everyone else. maybe, just maybe, this—you—was enough.

[maritteknewtheenemy]

Agree with all your criticisms about sotr!

I personally really dislike Lenore dove. She’s too Mary sue manic pixie dream girl, as people point out the way Lucy gray was written can be defended as were reading about her through snows perspective, but the. What’s the defense for Lenore dove.

I personally think her character could’ve been very compelling if SC had just leaned into her flaws and the fact that Haymitch putting her on a pedestal is unhealthy rather than just shoving in our faces how virtuous and perfect Haymitch perceived her to be without any further depth beyond that. Snow’s conversation with Haymitch about covey girls is ironic to me because he’s actually right Lenore dove does keep secrets from Haymitch and Haymitch should have concerns about that.

I actually think it would’ve been really cool to see Lenore dove written in way that parallels her to Gale and his flawed view of rebellion and fighting against the capitol rather than as Lucy Gray 2.0. While the movies have flaws, Lenore Doves rant to Haymitch in the meadow at the beginning about the hunger games kind of perfectly parallels Gale’s rant to Katniss at the beginning of the first movie in the woods. Gale’s treatment of Madge in the books, the way he’s cold to her, compares that she must not have that many entries in etc. is an interesting parallel to Lenore Dove’s hatred for Maysilee. They both talk so much about rebellion but refuse to see that even the most privileged people in the districts are still victims of the capitol. They say us vs them but only the us that they deem worthy. I think that would’ve been a much more interesting way to go about Lenore doves character.

Just because Lenore Dove is covey doesn’t mean she can’t have depth and flaws and complexity. Ive seen people be very resistant to the idea of that because the covey are Romani and indigenous coded but like that doesn’t mean they all have to be the same flat “perfect” characters. The fandom jokes about fake but he’s really very complex and a great character and Lenore dove paralleling him rather than being a cheap imitation to Lucy gray just would’ve been so much better imo. I’ve never really shipped Haymitch with anyone, but people’s insistence that Lenore dove is his true love and his image of her is correct are just so frustrating . I think acknowledging the fact that their relationship had some unhealthy tendencies would’ve been so much better and made more sense than what we got.

Lenore Dove my beloathed. So glad at least some people can see what I see.

You're 100% right that she could have been cool if readers were allowed to read her as flawed instead of being spoonfed the idea that she's a special fairy princess above all criticism. If she'd expanded on Haymitch's unhealthy obsession with her and her manipulative, judgmental tendencies she could have been a really interesting character, and it's so unfortunate she fell so flat. Snow in SOTR was an epic failure in all proportions, so its unfortunate that his reading of Lenore Dove was actually so much closer to her as she was written that Haymitch's idealized version of her. It sure as hell wasn't much of a relationship.

Her paralleling Gale would have been a really cool angle to explore actually, and it's one I've never thought of before. She definitely tries and spectacularly fails to parallel Lucy Grey. However, I think anon, that you still tend to see her more favourably than I do. Personally, I think Lenore Dove is a lot dumber than people want to believe, and certainly a lot dumber than Gale ever was. (Even at his most hotheaded Gale was a very intelligent character). To me, Lenore Dove- entirely unintentionally- shares a lot more similarities with a different character, who is neither righteous like Gale, nor compassionate like Lucy Grey. To me, Lenore Dove as written shares a lot more similarities with a young Coriolanus Snow than any other character in the series.

She's obsessed with her image to an unhealthy degree, and she's cultivated a very specific sort of single minded devotion in Haymitch that seems similar to how Lucy Grey seemed to view Coriolanus before he indisputably revealed his true colours, despite there having been several red flags she ignored or failed to pick up on before hand. He was just so charming and he knew it. Well, Lenore Dove is charming too- at least to Haymitch- and he's willing to ignore so many red flags just to exist in the periphery of her world. And I do think he exists largely in her periphery. Lenore Dove is also manipulative, she hides things from Haymitch, keeps secrets, and deliberately misleads him, convinced she's always the smartest person in the room and he's far too stupid to understand the true complexities of her superior intellect. Sound familiar? I seem to remember Coriolanus infantilising Lucy Grey in his head and routinely hiding or changing things he says to keep her, or Tigris, or Sejanus out of the loop or deliberately misled. Lenore Dove is self aggrandising and it irks her when others fail to see how important she and her ideals are, even more when they call her on it (think of the feud between her and Maysilee). It goes without saying this feels like a mirror to a character from a formerly rich family operating from the framework of 'Snow Lands on Top'. Lenore Dove shows a callous disregard for everyone around her, and is willing to sacrifice countless innocents just to make a point or get ahead (what she views as getting ahead is just different than what Snow does.) Burning the flag could have gotten any number of innocent bystanders hurt, arrested, beaten, or killed. Fighting the peacekeepers is what got Haymitch illegally reaped, and what could have got others shot. She immediately breaks house arrest putting her uncles at risk- uncles who already face a lot of heat on her behalf- just because she wants to play outside. None of this seems that different from behaviour we see from Coriolanus, who is happy to sacrifice Clemensia, Sejanus, all the tributes, Highbottom, Mayfair, Billy Taupe, Ampert, and countless others to get what he wants or prove a point. Furthermore, from what we see and hear of Lenore Dove she's incredibly judgmental about everyone from Haymitch (the supposed love of her life) to Maysilee, to the district citizens and peacekeepers. Y'know who else views everyone around him- supposed loved ones and enemies alike- with unadulterated derision? I do. Lenore Dove is a rebel because that's what being raised covey told her she should be, just like Coriolanus is loyal to the capitol because that's what the Capitol told him to be. But put Lenore Dove in Coriolanus' circumstances and she very easily becomes him: a power hungry dictator obsessed with her image, and put Coriolanus in her life, and he easily becomes her: a wannabe rebel with a saviour complex.

One final note: in terms of the Covey being Romani coded, I think there was an argument to be made that that was the case in TBOSBAS, however Suzanne Collins was so careful to avoid anything but the vaguest, most ambiguous character descriptions in SOTR so that the movie can cast all white characters without facing backlash from the fandom, that she erased any effort to make the Covey Romani in her earlier work. I'm waiting for the casting annoucement for Sadie Sink as Lenore Dove any day now.

But yeah, all in all Lenore Dove is such a missed opportunity of a character and I will never not hate her.

[luminique]

Hello, I'm Anon who uses a translator XD. I can imagine some things between Lighter and Reader, and some involving the Sons of Calydon:

1- Reader not having a motorcycle and always going with Lighter.

2- Reader with a tragic past being welcomed by the Sons of Calydon, including Lighter.

3- Lighter buying things that he knows you should never have before for some reason, and now he buys them to make you happy.

4- Reader is the calmest and kindest of the group, something that makes Lighter attracted to Reader.

5- However, even Reader has his limits, and it is at this moment that Lighter and all the other Sons of Calydon remember how Reader is far from weak despite his sweet appearance.

6- Lighter pretends to be your boyfriend before you are in a relationship to keep away anyone who is bothering you (and also to keep away possible competitors).

7- If Reader is not part of the Sons of Calydon, everyone in the group knows him and you are like part of the group, but without doing all the dangerous things they do.

8- If Reader is part of the Sons of Calydon, Burnice and Caesar tease him endlessly about how Lighter is in the palm of Reader's hand (but deep down everyone thinks it's cute, and Caesar thinks they are like Shipp).

9- If Reader is weak when it comes to drinking, Lighter will not let you overdo it, but if it happens, he will definitely be there to take care of you.

10- Every time Lighter goes to buy something in the city, he will definitely take Reader with the excuse (which no one believes) of helping him, but everyone knows it is to spend time together as a couple.

OH I LOVE ALL OF THESE !!! i actually have another ask about riding (his bike) with lighter so i’ll definitely write more for that.

[ for 2, 7 and 8 ] every time i write for lighter x reader, i’d prefer for you to decide what kind of person they are. they could be from the main city, another biker gang, another faction member, or even a member of the Sons of Calydon. i also don’t want to give reader a personality that maybe not everyone enjoys so that’s why i try not to go into detail about reader but more about lighter. i will consider it though if the thought ever comes up !!

[ for 3, 6 and 10 ] i LOVE fake dating trope and i think these together would be really good written together. he has bought multiple of the same toy before in game so i think to show his affection/care, he would buy a lot of one item and keep one just for himself and give the rest to you. i’ll write something longer for this maybe

[ for 4 and 5 ] again, i try not to give reader too much of a personality so that you can decide how reader is but i like to think that my reader is a little less extreme compared to the other members of the Sons of Calydon. compared to lighter, maybe handles emotions like love better than him. but nonetheless, i think lighter would also enjoy going up against reader for practice. he goes a little easy on you but he knows you can fight and defend yourself. (but this is just my personal thoughts !!)

[ for 9 ] ooh i’ve been having thoughts about lighter and drinking. i personally don’t drink so i can’t say with confidence how its like but from what i’ve seen, i think he would definitely help you get back if you’re too drunk. you’re slurring on words and maybe a little confession comes out. he doesn’t want to take it too seriously but he does feel his heart skip a beat. maybe he’ll ask again in the morning… nah, it’s too embarrassing to him to bring it up… (i’ll definitely write something longer for this one !!)

THANK YOU SO MUCH ANON !! i don’t think i would’ve thought of any of these on my own so these give me good ideas of what to write and think about next :D

[she-karev]

Intervention (Marina Angst with a Happy Ending Imagine)

Previous Part Here

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: Three of Three

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Characters: Carina DeLuca, Andrew DeLuca and Maya Bishop

Canon Episode: Season 17 Episode 1

AN: Hey guys so Station 19 ended sadness but it’s up to us to keep the epic romance alive. I will post another Marina story next week and it’s gonna be funny and surprising. Stay tuned.

Mental Health Resources: https://www.nami.org/, https://www.aacap.org/, https://www.dbsalliance.org/, https://afsp.org/

Summary: Carina drives Andrew to the treatment center and along the way he expresses guilt and shame for how he treated everybody, most of all Amber. Carina returns home to Maya who comforts her.

Words: 3213

Carina drives down the road in her car about twenty minutes away from the residential facility in Bellevue. Andrew is next to her in the passenger side alarmingly calm even as he looks out the window in a foreboding way telling her there is an inner conflict going on. Carina looks at Andrew in pity before looking back at the road. She figures out what to say to make him feel better about the journey ahead.

“I know your scared but this is one of the best treatment centers in the state I checked.” Andrew is still looking out the window, “It’s 30 days to get you on the right meds, talk to therapists and monitor you. I will visit you every Saturday so I can see how you’re doing and tell you all that you are missing. I know it’s hard but you’ll get better and that’s the goal, that is what is going to separate you from papa. He is not strong enough to do this but you are, I know you are.”

Carina stops at a stoplight, looks over and sees Andrew rubbing his tired eyes, “I know your trying to help and I appreciate that I do and I am gonna do this I am I just…I can’t undo all that I did when I was being a stubborn idiot.” Carina sighs, “Opal got away with Erin because I made a scene, I was so far out of stability I didn’t do things rationally and calmly instead I looked like a crazy man and that girl ended up back in that monster’s clutches.”

“And she got free.” Carina reminds him to no avail as he shakes his head.

“What if she didn’t?” Andrew asks in a broken voice, “If she didn’t, she would have been tortured and raped for years and it would be because I was unstable and untrustworthy.”

“Andrea the Chief didn’t believe you and she allowed Opal to walk away because she didn’t consider the possibility that you were right.”

“You didn’t believe me either.” Andrew coldly reminds her, “Nobody did and honestly I do not blame them, if papa did that a year ago, I would have thought he was crazy too.”

Carina looks down the road sad for him, “You can’t blame yourself for what happened to Erin, if you do it’s just gonna hold you back and you won’t look forward. She’s safe and she’s with her family that is what’s important here, focus on that not on how you reacted while you were having a mental breakdown you didn’t ask for.”

“I ruined- no I single handedly destroyed the best relationship I ever had because I didn’t see what everybody else did.” Andrew sniffles as tears form around his eyes, “I did to her exactly what our father did to mama and I am never gonna forgive myself for that. She’s never gonna forgive me for doing this to her, for being another name in her list of crazy people that scarred her for life.”

“You didn’t mean to hurt her it was the mania that said and did all of those things not you.” Carina tells him from observation, “I’ve seen you with her for two years and those are two different people.”

“I told her she would end up like her father.” Andrew tells her in a regretful tone, “She was trying to help me see there was something wrong and my response was telling her that without me around she would end up like her father. Her junkie father who abandoned her after beating her, I told her she would end up like that man she hates more than anyone. And after that I compared her to her schizo mom who neglected her before screaming at her to get out of my apartment because I didn’t need her or want her. God I am the cruelest person in the world, I did that to a woman who has had more than enough crazy and pain to last a lifetime. I did that and nothing you say is gonna make that okay so don’t try.” Andrew takes a deep breath rubbing his face before continuing in a tearful voice, “I love her so much, I miss her so much, why didn’t I listen to her before I destroyed her why?”

Carina sniffles and wipes a stray tear away knowing how much her brother loves Amber and sees that love again for the first time in months. She only wishes Amber was here to see it so she can see at least one person in her life feels bad for the pain their mental illness put her through.

“You listened now.” Carina tells him, “You’re doing the work and she will see that. When she sees your getting better for yourself and her, she will forgive you and take you back.”

“It’s too late, way too late.”

Carina shakes her head, “She loves you and she’s hurt but I think if she knows you feel bad for the way you treated her, she will-”

“What did she say when you asked her to come to the intervention?”

Carina pauses at that sudden question and tries to lie, “I didn’t ask her.”

Andrew chuckles bitterly, “You always were a terrible liar. Just tell me word for word so I know how bad I messed this up and how much I need to do to make up for it.”

Carina sighs and relents, “She said she didn’t want to be a sitting duck for your verbal abuse again and that she’s learned from her mom, brother and now you to walk away from a bazooka pointing at her.”

Andrew grins slightly at Amber’s feisty nature, “That’s my girl, taking hits and never pulling her punches.”

“She’s upset Andrea you need to give her time to cool down.”

“We could live for thousands of years and the temperature in that woman wouldn’t go down a single digit.” Andrew takes out his phone to play a familiar voice mail, “If you don’t believe me listen to this voicemail, she left me after I ignored her calls.”

Carina listens to the voicemail that plays while she is driving with Andrew keeping a straight face after hearing this message too many times only now feeling anguished instead of anger as Amber’s slurring words fill the small car space, “Hi, it’s me again of course you didn’t answer, I guess it’s because you think I’m gonna point out what’s wrong with you and tell you I’m here for you to use as your own verbal punching bag. Yeah, that’s not gonna happen because I’m done Andrew, I am done caring about you because you clearly don’t care about me! Your sister made that obvious when she told me about you calling her and answering your phone when she calls while I have been here wondering where you are or if you’re dead!” Carina winces at that reminder of the day she accidentally told Amber Andrew was taking her calls.

Andrew continues holding the phone out, “You know what I’m not pissed anymore I am glad that you showed me what I should’ve seen two years ago at that awful bar. A man who is turning into a carbon copy of his father, you think I’m like my parents well let me tell you exactly what your dad would do. He would walk into your life acting all sweet and getting you to open your life to him but really he looks for weak spots to tear down like the cold manipulative son of a bitch you accuse him of being. That is exactly what you did to me you bastard.” Andrew closes his eyes at that feeling more tormented at soiling the loving and blissful relationship he and Amber established over two years.

“You got me to open my life to you, you let me feel safe enough to trust you and break my walls down that I put up after what my family did to me. And you know what you did Andrea Vincenzo DeLuca? You broke me! You made the pain you’ve caused so much worse by forcing me to let my guard down so you can twist the knife you put in my back. You are not the man I love, right now you are a carbon copy of your father who I hope ends up dead in a ditch because then you would know exactly how you made me feel you cruel, arrogant, crazy, selfish motherfucker!”

The voicemail ends and the car is filled with silence again as Carina processes that very vulgar message while Andrew looks down the road brooding over the voicemail his ex-girlfriend left when she was rightfully angry.

Carina exhales and takes a beat, “She’s very colorful with her words.”

Andrew nods still frowning, “Yeah and not afraid to make her point across. Do you still think she’s ready to forgive me, marry me and have my babies like none of it ever happened?”

Carina sighs, “I think you put her through a lot and you both need space to heal. The only thing you need to do now is take care of yourself, rest and learn how to establish a routine for yourself so you can be the man she loves again. If she ever decides to forgive you that is up to her and I think it might go better once she sees you are getting ahead of this. I will tell her where you are and how you are doing because I know no matter how angry she was at you she was still worried when you didn’t show up for work the next day. But for now, we’re gonna get you checked in, non aver paura.” Carina grips his hand to keep him calm as they stop outside the check in gate. Carina turns to the security guard, “I’m checking in my brother, Andrew DeLuca.”

“You need to drive around. You say goodbye there; he goes in on foot.” The drop arm in front of them pulls up and Carina drives around as instructed before putting the car in park. They both exit the car before taking his suitcase out of the trunk full of clothes and amenities for the month. Andrew takes an uneasy breath as he puts the suitcase on the ground ready to roll it inside the center.

He and Carina stand there for a moment looking at each other solemnly knowing the journey ahead is what he needs but not one that’s gonna be easy. Carina gives him a reassuring grin before putting her hands on his shoulders while he looks at her with guilt over how he treated her too after his breakdown. Carina has that far from her mind as the only thing that matters to her is that her baby brother knows he will always have her at his side through the worst times of his life like she always does.

“It’s going to be okay,” she says. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but it is. You’re nothing like Papa. He wouldn’t do this, he wouldn’t accept help, even in the worst times. That makes you better than him. It makes you stronger and more brave.”

Andrew nods and she takes it as a sign that he is taking in what she is saying.

“I love you, il mio fratellino. And I’m going to be right here to pick you up in four weeks, okay?” Andrew nods knowing this is what he needs and looks at his sister with gratitude for putting up with him at his worst and never giving up on him even when he wanted her to. He resolves from then on to make amends for his mistakes by being his best possible self. And he knows the first step to do that is to head inside so his sister’s efforts aren’t for nothing.

“Thank you,” Andrew says quietly.

It is all she needs to hear, and Carina feels her chest swell. She pulls him in for a hug, holding on to him for as long as she can. Andrew wraps his arms around her pulling her in tight as both an apology and a thank you. They stand there for a minute hugging like they did when their mama died, it was the worst moment of their lives. Despite that they knew then what they know now, that they’re in each other’s corners through the good and bad.

Andrew pulls back feeling calmer and rolls his suitcase behind him walking up the sidewalk to enter the large building. Carina looks on with pride for her brother’s bravery and heartache for his unfair inheritance. As soon as he’s inside the building Carina finally lets the tears fall that she has been holding in since they started the drive. Carina takes a deep breath, wipes her face and heads back inside the car to drive back home.

Later

Carina enters her apartment exhausted despite the sun still being up and walks to the kitchen for her secret junk food stash. Instead of an empty kitchen she finds Maya kneeling down looking in her bottom drawers and pulling out a deep glass baking dish. Maya stands up and smiles at Carina.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Carina greets back pleasantly surprised by Maya in her apartment.

“I know I should have called first after last time, but I didn’t want to call at a bad time. I figured you and your brother needed to do this without intrusion and-”

Carina interrupts Maya with a kiss that takes the blonde firefighter’s breath away. Maya is conscious enough to put the glass on the counter, so she doesn’t drop it. She puts her hands on Carina’s firm waist sinking into this passionate embrace. After a few blissful moments Carina pulls back and leans her head forward against Maya’s looking deep into her blue eyes that look into her brown eyes with such love and conviction.

“I’m glad you’re here, I really needed to see you after.”

Maya rubs Carina’s back soothingly, “I’m here now, it didn’t go okay?”

Carina groans slightly, “He was hesitant at first there were tears and a lot of slamming doors…but eventually he agreed to let us help him. I called in and got him into a treatment center at Bellevue.”

“And the drive up?”

Carina sighs, “He told me how guilty he feels about Erin and Amber. He told me that he regrets hurting a woman that he loves repeatedly when she was trying to help. I told him that it would be okay that she might forgive him but honestly…I don’t know if she is.”

“I hurt you too, I lashed out and I did a very stupid and awful thing to you and you still forgave me. If we can do that then I think they can too.”

Carina chuckles bitterly, “You don’t know Amber Karev she is…she is angry and rightfully so and she has had enough people hurting her when they had a mental breakdown. I don’t know if she can forgive him and love him again. He loves her so much, what am I supposed to do if she rejects him and he is heartbroken without the love of his life there with him?”

Maya looks at her in thought, “…You could get him a dog.” Carina laughs at that suggestion causing Maya to smile, “I had to do something to make you smile. He’ll be okay I don’t know him but if he’s like you then he will bounce back and move on. As long as he still has you, he’ll be okay.”

“Okay.” Carina holds Maya’s hip. “And when he’s better, I’m going to make sure he gets to know you properly. I want him to know you, Maya.”

Maya smiles, her cheeks blushing pink. She is not normally the kind of person that someone wants to introduce to their family, and it used to be a red flag to her, but not this time. This time, she wants it. She wants to be all in with Carina and get to know her brother she loves so much hoping when the time comes, she gets his approval.

“I would like that.” Maya tells Carina who smiles, “I just hope he likes me.”

“He will.” Carina tells her with conviction, “If he doesn’t, he’ll just have to learn to get used to you or I will kick his bottom.” Maya laughs at that image and Carina looks at the pan with interest, “Why were you taking a pan out anyway? We’re you gonna make me something?”

Maya smiles and pulls away from Carina to grab the glass pan, “I remember you telling me that whenever you or your brother would get sad or scared you would go to the kitchen and make something together to cheer yourselves up. I thought we could do that since you need cheering up.”

Carina looks at Maya in awe over her remembering that story. She can still remember the day their mama yelled at papa and threw plates at him after he killed those four patients. She and Andrea would crawl under the covers and she would sing to him to calm him down. The next morning when their mama was in bed and their papa was at work, she took her brother to the kitchen and taught him how to make French toast. The process helped keep their minds off their parent’s breaking apart so every fight they overheard they would find a new recipe to try. It was their thing and it make Carina’s heart skip a beat at the thought of sharing that with Maya.

“You would do that for me?”

Maya nods, “I would do anything for you, I love you Carina.”

“Ti amo Maya.”

Maya smiles at the Italian words that she finds so sexy coming from Carina but focuses on the task at hand, “So do you want to start with the lasagna? I have been dying to know what your secret is.”

“Ah, ah, ah.” Carina teases, “You are not there yet bambina, we have start you off with something simple and then work our way up to my famous lasagna.”

Maya chuckles, “Oh really? Okay sexy Guy Fieri what’s level one of this cooking challenge?”

“Mmm.” Carina thinks with a grin, “Let’s start with something simple like spaghetti aglio e olio.”

“It sounds delicious what is it?”

“Spaghetti in garlic and oil sauce.” Carina explains.

Maya’s nose wrinkles at the concoction, “It sounds like a vampire’s worst nightmare.”

Carina chuckles, “Trust me bella you say that now but when we are done you will fall to your knees over my cooking skills.”

“News flash it doesn’t take you cooking for me to do that.” Maya tells her with a mischievous smile and Carina looks at her in amusement, “Okay what do you want me to do chef?”

“Chef? Wow I think I am going to love this.” Carina teases before they head to the pantry to pull out ingredients. Carina looks at Maya with love and admiration knowing that despite the day she and her brother had things were gonna be okay, she believed it.

[dtyfp2]

Capture

Evermore

“That is the largest army I have ever seen,” you comment as you huddle up with the others.

“As opposed to the many little armies you have seen?” Aemon quips, which earns him a playful shove.

“…is everyone clear with the plan?” Kerene asks, drawing your attention back to the mission. You nod and she stands, from her battle plans drawn in the dirt.

“Be safe. If you have to, abort, we can deal with him after. For now, we try to catch him off guard,” she reiterates.

Aemon goes to scout the way while the others go to surround the camp.

“What is it?” Kerene asks once she’s left alone with you.

“What if my shield isn’t strong enough to hold him. I’ve never shielded a man before, what if it’s different?” You ask her nervously.

“It is not so different,” she shrugs easily.

“You are strong, Gael, the strongest channeled the world has seen since the last dragon. Logain is a fraud, his power is minuscule compared to you, and you my dear, have only gotten stronger since the day you first arrived to the Tower,” she says comfortingly as she places a hand on your shoulder.

“If you can’t shield him, it’s perfectly alright, it’s not a failure on your part. The others and I will converge if he breaks through. Just try your best, that’s all anyone can ask you to do,” she soothes. You nod, trying to smile but failing.

You were to go in first, shield him while the others dealt with his army. Now, you were hidden in the forests, at the outskirts of his base camp. You’d have to use your light mirage weaves to get you close enough to him, this Logain Ablar, who claimed to be the dragon reborn.

Aemon comes back, deeming the oath clear. He takes your hand and stalks closer to the camp, his sword drawn and ready for any surprise.

“I don’t see any-“

You can’t help but gasp as he pulls you closer, his hand covering your mouth as he presses himself against a tree. You’re about to ask him what he was doing, but soon you hear the chatter of 2 men, obviously meant to be guarding the camp.

You can hear your heartbeat in your ears, and you fear it’ll be so loud they might be able to hear. You squeeze your eyes shut, as if that’ll help anything. You don’t dare move, your muscles turned to stone, afraid anything might set them off.

Now, you fear, the weight of the mission settling hard on your chest. You fear getting caught. You don’t know what you thought before, but it becomes real to you in that exact moment.

“They’re gone, come on,” Aemon whispers, pulling you up along with him as he continues on.

Come on, Gael, pull it together.

“His camp will be in the middle, time to mirage,” he says as you reach the edge of the camp. Carefully, you weave your strings of light, manipulating the light hitting one’s eye to make it seem like you weren’t even there.

You give him a nod when you’re down, and he takes your hand once more, carefully walking through the camp. It is night time, most are asleep, save for the guards and those up late drinking.

It smells bad. There is a conscious effort on your part to not gag.

You reach a large tent in the middle.

Aemon peaks his head inside.

“He’s asleep. You go, I’ll make sure one comes in. Be careful, Gael,” he whispers, his hand raising to cup your cheek.

“I will, you be careful too,” your murmur, leaning into his touch momentarily. He offers you an encouraging smile before letting you go.

Without taking a single breath, you slowly enter the tent.

You are surprised to see that he looks like a man. For some reason, you had expected something more…monstrous.

Nevertheless, you quietly begin weaving your shield, incorporating light itself. You believe you have time, until you can hear yelling and screaming and fighting outside.

Immediately, you throw your shield as Logain wakes. Outside, you hear Aemon fighting. Logain fights you, he’s strong, stronger than you thought he’d be. He’s clawing at the shield like an animal, and you begin to sweat.

“I am the dragon reborn, you cannot cage me!” He roars as you tighten the shield. By sheer strength, you could have gotten him.

But Aemon backs into the tent, his sword and face bloodied. He’s quick to approach Logain, and with his sword, cuts the back of his knee, forcing him to kneel. The distraction is enough for the shield to take full hold as he roars in pain. You use weaves of air to block his ears, so he cannot hear.

“You’re alright?” Aemon asks as he sheathes his sword, his gentle hands rising to check your face for marks.

“Yes, are you?” You ask, worry evident in your voice. You can’t tell if the blood is his or not. He nods, offering you a comforting smile as he presses a kiss to your temple.

The tent itself is thrown off its holdings, and you’re suddenly facing the elements themselves. There are small fires all around, it looks like most the army hadn’t put up much fight, running once the Aes Sedai attacked.

“Is he shielded?” Alanna asks as she runs over, throwing her own shield over yours. Her shield helped lessen your load, but you could tell she immediately felt its toll as she fell to her knees.

“He’s strong, Alanna. Only you, me, Liandrin, and Kerene have the strength to hold him, and the three of you will have to work in pairs. We can’t underestimate him,” you tell her as her shield falls and Ihvon runs to pick her up.

You focus your concentration as the others bring a cage for Logain, only just a man now. You almost feel sorry for him.

“You’re well?” Stepin asks as the others pick Logain up and put him away.

“Yes, piece of cake,” you joke, which earns you a laugh from him.

“I’m sure it was,” he chuckles as he goes to help lift the cage. Aemon is back at your side, guiding you through the woods as you hold your shield. The sun was beginning to rise and you sigh as the sun heats your face.

They set Logain up on a wagon, with two chairs attached at the back for whoever would be shielding him throughout the journey. You sit on the wagon first as the others prepare to go.

“If you cannot shield him, gentle him,” Aemon tells you as he kneels before you.

“But the Amyrlin wants-“

“I don’t care what the Amyrlin wants. Alanna couldn’t even keep her shield over yours. If you can’t keep him shielded, I want you to gentle him before he can hurt you,” Aemon says intently, his eyes shining a brighter blue against the blood and grime on his face.

“It’s not up to me-“

“I want you to swear it, Gael, you’re more important than your Amyrlin’s orders. Swear it to me,” he says quietly, so the others can’t hear. His hand is on your leg, and you can tell he worries.

“I swear it, if I can’t hold him-I’ll gentle him,” you promise him, pressing a hand to his cheek.

“But the others can hold him, Alanna was just caught off guard,” you assure him. He doesn’t seem to believe you, scoffing lightly as he stands and hops off, readying his own horse to go.

Alanna, Kerene, and Liandrin come back to test their weaves.

“Gael is right, only the 4 of us are strong enough to shield him, and the 3 of us will work in pairs. When you’re tired, Gael, let us know and we will take over, alright?” Kerene asks as she pats your head.

You nod in agreement and she offers you a small smile.

“You did well today, Gael, I’m proud of you.”

[musette-thornsong]

OJ: Bride of Thrax – Domestic Dispute, Pt. I

Hey, it’s been a while but I’m finally finishing what I started. Ozzy and Leah are having doubts about their elopement with all the crazy murders surrounding them. So much so, they believe one or the other is the killer. But when an unfortunate accident occurs, the truth is revealed before them as Thrax and Aura take matters into their own hands. However, the demon couple will have their own trials to face compared to the cell couple.

Warning: Explicit Language/Violence

Aurie Zurie belongs to me

--

Ozzy and Leah were at their wits end with all the murders and jumped to conclusions that one or the other was the culprit. So much so that each separately called Drix on advice on what to do about the situation. He shows up at the hotel the next morning and hitches a ride in the van to talk things out. Drix insists that both of them are innocent and wrong about the whole situation until he starts to get a whiff of something strange in the back of the van.

Drix: The thing that struck me was how sure you both sounded. And to me, that meant one of three things: One of you is lying, both of you are crazy, or both of you are wrong. Add to that the fact that I know you both better than anyone else, and I’ve never seen either of you so much as hurt a fly, and I’ve concluded that what we have here is a terrible misunderstanding.

Ozzy: (looks to Leah, puzzled)

Leah: (looks to Ozzy, puzzled)

Drix: (gets a whiff of something rather foul) Do you two smell something rather odd in here?

Thrax & Aura: (discreetly look to each other worried)

Ozzy: Okay, for the sake of argument, if it wasn’t you and it wasn’t me, then who else would wanna kill Phlegmming and that crooked bodyguard of his?

Leah: (adds on) And those people from last night.

Drix: (corrects them) You’re assuming Phlegmming’s dead. He’s only missing.

Leah: (concludes) You’re suggesting that Phlegmming…

Drix: (concurs) Yes! Why not? The man is power-hungry and will go to whatever lengths to get what he wants. I’d probably buy him as a psychopath before either of you two (gets a whiff of the foul odor once again, looking around in curiosity) My word! Something is really quite odorous in here.

Leah: I told you not to leave your dirty drawers back there.

Ozzy: (smiles Leah lovingly in relief)

Drix: I must suggest, Ms. Estrogen, this is not the rancorous smell of someone’s unmentionables (sniffs around further)

Drix kept sniffing around trying to place the order until he notics a small puddle of cytoplasm at the base of the trunk seat. Suspicious, Drix hovers down to move the Thrax & Aura dolls out of the way before lifting the latch. The moment he lifted up the seat, the sight before him left him in shock. Within the seat was Phlegmming’s nail-pierced face and blood-soaked corpse. The horror of it all leaves him in utter disbelief but comes to the immediate conclusion of their guilt.

Ozzy: (openly admittedly) I feel like such an idiot.

Leah: (reciprocates) Me too.

Ozzy: I mean, I can’t believe I thought that you could kill someone.

Leah: (apologizes) I know. I’m so sorry.

Drix: (notices an ice grenade that Phlegmming had previously swiped from him before secretly placing it in his arm cannon)

Ozzy: Drix, what would we do without you?

Drix: (jumps immediately at the odd question before suddenly closing the seat shut to remain inconspicuous, slightly panicking)

Leah: (smiles at him happily)

Ozzy: (gives him a respectful nod)

Drix: (worried) What do you mean “Without me”?

Ozzy: I mean you set us straight, buddy. We owe ya one.

Leah: You’re a good friend. The best (moves to the back to give Drix a hug)

Drix: (whips out his armed cannon in a panic) Pull over!

Ozzy: (looks back to see the sight behind him)

Drix: (demands at Ozzy) Pull over now!

Ozzy: (pulls the van over, before climbing to the back to calm Drix down unsure of his sudden behavior) Drix, come on, buddy, it’s me. Come on, let’s talk this over.

Drix: I’m not your buddy.

Ozzy: FUCK, DRIX!! PLEASE JUST PUT THE CANNON DOWN!!

Drix: (freaking out, charges the lever ready to shoot) Why? So you can kill me too?

Leah: WAIT! WAIT! WE DIDN’T KILL ANYBODY!!

Drix: (still keeps them at bay) Oh, you’re good. You’re good! You even had me fooled.

Leah: (confused) What are you talking about?

Drix: THIS!! (lifts up the seat showing them Phlegmming’s corpse, disgusted)

Ozzy & Leah: (gasps in horrific shock with Leah ready to vomit)

Thrax & Aura: (look to each other realizing the jig was up)

Leah: (turns to Ozzy in disbelief) You son of a bitch!

Ozzy: (defensively points at Leah) DRIX, I DIDN’T DO IT! SHE DID IT!

Leah: (defends herself) DRIX, I WOULD NEVER…

Drix: (shouts) SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!

Drix keeps the cannon on them and backs out of the van before he notices a passing police car and begins hailing it over when they see his weapon. Drix turns back only to find two unexpected figures in front of him with guns.

Drix: (calls out to the police) HEY, HELP! OVER HERE!!

Thrax & Aura: (point their guns directly at Drix)

Thrax: NOBODY MOVE!!!

Ozzy & Leah: (shocked to see a familiar face)

Leah: OH MY GOD!!!

Ozzy: (stares in terror of his old enemy)

Thrax: (smiles sinisterly) Hey Jones, long time no see.

Drix: (shocked to see Thrax too as well as a former teammate in her current state)

Drix backed away from the van slowly not noticing the oncoming truck heading right at him. Having forgotten his cannon was charged as he turned to move out of the way too late, the truck smashed right into Drix blowing up the front of the truck and himself in an icy explosion upon impact. The collision causes a pileup on the road as the cops were closing in.

Ozzy: (screams for his friend) DRIX!!!

Leah: (screams in horror) NOOOO!!!

Thrax: (shrugs to Aura) That works too.

Aura: (shouts) GET THIS HEAP OF SHIT MOVING!!! NOW! NOW! NOW!

Ozzy gets the van going as Leah closes the back-end doors before speeding off. Leah looks out the back window at the truck only to see icy blue remains of her good friend splattered all over the grill. She begins to weep at the loss feeling helpless. The cops got in closer before Thrax forces her to open the doors at gunpoint then shoots at the patrol car’s wheels while laughing maniacally. The cops veer off the side of the road as Leah closes the doors back in. Ozzy sped the van even further making sure they got far enough away just as they were entering New Jersey.

Thrax: (breaks the ice while keeping the hostages at gunpoint, smirking) I imagine at this point you two must have a lot of questions. You remember me, of course, right Jones?

Ozzy: How could I not? I remember the face of anyone who tried to kill me

Thrax: (chuckles reminiscently, gestures) And I’m sure you recognize an old partner of yours, donthca’?

Aura: (reassures, keeping her gun up) Oh, I’m sure he’d never forget me after the way the force dogged me out at the station as I was unjustly tried and fired. Isn’t that right, Jonesy?

Ozzy: (shocked to find his old friend and neighbor as a demon) So, how did you end up like this?

Leah: (looks on in disbelief and shock too)

Thrax: Well, it’s a long story.

Aura: (agrees) It sure is.

Thrax: In fact, if it was a movie, it would take three or four sequels just to do it justice.

Leah: What are you gonna do with us?

Thrax: Funny you should ask.

Aura: (explains) These bodies are okay. But they’re like apartments that we’re just renting. But now we’re movin’ on up.

Thrax: Like George & Weezie.

Aura: And we’re lookin’ to buy

Thrax: And you know what they say about real estate. Location, location, location. Well, you guys are definitely in the right place at the wrong time.

Thrax & Aura: (cackle menacing with glee)

Ozzy: (overhears the radio broadcast and turns up the volume when their names are mentioned)

Radio: *This is a CNN (Cerebral Neural Network) special report. The Jones & Estrogen case keeps getting weirder and weirder. Fingerprints discovered at two separate crime scenes have been identified as belonging to Thrax a.k.a. the Red Death, the notorious serial killer gunned down in 2001. Now police confirm that Thrax’s corpse will be exhumed from a Hackensack, New Jersey cemetery sometime today*

Thrax: (worried) What?!

Aura: (panics) Thrax, the Heart of Damballa!!

Ozzy & Leah: (freaking out silently towards the news)

Thrax: (grunts) I know!

Aura: What’ll we do? What’ll we do?

Thrax: Shut up! Just let me think, a’ight? First, we gotta get some new wheels. Every cop within 500 miles is looking for this van. We need something inconspicuous, but with a little style.

They manage to find an RV and commandeer but only after shooting the elderly owners point-blank in the heads. Thrax keeps an eye on Ozzy at the wheel from the front passenger seat as they entered the city of Hackensack. Aura keeps Leah tied up in the back as she cooks dinner while having a smoke and dolls up Leah for the upcoming ritual.

Aura: (smoking, tries to apply makeup to Leah’s face) Hold still, honey, or I’m gonna poke ya’ in the eye again.

Leah: (resists fervently while struggling against her binds)

Aura: (looks her down and up) Yes. I believe I’m going to look absolutely ravishing.

She hears the oven timer go off signaling her cookies were ready. She heads to the closet to fetch an apron where the elderly cell couples’ corpses were shoved in. She carefully removes the tray and brings the cookies up to the front for her husband.

Aura: Oops, scuse’ me (grabs the apron and close the door, then brings cookies to Thrax)

Ozzy: (keeps an eye out waiting for an opening he could exploit)

Thrax: (finishes his spicy Swedish meatballs just Aura approaches) Nobody makes Carne Asada-styled Swedish meatballs like you, baby. Peachy!

Aura: Thanks, honeybun. I hope you left room for dessert (offers Thrax chocolate chip & peanut butter cookies)

Thrax: You know it, Sweet Cheeks (grabs a few cookies before kissing Aura lovingly on the cheek)

Ozzy: (weirded out with the overly lovey-dovey display)

Thrax: (takes a bite of a cookie, then turns to Ozzy) Ya’ know, Jones, if I had known that marriage was such a great gig, I would’ve never waited this long to tie the knot.

Ozzy: (spots the dirty dishes through the rearview mirror) On the other hand, she’s not much of a housekeeper, is she?

Thrax: (skeptical but saw that Jones had a point, turns to Aura) Hey, Aura, baby?

Aura: (looks up) Huh?

Thrax: Those dishes aren’t gonna wash themselves ya’ know.

Aura: (glares daggers at Thrax, insulted)

Leah: (curious as to what Ozzy was trying to pull, but catches on immediately and plays along) You were nice enough to cook for him. The least he could do is wash the dish

Aura: Uugh… (seeing how Leah made a fascinating point picks up a dirty dish and angrily throws it at Thrax as it smashes on the back of his seat)

Thrax: (surprised at her behavior) What are you doing?!

Aura: (angrily throws another dish at him) Raaaagh!!

Thrax: (dodges the other barely before confronting her) What would Martha Stewart say?

Aura: (shouts in a fed-up tone) FUCK, MARTHA STEWART!!!

Thrax: (taken aback by her response)

Aura: (goes on) MARTHA STEWART CAN KISS MY SHINY DEMON RED BUTT!!! Here I am slaving away over a hot stove, making cookies, making spicy Swedish meatballs, and for WHAT!? FOR A MAN WHO DOESN’T EVEN APPRECIATE ME!! FOR A MAN WHO CAN’T EVEN WASH ONE FUCKING DISH!! FOR A MAN WHO ISN’T EVEN A MAN AT ALL WHERE IT COUNTS IF YOU GET MY DRIFT!! (looks to Leah) Take it from me, honey. Sex dolls is no substitute than for a nice hunk of wood.

Thrax: (shocked and angered that she insulted his manhood, looking to Ozzy) I didn’t hear her complaining last night. (looks back to Aura) Any guy would need a hunk of plastic, probably battery-operated, to get a reaction out of you in bed.

Ozzy: (notices the road sign to the Forest Hills Cemetery at the next right)

Thrax: And by the way, WHERE THE HELL DID YOU LEARN TO BAKE!? (tosses the cookies at Aura)

Aura: (offended) How dare you speak to me that way!

Thrax: You started it!

Aura: I did not!

Leah: (takes action kicking Aura into the oven kicking the hatch shut)

Thrax: NOOO!!! (shoots at Leah)

Ozzy: (sends Thrax flying in one punch out the passenger window)

Thrax: (shoots at Ozzy)

Ozzy turned the RV hard to the right to dodge the bullet. Unfortunately, this causes the RV roll off the road and sent everything tumbling with Leah still tied up and under the debris. Down the hill they went until the RV came to a complete stop. Everything inside was in shambles, gas fluid was leaking from the pipes, and several electrical cables were lashing around. Leah manages to wake up with a slight headwound only to see Ozzy knocked out at the wheel.

Leah: (sees the sparking cables, panicking) Ozzy? Osmosis, please. Please. Oh, God. (struggles to get loose) Osmosis!! (hears a sudden metal squeaking noise before slowly looking over her shoulder towards the oven, starts getting hysterical remembering the demoness was still in there)

Aura: (burst onto the oven window in a charred-up state, screaming vicious agony) AAAAAAAGHH!!! AAAAAAAAAGHH!!

Leah: (screams in terror) AAAAAAGH!! GET ME OUT OF HERE!!

Ozzy: (coughs coming out of his unconscious mode)

Leah: (looks back for Aura again only to see her gone)

Aura: (bursts out of the oven seconds later, attacking Leah) YOU BITCH!!! (bites the concave of Leah’s ear)

Leah: (screams in searing pain)

Ozzy: (rushes to her aid grabbing Aura by the hair and tossing her aside, before attempting to free Leah)

Leah: (sees the gas fluid getting closer and sparking cables as well, rushes Ozzy) HURRY!!

Ozzy: (struggles to undo the ropes before checking the sink, finds a knife and cuts the ropes just in time to grab the cables and kick the door open)

Leah: (gets up rushing to Ozzy, trying to jump out with him) No!!

Ozzy: GO, GO, GO!!

Leah: (pleads for him to jump with her) NOT WITHOUT YOU!!

Ozzy: (insists) I’LL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!! (shoves Leah out the door as he notices the gas fluid running past his suedes)

Leah: (barely makes it as she stands up not noticing the shadow behind her)

Thrax: (points the gun to her, coyly) Hey, beautiful.

Leah: (screams frightened)

Ozzy tosses the cable behind him before diving out the RV as the cable collides with the gas setting everything on fire. Ozzy made out just as the RV exploded in a huge fiery blaze. Not to far was Aura in a burned and bloodied condition as she crawled towards her gun.

Aura: (struggles to reach for her gun, groaning in catastrophic pain)

Ozzy: (steps on her arm before grabbing the gun)

Aura: (cries out weakly) Aaaaack!!

Ozzy: (pulls back the slide ready to shoot before noticing Leah running off Thrax in her arms with his gun at her heart) LEAH!!!

Thrax: (barks) Move it!

Leah: (continues heading towards the cemetery)

Ozzy: (grabs Aura by the hair, chasing after them)

Aura: (weakly cries out from being flung around life a rag doll)

Ozzy raced after Thrax and Leah with Aura’s charred body in tow. He had almost lost Leah once and he was not intending on losing her for real this time. He would get his true love back at any cost. But will this prove more of a challenge than he can handle? And will become of the demon couple at odds?

To be continued…

[jenyifer]

Only Friends in Brain Soup

If you have seen my posts before you’ll probably recognize I use the term brain soup a lot. To me they are posts about my random questions I have while thinking about only friends. And I hope they feed your brain with new ideas about things. I’ve compared contrasted every character to Boston because he lives in my heart uwu. But I’ve realized something from making many many brain soups.

All of the Only Friends characters are alone. In their own minds each one is lonely this drives each of them to the point of desperation and moral grey.

Mew the intellectual desire to be in a relationship with Top. I think it was really telling when Mew said he should like ray he’s always been there. Very objective. Mew tried to think about Top in this way when they got together. Mew feels disconnected from his friends above them. He thinks he knows everything about them and they can’t understand him. He’s not gullible like he told Boston. He was always fearing the worst. Because he’s alone in his own mind on his pedestal and when he met Top join him there Mew can’t let go.

Top is the definition of an obsessed with aliens kid due to parental neglect. He is extremely self dependent. Arrogance that he can charm any person into dancing for him. But no one cares about who Top is and before Mew he kept the real Top who likes art hidden away. He can call Boeing or Boston to have relations with them because they don’t mean anything to Top so why would Mew care.

Sand’s conversation with Nick about talking to himself because he was lonely was very telling. I’m sure Sand did have people who considered Sand their friend but because of his emotional parentification he felt like no one could or should be there for Sand. He’s shocked when Nick wants to live with him because I bet he didn’t consider Nick someone who would help him out. He’s selfless to Ray because he is already expecting to be treated that way. Pushed aside not a priority and he feels like shit when he lets himself believe ray could challenge his place in life.

Ray 🥲 do I need to talk about him again. He has abandonment and depression issues from his mothers death that has lead to a mask. Shallow friendships. Shallow life. Ray is only a visitor. He can let go of Mew and Boston so easily because they didn’t really know ray anyway in his mind. Even Sand Ray held him so far away because he couldn’t believe sand wants to be patient loving to him. He’s afraid of the rejection the pain that can come with Sand being too close. But Sand keeps pushing his way in.

Boston someone who never received love before and thinks that is normal so he never gives it. Boston does feel love for his friends and Nick but showing it impossible. To protect himself he has meaningless flings never letting someone expect love from him. He keeps the reins of control because love scares him after his life of upheaval and neglect. He’s just a liability a temporary problem. He is going to leave soon. Internally Boston feels horribly alone because no one loves who he is because it’s so locked away there is no road of love in. But Nick sees it.

Nick doesn’t believe anyone could love him. Nick is extremely insecure about himself. He would rather people look at his outward appearance and ignore what he really is. The stalking is just a performance so Nick can be the one with all the knowledge in the relationship so Boston won’t see the horrible person Nick is. Nick can’t even let Sand really love him in a friendly way. He tricks himself into thinking it might be lust just because he has positive fuzzies for Sand. He can’t accept sand might just enjoy being about Nick for Nick.

Loneliness that binds them and keeps them separate. The great push and pull. Only. Friends. Lonely Friends.

[merp-blerp]

I just thought about something in the original version of Heathers The Musical that I actually don’t like as a long time lover of this show. I’ve never seen anyone mention this factor about the show before, so I thought I’d write about it.

TW: Sexual Assault, brief mentions of depression and suicide

McNamara’s assault is very downplayed and made for laughs in the original off broadway version of the show.

In the film, Mac invites Veronica, seemingly innocently, to a double date with Kurt and Ram, as she’s going with one of them (I forget which one) and wants Ronnie as part of the other half of the date. She agrees and joins the date, which ends up detouring at a cow pasture, where McNamara is unfortunately raped/sexually assaulted and Veronica leaves her behind to go with JD (which is a big, kinda ignored by the fans, flaw and aspect of her character—her emotional disconnect with others—but that’s intentionally placed for her arc in the film and this post isn’t about that). I believe this moment had a lot to do with her depression and her attempt on her life later on, even if it’s not explicitly stated.

In the off broadway show, McNamara and Duke are on the double date. Mac calls Veronica for help and once she gets to the cemetery where they are Mac informs her that Kurt and Ram got drunk and Kurt began to assault Mac, but agreed to leave her alone if they called Veronica; Veronica points out that Mac seemingly volunteered her for date-rape and Mac replies “Oh you make it sound ugly…” implying Ronnie’s not wrong. She and Duke casually watch as Kurt and Ram antagonize Veronica during the song “Blue” and don’t let her in the car to escape, seemingly so they can stay true to the deal and not get assaulted themselves. Kurt and Ram are too inebriated to actually do anything to Veronica and she gets away quite easily without any harm. All of this is played as comedic.

Why on earth did the show villainize Mac, and by some extension Duke in this situation? In terms of Duke, while she was always a pretty clear-cut villain in the film, she wasn’t originally involved in this situation at all and therefore adding her to it off broadway makes her come off as worse than she was supposed to be. Mac’s character is especially harmed in this version of the plot. Mac was a character who, while she did do indirect harm by reaping the benefits of being a part of the top antagonistic club of Westerburg in the film, was ultimately a victim of bullying and sexual harassment that nearly ended her life. Mac actually doesn’t even do much bullying outside of maybe laughing at some people in the film, she’s kind just there. In the off broadway show, while she’s still a victim of bullying and sexual harassment, she’s also much more of a perpetrator/enabler of it. When it comes to the being a perpetrator of bullying thing I’m pretty okay with that I think, as it still fits the narrative, but her enabling sexual harassment feels really wrong when you compare it to the original narrative of her being just a victim. Why change that and make her both victim and villain in the situation? Yes, she’s a Heather and the Heathers are supposed to be toxic, but I don’t get what they were going for when it came to this particular plot line by making Mac intentionally in the wrong here, especially when the rest of Mac’s arc is in tact. It fucks with it a bit. I get the musical is an adaptation not a remake and characters can change in adaptations, but they could’ve adapted this plot line in better tastes initially. It’s not wrong simply because it’s different from the film, it’s wrong because it ignores the harm that sexual assault can do and villainizes a victim. Mac assault and the potential assault of Veronica being played for laughs is also pretty bad. The show wants to be humorous, but in this case it took it too far. This situation just can’t be funny—it wasn’t meant to be. It’s quite telling that the majority of fans during Heathers’s initial apex in popularity (2017-2019, you know, that era) didn't seem to even realize the scene was supposed to be about sexual assault to begin with, myself included.

I like how the west end version of the show patches this up. In this case, one or all of these things could be true: A) It’s implied that Duke put Mac up to calling Veronica, which sure, still arguably over-villainizes Duke (especially since in this version she’s forgiven at the end for some reason), but fits into Mac’s arc of her being a follower and her having to unlearn that. B) It’s implied that Mac thought Veronica had a crush on Kurt and Ram and was just setting her up with them. About as innocent in the situation as she was in the film. C) Most of all, the assault is no longer a thing that surely happened like it was off broadway. It might’ve happened, considering that Kurt and Ram still try to assault Veronica during “You’re Welcome”. It’s not hard to imagine, but Mac doesn’t say that it happened. And yes, there’s still the deal with Kurt and Ram to get Veronica so they’ll leave Mac and Duke alone, but again Mac seems to think she’s helping Veronica get with guys she likes and now she wants Kurt and Ram off her back not because they assaulted her, but because they’re kinda annoying her and Duke, stopping at a cow pasture to go cow tipping instead of going to the cemetery like they wanted (or at least like Mac wanted, I don’t know if Duke would’ve cared about Chandler enough to really want to go). She thinks Ronnie’ll like it. She doesn’t seem to be volunteering Ronnie for date-rape this time, she’s just unknowledgeable and doesn’t seem to realize that Veronica doesn’t like Kurt and Ram and that they are dangerous. And while not in the earlier versions of the west end show, in recent shows Mac isn’t complicit in “Never Shut Up Again/You’re Welcome (Reprise)/Big Fun (Reprise)” when spreading the three-way rumors about Veronica and just stands off to the side as the chaos ensues, which again reflects her arc of being a passive follower and needing to unlearn that. And while I don’t think this happens in the bootlegs I have copies of, I’ve heard that in the Roku proshot (that I haven’t seen yet) Mac actively tries to help Veronica, which could add to that arc I’ve been mentioning; it could be her beginning to unlearn, only for her to then relearn her habits due to Duke’s takeover, then she’s back on the right track my the end of the show. So if that’s true that’s also a huge improvement from “Blue (Reprise)” and the old “Never Shut Up Again/You’re Welcome (Reprise)/Big Fun (Reprise)” where she’s dancing along for for some reason. “Blue” is better than “You’re Welcome” music-wise in my opinion, but the way they treat and incorporate “You’re Welcome” into the plot is light years better (if that makes sense). 

The changes do cause some new issues in the story. For example, why does Duke get to stand with Veronica, Martha, and Mac in the end? She already didn’t deserve forgiveness in past versions and now she further villianized, so she deserves it less, right? And Mac letting go of her to me was a big part of her not being a follower anymore, having a real friend in Veronica rather than a boss or weird boss-friend-mix in Duke (and maybe Chandler, but they don’t interact enough for you to see what they’re dynamic is. Mac says she was her “best friend” right before “Lifeboat”, so I think it must’ve been healthier than her relationship with Duke). So Mac and Duke still being friends is a slight step back to me. It’d be healthier for Mac to heal without her, and for Duke too, because the Heathers thing clearly bring out the worst in her and isn’t mentally healthy for her to take part in. And “Blue” should’ve never been as much of a joke as if was, but “You’re Welcome” makes Kurt and Ram actual threats, therefore the whole “but they could’ve grown up to be good, so was it alright to kill them?” question the musical tries to ask is a bit harder to ask from the audience; “Who cares? They were dangerous” some would say, I’m sure. At least in the off broadway show they were too bumbling to actually hurt Veronica and therefore you could still ask the question somewhat. And you could argue cutting Mac’s assault as a whole might take away from her arc. It personally think it still works, as even though her assault is likely supposed to be a big factor in her depression, there are still plenty of other reasons for it to be there, like Duke’s bullying, her best friend’s death, and/or maybe Mac just already has mental health issues inherently. At least the show takes sexual abuse more seriously than it used to.

I love the original off broadway production of Heathers and it’ll always have a special place in my heart, but I gotta admit, it wasn’t by any means perfect. And while I think the west end version feels a little off in it’s presentation (which might just be a regional thing, as I’m American) and I don’t love every change they made (mainly, in my opinion, the sometimes unnecessary changes in lyrics and some lines—looking at you “Deep down you’ve always know” v.s. The superior “Go on a bitch and moan”), I do think it improved the original in terms of writing in a few ways, especially it’s take on sexual assault.

[seravphs]

ੈ♡˳·˖✶ — ZHONGLI X FEM READER

Zhongli only has three friends: Childe, Xiao, and you. Naturally, the three of you have to interact at some point. 

wc — 1.4k

tags — meeting Childe because Zhongli wants you to, taking care of Xiao because Zhongli asked you to, reader is whipped without realizing it 

glossary | chapter 6 of This Is How We Mourn The Living

Having tea with public enemy #1 of Liyue was not on your agenda today, but as always, Zhongli threw a wrench in your plans. It was meant to be a relaxing night alone, until you had spotted your friend. Normally, you’d join him immediately, but this time, some instinct stopped you, and for good reason. Across the floor of the tea house, a wanted criminal playfully begs Zhongli to feed him, citing ‘lack of competence with chopsticks’ as an excuse.

“Zhongli, what is the meaning of this?”

He flinches when he sees you. You’ve never seen him falter for the right words before, but he is now. “I- ah, this is-”

“I know who he is,” you snap. “I’m asking what you’re doing with him.”

The ginger man grins up at you. “Ooh, feisty. I like that.” 

Zhongli shoots him a look.

“Zhongli, can I speak with you? Privately?” You ask, but Childe, as he introduces himself - you want to scrub the name out of your brain - is the most annoying person you’ve ever met.

“What? Anything you need to say to him, surely you can say in my presence.”

No, you absolutely cannot, because you are a government servant, keeper of various state secrets, and this is the man who nearly flooded your entire city. You convey all this through your eyes, and he completely ignores you, batting his eyelashes like that will convince you that he’s both trustworthy and friendly. It does nothing but set you off.

“Zhongli,” you hiss. “I cannot believe you’re willing to see him. He summoned Osial! It’s because of him that Ningguang lost the Jade Chamber - can you imagine the destruction that would have occurred if he had succeeded? Having him here is an affront to-“

“I tricked him,” Zhongli states simply, “so we’re even. And I’ve already spoken to him about this matter.”

You don’t believe that’s how it works.

Childe nods aggressively. “Yeah, girlie! Zhongli says it’s fine, so it’s fine. Here I thought the people of Liyue were known for their graciousness. What’s with the grudge? I was stopped before anything serious could happen.”

“You nearly flooded my entire city,” you say incredulously.

“That’s all water under the bridge now - oh, literally,” he says with a laugh. “Besides, I’m off the clock right now! I make it a rule not to talk business after hours unless I’m getting paid extra.”

“Ugh,” Childe makes a face as he takes a sip of his drink. “Liyue wine can’t compare to Snezhnayan fire whiskey. Hey, waiter! Don’t you have anything stronger?”

“Be respectful,” you say, pushing his hand down and smiling politely at the waiter, Ruohan. Of course you know him, as you’ve made it your mission to know most of the people in this part of Liyue. After all, you govern them - it’s only fair to remember their names and be able to recount their troubles with them.

He turns away, a light flush covering his cheeks. Zhongli coughs.

Childe’s eyes narrow. “That go down the wrong pipe, buddy?”

Zhongli holds up a hand to wave off his worry. “Enough. I would like the two of you to get along-“

“As if!” You say.

“Shouldn’t be a problem!” Childe grins.

Of Zhongli’s acquaintances, you greatly prefer Xiao to Childe. It’s been a while since you’ve seen the adeptus, so you head off for the inn he usually calls home. After all, you had promised you would visit, and a Qixing never breaks a promise, though Xiao probably wouldn’t have minded if you did. Preferred it, even, but you made good on your debts, regardless of anyone’s opinions.

“Leave this place immediately,” he says as soon as he sees you, like always, but now you take it as his version of hello. Perhaps it would work on some less thick skinned mortals, but you were Qixing. You had dealt with far more harsh language in your career, and you weren’t about to let Xiao chase you away - especially not knowing how much pain he was in.

“How are you feeling? I brought more almond tofu.”

“There’s no need,” he says, but he holds his hand out for your offering anyway. “You should stop visiting. This is no place for mortals like you. And tell Morax he no longer needs to provide me with the medicine.”

“He prefers Zhongli,” you say mildly, inching closer like he’s a cat you might scare off. When he doesn’t flee, you grab him by the wrist, whip-quick, and pull him down next to you. As expected of an adeptus, he reacts in record time, pulling away from your grip, but you’re strong, and he doesn’t want to hurt you.

“What are you doing?” His words come out like a hiss, but you ignore him, placing the bowl of almond tofu, dusted with a variety of herbs carefully selected and powdered by Zhongli, in front of him.

“Eat. You’ll feel better.”

And while he begrudgingly takes spoonful after spoonful into his mouth, his tattoos begin to glow, black ink receding down his arms in favor of green. A physical change comes over him. Xiao’s always been strong, but the way he looks without the burden of karmic debt is completely different, as if, even with the face of a young man, he’s lost several years of aging. The lines of his face, drawn taut in my pain, have disappeared, and his mouth is no longer set in a severe frown. He could almost pass for friendly, when he’s not in constant pain.

Sometimes, not often, Xiao reminds you of Little Meng, the child who always begged you to play pirates with him in Liyue Harbor. Of course, you were sure he would be offended if you told him he reminded you of a role-playing toddler, but there was a similarity. Both Little Meng and Xiao were stoic sufferers, unwilling to let other people see their pain, or attempt to relieve it. And both were loyal to a fault.

“Zhongli makes you medicine because he cares. If you stopped taking it, you’d hurt him.”

“I am his vassal,” Xiao said. “It’s not right for him to tend to me.”

“I think Zhongli stopped considering you anything of his besides a friend a long time ago.”

To your surprise, Xiao actually listens to you. He doesn’t make an attempt to argue. “I suppose you would know what he thinks now,” he says slowly, and you have no idea what that’s supposed to mean.

He’s always overworking himself. Ningguang’s people told you as soon as you stepped in the inn. The adeptus doesn’t rest, doesn’t stop for anything in his merciless hunt for monsters. You have experience taking care of people like him.

Ningguang, Keqing, and even, admittedly, yourself - the best way to deal with such headstrong people is to just let them tire themselves out, then slowly guide them where you want them to be.

You snatch his spear away as soon as he reaches for it, already intent on jumping off the balcony to go find some more monsters to devour. The offended look on his face makes you gulp, but you soldier on. After all, you’ve already gotten away with manhandling him once today. Perhaps that has made you bold - too bold - enough so to grab an adeptus and place his head in your lap so you can stroke his green-black hair, the fringe falling in his eyes.

“You protect everyone. Let us protect you. Xiao, go to sleep.”

He fights the effects of the medicine, but it’s no use. His eyes are closing, and he falls swiftly into what must be his first peaceful rest in a long, long time.

Zhongli is waiting by the entrance to your apartment by the time you finally arrive home, when the waning moon is high in the sky. You stayed with Xiao as long as you could, watching his breathing even out, giving him the human contact he must have gone without for years. Even when you reluctantly had to leave, you entrusted him to the care of the innkeepers.

“Jiyao mishu,” he starts.

You remember how hurt he had looked when you had called him Zhongli-xiansheng. These titles between the two of you are useless formalities that only remind him of past sources of pain. You must be tired, because that’s the only excuse for how you’re suddenly blurting out, “You can call me by my name.”

Your smile freezes on your face as you hurry to add, “Because you let me call you Zhongli.”

“Of course,” he says, ever elegant, ever capable at steering past the awkwardness in a conversation. “May I come in?”

[puckandgossip]

so what story’s are actually true that we know about sammy? i’ve heard so many from “trusted anons” with “evidence” but the story’s are so far fetched. like how do we know she’s a zionist? how do we know she was after luke before jack (bc there’s no way luke told jack that she wanted him after they started dating bc surely considering they live together he was like hey luke im taking to this girl and luke recognised her and told him)? and how do we know the entire hughes bloodline hates her? there’s a literal video of her skating with jim at the family skate and they’re smiling 😭 i feel like people make up these story’s bc they can’t believe that jack have a gf.

if anyone does have any evidence for the things i’ve said (which are only a few examples of the things i’ve heard) then please share bc i’ve NEVER seen any valid evidence to go with these claims.

and while i’m talking about this i think it’s so fucking weird how people find old photos of her from accounts that aren’t hers, like are you that obsessed? and then say how ugly she used to look but they get mad when people say she got work done. like people change i look nothing like i did two years ago and yes i’ve changed my hair (i now have very defined curls) but my face looks different too.

this is just my take bc i know there’s the screenshot of her liking the SA joke and while im not condoning her liking the comment bc it’s not funny i think (this may be controversial) that it’s been completely blown out of proportion. like yes we shouldn’t joke about SA but something that’s trending at the moment is pretending to strangle yourself or saying i’ll kill myself when stuff doesn’t go well. like surely we should have an issue with that too bc we’re joking around about suicide. 

again this is just my opinion and i feel like you wouldn’t judge me for sharing this bc other blogs just seem to hate her and on a total other note i wish she’d gotten a wag jacket to see the excuses for why she got one “she forced him to buy it” he’s a full grown man with free will “she’s begging for attention” her boyfriend bought her a jacket and she’s in a photo. GET. A. GRIP. DO YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN LIE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU DONT KNOW AND MAKE OTHER PEOPLE BELIVE IT.

no girl I agree with all you're saying. None of the stuff about her like you said, has evidence behind it, Except her liking the SA comment her friend made, but also like you said it was taken soooo out of proportion and I would say the same exact thing about the diddy comment by Reese, lets not act like everyone is mother teresa . And that is also why these blogs hold onto those two things for dear life and will not drop it, because it is the ONE thing they have "evidence" of.

Everything else, The plastic surgery, NO evidence just flat out bullying someone over looks and speculations that to me personally make no sense. And like you said, PEOPLE GROW UP AND CHANGE. why are we comparing her photos from years ago, to now? I look like a different person even from 5 years ago to now and surprise! no plastic surgery here! but then again, WHO CARES? it's 2025 you can put 50 women in a room and 40% will have something done to them, whether it is filler, actual surgery, etc. and also its your money and your body. Do whatever the fuck you want, you want bigger tits? Get a boob jobs, You dont like your nose? get a nose job if you want. It's your life and who tf are you to judge? but again zero evidence of it of course, just another thing with no evidence to pick at her about.

the whole jacks family despises her? Zero evidence once again. Why does she sit with them at games, why do they invite her into their own house, why are they around her? I think you people forget that you're talking about grown adults, not high schoolers. If Quinn, Luke, Jim, Ellen, whoever tf "despises" her and did not want to be around her, guess what? they wouldn't be, no one is being forced against their will. same thing goes for following her, because that also was a topic for some reason, these blogs saying "jack forced his friends and his family to follow her" like where do you even come up with this stuff? yes jack a grown man is forcing his grown family and friends to follow his girlfriend so she doesn't get upset, i'm convinced people dont know how the world works.

Her stalking Luke and wanting Luke before jack? Why the hell would Luke not tell jack that before dating her? Wouldn't you think luke would maybe say "hey! that girl is weird and she stalked me in Michigan and wanted me! maybe its not a good idea you go for her" before jack got into a relationship with her? and with how cautious that family is, i can assure you, Luke would absolutely say something.

and these few examples are just one of the MANYYYYYYYYYYYYY things said about her with zero proof. please do not believe what you see on some of these pages, because these narratives dont come from truth at all, they come from delusion, hate, and jealousy.

im tired of seeing girls and wags being dragged left and right for absolutely no reason except for the fact that they are dating popular hockey players, making fan girls upset and target them to take their hate and jealousy out on. Please grow up and speak to a professional if you are online behind a screen, making malicious and disgusting stories and narratives up about people you do not know. it is not normal and it is not okay. And you guys are lucky that Sammy didn't take the path to sue some of these blogs for the nasty things said about her, because yes that is an option because it is considered Defamation, lying on somebody like that. I even remember people saying she sexually assaulted her guy friend and someone even took a sex tape from twitter claiming it was her. Like seriously? What the fuck is wrong with some people. If I were her shit I would've sued a while ago.

and anon, you're welcome to say anything you want on here and talk about your opinions anytime you wish on this blog. You'll be heard here and just know there are THANKFULLY people who agree with you.

Leave the girl alone. You do not know her and it is just disgusting. Get a life please I beg at this point.

[gender-thoughts]

October 21 2017

CW: SA, #Metoo

Ever since I started seeing the #metoo posts, I’ve been wondering. 

I’m having trouble understanding why people are shocked to see so many of them. I mean, it’s sad that I’m not surprised that there are so many stories out there, but almost every woman I’ve ever spoken to can tell me about an experience of being sexually harassed, if not abused, or molested. What’s really disheartening about it is knowing that this is so common. It’s frustrating that it took this kind of movement to convince people. We shouldn’t have to convince anyone. But the slew of obtuse opinions I’ve seen plastered across social media tell me exactly why a movement like this needs to exist.

It’s making me sad to see people try to discount someone else’s experience because it might be less obviously traumatizing, or accusing people of sharing their stories purely for attention.

Why do we do things like that? 

Even if you know someone well enough that you think you know that person has never experienced sexual assault, you don’t know everything. My #metoo experiences? Kameron is the only person I’ve ever told about them. And up until now I’ve never told anyone else for that exact reason– not being able to trust that someone will believe your experience. That sucks. 

Which is why it was painful when a friend brought it up in conversation recently and acted annoyed about the whole thing. Speaking straight out of his butthole, he said something like

 “How can so many people possibly have experienced sexual assault? It seems to me like most people just figured it was a bandwagon they could hop on for attention.”

There were six of us in the room sitting in a quasi-circle. This friend and Kameron were the only men. 

The other four of us made eye contact, looking for solidarity, I think. 

I spoke first. “That’s such an unfair thing to say. And I’m honestly surprised that you can’t believe so many women have experienced sexual assault. I’d be willing to bet that all four of us have at least one story.” The others nodded. He looked around at us and seemed somewhat sobered. “Really?” he asked. Then his wife spoke briefly of an encounter she’d had recently at their shared workplace. Then I spoke again. 

Three of the four of us there in that circle had been roommates a few years before. When we lived together a man had followed me in his car, masturbating, as I walked home from the grocery store. I told them how he’d parked on the street outside of our house. I’d cried slumped against the inside of the front door when I realized I was home alone. I’d kept my phone in hand, finger poised over the ‘call’ button until I heard him start his car and drive away. One of the others shared that she’d had a similar experience while we were living together, but she was riding her bike home from work. We’d never spoken to each other about these incidents before and now wondered if it had been the same man. As we compared descriptions of the man’s appearance, and of the car he drove, we realized it had not been the same man. As we shared these stories, my friend’s shock seemed to grow. His face was still and his eyes looked down.

I never realized until that moment just how easily a man can live in ignorance of a life experience that is not his. And just how easily he can turn that ignorance into an abrasive opinion he treats as evidence, all the while unacquainted with the fact that he is adding to the violence that brings us to silence.

[newspropaganda]

I think the problem with Western Yu-Gi-Oh! fans is their strong preference for Duel Monsters over the rest, in my opinion. I believe 5D's is good, and OCG Stories is decent, but their hate for Yoshida seems to stem from a sort of "Donald Trump syndrome" that Zeravemeta you mentioned experienced. What’s your take on this?

American Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, whom I call "terrible at taste," aren't just shaped by their culture but by opinions that make no sense. Take Breaking Bad, for example. When it first came out, I barely saw anyone talking about it or even knew it existed, despite its supposed popularity. No one I knew actually watched it. For the record, I still won’t watch Breaking Bad, even if people want me to.

Everything in America seems to be mainstream, like fast food for consumers. It’s like going to a burger joint as soon as it opens, and people rush to get the first meal. Let me remind you—mainstream obsessions, like anything outside of Duel Monsters, are just gimmicks to sell products to these fools who only care about indulging themselves, as if they see themselves as mindless consumers.

I think the reason Americans listen to their government so blindly is because the country has always been paranoid about opening itself up to the rest of the world. Many American citizens barely think about or even know other countries exist—they just don’t think beyond their borders. I can’t stand how people act like rich celebrities are more important than the middle class or the lower class, like listening to Mark Ruffalo’s nonsense all over again.

For the record, people can watch whatever they want, but they can't respect others if their anger gets in the way.

I don’t pay attention to people like Azenzone or Des Shinta, who are on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to their opinions on Yu-Gi-Oh!

Azenzone is just a nostalgia clone, trying to make his viewers feel like they matter when they really don’t. Des Shinta, on the other hand, never gave us more context about Yu-Gi-Oh! Both of them are examples of why Tokusatsu critics can’t be trusted. From what I’ve seen and heard, Azenzone focuses too much on Duel Monsters nostalgia, especially with those "Top Openings of Yu-Gi-Oh!" videos on his second channel. Des Shinta, though... he’s just terrible at everything I’ve seen from him.

To get back on track, I want to focus on Des Shinta first. He’s lazy and overrated, with too much critical nonsense. Yes, he can make good points sometimes, but his content has become boring compared to what it was before. His Yu-Gi-Oh! videos mostly point out problems with 4Kids, localization, piracy, or the real-life duels and card game. Instead of giving us more insight, he just goes on about his biases against 4Kids without providing deeper details.

That dude should just stick to Toei if he likes it more than Yu-Gi-Oh! He mostly plays the card game and then spouts all that nonsense based on that alone.

That whole "Yoshida hate" you mentioned is spot on. Zeravmeta is just another example of how liberals in America need to stop blaming Trump for everything, as if they’re obsessed with him. And the worst part about Zeravmeta? He acted like a child just because I mentioned Yoshida.

There’s a reason why Yu-Gi-Oh! fans in America can’t get much worse than that. I think the way they act is mostly due to their own personal issues, whether it’s problems in real life or simply not being willing to listen.

And you want to know why American Yu-Gi-Oh! fans joke around all the time instead of taking things seriously? It’s because they’re constantly in a state of insecurity about their country. America is in a political war right now, and all they do is complain and whine. Worst of all, they throw around phrases like "respect my pronouns," which just seems designed to upset people everywhere.

I think Andrew Tate was right—it's better to live in Europe than in America.

[noellawrites]

Yandere!Hawk Getting You Pregnant HC’s + Oneshot

note: reader & Hawk are both 18+ and Eli is still maintaining his Hawk-sona

warnings: birth control tampering, breeding kink, manipulation

- Hawk had been possessive and territorial even back in high school, but nothing compared to how he acts now

- you’ve both been out of high school for a couple of years, you in college and Hawk now a fully-trained construction worker

- you had told Hawk a million times that you wanted to wait to have kids, at least until you finished college

- and your parents wanted you to be married before having kids, although you’d been together for about four years already

- you and Hawk have argued about having kids before, Hawk wanting them now

- but he had cooled down about it in the last few months, so you weren’t worried

- one morning, you’re undressing and realize how tender your nipples feel

- come to think of it you were late this month, though you’d chalked it up to stress

- your hands shook as you grabbed an unused pregnancy test from the bathroom and took it

- you were pregnant. but that was impossible! you were on birth control and Hawk always used a condom

After the test came back positive, you walked into your shared living room where Hawk was watching MMA fights with a beer open next to him.

“Hey, Eli, can we talk?” you asked, letting out a shaky breath.

“You know I told you to call me Hawk, babe. What is it, what’s wrong?” he took a swig of beer.

“I-I’m pregnant. But I don’t understand, I always take my pills and we always used a condom,” you sniffed, tears threatening to escape your eyes.

“Don’t you see, babe? This is perfect timing! You have summer break off and I’m starting on a big site tomorrow, so I’ll be raking in even more dough! I can’t believe you’re finally pregnant, I—“

“Finally? What is that supposed to mean?” you snapped, dropping the plastic test on the kitchen table with a clang.

“I’m just excited is all,” he said. You narrowed your eyes at Hawk as he grabbed another beer from the fridge.

“I’ll have to call Miguel and my mom. Hell, Sam will probably start planning for the baby shower as soon as you tell her,” he laughed, popping the bottle open.

“We are not telling anyone because I’m not keeping the baby. I still have two years left at CSUN and I’m not going to—“

“Why do you have to be such a selfish bitch all the time, (y/n)? I mean, who’s paying for this apartment while you take classes and work at some stupid coffee shop for minimum wage? All I’ve ever wanted in return is to build a family, yet you act like you’re above me somehow. Well this time, you don’t get a choice. You’re keeping this baby if it’s the last thing you do,” Hawk seethed. He stepped closer and closer to you, his nose almost touching yours now.

You had seen the dark side of Hawk, but never directed towards you. You couldn’t believe this man— this monster— was the father of your baby.

[subsystems]

Fully fused with parts?

Let’s talk about full integration / final fusion where the parts are never erased and where being a whole-yet-multifaceted person is the goal of the fusion.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone talk about this. Then again, I don’t think that there are many systems on Tumblr who are at this point in therapy with this particular goal.

Final fusion is usually thought of as the merging of all parts into one self. Before fusion, there are metaphorical walls of dissociation between you and other parts of your mind. Whichever part of the mind is active is perceived as “Me” while the other parts are perceived as “Not Me”. After fusion, those metaphorical walls disappear, allowing all parts of the mind to become “Me”.

In the past, the westernized approach to self often led to therapists pressuring fully fused systems to stop valuing (or even acknowledging) that they had parts. It makes sense to me why those older systems would often compare fusion to death. In the present day, the plurality of self is being valued more. Especially with therapeutic practices like internal family systems, it’s more normalized to acknowledge that everyone has multiple parts to themselves.

When I fused with all of my parts for the first time, we still felt each other. We were one person with full access to each other, but also somehow still parts. We were connected parts and a single person at the same exact time. I thought that maybe I did it wrong, or maybe I wasn’t fully fused yet, but my therapist (who is from a culture where having parts is more normalized) told me that this is just another way that final fusion can be experienced.

So, full integration / final fusion doesn’t mean that parts have to go away. Maybe that’s how some people want to still do it. If someone wants to recover like that, please let them. But this is a type of final fusion that I have never heard talked about before. 

I often felt alone with this experience. I felt like no one would believe me if I brought this to Tumblr, because people can get so aggressive about fusion. Something that can be so beautiful is often shoved aside and attacked. I think it’s important to talk about this, though. Hearing about this can probably really help some people.

I want to share some statements from former DID patients who have fully fused, from this professional study. These statements helped me feel less alone with my experience.

Rebecca:

“Today I feel I am fully aware and present both as the collective of parts and as any individual part. That is, even when a part of me is present, there is a collective awareness of the experience.”

Irene:

“It gradually dawned on me that I could get some relief if I paid enough attention to the voices and their pain. I understood they needed to be heard. . . . My integration is about being in control, being aware, being able to understand myself. Whenever I’m anxious and I can’t understand why, I turn inside and I ask: What’s going on? I usually get an answer that either helps me deal better with an external problem or guides me as to how to calm myself down. . . . There is a clear advantage to my situation: I have better access to my subconscious than most people do. I call this ability Creative Disintegration.”

Loraine:

“I think the best way to describe my integration process is as a progressive one. First, there were brief moments of integration; later on I was integrated during some of the time but wasn’t on other occasions. This developed into a period in which I was integrated most of the time and then, into full integration with only momentary periods of disintegration. . . . It is a process of forward and backward movement on the dissociation continuum, but the general trend is towards a decrease in dissociation. . . . once you’re integrated, you don’t feel fragmented anymore, but in emergency situations there is a proclivity to utilize the mechanism for brief periods of time to help with coping.”

Some notes from the study:

“It is noteworthy that integration was not always described in terms of a renunciation of dissociative capabilities. Rebecca, Loraine, and even more so, Irene described occasional post-integrational awareness of the old psychological entities that once formed the personality alters. . . .  Whereas Sara and Tina talked about their lives as ‘one,’ others were clearly continuing to utilize some of the advantages of the dissociative process. It is probable, though, that rather than representing ‘imperfect’ integrations this variance portrays the naturally occurring distribution of dissociative phenomena in the population. It is, perhaps, not only an unreasonable expectation but also an undesirable outcome to have a useful defense mechanism, naturally occurring in society, completely abolished in this particular population.”

I think maybe it’s important to recognize that the boundary between multiplicity and fusion isn’t as clear cut as social media likes to make it out to be.

[kisses-in-the-void]

I think the reason I feel a bit uncomfortable with the widely accepted headcanon of "slutty Mairon" — not the interpretation where he uses his charm to manipulate others while remaining unaffected and pragmatic about it (which actually doesn’t go against his canon personality), but the one where he’s genuinely just into being slutty and "succumbs to his lust" — is that I can’t help but feel it stems from fans imagining him as a "twink/submissive/bottom."

And I really wonder — would this still be the case if, years ago, some big-name artist had decided to depict him as a more masculine man? And if that version had taken off and inspired others — like how Phobs’ design started the ginger Mairon trend? Because you don’t see Melkor being headcanoned as "a slut", even though, as I’ve already said, he’s the one who canonically lusted after several characters.

The whole theme of "seduction to the dark side" — which can easily be interpreted in a more suggestive way, if you want — was also originally his thing. Not just with Mairon, but with many, many Maiar. In the "Tale of Adanel", he literally seduced the entire human race, convincing them to bow before him and worship him, which led Eru to shorten their lifespans (which were originally meant to be longer). In "Morgoth’s Ring", this is even directly compared to what Sauron later did in Numenor , except what Melkor accomplished was far more impressive, because once again, we’re talking about the entire human race, not just one island. And during his time in Valinor, he managed to deceive the Noldor with his knowledge and lies right under the Valar’s noses. Even Feanor, who hated him, was indirectly affected — and we all know the consequences of his fall.

And maybe Melkor wasn’t always successful with his "seductions", but neither was Mairon — many Elves didn’t trust his Annatar persona, and not all Numenoreans joined the Melkor cult. In many ways, Mairon parallels Melkor’s actions, and his fate was similar. Both relied on lies, on exploiting the weak spots of their victims, on promising to fulfill their deepest desires if they only believed in them. And both were eventually stripped of their "fair forms" as a consequence of their crimes.

So what’s the difference between the two, when both characters are described as "seducers", yet only one gets labeled as "slutty", while Melkor is reduced to "a stupid angry brute" — even though we know he could be incredibly patient and cunning? Is it just because Melkor is seen as "the manly dominant man" and Mairon as "the submissive, seductive woman"?

I remember seeing people say they hate when Melkor bottoms in fanfics because it would be OOC, but I’ve never seen anyone have a problem with bottom!Mairon. Again, I’m convinced that if more artists had drawn Melkor as a thin twink from the start, most fans wouldn’t bat an eye at him bottoming. And they’d probably be calling him a lovely, submissive malewife to his buff, muscular smith-husband Mairon, who patiently takes care of his bratty master 😂

(But just to be clear, I’m not saying this to paint myself as wise and superior, while accusing everyone else of being stupid. I know I’ve been affected by that mindset to some degree too — I also tend to write Melkor as a top. Which is exactly why one of my personal challenges is to write angbang smut with him bottoming next time, lol)

I know the “slutty Mairon” take is super popular in fanon, but honestly, it never made much sense to me. This is a guy who sees himself as some untouchable god, someone you’re not allowed to name, let alone touching. He aims to keep himself abstract because he is a god. Personally, I prefer the version where he’s unattainable, sophisticated, and saves all his charm and seduction for the kings he needs to manipulate—because it’s business, not pleasure.

He’s a disaster-slutty-lover for Celebrimbor and Melkor specificall, but for everyone else? Forget it.