#especially if it was Carla dear god

[starlightshadowsworld]

So I see you’ve watched Sk8 the infinity! I’m glad you seem to enjoy it! I know you really love Lange and Reki, but is it alright if I ask you about your thoughts on the other characters? Like Cherry, Joe, Shadow, Miya, Adam, Snake, etc?

I remember watching that show when ep 11 came out and I had a brain rot about that show for MONTHS! So glad Season 2 has been announced!

Season 2's been announced?

Damn I be making great timing lol.

Sure of course it's alright to ask.

Ima just get this out the way, I hate Adam. I hate him. I can sympathise with his back story. And I find his past with Joe and Cherry intresting.

But man everytime he's on he's onscreen I am uncomfortable.

I'm glad he regained his love for skating but dear god stay away from these kids.

Snake, I don't particularly like him. But I find him and his motivations intresting. The insight he has into Adam and who he is, the fact he's his mentor in a way.

His entrance into S was amazing. I like how his conversation with Reki helped Reki realise his passion for skateboarding.... Really wish he hadn't taken him into a love hotel for that conversation though.

Cherry is great. I may have geeked over Carla a wee bit, I think Carla as a concept is so cool.

I love how Cherry tries to exude this image of refinement and prestigue... That gets immediately destroyed when Joe shows up.

I love the bond they have, I'd like to know more about their past. I absolutely get why Cherry wanted to race Adam and holyshit that race.

Joe is great. I love how both of them are mentors to the kids, but especially Joe. Seeing him reach out to Reki when he was at his lowest, because he understands is great.

Because as much as they try to paint Joe as a "simple minded gorilla" he's got a ton of heart and he's very smart. And I like that Cherry knows that, I just love seeing them interact and bicker.

May be starting to ship Joe and Cherry.

I love Miya. Miya is definitely one of my favourite characters. He's such a little nerd. I love seeing him with everyone else because you know he's having fun.

There's something to be said that Adam could've become Miya if he regained or never lost Joe and Cherry.

Miya is everyone's snarky little brother, seeing him open up and have friends is just great. When he convinced those women that Joe was his dad and Cherry was his mum 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.

Absolutely broke my heart when he told Reki he was breaking his promise to him.

Because it shows how much Reki and the others mean to him, he's afraid of losing them. I don't blame Miya or Shadow for their involvement in that.

Was it mean? Yes, but I think they'd have stopped if they knew how much it was affecting Reki.

Because they've made jokes like this at each other constantly and everyone was okay with it. I think they'd regret it if they knew.

I absolutely love Shadow. Shadow went from the enemy to stressed out single parent and we love to see it.

He didn't adopt these kids, they signed the papers and showed up at his house.

He's a great rep for alt people, looks scary but is soft on the inside. His crush on his co-worker is adorable, I love that his day job is as a florist it's sweet.

I love that for all he says he truly cares about them.

And not on the list but Manager Oka, love him. I love how he's always keeping an eye on Reki and Langa. His talk with Reki after the fight, I like him he's good.

Apologises this was quite long 😅.

[wanderingwomanwondering]

Thoughts on The Buddie Talk from 502

Other folks have looked at this conversation, but I wanted to get on my bullshit about it too. LOL.

So imho this whole conversation is about love and heart, specifically Eddie’s but with Buck’s heart added in. Line by line analysis and commentary. Let the BS begin. Here we go…

Buck: Hey are you sleeping, or just pretending?

Day and night/light and dark are strong themes throughout the episode. @benka79 did a meta on this theme. I think that by extension, awake vs asleep is meaningful in this scene. In matters of the heart, Eddie is trying to sleep or turn a blind eye, doing what he thinks is best for Chris rather than himself. This is exactly what Carla warned him against. But he knows. He knows that Carla is right but he’s ignoring her and trying to ignore Buck. He’s only pretending to be in the dark about his heart and his desires, at least to a degree.

Eddie: I was actually trying to until you interrupted.

Enter Buck, shaking shit up. Interrupting Eddie’s well-intentioned lie. Eddie knows there’s more than meets the eye and Buck is forcing him to open his eyes, wake up and see what’s really going on and reckon with himself and his true desires.

Buck: I’m exhausted. Uh, how are you feeling?

This line has been rattling around in my brain for what feels like a thousand years. Buck is NOT asleep, he’s not able to turn a blind eye. And being the only one willing to look directly at matters of the heart is wearing him out. Dude’s exhausted! He SEES that something is up with Eddie’s heart and he wants Eddie to tell him all about it.

Eddie: Hot. I’m sweating out of places I didn’t know I could.

During the blackout, AC isn’t working so everyone is sweating. Buck even has a thin layer of sweat in the scene. Sweating from the heat is normal and completely reasonable, but is that what’s being invoked here? We know that sweating is also a symptom of health issues (panic and heart problems not the least among them, and definitely symbolically relevant here). Eddie looks like he’s sweating for normal reasons but in the next line Buck questions that.

Buck: No uh like a cold sweat though, right? Uh, any chest pains?

Again, Buck is wide awake. He KNOWS something is wrong with Eddie’s heart/feelings and that Eddie is hiding it from him. He jumps to cold sweats, the kind that are most connected to health problems and are not about the actual temperature in the room. Then follows up with asking about chest pains. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Buck is paralleled with the cardiologist. She’s about Eddie’s literal heart but Eddie’s figurative heart is in Buck’s hands and Buck’s hands only. And my dude is assertively assessing the situation.

Eddie: You don’t give up, do you? I’m fine, Buck.

Good ol’ Eddie, perfecting his avoidance and denial game. But he knows Buck. He does NOT ever give up and he especially doesn’t give up on the people he loves. Eddie recognized this and thanked Buck for it in 303. Buck didn’t give up on Christopher during the tsunami, or on Eddie in Eddie Begins or in Survivors. But that was about Chris and Eddie’s life. This scene in 502 is new in a way. Buck is refusing to give up on Eddie’s heart, his feelings. Now Buck is fighting for Eddie’s quality of life, for his happiness.

Buck: People who are fine don’t go and see cardiologists. You need to tell me if something is wrong.

Buck was so worried about Eddie in 501. Of course Eddie denied that anything was wrong but Buck isn’t stupid. In 501 he asked about the situation clearly and openly because he cares about Eddie and wants to help in any way he can, and Eddie pushed him away. So here in 502 he implicitly invokes the Will. He’s like fine if you won’t tell me as your friend who gives a shit about you, then tell me for Chris’s sake because thanks to the will, I actually fucking need to know if you’re going to drop dead.

Eddie: Alright, it was a panic attack, not a heart attack. A panic attack.

Eddie’s frustrated confession was solid gold. It laid my edges and raised my credit score. He knows that Buck’s persistence is harmless and comes from a genuine place of respect and care. Still, that doesn’t make it any less annoying for a man who’s trying to sleep, pretending his own heart isn’t breaking under the weight of his sense of duty to his son.

Buck: Since when do you panic?

My God, he knows him so well.

Eddie: That’s what I said. I don’t panic. Except I did.

Eddie accepting that this was absolutely a panic attack was huge. Before he had been pushing against the reality of it, but here in Buck’s loving care he could be honest with himself and with Buck that it was indeed panic.

Buck: Ok, well, what triggered it? I mean you did just get shot and almost killed by a sniper. I guess that could be considered an anxiety inducing-

Buck’s in full “cardiologist” mode. He’s paying forward all those years of therapy! What he’s doing here isn’t a replacement for my dude getting some real therapy but here’s Buck with his clipboard efficiently helping Eddie figure his emotional shit out. It’s perfection. It’s also good that he acknowledged the shooting. I think it’s super important that when Buck mentions it, he looks down and away from Eddie.

Buck, my dude, you are not over being covered in the blood of the love of your life. You can still feel his weight in your hands, muscle memory from lifting him above the spray of gasoline and bullets. Eddie may still be asleep on that front but, Buck, you are wide awake and exhausted by the heavy love you’re carrying.

Eddie: That wasn’t it. Ok, if I’m being honest with myself, I think it was Ana.

Oh this is fun. So you are capable of being real, you just choose not to be. Good to know.

Buck: Uh, I thought things were great with her.

Stop. Lying. You saw Eddie get squirrely when talking about the Christening. You saw Eddie get awkward af when A*a and Christopher came to the firehouse. You’ve seen these issues with your own eyeballs. Great? Really? Yeah, this just makes me think muh boy is oblivious and/or he really was expecting Eddie to come clean about issues related to the shooting, not his love life. This reiterates my point that Buck himself is not nearly done with processing the shooting.

Eddie: She’s been a godsend through all this - staying with Christopher - but I think that’s what’s causing the panic. Somehow it become a ready-made family and I don’t know if I’m ready for that.

This portion of the conversation has been analyzed to bits by many brilliant others. I don’t have anything to add. I’m like, look dude, you already have a family with Buck and Christopher. A*a’s effin’ up your happy healthy family flow. It’s ok, just turn her loose.

Buck: So what are you gonna do?

Buck’s wisdom grows every frickin’ day. He knows this isn’t sustainable for Eddie. He knows that the heart matters. He knows that feelings are real and help us navigate toward a happy life. Action is needed and he’s nudging Eddie in that direction.

Eddie: I think I’m just gonna stick it out. Ana’s been the first woman I’ve wanted to spend this much time with since Shannon.

Oh dear, Eddie’s overblown sense of duty to everyone but himself strikes again. He can…tolerate… A*a. How romantic!

Buck: Stick it out? That’s not the way you talk about someone you’re in love with.

Um, no. Buck calls shenanigans. He’s not A*a’s bestie but he doesn’t feel any desire whatsoever to have her condemned to a loveless relationship.

Eddie: My kid loves her!

Always putting Christopher first but not realizing that if he isn’t truly happy, Christopher will know because he’s perceptive af. Plus the two haven’t discussed A*a on screen so I’m not convinced Chris loves her as much as Eddie wants to believe.

Buck: Is that enough? Eddie I have been Ana. I know what it’s like to be in love with someone who is not all the way in. Deep down you know it and it hurts. It hurts worse than the truth, so if you don’t want to hurt Ana, you owe it to her to be honest.

Buck is doing A LOT of work here to help Eddie see that his plan of inaction is not good. He centers Eddie asking him if staying for Chris is enough. When that doesn’t work, he realizes that Eddie doesn’t care about his own heart enough to leave so he changes strategies and puts himself in A*a’s place to invoke some empathy for A*a from Eddie. It’s super…interesting that Eddie doesn’t care enough for A*a to come to this conclusion on his own!!

Eddie: You know it just feels like a lot man.

Why, my dude?? Explain. Could it be that A*a is serving a purpose beyond Chris? Could it be that staying with her helps you avoid, allows you to pretend and be oblivious to deeper truths within your battered but still beating heart? Does she obscure the Buck shaped hole in your ticker?

Buck: Well, go to sleep. You don’t need to decide right now. It’s not like we’re going home anytime soon.

Buck is disappointed, exhausted, and frustrated and it has my dude slinging shade like morning hash. He’s like fine turn a blind eye, ignore your heart it’s cool *all the sarcasm* Then we get the reference to home and the fact that the two of them are far from it at this point and we all know how important home is as a Buddie theme. I wrote a little about it here.

Bonus: Eddie closed his eyes after Buck walked away, the he OPENED them again. He fully saw what Buck was saying. He can’t avoid the truth of his heart for much longer.

Y’all this has GOT to be the season that one or both of these idiots realize their feelings. Excuse me while I end.

[queenofsantacarla]

The Lost Boys at a Rocky Horror Midnight Showing

Here it is, everyone gets to know my trash thoughts about two of my obsessions now. Dedicated to @partiallyobscure​ for replying to the post and going yes pls 💜 

Disclaimer: this is written in the style of poly characters x reader/oc/so/etc. ~Suggestive themes~ within.

I imagine Santa Carla has a big Rocky Horror following among the youth, it’s a gay ol’ romp with rock music and dirty jokes and throwing things around in a movie theatre. So I imagine within a few months or so of dating the boys, they begin to get curious where you disappear to every few Saturday nights, especially if you get dressed up. Double especially if you’re part of the shadow cast too. So once you explain, they agree to go see what it’s all about.

David

Absolutely refuses to let you put the lipstick Vs on his face to indicate he’s a RH virgin. It will not happen

he probably won’t do the time warp either :(

He definitely has more fun if you’re part of the shadow cast, that’s probably the only way he’ll be engaged in it.

Imagine him being there on a night you’re “the Lips” for Science Fiction // Double Feature (for y’all who have never been, it’s basically a striptease at the beginning of the movie). He would get SO riled up

Lock eyes with him while you cup your tits for “double feature”? Dear god, that smirk, those crystal blue eyes...

Definitely finding you as soon as you get off stage for a rough, fast fuck

But be sure to be quiet you little tease, if someone catches you he might just have to punish you when you get back to the cave...

Not super likely to come back with you again, but enjoy your thing babe

Paul

This boy is having the most fun you’ve ever seen him have, and that’s saying something

He is SUPER into it all: the shadow cast, the callbacks, the prop bags, the dancing, he is enjoying the hell out of himself

If he goes up on stage to compete with other virgins, he will win. He simply must, it’s a point of pride

He loves you being part of the shadow cast, but he most loves seeing you as Janet. Touch-a Touch-a Touch me ends up being his favorite song of the movie and he thinks its super cute to see you be this super innocent good girl type and turn into a sexy wild lady (”Just like when we found you huh baby-”)

Does the second best time warp out of the group

Hot Patootie is his second favorite song, followed closely by Sword of Damocles

Out of all the boys, the most likely to come back with you. In fact, it’ll become a regular date night for you guys, and you bet your ass he’ll dress up with you (especially if your costumes involve being barely clothed)

Dwayne

He is having a lot of fun, but doesn’t show it as much as Paul or Marko

You guys can go see a movie AND he won’t be turned away for not wearing a shirt? he’s game

Will let you draw the virgin V’s on his cheeks, but won’t get as into it as Paul. He mostly is really happy finding out about you and this thing you like so much, you’re being so cute sharing it with your boys

Finds out first about the dinner scene tradition and calls dibs on being your dinner scene partner. Paul is Not Happy and will be pouty during that entire part

Just a quality movie date in general. Need more snacks? He’s on it. Cold in the theatre? Come cuddle, baby. Wanna make out instead of watching? All over it.

Actually prefers you being in the audience with them over you being in the shadow cast. He loves how cute you are, having fun and dancing and singing along and doing the callbacks and throwing the props. It’s a side of you he adores seeing, so open and bright.

Will return with you every so often, but is more likely to let Paul and/or Marko steal you away on those nights

Marko

Best at the callbacks. He learns them super quick has a grand ol time shouting them out. Being able to yell during a movie? That’s a great time, babe

Same with the props. He learns when to use them and has so much fun with them (the toilet paper and water guns especially)

He does has the best Time Warp and will drag Paul over it. It ends up being his favorite song of the musical, but a close second is Rose Tint My World

Tries to badger Dwayne and David into being more into it, but he’s got you and Paul to have fun with

Loves to see you as Columbia when you’re in the shadow cast. Her outfit is almost as Extra as his.

And you look so sexy in that sequin corset and tiny shorts. Careful though, he’ll steal your hat

Definitely will come back with you. If you can convince him to dress up, he’d make an excellent Riff Raff

Bonus: one time you see Grandpa Emerson show up dressed as Frank or Dr. Scott

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Twitter ー Reiji Sakamaki [2020 Compilation]

–> This post includes all tweets posted on the official Rejet Twitter account for Reiji Sakamaki (@DialoverReijiS) in 2020.

Shuu l Ayato l Kanato l Laito l Subaru l Ruki l Kou l Yuma l Azusa l Carla l Shin l Kino

February 14, 2020 (Valentine’s Day)

> This year, once again, I’m making chocolates after Kanato has come begging to me in tears.

> Time after time…Why do I have to do such a thing?”

> Oh well, it’s fine. Now that I’ve made the promise, I should hurry up and get started on it. I might as well challenge myself this year and make some chocolate lollies.

> Takoyaki has nothing to do with it. (@Ayato)

March 14, 2020 (White Day)

> I received some sweets from Kanato, miracles do happen after all.

> I wonder if he’s returning the favor of Valentine’s Day. I’m surprised he has this side to him.

> It’s a rare occasion, so I’ll give them a taste. I’ll hand them out to the other brothers as well.

> Could I have a minute?

> Oh dear, your expression became tense as soon as you saw me. I reached out to you, wanting to thank you for the chocolates from the other day, but did you think I was going to scold you, perhaps?

> Of course, there is plenty I want to tell you. However, that is only because I feel so strongly for you.

> Simply put, there might be times where I accidentally end up doting on you a little too much. It is embarrassing to admit, but that is just how much I love you.

April 1, 2020 (April Fools)

> For God’s sake, that man...He simply cannot act without having to show off.

> I’m talking about the eldest son of the Mukami family. He made a big deal out of it and even published a public announcement, believing their own lies are the most humorous. Showing off how cooperative his younger brothers are. 

> Simply ridiculous. 

> [Only today] We shall be hosting a haunted house at our manor. It is called ‘The Sakamaki House of Horrors’. The demons living at this manor shall try and lure you into a dark world of fear. Please do not hesitate to take on the challenge. For more information, click the link below. --> dialover.net. #SakamakiHouseofHorrors #AprilFools

> Please be cautious when setting foot inside the kitchen. One, two...You might hear the sound of someone counting plates. When you listen till the very end...Fufu, what comes next is a secret. #AprilFools

April 28, 2020

> The fact that a mere servant such as yourself dares trouble me is simply unacceptable.

> How could you nod off in the middle of your studies? It seems like you need to be punished. 

April 29, 2020

> I wish you would at least keep quiet during the commute to school.

May 5, 2020

> Just as Subaru informed me, illegal footage of us is going around. 

> Let us deal with it at once. I simply cannot look past being exposed in such a fashion.

> However, before that.

> It seems like Ayato and the others have been pulling all sorts of mischief behind my back. I shall take care of that first.

May 27, 2020

> Oh dear? What seems to be the matter? Can no longer stand? Your punishment is not over yet.

> I shall give you the same stimulus as before. It seems like you simply do not comprehend unless I teach it directly to your body after all.

> Although, I am doubtful how effective it will be on someone like you, who can find joy not only in pleasure, but in pain as well. 

> What a shameless woman you are.

> You should feel ashamed of yourself. I shall not let you go, until you fix that attitude, understood?

Juy 7, 2020 (Tanabata)

> I pray that one day, we will have less bills for reparation costs to pay. #TanabataWishes

July 20, 2020

> Who is the one who swapped Kanato’s glasses with my own?

> Good grief. What a ridiculous prank.

August 29, 2020 (Birthday)

> Are you satisfied with today? Well, I can tell just by looking at your face. Good grief, how come you seem to be enjoying it more than me every year? Seems like you are in need of a punishment to teach you some composure? Fufu, let us go to my room then. Even though my birthday has ended, I shall not let you leave my side.

October 14, 2020

> Shuu, when are you finally going to wake up? (@Shuu)

> Good grief. Fine, be late for school then if that’s what you wish.

October 20, 2020 (DL x Mayla Classic)

> Do you have a minute?

> On today’s grocery run, I came across something which might suit you at an accessory store which happened to catch my attention. Us brothers shall gift it to you.

> Yes, us brothers. I decided to purchase it after sharing a photograph with the others and asking for everyone’s opinion. Will you accept it?

> I am glad to hear that. Well then, please come and get it yourself.

> Why of course. Who said we would spoil you that much? I placed it in the room where I have frequently punished you, so please go ahead.

> Now where could that be, I wonder?

October 31, 2020 (Halloween)

> You truly have a particular fondness for holidays, no? Well, this is nothing new, so I shall be so generous to keep you company. Well then, between my baked sweets and these fangs, which one do you prefer?

November 20, 2020

> Seems like we’re actually in for a peaceful day for once.

> I shall make use of this opportunity to enjoy a cup of this high-quality tea I purchased the other day.

> I suppose I shall pour her a cup later as well.

December 18, 2020

> You broke the plate because your hand cramped from the cold? Did you truly believe I would fall for such an obvious excuse? Seems like I will have to teach you a thing or two about how to handle silverware...However, before that, show me whether you’ve hurt yourself or not. Come on, your hand.

December 19, 2020

> I suppose it doesn’t hurt to take a small break on the way back from shopping every now and then. For our beverages...How about this drink? The deep blue color is very alluring, and I am especially curious about the spicy aftertaste it is said to provide. Seeing as you still like to cause me trouble, I’d dare argue a little ‘kick’* is exactly what you need at times.

-> Literally he says that he needs to give you ‘the whip’ every now and then. However, ‘muchi’ is also a way to refer to punishment in general in Japanese, coming from the idom ‘ame to muchi’ which is the Japanese equivalent of ‘carrot and stick’. 

December 24, 2020 (Christmas)

> Merry Christmas. May I assist you in preparing the dinner? I assume it is uncommon for me to make such an offer, but I figured that today, it would be nice if we could do something together.

[tweetracer]

Hi! I love your writing, and completely understand if you don't feel like writing this. Could you do something where the reader loves Halloween and dresses up as a vampire as a joke to surprise the boys at the boardwalk or at a Halloween party in the cave. You can decide what to do with the story, I just thought that would be cute.

LOST BOYS  x  S/O HALLOWEEN COSTUME

DAVID

When you jumped out from behind a display at Max’s video store, fully decked out in a Dracula-esque cape and plastic fangs, David thought it was the cutest thing in the entire world.

Not like he’d ever tell you that, though.

He only rolled his eyes, trying to hide the little pull of a smile on his lips by pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a long-suffering sigh.

“This is borderline offensive, kitten”

Despite all his fussing he still stuck his arm out to you, pressing a kiss to your temple and letting you lead him around towards the various attractions and food stalls- all decorated for Halloween.

The whole night he was staring at you, expression turning exasperated anytime you made eye contact while he scrambled to cover up the adoration in his gaze.

When you’d finally dragged him up into the ferris wheel (”Kitten I can fly. This is like going paragliding with a pigeon”) he quieted down, opting to lean back into his seat and watch you watch the crowd below.

That stupid cape hung loose off your shoulders, the faux fangs long since abandoned after getting stuck in a candy apple. Your hair was a tangled mess from all the rides and the festival lights cast a halo around you.

God he was whipped.

Just as the little cart you were in came to a rocking halt at the top of the wheel he extended his hand to you, pulling you close and pressing an unusually tender kiss to your lips. His hands held either side of your face, foreheads together as he pulled back to look at you, gaze soft before a mischievous grin pulled at his lips.

“You know, kitten. If you really wanted to be a vampire all ‘ya had to do was ask”

PAUL

"Doll you should totally be a vamp for Halloween”

When Paul had suggested it and offered to buy steal a costume for you, you were all too happy to have someone equally willing to have fun on your favorite holiday.

And the fact that you were going as a vampire-  with an actual vampire? So cool- the coolest. It was going to be a hilarious inside joke for just the two of you (and also the other vamps of course.. and also probably the Frog Brothers).

When Paul strolled up ten minutes before you needed to meet the other boys at the boardwalk with something that could only loosely be called clothing, let alone a costume, you were disappointed but not surprised.

The skimpy leather shorts, the straps along the chest and the despicably studded ‘cape’ combined with a set of fake plastic fangs read less as ‘vampire’ and more ‘vampire-themed lingerie’.

You stared, slack-jawed at the revealing outfit, not entirely sure if Paul’s insistence of “Babydoll you’re gonna look so good in this-” was actually encouraging you or not. Short on time and low on shame (after all, it was Halloween- most people are going to be either too wasted to notice or wearing even less than you) you quickly geared up.

Paul was all wolf-whistles and flirty pick-up line, his hand inching just a bit too high remain PG before you’d swat it away.

When you finally arrived at the boardwalk Paul’s mood quickly went downhill.

Like.... he knew people were going to look at you- after all you were totally smokin’ in that vampire getup. But... well he didn’t expect so many people to actually have the balls to come up and flirt with you. Especially when he was right there.

The whole night he was snappy and frustrated, progressing from just wrapping his arm around your waist to practically hanging off of you while the two of you listened to the loud music from the Halloween concert.

Finally he’d had it when some dude in a shitty store-bought wolfman mask groped your ass.

Paul went full vamp, snarling and growling as he decked the guy in the face, picked you up like you weighed nothing, and climbed up and over the crowd- charging till the two of you were alone at the beach.

He was still growling and clung to you like a lifeline while you tried not to laugh, burrowing his still vamped-out face against your neck and mumbling bitterly.

You rolled your eyes and let yourself be held, running your hands through his hair and pressing chaste kisses to his cheek when he finally sat back- giving his face a little squeeze.

“You wanna go home?” you offered gently, letting him run a hand down your back- feeling his calloused palm stop at the hem of those obscenely short shorts.

His gaze went from pouting to mischievous when he glanced up at you, all fangs and yellow eyes. You could see something formulating in his mind when he finally spoke up.

“Hey babe”

“Yeah?”

“You make a fang-tastic vampire”

DWAYNE

Dwayne stared at you for about twenty seconds, expression impossible to read before he covers his face with his hands, the tiniest hint of redness creeping up on his cheeks behind his fingers.

You laughed as he stood there, having a genuine conniption because oh god this is so adorable, before finally threading your arm through his and dragging him off to wander around the boardwalk.

Your nights were usually a balance of silence and conversation, easily drifting between enjoying each other’s company to chatting about whatever came to mind. Tonight, however, he was almost dead silent- following behind you while he held your hand, giving that tiny little smile that he only shared with you as you bounced from one carnival game to another. 

The two of you wandered around the boardwalk, toting an absurd amount of stuffed toys from the games all the while still squeezing Dwayne’s hand as he followed behind you.

With the concert’s blaring music in the distant background he watched as you hung on the edge of the railing, cape falling around your shoulders as you peered down below at the slowly rising tide.

Gripped with emotion he wrapped his arms around your waist, squeezing you into his chest till you turned and he could press a tender kiss to your lips.

He picked you up, grabbing the back of your thighs to wrap around his hips and holding you as tightly as he could. With a step, Dwayne floated up to stand with impossibly skilled balance on the rickety arm rail. His laugh was low and rumbling where you were pressed against his chest. 

You held on tighter to him as he fell forwards, the two of you dangling upside-down on the bottom of the boardwalk and the ends of your cape getting wet from the gently churning water below.

Despite your slight dizziness you laughed, pressing your face against his chest and holding on for dear life even though you knew he’d never drop you.

Hanging here, wrapped in his arms and feeling the occasional ocean spray on your cheeks was better than any ride.

MARKO

Marko was a whirlwind of energy on a normal day- but on Halloween? The coolest holiday of the year? Where he could wander around fully vamped out and not have a single person look at him weird?

He was unstoppable.

The two of you were dressed to the nines in ‘classic vampire’ costumes, Marko’s bright leather jacket and boots exchanged for a truly dashing three-piece suit with a long sleek black cape and his wild mane of curls braided elegantly along his back.

Frankly? He looked hot as hell. And he seemed to share the opinion, the whole night he had an arm around your waist- baring fangs at anyone who got a little too close or stared a little too long. You two were the power couple of the boardwalk.

Brain addled with the adrenaline of walking around vamped-out and an obscene amount of sugary candy, Marko was practically bouncing off the walls.

He dragged you towards every ride and event, hollering at the top of his lungs and swinging you into the air if you were going to slow- laughing how you’d yelp and scream every time.

Things were going great until some guy in a Robin Hood outfit tried to get a little handsy with you- a palm inching up against the bare skin of your back as attempted to corral you away from the contortionist you were watching.

One second Mr. Robin Hood was on his feet attempting to pull you away from the crowd and the next thing you knew he was on the floor, jaw almost certainly broken with Marko standing over him, blonde hair coming loose from its braid to fan out around him dramatically.

The scary music, the sharp fangs, the long cape billowing in that Santa Carla breeze.... Marko looked like a vision of death as he snarled, eyes yellow and fist raising to give another hard blow to the man’s face.

While you would’ve been content to watch your Gorgeous Boyfriend rip this guy a new one, the sound of police sirens getting closer told you it was time to get going.

“Let’s dash, babe” Marko’s voice was a low breathy rumble. He grabbed you by the hand and charged back towards his bike, leaving the chaos behind as you laughed your asses off.

The two of you collapsed on the sands of the beach, laying side by side and laughing at the full moon- tears streaming down your cheeks as the height of the moment began to fade.

Your silly cape was scrunched beneath you and you could feel sand start to slip into your boots and under your shirt.

The moment was perfect.

A gloved hand slipped into yours and you felt Marko scoot closer, flipping onto his stomach to watch you through lidded eyes.

When you turned to look at him a red blush was patched across his face, his lips were open as he watched you, moving slow to lean in and kiss your cheek, hovering there a moment before he began peppering your face in soft kisses.

When he finally kissed you on the lips you swore there were fireworks going off behind your eyes. His lips were chapped and soft, the hand that ran delicately over your cheek was cool to the touch as he pressed himself impossibly closer to you.

He tasted like sugar.

When he pulled back he was still staring at you with that pure, unadulterated adoration that made your face go red and your heart do that silly little flip-flop.

Reveling in your embarrassment, he pressed another series of soft kisses down your chin, giving your collar bone a rough bite that made you gasp in surprise, your hand flying up to rest on his chest.

You could feel his pleased hum vibrate against your neck when he mumbled out a sultry

“Trick or treat...”

[ineedapuppyandsomevodka]

Valentine's Day prompt?

Buck being super romantic and buying eddie a big bouquet and fancy chocolate. It's not really a prompt but eddie deserves flowers.

For you, my love. 

Buck and Eddie have a date. On Valentine’s Day.

This wouldn’t be such a big deal if the last time Buck went on a Valentine’s date didn’t end up with him in the hospital because he choked on a piece of bread. He really, really doesn’t want to repeat that experience again, thank you very much.

To say that he’s nervous... well, he’ll openly admit that he is. He’s been nervous all week because Eddie is the one who asked him out. It wasn’t just your run of the mill “Hey, Buck, do you want to hang out on Valentine’s day this year? Like as bros?”

No, God isn’t that kind. Buck could handle hanging out as bros on Valentine’s day, no problem.

Instead, the other night, after Christopher had gone to bed and they were chilling on the couch with a couple of beers in hand, Eddie asked him if he would be his Valentine.

Part of Buck wants to claim that Eddie was under the influence of alcohol, that it was a joke, that Eddie wasn’t serious about it.

But then Eddie got nervous when they were on shift together next. Whenever they were alone, just the two of them, Eddie would ask where Buck wanted to go, if he wanted the date to be fancy or not, just trying to figure out what they were going to do on their Valentine’s date.

On their first date.

Look, Buck isn’t going to come out here and say that he’s been in love with him since the day that he and Eddie met. He’s not.

Buck and Eddie have a date. On Valentine’s Day.

This wouldn’t be such a big deal if the last time Buck went on a Valentine’s date didn’t end up with him in the hospital because he choked on a piece of bread. He really, really doesn’t want to repeat that experience again, thank you very much.

To say that he’s nervous... well, he’ll openly admit that he is. He’s been nervous all week because Eddie is the one who asked him out. It wasn’t just your run of the mill “Hey, Buck, do you want to hang out on Valentine’s day this year? Like as bros?”

No, God isn’t that kind. Buck could handle hanging out as bros on Valentine’s day, no problem.

Instead, the other night, after Christopher had gone to bed and they were chilling on the couch with a couple of beers in hand, Eddie asked him if he would be his Valentine.

Part of Buck wants to claim that Eddie was under the influence of alcohol, that it was a joke, that Eddie wasn’t serious about it.

But then Eddie got nervous when they were on shift together next. Whenever they were alone, just the two of them, Eddie would ask where Buck wanted to go, if he wanted the date to be fancy or not, just trying to figure out what they were going to do on their Valentine’s date.

On their first date.

Look, Buck isn’t going to come out here and say that he’s been in love with him since the day that he and Eddie met. He’s not.

Bucks not exactly sure when he fell in love with Eddie.

It wasn’t love at first sight by any means. No, that would have been too easy.

He didn’t wake up one day and decide that he loves him.

It happened slowly, like the way that snow melts at the top of the mountain, turns into a stream that turns into a creek. That creek turns into a river that floods its way through valleys and rips its way down waterfalls.

For Buck, it started out small. It might have even started as a flurry in the sky, minuscule and cold. Then, as the seasons changed, it warmed and, slowly made its way out to sea.

It probably would have been a little easier to process if it was love at first sight or if he just woke up one day and knew that he was in love with Eddie.

Maybe then he wouldn’t have taken quite so long to come to terms with it. Maybe if he had just known, he wouldn’t have spent so much time second-guessing it. Maybe he would have been able to tell him sooner.

The thing about Eddie is he’s thoughtful in ways that Buck has never experienced. He invites Buck along on adventures with Christopher. He invites him over just because and makes sure that Buck is comfortable. He pulls Buck out of his comfort zone, and if he’s honest he didn’t realize he had very many of those left.

Eddie leaves Christopher with his Abuela when he thinks there’s something going on with Buck, especially now, after the lawsuit. He sits down with him over beers and he has this inexplicable way of making Buck feel seen and heard.

If Buck thinks about it long enough, Eddie has shown him throw small acts of love how he loves him. Whether or not it’s a familial type of love, Buck isn’t sure.

What Buck is sure about though, is Eddie made the first move. He’s not the type of person to try to one-up Eddie, by any means, but if Eddie is going through the effort to make the evening special, then by God, is Buck going to try and make it special too.

Maybe, just maybe, Buck is thinking too hard about everything. Maybe this isn’t love that he’s feeling. Maybe the date is just a stupid joke. Maybe Eddie doesn’t actually like him, he just doesn’t want to be alone on Valentine’s Day... again.

Look, Buck also doesn’t want to be alone on Valentine’s day. It’s hard enough having to walk through Target and see all of the shelves lined with red and hearts and enough chocolate to put someone in a coma.

There is a good rebuttal for this being a stupid joke, too. Eddie isn’t cruel. Buck knows Eddie, on a deep and fairly intimate level. You don’t spend years of your life working with someone in such close proximity and not pick up on a trait like that.

If it isn’t love, then what is it?

Look, Buck cared for Abby, sure. He had feelings for Ali that felt pretty close to love. He loves his sister, he loves his team, his family.

Whatever he’s feeling, he’s not sure he’s ever felt it before. These feelings are for Eddie.

He just hopes that Eddie feels the same.

So, Buck gets dressed up. He puts on a white button-down shirt, his best pair of slacks, (that he recently got tailored, thank you very much), and a red tie. He puts on a nice pair of dress shoes that have been sitting in his closet for a while and an overcoat just to complete the look.

Was this too much? It felt like, with Eddie, this could be too much.

Oh well, he was dressed. He wasn’t going to wear sneakers out on their first date, even if he didn’t know where they were going.

On his way over to Eddie’s, he stops at the store. He gets two obnoxious bouquets of flowers, one for Eddie and one for Carla, who is watching Chris tonight. He picks out some chocolates and picks up a few cards, with every intention of writing some sort of over-the-top, cheesy message in them. They deserved it.

He also picks up a stuffed dinosaur that’s holding a heart that says be mine for Christopher, because he immediately thought of him when he saw it and the kid deserves to be spoiled every now and then.

He checks out at the store, then hops in his Jeep. He pulls out a pen from his work bag and pulls out Christophers card first.

Chris, I think you are dinomite, and you make my heart saur Love, Your Bucky

He adds a few little hearts on the envelopes and puts Christopher’s valentines together in one bag before he moves on to Carla’s card.

He pulls out Carla’s card, which simply says I LOVE YOU on the front because it’s Carla. He could tell her that he loved her without it being weird. Carla was Carla and she made sure that everyone in her life knew that they were loved. He loves her to the moon and back. She’s been there for him through it all. He can only imagine how thrilled she is to be watching Chris tonight so that he and Eddie can actually go on a date, like she’s been hinting at for the last year or so, bless her.

Carla, Thanks for being there through it all. Thanks for always being a constant light in all of our lives. I hope you have a great Valentine’s day. You are the tricera-tops Love, Buck.

He kinda wants to stick to the dinosaur theme with Eddie, he’s just not sure how. He could just do something that’s cheesy in general, but he’s not entirely sure what to put. The card itself isn’t too sappy. It has two little cactus’ on it that says stuck on you, which he thought was pretty cute and not over the top. There were some that had full-on love declarations, and he was ready to throw the idea of getting Eddie a card completely out the window until he saw this one.

Buck was stuck on Eddie. He had been since he met him, but especially since he and Ali broke up. Eddie was there. He was there through his leg injury, he was there, pulling him out of bed after the embolism. He was there even after Buck almost lost his kid in a tsunami.

He sat there for a few minutes, trying to decide what to write on Eddie’s card. What works but isn’t too over the top? What will Eddie find cute and thoughtful?

Dear Eddie, I guess you can say that I’ve been stuck on you the last few years. You and Chris mean a lot to me, and I’m excited to actually go on a date with you. Looking forward to more in the future. Love, Buck.

P.S. You can thank google for this awful dinosaur pun (it was UNDER KIDS DINO PUNS I SWEAR). you give me a massive T-rextion.

Maybe the last part was a little too much, but it was Eddie after all. They share inappropriate jokes from time to time and Buck thinks he’ll think it’s funny.

He puts Eddie’s card and chocolates in another bag, then drives to the Diaz house.

He pulls into Eddie’s driveway beside his truck and heads up to the door. His palms are a little sweaty and he’s nervous. More nervous than he actually thought he’d be.

He doesn’t even make it to the door before it’s opened for him.

“Bucky!” Chris says with the biggest grin on his face.

“Hey, Superman, Happy Valentine’s Day,” Buck says and hands him the small bag of Valentine’s he got him.

“For me?” He asks, happily taking it.

“Yep,” Buck assures and steps into the house.

“Well, don’t you look nice,” Carla says with a grin, coming to help him with the door.

“These are for you,” he hums, handing Carla one of the bouquets.

“Oh, darling, you didn’t have to get me anything,” she says, taking them with a smile.

“Oh, and I got you this,” he says and hands her the bag of chocolates and the card he got for her.

“Thank you,” she says with a smile, walking into the kitchen with him. “He’s still getting ready.”

“Okay,” Buck says, feeling his cheeks flush pink.

“You look very handsome,” she tells him and pats his cheek.

“Thanks,” he says, leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Do you want me to let him know you’re here?” She asks like she could sense how nervous he was. Why did Carla have to be so damn perceptive? He loves her.

“No, no, I can do it,” he says, but immediately regrets it. Was it weird to go into Eddies room to tell him that he was there? Should his mouth be this dry? Should he be this nervous?

Carla gives him a gentle push, and that’s all it takes for him to head in the direction of his bedroom. The door is shut, so he knocks on it.

“Come in,” he hears Eddie say from the other side, so he pushes it open and leans against the door frame.

“Hey,” Buck announces his arrival.

“Hey,” Eddie says, turning around with a smile on his face.

Eddie looks... he looks amazing. Buck can’t help but let his gaze linger over the suit that he’s wearing. It’s dark grey, the perfect contrast to Buck’s black, and he’s wearing a tie that is red and black striped, just hanging, waiting to be tied. The whole look is... it’s doing things to Buck.

“Wow, you look amazing,” Buck says before he horribly embarrasses himself by just staring. By the looks of it, Eddie is just as caught up in Buck’s attire.

“So do you,” Eddie says, reaching up to smooth down a few stray hairs.

“Thanks,” he replies with a soft smile. “Oh, here, these are for you,” he says, offering out the treats that he brought him. “There’s, uh, there are flowers in the kitchen for you too.”

“Buck, you didn’t have to buy me flowers,” he tells him earnestly, setting the gift bag on his dresser so that he could finish getting ready.

“I know, but I wanted to,” he says, then steps into his room to help him with his tie.

“Dad! Dad, look at what Bucky got me!” Chris says proudly, holding out the dinosaur Buck bought.

“Wow, míjo, that’s awesome,” Eddie says with a smile, then turns to give Buck an affectionate look. His heart melts a little for it.

“Thanks, Buck!” Chris says, coming into hug his legs. Buck lets go of Eddie’s tie and moves down to hug Christopher.

“Of course, buddy,” he smiles.

Eddie looks into his bag and pulls out the card. He smiles at the chocolates and sets them down on the dresser, pulling out his card.

He looks at the front of the card for a moment, then glances at Buck with a fond, loving expression before he opens it. His smile grows a little wider, and then he snorts, presumably when he reads the comment Buck wrote on the bottom.

“Thanks, Buck,” he says and pulls him into a hug.

“Of course, Eds,” he says, hugging him back.

Christopher pulls Buck out into the living room after that, so that Eddie can finish getting ready. It doesn’t take him much longer, seeing as though he was mostly put together, minus his shoes and his tie. Buck stands up when Eddie comes back into the living room, and ruffles Christopher’s hair.

“You ready?” Buck asks, looking at Eddie.

“Yeah, let me just grab my keys,” he says with a smile.

He grabs his keys from the island in the kitchen, then comes back with a grin on his face.

“What?” Buck asks, smiling back at him.

“Nothing, just the flowers,” he says, gesturing back. “Sunflowers are my favorite.”

Buck looks down at his feet, smiling bashfully. “I know.”

[yodawgiherd]

Love

>>>Read on AO3<<<

Rating: T

Setting: Canon, chapter 138

I got the idea for a story the moment I saw the leaks, and because of how wrecked 138 made me, I stayed up and wrote this instead of sleeping. What if Love was truly the main point of the story? What if Love could change the cruelness of the world? What if...

The explosion roused Eren from the strange hibernation he was in just in time to see the colossal teeth crumble. A figure jumped through, blade in hand, obviously going in for the kill. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

And as Mikasa’s blade cut through his spine, as the world went black, Eren was completely at peace.

Until something coarse and rough scratched his skin. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was back in the paths, lying on his back. He stood up, shaking the sand away from his clothes and looking around. Ymir was there, watching him with her judging eyes, but Eren was no longer intimidated by that. He was dead, what fear did he have of gods?

Crossing the distance, he approached the child.

“I’m sorry kiddo, I did my best.”, dropping to one knee, Eren ruffled Ymir’s hair playfully, “But I couldn’t destroy the world. They stopped me.”

The little girl stomped her foot.

“You planned this since the start!”, she accused him, “You knew that they would kill you in the end!”

“I didn’t know.”, Eren countered, “I hoped.”

Ymir fell silent after that, pouting. Eren stood up, looking over the endless sands of the Paths, over the pulsating crystal tree in the middle. It was a beautiful place.

“Why did you send her the vision?”, Ymir spoke from behind him, “The Ackerman girl. Why show her what was not real?”

“It was my parting gift. Mikasa had to know how I really felt about her, I couldn’t let her think that I hated her.”

“What was that emotion you felt when you looked at her, the one that made your heart beat faster?”, Ymir pressed on, “What was the thing you two shared?”

Gazing into the endless Paths, Eren’s lips curved into a sad smile.

“Love. It was love.”

The girl’s breath hitched.

“Love is beautiful.”

“It sure is, even if it's as short-lived as ours was.”, Eren sighed, running a hand over his face, “There are so many things I would like to do with her that I’ll never get to. So many memories we will never create together. It hurts, but the pain is delicious in its own way.”

Ymir was silent, so Eren continued.

“I just wish that she will learn to let me go. That she will experience this with someone else, now that I’m gone. I don’t want her to keep loving a ghost.”

“A ghost?”

“I am consciousness trapped in the Paths. Is there a better way to call myself?”, his fists clenched, “I’m dead. I tried to destroy the world and failed. I fought against everyone and got killed for it. It’s time for me to fade away and be nothing but a memory.”

He turned to Ymir, extending his arm towards her.

“You don’t have to keep me around anymore, founder, you have no use for me. Release me.”

“No.”

Eren blinked a few times.

“Why?”

This time, Ymir met his gaze with her own.

“Because I’m jealous.”

“You are a god, what can you be jealous of?”

Ymir’s hands tightened on the handle of her bucket.

“I never got to experience love.”

“I’m sorry...”

The little girl sniffled, drying her eyes.

“When I saw what you two have, I never felt so lonely in my life. I want it too, I want to share that wonderful feeling with someone, I want to love and be loved back….”

Overwhelmed by the raw emotion in her voice, Eren hugged her, feeling the tiny body shake with sobs in his hands. Not sure what to say, Eren did what he had often done in the past and used the words that always gave him strength in the darkest moments.

“The woman I loved, Mikasa Ackerman, had a saying – “the world is cruel but beautiful”. It’s the beauty that you must look for, not the cruelty. Because if you don’t, there is no point in going on.”

Ymir thought about his words for a moment, while the time stood still.

“Eren?”, she spoke up from his shoulder.

“Yes?”

“I don’t want this.”

“What do you mean?”

“This world, this cruelty, I don’t want it to exist. I don’t want to be unloved for eternity.”

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do.”, he confessed, but Ymir was shaking her head.

“I can.”

“Ymir, we tried to…”

She didn’t let him finish.

“I don’t want to destroy the world anymore. I want to remake it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My power comes from the titans, and now there are so many in the outside world….”, she took a shuddering breath, “So many people transformed, I’m stronger than I ever was.”

Looking over her shoulder, Eren could see the crystal tree, shining brighter and brighter with every pulse.

“You realize it now?”, Ymir asked, “The lights in the tree, they are….”

“Souls.”, Eren finished for her, “Souls of the Eldians.”

“Exactly. Now when that strange being transformed every single Eldian into a titan, it’s crackling with power. In its last effort to save itself, it gave me the strength to do what I want.”

Eren shouldn’t be scared. He was dead, there was nothing Ymir could do to him. So what was the cold feeling creeping up his spine?

Of course. He didn’t fear for himself, there was no point in that. He feared for those who survived. He feared for Armin, for Levi, and most importantly….

He feared for Mikasa.

“And what is the thing that you want to do?”, he asked the goddess in his arms cautiously.

“Erase this world and all its cruelty, take the souls and create a new one, one where we can all be free.”

“Will they remember it?”

“No. Well, the Ackermans will, in some way or form, I can’t influence them as much.”

“I see.”

“I will do it on one condition though.”, Ymir said, pulling back so their eyes could meet.

Taking a step back away from his kneeling form, the goddess extended her open hand, strange light gathering in her palm.

“Eren Yeager, when I create this new world for us, will you show me what love is?”

New world. New chance. New life with her. To have that, Eren would strike any bargain. He nodded.

“I swear.”

Ymir smiled. And closed her fist.

The crystal tree behind them exploded into million pieces, and the wave of energy that ran through him was the last thing Eren felt, his thoughts filled with a certain raven-haired girl.

When the reality began to disintegrate around Mikasa, she didn’t even question it anymore. When her own body started to unravel, she kept her gaze trained at Eren’s head in her hands, a faint smile pulling at her lips.

“See you later, Eren.”

“Okay, I can see the head. Push, missis Yeager, push!”

“Oh god, Grisha I hate you so much!”

“I’m so sorry dear, but please listen to the good doctor.”

“Deep breaths, deep breaths, almost there….”

The room was filled with cries of a newborn.

“Congratulations, you have a son!”

Carla took the tiny bundle from the doctor’s arms, breathing heavily. She was met with an intense stare of green eyes and a red face, angry at everything. He was adorable.

“Hello Eren.”, she said, gently rocking him, “Welcome to the world.”

“This was a bad idea.”

“Dude, we are in college now, we can’t just sit at our dorm all day.”

“Please, tell me that you wouldn’t prefer having your nose in a book right now.”

“You are the one to talk! When was the last time you even spoke to a girl, you studying tryhard.”

Eren sighed.

“Being a doctor doesn’t come from nothing, Ar.”

“I know, I know,”, Armin calmed him, “But you really should find a girlfriend. I’m not sure I can survive any more of Jean’s jokes aimed at your repressed homosexuality.”

“And I told you, like a thousand times, that I’m not interested in dating. I just…”

Holding a red cup identical to his own, a visage walked into the room. With midnight hair pulled into two braids at the top, dark shirt and skirt and a multitude of necklaces around her neck, she was obviously nervous, slanted grey eyes darting around the room, absent-mindedly turning the rings around her fingers. Eren took her in, all of her, from the tips of her boots and over her black tights to the top, to where the piercings glimmered in her ears. He took her in, and he realized that girls are an incredible species, especially the goth ones.

“Dude,” Armin tore him for his trance, “You’re staring.”

“She’s so beautiful…”

“Who?”, his friend followed his gaze, frowning, “The strangely dressed Asian?”

He just nodded. Talking was hard when the girl was occupying all of his brainpower. The little irritated twitch of her nose, the way she took a sip from the cup and grimaced, that was Eren’s whole world.

“Jolly good.”, Armin nudged him, “Now go talk to her.”

“Me? Are you insane? No way dude, no, why would such a beauty be ever interested in me? Me and her? Nah, but you’re crazy man, that could never work.”

“Fine.”, with a resolute move, Armin finished his drink, “I’ll do it myself.”

And he was gone, walking towards the girl. He said something, she said something back, and then the traitor was pointing at Eren who did his best to shrink behind the cup in his hand. The girl smiled, reached up to smooth some strands behind her ear and Eren felt like he could die from how flawless that move was. Oh god, she’s moving. She’s moving towards him. He should… He should….

“Hello, your friend said that you wanted to talk to me.”

Heavens above, even her voice was attractive. With brain fried, Eren extended his hand mechanically in a way of greeting.

“Hi, I’m Eren.”

She took it, the edges of her rings gently scratching at his skin.

“Mikasa.”

And he was lost.

“Eren! She’s kicking again!”

“Now?”, there was a tumble from the bathroom and then he was here, face half-shaved, “Let me feel.”

Mikasa took his hand, placing it on her round belly. True enough, there was a kick soon after, making him grin like an idiot.

“Do I have to work today? I want to stay here and feel Ymir’s kicking.”

Mikasa looked up with a raised eyebrows, smoothing her bangs away from her eyes.

“Ymir?”

“Huh?”

“You just called our baby Ymir.”

“I…. I guess I did?”

“Eren, there’s already a girl called Ymir. You know, the tall freckled one from your work, dates the cute little blonde Krista? Ring any bells?”

“Please Miki, I know who that demon is woman’s body is. But I…”, he rolled the name around in his head, “I still like it. The name that is, not the old Ymir, she’s a natural disaster in human form.”

“Ymir…” Mikasa was the one thinking now, her hand rubbing her belly.

“Ymir.”, Eren agreed, putting his hand over hers.

“Fine.”, she said, looking down, “Hello there, your name is Ymir now. Are you going to kick your daddy again?”

She did.

“Mikasa, you have to push!”

“I don’t want to! Eren said that he will be here! I..”, her back arched in pain, teeth gritting, “The bastard!”

“I know.”, Ymir’s eyes were calm above the surgical mask, “But I can see the head already, you have to push the girl out.”

“Eren!”, Mikasa screamed in pure desperation, “I swear that I’ll kill you!”

The door cracked, letting a disheveled figure in. It immediately crossed the room to stand at Mikasa’s side, taking her hand.

“I’m so sorry.”, he whispered to her, “I got here as fast as I could.”

“Okay Miks, Eren is here, so it’s time to push.”, Ymir cut in, “Come one, deep breaths, and let’s go.”

And Mikasa pushed and tightened her hold on Eren’s hand. With a scream, the baby fell into Ymir’s waiting arms, while a certain crack could be heard.

Ymir Ackerman-Yeager came into the world at the exact moment when her mother broke two of her father’s fingers.

“Look, Krista, she’s eating me.”

“We are supposed to watch over the baby, not feed it body parts.”

Ymir just giggled like crazy, watching as little Ymir chewed on her fingers with toothless gums. Soon she was joined by her wife, who sat down on the couch next to them, a faint smile on her lips.

“She’s a tiny monster.”, the freckled girl said, “Mark my words.”

“Well, if she has the strength of her mother combined with the recklessness of her father, we might be in for a treat.”

“Yes and…” whatever Ymir wanted to say got interrupted, as she quickly pulled her fingers out of the baby’s mouth, staring at the bloody line.

Uhm... I think that she has her first tooth.”

“Oh babe,”, Krista was trying and failing at holding her laughter in, “You want some ice on that?”

“I told you, she’s a monster. Eating her own auntie.”

“She’s a toddler!”

“Won’t be one forever though.”

Leaning close to the baby, Ymir dropped her voice in a whisper.

“You and me? We are going to rock this world.”

“Uncle Armin?”

“Yes, Ymir?”

“Why am I sleeping here tonight?”

“What, you don’t like it here?”

“I do! I was just wondering…”, the little girl looked up from the picture she was creating, “Why tonight?”

“Well, you see…”, Armin scratched the back of his head, looking for an answer that was NOT the truth. Ymir was way too young for that.

“Your parents just want to be alone for a while.”

“Why?”

“To have some time for one another.”

“Why?”

“Because they love each other very much.”

“Oh, and they don’t love me?”

“Of course they do! What I’m trying to say is…”

“Please, this is embarrassing.”, Annie appeared from the bathroom, toweling her hair, “You see Ymir, your parents left you with us because they want to spend the whole night fuc-“

“Fun! They want to have fun!”, Armin interjected, spearing Annie with his blue eyes.

“Fun?”, Ymir repeated, “I want to have fun too…”

“But they are going to have adult fun. Like these boring movies that you don’t like, or some of my books that have no pictures.”

“Ah. Okay.”, successfully fooled, Ymir picked up the crayon and almost went back to painting. But then Annie did what she does best, and completely wrecked the situation.

“Ha, the only book that they would be reading tonight is Kamasutra.”, she nudged Armin with her elbow, who groaned and hid his face, “Although they probably have it memorized at this point.”

Still laughing, his wife disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Armin alone with Ymir. And everything was fine for a moment, the little girl was coloring the strange crystal tree that she drew, but then the crayon was on the table and her eyes were once again meeting Armin’s.

“Uncle Armin, what’s Kamasutra?”

Even after seeing the ultrasound pictures, Ymir had a hard time believing it.

“There’s my brother in here?”, she asked for like a thousand time, touching Mikasa’s belly, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, we are quite sure.”, Eren said, running his fingers through his wife’s long raven hair.

“And how did he get there?”

“With love.”, Mikasa answered, gently smiling, “Lots of love.”

“Well, that’s one way to put it.”, Eren snickered behind her, making her frown at him.

Ymir ignored that, still staring at her mother’s smooth skin.

“Mommy? Did you also make me with love?”

“Of course.”

“And do you still love me?”

“Ymir, you are our daughter.”, Eren spoke, reaching over to pat her head, “Daddy and mommy love you more than anything.”

She could feel it. She could feel the warmth, spreading from them both and into her entire being. They loved each other so much, it was like standing near the sun. But they loved her too, so magically, loved her in a way that Ymir was never loved in.

Closing her eyes, the little girl splayed her fingers on the warm skin of her mother.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

A long, shuddering exhale, one that Ymir was holding in since….

Since forever

“Love is beautiful.”

[spiderlingh]

Élite Season 3 Review

so today, the third season of élite came out. here’s what i liked and what i hated.

⚔️ obviously includes spoilers. ⚔️

the friendships between lu/nadia and guzmán/samuel were amazing.

for some reason i felt like the two new boys were just so... irrelevant?

poor ander, boy just keeps getting more hurt every season.

i genuinely felt so sorry for polo this season. like i know he’s guilty of killing marina but he felt so bad and guilty about it. he truly did not deserve to die, i cried so hard when he died.

i’ve said it before and i will still say it now; cayetana is a little bitch.

samuel and rebe were a terrible TERRIBLE couple. since their relationship feels very brother/sister to me, they were just weird to watch.

happy that omander got their endgame

CARMUEL AND GUZNADIA DESERVED BETTER ENDINGS

especially carmuel deserved more screentime, we got shreds

what the f u c k was omar thinking cheating on ander multiple times??

yes i know ander was a dick most of the time but i don’t blame him....

polo saving carla after she fell in a pool... they’d die for eachother i love them

i did not see that twist at the end coming at all.

carla owning who she is and basically telling her father to go and fuck off is everything

i had truly hoped for either christian or nano to make an appearance. yes, i know, their actors were away filming la casa de papel, but a proper ending would’ve been fitting.

dear god, this season was so painful and so dark.

season 2 is still my favorite season, then season 1, then season 3.

honestly, i don’t really know what i expected. this is most likely the last season with this cast and this storyline, so basically it was the finale. despite the interesting twists, something was missing.

i’d hoped that polo somehow faked his death and managed to live a better life somewhere far from las encinas. i wanted a happier ending, for all of them.

i’m genuinely so sad that this was it. this show really grew on me.

i did find it ironic how everyone hated polo for killing marina yet helped lu out when she killed polo.

thank god nadia’s parents dad finally accepted omar having a boyfriend

the way polo wanted to talk to guzman but was accidentally pushed to his death... this. shit. hurts.

season 2 remains superior and that’s that.

[john-smith69]

Ranking my favorite characters of each of my favorite animes / mangas

For the record: I don't own any of the following artworks bellow. All the credit go for their own original artists

Top 10: Olivier Mira Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Olivier Mira Armstrong (オリヴィエ・ミラ・アームストロング, Orivie Mira Āmusutorongu), also known as Major General Armstrong is the primary heir to the illustrious Armstrong family, the commanding officer charged with the protection of Amestris' northern border at Fort Briggs and the older sister of Alex Louis Armstrong. Olivier is a severe woman who has a fearsome and commanding presence where she is harsh with her subordinates and peers and coldly merciless to her enemies, the deceptively beautiful woman's schadenfreude has earned her the nickname "Ice Queen" among the Briggs soldiers. Sharp-tongued and highly combative, Olivier is no stranger to furious chastisements and bursts of fiery violence, especially toward those who fail to live up to her high standards and staunch adherence to the "survival of the fittest" philosophy.

Top 9: Mikasa Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

Mikasa Ackerman (ミカサ・アッカーマン Mikasa Akkāman) is the adoptive sister of Eren Yeager and one of the two deuteragonists of the series, along with Armin Arlert.

After her biological parents were murdered by human traffickers, Mikasa was rescued by Eren Yeager and lived with him and his parents, Grisha and Carla, before the fall of Wall Maria. Though she desires only to live a peaceful life, Mikasa entered into the military—where she is considered the best soldier among the 104th Training Corps. She later enlists in the Survey Corps to follow and protect Eren, becoming one of its greatest assets. She is currently serving as an officer (上官 Jōkan) in the Corps. Mikasa cares deeply for her friends and caretakers, seeing them as the last remnants of a family she cannot afford to lose. Mikasa also appears to have a soft spot for children, and she has a strong sense of right and wrong, doing everything she can to make her most impulsive friends to follow what she thinks is the right track. Despite that, she knows well that she cannot always sway them in decisions and makes it a point to follow them whenever they go, just so that she can be around to help out when trouble arises.

Top 8: Kamina (Gurren Lagann)

Kamina (カミナ, Kamina) was a young man from Jeeha Village, the founder and first leader of Team Gurren and deuteragonist of the first arc of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. At first glance, Kamina is boisterous, hotheaded and arrogant. He demands recognition and seems hungry for greatness, illustrated in his tendency to call himself "the Mighty Kamina" and his signature catchphrase, "Just who the Hell do you think I am?!" He is an undeterred idealist, often to the point of ignorance; Yoko has described him as "a man of unlimited stupidity." Kamina is also very perverted, declaring that the urge to stare at beautiful women is the definition of a man.

However, Kamina is also extremely determined and never lets anything keep him down for long. Even discovering that his father was dead only made him solemn for a night or two (visibly at least). He is also devoted to defending and supporting his friends and loved ones, fighting with all his strength to protect them. In turn, he is very charismatic in the heat of battle, able to inspire even the timid Simon to accomplish great feats and almost single-handedly set the foundations for Team Dai-Gurren.

Despite his often brazen and practically insane actions, Kamina is fairly insightful, as his bombast and seemingly blind confidence usually mask his true intelligence in planning and combat. He even personally admits that his bravado and fearlessness is mostly a device he uses to hide his own worries and to support others, and that he thinks people like Simon are the real heroes.

Top 7: Sebas Tian (Overlord)

Sebas Tian (セバス・チャン), alas "The Iron Butler", is the head butler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick with several manservants and other butlers under his command. He was created by Touch Me. He is also the leader of the Pleiades Six Stars.

Although he is not one of the Floor Guardians, his power closely rivals theirs. In a way, he is independent of their chain of command. He originally served as Nazarick's last line of defense alongside the Pleiades on the 9th Floor, to give time for the guild, Ainz Ooal Gown, to prepare for their final stand in the Throne Room. Like his creator, Touch Me, Sebas Tian has a great deal of personal justice. Unlike many other denizens in Nazarick, he does not completely despise humans or see them as inferior creatures. Instead, he believes that some humans are good people and it is the duty of the strong to protect the weak. However, humans with an ugly nature disgust him and he will not hesitate to kill anyone who dares to oppose Nazarick. Sebas has a stoic nature, but also tends to question his own actions whether it was right or wrong of him to do them contrary to his master's order. Not sure why he does it, Sebas does believe that Touch Me's will is what encouragingly motivates him to act the way he does and that it conflicts with the will of his current master.

Top 6: Brago (Gash Bell)

Brago (ブラゴ, Burago), alongside his partner and bookkeeper Sherry Belmont, are considered the rivals of the main characters Zatch Bell and Kiyo Takamine, even though the teams fought a relatively small amount of times. Since their first appearance, they were one of the most powerful teams in the series, and have been seen burning more spellbooks than any other one. Brago is very quiet and is rarely seen socializing with other mamodos, he is often described as being "strong and cool". He is often seen crossing his arms or sticking them in his pockets. Not much is revealed about his life or personality, other than he resents weakness and especially requiring a human's help to win the demon kingship. However, despite often complaining that Sherry is too weak to help him, he thanks her for all that she has done for him in the final battle. He is extremely strong, often defeating other mamodo teams without even requiring the use of spells; because of his strength, which was gained from undergoing special elite training, many mamodo have come to fear him as one of the strongest. Brago's specialty is Gravity Magic.

Top 5: Guts (Berserk)

Guts (ガッツ Gattsu) , renowned as the "Black Swordsman", is a former mercenary and branded wanderer who travels the world in a constant internal struggle between pursuing his own ends and protecting those dear to him.

At one time driven solely by his will to survive, Guts finds purpose in life upon joining the Band of the Falcon, greatly helping in the faction's storied successes during the Hundred-Year War as captain of the band's raiders. He eventually becomes dissatisfied with clinging on to Griffith's dream, and departs from the band in pursuit of his own. Following the horrors of the Eclipse prompted by Griffith, Guts embarks on a two-year war against the God Hand and apostles, becoming increasingly embittered on his one-track quest for retribution. He in time realizes protecting his regressed lover is more important to him, as well as something he cannot do alone, and thus seemingly abandons his quest for revenge while fostering camaraderie with his new companions. Known for his air of austerity, Guts is a gruff, cynical man holding an overall bleak outlook on life. This is a consequence of enduring waves of suffering and numerous betrayals since his youth, with nearly all highlights of his life having, in time, become lows. In spite of his guarded, brooding exterior, he shows a more easygoing, compassionate side around the people he trusts, appearing markedly less unsociable and distant, though still retaining his dry candidness. Even as his inner darkness festers deep within him and its temptation becomes increasingly harder to resist, he retains his empathy and compassion, refusing to completely discard his humanity.

Top 4: Akemi Homura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Homura Akemi (暁美 ほむら Akemi Homura) is one of the main characters in the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series. Ever since her arrival at Mitakihara Middle School, Homura is immediately depicted as being very intelligent, athletic, distant, and cold. It is revealed in episode four that she is only like this because she has seen so much suffering during her tenure as a magical girl. Because of this, she does not want Madoka Kaname to become a magical girl and tries to do anything in order to stop her from making a wish with Kyubey, going as far as to attempt to injure and even kill the cat-like creature. Despite her cold attitude towards others, she still very much cares for Madoka, as it is her sole objective to protect her due to the countless amount of blood, sweat, and tears she has shed over her jumps in time. Despite being regarded as emotionless by Sayaka Miki, Homura is far from it. Although she does not easily show signs of remorse, sadness, or pity, it is only because she had grown used to the suffering around her, and must put up a strong front to continue fighting for her goal. Homura herself has stated that she always feels badly with each life she's unable to save or alter, but nevertheless, it does not slow her down from staying true to her main objective in saving Madoka Kaname.

Top 3: Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (Bleach)

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (グリムジョー・ジャガージャック, Gurimujō Jagājakku) is an Arrancar and was the Sexta (6th) Espada in Sōsuke Aizen's affiliated army. While appearing to be a laid-back individual, Grimmjow possesses a brutal, impulsive, and excessively violent personality alongside a lethally short temper. However, despite his aggression and obvious blood lust in battle, Grimmjow possesses a feral cunning and has a knack for quickly exploiting any opening his opponent reveals. In addition, he is blunt, sarcastic and quite sadistic, revealing a psychotic grin or laughing maniacally whenever he becomes excited. He is also very rude and quite disrespectful. Grimmjow uses none of the honorifics in the Japanese language, except when addressing Aizen (though he is quick to discard the formality when Aizen is not around), and refers to Orihime Inoue as woman in conversation. Grimmjow displays little respect for authority and says whatever is on his mind, regardless of whether or not it is appropriate. However, he does have some form of a code of honor, as he is unwilling to fight an injured Ichigo, bringing Orihime to heal him beforehand so that their battle will be a fair one, though he also wants to defeat Ichigo when he is at full strength.He also saves Orihime from Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia, who were beating her up, to repay the debt of restoring his arm, though he immediately demands another favor afterwards.

Top 2: Kujo Jotaro (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Jotaro Kujo (空条 承太郎 , Kūjō Jōtarō) is the protagonist of Part 3 and also appears in Parts 4-6. Jotaro is the third and most recurring JoJo of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series.

Jotaro is a delinquent who lives an ordinary life until the Joestar Family's old enemy, DIO, returns. Jotaro travels to Egypt in order to save his mother and stop the Vampire once and for all.

Wielding the incredibly powerful Star Platinum, Jotaro is the first JoJo introduced with a Stand, and is among the most well-known characters of the series. Jotaro is introduced as a rough delinquent, but he has a gentle heart, and is loyal to those he likes. He is highly perceptive, intelligent and quick-witted while keeping a perpetually cool, slightly neutral or disinterested attitude. Jotaro's most noticeable trait is his seemingly aloof nature. He is a quiet individual, often satisfied with expressing himself in short phrases. While he was shown to be mildly anxious when something unanticipated happens, Jotaro almost never goes as far as to lose his cool.

Top 1: Charlotte Katakuri (One Piece)

Charlotte Katakuri ( シャーロット・カタクリ , Shārotto Katakuri) is the second son and third child of the Charlotte Family and the elder triplet brother of Daifuku and Oven. He is also one of the Three Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates and serves as Totto Land's Minister of Flour (粉大臣, Kona Daijin), governing over Komugi Island.

Due to his actions and role, he is the secondary antagonist in the second half of the Whole Cake Island Arc. Katakuri has a very serious, no-nonsense demeanor, caring greatly about his crew and family's objectives. With his heightened Kenbunshoku Haki allowing him to see a little bit into the future and make smart judgement calls, he is dedicated to efficiently dealing with all possible threats within his vicinity, and is thus among the few Charlotte children that can be seen taking action without instructions from Big Mom herself. Katakuri is a pragmatic individual who puts efficiency above almost everything else, to the point of being considered a perfectionist. He rarely brags about his abilities, instead being rather focused on accomplishing his goals as fast as possible, intercepting and defeating his enemies in a quick, effective manner while prioritizing the elimination of threats he perceives as potentially serious, going as far as taking extra steps to ensure they are stopped in case his mother and siblings fail to do so. He is also capable of extreme brutality as shown when he pondered on how he should maim Luffy with his trident. Though ruthless to opponents, he is extremely caring towards his family and subordinates. Katakuri is also a honorable man who dislikes other people interfering with his fights. Though he considers Luffy his enemy and desires to eliminate him personally before he can become a threat, he wishes to defeat him fairly. After discovering that Flampe was the one attacking Luffy and lowering his performance in the fight, Katakuri injured himself in the same spot he injured Luffy to compensate and angrily shouted at Flampe for interfering in his fight.

[scorpiosanssexy]

(1/2) hello, could i get a roommate matchup? i'm an infp, pisces, 150 cm short, half austrian and half thai. i'm rather introverted and shy around new people, but i still like meeting them! i may seem pretty aloof, but i'm actually pretty emotional and once i get close to someone i'm quite talkactive and like learning new things. it's hard for me to express my feelings sometimes, but i value my friends deeply! at school i study computer science and i spend my free time playing video games,

editing videos, watching anime and reading mangas or books. i also do horse riding as a hobby. i listen to a variety of music genre, my main one's being pop/hip hop/indie. my sleep schedule is pretty unstable lol, i usually end up sleeping at 3 am and wake up around 12-2 pm. i also really like animals, especially cats! one thing i value a lot is honesty, which is why i tend to be pretty straight forward most of the time, even tho i struggle with anxiety. hope this was ok, thank u so much!!

-----

Dear User, 

congratulations, we have found you a potential roommate. We have throughly looked through your application and we hope you are happy with your result. Below this post are all the details about them.

Yours Sincerely 

The Accomodation Team

Name: Kenma Kozume 

Birthday: 16th October (Libra)

MBTI: INTP

a cinnamon roll also deserves another cinnamon roll 

i am sorry the amount of cuteness the pair of you bring when you walk into a room is going to make my heart implode 

so is kuroo tbh

like the pair of you are both so smol (tbh i am the same height as kenma so what am i talking about) 

anyway, i think kenma loves your little shy persona like he find loud people intimidating so your naturally sweet personality makes him feel at ease 

he is also in awe that despite your shyness you do try and meet new people (which can be a hard thing to do) 

you have definetely inspired him to maybe perhaps be more up for meeting new people 

so after your kinda awkward cute first meeting and that you more talkative and passionate side comes out, kenma is loving it 

he is more of a listener and is fascinated by your animated communication 

like he has this serence smile on his face when you are talking and i am telling you it is the most adorable thing i ever witnessed 

now kenma also has this issue of expressing how he feels as well (trust me it is hard) 

so you too have devised this little plan, like you one of those feeling notebooks (you know where you flip the pages and it has an emotion on it )

anyway, so when one of you is feeling upset like you flip the page in the book so the other knows, if it is kenma then you just need to leave him be until he is ready for cuddles 

now kenma thinks it is awesome that you study computer science like i feel like he does know some coding so you too will have in depth discussions about this a lot 

you write cute messages in python code awww 

now i hate to break it to you but you have somehow become nekoma IT technician 

this happend when lev laptop got a mini virus

you being the computer whiz completely fixed it for him and now lev is a little in love 

kenma told him to back off 

now you have hit the jackpot ladies and gentleman when it comes to loving video games 

if you are more into action kinda genre then you will probably feature in kenma twitch streaming quite a lot, especially his COD stream 

you guys would get competitive like you have never seen him so hyped up 

now if you are bit more of a casual gamer, i am talking animal crossing style 

then kenma is up for that too, he gives you all his little shells so that your island  can look  pretty 

plus he always manages to find the extremely rare one like hoe how do you do it

now at first kenma was scared of horses ngl 

but after a few visits to the stables he has now befriended the sky horse that no one seems to like 

like he loves feeding them apples and stuff and he says his hand tickles 

he also lets out this cute little laugh too 

there is one way to describe both of your sleep schedules that is chaotic 

look on this blog we stan sleep schedules so please for the love of god try and get some rest 

kuroo has to come and tuck you both into bed to make sure the pair of you get some rest

but when you are both up and about in the night you get up to the wildest stuff, like putting fairy liquid on the floor or playing mario karts blind folded 

or watching some curesd anime you can choose user chan 

now kenma is also a cat lover 

ngl you accidentally feed like 7 cats 

it all started when you and him stopped on the street to rescue this cat from a tree then it started to come to your house every night 

so you basically feed all the neighbour cats now, but you wouldn’t have ti any other way

overall you have a composed, sweet but slightly aloof roommate

Other Potential Matches: Yamaguchi Tadashi and Kuroo Tetsurou 

hiya! your request was apart of the holy trinity that has been sat in my askbox for days so thank you so much for your patience. You seem like such an adorable person and i have to big up the INFP, you guys are great. Hope you have a wonderful morning/evening wherever you are in the world 

Carla  

[snkpolls]

SnK S3E19 Poll Results (Manga Reader Version)

The poll closed with 295 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results of the manga reader poll. Anime only watchers are suggested not to read if you do not wish to be spoiled about certain events! Anime only viewers, click here to view your poll results!

RATE THE EPISODE 285 Responses

This episode raked in high reviews as the rest of the season did, although less people enjoyed it as much as they enjoyed the previous episodes.

The animation was odd in the first half of the episode, but it was absolutely incredible in the second half. Overall an amazing episode, somehow making filler scenes brilliant

It was a little rushed (which is understandable), so 4/5 stars. Overall a really good episode, I think.

I will be honest: the episode was very average. The basement reveal was animated very well. Eren and Mikasa's memories also were very emotional. However, in the scene with Armin & the rest of group the quality of animation dropped harshly. I know that not every scene in the anime can be animated on the highest level, but this one was just looking really bad.

Animation quality took a drop but I still loved it!

I really enjoyed it, and seeing Faye was surprisingly moving given that I'm not really a bit fan of the switch to Marley.

The animation wasn't as good as previous episodes but I didn't really mind, especially because there was a frame in there that made it look like Levi was sMILING and I am so here for that

I've been waiting so long for this episode.

what a beautiful episode, in all ways.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT? 290 Responses

Seeing young Grisha and Faye in Marley was the clear highlight of this episode for manga readers, with 37.6% of the vote going to the after-credits scene! Behind that at 12.1% was the scene of Eren and Mikasa nostalgically walking through their hometown, and 9.3% of respondents got a kick out of Levi opening the door in his own way.

I live for animated moments of Dad! Levi to his squad.

At first I was worried that they would just show the photo as the cliffhanger, but once we got the post credit scene I was blown away

I loved the first moments with Faye and young Grisha. Awww! Faye was so extremely cute and innocent. I would love to hug her! I thought that Historia was the sweetest as a kid, but now Faye takes 1st place :)

WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ARMIN SEEING THE COLOSSAL TITAN CRYING, SAYING “IT HURTS?” 288 Responses

36.5% of respondents believe that Armin is hearing and seeing Bertolt’s emotional pain over everything that’s happened to him. 27.1% think that this scene highlights part of the process of memory transfer from one holder of the titan to the successor. 12.8% feel that this is meant to highlight more the process of transferring the titan power to a new host.

A mixture of the Bert's physical and emotional pain, the transfer through paths and the extra creepiness. Bert here is behaving like a typical Japanese ghost who was killed in a brutal manner; notice the paths here are devoid of lights. Bert needs someone to exorcise him.

He's hearing Sasha saying 'It hurts' and because he's only half conscious and still possibly linked to Bertolt's memories, he's projecting it onto Bert. I think his subconscious knows he's eaten Bert at this point.

It has to do with the titan power, and how it hurts to carry such a burden of great power

Bert has been suffering too, just like Reiner, so a little bit of everything.

Foreshadowing of what Armin’s burden is going to be. He is going to have to kill a lot of people if he wants to protect the people within the walls. It’s a depressing fact for one of the more pure-hearted characters who just wants peace.

I think it’s an excellent presentation how Titan inheritors are connected both physically and emotionally

it's a pretty good summation of all those things tbh. Everything Bert went through can be summed up with "it hurts" tbh

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CARLA’S SHORT HAIR? 291 Responses

Overall the fandom has neutral responses (33.7%) to the short clip of Carla with short hair, with just a slight edge of people (18.9%) who thought it was a good look on her. 16.2% of responses disliked the short hair.

I answered the Carla hair question with 3 because there is no "I don't care" option

HOW WELL DID THIS EPISODE ADAPT THE CORRESPONDING CHAPTERS? 288 Responses

Respondents felt that WIT did a good job at sticking to the source material again this episode, even though they stretched some scenes out with filler.

The pace was a little long but I really liked the episode's poetry and all the scenes in Shiganshina of the four walking, Hanji and her shadow reflecting next to a flower, Levi and the broken glass, Eren and Mikasa children ... it was very lyrical!

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE EXTENDED SCENE OF EREN AND MIKASA WALKING THROUGH SHIGANSHINA? 292 Responses

56.2% of the fandom enjoyed the extended scene of Eren and Mikasa walking through Shiganshina, feeling that it helped to amplify the nostalgia and grief that they felt as they finally revisited their old home. 22.3% felt that the scene had a lot of emotional impact, saying that it tugged at their heartstrings. 11.6% felt the filler wasn’t necessary but still enjoyed it nonetheless.

They just came for my whole entire heart huh

Honestly, it was a little boring to watch,  I want to believe that it was stretched for the sake of that masterpiece of end scene.

It was a lovely and poignant time-killer.

The walk to EM's house was really well done, it took me some tears, and i loved the additional scenes...

Somebody hug these two please and thank you. I thought for a moment they were gonna show us the untouched insides of buildings. But it was indeed pretty good.

THAT SHIT WAS ART!! I got real chills

It was better in the manga. It was badly executed in the anime.

Just seeing Hannes again made it worth it. Also it was a good throwback to episode 1.

It honestly highlighted how terrible the animation was in this episode, because the flashbacks had much higher quality

Literally my favorite part, I think it added a lot of gravity to the situation. Like we know it's their hometown, but the way this was animated really brought you back to where it all started, which also adds weight to the whole, "Oh god, we accomplished our second-biggest goal (getting to the basement) but we're still not finished at all" thing.

The concept of it was fine, and it touched my heart for the first bit of it, but it went on far too long.

HOW DID YOU FEEL FINALLY SEEING MARLEY ANIMATED? 289 Responses

We finally reached the Grisha Files™ and got to see Marley portrayed in the anime! 40.5% of respondents say that it felt incredible to finally see Marley come alive through animation, color and sound, while 38.1% marked it down as a surreal experience. 11.1% simply felt that it was neat.

I love Marley arc, seeing it animated and different vibes of music, and voice acting are very good. Can't wait what they have when marley arc fully animated

Animation was shit. Really disappointed they dropped the ball on animating Marley.

It was my favorite part of this episode. I truly love Faye. She is way cuter in the anime and so innocent. Everything about that moment was perfect.

I really dislike everything that came after the basement so reaching this point was sad for me.

DEAR GOD Y E S—

I could never picture it in my head before, and now I can! Liberio is so grey and sad!

Omg Faye is the cutest thing ever!!! I don't want to see what happend to her, I'm not ready!

I hoped they would save it for the next episode.

I’m not ready to face Marley or Marley arc Eren. Go back. Please go back.

The way they put that whole scene after the ending was weird

I never thought I’d be alive to see the day the beginnings of Marley getting animated; I know the next episodes are going to be perfection :’)

Marley music was 👌

BASED ON THE CAST CREDITS, THE MAN YOUNG GRISHA RAN INTO WAS ACTUALLY XAVER. THOUGHTS? 288 Responses

36.8% of respondents found the confirmation of the glasses man being Xaver to be an interesting detail, while 19.1% believe that this helps to further support the fan theory that Xaver and Kruger were working together all along. 15.6% of the fandom thinks that Xaver being familiar with Grisha since he was a boy makes his actions Zeke all the more disturbing.

How old is Xaver?? If that was him he has to be around 25-30 here. Which would make him 45+ with Zeke.

I believe it was Xaver all this time. It’s good to have a name with the face now.

There's no fucking way he wasn't working with Kruger. This is all connected lads

Just how fucking old is Xaver jfc also he knew grisha by name since childhood wtffff

I thought that was already obvious in the manga?

Nice easter egg, but that's all

The Xaver timeline makes sense, but it's a bit complicated.

The tidbit about Xaver was interesting. When I saw him in the anime it did remind me of Xaver since we've just been introduced to him, but I would never have guessed it was actually him. When you think about it, that day Grisha stumbled upon two people that later really shaped his life and set things into motion in the story. A nice coincidence to think of.

WHICH SCENE FROM THE PREVIEW ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? 289 Responses

It was a close call this time! 40.8% of the fandom are most looking forward to seeing Eren’s reaction to Eren inheriting his father’s memories and figuring out that Dina was the Smiling Titan. 39.4% are excited to see Grisha and Kruger meet for the first time. At a distant third, Grisha and Faye going beyond the wall to see the zeppelin got 10.4% of the vote.

Dogs are cute, Faye is cute. Combine the two, and you're shou tucker.

KRUGER

NEED GRISHA FILES

I'm not ready for Faye's fate !!! ;_;

there's so many things to look forward the next episode, initially I was pondering between the Kruger meeting and Fay's death but eventually I chose Eren's memories because I don't remember that part in the manga.

COMPARED TO THE FEEL OF SEASON 1, HAS THE DIRECTION OF THE STORY MET YOUR EXPECTATIONS? 289 Responses

Nearly 70% of respondents feel that Isayama’s story continues to get better as it goes on. 17% say that it didn’t meet their expectations from season 1, but that it’s not a bad thing at all! 8% are simply still here for the ride, but are still enjoying the series anyway.

I'm one of the apparent minority who actually prefer the tone and content of the story post-basement reveal. I've always cared more about the human aspect of the narrative, and at this point SNK is nothing if not a tale of the human condition, in all its beauty and horror.

Animation wise, I feel like aot peaked with season 2 and they just got lazy or were under a lot of time constraints while making season 3. Other than that, didn’t care for how they handled Uprising and the direction for Shiganshina has felt pretty unoriginal and hallow. I just hope the new studio can adapt the next season with quality that can match season 2 or at least season 1.

I'm ambivalent about it. I preferred the atmosphere of season 1, but I'm still interested in seeing where the story goes. For me the emotional and moral climax of the story happened on the roof in Shignashina though, and I've not been as convinced by what's happened since - so far at least.

Met and exceeded. Thank you isayama.

I will continue watching, but it feels like Isayama is making things up in the fly and doesn’t really have a clear idea of how the storyline is going to work.

This is the peak of the story for me, I look forward to the next seasons because of thar, I want to see if the direction of the anime could make the next arcs more appealing to me

I initially liked the direction in which the manga went but I am finding it hard to like the way the story progressed, and how the original characters are treated, compared to the new ones. I am really disappointed in Isayama's writing at this point, character wise.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

I love Armin

The animation quality dropped compared to the latest two episodes. The first half of the ep was kinda weird... like the hug, seemed like two different animators did it, because the lineart changes between s1 (thicker lines) and s3 style... Also they didn't do justice to Armin's abs...

Glad I'm a manga reader because this anime reveal was pretty underwhelming.

Imma say it, I didn't like that they showed a tiny snippet of Marley. I would have preferred if they'd ended on the photograph and the words "humanity has not perished". I have anime only friends who watched the Grisha/Faye scene and were like "...I feel like I don't have enough to even chew on right now?" Like it wasn't a punch in the gut like cutting on the photograph would have been, and it wasn't a full-fledged reveal so there isn't enough to go nuts over and debate and hypothesise. I mean it's still really good and I liked the episode, but the way they've sequenced the reveal isn't optimal to me.

I think they took a little too long to get to the basement. I understand why they wanted to, and the walk there was still really well done! But I think it'll now be a little tough to cram all the information they need to if they plan to end the season with chapter 90, which they of course do.

Faye is too adorable, there will be riots next week.

glad we're getting into the GOOD SHIT. give me marley

I love the soundtrack. It feels very different(in a good way) props to Sawano.

Tbh, the animation and pacing felt lacking in this episode, but we got Armin looking both like a Cinnamon bun and an Arman, and I am there for that.

I liked the story more when it was a creepy titan apocalypse instead of, well... this. But it's too late to back out now.

OH MAN, GOTTA LOVE THAT CLOSURE, IT FELT PERFECT WHEN THEY WERE WATCHING THE PHOTO AND THEN THE ENDING SONG STARTS TO ROLL OUT AND THAT POST CREDITS SCENE. JUST PERFECT

The additional material of this episode was really good in my opinion and the OST used on it was a pretty good election too, it fulfilled the purpose of make the viewer felt nostalgic, but the animation in the beggining was really "meh".  And speaking about seeing Marley animated, for me the experience was literally a yelling and a "NO WAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!" I am so excited to see Grisha's backstory in colors! I can finally ear Kruger's voice, see the sunset falls down while Grisha take the photo and accept his mission, while Kruger give to him his final smile. Frankly this is my favorite "mini-story" of the manga, too shocking and enlightening. And to finish this, the appear of Xaver was too misplaced or it is just my idea? the timeline just doesn't fit into the story in my opinion. I think it was just a easter egg or something for the manga readers, I hope so lol.

For a long time I was scared that they were gonna leave out Eren hugging Armin and I'm so glad they didn't. Also the scene where Eren and Mikasa walked through the ruins of Shiganshina made my heart disintegrate. Thanks for amplifying the angst, WIT. 😭

When I read the manga, I remember fearing the idea about this getting animated because this part truly changes the entire story. But I feel that the story is getting better and better and more complex but still the same flare of Isayama Hajime's story telling.

THEY KEPT THE COLOR BLUE FOR MARLEY'S UNIFORMS I'M SO HAPPY

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 269 Responses

Thank you again to everyone who participated. See you again in a few days!

[rmjagonshi]

Visions of HeartBreak Past

On AO3

It was almost done, Soos was finishing up the last few stitches before they let the thing into the air. If he could pull this off, he might actually get more customers into the Mystery Shack. There might actually be an upside to this ‘Woodstick’ Festival yet. He’d seen the way these kids spent money – heck, some of them were adults not that much younger than him – and with any luck, he might just be able to top off the budget for this month. He was short on the utilities payment by a good three-hundred-bucks. If there was one thing he never counted on, was that his brother’s dumb sci-fi portal mess drove the electricity bills further up the ‘dear god why’ charts. He does kinda feel bad for the kids; he’d had to come up with some lame-ass old man excuse for never turning on the lights or air conditioner during the day. He’d make it up to them…somehow…maybe. He sighed.

If he was gonna pull this off, he was really gonna need to prepare the kids for the eventuality of their entire world upending. But for now, he just needed to advertise. And the balloon was…abso-fucking-lutely not like he had anticipated. It was a fucking horror show, looked nothing like the blueprints and very much like what he saw in the mirror every morning. Although, Soos’s comment that the nose looked like a sausage and that it reminded him of the story that his Abuelita told him about a couple who find a genie and they fight over the wishes and one ends up with a sausage for a nose, kinda made it better. Soos was a good kid – er, man. Man-kid. Stan was sure he didn’t deserve the kindness and loyalty that the man gave him. He was honest enough with himself to admit that he’d used that unwavering loyalty to his advantage a few times.

Stan gritted his teeth in frustration at his own mind. Everything came back around to that, didn’t it? Everything he did, every time he felt even the tiniest bit of happiness, it all had to circle back and remind him that he was a sad, tired and despicable old man that didn’t deserve the friends and family he had. Hell, until the kids came, he didn’t have any family to call his own. But…maybe, just maybe, after all these years, he could do something right. Be less of a fuck-up. Which brought everything back to the hideous hot-air balloon that he was beginning to doubt was a great idea. He took another look at the blue prints and tried to make sense of the horrid scribbles he had jotted down in the margins when the sound of a lot of hot air being released into the night sky caught his attention.

“Wuh-oh. Mr. Pines. Think we got a problem.” Soos gestured to the ripped seam up near the balloon’s fez. Sure enough, the patchwork fabric they’d used to make the fez was flapping wildly as the hot air trapped in the misshapen balloon escaped with force, threatening to burst adjacent seams with every second. Well, shit. It would take a good hour for Soos to deflate the balloon, repair the damage and get it back up and running. Why is it that everything always had to go wrong? Why couldn’t one of his plans go off without a hitch? Just one? Oy!

“I’m on it Mr. Pines! I’ll have this balloon fixed in a jiffy. Now, what lever turned off the do-hicky again?” Make it two hours until Soos figured out how to fix this. He should probably scope out the venders and see what the young people were spending their money on. I couldn’t hurt to expand the gift shop merchandise to include things his new customers were actually interested in buying.

“Hey, Soos, I’m gonna go walk around, scope out the competition, ya’know. Figure out what these kids are into.” Or he really just needed to walk around and think and didn’t need Soos to pick up on it. As oblivious as the kid was, he always had a knack for knowing when Stan was moping around. It seemed every time, without fail, that he was feeling particularly depressed, he would open the door to see Soos standing there with cookies, or breakfast, or something sweet his grandma had made, or some kind of ‘Boss Appreciation’ gift. While he adored the boy, sometimes, he just needed to stew. He was sixty for Pete’s sake, he was entitled to a few days where he could just be a sad and grumpy old man. He’d earned it.

“Sure, Mr. Pines.” Soos had already started flicking levers and pushing buttons on the engine. Stan shrugged, Soos was the better of the two at figuring out how it worked anyhow. What harm could it do? He turned and walked back to the rows of venders all in pavilion style tents. All the venders were shouting and trying to attract customers, showing off their products and…what was that? Giving out free samples!? And the kids were eating it up! How the heck can they make any money by just giving stuff away? Oh sure, keep the t-shirt and caps for full charge, but give the stickers away for free.

Stickers are where he made most of his money! People were rubes, but some of them were pretty price savvy. Show’em a t-shirt with cheap cloth that will fall apart after five washes and tell’em it’s twenty-five bucks, they’ll laugh in your face and keep their wallets tightly closed. But show them a cheap key chain or sticker and tell them it’s a buck or two, they eat it up. They buy five, one of each variety. Paint one shipment gold and call it “special edition” and charge an extra buck, they buy the whole stock. Have a stack of postcards that got wet and the ink warped during the last storm because the roof leaked? Sell them as prints of a hand painted scape of Gravity Falls and double the price. People were absolutely stupid when it came to money if you just nickel and dimed them with special editions and ‘one of a kinds’.

But he wasn't here to boat to himself about how much better a con-artist he was. He was here to figure out what the young people of today were spending their money on. The further he walked, the more food and drink stalls he came across. Okay, so having a food truck on site might be a good idea. He’d done that with the fair he’d put on at the beginning of the summer. Didn’t he make a lot of money that day? Honestly he can’t remember much – he does the fair every year to replace the county fair that the town can’t pay for anymore, and it breaks even most years – all he remembers is sitting in a dunk tank for the afternoon and bleeding the suckers dry as rube after rube tried their hand at dunking the old creep from the Mystery Shack.

Okay, food truck. He could do that. Have a tiny kitchen where he sold drinks and shitty hot dogs and icecream to the families that come from miles around. Might even call up Susan and see if she had a spare cook and the Greasy Diner can share in the profits.

Or…not. He’d not too keen on calling the resident Crazy Cat Lady again. Especially since she still seemed to want to date him. That was a total disaster. And poor Mabel. She meant well, but he was just, as Wendy had put it, ‘un-fixable’. Heck, Soos had been trying for over a decade and hadn’t gotten anywhere. He was doomed to be alone forever, he supposed. Not that he didn’t deserve it. He’d pushed everyone in his life away. He creeped most women out – most men too for that matter – with his really tired and used pick-up lines. His six hour marriage to Marylin ended with her ducking out of the El Diablo at 75 mph with their ill-gotten casino winnings. He’d really thought he’d been in love. Then again, he’d thought he’d been in love with Carla too. He’d dated her through high-school and when he’d gotten kicked out, they’d tried to go steady for a while. But his constant moping over living in his car and losing his family had pushed her into the arms of a musician. And Ford…

Well, he’d pushed Ford into a swirling vortex of Hell in a fit of rage. His guilt hadn’t let him get a full night’s sleep in thirty years.

And now he was avoiding his feelings by wandering the tents at the Woodstick Festival. Dang it! He really needed to go see a therapist like Soos said. But what was he gonna say; ‘Hey, yeah, so I pushed my brother into a sci-fi portal and have spent the last thirty years trying to teach himself quantum physics and calculus, so he could get him back. Oh, and I may or may not have romantic feelings about said brother.’ Yeah, that would go over well.

Stan sighed. He really was hopeless wasn’t he?

A yell and the sound of a cart of beads being turned over caught his attention as he saw a telltale mop of brown hair and a rainbow sweater dart around the corner. He watched as both Mabel and Dipper cut and weaved through the crowd, a rather pudgy blond man in moderate pursuit. At least, until the prop wings on his back started flapping and Stan got a nagging prickling at the back of his head whenever he encountered something supernatural. His gut reaction, the same one that had kept him from going insane in the last thirty years was to turn around and ignore, repress, and feign ignorance. A slightly more pressing gut reaction was to chase down the offender with a baseball bat for endangering his kids.

I really wasn't even a debate as he found himself darting after the three, watching in only slight horror as he saw the absolutely not supernatural man fly overhead to cut off the kids at the fenceline. Stan caught up just a moment after, quick and practiced fingers taking the bottle of black powder from Mabel’s hand as he came up behind her and tucking it in his jacket. He was braced to punch a hippie in the face to protect his children. Heck, he’d probably punch the hippie anyway.      

“Sorry, kids, but you’ve left me now choice. Visions of Heartbreak Past!”

As the blond hippie raised his bottles of creepy hippy powder to throw at Mable, Stan darted in front of her, grabbing her shoulder and pushing her back to fall to the grass and was coated in the pink and purple smoky haze instead. He inhaled and immediately regretted his need to breathe as he doubled over, hacking so hard he was surprised his dentures hadn’t fallen out. Whatever this guy was using to drug people, it was doing a number on Stan’s lungs. He really was lucky to have quit smoking when the kids showed up. He’d probably have passed out by now if he hadn’t. The residual powder coated his mouth and throat. It tasted of bittersweet hope, and…was that jelly beans? God, he hadn’t had jelly beans since…

“Stan?”

Stan froze. He knew that voice. Knew it better than anything else. That voice, that scream that haunted his nightmares.

“Wait, wah?”

“Why is there a pink flavored Grunkle Stan? Hey Love God, what was that supposed to do?”

The ‘Love God’ gaged.

“Ewwww, Man! I knew this bozo was weird. I didn’t think it was this bad.” The twisted face of disgust on the Love Gods face confused the twins, but was completely lost on Stan.

As the smoke cleared, a pink tinged hand extended out to him. A six-fingered hand, wreathed in pink light reaching out to him. When he looked up, it was like looking into a mirror, one that reflected only his best features. His tired, half-blind eyes meet soft pink ones, ones he knew were supposed to be blue so his mind filled in the correct color.

“It’s supposed to show you romances you’ve had and lost. It gets people off my back when they get too suspicious.” Spat ‘Love God’, momentarily recovering from his aborted retching.

Stan heard none of it. Eyes fixated on the phantom in front of him.

“Himself? Huh? Guess it’s not that surprising.”

“But, why would he have ‘lost’ himself? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Man, you kids have one freaky family.” The ‘Love God’ gulped down something from his belt of potions.

The six fingered hand reached for his own, tugging gently at first before pulling Stan to his feet and interlacing their fingers. A shy smile pulled at that lips he used to catch himself staring at. He knew, logically, that he wasn’t looking into the face of his brother. Stanford was likely older now than his memory allowed. And Stanford wasn’t pink, he knew that. Logically he knew that. But his heart couldn’t take it. The phantom embraced him, twelve fingers digging into his suit jacket.  

“Please…” God, he wanted to. Whatever it was, he would do it. But his mind clouded, his eyes clouded and all he could do was cry.  

He gripped the phantom tightly, the twins watched, even more confused but thankfully silent. The ‘Love God’, true to his name, showed somewhat of a heart and stopped gagging and even frowned in empathy. He barely noticed when the phantom pickpocketed him. The phial was tossed to the ‘Love God’ and the phantom Stanford shot a wicked smile at Stan. One that, while it was supposed to look like betrayal, only shot a bolt of heat down his spine. The ‘Love God’ was right, he was a freak.  

Panicked screams echoed as the night sky lit up orange and red. Stan turned in time to see his would-be advertisement scheme in flames and headed directly for them. Through residual tears, he launched forwards and scooped the twins up and out of the range of the fall out. The ‘Love God’ was not so lucky.  

When the dust cleared and the fire crew crowded in to put out the flames, the kids squirmed their way out of Stan’s grasp and raced back to the spot where the pudgy aspiring musician stood.

“Love God? Are you ok?”

“Please be immortal, please be immortal.”

It was just Stan’s luck that Cupid was invulnerable. He still got a good punch in before the freak got to the stage.

*~*~*~*~*

When they found the portal in the hidden basement and everything literally almost turned upside-down, it made sense. When the author of the journals walked out from the glowing blue light and introduced himself, they understood. When Stan told them the stranger was his brother, everything fell into place.

Mostly.

Mable was still struggling to understand what had happened at the Woodstick Festival. Climbing out of bed, Mabel made her way downstairs and out the back door, hearing muttering from the open door to the gift shop.  

She found Stan leaning back into the couch on the back porch, glass bottle in one hand, lit cigar in the other. Eyes red rimmed and blinking slowly at the treeline like he was a million, billion miles away. He was letting he cigar burn down, the ash dropping off the end to land in the ashtray he’d absently left on the side table. She tentatively took the cigar from between his fingers, squashed the lit end into the ashtray to put it out, and climbed up on the couch beside him.

He startled when she took his cigar, but just watched her as she put it out and sat down; not speaking, not accusing, not asking. He knew why she was up, why she’d come looking for him. Ford was still in the basement working on something or other; the clang of metal occasionally reverberating enough to be heard through the floorboards. He settled back, moving to set the bottle down before wrapping an arm around her. She curled up into his side, fingers picking at stray hairs on his dress-shirt – the suit jacket left somewhere inside. She knew they hadn’t hugged, and that Stan would need one. She liked her new Grunkle, he was cool, and super smart, he just, had some anger issues to deal with. But as mad at Stan as he was, he couldn’t hate him, could he? They were twins, like her and Dipper. They could never hate eachother. She felt her Grunkle slump further into the couch.

He really didn’t want to talk. But like pulling out a loose tooth or a splinter, it was the best thing for him.  

“So…the Woodstick Festival?”

Stan flinched. He tilted his head so that the glare from the open door blocked his eyes and withdrew his arm. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, but his voice caught in his throat and no sound escaped. After a few seconds, he just gave up, closing his mouth with a click and turning away from her.

The ‘Love God’s’ words had stuck in her head. Not love, ‘romance’. As in, crush, as in stay awake all night thinking about them. But, Grunkle Ford was Stan’s brother. Love God had to have been wrong, maybe he used the wrong powder, or maybe it applied to familial love too. Her head jerked up when she heard Stan’s ragged voice.  

“I…I…understand…if you want to…go home early. I won’t ask you to stay. It wouldn’t be right. Just…all I’m askin’ is that you not tell your parents about that. I don’t care what they think of me, but Ford deserves a chance to know his family. He never got the chance to meet your dad. Shermie told me that they are a lot alike. Probably where Dipper gets it.”

He chuckled to himself. Voice dry and lacking any sense of real warmth. He reached down and took a swig from his bottle, draining it and staring at the label as if it held the cure to his every ailment.

“But he didn’t know. Nothing ever happened. I was all me. I’m the freak. Ford didn’t know, still probably doesn’t know.” His movements were jerky, bottle dropping to the porch as he turned and grasped Mabel by her hand. “Oh God, please…please don’t tell him! I’ll do anything!” He had clasped her hand in both of his. He was pleading with her, just like he’d done back in the basement. Begging her to trust him, begging her to not do this.

She felt scared. Why on Earth would she not tell Grunkle Ford that his brother loved him enough that their falling out broke Stan’s heart? Why would she not tell her parents that, either? Why would it even need to be a secret? Why would Stan call himself a fre…unless……oh. OH! He meant, as in, oh wow! That changed things, didn’t it? He meant it like, he ‘loved’ his brother. He loved Stanford.

Something in her expression must have showed recognition because his eyes filled with shame and he turned away, letting go of her hands and picking at the tear in the couch cushion.  

“You love him. And I mean, like, love love, like lay awake at night thinking about them, love.” It wasn't a question. But all the same, Stan nodded.

She didn’t know what to say. Usually, she’d tell Stan to go tell him, go confess your feelings. They either liked you back, or didn’t. But this was way different than everyday romances. This wasn't even just forbidden love between a snake and a badger or like between Dipper and Wendy. This was taboo. This was all kinds of wrong. What could she say to that? ‘Oh, hey. Grunkle Ford, I know that we just met and all, but did you know your brother is in love with you? No? Well he is, and spent the last thirty years trying to get you back because of it.’ She shook her head. There was no real way to talk this through.

She tried to imagine feeling about Dipper like that. Like, tried to picture Mermando and the feelings she got when thinking about him and tried to put Dipper there. But, she just couldn’t. Every time she pictures his face, all she felt was good natured affection for her bro-bro. He was cute…she guessed. But he didn’t make her heart beat fast like Mermando did.

Grunkle Stan had called himself a ‘freak’, maybe he was right. Loving your brother, wanting to smooch your brother was weird. She understands now why the Love God got so grossed-out when he saw the phantom Grunkle Ford. It was kinda weird and gross, but…well, Stan was a weird, gross, old man, maybe it was ok. He looked so lost now, like he wanted to jump into the Bottomless Pit and not come back.

She would be sad if he did. He would cry and cry and cry until the whole of Gravity Falls was under water. Dipper would cry too, though he would never admit it. And she doesn’t know Grunkle Ford very well, but she’s sure he would cry too.

They had sat in silence for several minutes as Mabel processed what had to be her Grunkle’s greatest secret. With a small smile, she flopped into Stan’s side and did her best to wrap him in the biggest Mabel hug she could.

Stan flinched, jarred by the contact he thought he would never feel again. He shifted his weight on the couch, turning just enough to gather Mabel into his lap and squeeze as tight as she would let him. He buried his face into her soft hair, brown strands absorbing the tears he couldn’t stop.

“I’m sorry.” He mumbled into her scalp, gravel voice hardly a whisper. “I’m sorry your uncle is a freak.”

She wanted to tell him that is was going to ok, that he wasn't a freak, and that he wasn't a bad person. But, she just couldn’t…not yet, and maybe not ever. She didn’t know how to feel about this. She loved Stan, yes, and nothing he would ever do would change that, but, this was something she didn’t know how to handle. She just squeezed tighter.

-

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-

-

-

-

-

Upstairs, the triangular window was propped open, and a microphone dangled from a string from its ledge. Dipper’s – with oversized headphones over his ears – face was contorted, brows furrowed and chewing nervously on his thumbnail.

-

-

Ford leaned against the wall beside the back door just outside of view of anyone looking in from the outside. He’d left his boots downstairs to muffle the sound of his steps. His was was grim, tired, and despondent. Hand absently trailing to the inner pocket of his jacket where he kept the one photo that had kept him going the past three decades. He wondered if it would still carry the same meaning now.

[themusingsofjericho-blog]

Façade (Flashback)

Flashback For:

@AFewSpills

@OhShesBossy

TW:

Mental/Physical Abuse

Attempted Rape

GW: 

Smut

Smudger hummed quietly to himself as he bustled around the kitchen, getting ready to cook up a delicious breakfast. He already had a nice, hot pot of coffee brewing behind him, and he was prepping the ingredients in order to make his famous chocolate chip pancakes, before moving on to the usual bacon and eggs. The sounds of David Draiman's voice serenaded him quietly in the background, since a certain guest was still fast asleep up in the guest bedroom...

Over the last three days, Smudger had been allowing a dear friend of his to stay with him until she could get back on her feet. She had shown up at his door, naked as the day she was born, with nothing but a thin sheet to protect herself from the cold. On top of that...her face was covered in dried blood and fresh bruises. Smudger didn't even hesitate when he saw her in the state that she was in. Using his best stern teacher voice, he told her to come inside and sit down. He loaned her a pair of his best pyjama pants and a t-shirt, before making her a hot cup of tea to help warm her up. And, judging by the looks of her injuries, he knew that he was in for a fucking horror story...

The young woman in question's name is Carla Swayze. Or, Nurse Swayze, to her colleagues and patients at Los Angeles General Hospital. The very same hospital where his best friend turned brother-in-law works as a doctor. The two had been introduced when his younger sister, Rebecca, had brought her over after school one day, because the two had a project that they were working on for their chemistry class. He was sitting in the living room when the two girls walked through the front door, and the second that his eyes had met Carla's...

He couldn't help but feel instantly smitten by her...

His first impression of Carla was that she was bright, beautiful, outgoing, asute, and very wise beyond her years. He also noticed that her sense of humour mirrored his own, due to how hysterically she laughed at some of his wise cracks and impressions. Hell. She nearly pissed herself when he did his dead on impressions of Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, and Goldmember. It wasn't long before the two started to become extremely close, to the point that their friends and family started to wonder whether or not they were dating. They were asked about this, day in and day out, and the answer was always the same...

The answer was "No."

Smudger never told Carla that he had feelings for her, out of fear of being rejected. Nevertheless, he knew that she was The One for him, right from the very beginning. But, despite the fact that they weren't dating, there was one particular night that the two had given into their urges. And, this was a night that he never, ever forgot...

It was the night of Senior Prom. Smudger's parents had allowed him to throw an after party at the house, under the condition that he and Rebecca cleaned up whatever potential mess was made. Both siblings agreed, and they made sure to keep their word. Drinks were flowing. People were dancing and having the time of their lives. And, to no one's surprise, Carla ended up being Smudger's prom date. Hell...he didn't even need to ask her to go with him. She just approached him at his locker one day and told him straight up that she would be his date. Smudger knew better than to say no to her, given the fact that he was planning on asking her to go with him, anyways. Carla had gone upstairs to use the bathroom, and Smudger followed her to make sure that she was okay and that no one tried to do anything inappropriate. But, when Carla emerged, she had gone up to him and asked if she could talk to him about something in private. Of course, he was puzzled, but, he told her that she could and the two retreated to Smudger's room

He should have known that something was up when Carla locked the door behind her. He, at first, thought she locked it so that guests wouldn't drunkenly barge in and interrupt them. Pretty normal for someone to do, right? Well. Not in this case. Carla clearly had something planned, and it sure as shit wasn't a heart to heart between best friends. That became obvious when Smudger was suddenly pinned against the door, and Carla had kissed him before he could ask her what the fuck she was doing. The second her lips met his, it felt like time itself had stopped. Everything started spinning around him, and it was as if it was just the two of them in that big house. They ended up making love for the very first time, all while Take On Me by A-ha blasted from the stereo in the living room. They gave each other their virginity, and it was the most incredible experience of Smudger's young life...

But, little did he know, that his life would soon take an unexpected and tragic turn...

The two had lost touch after Smudger moved away to Scotland after his parents' deaths. He didn't even say goodbye to Carla. He knew that seeing Carla cry would be too much for him, and he needed to get out of Los Angeles for a while to grieve. Despite the distance, he never stopped thinking about her. And he regretted not telling her that he loved her...

Smudger had absolutely no idea about Hank until he moved back to Los Angeles. He had gone to Carla's apartment to go and visit her to catch up, and he will never forget how cold Hank's voice sounded when he asked Carla who was at the door. And his eyes...his eyes were filled with obvious jealousy and disgust. How dare Carla have male friends, right? Carla swore up and down that she was happy, and that Hank was just too protective for his own good sometimes. But, the look in her eyes stated otherwise. Smudger could see the pain and sorrow whenever she spoke, whether the conversation was about Hank or not. But, up until a few nights ago, Smudger had absolutely no idea about how much of a monster Hank truly was...

Carla broke down in tears as she finally confessed to him what truly went on behind closed doors. She had been introduced to Hank through her other best friend, Emily. Hank was a friend of George, Emily's husband, and she thought that the two of them would make a perfect couple due to their similar personalities. At first, Hank seemed like a perfect fit for Carla. He was sweet, charming, funny, kind, and - in Carla's words - absolutely fucking adorable. The two had decided to make things official after nine months of knowing each other, and...that's when everything started going downhill...

Carla had brushed off Hank's outbursts of jealousy at first, thinking that he was just being your average protective boyfriend. But, once he was comfortable enough, his harmless behaviour started to escalate. He put a GPS tracker in her car and phone, that way he could see where she was going and who she was with every time she left the apartment. He started showing up at the hospital whenever Carla was working, thinking that she was having an affair with Rusty, who worked there as a doctor. Hank knew that Rusty and Carla were close friends, and, in his delusional mind? He saw that as a threat. Though...any man who dared to breathe in his girlfriend's direction was a threat to him. And, of course, security was always called to escort him off the property. He was eventually banned from the hospital altogether, after he had assaulted Rusty for simply giving Carla a comforting hug, due to the fact she had an extremely frustrating shift

And, as if Smudger's blood wasn't already boiling as he listened to Carla's tearful confession...she told him that the blood and bruises were the result of Hank assaulting her...

The assault had taken place only an hour before Carla had shown up. She told Smudger that she was on her period, and Hank had demanded her to give him oral sex. Carla refused, due to the fact that she had just gotten home from work, and all she wanted to do was eat her sushi and relax. But, instead of being a rational human being and respecting her right to say "No" to him, Hank decided instead that it would be a good idea to grab Carla by the hair and throw her violently to the ground. He kicked her in the stomach to knock the wind out of her, and he had punched her so hard in the face, he ended up breaking her nose and both of her orbital bones. And she was told that if she told anyone about this, especially George (who works for the LAPD SVU), that he would kill her

Smudger had heard enough at that point, and he told her in that same stern teacher voice that she needed to go and talk to the police after she finished her tea. Carla protested at first, but, she eventually gave up after Smudger gave her a very stern lecture. He drove her to the station, and he will never forget how fucking white George went when he saw Carla's injuries. She was immediately brought into a room to speak to one of the female officers, and he watched as Carla broke down once again as she relayed the same story to her. She was instructed to file a police report, and she had gone the following day to James' law office to file a restraining order. George, Henry, and Gordon had escorted her back to the apartment to grab her belongings, and Hank had threatened her the entire time she was there. And, with George's suggestion, Carla had her phone secretly recording their interaction for the courts to hear, just in case she needed further proof. God Bless you, Georgie!

Smudger had just finished making the bacon and eggs when he heard footsteps coming from the staircase. He turns his head, a small smile forming on his lips as his eyes settle upon the still sleepy blonde who was now beginning to zombie shuffle towards the kitchen island. He warmly tells her good morning, only for her to grunt sleepily in response. He wanted to tell her how adorable she looked when she was sleepy, but, he figured it would be wiser to just chuckle and tell her that breakfast was ready. Carla flashes him a small smirk, before sitting down at the island and digging into the food that Smudger had placed down in front of her.

The entire time Carla was eating, Smudger couldn't help but look over at her. Even with her hair all in a mess, no trace of makeup on her face, and clad in a black, silk nightgown, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on. But, he was far too terrified to express to her how he truly felt...

He didn't want to make it seem like he was taking advantage of her, given the fact that she was dealing with an extremely messy situation with an extremely volatile man. Her injuries looked worse now than what they originally did, and, he knew it was going to take a while for them to heal. Seeing her in that state broke his heart, and he silently prayed that Hank would get a good, hard punch in the face by Karma for what he had done to this wonderful woman...

Carla had already finished eating, and Smudger had taken her plate away so that it could be washed. He could still see Carla out of the corner of his eye, and he could see that she was looking at him. He thought nothing of it, until he saw Carla get up out of her chair in a slow, almost hesitant way. Frowning now, he turns around so that he was facing her, before asking in a gentle tone...

"Carla? Honey? Is everything alright?"

Smudger had no idea what his words were about to cause, until Carla started speed walking towards him. She crossed the distance between them faster than she had ever moved in her life and crashed her lips against his before he could say another word, tears streaming down her cheeks as she did so. Smudger whimpered as Carla's mouth shaped itself to his. It felt just like it always had between the two of them. He forgot all about the situation with Hank as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. Nothing else mattered except her. Just her. That was it.

Carla moaned as she felt Smudger's tongue plunging into her mouth, her mind going completely blank. At that moment, she couldn't think about anything except the man holding her and how much she had missed him. She had been so worried about him for so long. She couldn't hold her emotions back any longer. She pulled back slightly, resting her forehead against his and looking into his eyes.

"Let's go upstairs..." she whispered, "get you out of those clothes..."

Smudger whimpered again, unable to stop himself.

'God, I've missed hearing you say that..." he whispered back, a few tears of his own sliding down his cheeks. He buried his face in her neck, praying this wasn't all some cruel dream.

Carla laughed softly as she took Smudger's hand and led him upstairs. She pulled him into the guest bedroom, shoving him onto the bed and crawling on top of him.

"I've missed you so much, Smudger..." she whispered into his ear just before plunging her tongue into it. She rocked her hips against his, moaning as she felt his erection pressing against her. Her entire body was throbbing with a need that only he could fill.

"Take me, Smudger..." she pleaded, "I need you so much..."

Smudger let out a low moan of longing before he could stop it. He ran his hands along Carla's legs, slowly pushing the hem of her silk gown up over her stomach. He reached down and slid his thumb through the lace of her panties before sliding them down her legs and tossing them to the side. He tangled his fingers in her hair, kissing clumsily along her neck and shoulder as he moaned again and lifted his hips for her.

Carla moaned at the feel of Smudger's warm lips on her skin, the feeling of his strong hands on her body. She slowly ran her hands down his chest, over his stomach to the top of his pyjama pants. She slides his pants and boxers off his hips before reaching down to wrap her hand around his shaft. She began to stroke him, rocking her hips in time with the movement of her hand as she kissed along his chest. Her long hair created a curtain around them as she kissed her way up his neck.

"Oh, Smudger..." she moaned.

Smudger gripped Carla's hips, pulling her harder against him.

"Fuck, Carla..." he gasped, "it's been too damn long..."

He lifted her up, grinning when she did the same with him, and slid her down onto his shaft with a loud moan of longing. He didn't move for several moments, simply enjoying the feel of being inside of her again after so many years.

Carla gasped as she felt Smudger fill her completely. She slowly rolled her hips, moaning as she felt the head of his cock rub against her G-Spot. She leaned down, kissing along the side of his mouth as she rode him. Hank didn't matter to her at that moment. The only thing that mattered was Smudger. He needed her, and she realized that she needed him just as much. She didn't want to think about what would happen later. This was their time, and she was taking it.

Smudger whimpered as he felt Carla tighten around him. He grabbed her hips a little tighter, guiding her along his length as she rode him. He arched his back as a sudden wave of pleasure crashed over him, her warmth overwhelming him. She felt just as good as she always had. This was what he had been needing...this moment...this time with her. He moved his hands up her back, pulling her as close as possible as he started lifting his hips to meet her as she continued riding him.

Carla moaned, fresh tears falling down her cheeks as she felt Smudger's emotions. She held him as tight as she could, her body growing hotter as they continued to move faster. Their bodies easily fell into the same easy rhythm they had always had with each other. Her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest as she felt the familiar tightening in her stomach, knowing she was close, covering his mouth with her own and plunging her tongue inside.

Smudger whimpered as he felt Carla's tongue dancing with his. He dug his nails deeper into her skin, thrusting harder and harder. He knew that she was close, and he wanted her to let go and let it out.

Carla shuddered as she felt the pleasure in her body increase. She pulled back from the kiss, letting out a scream as she lost herself in orgasm.

Smudger growled as he felt Carla's body clench around his. He threw his head back, shouting her name as he felt his own release wash over him. It had been so long since an orgasm felt so good, and he didn't want to let her go. Not again...

[the-madame21]

DL: Referring to the Heroine

I was talking to @shadyraisincookie and I thought this would be fun to do. I know @midnightnico is also familiar with the games, and much more familiar with the Japanese than I am so if you wanna chime in too feel free, since I only have knowledge of the songs and the only game I’ve played in the actual Japanese has been Vandead Carnival. Like in my other posts, reblogs are fine, but if you have something to add or say, then just send me an ask or message and don’t add to this post. Thanks :)

So I was listening to Gin no Bara recently and I realized I’d only ever heard Reiji’s and Kanato’s. So I went to give Laito’s a listen, and I almost flipped my shit because instead of ‘anata’ he used ‘omae’ and I thought I was crazy cuz I thought I’d heard Kanato’s and Reiji’s wrong all this time. But no! Kanato and Reiji are the only ones to refer to the heroine as ‘anata’ in their Gin no Bara versions. Everyone else uses ‘omae.’ 

And then I thought, oh this is interesting. 

Especially when we consider the connotations these words hold in the actual Japanese. Because in translations everything always just becomes ‘you’ and loses the attached meanings. So I was like this begs to be talked about. 

Anata, Kimi, and Omae

They’re basically listed in descending order according to...familiarity? I guess is what you could call it? That’s the best way I can describe it at least. 

While anata can be a more formal kind of thing, which is why I think people assume it’s the go-to word for Kanato and Reiji, it’s more so associated with couples. Not quite ‘dear’ but I guess you can think of it like that. I don’t necessarily think Reiji or Kanato see her in this way, but I do think the way they see the heroine from the very beginning is different from the way the other brothers do. While the heroine will of course always be food, I feel that to Reiji and Kanato she also immediately becomes their ‘responsibility’ in a sense. She becomes their property in a way that is not quite like the other boys. Where I think the other boys feel she owes them everything, I find that to Kanato and Reiji, they also feel as though they need to provide her something as well. They look after her, even if its in their own fucked up way, even if its in a condescending way, but more than food she becomes something of theirs that they then have to take care of.  Kanato also often refers to her using her own name, adding the -san honorific, which I think speaks volumes, considering he is acknowledging her for who she really is while simultaneously being respectful.

Ok so now we have ‘kimi.’ Which is like just sort of the default. I feel like most of the boys use it at one point or another. It’s the most natural way to call someone, so I won’t really say much about it, other than they’re comfortable enough to use ‘kimi’ with the heroine instead of like addressing her by name. 

Which leaves ‘omae.’ This one puts the other person at a sort of arm’s length away in terms of familiarity I suppose. It can also come off as very rude if used the wrong way, and I feel like most of the time the boys probably are using it in that context. The one who stands out the most is Subaru just because he’s the one I’ve heard use it the most. So he clearly draws the line between the heroine, and himself. Like I said before, it’s what 4/6 boys use in the Gin no Bara, but that may or may not have more to do with the fact that it fits in the three syllables, and anata might be the wrong vibe (or even out of character) for anyone who isn’t Kanato or Reiji. 

Anta and Kisama

I think it’s Shuu who often uses ‘anta’ which is the rude version of anata and I believe would basically be the equivalent of ‘omae’ but slightly sharper. Shin likes to use this one as well when referring to the heroine. Again, just another way to keep the distance between themselves, and her. They always place themselves as superior. 

Carla we all know uses ‘kisama.’ And I think everyone gets the general idea that it’s not a nice thing to call someone. But I was surprised to learn the meaning as to why. “Kisama” is actually a very formal and respectful thing to call someone, but this person would have to be the emperor or have god-like status. So what “kisama” really is is just a super sarcastic and degrading comment because no one will ever really reach that level, and that’s what makes it so offensive. I don’t think there’s really an English equivalent to this, other than ironically calling someone “your highness” or something like that. But even then I don’t think it carries the same weight as ‘kisama’ does. I think this is particularly fitting for Carla to use, considering he is himself a king and one of the only founders left, so he already sees himself as above everyone else. And I think the fact that someone as simple as a human girl is the key to not only continuing the race but also the cure to his endzeit, no doubt that’s probably incredibly fucking irritating, not to mention frustrating, which is why I think he chooses this very harsh version of ‘you.’ 

Chichinashi, Bitch-chan, Kachiku, and M-Neko-chan

The following I can say with more confidence, because the analysis will remain the same across any language. All of these ‘nicknames’ I guess you could call them, are degrading in their own sense. I know Yuma also tends to call her “Sow” but I’m unaware of what it is he actually calls her in the Japanese so I’ll be omitting it for now. Regardless it’ll be the same sort of analysis as Ruki’s ‘kachiku.’

So Chichinashi, I’m sure most people know by now is literally ‘titless.’ Which is interesting in the context of Ayato. It’s no secret this is his preferred body part, so to define her as someone completely lacking of that feature is to put the heroine in a position that functions only to satisfy a sexual gaze. And with a name like Chichinashi, she doesn’t succeed in even that much. While obviously offensive, it becomes a constant reminder, not just to the Heroine, but to Ayato that because she lacks that which might make her sexually appealing, her only redeeming feature is the quality of her blood, and calling her chichinashi over and over seems to solidify this in Ayato’s head. In a way I feel like this is him convincing himself that he’ll never feel anything towards her, because no matter her personality she is lacking what he has determined to be an ideal feature. It’s his way of putting his walls up, to keep his emotions at an unreachable distance.

Bitch-chan and M-Neko-chan I find to be in the same category. First of all, they both include the ‘chan’ honorific, which can of course come off as flirty, but it’s also the honorific used for small children and women. What’s fucked up about it is that it functions to falsely neutralize the insult because it gives it the appearance as being ‘cute’ or ‘endearing’ when in reality calling someone a bitch or a masochistic cat aren’t really very nice. Both nicknames place the heroine in a position below themselves, arguable far below themselves, considering they’re on the animal spectrum, which already seems to ‘other’ her and again subject her to a single, male gaze. Neko gets a slight pass, considering a ‘cat’ doesn’t have the same negativity attached to it that ‘bitch’ does, but what drives Kou’s nickname home is the “M” he slaps in front of it. As I’m sure everyone knows, it stands for ‘masochist’ which like the ‘chan’ functions to neutralize the insults/abuse. Whatever he subjects to her will be fine, even if it’s painful, since he’s declaring her a masochist, and must therefore “enjoy it” when this is again not the case. To push it further, the masochist is always subject to the sadist, so again, by calling her as such, it reinforces the heroine’s position as beneath that of the boys. 

Kachiku, while still an animal of sorts, is a bit different. Literally livestock, it is not roundabout in the way bitch-chan and m-neko-chan are. It makes it very clear that the heroine is food, that her only purpose is to function as food, and there is this ever-present looming feeling that she could be set up for slaughter, like any other kind of livestock. In her case, it’d probably be equivalent to being drained dry. Rather than placing her beneath him, what Ruki does is put her in a separate category altogether, and much like Ayato’s Chichinashi, it serves more as a reminder to Ruki himself that she will never be his equal. She is meant to be eaten, to be used for his own gain, so it creates a barrier that might stop him from developing feelings for her. 

This is where I’m supposed to put some nice pretty sentence to tie everything all together, but honestly I don’t have that so I’ll just leave it at this haha. Just me doing some thinking. Hope I could give you all some food for thought~

[goswagcollectorfire]

CARL’S BLOG: MAMIE, AN OZARK MOUNTAIN GIRL OF COURAGE

Dear blogging friends for the past several blogs I have attached old pictures of the Mamie and Edward Barger Family.  I hope you have enjoyed them.  The adoption blogs have been popular among my readers.  I have printed a family picture of Me, Lena, and our two adoptive children when they were babies.  They are now in their forties.  I will be posting some recent pictures to let you know what they look like today.  My, how time has flown by.  The book of Mamie will soon be finished.  I hope you have found it to be helpful in recalling memories of the past.  This time was an enjoyable time of being alive. Days of old taught us a lot of good character traits of which I am grateful.  Thanks for all your support.  I have enjoyed reading your remarks.  The remarks made me feel that writing “MAMIE, AN OZARK MOUNTAIN GIRL OF COURAGE,” brought back many enjoyable memories of the past for you as well.  Carl J. Barger, Author                  

 11-5-20, We named him Jeffrey Christopher Barger

Three days later, Carl, and Lena were on their way to Little Rock to pick up their baby boy.  As they passed through Prescott, Arkansas, they saw a Real Estate sign that said, “Christopher Real Estate Company.”  They had already selected Jeffrey as a first name but could not decide on a middle name.  After seeing the Christopher, Carl said, “Since Christopher has Christ in it, let’s call him Jeffrey Christopher Barger.”               Lena agreed, and that is how he got his name.  Carl and Lena will never forget the first time they saw Jeffrey.  A lady brought him into the room to meet them.  Jeffrey put his thumb in his mouth and smiled from ear to ear.  He reached out his hands and immediately went to Lena. It was like he knew her from the beginning.  After Lena held him a few minutes she turned to Carl and said, “Would you like to hold him?” “Yes, I would!” As Carl reached to take him from Lena, Jeffrey reached out to Carl without any hesitation.  Again, it was like he had known Carl from the beginning.  The lady could not believe how receptive Jeffrey was to two strange people.  “He’s never reached out to anyone like he has to you.  I believe he knows you are his parents,” she said with a smile.  On the way back to McNeil, Carl and Lena wondered how Carla was going to receive her new brother?   A good friend, Ann Coleman, kept Carla while they made the trip to Little Rock.  Upon arriving back in McNeil, Carl and Lena introduced their new son to Ann.  Ann was surprised when Jeffrey reached out his hands to go to her.  After holding him in her arms she looked at Lena and said, “This little boy is a charmer. He’s going to charm his way through life.” We learned later that Ann’s prediction of Jeffrey was more than accurate as he grew up.  He very quickly had his mom and dad and several aunts wrapped around his little finger.  He was a delightful child.  Mamie and Faye came to McNeil to see Jeffrey.  The birth of Jeffrey gave Mamie her twenty-eighth grandchild.  Jeffrey’s reception of Mamie and Leona was the same as it had been with Carl, Lena, and Ann.  It was as though he knew he was part of the family and that love was flowing freely throughout the room, a love directed all at him.  It was like he was saying, “I’m one lucky little boy!” Carl was so happy to witness Mamie’s love toward Carla and Jeffrey.  He had worried that she might not love his children as much as she did the other grandchildren.  Seeing her love and affection toward Carla and Jeffrey eliminated all doubts in Carl’s mind. “Carl, God has blessed you more than you will ever know.  These children are just beautiful!  They will bring great joy into your and Lena’s hearts.  I know you will, but raise them in a church atmosphere and pray for them daily.  They are blessed to have you and Lena as their parents.  God didn’t make any mistakes, and he certainly didn’t make any mistakes when he gave life to these two.” Carl knew his mother as a woman full of wisdom.  He believed every word she said.  When she made a statement, he listened.  He and Lena would do exactly what she suggested.  They would raise their children up in a Christian home as well as in a church atmosphere.  These children were special because they were chosen.  God chose Carla and Jeffrey especially for Lena and Carl.  He knew who Carla’s and Jeffrey’s parents were going to be, before and after they were conceived.  Carl and Lena’s faith in God was strong.  They knew Him as their savior and knew He had a purpose behind choosing them as parents.  They were thankful He chose them to be Carla’s and Jeffrey’s parents.  Their prayers had been answered.  

[imaginemycroftholmes]

Mycroft being a cat hoarder

(No lie I was doing this with my sweet tea when I got this but I still have no idea whether this was a prompt request or headcannon idea but since this was too funny to pass up prompt it is. -M)

Struggling to make it through the front door of the mansion  without having some furry creature underfoot or God forbid let one of the little hellions escape (because only Mycroft would know if one of the thirty cats was missing) Sherlock bellows loud enough to make a few cats in the area scramble. “Mycroft! Mycroft, for the love of Mummy this has to stop!”

There’s a muffled sound coming from the patio that Sherlock is 99.9% sure isn’t a sound conceivable by feline tongue so he follows it still swearing as he avoids the play fighting of two young kittens unaware of their potential demise should he place his foot incorrectly and cuddle pile surrounding the heating vent.

 Finding it increasing difficult to maneuver around them Sherlock tries to stomp his feet to clear a path that almost works if not for the curious trio of seven week old kittens attracted to the sound.

Frustrated and quickly losing his patience Sherlock begins to shout again. “MYCROFT-”

 “Sherlock just because I;m seven years your senior doesn’t mean that I cannot hear you,” Mycroft interjects calmly as he holds his most prized cat, a mixed moggy named Donna.

Squinting his eyes accusingly at the feline that started this all Sherlock retorts, “then perhaps you should see a doctor before you lose your voice completely brother mine.”

“My voice is quite up to par Sherlock, perhaps it is you who needs to visit the family doctor if your hearing has become so poor brother dear,” Mycroft replies cattily.  Donna, the little shit, has the gall to look smug and meow almost conspiratorially at the clap back which has Sherlock seeing red as his brother rewards the furry beast with a pet.

Blasted cat Sherlock thinks venomously before realizing that some of the other cats have taken to scenting his shoes. “No go away,” Sherlock demands trying to move away from the curious cats, “this conversation is no concern to you.”

Mycroft makes an odd clicking sound with his mouth that steers the cat’s attention away from Sherlock (much to his relief) and to surround him much like a hive mind giving him enough time to find a nice patch of wall to stand against.

There’s no way in hell Sherlock was going to try and sit on any surface of the home with all the cat hair lying about. It was a small wonder how Mycroft even went to work look presentable with all the lingering cat hairs in the room.

Climbing fixtures, automatic food feeders, kitty water fountains and piles of paper used for God knows what has taken up residence in Mycroft’s once pristine home.

How it all evolved to this after one cat Sherlock was unsure but he was going to stop it from growing. 

He had to for his brother’s sake.

Mycroft being the seemingly all knowing know it all puts Donna down with the rest (with a loud protest) and effortlessly walks up to Sherlock. “Oddly enough it is since you’ve once again come to complain about my small litter of cats. Pray tell Sherlock why is it that you’ve visited me again in my home to complain about my cats?”

“Mycroft you are hording living animals and cats no less.”

His brother looks like he wants to pick apart the ‘living’ part but thinks better of it. “I am not “hording” them Sherlock, I’m merely giving them a loving home in my already spacious abode,” he clarifies but gesturing to the expanse of the house.

“The SPCA would beg to differ.”

“And considering how much money is donated in my name I hardly think they’ll care.”

One of the newest of the adopted bunch, a cat named Oswald comes up meekly to Mycroft’s leg meowing in an apology to which he quickly bends down to soothe the cat.

Pinching the bridge of his nose Sherlock groans. “You are not yourself brother dear, this isn’t like you.”

Pausing from petting Oswald and stroking a few others Mycroft looks up at his baby brother. “You’re right. Usually I just come home to an empty house but with these cats-I have someone to go home to.”

And there it is Sherlock thinks. 

When he started his relationship with Molly Sherlock knew there would be consequences especially since Rosie was starting primary school while Lestrade was working out the parameters with his relationship with Donovan and John was carefully starting to date once more.

 He just didn’t think it would come to hording cats of all things.

Bending down to Mycroft’s level (and avoiding the cats trying to climb on his coat tails) Sherlock places a careful hand on his robe and willfully tries to ignore the hairball rooted there. “I understand that you feel lonely Mycroft, I honestly do but you cannot keep filling the void with cats when you crave human attention.”

The sour face that Mycroft pulls is laughable but not a positive in Sherlock’s bid to get him to abandon this cat adopting spree.

“Cats are far more companionable than humans Sherlock and I would even go as far as to say more agreeable as well.”

“They lick their arseholes Mycroft.”

“And you once licked a toad’s underbelly twice because you thought it would turn you into a frog.”

Not even Sherlock could fight back the recoil from trying to suppress that memory once again. At the time Sherlock didn’t understand that his science teacher had said that in jest but recalling it always gave him gagging tendencies.

Finding his mouth dry and struggling for some decorum Sherlock tries again.”What if I help you find someone?”

Mycroft makes a rude noise as he stands up. “As if I need my baby brother to find me a partner-”

“Its either I help you or I’ll start sending matchmakers your personal information on your behalf,” Sherlock threatens.

“You don’t even know a thing about what I like-” Mycroft protests.

“Which means that any information I give them will make for all the more undesirable dates if you don’t just let me do this for you. Mycroft do you have to be this difficult-Aye! Get off me!”

Mycroft is quick to scoop up the kitten climbing up Sherlock’s pant leg with a stern, “Carla!” and pressing a soft kiss to her ginger head. Carla mews pitiously as if she had her favorite toy taken away while Sherlock inspects the damage.

Putting the Carla with the gathering group of cats surrounding him Mycroft sighs. “You are the last person who gets to complain about difficult people as I have been watching over you all your life.”

“Then let me return the favor by helping you find someone that isn’t bound to four legs and feline,” Sherlock insists hoping to get out before another cat tries to climb him. “You know I won’t stop until I find the best for you just give me a chance,” he adds as he steps away from the table top where a black cat is eyeing him more absurdly.

Mycroft looks very unconvinced but seeing Sherlock’s discomfort around the cats he relents. “Fine, but as long as you do so through professional sources and none of those horrid apps that all the teens are raving about.”

“Who do you take me for? Some simpleton,” Sherlock accuses before dodging the black cat’s pounce.

“Sir Arthur you know better than that,” Mycroft chides the black cat in a manner that Sherlock was sure that was intended to mock him rather than scold the beast.

Making another clicking sound with his tongue the cats ignore Sherlock giving him a space for escape to which he is grateful.

Taking long strides to escape this house dominated by feline horrors Mycroft calls after him, “Sherlock.”

Not wanting to pause until his hand was on the door knob Sherlock calls back momentarily, “Yes?”

“Thank you…Its nice to see you and the others so concerned about me. It’s different…but welcome.”

Sherlock would have loved to give a sassy heartwarming reply but the cats have lost interest in their master and have come for him. With much haste Sherlock opens and closes the front door as he makes a run for the parked car waiting for him at the end of the driveway.

Getting it John is the first to grump, “Christ Sherlock, you told me this would only take a minute and you know I have a date with Sasha in thirty. What the hell were you doing in there?”

“It’s my brother John, he needs a mate or he’ll continue to collect cats until we do.”

“We? What we? Sherlock he’s your brother.”

“And yet he’s Rosie’s Uncle as well. Take the second road on the left and we’ll get back in enough time for you to drop me off at Molly’s,” Sherlock instructs.

John makes a noise that is a cross between a frustrated sigh and groan before taking it out of park.

“Well where should we start then? The classifieds? Some posh shop? Tinder?” John joked only to be met with a long contemplative hmmmm which could only mean one thing.

“Sherlock no.”

“John we need to make Mycroft a Tinder account.”