#everything was so good but f*cked up in the end

[ailoda]

updated: 07.01.25

ᯓ★ smut

Couldn't Help Myself (✘): Peter Parker has an oral fixation. - college!au (@ohcaptains)

Professor Peter Parker (✘): the first day of college nerves are suddenly made worse when you realised the guy you f*cked last night is your new Physics Professor! (@backtothefanfiction)

The Babydoll (❤✘): you’re usually much too shy for lingerie, but you’ll do anything for peter parker. he appreciates the effort. (@luveline)

Pretty Sounds (✘): peter encourages you to make noise during your first time together. (@luveline)

I Want To (❤✘): peter loves to do all the work when it comes to making you feel good. but when he's been so good for you, you have to return the favour, right?(@lovelettersforthedamned)

Too Much (❤✘): "can we take a break? I'm enjoying this but need a break." (@iridescentparkers)

Just a Game (✘): you and Peter like to play a game. It requires no trivia or plastic pieces. Just two people and feigned innocence. (@withahappyrefrain) (warning: CNC, which has been discussed explicitly)

Pain Relief (✘): spider-man likes you a little bit too much, and wants to help you get rid of your migraine - by whatever means necessary. (@luveline)

Quiet Temptations (❤✘): you’re awfully quiet but peter can’t seem to take that. (@parkerpeter24)

Summertime and Sundresses (✘): it’s the dead of summer in New York City, so you’re wearing a sundress. This causes Peter to lose his mind. (@withahappyrefrain)

Vanilla Palm Trees (❅✘): it’s been years, he should get over it, right? but, peter just can’t. he looks up, he sees her. he goes to bed, he dreams of her. he wakes up, he can smell her. he goes out one night and he sees…her. no, not gwen but his ticket to stop moping around on the anniversary of her death. what is meant to be one quick night of putting sadness on the back burner, is now a blossoming new love that feels all too perfect for peter. was this new woman in his life meant to be? or was this just another set of well dealt cards that would leave him walking away empty handed. all or nothing, right? (@iridescentparkers)

The First Time (❤✘): Peter pulls out all the stops for the love of his life. (@mgparker)

Mattress Acting (✘): photography/sex tape. (@reysdriver)

Hold You Here, My Loveliest Friend (✘): there are protocols in place for a reason. (@p3mybeloved) (warning: sex pollen, i.e., dub-con)

Bondage (✘): the inappropriate use of Spiderman's webs. (@reysdriver)

Us Against The World (❤❅✘): “hey! why don’t you try picking on someone your own size!" (@flightlessangelwings)

Next Time (✘): you and peter have done everything under the sun except have sex. aka the three times you almost do the deed and the one time you finally get it right. (@foreverrogers)

new! Whatever You Want, I'll Let You Take (✘): Peter's got a girlfriend. Peter lives in a shitty apartment. His girlfriend buys him a lava lamp for said apartment. He’s gotta repay her somehow. (@ohcaptains)

new! Cherry Red (✘): it's the hottest day of the year, your air conditioning is broken, and all you and your roommate slash best friend slash crush have are a box of cherry flavored popsicles and months of pent up sexual frustration each other. (@angelfic)

new! Quiet My Fears With The Touch of Your Hand (✘): taking care of Peter's wounds always ends the same way. (@letterstotheflre)

[nebelihood]

Yo ya no les creo nada

I HAVEN'T FINISHED WATCHING THE SEASON- but I wanted to practice sort of s disney style trying to keep the features as practice? didn't work out that much (specially Guillermo- sorry buddie. Better luck next time) I FEEL LIKE I DRAW NANDOR PRETTIER AAHAHA- LIKE instead of masculine as he is, I make him like a disney princess or something L (maybe I'm the only one who sees that) ANYWAY-

SPOILERS AHEAD

arghhh I have no faith in the ship anymore but we'll see. I hate/love the little crumbs they leave cause I'm completely lost as in to what I should believe. I think there are some good signs (Like Nandor mourning Guillermo's absene (although Guillermo literally leaving some steps away from their house), other members of the house (Nadja) acknowledging Guillermo is a soft spot for Nandor, Nandor respecting Guillermo's boundaries. BIG ONE TO ME WAS- how they could have f+cked everything up on the third episode and forced Guillermo into going just they way he was before.THIS REALLY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE. IT WOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED ME- I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS HILARIOUS but definitely would have ruined their relationship big time when Guillermo finally remembered everything in the future. For Nandor a character who is very... egotiscial? Having a person who is somewhat (actually) meaninful to him (even if he has never brought himself to admit it with confidence) a person who has lost respect for him- to actually like him back again- to admire him and compliment him just like the first time they met. I bet the first time they met he couldn't careless for Guillermo's little sad back story and his high regard for vampires and his compliments. I bet he would have shut him off as soon as possible. But now Guillermo is a person he esteems and has grown somewhat interested in him and his well-being. I bet he craves now to be part of his world. But now he esteems him enough to also be respectful (somewha,,,,) to his boundries. And for Nandor- I feel like that's such a big step x'000 (Anyways I'm in the 4th episode so I might be wrong aaaa but these where my thoughts) Besides- what I love about wwdits it's their dumb plot-twist and how they barely take anything too seriously so we'll see.

I have no hope for them anymore. I guess I wouldn't hate it if they ended up as friends or even if their paths got separated. Enough things have happened- maybe they were never meant to be (AAARGHHH oh well)

[narrynukezankielover]

I love this part in season 8 ep 19. Naomi acting like she’s a good angel and had nothing to do with the way Cas was acting and Dean not believing her at all. Dean saying you don’t think I know you’re the reason Cas was acting weird since he got out of purgatory and that you are the one that told Cas to kill me. Then telling her I don’t trust angels which means I don’t trust you. I’m going to guess that angels can sense love because Naomi said yet you didn’t ward the place against us. You’re hoping Cas will come back to you. If she was talking about Cas just coming back but not specifically to Dean she wouldn’t have added the to you part and Deans face here shows he thought he wasn’t being obvious. Naomi hasn’t met Dean before now so how else would she know Deans feelings for Cas.

This is just a cute moment. I believe it’s in ep 20. Charlie calling Cas dreamy. It’s times like this I wish they would show more scenes of characters just sitting down talking. Charlie hasn’t met Cas yet so how does she know he’s dreamy. I know she reads the Supernatural books but when she said it Dean didn’t look surprised. He hasn’t read the books and don’t know how Cas is written. Sounds like Dean might’ve told her about Cas. I would like to know how Dean would describe Cas looks.

This scene in ep 22 is freaking amazing. The eye f*cking is beyond amazing but I find it funny that Sam is sitting right next to them obviously feeling like he shouldn’t be there witnessing this moment and had to cough to get them to stop. Even in the next scene Sam tells Dean to give Cas a break because he’s one of the good guys (seems like Sam was looking for an excuse to get Dean alone to calm him down). Dean asks why he (himself) is treating Cas differently than he would other people. He said if it was anyone else (I believe he said literally anyone else) he would stab them in the neck so why should he let Cas off. Sam is just like it’s Cas. Seems like Dean don’t quite understand his feelings. He knows he has feelings for Cas but he probably never realized before that he treats Cas differently than he treats other people. I really like the whole Sam knows about Cas and Dean but instead of saying something he’s just letting them figure out their feelings. You can always see the awkwardness on Sams face that he knows he shouldn’t be there or shouldn’t be listening or watching but he has no choice. I find it really funny.

I find it cute that Cas wanted to make it up to Dean so not only did he go shopping but he made sure to get porn and beer for Dean and by the looks of it might’ve tried to hurt that guy to get Dean pie if the Metatron didn’t stop him.

In ep 23 there is another gay moment happening to Dean but what’s interesting is Dean looks surprised and Cas doesn’t. Dean doesn’t look surprised that the guys are gay but more that they are open about it. It looks like Dean is thinking you guys don’t care that people are seeing you flirting? Yet Cas doesn’t change his expression at all. He did say in an earlier ep when he thought he was god that he’s indifferent to sexuality. Maybe he (or all angels) don’t think about sexuality. You love who you love and that’s it.

I have to include this moment because it broke my heart. The poor boy was trying to fix everything and the Metatron f*cked him over. He took advantage of Cas and it ended with the angels falling. Cas looks like he wants to cry.

In season 9 ep 1 Ezekiel say some angels still believe in the mission which means we believe in Cas and you. I love the angels putting Cas and Dean together.

Dean aloud himself to get beat up just so the angels wouldn’t go looking for Cas even though he had no idea where Cas was.

Now i’m just going to fangirl. Holy hell. This scene is hotter then all the sex scenes combined on this show and yet this isn’t even a sexy scene. I need more shirtless Cas scenes.

[guilty-pleasures21]

Another one?! Ugh, I get bored at work, okay?!

Might try to finish this one up soon, because I got an idea for another fic (🥲), but I don't want to make the ending too abrupt.

1. Ergh, I don't really know if I want to write this ...

2. I wrote it

Part 1 - the towel

Part 2 - the morning after

Warnings: um, well, they're naked?

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

She woke up the next morning to a soothingly heavy weight on her waist and a deliciously solid presence behind her back. She snuggled deeper into her warm cocoon and Miguel slid his hand over her- Wait. Miguel? Miguel! She twisted her head back to get a glimpse of the man lying behind her, then turned back around when she’d confirmed that yes, it was Miguel. As in her boss Miguel. As in ‘holy freaking shit, she’d just slept with her boss’ Miguel! X clutched tighter onto her quilt, then began discreetly trying to wriggle herself out of his grip - maybe she could sneak out. Of her own house. And then call in sick or something and send him her letter of resignation once he’d left.

“¿Cariño? (Sweetheart?)” Miguel’s deep voice rumbled through her bones, still rusty from sleep, and a shiver ran down her spine. He chuckled and cuddled her closer to him so he could lean over to press a kiss to the crook of her neck. The crook of her neck which was bare because she was naked in bed with her boss! “¿Qué paso, arañita? (What happened, little spider?)”

She tried not to react as he continued to press soft and appreciative kisses along her bare shoulder. But then his fingers were brushing across her nipple and his thigh was slipping in between her legs and it took everything in her to bite down on her lip and muffle the squeak that fell from her mouth. “Um, nothing! Go back to sleep, Miguel! This was just one crazy dream …”

Miguel let out another snicker and X shuddered again. “Mmm, if this is a dream, then I don't want to wake up, mi arañita linda. (... my lovely little spider.)”

Holy shit! Did his morning voice have to be so hot?! Did his everything have to be so hot?! He squeezed her breast gently and she sucked in a breath as her body stretched out so that her p*ssy brushed up against his leg. Shit! “M-Miguel!”

She grabbed onto his arm and lifted it off of her body so she could wriggle further away from him. Miguel finally sat up, confused. “¿Arañita? What's wrong?”

She was acting differently to last night - less playful, less affectionate - and he didn’t know what had happened to prompt the unexpected change.

X pulled the quilt all the way up to her eyes, then let her gaze trail over his body: his broad chest, his tanned skin, his defined muscles - all of which she now knew the feeling of against her. Against her naked body. She gulped at the thought.

“Um, is this … okay?” she asked him softly. “Like, is it going to be awkward at work … or something? I just … I'm just kind of nervous because I've never done this before, and I don't really know how things work, and, I mean, you're also, like, my boss and … and oh my God. Please don't fire me! I'll quit! I’ll just, like, hand in my resignation or something! That's okay, right? It won't look bad on my résumé or anything? But I really like this job! And I'm good at it! And I've still got quite a while left of my contract. Oh my gosh. Should we just have waited? I dunno. Would you still like me if I wasn't here?”

“Arañita,” Miguel stopped her, leaning over her to catch her attention. “Breathe.”

He could feel her nervous energy rubbing off on him as she’d continued with her rant - did she regret it? He definitely didn’t, but maybe he’d rushed her. Maybe he should have sat her down and talked to her and then taken her for dinner or something. And then he could have f*cked her to sleep. X took in a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.

“No!” X replied immediately, not even waiting to process his sad eyes and his nervous grimace and the anxious furrow of his brows. “I don’t regret it!” Miguel breathed a sigh of relief at her admission.

“I'll like you wherever you are, arañita,” Miguel assured her, his fingers aching to reach out and touch her. He clenched his fists instead, trying to focus on soothing her concerns first. “But … do you regret it? Do you want us to wait?”

¡Dios, por favor! (God, please!) Say no, please say no! He didn’t think he could go another day without touching her - not now that he knew what she felt like in his arms.

“And I don’t want to wait,” X continued, pulling her quilt back up over her mouth and nose. “I really like you, Miguel. But … do you like me?”

She blinked her eyes up at him, her voice riddled with insecurity, and his heart cracked at the sight. Of course he liked her! He’d liked her ever since she’d raced into that meeting room and scribbled her ideas all over the board in a way that had made sense only to him - the day he’d given her that nickname everyone in the office now knew her by.

“Of course I like you!” he exclaimed incredulously. “You think I'd have had sex with you if I didn't?!”

“I mean, isn’t that what good looking guys do?” she finished. She winced at her own words, hearing herself how stupid the argument sounded. But she just wanted some reassurance from him - a confirmation that he wouldn’t just get bored of her and then leave her to go chase after the next pretty thing. Not that he’d ever done anything to make her think that he would do that. But … Miguel fixed her with another disbelieving look.

“I don’t know!” X sat up, raising her voice to match his. Her expression turned uncertain again as she considered his words. “Maybe you just wanted sex … or something.”

Her voice softened as she said the word and she lowered her gaze, embarrassed.

“¿Qué p*tas? (What the f*ck?)" Miguel narrowed his eyes at her, completely and utterly bewildered as to how she’d possibly come to that conclusion. She thought he’d wanted sex from her just because he was ‘good looking’? ¿Qué mierda? (What the hell?) How the f*ck was he supposed to respond to that?! “Wait. So, you think I just wanted to have sex with you … because I’m ‘good looking’? ¿Qué mierda, arañita?”

“No! I mean … I mean, like …” X waved her hands around, trying to come up with a response. But then her quilt slipped down to her waist and Miguel's eyes fell to her breasts immediately, his pupils dilating with desire as he took her in. X rushed to pull the material back up over herself and Miguel shot her a guilty look.

“Uh …” He waved one hand at her body and rubbed the back of his neck with the other. “I mean … I've already seen … all of it … arañita.”

He snuck a glance at her again and his lips twitched at the ends when he saw the glare she was giving him. She was so cute when she was mad.

“Miguel!” She grabbed a pillow and whacked him over the head with it, too quick for him to block her attack.

“Hey!” he exclaimed, giving her a questioning look once she’d set the pillow down. “¡¿Arañita?!”

X huffed in irritation. “See! You're just … You're all ‘sexed up’ right now! You're not going to listen to anything I say!”

‘Sexed up’? How did she keep coming up with this stuff? He had to admit that she might have had a point though, considering the direction in which his thoughts had been headed when she’d exposed herself before him again. But it wasn’t his fault she was just so f*cking delicious! Miguel forced his features into a frown.

“¡Arañita! I have been listening!” he insisted, taking offence at her accusation. Then he sat back and gave her a serious look. “Okay, okay, I'm listening. What is it? What's really bothering you?”

X fidgeted with her fingers, thinking.

“I just …” She tucked her hair behind her ear, not meeting his gaze as she spoke. “You're just, like, so amazing and everything and I … I'm just me, you know? There's … nothing special about me or anything. I just … What if you got bored of me one day, you know? And then someone way prettier and way more cool comes along? What do I do then?”

Her voice cracked as she finished the thought and Miguel felt his own heart breaking at her words. How could she think that about him? How could think that about herself? Not when she was so pretty and smart and sweet! Miguel grabbed her face, cupping it in his hands so she was forced to look at him.

“Not that that’s the reason I hired you!” Miguel assured her quickly, dragging his gaze back up to her face. “You’re really smart! You’re brilliant! And … And that was just an added bonus … to … to the … to what you’d contribute to …”

“¡¿Estás loca, arañita?! ¡¿Qué diablos?! (Are you crazy, little spider?! What the hell?!) How can you say that about yourself?!” He released his hold on her, getting more and more upset with each passing second. “You are special; you’re so special, arañita. I don’t want anyone else but you! You’re so pretty and cute and so smart! I mean, even in your interview, that first day, when I saw you! I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about how pretty you were! With your … your beautiful eyes and your cute smile and your …” His eyes fell to her body - to her small form and her mouth-watering curves and her-

“Miguel,” X stopped him, snickering at how frazzled he’d become. “You’re rambling now.”

He relaxed, the tension easing from his shoulders when he saw the gentle curve return to her lips.

“I can’t help it, arañita.” He shrugged. “That’s just what you do to me.” X bit her lip, giving him that shy smile that drove him crazy.

“Okay.” She readied herself to lower the quilt, her body heating up in anticipation of his reaction if she did. But then she stopped, suddenly realising how out of her depth she really felt. “But, um, Miguel?”

“Hmm?” Coño, it was like the f*cking towel all over again! Why wasn't she lowering the damn quilt?!

“Can we … take this a little slower?” X asked him carefully, completely oblivious to his thoughts. “I just … I’ve never been in a relationship before, so …”

¡Mierda! (Shit!) Of course! How could he have been so insensitive?!

“Yes! Yes, of course,” Miguel agreed immediately. “We’ll go at your pace, arañita. Whatever you want to do, just tell me.”

“Hmm.” X paused to think about it, her expression much more relaxed now that they'd resolved her insecurities. Then her eyes lit up with an idea. “Should we go on a date?”

She looked so excited, her lips stretched into a hopeful smile as she waited for his response. He liked seeing her happy - and he absolutely adored being the reason for it. He leaned forward to tuck her hair behind her ear and give her a mischievous smirk. “I'll take you on a date, arañita. Where do you want to go?”

She bit her lip as he began brushing lips along her neck and shoulder, his warm breath tickling her skin and causing a shiver to run down her spine. “Miguel …”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. “Tell me where you want to go, arañita. I'll take you wherever you want.”

She reached up to grip his shoulder, then pushed him back slightly so she could start thinking again. “Hmm, a movie?”

Then they wouldn't have to worry about anyone seeing them. Smart. Miguel cupped her cheek in his hand. “What time do you want to go?”

He leaned forward to press his lips to hers and she sank against his chest, kissing him back. Finally, he pulled away and she treated him to a sweet smile before replying. “We can go in the evening? Then you can go home and get changed too.”

Right. He had a spare set of night clothes he kept at her place - for when he was injured or too tired to go home after a mission. But he'd always get up before she awoke and put on his suit to swing through the city back home - a task that was probably going to be a little more difficult now that everyone was awake and going about their day. But that could wait for later.

“Can I take a shower here first?” Miguel asked, his voice low and thick with desire. Her stomach flipped at the look in his eyes, but she swallowed it down, wanting to tease him a little.

“¡Arañita!” Miguel called after her, unable to keep the hint of panic out of his voice. Where the hell was she going now?! X stopped and twisted her head back to look at him, a questioning expression on her face. “Uh, we could … we could save water … if we showered together …”

“Sure!” X agreed happily, hopping up and heading over to her closet. “Let me just get you your towel.”

His eyes followed her as she walked across the room and stretched onto her toes to grab the towel he'd use whenever he stayed over. Joder, she was beautiful: her long limbs and her soft curves and her tanned skin and curly hair. He couldn't wait to get her into the shower with him. He grinned at her as she handed him the towel, getting up to go over to the bathroom. But then she turned around to start walking in the wrong direction.

He looked so guilty as he said it, she had to bite down on the inside of her cheek to stop herself from bursting into laughter. Her eyes drifted down his towering form, lingering on his handsome face and his rapidly stiffening cock and her stomach fluttered at the sight.

“Oh, it's fine.” She waved away his concerns nonchalantly. “I'm just gonna go put my breakfast first.”

Miguel clutched onto his towel, his heart thudding with panic as she began walking away from him. Another excuse - he needed another excuse!

“¡Arañita!” he called out to her quickly. X turned back to give him a questioning look and he hesitated. “Uh … Don't you need to brush your teeth first?”

“I can wait,” she replied, fluttering her eyelashes knowingly as she took a step back towards him. “Besides, I can always just brush my teeth while you're showering. Then we can switch! Let me get you a toothbrush.”

She started making her way to the bathroom and Miguel seized the opportunity to race after her. “After, after: I can brush my teeth after I take a shower.”

Tags: @heubstr

[marys-little-cringes]

Let me start with a clean slate Pt.1

Pt.2 - Pt.3

Fandom: Smallville

Relationship: Clark Kent/Lex Luthor

Additional Tags: Bromance, Bromance to Romance, AU, Curtain Fic, Pre-Slash

Summary:

[4s17ep "Onyx"] An alternate ending in which the Lexs didn't reunite, instead Alexander is captured by Lex.

A/N:

I finished watching season 7, I am sad and frustrated. Starting with Belle Reve, it became vital for me that everything would be fine, because I can see perfectly well how everything is f*cked up. This series has become some sort of guide for me to the world where these two have a chance. The thing is, English isn't my native language and this is my first ff in English, so my also not-native-speaker-editor @nigthwingsleftbuttcheek and me did our best.  Anyway feel free to mark my typos or other errors if you find any. I would be most grateful!

 “Clark! Are you there?”  

 “Lex!” Clark jumped up on the couch and almost flew to the railing.

 Luthor was standing in the barn’s doorway.

��“What happened?” Clark asked anxiously. First of all, of course, he was worried about whether Lex had the opportunity to talk to him. Alexander found out his secret. “The second one—”

 “No.” Lex hastened to reassure him and went to the stairs. “The second... me is taken care of.”

 “What did you do to him?” Clark would never admit even to himself what kind of answer he really wanted to hear right now.

 “My specialists have put him in a medically induced coma. It will be safer for everyone. Including him.” Lex smiled tightly, putting his hands in his pockets.

 “Lex—”

 «Clark, before you say anything, let me say it first: you're right.”

 Lex strode up the steps, not taking his gaze off the young man.

 “«I have to merge with him eventually, we were and we are to remain connected. We have existed together for as long as I can remember, and therefore it is fair to say that even longer than that.” He chuckled mirthlessly. “I just need some time.”

 Finally, Luthor caught up with Clark and smiled, looking into his eyes.

 “What are you going to do?” Kent asked suspiciously.

 “You see, Clark...” Lex turned on his heel and moved to the window. “As I was saying, we’ve always been together, and we always fought. A lot has changed in my life since I settled in Smallville. You appeared, your parents, Lana — so many good people. Suddenly I found myself stronger. Suddenly I realized that I could fight back against him. I began to see the world differently next to you. You were always there for me, even when I pushed you away. You've always miraculously helped me out in the last moment! Clark, you...” Lex turned to him swiftly. “You became my personal hero, my savior, in so many ways — you can't even imagine it.”

 Kent smiled awkwardly, still standing by the railing.

 “Being friends with you gave me the strength to fight him. At some point, it seemed to me that I could start with a clean slate, leaving my past under his rule behind.”

 “But?” Clark looked at Luthor, and he turned away, leaning his weight against the windowsill.

 “Yeah, this everliving "but"... No matter what happened to me in Belle Reve,” his voice hoarse, “no matter what was done to me at my father's behest, I felt that he became stronger than ever before. It was getting harder to resist him every day. He was crushing me. Under his rule, I have distanced myself from everyone, from you. He knew that this was what helped me resist. It was like he cut me off from oxygen and just waited for me to finally suffocate!”

 “Lex, I couldn't even imagine—”

 Luthor stopped him with a hand gesture.

 “It's okay, no one could. I didn't always understand it myself while whole. I see many things much more clearly now than I could before with him . It’s sad, yes... I know it can't ever be fixed. I also know that I can't get rid of him for good. As much as I hate to admit it, it's because of him that I'm still alive. He is too stubborn and angry to accept his fate and die. I just want to... I just want to find a way to weaken him, at least to the level that he was before Belle Reve. Anyway, at that time it seemed to me that I could hold him back.”

 “What kind of help do you need?”

 “What? Why are you—?” Lex looked around, confused, and then his gaze filled with understanding. “Right, I came here. You know, Clark, it always seemed to me that this problem of ours started from the very beginning.”

 Lex patted the windowsill with his palm, inviting. Clark looked at him blankly, but approached.

 “The only way I know how to be… friends is to be mutually beneficial. You give me, I give you. Only this way was communication clear to me, it is advisable. So now, I'd like to take the opportunity to fix this. Of course, you can always count on my help, but I would be glad to have informal meetings from time to time. Visits without a clear reason. In the Talon or… You said you like to watch the sunset from here. Perhaps you would like to watch it with me from the highest tower of the mansion? I'm sure this new experience will be no worse.”

 Clark stared at him in disbelief, not even trying to hide his feelings in any way.

 “Of course, if you have other plans—”

 “No! I mean, no, I don’t!” the young man started. “You… Er… You're right, this is something… new for... us. But… Yeah, why not, let's go. Now? I’ll let my parents know.”

 “Now. I know that this will not erase our recent past. I've undermined your trust, it's true,” Lex looked straight into his eyes. “All I'm asking for is another chance. I hope, Clark, that we can use this time while I'm here to get to know each other again.”

[physalian]

On Establishing Authorial Intent vs Character Voice (Specifically, in tragic queer characters)

Coming in hot with another controversial topic.

There is probably a better way to phrase that so what I mean is this: Your book’s message and your characters’ decisions don’t have to match, and if they don’t match, and your protagonist has a very polarizing personality or makes very controversial choices, unless you state otherwise, your readers are going to assume that your character is your mouthpiece.

In other words: If I write, say… a gay man, as a cis, female, queer author, and I write him suffering during the AIDS epidemic, and I write this gay man fitting every single harmful stereotype possible. I write this character that is everything Fox News wants you to believe about gay men and AIDS.

But in the last ¾ of the book, the man has an epiphany with Therapy Speech where I, the author, reveal that I’m not actually a homophobe out to punish my protagonist and perpetuate these stereotypes, and my agenda is not, in fact, to bring the queer community back decades because people are stupid and won’t get to the end of my book to realize that…. Whoo boy, I have f*cked up as an author.

—

Have I dropped enough heavy-handed hints that I read a book that did exactly this? Not a gay man in the 80s, but a queer character nonetheless. Now this was a book that I had to finish. If I didn’t have to read it, I would have quit about ten different times throughout for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being very stiff writing that wasn’t engaging. The actions and thought processes and arc of this queer character were so insulting, so harmful, so off the mark, it was horrifying.

I stopped reading for a day and I’d already drawn all my conclusions and was not very nice in my feedback, but I had to finish it so I did, and the book addressed all my criticisms within the last 100 pages, out of 367.

Meaning: Anyone else would have actually quit and taken away from the book exactly what I did—that this was homophobic propaganda. “Oh but if you just make it to the end-”

Nope, not good enough. I read for entertainment and the book did not hold my attention. I need no more excuse to drop it for something better than being bored, and yet I held on through some nightmarish representation.

So.

How not to do this:

You are completely free and welcome to write unhealthy representations of any minority (why you would if you’re not that minority and not out to make a mess of things baffles me). Not every character has to be smart and well educated on proper representation. They don’t have to be a perfect Mary Sue that makes no mistakes and has no controversial opinions and does absolutely nothing that could hint at being problematic. That’s not what I’m saying at all.

Rather, that character can go ham, but you, as the author, must establish as quickly as possible that all of that is the character talking, not you. Whether it’s a queer character or POC or heck just a woman.

Have a dissenting voice (I like to call them harbinger characters) that serve as the author mouthpiece and is ignored and dismissed by the Problem Character. Harbinger says what the audience is thinking through the flavor and color of a character (so it doesn’t read as super preachy), trying to warn the character about the path they're taking, and Problem Character very cleary doesn’t give a damn about what they think. Critically, the narrative makes sure you know that the Harbinger is correct, and PC is wrong.

Have the PC acknowledge early on that what they’re doing is wrong, minimize it, argue against it, and attempt to justify their own behavior anyway. They know they’re the villain, essentially, and they just don’t give a damn.

Have an equal and opposite healthy character to counterbalance all of PC’s terrible choices. Different from the Harbinger in that they’re less obvious about their place in the story and just living life as that positive representation.

Give the PC a “descent into madness” where they start out a healthy person and through dramatic, understandable, tragic circumstances, they’re forced into this role that they’d never thought they’d succumb to.

Have the PC horrified at their own state of being but too hopeless to think they can escape from it. Have the PC know exactly how harmful they are, to themselves, to other people, and just convince themselves that it won’t get better, that they’re too weak or too afraid or too selfish, whatever.

Because I just rewatched these movies and they’re fresh on my mind, I’m going to use Caesar from the Andy Serkis Planet of the Apes movies. Caesar is your Jesus/Moses archetype: The Martyr. This is the paragon good guy leading his people out from oppression into the blessed lands of freedom. This is the guy with unshakable morals and a compass that points unfailingly North. He is the inspiration to the rest of the cast on how to act and how to be a good, healthy, moral, respectable person. He alone takes on the punishment meant for the group and is literally crucified, he could not be a more obvious paragon and Jesus figure of goodness and purity.

Until he isn’t.

Caesar’s “descent into madness” comes after humans murder his wife and older son, amidst an ongoing war that’s taking a toll on the ape community and his own psyche as they continue to lose numbers and ground and apes defect to the human side because of the villain Koba—Caesar’s foil.

He becomes everything he sought to destroy and his friend points out that he’s become Koba in all but name and his actions inevitably lead to his death because he is so consumed with revenge that he doesn’t escape the climax of the movie when he has the chance, and suffers a fatal injury. Caesar acknowledges this and basically says, “I know what I’ve become. I have to do it anyway. I can’t escape my own rage.”

All of this is believable and understandable and tragic. He was realistically pushed to these horrible ends by the story and we saw what it did to him.

The book I read had the Problem Character flip a switch because they were horny and thought another character was hot.

—

But once again I was faced with an author taking on far more than they were qualified to write, having a protagonist who identifies as a minority that already suffers enough prejudice and misunderstanding—a minority that the author themselves is not part of.

So once again because this keeps happening: You can and should write minority characters. You should not write the suffering of these minorities if you did not live it, because their suffering is not yours to profit off of and you will almost inevitably do it wrong.

[rey-jake-therapist]

Celeborn doesn’t need defense, in my opinion. Tolkien wrote him in a way for his character not to upstage Galadriel and that’s actually groundbreaking for his time (we are talking about a early 20th century man here, no matter how brilliant he was). That’s probably the reason why Celeborn is absent from most of her more memorable scenes. Tolkien wanted Galadriel to have the spotlight, and was aware readers (mostly male) would pay more attention to the husband than to the female character in the center of the scene. Now, Celeborn was heroic and a good husband to Galadriel, of course, he was one of the ��good guys”. She chose him over all of her endless suitors for a reason. They were married and by Noldor law couldn’t divorce (blame it on Feänor’s mess), but that doesn’t equal “eternal love” in the lore, as many are trying to make it sound just to sink Saurondriel (or even the show itself). Galadriel and Celeborn led separate lives, and there was no passion there. To say there was, is the same as me saying it’s canon that Galadriel and Sauron mind-f*cked on a regular basis throughout the centuries. I mean, folks like to bring up the “Virgin Mary” inspiration for Galadriel in every way, except when it comes to her marriage to Celeborn. Suddently it’s this soulmates fairytale-type of marriage, as if they weren’t closer to good friends than to actual spouses. If it’s hard to keep the flame of passion alive for over 20/30 years of marriage (and nowadays most marriages don’t even last that long), imagine what it’s like after thousands of years (even for non-human beings). Galadriel and Celeborn are comfortable with each other, cool with doing their own things in separate, and that is enough, and that’s how Tolkien wrote them to be. No need to pretend they were madly in love and danced together under the stars, just to undermine Galadriel’s feelings for Sauron in RoP. They aren’t mutually exclusive, because Galadriel and Sauron won’t end up together, and Celeborn will eventually return.

I wrote a quite long response to your ask, but my computer did a blue screen of death and for some reason, answers to asks are not automatically put in the drafts?!

Anyway : I agree with pretty much everything. Relationships and feelings are complex. It's possible to love several persons, in different ways. With some people, there will be passion, with others, it will be more down to earth but also more stable, and affectionate. I think Galadriel needed someone like Celeborn to give her stability. In my opinion, the writers chose to sideline him for the time being, because had he been around, Galadriel would have not dived head first when it'd come to Halbrand. She would have not been in the same state of vulnerability, she would have not felt so alone. And maybe she would have seen the red flags sooner !

[ahsokazworld]

So my other obsession of the month is wheel of time and I saw episode 7 and boy o BOY do I have major thoughts and I need to get them out.

Siuan?? What the hell? Following LONG ass post is in defence of Siuan because the general consensus there is right now about Siuan just doesn't rhyme for me.

ONE thing all of Siuan actions did, it brought out SO MUCH .

Liandrin drew out 1 dark friend (Moiraines nephew) and he consequently got locked away (or killed).

One Forsaken showed herself to an entire city, no more hiding or denying (at least not from the Aes Sedai because there were like 14(!) there)

Siuan clearly has doubts about Verin and Verin acted exactly as expected (now I think Verin has a lot more going on but hey 🤷🏼‍♀️)

When Siuan shields Rand, she pushes Moiraine to say all of her intentions with Rand and their decades build plans in front off Rand as if he is not there. Which Moiraine does to protect Rand from Siuan.

Siuan asks Rand if he has channelled carefully and deliberately (not verbatim but this is the general idea), which he hasn't. She scolds him for it and says that he hasn't learned much in 6 months, which is absolutely true.

Which leads to:

Moiraine is shielded (something I do not think Lan figured out on his own) and subsequently released of said shield by Rand when she tells Rand that she trusts him. When last season Moiraine very clearly showed that she doesn't. Rand needed to hear that from Moiraine. It pushed Rand to actually use the one power very DELIBERATELY and CAREFULLY otherwise, Moiraine dead. Now who again scolded Rand about that I wonder hmmm 🤔

Which brings me to the following and perhaps most important point:

Rand now 100% trusts Moiraine, he believes Moiraine does want to protect and guide him to save the world, which previously he didnt. He was confused about what was going on and felt like a toy being played from all sides. Siuan put Moiraine in an impossible situation and Moiraine chose Rand, the dragon reborn because she knows that is the right thing to do. Rand needed to be shown Moiriane will give everything to save the world including turning away from Siuan and being made to do something she does not want (closing the gate).

It is VITAL that he does because Moiraine will be the only one capable of providing Rand the protection and guidance that he needs to save the world. He only does at the end of this episode, which is nearly at the end of this season. They already lost too much time. Drastic extreme measures are unfortunately required because Siuan was right, Moiraines way wasn't working.

At the end of this episode due to Siuans actions, he doesn't trust any Aes Sedai, which is good because you know Black Ajah and doesnt trust the Forsaken, but he very clearly does trust Moiraine, and that WILL set him on the right path.

If I can trust book readers, Siuan is a very powerful channeler. However, like Egwene, it's her intelligence that is actually her greatest power. She is a crazy smart woman and nowhere near as impulsive, brash and stubborn as Moiraine, aka Pufferfish.

Something that stuck by me is that Siuan said "you have given everything, Im going to row beside you now". Siuan knows Moiraine will absolutely not let her. Moiraine is like Nyneave in that way. She would rather die than let anyone she loves do that.

Siuan has given up a lot this episode and put power back with Moiraine, leaving herself incredibly vulnerable, having lost her one true ally, Moiraine. Going back to a tower filled with enemies, she's f*cked, and she knows it, but she needs Moiraine focused on her mission, not on Siuans' potential downfall. Because that will definitely be a distraction for Moiraine.

There is no way in hell a Master chess player like Siuan would move her pawns so early and openly like she seems to be doing in this episode. That is not Siuan. Everyone in WOT world, though, needs to believe that she is (including Moiraine).

[duskcowboy]

Y’all realize you can make your own Elain crackship weeks without harassing real people, right? Like you can do that and we’d leave you in peace to do it? You don’t have to target and harass a group of people who are just trying to find the tiniest minuscule of enjoyment in this f*cked up fandom? Making threats and creating a whole tag so that you can ridicule real people just trying to have fun. You’re preaching about fandom inclusivity and the “rules” for fun fandom events while harassing and bullying real people who were only trying to do a considerate thing for others in a fandom where that’s rare. Your collective outrage speaks volumes of your lack of empathy.

Elain week is about Elain and positivity of her character. Elain fans have had to put up with the most heinous, misogynistic, cruel hate for years and god forbid we want to have a week where we are able to celebrate her with positivity.

Again, you can create your own ship weeks since it’s apparent you only care about Elain in the context of ships. I can’t even believe a rule against domestic abusers has led to this, but how can I even be surprised at this point when this fandom just sucks the goodness out of everything and warps it into ugly, unnecessary drama for the sake of what? Likes? Laughs? The thrill you get from putting others down?

I barely even participate in this fandom anymore. I only really contribute during fandom appreciation events because it’s the only time when it’s supposed to be about positivity and most of the fandom understands to respect that and leave others alone during that time. But now even that is being stripped away. And again, for what? A fictional domestic abuser that I can’t even tell if you actually care about. It seems to me that the real problem you have is the simple fact you live off joining the mob mentality and cyber bullying. Cause you realize that’s what you’re doing right? You’re mass posting negative, mean, and spiteful messages towards people you don’t even know—going as far as making threats to take over the event to purposely attack those who want to enjoy Elain during her week.

Congratulations. You’ve achieved what, exactly? Right, nothing. It’s honestly no surprise that you’re the type of people who would go this far for characters the author herself said are “giant douchebags,” nevermind the fact the domestic abuse hotline was even provided at the end of the book. If I hadn’t already lost all respect for how this fandom behaves towards one another, I sure have now.

[ael-draw]

Hii. Hope you're well

What's the thing that draws you to Aizawa?

Hii, I'm doing good, I hope you are too, annon'!

And that's a good question, thank you for it 🙏

I'll not speak about how handsome he is, we all already know, so I'll just explain why I like him as a character 👀

So, now that I think about what draws me to that character, I remember ending the first volume of bnha (a week or so after the publication in my country, so something like 8 years ago, damn I start getting old) and thought 'Yeah, all theses teenagers may be interesting... But I prefer the grumpy teacher' 😆

What I like in this character is that, he looks like a bitch when we first see him, he's absolutely awful with them and I'm pretty sure we all had a teacher like him : the one that hate his job deeply and make all their student understand it the very first day... But with time we learned how deep that grump care... And that we can't judge a book by its cover x)

We learned a lot about him, about his fights, his trauma, his mentality... Now that I think about it, I just love characters that are deeply broken, the type that has trauma so deep and so horrible, like they did go through so much shit on their life... Don't get me wrong, it's not how deep they got f*cked up by life that make me love these kind of character, it's the way they're willing to live, to make a difference. Like, despite everything, they're still there. They're alive and training their ass to get stronger, still standing and doing heir best to help the other. I like how they know they're not perfect, they're full of flaws, but at least they recognize that they might make mistakes and are willing to learn from it to achieve their aim.

And, for me, Aizawa is just like that : despite everything, he's here, he had mastered his quirk and understand how to combine it with a weapon and his body's abilities. And now he's saving people, arresting villain, helping futur heroes to grow and become the best in their fields... He's encouraging, he's supportive, he's the kind of adult I would have loved being around when I was a teenager, 'cause he's the kind of character doing his best to be safe....

And it's breaking my heart so much how much he suffer, like, PLEASE, HORIKOSHI, LET THAT MAN BE HAPPY AT LEAST ONCE 😭😭😭

So, I think that what's draws me to Aizawa is his character development, his personality, his story... He's my confort character ✨

Sorry if it was not the type of answer you wanted 👉👈

[olliandre]

I’ve reblogged many posts about this already, but I still want to convey my own thoughts, because I simply cannot make peace with the ending. Although I’ve got issues with many things, this time I just want to talk about Mhok getting the worst treatment despite being the best character in the show.

To be honest, I saw the signs that his relationship with Day is not the best quite a long time ago, I simply chose to ignore it because I was so enchanted with the show and liked it so much. For me, the story started to be f*cked upon quite early, when the August plot began. Everything before was beautiful, since we’ve seen Day and Mhok getting to know each other better, opening up to one another, understanding the other better. Although it was Mhok who especially changed a lot for Day, supporting him in every way, I still found it endearing, since Day was in this fragile situation in which he needed someone to be there for him, help him find the light. It was so heartwarming, seeing him gradually open up to Mhok and trying new things out. I loved that for each other, they were both just normal people, Day with his vision impairment and Mhok despite being in prison. I could feel that they started to share this unique bond, that they felt things for each other. So, getting to know that Day actually likes August, felt surreal to me. They built this tension between Day and Mhok just to throw it to the trash bin.

Yes, thanks to Mhok Day could challenge those feelings and people from his past. Yes, Mhok was really important to Day and he couldn’t imagine his life without Mhok at that point. But. Was that really necessary though, to bring August in? I understand the intention that there are lots of people who pity those with life situations like Day’s, how bad it is, and that they wanted to show that Mhok is different. But. Was that REALLY necessary? They could have just showed that Day realized he didn’t really have feelings for August anymore, that Mhok took his place somehow. Day realizing how August treated him, in contrary to how Mhok was to him. They could show August pitying Day and Day getting angry and hurt over it. They didn’t have to go for what they chose. And when Mhok kissed Day after August turned out to be an asshole, it seemed so rushed, the kiss didn’t feel earned and it wasn’t satisfying at all. They made Mhok take advantage of Day while he was being vulnerable and then forcing himself on him, instead of being his safe-space like he was and still should.

I followed the show nevertheless, even if this plot point disappointed me. I wanted to see Day and Mhok together. When Day was putting this wall between them, with Mhok still flirting, it was such an imbalance. Up from this point, the show decided that to the very end it will be Mhok begging for Day’s affection, not the mutual relationship in which both sides cares about each other equally. I know that Day really started to love Mhok and I adored the rainbow scene in episode 9, because it gave such a good message of seeing without seeing, that you don’t need your vision to see things, and you don’t need to be with people who aren’t in this world anymore to be close to them. It felt like both of them grew in their own ways thanks to each other’s presence in their life. But even if Day loved Mhok, it doesn’t mean he treated him the way he should.

It was always Mhok caring about Day, being considerate of his feelings, forgiving everything and making a real effort to be close. While watching this, it just screamed to me that it was Mhok who loved more and tried more. Day, on the contrary, when Mhok made this one mistake, instead of cooling off for a few days and talking again in order to understand each other’s perspectives, like people in relationships would normally do, JUST BROKE UP WITH MHOK ON THE SPOT. For me, it showed just how shallow his love for Mhok was, to cut him off like this, instead of trying to work things out. Mhok has always been the person who encouraged him to be independent and helped him in not being as reliant on other people as he was in the past.

Yes, Mhok was a bit overprotective and liked to baby Day since their relationship started off from being a caretaker, but I have never once felt that Mhok pitied Day. He was the only one not feeling pity for him actually, the one who believed in him and encouraged him. It was so weird to me that Day could have even thought about Mhok pitying him, especially because he knew about Mhok’s trauma. He should have understanded him better, after all the time they’ve spent together. He should have had those second thoughts about his impulsive decision after thinking for a while. I’m so enraged by the fact that this one time when Mhok wasn’t perfect, when he got problems and needed Day’s support, when it was finally Day’s turn to make an effort in the relationship, Day just ended it, making Mhok this bad person who hurt him terribly. He’s hurt Mhok multiple times before, but Mhok has forgiven everything, forgotten everything. It reminded me of just how young and immature Day was.

But it wouldn’t be as bad if Day grew up after the time-skip and realized his mistake. If he apologized to Mhok that he couldn’t do better at that time, because deep down he was still a kid and he was going through a lot. If the writers couldn’t make him try to make it up to Mhok, they could have at least made him admit that his reaction too was wrong back then. But no, Mhok was pathetically begging Day to take him back instead, bugging him even after being refused to multiple times, apologizing and saying it was all his fault. Just how much Mhok can forgive Day, be the bigger person over and over again? This is going way too far and honestly, the way writers’ decisions cause him to treat Mhok, just made me dislike Day in the end. I’m aware of Day’s age, aware of how bitter and angry he was, I’m aware of his issues, that he couldn’t deal with that. I don’t blame him for that. What I blame him for, is that he didn’t actually grow in the end.

And don’t get me wrong, I loved Day and wished him the best from the beginning to end. I was hoping he and Mhok could work their issues out, mature and learn the healthy way to go about their relationship. However, after the story concluded, I’ve just realized how unlikeable Day could get at times and that the writers didn’t try to fix it at all. He was lashing out at people and didn’t feel guilty about it, I think he’s never apologized once, was always taking things from Mhok and didn’t give anything other than his very own presence in return. Even in the end, he couldn’t tell Mhok that he’s handsome. Just this small thing! And the fact that Mhok replied: „Fine. But I still love you” concluded everything they had from the beginning to the end.

I’m gonna be honest. If the writers wanted things to look this way, they may as well just let them live their seperate lifes. This is extremely unhealthy and I’m disappointed, so, so disappointed that the writers decisions basically smashed not only Mhok's, but also Day’s character in so many ways. Because yes, Day is also a victim of the script and I’m truly sorry they did him this dirty. Every character development writers had for him was trashed without a second thought.

[eschercaine]

For me, it’s about making sure that I respect George and I respect the text. And then also, it still has to be a dramatic story. Those characters have to go on a journey; they have to change; they have to go from a beginning to a middle to an end.

Funny, I remember Condal repeatedly saying in some behind the scenes stuff before the show comes out that he’s a fan of George’s book and look what he and Sara did.

That’s one of the things that my approach to it was to [that] Fire and Blood is written like a real history and these things happened. We know the history of Alexander the Great; we know the history of Napoleon. We know what the battles were. We know a lot of the people who died. We know in some cases what was said or what might have been said, but we don’t know everything. We don’t know all of it. We kind of have these flag poles that tells us this is how we marched through history. But then also there’s that great quote that somebody much smarter than I said: history is written by the people who won.

Yup, see, this means that they’ll be going full-on “crazy evil Targaryens” and “uwu Westerosi Lords”. Bet that they’re also gonna add that “prophecy bullshit” into all this, just like the writers did in House of the Dragon.

You know what? I wished they should just stop adapting George’s books if they’re not going to follow the source material to a tee. But, no, money is more important to these people rather than telling a good story.

So, what I’m trying to say is, I have no faith for Aegon’s Conquest. I remembered having high hopes for House of the Dragon once because the book is already finished and because of what Ryan has said. “There’s no way they could f*cked it up,” I thought, only to be utterly disappointed at the end. The same also applies to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

You’re not going to fool me this time, HBO.

[taylor-swift-bracket]

🎇Please reblog!🎇

Notable Bridges

(Under the cut)

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Dear John

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry

Never impressed by me acing your tests

All the girls that you've run dry have tired lifeless eyes

'Cause you burned them out

But I took your matches before fire could catch me

So don't look now

I'm shining like fireworks over your sad empty town

Oh, oh

Enchanted

This is me praying that

This was the very first page

Not where the storyline ends

My thoughts will echo your name

Until I see you again

These are the words I held back

As I was leaving too soon

I was enchanted to meet you

Please, don't be in love with someone else

Please, don't have somebody waiting on you

Please, don't be in love with someone else (Ooh)

Please, don't have somebody waiting on you (Ooh, oh)

Back to December

I miss your tanned skin, your sweet smile

So good to me, so right

And how you held me in your arms that September night

The first time you ever saw me cry

Maybe this is wishful thinkin'

Probably mindless dreaming

But if we loved again, I swear I'd love you right

I'd go back in time and change it, but I can't

So, if the chain is on your door, I understand

Long Live

Hold on to spinning around

Confetti falls to the ground

May these memories break our fall

Will you take a moment? Promise me this

That you'll stand by me forever

But if, God forbid, fate should step in

And force us into a goodbye

If you have children some day

When they point to the pictures

Please, tell 'em my name

Tell 'em how the crowds went wild

Tell 'em how I hope they shine

Long live the walls we crashed through

I had the time of my life with you

Mine

And I remember that fight, 2:30AM

As everything was slipping right out of our hands

I ran out crying and you followed me out into the street

Braced myself for the goodbye

'Cause that's all I've ever known

Then you took me by surprise

You said, "I'll never leave you alone"

evermore

champagne problems

Your Midas touch on the Chevy door

November flush and your flannel cure

"This dorm was once a madhouse"

I made a joke, "Well, it's made for me"

How evergreen, our group of friends

Don't think we'll say that word again

And soon they'll have the nerve to deck the halls

That we once walked through

One for the money, two for the show

I never was ready so I watch you go

Sometimes you just don't know the answer

'Til someone's on their knees and asks you

"She would've made such a lovely bride

What a shame she's f*cked in the head," they said

But you'll find the real thing instead

She'll patch up your tapestry that I shred

ivy

So yeah, it's a fire

It's a violent blaze in the dark

And you started it

You started it

So yeah, it's a war

It's the fiercest fight of my life

And you started it

You started it

Tolerate it

While you were out buildin' other worlds, where was I?

Where's that man who'd throw blankets over my barbed wire?

I made you my temple, my mural, my sky

Now I'm beggin' for footnotes in the story of your life

Drawin' hearts in the byline

Always takin' up too much space or time

You assume I'm fine, but what would you do if I

Marjorie

The autumn chill that wakes me up

You loved the amber skies so much

Long limbs and frozen swims

You'd always go past where our feet could touch

And I complained the whole way there

The car ride back and up the stairs

I should've asked you questions

I should've asked you how to be

Asked you to write it down for me

Should've kept every grocery store receipt

'Cause every scrap of you would be taken from me

Watched as you signed your name Marjorie

All your closets of backlogged dreams

And how you left them all to me

Right where you left me

Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?

Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it

She's still twenty-three inside her fantasy

How it was supposed to be

Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?

Breakups happen every day, you don't have to lose it

She's still twenty-three inside her fantasy

And you're sitting in front of me

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Mark Sumner at Daily Kos:

During a live-streamed interview Monday evening, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that he will not be donating millions of dollars every month to Donald Trump, rejecting reports like one that appeared in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month. “What’s been reported in the media is simply not true,” Musk told right-wing commentator Jordan Peterson. “I am not donating $45 million a month to Trump.”

But just because Musk says he’s not funneling money to Trump doesn’t make it true. As the original story in the Journal reported, Musk is dropping his cash into America PAC, a super PAC focused on registering conservative voters and countering Democratic “get out the vote” efforts. He also retweeted and confirmed a post saying “Elon Musk went from being an Obama voter to pledging $180 million to elect DJT. The woke left really f*cked up. Badly.”  Musk still insists he’s donated to a PAC whose mission is to help Trump get elected. On the day after Trump’s attempted assassination, Musk formally endorsed Trump. That also hasn’t changed despite Trump’s promises to eliminate tax credits for electric vehicles—which benefit Tesla.  So why is Musk trying to pretend he’s not supporting Trump? Because of what has changed: Tesla’s profits.

[...] In May, Musk insisted that he wanted to help Trump combat nonexistent voter fraud. Along with fellow billionaire Nelson Peltz, Musk recently began a kind of billionaire boys’ club in support of Trump. That included holding breakfast meetings at Peltz’s Florida mansion, where Trump and his son Barron shared a meal with Musk and other tech broligarchs. They may be the only guys who think that the selection of JD Vance was a good idea.   Musk may have been thrilled that he could support a party that shared his beliefs that workplace diversity initiatives are behind all the world’s ills, and that shares his hatred for the “woke mind virus” and transgender people. But he didn’t seem to consider the consequences.

[...] Meanwhile, 71% of Republicans said they would not buy an electric vehicle. It’s not hard to see why Republicans are so anti-EV when Trump and Vance both regularly launch attacks on EVs. Tesla may be the world’s largest EV manufacturer, but Trump regularly claims that soon all EVs will be made in China, while Vance wants to take away incentives to buy electric vehicles and give them to gas vehicles instead. Trump has promised to end EV support on "day one" if he returns to power, which would devastate Tesla and other EV manufacturers in the U.S.—and hand a huge opportunity to Chinese manufacturers. Republicans don’t like EVs. Democrats do. And Musk has done everything he can to piss off his customer base. The problem for Musk is that very few Democrats are now willing to buy a Tesla following Musk's endorsement of Trump in May. The favorability rating of the Tesla brand among Democrats plummeted to just 16% in July. That’s less than half the rating the company held at the beginning of the year, and that number was already down thanks to Musk’s remarks on X, formerly Twitter.

Musk’s endorsement of Trump has absolutely tanked interest in buying his cars. And what makes it extra sweet is that over the same period, support for the company also fell among Republicans. With all this, it’s not exactly shocking that Musk may be trying to put some distance between himself and Trump by claiming that his PAC is not “hyperpartisan” and that he doesn’t believe in MAGA or the personality cult of Trump. But no one should buy it. They shouldn’t buy Musk’s claims … or his cars. Because the money he is putting into America PAC is simply helping Trump and other Republican candidates. That’s true even if it doesn’t end up in their bank accounts. And it may end up in their bank accounts.

Elon Musk realizes that his explicit support for Donald Trump is hurting his Tesla business.

[honey-minded-hivemind]

Ok imagine this for parent morph au!

When morph was under Mr ministers control he used them to incubate (surrogate in non sinister language) an omega level mutant embryo he had stolen.

So while this technically doesn't make them and the child biologically related it still makes them mother and child in a really fucked up way.

Idk I just thought of it and was like "yeah sinister would totally do that shit"

Oh my glob... That is f*cked up. Dark. And definitely something Sinsiter would do. As I'm exploring if Morph was in X-Men Evolution, if they had a version of Sinister as well, let's safely say that everyone hates his guts. (Imagine this for X-Men Evolution reboot/au, and maybe even the Animated Series) (Note: Morph and Logan not-so-secretly off Sinister, probably some point after mutant Reader is thought to be dead or taken from them, or once Reader is back with them and they decide to get rid of Sinister before he can scr*w everything up again).

Morph would still love their baby, even if it came from... that. They feel attached to Reader, seeing them as the one good thing to stay with them, even when they're alone and despairing and sobbing their heart out. The moment they're born, Morph gets even more protective of them, attempting to kill Sinister a few times, then anyone else who gets near their baby. Their baby is their's, not anyone else's. If anyone hurts them, or looks at them funny, or tries to take them away... they'll wish they were dead.

When Morph ends up back with the X-Men, they either have their baby with them, or their baby was lost or taken from them. If their baby is with them, the adults are worried, scared, and threatening to destroy Sinister, while offering comfort or raising Reader away from them if needed... Morph decides they're keeping bitty bean Reader, and so the X-Men get to deal with their newest (and tiniest) member, Reader. Who is... quite the silent baby. They hardly cry, but they're usually happily next to their Mama/Dada, chewing on their stuffed animal or napping. It's nice, everyone getting to be domestic for a bit...

Or Reader ends up on their own, having been lost to or taken away from Morph. So they grow up never knowing anything about them, and go through their younger years unaware... Then their mutation or mutations kick in, amd they're in dire need of help. So the X-Men show up. Reader ends up with them, and goes on to learn a bit from the adults and teens, slowly gaining some control over their abilities. Except... let's say something happens, a plot from a villain, or a DNA test because Reader lost blood, or maybe a scar someone found on them... but they discover Reader is Morph's child, the one who they lost... And now Morph is trying to figure out how to tell Reader that, and explain their many, erm... partners, to them...

Morph is a fun, caring, and paranoid parent... Even if their baby is scared, they're ready to comfort them or wrap them up in blankets or let them nap in their room. They just want to love on them so much! If only their kid let's them, they promise they won't regret it...

[marys-little-cringes]

Let me start with a clean slate Pt.2

Pt.1 - Pt.3

Fandom: Smallville

Relationship: Clark Kent/Lex Luthor

Additional Tags: Bromance, Bromance to Romance, AU, Curtain Fic, Pre-Slash

Summary:

[4s17ep "Onyx"] An alternate ending in which the Lexs didn't reunite, instead Alexander is captured by Lex.

A/N:

I finished watching season 7, I am sad and frustrated. Starting with Belle Reve, it became vital for me that everything would be fine, because I can see perfectly well how everything is f*cked up. This series has become some sort of guide for me to the world where these two have a chance. The thing is, English isn't my native language and this is my first ff in English, so my also not-native-speaker-editor @nigthwingsleftbuttcheek and me did our best.  Anyway feel free to mark my typos or other errors if you find any. I would be most grateful!

Part 2

Clark was at the gates of the Luthor mansion by the agreed hour. He checked in at the security post, which has become a well—established ritual lately. When you just go to visit, there is no reason to rush at super speed through all obstacles. As he approaching Lex's office, he almost ran into a group of people in business suits. He hesitated, listened to the conversation, and only then went to the door.

Clark was at the gates of the Luthor mansion by the agreed hour. He checked in at the security post, which has become a well—established ritual lately. When you just go to visit, there is no reason to rush at super speed through all obstacles. As he approaching Lex’s office, he almost ran into a group of people in business suits. He hesitated, listened to the conversation, and only then went to the door.

Lex was sitting at the table, rubbing his temples. At the sight of Kent, his haggard expression was instantly replaced by a sincere smile.

‘‘Clark! Accurate as a clock.’’ He stood up from the table, arms outstretched. As he passed the drinks table, he took a soda from the ice bucket. He spun on his heel and hurled it toward the sofas.

Clark consciously restrained himself from a super-high-speed jerk, jumped for the tin can, grabbed it in flight and plopped down on the sofa, which made an almost human groan under his weight.

‘‘Quarterback!’’ Lex threw his fist in the air, undisguised pride flashed in his eyes.

Another one of their new rituals, which was initiated by chance. The first time Lex wanted to give him a soda, a wet can slipped out of his fingers and the young man caught it spectacularly. And so it goes: Luthor was making increasingly difficult throws, and Clark invariably caught.

Clark sat down on the couch, waited a little while until it was safe to open a soda without risking getting doused from head to toe. He didn’t understand every word from the conversations of the people in business suits — only that they didn’t bring good news for Lex.

‘‘Are you hungry, Clark?’’ he asked, sitting down opposite him.

‘‘Nah, mom fed me a big deal.’’ Clark patted his stomach.

‘‘In any case, Metropolis is full of nightlife.’’ Lex leaned back on the sofa, absently twirling the water bottle in his hands.

‘‘Is something wrong?’’ the young man asked cautiously. ‘‘I heard—’’

Luthor got serious, and his gaze became tired and even dreary.

‘‘That’s not your concern, Clark,’’ he said softly. ‘‘Don’t worry about it; we have a wonderful evening ahead of us. Let’s focus on this instead.’’

Clark reached forward and put his hand on Lex’s knee, looking into his eyes.

‘‘Hey, start with a clean slate, remember? Friendship that isn’t based on mutual benefit alone — your words. You can talk to me, I’m always there. So let’s come again. Lex, what’s wrong?’’

Luthor smiled with the corners of his lips, the way he does, rubbed his forehead, unscrewed the lid from the bottle and took a couple of large sips.

‘‘Things are... not going well. There were some careless actions of Luthorcorp’s that didn’t pass by the attention of journalists, the shares fell... significantly. Now the discontent of investors has been quite clearly conveyed to me, especially if the profit really, as analysts warned, will fall by the end of the quarter...’’ Lex ran his hand over his head. ‘‘Well, generally, it’s rather unpleasant to admit that the genius of business in our vicious tandem was obviously not me. I, so to speak, overestimated the importance of a humanistic approach to running a business.’’

‘‘I’m sure you’re doing your best.’’

‘‘Thanks, Clark. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough. Business is like the animal world. The strongest and the fittest survives. One sign of weakness and you will be devoured without hesitation. And my last steps in management were considered precisely a weakness.’’

‘‘But you can fix it, right?’’

‘‘Of course. Nothing irreparable has happened yet... however, I’m starting to realize that I’ve also overestimated my independence from him. He was the one who made tough, sometimes cruel decisions. He is ruthless and capable of inspiring terror, but in business it turned out to be exactly the traits that are so necessary for success. Not all the right decisions are pleasant. Not all reasonable solutions can be presented intelligibly if they are not afraid of you.’’

Clark couldn’t believe his ears.

‘‘You mean you’re willing to merge with him again just because of LuthorCorp? But this is—’’

‘‘LuthorCorp is a complex multicomponent organism. No matter how I feel about my father, he created it out of nothing. And I promised myself that I will raise it to a qualitatively new level using my own methods, not his. This is a legacy, Clark, this is what I will leave behind, my imprint in history. Using these colossal production facilities, LuthorCorp can solve the most pressing problems of humanity! I’m not going to lose everything just because of my thoughtless, short-sighted leadership!’’

Clark was having a hard time digesting it.

‘‘So this is final?’’

Lex grinned mirthlessly at the fire crackling in the fireplace.

‘‘I knew this would be a difficult decision. The more difficult it will be for me, the longer I exist on my own. And yet I didn’t even realize how much. How could I imagine how good it feels when you’re all alone in your head?’’

‘‘Your… Have your scientists been able to come up with something? How to weaken it?’’

‘‘I would call this a moderately optimistic result. No one can say for sure how it will be. Unfortunately, there’s no another person who could share their experience.’’ Lex chuckled. ‘‘Or rather, I think it wouldn’t be so difficult for me to carry out the tests... But I’m not ready to put anyone through the same thing I’ve been through.’’

Clark bit his lip, remembering how he felt when the black kryptonite tore him and Kal-El apart.

‘‘If there’s anything — anything I can do for you, just tell me.’’

Luthor looked up at him, and Kent felt very uncomfortable. He had never seen Lex so defenseless.

‘‘I don’t know what will happen to me,’’ Lex said once more. ‘‘I don’t know if my current self will remain after the merger or if we will dissolve into each other. I don’t know if my memories of this time will be preserved.’’ Lex paused, gathering his thoughts. ‘‘I’d like you to be there when it happens. I want you to be the last thing I see and the first thing... Lex sees. Maybe then— Of course, I’m not asking you to be in the same room with me,’’ he laughed sadly. ‘‘I’ll be in an explosion-resistant room; we don’t want a repeat of agricultural laboratory’s accident... You won’t be in any danger. It’s just that I... I…’’

Clark didn’t need him to explain anything. He impulsively moved over to Lex and hugged him tightly. Lex tensed for a second, but the next moment allowed himself to relax and rested his head on a broad shoulder.

‘‘Rest assure I’ll be there for you, Lex. I promise.’’