#from a writing perspective this is just annoying and frustrating

[lakemichigans]

you can't research shit anymore without google plastering the suicide hotline above every article and only showing you web pages from rehab facilities that never go into detail about anything because you have to pay for that shit 🙄

[sistersavelorn]

They're like an old married couple

[sebscore]

ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?

pairings: f1 grid x driver!reader (she/her pronouns)

warnings: angst. angst. angst. swearing. like a lot of swearing. i cannot write crashes/contact for the life of me. argument. lando and reader are assholes in this. 

author's note: dont even ask me why i wrote this, i got inspired and needed it out of my system. lol. 

masterlist

''Retire the car. Too much damage. Sorry, Y/N.'' Marco informed her over the radio, sounding frustrated and apologetic over her already finished race. 

The driver took a deep breath before answering. ''Too bad, it was going well. Thanks, guys.'' 

Her race had in fact been going well. She'd made a great start going from P4 to P2, and had managed to keep up with the Red Bull of Max. They weren't even halfway in the race or Lando tried overtaking her, causing contact, causing her to run off in the gravel with too much trouble on the car to continue. 

In her opinion, it had been reckless. The McLaren driver knew exactly she would end up being forced off the track by the overtake, and that her race would most likely be over because of it. 

As she trudged back to the garage, helmet in hand, she could barely contain her frustration. The team greeted her with sympathetic looks, but she didn't stop to talk to anyone. She headed straight for her driver's room, needing a moment to cool off before she could face the media. 

Her hands trembled with anger as she peeled off her gloves, tossing them onto a nearby chair. The season hadn't been going how she had hoped or even expected it to go. Last year she had been the vice World Champion, the undisputed second-best driver on the grid, the only one to essentially have been able to challenge Max's dominance. Now, she got lucky to even end up in the top five of a race. Her team's design of the car hadn't been meeting the expectations the engineers had set, and upgrades weren't helping in the way they had hoped. 

That is why this race weekend had been a great boost for the team's morale and confidence. Qualifying had gone really well, and for a moment they were able to fight for the win even. But the papaya car of No. 4 had shoved their hopes down the drain. 

Minutes later, there was a knock on the door. She turned to see Marco standing there, looking concerned. ''You okay?'' 

''Have I ever been okay,'' she remarked, a sarcastic chuckle leaving her lips. ''I'm just pissed, that's all. I had high hopes for today.'' 

''We all did,'' he smiled sadly. ''The stewards reviewed the incident, but he, uh, didn't get a penalty.'' He said softly, almost as if he was afraid of her reaction.

The young woman let out a bitter laugh. ''Of course he didn't, why would he?'' Her hands covered her face, briefly wiping off the sweat that had formed. 

Marco took a step closer, his expression a mix of empathy and disappointment. ''You drove brilliantly out there. Everyone saw it. The team saw it. It's just... racing politics sometimes.'' 

She dropped her hands, meeting his eyes with a mixture of anger and resignation. ''It's always like that, though. It's always the same drivers suffering the consequences of others, and they don't get shit for it. It is fucking annoying.'' 

Her engineer nodded, understanding everything she was saying. ''I know, we all know. But we keep fighting. We keep pushing. This season isn't over yet.'' 

''Yeah, true.'' She sighed. 

Marco gave her a reassuring smile. ''We'll be ready for the next race. We're all in this together, okay? We're all behind you.'' 

She nodded, feeling a small measure of comfort in his words. ''Thanks, I appreciate it.'' They shared a quick embrace, before he left to join the team again. Meanwhile she got herself ready to go to the media pen. As much as she wanted to hide away, she knew it was part of the job. 

Since she had an early exit, there wasn't much activity inside the area, though there were a bunch of reporters waiting for her. 

''Y/N, tough race today. Can you tell us what happened from your perspective?'' The reporter asked after briefly greeting her. 

''Yeah, it was, uh, challenging, I guess,'' she plastered a smile on her face. ''We had a great start, moving up to P2 and keeping pace with Max. Then, yeah, the contact with Lando. The car had a bunch of damage, and we decided to just retire the car.'' 

''Do you think it was a fair move by him?'' He followed up. 

She paused, weighing her response. ''Racing is always intense, especially at this level. I don't think it was the right move to make, but the stewards saw it as a racing incident.  I'll respect their decision, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating.'' 

''You and Lando are good friends, and have been racing against each other since your karting days. Will you talk to him afterwards or just forget about it?'' 

They had expected a question like this, so the media-trained answer came out very quickly. ''It was deemed a racing incident, so there is not much to say further about it.'' 

''How do you and your team plan to bounce back from this setback?'' The reporter for Sky Sports changed the topic. 

''We'll regroup and come back stronger,'' she answered, injecting as much determination into her voice as she could muster. ''This season has been tough, but my team and I are committed to pushing forward. We learn from every race, and today is no different.'' 

''That's great, thank you, Y/N.'' They wrapped up the interview, and she moved onto a new one. 

Once she had spoken to everyone she needed to speak to, she finally had a moment to herself. She knew the words she had just spoken were the right ones, but they did little to soothe the turmoil inside her. 

It didn't help that Lando managed to take the lead, and eventually get his first win. As she watched the remainder of the race from the sidelines, her emotions were all over the place. On the one hand, she was proud of her friend for finally making his dream come true. However, it had come at the expense of her race. She had pushed so hard this season, and to see her friend and rival celebrate his triumph while she stood there with nothing but frustration was almost unbearable. 

The cheers from the McLaren garage echoed in her ears. They celebrated wildly, the joy of his long-awaited victory palpable even from a distance. He was swarmed by his team as they shouted his name. 

The podium ceremony was even worse. As Lando stood on the top step, the British national anthem playing in the background, she couldn't help but replay the moment that had ended her race. She could see the excitement in his eyes, the genuine happiness that came with achieving a lifelong dream. But all she could think about was the contact, the gravel trap, and the wrecked potential of what could have been her race. 

Under any other circumstance, she would have been there for him. She would have run to the ceremony herself, just like he had done for her when she got her first win in F1 and made history as the first woman to do so. But it just stung too deep. 

''Lando, there was an incident with Y/N that resulted in her retiring from the race. Can you tell us what happened there?'' The Dutch reporter asked the race winner. 

Lando's expression shifted slightly, the euphoria dimming just a bit. ''Uh, yeah. I saw a gap and went for it. It was a tight move, and unfortunately, it led to some contact. But that's racing, you know.'' 

''Have you spoken to her yet?'' 

''Not yet,'' he admitted. ''But I don't think there is much to talk about.'' He chuckled, quickly glancing sideways, but his laugh seemed forced.

''She told Sky Sports that she didn't think you made the right move there.'' The journalist said, instigating a headline for them to be able to use. 

Lando frowned at his words, but recovered. ''Well, that's her opinion. It was just racing for me.'' 

''So you don't regret making the move?'' The reporter pressed on. 

The Brit took a deep breath before answering. ''I regret that it ended her race. But as a racer, you have to take chances. It's a fine line, you know.''

The older man in front of him nodded at his response, knowing they had gotten a glimpse of the tension that was present between the fan-favorite duo. ''Thank you, Lando. Congratulations again.'' 

''Thank you.'' 

With that, the interview wrapped up, and Lando moved onto the next reporter. As he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He didn't think he had done anything wrong, so why was everyone talking to him as if he had done something wrong? 

Y/N was struggling to unwind. The events of the day played over and over in her mind, each replay more frustrating than the last. She tried to distract herself by either watching some TikToks or TV, but nothing could drown out her thoughts. The texts from her friends, family and team certainly didn't help. It was a nice gesture, but she didn't want to think about the race anymore and the messages weren't helping. Finally, she decided to call it a night and climbed into bed, hoping sleep would offer some respite. 

Just as she was starting to drift off, another knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It was unusual for someone to bother her this late, especially when she was winding down in her hotel room.

She frowned and got out of bed, opening the door to find Lando standing there, wearing his signature grin, acting nonchalant as ever. ''You wanna come celebrate with us? We rented a club.'' 

Y/N frowned at him, confused over his casual behavior. ''No.'' She scoffed, offended by the mere thought. 

It was now Lando's turn to frown at his friend. ''Why?'' 

She crossed her arms, incredulous at his obliviousness. ''Why? Are you taking the fucking piss out of me or something.'' 

His grin faltered slightly, but he tried to maintain his composure. ''If this is about the racing incident then you're being ridiculous.'' 

Her eyes widened in disbelief, her frustration boiling over. ''I am being ridiculous? You were ridiculous with that move you pulled!'' She retorted, raising her voice. ''You ran me off the track knowing how hard this season has fucking been for me. You know how much I needed a good result today and you ruined it for me!'' 

''Y/N, I get that you're upset, but it's racing. These things are bound to happen. I saw a gap and I went for it. The stewards didn't even penalize me, so clearly, it wasn't as bad as you're making it out to be.'' He was restraining from rolling his eyes, she could tell. 

She scoffed, shaking her head. ''Oh, so now you're agreeing with the stewards? Now that it is benefitting you? And there was no fucking gap, you were just being selfish. You knew what you were doing, and you didn't care how it would affect me.'' 

Lando's face hardened, his patience wearing thin. ''I didn't do it on purpose to screw you over, where the fuck are you getting that from? I saw an opportunity, and I took it. That's what we do out there. You know that better than anyone." 

''If that opportunity was ruining my fucking race, then yeah, you really took the opportunity, Norris.'' She rolled her eyes, voice tinged with sarcasm. 

He took a step closer, his frustration now matching hers. ''I'm sorry that you didn't get the result you wanted today, I really am. But I am not going to apologize for racing and doing my job, Y/N.'' 

She simply glared at him, disappointed in how he was acting towards her. They'd never really had an argument before, at least not one where they couldn't see each other's point. They'd been frustrated with each other before, but it was always in reason. 

''If anything, I should be angry with you- not the other way.'' Lando suddenly said. 

''Why's that?'' She sneered, almost in disbelief that he would have a valid reason. 

''Because you didn't even have the fucking guts to congratulate me,'' he snapped back, ''when you won Silverstone, I was literally one of the first people to hug you and congratulate you for your win. I stood next to your fucking parents, Y/N! And today you didn't even bother doing anything.'' 

Her mouth fell open, a mix of shock and anger flooding her veins. ''You are unbelievable… You ruined my fucking race, Lando! How am I supposed to stand there and cheer for you when you cost me everything today?'' 

He rolled his eyes while throwing up his hands. ''This isn't just about today. You're just jealous because my season has been going so much better than yours. You can't fucking stand that for one time I'm doing actually better than you.'' 

''Jealous… of you?'' The words came out like laughter, slightly hurting the McLaren driver's ego. ''You think I can't be happy for you because I'm not doing as well? That's so low, Lando.'' 

''Ever since the start of the season you've been so moody and distant, and now you can't even say or even fucking text me a congratulations for my first win. You're so pissed that I got a win before you this season, you can't even hide it.'' He shot back. 

''Oh, give me a break. Like you wouldn't act the same if you were getting all these shit results. Maybe I didn't congratulate you because I was too busy trying to scrape gravel out of my fucking tires.'' She remarked, throwing in the sarcastic comment. 

Lando looked unimpressed by her remark. ''You're just mad cause I'm outshining you. You can't fucking stand that I'm getting all the attention.'' 

''Outshining me? Are you hearing yourself?'' She mocked him, laughing bitterly. ''You get one win and you're acting like you're a fucking World Champion already. You've been riding Max's dick these last years hoping some of his success will rub off on you. Newsflash Norris, everyone is just fucking laughing at you.'' 

His face turned red, either embarrassment or anger. ''At least I'm not constantly whining about my car and blaming everyone else for my problems. Maybe if you spent more time focusing on your driving and less on complaining, you'd have more to celebrate.'' 

''You're a fucking spoiled brat who can't stand some competition. You think everything should be handed to you on a silver platter.'' She retorted. 

''And you're a fucking baby who throws a temper tantrum everytime you don't get what you want. It's time to fucking grow up, Y/N!'' He shouted, his voice rising with each word. 

She took a step closer to him. ''You should spend less time trying to prove yourself to people who don't give a shit about you, and more time trying to be a decent fucking human being. I'm ashamed to call you one of my best friends.'' 

That last sentence had clearly hit a nerve or several nerves. He shook his head, taking a few steps back. ''Fuck you, Y/N. Enjoy your pity party.'' Lando turned and walked away, joining his friends who were waiting in the lobby. 

She watched him go, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and heartbreak. She could feel the pulse of her racing heart, the adrenaline from their argument making her feel jittery and unsteady. 

A lump formed in her throat as she replayed the last few minutes in her mind. She cringed internally at the words she had fired at Lando, while also trying to ignore the sting from his own harsh words. She wondered how they would be able to come back from this. They had never been in a situation like this before, and she knew that she would never want to be in this situation again. 

The young woman knew that she had let her emotions get the best of her. She had always prided herself on being fair and understanding, but now she felt ashamed of herself. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of another door opening. George peeked out, concern etched on his face. ''Y/N, you okay?'' 

She shook her head, not wanting to deal with anyone else. ''Mind your business, Russell.'' She retreated back into her room, not before slamming the door behind her. 

As she leaned against the closed door, the weight of the evening pressed down on her. The room felt too small, her emotions too big. She slid down to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest, and let the tears she had been holding back finally fall.

Even when she finally got up, even when she tucked herself in again for the final time, and even when she tossed and turned the entire night, the same question lingered in her mind. 

Are they still friends? 

The question haunted her, gnawing at her thoughts every time she closed her eyes. She replayed the argument over and over, dissecting every word, every expression. The hurt in his eyes, the anger in his voice- it all felt so raw and irreversible. 

As the hours dragged on, sleep remained elusive. The darkness of the room mirrored the uncertainty in her heart. She knew they both needed time to cool off, to reflect, but the thought of facing Lando again filled her with dread.

The first light of dawn began to seep through the curtains, and she felt no more at ease than she had the night before. 

Are they still friends? 

story ideas are always welcome, but remember that it can take a while for me to get to it! :)

[bettys-redwinesupernova]

ALL MINE

rafe cameron x fem!reader

SUMMARY: rafe has to give his bratty gf an attitude adjustment. maybe a little teasing should work?

based on this ask !! i hope this is what you asked for anon, this didn’t turn out exactly how i anticipated, but i am still a little rusty with writing smut and i keep getting second-hand embarrassment writing it, HELP-😭 i also wrote in second person perspective for a change? i’m not too sure how to feel about it, and i may rewrite this in the future but for now, i hope you enjoy <3

WARNINGS: smut (18+ MDNI!), oral (fem!receiving), cursing, use of ‘good girl,’ manhandling, unprotected p in v (wrap that weiner guys🙄), dom!rafe, brat!reader, fingering, teasing, orgasm denial, slight overstimulation(?). (lmk if i missed anything!)

WORD COUNT: 1.7k

SECOND PERSON +

The clock ticks relentlessly on the wall, each second dragging you further into the simmering tension that has been brewing all day. You glance at Rafe, his dark eyes fixed on you with a mix of frustration and something else—something deeper, hotter, that makes your stomach twist. He leans back in his chair, one arm draped casually over the backrest, his shirt tauntingly tight across his broad chest. His jaw is set, but there's a glint in his eye that tells you he's not just annoyed—he's enjoying this.

"You've been pushing it all damn day," he says, his voice low and smooth, like honey laced with something sharp. "I let it slide because I thought you'd come around. But no, here you are. Being a fucking brat."

You shift uncomfortably on the couch, trying to ignore the way his words make your skin prickle. "I didn't ask for a lecture," you mutter, crossing your arms defensively. But even as the words leave your mouth, you know you're digging yourself deeper into whatever he's got planned.

Rafe's lips curl into a half-smile, slow and calculated. "Oh, baby," he says, his tone dripping with mock sweetness. "This isn't a lecture. This is a lesson. And trust me, you're going to learn tonight."

Your heart skips a beat, and you can feel the heat rising in your cheeks. Something about the way he says it, the way he's looking at you like he owns you, sends a shiver down your spine. You open your mouth to protest, but he cuts you off before you can say anything.

"Stand up," he commands, his voice firm but still carrying that dangerous edge.

You hesitate, torn between defiance and the pull of him. But before you can make up your mind, his hand shoots out, gripping your wrist tightly enough to make you gasp. He pulls you to your feet, his touch sending sparks racing through your veins.

"That wasn't a suggestion," he growls, his face inches from yours. "You've been acting out all day, and now you're going to deal with the consequences."

You swallow hard, feeling suddenly very small under his intense gaze. "What are you going to do?" you whisper, your voice trembling despite your best efforts to stay strong.

Rafe smirks, his free hand trailing lazily down your arm until it comes to rest on your hip. "Let's start with this," he says, his fingers curling around the waistband of your jeans. Without warning, he yanks them down, along with your underwear, leaving you exposed and vulnerable in nothing but your shirt.

Your breath catches in your throat as he steps back, taking in the sight of you standing there, completely bare except for the thin fabric of your top. He doesn't waste any time. Before you can react, he's kneeling in front of you, his hands cupping your ass roughly as his mouth descends on your core.

Oh God. The sensation of his tongue flicking against your clit is electric, sending waves of pleasure crashing through you. You grip the back of his head, your nails digging into his scalp as he works you with expert precision. His tongue is relentless, exploring every inch of you, driving you closer and closer to the edge.

But just as you think you might actually lose it, he stops. Abruptly. Your body jerks forward in protest, but he holds you steady, his hands firm on your hips.

"No," he says simply, his voice calm but assertive. "Not yet."

You groan in frustration, your legs trembling from the effort of staying upright. "Rafe, please," you beg, your voice cracking. "I need... I need—"

"You need to apologise," he interrupts, standing up and stepping back to look at you. "For being such a brat today. For treating me like shit when I was just trying to take care of you. So, tell me, sweetheart. Are you sorry?"

His eyes burn into yours, and you can feel the pressure building inside you, threatening to explode. You nod quickly, desperate to get him to finish what he started. "Yes, I'm sorry," you gasp. "I'm so sorry, Rafey. Please, just let me—"

"Not good enough," he says, cutting you off again. "Say it again, but this time, mean it."

You close your eyes, trying to gather your thoughts, but the way he's looking at you, the way his presence dominates the room, makes it nearly impossible. "I'm sorry," you repeat, louder this time. "I'm really sorry, Rafey. I didn't mean to be so... so difficult. Please, just let me—"

He kneels down again, his hands sliding up your thighs until they reach your waist. "Okay," he murmurs, his voice low and intimate. "But first, you need to be reminded of who you belong to."

Your whole body goes rigid, but before you can respond, he's already moving. His fingers press firmly against your clit, rubbing in slow, deliberate circles that send shivers of anticipation through you. He knows exactly how to touch you, exactly how to drive you wild without letting you go over the edge.

Rafe's hands wrap around your hips, steadying you as his lips press against your trembling core once again. The sensation is overwhelming, a burst of warmth that sends shivers through your body. His tongue moves with precision, flicking across your sensitive flesh, and you gasp, your legs threatening to give out completely.

"You're mine," he murmurs against you, his voice low and possessive. "All mine."

His words send a thrill through you, making your breath hitch. You clutch at his shoulders, desperate for something to hold onto as the pleasure builds like a storm inside you. His mouth is relentless, his tongue devouring you with an intensity that leaves no room for thought, only sensation.

"Rafe," you moan, your voice shaky and pleading. "Please... I need—"

He pulls back slightly, looking up at you with those dark, intense eyes. "You'll get what you need, love," he says, his tone dripping with dominance. "But, you have to prove it to me."

Your heart pounds in your chest as you stare down at him, your mind spinning. Prove what? You don't have to ask; you already know. He wants you to show him how much you want this, how much you want him. And god, you do. You've never wanted anything more.

"I'm sorry," you whisper, your voice barely audible over the pounding of your pulse. "I'm sorry for acting out. I didn't mean to... I just..."

He tilts his head, waiting for you to finish, his gaze unwavering.

"I just needed you," you admit finally, your cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I needed to feel you close, to know you were still here."

His expression softens slightly, but there's still an edge of command in his eyes. "Good girl," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to your thigh. "Now, you’re gonna’ keep being a good girl and take what I give you."

Before you can process his words, he stands, lifting you effortlessly and carrying you to the bed. He sets you down gently, his hands lingering on your waist as he towers over you, his shadow casting a cool darkness over your heated skin.

"Spread your legs," he commands, his voice firm but not unkind.

You obey without hesitation, your body craving his touch like a drug. He kneels between your thighs, his broad chest rising and falling with each deep breath as he tugs his shorts and boxers down to his thighs. His gaze locks onto yours, sending a shiver down your spine.

"Tell me you're ready," he says, his voice low and demanding.

"I'm ready," you breathe, your voice trembling with anticipation. "Please, Rafe... Fuck, I'm ready."

His lips curl into a smirk, and he leans down, his hands sliding beneath your thighs to lift them higher. His fingers trail along the inside of your legs, setting off sparks of desire with every touch. You squirm beneath him, desperate for more, for everything.

And then, finally, he pushes into you.

The sensation is overwhelming, a perfect blend of pain and pleasure that sends a cry tearing from your throat. He pauses, giving you a moment to adjust to his thick length, his eyes locked onto yours as he fills you completely.

"Fuck, you feel so good," he groans, his voice raw with desire. "So tight... so fucking perfect."

You cling to him, your nails digging into his shoulders as he begins to move, slow and deliberate at first, then gradually picking up speed. Each thrust is precise, hitting all the right spots, driving you closer and closer to the edge.

"Rafe," you gasp, your voice breaking as the pleasure builds. "God, Rafe, I can't—"

"Can't what?" he asks, his voice rough with control. "Say it, love."

"I can't hold on," you cry out, your body arching against him as waves of ecstasy crash over you. "I can't take it anymore. Please, Rafe, let me come. Please!"

He smirks, his grip tightening on your hips as he drives into you harder, faster. "That's my girl," he murmurs, his voice filled with pride. "Let it go. Let me feel you fall apart."

And then, with one final, powerful thrust from Rafe, you do.

The orgasm hits you like a tidal wave, crashing over you with relentless force. Your body shudders beneath him, your cries echoing through the room as release consumes you entirely. Rafe doesn't stop, doesn't slow down, pushing you further until you're nothing but a trembling, incoherent mess beneath him.

Finally, when you've had enough, when you feel like you can't possibly take another second, he withdraws, collapsing beside you on the bed. He pulls you into his arms, cradling you against his chest as your breathing slowly returns to normal.

"Shh," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "It's okay, baby. You did so good for me."

You nod weakly against him, too exhausted to speak. His hand strokes your hair soothingly, his touch gentle and loving after the fierce passion of moments before. For now, there's only contentment, a quiet peace that settles over you both.

"I love you," you whisper after a while, your voice small but sincere.

He chuckles softly, tightening his embrace. "I love you too, brat. But next time, maybe think twice before testing me."

You snort, nuzzling closer to him. "Maybe."

He laughs, the sound warm and full of affection. "Rest now," he says, brushing a strand of hair from your face. "We'll talk about it properly tomorrow."

(dividers by @kodaswrld !)

betty’s notes ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚

not incredibly proud of this, but i hope this was what you wanted anon !! new writing style (second person perspective) which was something new, but i actually didn’t mind it? as always, hearts and reblogs are always appreciated!! please comment your thoughts <3

requests are staying open for ONE more day then i’m closing them, so if you want to request get one in ASAP!!

[redvdress]

SILENT TREATMENT

A/N: since i’m still working on a request i thought i could write some silent treatment prompt and i thought hawks would fit this perfectly, if y’all like the idea i might start writing this for more characters, let me know!! btw this is for all you anons, don’t be shy and fill my inbox with requests! i might take a bit to reply but i will. soo now i let you enjoy this, pro hero hawks x implied hero and jealous reader

It all started out fine. Great, even.

You and Hawks had attended one of those Hero Association galas together—one of the usual social events that required Pro Heroes to show up, smile for the cameras, and rub elbows with their colleagues.

Hawks, being Hawks, of course, thrived at these events.

He looked sharp in his suit, his usual swagger even more noticeable as he navigated the room like it was second nature to him. You couldn’t deny how good he looked tonight, wings folded behind him, that lazy grin on his face as he effortlessly entertained the people around him.

But that was exactly the problem.

It was too effortless. Way too effortless when it came to her.

One of the most popular heroes, had been chatting with Keigo for far too long, standing a little too close. You tried not to let it bother you at first.

Really, you did.

But the longer they laughed and the more she touched his arm with her annoyingly perfect, manicured hands, the harder it became to ignore that sinking feeling in your chest. He looked so relaxed, so comfortable with her. And those wings of hers—large, radiant, and golden, ugh, it was too much.

And he just kept smiling that signature ‘Hawks smile’, the one that made you weak in the knees, but tonight? It irritated you to no end. How could he stand there looking so smug and not realize how irritated you were becoming?

Then the hero said something, and Hawks threw his head back in laughter, his wings fluttering in delight. That was it. That was the final straw.

You turned sharply on your heel and walked off, ignoring the curious glance Hawks threw your way as you disappeared into the crowd.

The silent treatment was officially in session.

By the time you got home, the irritation had boiled over. You were mad. And yeah, maybe a little jealous too. But more than that, you were frustrated. Didn’t he realize how he made you feel when he flirted like that, even if it was harmless? Didn’t he understand how it looked from your perspective? He was used to it so it wasn’t a big deal, but it wasn’t for him.

You never acted jealous before, but this time you couldn’t help it. So poor Hawks couldn’t know what he put himself into now.

You threw your bag onto the couch and stormed into the bedroom, already determined to make a point. If Hawks wanted to act oblivious, then fine. You could play that game too. You weren’t going to talk to him. Let him figure it out.

A few minutes later, you heard the door click open and the soft shuffle of boots being kicked off.

Here we go.

“Honey, I’m home!” came his usual singsong voice from the entryway, completely unaware of the brewing storm. “Man, that party was something, huh? Can you believe how many people were there? I couldn’t go five minutes without someone trying to chat me up.”

You stayed in the bedroom, not bothering to answer as you sat down on the bed, arms crossed. You weren’t going to make this easy for him.

After a pause, you heard him shuffle closer. “Uh, babe?” His voice came from the hallway, a little slower now, like he was starting to pick up on the fact that something was off. “You good?”

You didn’t respond.

Hawks peeked his head into the bedroom, his golden eyes scanning the room until they landed on you, sitting there with your arms crossed and a very deliberate expression of ‘I’m pissed’ on your face. He blinked, then a slow grin tugged at his lips as he entered the room.

“Ohhh, I see how it is,” he drawled, his voice light and teasing. He walked over to the bed, standing just close enough to be annoying but not enough to invade your personal space. “We’re doing the silent treatment thing, huh?”

You ignored him, staring straight ahead. Your lips pressed together tightly.

Hawks leaned down a little, tilting his head as he tried to meet your gaze. “Y’know, if you wanted my attention, you didn’t have to go all quiet on me. I was gonna talk to you anyway.”

Nothing.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Really? Not even a little response?” He straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared down at you with a smirk. “You’re killing me here, dove.”

You held firm, though it was getting harder to keep your expression neutral with him standing there like that, looking all too pleased with himself. You were determined to make him sweat it out, just a little longer.

Hawks was not deterred. In fact, he looked like he was getting a kick out of this.

“Okay, alright. I get it. You’re upset,” he said, pacing dramatically around the room, his wings fluttering a little with each step. “But I have a theory.” He paused and pointed at you, as if he’d just solved a complex case. “You’re jealous!”

He grinned like he’d just cracked the code, his eyes twinkling with mischief. You shot him a side glance, your resolve wavering, but you kept quiet.

“Ohhhh,” he drawled, flapping his wings in mock surprise. “This makes so much sense now! It’s because of h/n (i have no fantasy), isn’t it?” He dramatically placed a hand over his heart. “I mean, can you blame her? I’m a total catch. But don’t worry, you’re the one who gets to keep me.” He gave you a cheesy wink, fully aware that he was pushing it now.

You glared at him for a split second before quickly looking away, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.

“C’mon,” he said, walking up behind you. He leaned down, his arms lightly wrapping around your shoulders as his chin rested on your head. “You know she’s just a fan, right? People can’t resist my charm. Even you.”

He was insufferable. And unfortunately, also right.

You huffed but didn’t say a word, keeping your arms crossed as he leaned closer, his breath warm against your neck.

“Babe,” he whispered dramatically, drawing out the word, “are you really gonna stay mad at me? Over a little harmless conversation?”

Still, you said nothing, though you felt his hands shift to your shoulders, gently squeezing in an attempt to coax a reaction out of you.

Hawks, sensing that you weren’t breaking yet, pulled back slightly. “Alright. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

And then, before you could react, his hands slipped under your arms and started tickling you mercilessly.

“C’mon! Say something! Admit you love me!” he teased, his fingers working rapidly as you tried—and failed—not to burst out laughing.

You squirmed, trying to push him away, but he was relentless. “Keigo, stop!” you finally squealed, laughter bubbling up as you tried to twist out of his grasp.

“Oh! You spoke!” Hawks exclaimed with mock shock, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he continued his assault. “I knew it! You can’t resist me!”

“Keigo!” you cried through laughter, finally managing to wriggle free of his grasp, breathless from laughing. You glared at him, but it wasn’t a real glare—more of an exasperated smile.

Keigo flopped down on the bed next to you, his wings splaying out as he propped himself up on one elbow, still grinning like a kid who had just won a game. “There it is,” he said smugly, “I knew I could get you to crack.”

You rolled your eyes, but the irritation had mostly melted away at this point.

“You’re an idiot.”

He smirked, shifting closer until he was right next to you, his face inches from yours. “Yeah, but I’m your idiot,” he said, his voice softening a little as he nudged you playfully.

You sighed, the last remnants of your jealousy fading as you leaned into him slightly, unable to stay mad any longer. “You seriously need to tone it down with the flirting at these events,” you muttered, giving him a halfhearted shove.

Hawks chuckled, his arm wrapping around your waist as he pulled you closer. “Flirting? Nah, that’s just me being friendly. You know I only have eyes for you.” His voice was sincere now, even though the playful tone still lingered at the edges.

You raised an eyebrow, still not entirely convinced. “Friendly?”

He grinned again, leaning in to press a soft kiss to your temple. “Okay, maybe a little flirty. But can you blame me? I’m naturally charming. It just happens.”

You let out a groan, but you couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips. “You’re impossible.”

He leaned back, grinning as if he’d just won the most important battle of his life. “Yep. But you love me anyway.”

You sighed, giving in completely as you rested your head on his shoulder. “Unfortunately for me, I do.”

Hawks chuckled, his fingers lightly playing with a strand of your hair. “See? I knew you couldn’t stay mad at me. I’m just too lovable.”

“Mmhmm,” you murmured, the warmth of his presence chasing away the last bits of jealousy from earlier in the night.

He smirked, clearly satisfied with himself as he wrapped his wings around you, cocooning you in the soft, comforting warmth of his feathers. “Now that that’s settled… how about we grab some late-night takeout and binge-watch something? My treat, since, y’know, I’m such a great boyfriend and all.”

You couldn’t help but laugh, the weight of the earlier frustration lifting completely as you looked up at him, your eyes meeting his warm, golden gaze. “Fine. But you’re paying for everything.”

“Deal,” Hawks said, pressing another kiss to your forehead before jumping up from the bed with renewed energy. “Anything for my favorite girl.”

As you watched him dash out of the room to grab his phone, wings fluttering excitedly, you realized it was practically impossible to stay mad at him for long.

Keigo then lleaned in, giving you one of those cheeky, lopsided grins that always made your heart flutter. His eyes softened just a little as he leaned down and pressed a quick, soft kiss to your lips—one of those ‘I’m cute, and you know it’ kinds of kisses.

Pulling back just an inch, he looked you dead in the eyes with that smirk still plastered on his face and asked, “Now can you forgive me?”

You could already feel the corner of your lips twitching in amusement. His tone was so light, so sure that you’d just let him off the hook with no problem. So, naturally, you decided to mess with him a little. You put on your most serious expression, crossing your arms again and raising an eyebrow as if you were deep in thought.

After a long, dramatic pause, you shook your head slowly and said, “No.”

His face was priceless.

At first, he just blinked at you, clearly expecting you to laugh right away. When you didn’t, his brow furrowed slightly. “Wait… no?” he echoed, his wings twitching with a little nervous flutter. He wasn’t used to this—he could normally charm his way out of anything in less than five minutes, especially with you. “You mean—seriously?”

You bit your lip to keep from laughing and nodded. “Yup. Not forgiven.”

The sheer confusion that spread across his face was both hilarious and oddly endearing. Hawks scratched the back of his neck, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “But… I kissed you,” he said, as if that alone should’ve been enough to completely melt away any lingering frustration.

He gestured vaguely toward his lips, clearly struggling to figure out why his master plan wasn’t working. “I gave you the classic kiss of apology. That’s supposed to work every time.”

You tilted your head, pretending to think it over, then shrugged casually. “Ehhh, wasn’t enough. You’re gonna have to do better than that, bird brain.”

Hawks’ mouth dropped open in disbelief, and his wings puffed out a little in what could only be described as a mini panic mode. “I—what? Better than that? What, do I need to pull out a ring? Get down on one knee? Hire a skywriter?” He paused, a mischievous glint suddenly entering his eyes. “Or… do you want me to serenade you with an original song? I can bust out a guitar and everything, babe.”

You snorted, unable to help the giggle that escaped. “Please don’t.”

“Oh, so you’re serious, huh?” He gave a mock serious nod, like he was really thinking this through now, eyes narrowing as if this was the most challenging mission he’d ever faced. “Alright, fine. How about this? Tomorrow morning, I’ll make you breakfast. Like, a real breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, the whole works. I’ll even throw in some of those fancy berries you like.”

You raised an eyebrow, still playing along. “I don’t know… I feel like breakfast might not be enough.”

Hawks gasped dramatically, his wings fluttering up with the motion. “Not enough? Who are you, and what have you done with my girlfriend? This is outrageous!”

You couldn’t help but laugh at his theatrics, but you managed to keep a straight face long enough to reply. “I mean… how do I know it’ll be a good breakfast? I’m not sure you’ve ever even made pancakes before. What if they come out burnt?”

Now he was on a mission. He threw his hand over his heart like he was swearing an oath. “Burnt pancakes? Me? Impossible! I’ll have you know, I was trained by the best chefs—uh, youtube videos,” he admitted with a sheepish grin, “but still! I’m a fast learner.”

You finally cracked, shaking your head as you laughed. “Hawks, you’re ridiculous.”

He stepped closer, his voice dipping into that playful, persuasive tone he always used when he was trying to charm his way out of trouble. “Come on, dove. I’ll even make the coffee just the way you like it. And I’ll clean the dishes after, too. And—” he paused for dramatic effect, eyes twinkling as he leaned in closer, his face just inches from yours—“I’ll even give you one of my feathers. For free.”

You rolled your eyes at his ridiculous offer, but you couldn’t stop the grin that tugged at your lips. “Oh, one feather? Such generosity. I’m truly blessed.”

He beamed, clearly pleased with himself. “See? Now we’re getting somewhere. That’s a Hawks Special Offer. I don’t just give these feathers away to anyone, y’know.”

You laughed, finally giving in as you lightly shoved him away, but he only pulled you back into his arms, his wings wrapping around the two of you in a feathery cocoon. His golden eyes softened, the playfulness giving way to something more sincere as he pressed his forehead gently to yours.

“Seriously, though,” he murmured, his voice a little quieter now, “I’m sorry if I made you feel ignored earlier. I get caught up in the crowd sometimes, but you’re always the one I come back to. You’re the one I want, dove.”

Your heart melted at his words, and you leaned into him, letting the last bits of annoyance fade completely. “You’re lucky I love you,” you muttered, your voice muffled slightly against his chest.

He chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. “I know. But hey, I’m pretty lovable, right?” He leaned back just enough to look at you, a smirk returning to his lips. “So, are we good now? Or do I still have to make that five-star breakfast tomorrow?”

You smiled up at him, shaking your head. “You still owe me breakfast. I’m holding you to that.”

Hawks grinned, his wings ruffling in excitement. “Deal. I’ll even throw in some bonus wing cuddles. How’s that for a peace offering?”

You laughed, rolling your eyes again but letting yourself sink into his warmth. “Fine. You’re forgiven. But those pancakes better be perfect.”

He puffed out his chest proudly, his wings fluffing up behind him. “They’ll be the best damn pancakes you’ve ever had. Guaranteed.” Then he paused, as if something just occurred to him, and with an overly dramatic sigh, he added, “And if they aren’t, well… I guess you’ll just have to teach me.”

You narrowed your eyes playfully. “You mean I’ll end up cooking breakfast?”

“Exactly!” he said with a wink, completely shameless. “See, teamwork makes the dream work!”

Shaking your head, you playfully swatted at him as he laughed, his wings drawing you closer again. “Don’t push your luck, bird brain.”

He grinned wider, leaning in to steal another kiss. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

[simpforsolas]

i wrote up this whole rant yesterday about how I didn't find the Solas arc satisfying in this game, and seeing the ama and interviews today, I think I understand why that is lol.

yes, Solas carried this game. Yes i loved every time he was on the screen. yes his arc made me cry. NO it was not satisfying. and i'm just gonna go ahead and copy paste my rant explaining my feelings the best i can.

(i wrote this yesterday before all the revelations)

Solas's writing wasn't successful to me not because I think he was written out of character, necessarily. I think that every individual instance of his character being written on-screen was fine, but to me, his character was missing the wider context that put the isolated actions we saw of him in the game into perspective

The entire point is that the Dread Wolf/Fen'Harel persona that we see is a mask he wears. And that's fine, I like it! But what makes a mask interesting is to see what it's masking, and Rook doesn't really get to see that unless you choose the reedem ending. I guess what I'm getting at is that I craved to see more Inquisition-style Solas, in particular Trespasser Solas who was so remorseful but stuck in his ways, who stuck to his path but said stuff like "I would treasure the chance to be wrong once again, my friend." All these different sides are real sides of Solas, but because the game didn't really show us all these sides then we're left with a lopsided picture and now I have to deal with all these fools misinterpreting him all over the internet

I can still interpret it my way well enough, but the thing is that's my interpretation and it's a valid interpretation of the source material itself, but other people's interpretations are also valid because the game didn't really get more into his motivations other than "it's all mythal." But if you go back to inquisition, you can see how passionate Solas is about his ideals! His banter with other party members and his approval and dialogue you get with him really suggests that he actually CARES about his goal at an idealistic level, it's not just about regret. I like the regret! I like the history with Mythal!! I just wish it was more of something in his backstory that shaped him to who he is today and is something he needed to work through in order to finally see things clearly, instead of being the one magical thing that had to happen for him to get his "redemption"

I'm also rather frustrated that the right answer was just going straight back to the status quo, when we KNOW the veil is falling apart and shattered and an unnatural wound inflicted on the world that turns spirits into demons, prevents the world from achieving the magical/technological wonders it once had, keeps elves from immortality, and creates this fear and class difference between mages/non-mages and people who understand the fade and those who don't. Like when I replayed Origins i was struck by how many plot points are basically "the veil is weak here which means that there are demons here and they killed hundreds of people!!!!!!" Things like that are still going to be a problem hello why was none of this addressed 😭😭😭 I wish we could've validated the problems Solas's plan resolved to fix instead of saying "you just need to move on man this is just you taking your issues out on the world" because it WASN'T THAT

'm also really frustrated that we don't see a SINGLE big plan of Solas's go right because I know my man, I BELIEVE in my man, I know that he was smart and clever and had wins!!! I don't mind him fucking up but when all we ever see of him are major fuck ups it annoys me because COME ON. He's the DREAD WOLF. He knows how to make plans and carry them out. He saved thousands of slaves during his time, he fought and won countless battles, he locked away the Evanuris! Sure things fell apart in the actual veil part but he was able to trick all of them and did succeed in locking them away. The only thing we actually see him accomplish in this game is escaping regret prison, which is instantly seen as less cool because Rook gets out after like five minutes, and taking down the archdemon which was pretty hot but that wasn't about trickery, that was him engaging in straight up physical fighting in his wolf form. Anyway it frustrates me because now people in the fandom can rightly laugh about him being stupid and having bad plans. Yet I can't help but go back to inquisition and listen to his advice, dialogue, etc, and he's always so thoughtful and wise! So i just find it hard to believe that this man is incapable of taking a win. even if he kept all the Ls in this game but they had included a few more wins i wouldn't even be mad but it was literally just a collection of Solas's Ls and it frustrates me because I think he's better than that

i'm just worked up about this because i've been seeing takes about solas from people who used to like him but this game made them hate him, and the fact that the source material from datv as an isolated game actually supports their perspective is driving me insane. cuz if you ask me a lot of solas's character and motivations between dai and datv are actually at odds with each other. even if the surface characterization is absolutely on point, there was just so much context and scope that we're missing in this game. i can't handle it

[corseque]

On the scale of 1 (Rise of Skywalker) to 10 (Shadowbringer/Endwalker), where would you place Veilguard?

critical post

I’ve burst into enraged tears like 5 times since I finished it, which is not nearly even close to as many times as Rise of Skywalker, but still 5 times too many. Just the shallowness of the writing, the obviousness, the incredible frustration at the simplicity, the ignoring so much of my favorite character in order to make a stupidly simple plot work, the horrendous time I had trying to ignore Rook’s annoying stupid fuckass pov while just trying to self-insert myself into the end of my favorite fictional character of all time’s story after waiting 10 years. I screamed in frustration that I had to hear the painfully obvious commentary these brand newcomer characters who I did not give a shit about, explaining to me like a toddler how I should feel about revelations I have been writing about for 10 years, especially when what they were saying was stupid as fuck. I cried at the thought of so many cutscenes and so much effort went into stories I found very forgettable and went nowhere, while they were able to only scrounge up like 10 total animated shots reuniting Solas and Lavellan. I mourn that I could not make any decisions in a BioWare game. I mourn Solas’ story so much, and probably will for years. I will never get over the way they talked down to him and never listened to him for even a second, lest they actually have to write a branching path into their game. I hate that the theme was regret but Rook regrets nothing ever so (shrugs) regret doesn’t affect them or mean anything to them. I mourn the loss of the voice and point of view of his people, the ones he was fighting for, the ones who are alive. I mourn that it turns out that he’s just a stupid feral dog who is 100% wrong about everything always and he always has been from the beginning of time. I cried that the game said the answer was that Solas should NOT try to help his people and they never even discussed it as a philosophical question or the ethics of it or anything, or playing as a character so dense they never once even wondered if accidentally freeing the gods killed more people overall than the veil coming down would have. (We avoided this question like the plague, lest we feel less like purely Good Heroes who could talk down to the gods with righteous fury). I mourn that I’m never going to know what would have happened without the Veil. I feel so stupid for thinking that elves or spirits as factions would appear in any capacity with lines and perspectives in this game. I’m so angry at how safe and smoothed over everything in the setting is, and how it felt like the main characters never struggled with anything and have nothing to say. I can’t believe Dragon Age is so shallow and unsatisfying and head-empty. I mourn that the story of Dragon Age is Over to me and I will never play another game.

I’ve also cried a few times at the completely separated and individual imagery and music in the last scene. I’ve cried that my favorite character didn’t die in any world after 10 years of being at death’s door. I’ve cried at the thought of him being a little worm spirit, and that I was right about him the whole time. I cried when activating Felassan’s crystal in the final fight and seeing all the buffs. I cried when I turned the page and realized the default inquisitor was exactly the same as my personal Lavellan, down to hair style, eye color, hair color, vallaslin removed. I cried when I realized Solas thought he should have died as a spirit rather than be born. I cried that the main story Dragon Age has been telling the whole time has been about the reconciliation and freeing of my favorite fictional character. I cried that Solas and Lavellan got married in the end, when I genuinely wasn’t expecting either of them to even be alive. They’re both still alive and in love in every single world. I can’t wrap my head around that.

I have no idea where to put it. It’s a few high highs but some intolerably low fucking lows. It could have been so much worse but the bar is on the fucking floor. I go back and forth between moderate enjoyment to just being so angry. It could have been so much more and I do not know who to bite for it.

I have no idea.

[official-cvntified-gay]

Jealous, Jealous Girl (Regina George x Reader)

(𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙬𝙤) (𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚)

I definitely don't have "Jealous Girl" on repeat while writing this. If you have any requests feel free to send it my way<3

﹒⪩⪨﹒

Summary: Now that she has the teacher's attention, seems like she's not the only one who has and wants it.

Regina was left confused. The situation keeps repeating over and over in her mind. She can't help but wish for more of those. She felt how good it feels to be on the receiving end of your affection.

She can't get enough...

"Ms. George?" She shook her head slightly to get out of her head. She looks up at you, tilting her head but not saying anything.

"I asked you a question." You cross your arms, looking at her with a hint of annoyance in your tone and face.

"What's the question again?" You immediately look away from her, "anyone else who'd like to answer my question?" You look around the room.

"Yes, Ms. Jones?" Your enthusiasm for another student stirred something in her; she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the now-speaking Ms. Jones. She squinted her eyes at the girl who seemed too proud of herself when you gave her praise. The girl tried to intimidate Regina, but Regina, being Regina, just looked at her. She scanned the girl up and down before she gave her a disgusted look.

"Thank you for paying attention, Ms. Jones. And that was a very well-thought-out perspective," Regina scoffs at your words. You look in her direction, and she looks away from you. She was muttering something under her breath.

"What was that? Ms. George?" You said, ridiculously sweet that she tasted the sarcasm in there.

"Nothing, miss" You let out a soft, light chuckle. Regina's annoyed face disappeared when she heard your soft chuckle, she let out a small smile. But it quickly fell when you mouthed "Brat" under your breath while looking straight into her eyes.

"Going along with Ms. Jones's perspective-" Your words didn't make sense to her, but she listened to your voice. Her mind replayed the image where you called her a brat in front of everyone.

But Regina noticed the competition. That Alissa Jones wants her as an enemy. Regina smiled to herself; she didn't need to compete with her. She could quickly destroy the girl if she wanted to.

But gosh, she wanted to compete with the attention that you seem to be giving her. She wants to be the one you're smiling at when she gives you a good answer.

Not only does she crave your validation, but she also craves you...

Never in her life had she thought she would crave someone's attention, and that someone. But here she is.

Regina made it her mission to always answer in your class. She craves to hear those "Very good" and "Well done" repeatedly. Gretchen and Karen would sometimes ask why she was studying for your class. The questions were turned down because of her glare.

But their curiosity grew, and Regina was not interested in history. So, seeing her prepare for that class is peculiar to her friends. Regina even asked for the class syllabus so she could study in advance.

She always sent Alissa some proud looks after every recitation and a compliment from you. Not only did she revel in your praise. She also marvels at the disappointment of Alissa.

She would always stare at you when you were just sitting in your seat. Regina would not look away when you caught her stare; she knew that you knew that she wanted you.

Yet, you did nothing

It left her frustrated; your actions when alone with her assure her that you feel the same. But why aren't you doing something?

"Class dismissed. Ms. Jones? Stay for a moment," that seems to wake something inside her. She gave the girl a mean look, but she was greeted with a smirk. She looked at you, but your eyes gave her nothing.

She felt something tug in her chest.

She walked out of class, defeated. She turned her head back to see you talking to Alissa. Nothing inappropriate, but it still burns her.

She saw how you didn't even look in her direction. She gave everyone a hard time that day. She ensured that whoever was staring at her was shooed and called out. She even snapped at her friends at lunch.

God, she hated the effect you have on her, but god, she wants you.

So be it.

After that day, every time you would call her. She'd be in her head or purposely ignoring you. She knew better than to get on your nerves and anger you in front of the class, so that she would feign an apology every time.

She loves how you bite the inside of your cheeks when she answers you sarcastically every time you call her out. Or how you squint your eyes at her whenever she counters when you call her out.

She loves how you try to calm yourself down when she presses your buttons. Regina doesn't seem to care. But damn, does she want to ruin Alissa for always trying to get you to notice her.

And how she hated it when you would move on to the next student when she gave you an attitude.

But she thought wrong.

How you wished to shut down that smart mouth of hers every time she would spite back. Every single thing that she did is always in your mind, and you hate how you can't do anything about it.

Regina made sure to get on your nerves. She always turns in her work late- even when there's a test. She'll always be the last one to turn in her test. And you knew her best works, and recently, this is not it.

She'll watch in amusement when you shake your head when you check her paper; it's either an almost empty paper or a paper full of wrong answers.

You wonder what's happening to Regina. This is so unlike her.

One day, Regina came to class late. She went to her seat in the middle of your discussion. You cleared your throat when Regina took her seat. She gave an annoyed sigh and murmured an apology because she was late. You decide to ignore her before you get into a bad mood because of her behaviour, you continue with your discussion.

You almost forgot that she came late this morning. So you decided to give her a chance to answer your question.

"Ms. George!" Your voice raises slightly as this is your fourth time calling her name. Regina looks at you, uninterested, playing with her perfectly manicured nails.

"What?" She crosses her arms, challenging you. You bite your lips momentarily, taking a quick, deep breath to compose yourself.

"I've called you four times already." You said, voice low and steady. The sound of your heels echoed throughout the room as the students noticed the serious tone in your voice. You rarely get angry.

As you approach Regina, she gives you an innocent and uninterested look as if she did nothing wrong in the past week. When you're in front of her desk, she looks up at you.

"So?" Regina questions like it's not a big deal. But she gulped when she saw the look on your face. Her world seemed to freeze, and she almost quivered in her seat. Her breath quickened as she realised the consequences of her actions

She regretted those actions...

She thought of many different things to take back her actions and make it up. She also wished for the ground to open up and consume her.

"See me after class, Ms. George"

She's fucked...

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

(𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙)

Be Aggressive. B.E Aggressive

After a few scribbles and doodles on my notebook. Finally here's part 2! And here I am writing instead of reviewing for my midterm exams tomorrow😭

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪𝙜𝙚𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

・❥・ @isawxxp @pyro-les

[slytherinshua]

DATING LEEHAN AS SUNGHO'S YOUNGER SISTER !

genre. fluff. headcanons. warnings. this is kind of a mess and disorganized cause i was just writing whatever came to mind ++ most of this is pretty sungho focused im ngl?? cause i wanted to focus on the dynamics and how it would be different from just dating leehan headcanons... pairing. leehan x fem!reader (reader is sungho's younger sister). wc. 966. request. requested by anon: I was wondering if you could do headcanons of what it would be like to be sungho’s younger sibling & you’re dating leehan a/n. this idea is rly cute :( and i wanted to do it earlier i swear and we are gonna pretend like this request isn't literally a year old IM SORRY 😞 bye its literally from last july that's embarrassing 😭 BUT IM GETTING TO IT NOW <3

dating leehan when you're sungho's younger sister would be nerve-wracking as hell at the beginning of the relationship, specifically when you need to break the news to sungho

and more-so for leehan because you honestly don't care if sungho doesn't like that you're dating his friends, but you are a bit worried that it'll be awkward at first

whereas leehan is scared shitless because what if sungho suddenly hates him for it???

but sungho barely even blinks when you announce that leehan is your boyfriend because he knew that you had a crush on his friend and he also knew even more that leehan secretly liked you

he wouldn't have ever pictured you two together at first but once he sees how happy you both are, he's totally supportive of the relationship <3

but he does threaten you to never break up with leehan cause he doesn't want it to be awkward between him and his friend lol

sungho isn't particularly overprotective as a brother unless he needs to be, and then he is very protective of you

you two both have a very playful and close relationship, and more often than not you're just in a constant competition of who can annoy the other the most

and when you start dating leehan, sungho gets a massive upper hand in this game

because he knows your boyfriend better than you do at first, especially when it comes to leehan's habits

because leehan always tries to act as charming as he can in front of you

i mean, he's a boy in love, so of course he's always trying to put his best self forward <3

but it becomes quite hard to do that when sungho starts to randomly drop pieces of info about him just to piss you off lmao

poor leehan is caught in the middle of you two bickering and praying that sungho doesn't expose any awful secret to you or something 😭

another thing that would cause some frustration is trying to have any private time with your boyfriend :(

like i said, sungho doesn't strike me as overprotective but he absolutely will randomly open your door when he knows leehan and you are hanging out solely with the purpose of teasing you

does he get a pillow thrown at his head for this? yes.

is it leehan or you who throws it? who knows...

he also loves to make overdramatic gagging noises and disgusted faces whenever you show even an ounce of pda

even if it’s just hugging, sungho will act like it's the most disgusting thing he's ever seen

kissing is a whole other level like he'll deadass tell you two to get a room 😭

leehan originally thought that sungho must know everything about you given that he's literally your brother

but he's extremely disappointed when he realizes that he far surpasses sungho in y/n-knowledge 

leehan picks up on everything about you to the point that sungho is the one asking him things 😭

because when your birthday comes around, leehan has a whole list of possible things to get you and do for you

and sungho doesn't even know what your current obsession is

but something that sungho finds really wholesome about your relationship with leehan from an older brother perspective is how you match his interests :(

you'll absolutely do anything with leehan and engage in all of his obsessions, just like he does with you

and sungho likes watching that happen cause he does truly adore both of you 

and he learns to adore both of you together more than separate

he hates when he has to be a bridge between you two whenever you get into an argument though

he'll have to hear both sides of it before deciding which side he's on

because while he'd love to pick your side every time and put family first, he knows that sometimes you get into stupid fights over nothing

and leehan is usually pretty reasonable

when it is actually leehan's fault, sungho is pissed though

and if leehan didn't already feel awful about fighting with you, he now has to hear sungho give him an earful on how he better not make you cry ever again 

basically when you are happy and leehan is happy, sungho is happy too

except when he's forced to be a third-wheel, then he's questioning why he ever allowed this relationship to exist

yk that question of like "if you had to introduce your sister to one of the members, who would it be?" yeah sungho had always hated that question

but after months of leehan and you dating, he realizes that it's a lot better that you're dating one of his members than a random guy he's never met

because he knows leehan is a good person and wouldn't play with your heart or treat you badly ever and it makes him really excited that two of the people closest to him are in love :( it's wholesome

i rambled a lot about sungho so let me talk a bit about leehan <3

he always finds it funny when he sees pieces of sungho in you and he always points it out

any mannerism or preference that you have that is similar to sungho's, leehan finds it so interesting!!

he loves to play into sungho's disgust at pda by giving you a kiss whenever he enters the room 

or when you steal his hoodie and sungho catches onto it, leehan just wears the biggest most proud smile ever :( he's so in love with you and wants to show you off everywhere he goes

overall dating leehan as sungho's little sister just means a whole lot of extra teasing and your brother being utterly disgusted but secretly endeared at your relationship at every turn

↳ boynextdoor taglist (bolded could not be tagged): @rizzshimura,, @captivq,, @icyminghao,, @eternalgyu,, @metalchick529,,

@schmocolateschmchip,, @kpoprhia,, @candewlsy,, @weird-bookworm,, @blossominghunnie,,

@kangtaehyunzzz,, @snowflakemoon3,, @lovialy,, @lecheugo,, @okshu,,

@wccycc,, @seunghancore,, @ujisworld,, @sobun1est,, @emmylksblog,,

@talkingsaxy,, @talking-saxy

[leighsartworks216]

Darlin' I'd Wait For You

Astarion x gn!Tav/Reader

Requested by propertyofjmiller on AO3:

“hiya ^^ super duper simple request; softly singing astarion to sleep as he's laying on tav's tummy and she's playing with his hair :) it could be set after his ‘good ending’ where you talk him out of ascending, so the relationship is established (if that's easier from a writing perspective) but i'm always for an emotionally constipated astarion who's still learning how to accept non-sexual intimacy 🤗 absolutely obsessing over your writing atm

JUST HAD A BRAIN WAVE. https://spotify.link/oCo4B63H0Db this song completely encapsulates the vibe”

It is currently 1 am I really wanted to write something and I'm so sleepy it only felt fitting to do this request. I have not proofread it at all but if I try to I will pass out so ✌️

Title based on "j's lullaby (darlin' i'd wait for you)" by Delaney Bailey

Warnings: none

Word Count: 943

Main Masterlist

First Baldur's Gate 3 Masterlist - Second Baldur's Gate 3 Masterlist

AO3

Tag List Form

He’s utterly restless. Maybe that shouldn’t be surprising - he was an elf who didn’t need to sleep like you did. A few hours’ meditation and he’d be perfectly fine. But it’s not like he’d never slept before. Even on your adventure, he found some solace in sleeping instead of meditating. So why couldn’t he sleep now?

Astarion sighs quietly, trying not to be loud despite the frustration that burns him up inside. He tries rolling over again, like it’ll help. He bites back another frustrated sigh.

You roll over to face him. Your lids are heavy and you look the embodiment of tiredness, but you smile softly at him. “Can’t sleep?” you whisper.

He does sigh this time, long and annoyed. “No,” he grumbles. You chuckle, but he knows it’s harmless. Still, he can’t help being a little hot-and-bothered by it. A bit ruder than is appropriate for so late at night, he bites out, “Sorry if I woke you.”

“It’s okay. I couldn’t sleep either.”

With a stifled yawn, you sit up. He watches, intrigued, as you prop up pillows behind you and lay back into them. Then you delicately touch his shoulder. Always so gentle. You never wanted to overwhelm him or overstep. It was still a new concept for him. You’d brush a finger against his while walking side by side to see if he wished to hold hands; you’d hover a hand near his lower back when you had to slip by, never quite touching; you’d reach a hand up toward his hair and wait for him to lean in or verbally tell you he wanted it, and if he didn’t respond at all or even slightly shook his head, your hand would drop back down and you’d smile so brightly at him. It made his head spin.

With your other hand, you pat your belly. “C’mon, I’ll sing to you.” Even this is an invitation he could refuse. But how can he, when he is so restless and your plush, warm skin is calling to him?

He crawls to lay on top of you - though, it’s more like he pulls himself across the space until he can drop his head into your stomach. You lightly trace your hand from his shoulder to his upper-back, giving him a warm sense of security. Your other hand brushes a curl from his face. He looks up at you, not fully resting his chin on you, for fear of pressing too hard.

You drag your fingers through his hair, lightly scratching your nails against his scalp. He leans into it, eyes closing at the sensation. When you reach the hairs on the back of his neck, you scratch and twirl your fingers to capture the stray little curls.

You hum as you finally pick what song you want to sing. You weren’t a bard, nor had you taken any voice lessons, but Astarion can’t help thinking you have the most perfect singing voice he’s ever heard. You can’t reach all the notes you want to, your voice warbles and falls a little flat, and sometimes you don’t remember the words. But he loves it all the same.

Darlin’, I’d wait for you

Even if you didn’t ask me to

Tie a lasso around the moon

And bring it on down to you

He turns to rest his ear against you. His arms slide underneath you, between your back and the pillows, and hold you like a child’s favorite toy.

I’d bottle the feeling you give me

And shelve that stuff for years to come

‘Cause, baby, when your arms are around me

I’d swear that I’m holding the sun

He smiles at the lyrics you sing so softly. You can’t help but smile, too.

You play with his hair unhurriedly, lazily. It’s always so soft. Your other hand rubs circle designs in between his shoulder blades. You easily avoid the scars beneath his sleep-shirt, so intimately familiar with his back in a way he would have hated before. He thinks he can make out sloppy elvish writing, but it’s hard to say. His mind is too sluggish to recall if you even know the language.

I’d give you the sun if you asked me

You could have all of time

You could have the stars and the trees

When dividin’ up the universe

You could have mine

You could have mine

His entire body relaxes into yours, until where you begin and he ends becomes a blur. Neither of you are eager to figure it out. Instead, you continue to sing your quiet lullaby. Your voice begins to trail off somewhere along the way, hands slowing and losing their rhythm. He can hear your breaths even out until you can no longer sing, fully claimed by your exhaustion.

He continues to lay there for a bit longer. He counts the seconds it takes for you to breathe in and out. He counts the beats of your heart as it slows to a steady pattern. Every so often, your fingers twitch in his hair or against his back, as though part of you is fighting to wake up again and continue taking care of him. But he’s already perfectly content right where he is. He is warm and safe, and you are warm and safe.

The dark tendrils of sleep crawl in from the outer edges of his mind until they overwhelm him. His dreams are filled with you - your voice, your smile, the way you feel in his arms, the way you touch him so tenderly. Come morning, he can experience it all for himself, but for now, he cherishes every second.

---

Tag List:

@hypopxia @flsalazar @beverlybeav @angelofthorr @emiemiemiii @marina-and-the-memes @aurasyn @furblrwurblr @cappsikle @mjmygd @thegirlsadventuresinwonderland @kindadolly @bloopthebat @pandimoostuff @chesb0red @black-star1472 @sessils @olitheghostboy-blog @puppyg1rl666 @maruichio @cyber-dump-171 @katharynmarie @twinkliker3000 @cherifrog @catching-fire-in-the-wind @phantoms-fandom-blog @thespectacularspaceace @lynnlovesthestars @sylverqueen_cosplay @yarn_yogi @tototini @teardropcup

[scribblesofagoonerr]

I just need you both right now...

Here's the second part for you all, hope you all like it!

I was a bit stupid at the start of the week and injured my knee so I currently can't do much other than rest it right now, so I'm back to writing again!

Thank you to @alotofpockets for her help as always! So so grateful!

Pairings: lia wälti x teen reader, caitlin foord x teen reader, arsenal wfc x teen reader

“Are you sure this is a good idea, Wally?” Leahs’ voice is anxious as she turns to the brunette Swiss woman, who has just finished parking her car outside of your mum’s new house.

“Probably not, but I want to know why on earth she thought it was appropriate to teach my daughter self-defence like that” Lia’s frustration seethes as she switches off the car’s ignition.

“Don’t be angry with Mum” You interject quickly, feeling the need to defend her. From your perspective, there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with her actions, “It’s not her fault!” you assert pointedly.

Lia clicks her tongue and shakes her head in disagreement, “She shouldn’t be teaching you this in the first place, Y/F/N!” she exclaims, undoing her seatbelt.

“I think it’s best if I stay in the car” Leah decides, opting out of another potential argument between the two exes, her being there wouldn’t do very much to help right now.

“Okay, Le” Lia’s expression softens as she looks at the blonde before turning to you, slouched in the backseat, “Come on Y/N/N” she gestures for you to follow her out of the car.

Furrowing your eyebrows, you unbuckle your seatbelt and step out of the car, following your mama’s lead as she strides towards the front door, her knuckles rapping impatiently.

“Alright, alright. Geez, I’m comin’ now. Just hold on!” A familiar voice grumbles from behind the closed door, which you immediately recognise as Ella, Katie’s younger sister who now lives with them.

“Hey, squirt. Shouldn’t you still be in school?” Ella asks, puzzled, as she greets you.

“Hi Ella!” You wave cheerfully, despite the circumstances of why you were here, “I was at school earlier, but then I got into trouble and well, now I’ve been suspended” You ramble your explanation, oblivious to the annoyed facial expression your mama currently has when you retell your account of events.

“Uh oh” Ella chuckles, amused by your latest antics.

You sometimes wished you could move in with your mum, although you miss the times’ that your mum and mama both lived together with you, things were so much easier then.

Cutting through the light banter, Lia gets straight to the point with the blonde girl, “Look, I’m not in the mood to mess around here, Ella. Where is Caitlin? I need to speak to her” she states.

“Uh, right, she’s inside the house. Hold on, I’ll shout for her now— Caitlin? Lia and the kids’ here!” Ella calls out, momentarily forgetting that she was currently live on TikTok, which was now buzzing with comments reacting to the conversation out of frame.

“Comin’ now!” Caitlin’s voice rings from inside the house.

Without much hesitation, you dart through the front door to greet Caitlin, “Mum!” You shout, practically leaping into her arms.

“Hey, kiddo” Caitlin is able to catch you mid-air, spinning you around in her arms, “So, what’s this that I heard you got into trouble at school, huh? That kid must’ve deserved it if they’re pickin’ on you!” she jests.

“I hit them good and proper, exactly like you taught me to do!” You proudly mimic the moves you’d used to defend yourself, “I remembered to hit her right where it hurts!” You add.

“Ah, that’s my girl!” Caitlin beams proudly, setting you back on the ground and ruffling your hair.

“Yeah, although mama’s not happy with you now though cos’ I just told her I did what you showed me” You innocently play the two women against each other.

“Oh boy” Caitln’s face clouds as she faces Lia’s disapproving gaze at the door, while Ella is still awkwardly holding her phone.

“You seriously taught Y/N self-defence?!” Lia’s anger simmers as she confronts her ex-girlfriend.

“Yeah, why shouldn’t I have?” Caitlin fires back defensively.

Lia scoffs and shakes her head, “Because, no thanks to you and that ‘help’ it’s now led her to be suspended for the rest of the week!” she retorts incredulously.

“Whoa, whoa!” Caitlin holds her hands in self-surrender, “How is this all of a sudden just my fault?” The Australian woman furrows her eyebrows in confusion.

“Well I’m certainly not the one that taught her to use her fists, Caitlin!” Lia protests, her frustration evident.

“Uh, I don’t know what’s goin’ on right now, but uh— Oh shit, the lives’ still on” Ella mutters in realisation when she glances down at her phone and hurries to end it.

“I taught her self-defence in case she ever needed to use it, like today, for example” Caitlin argues, shaking her head.

Lia scoffs and shakes her head in disagreement with her ex, “If you hadn’t taught her it then she wouldn’t be in trouble at school in the first place!” she states firmly.

“Can I stay over here tonight, mum?” You look up at Caitlin expectantly.

“Of course you can, kiddo” Caitlin responds.

“No” Lia interjects.

You’re caught off guard by the conflicting responses from both of them, though you know that you don’t truly deserve to stay the night, all you crave is to be with your mum and mama and at least this way, you have both of them together right now.

Sometimes acting out feelings like the only solution to get their attention.

“She can stay if she wants to” Caitlin insists, glaring at Lia.

“It’s not your day, Caitlin” Lia reminds her.

“So? What does that matter– Let her spend the night here just this once, Lia. She obviously needs it with everything going on!”  The Australian woman argues back.

“With everything going on? She got in trouble at school, Caitlin. This is serious– She doesn’t need to be rewarded for this behaviour!” Lia stands firm on her decision.

You shuffle your feet, a heavy weight settling in your chest as you listen to the heated exchange between your moms once again. The constant bickering, the never-ending tension– It’s like a suffocating cloud, leaving you feeling small and insignificant.

As Lia and Caitlin argue yet again, you can’t help but feel like your own problems are trivial in comparison. The bullying at school, the taunts, the physical attacks– They all seem so insignificant when your moms’ can’t even stop fighting long enough to notice.

You thought about telling them in the past, about opening up and seeking their support, but every time you muster the courage, their voices rise again, drowning out your own.

Sometimes it feels like your problems don’t matter, as if they’re too consumed by their own issues to care about yours, so it’s easiest to just suffer in silence, plastering on a smile to hide the pain, pretending like everything’s okay when it’s anything but.

You long for the days when your moms were a united front, when you felt safe and loved, and understood; Now, you just have to navigate between their two households where it feels like sometimes you’re walking on eggshells.

Sometimes you feel so lost, unsure what to do but somehow you decided down the road, it was just better to hide your feelings away from everyone who cared about you.

You made it so that neither of your mums’ realised what was going on and they just thought it was the typical misbehaviour from a teenager.

“How about you let me decide what I want to do instead of just assuming?” You speak up, tired of their endless bickering, “I’m almost 16 now, I can make my own decisions!”

You really didn’t mean to yell, but you’re fed up now. You need both of them to set aside their differences and support you.

Why was that so difficult?

“I just… I just need you both right now, I need you both together– And you can’t even stay within the same distance before you just end up yelling at one another!” You cry out, hoping they’ll understand your plea.

At least that seemed to have gotten both of their attention when they looked at you confused.

“What’re you talking about, kiddo?” Caitlin frowns, confused.

Lia turns to you bewildered, “What’s wrong, Y/N/N?” she asks, concern etched on her face.

You shuffle nervously on your feet as you try and muster up the courage to explain what has been going on.

When did things become so difficult to talk about?

“I’m being bullied…” Your voice trembles as you force the words out, a knot tightening in your throat, “It’s been going on for a while, I…. I just didn’t know how to tell you both because you’re so wrapped up in arguing with each other to care about me!” You confess, your fingers nervously picking at a loose thread on your school jumper.

Lia gasps in shock, her eyes widening in realisation, “What? That’s not true, Y/N/N” she disputes, her tone softening with concern.

Feeling a glimmer of hope at Lia’s response, you meet her gaze, your eyes pleading for understanding, “But it is true, mama” You insist, your voice shaky but determined, “Every time I’ve tried to talk to you about this, you’re either arguing or too busy with your own stuff to notice” You tell her.

Caitlin’s expression softens as she takes in your words, a pang of guilt flashing across her features, “I’m sorry kiddo” she murmurs, her voice laced with regret, “I didn’t realise… I’ve been so caught up in everything lately. I… We didn’t see how much you were hurting” she states in concern.

Tears prickle at the corner of your eyes as you nod, a wave of relief washing over you at their acknowledgement, “It’s okay” You whisper, feeling a weight lifting from your shoulders, “I just… I just need you to both be there for me, to listen and to understand me” you tell them honestly.

Lia reaches out, pulling you into a tight hug, her embrace offering comfort and reassurance, “We will be, sweetheart” she promises, her voice gentle as she glances at Caitlin who nods in agreement, “We’re here for you, no matter what” she adds.

Caitlin joins the embrace, wrapping her arms around both of you, her eyes reflecting a mix of regret and determination, “We’ll figure this out, together” she vows, her voice firm with resolve.

In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of their love and support, you feel a flicker of hope ignite within you. Despite the challenges ahead, you know that with your moms by your side, you can face anything.

© scribblesofagoonerr

[communistkenobi]

I love finding new communists blogs because you immediately have to scroll through all the posts to see if you wanna follow them or block them lmao. Anyway from what I understand you work in western academia to some degree and as a student taking some classes in the social sciences it’s such a pain in the ass trying to even bring up a Marxist perspective. How do you deal with how much pushback socialism has in academia?

I’m doing a PhD in sociology ! And please feel free to block me, we are all annoying etc 

I would say that resistance to socialist ideas is a major source of frustration for me in academia - a learning curve for me has been gearing my writing & research to work around that type of institutional hostility. It depends on the discipline as well. Given that Marx is such a titanic figure in sociology I find it easier to engage with his work openly (although you will be mocked for it lol - it’s viewed as a dead-end project in the West since the USSR collapsed), whereas more history- or politics-based courses I’ve taken have been extremely hostile to even tepid Marxist analysis. I have friends to vent to and have found other people in my discipline who are like-minded, which has helped. You will need to do a lot of tactical retreats - I’ve found that tying your analysis to state policy helps a lot, it helps you get grants, and academics trade in policy-talk across disciplines so it will prepare you for that if you want to stay in academia.

I have also been making peace with the fact that academia is not really the place to “do” socialism - it is a deeply political job, and my ideological commitments motivate me to do work and research that I hope are beneficial to the world, but I think the authority and privileges afforded to academics, not academia itself, is the better avenue to conduct political activity - participating in student & left-wing actions, giving money and resources to activist groups, using your prestigious position to publicly speak on issues, sign important documents for vulnerable people (profs are counted as authorities to sign off on name change documents for trans people in Canada for example, as well as visa and citizenship proof I believe?), things like that. There was that Canadian doctor, Dr. Yipeng Ge, who was suspended from his university position for speaking out against Israel and went to Palestine on a medical mission, Engels used his family’s money to fund Marx & socialist actions, Lenin went to law school, etc (i am NOT remotely comparing myself to any of them to be clear lol, just demonstrating that there is historical precedent for this way of thinking). I’ve done a decent amount of union + community work and the reoccurring lesson I keep learning is that there are many little, vacant positions of power sprinkled throughout the world that will help you organize and agitate above and beyond your individual capabilities. And the right wing knows this! They take over local school board committees and town halls and run for office in their local neighbourhoods all the time, often unopposed, and use that to exert terrible political influence.

I try very much to resist the “one of the good ones” mindset re: my own career in academia and is one I struggle with pretty often. being pragmatic about what academic research actually does in the world is still something I’m grappling with. Academia has provided me with an incredibly prestigious education and a lot of social capital that I hope to use for some amount of good. I’m also betting on what is essentially a lottery ticket, given how rare tenure-track university positions are, so maybe all of this will be irrelevant anyway lol. I’m not sure if that’s helpful but it’s not a settled issue for me either, so if this reads as vague or wishy-washy that’s why!

[ironunderstands]

AAAAAAAAA

Genuinely I feel annoying as fuck for saying this but like I can’t stand the way anybody else but me or my mutuals writes Aventio/Ratiorine 90% of the time

So, to vent my frustration, here’s a not in order at all bulleted list of stuff I absolutely despise when seeing content of them. This is not to call ppl out or anything, I just wanna rant about my preferences lol

oh and cw: mentions of slavery, nsfw, suicidal tendencies and non-con

-one or both of them being way to horny/flirty

Maybe this could work in content with an established relationship, but like, these guys don’t fuck, I’m sorry, they don’t. They are the biggest virgin losers ever regardless of if they have had sex in the past or not. Some of yall don’t get that they were acting in Penacony for the most part and Aventurine’s flirtiness didn’t have any weight behind it, he was really just messing with Ratio. I think if he were seriously trying to court Ratio, he’d probably be LESS flirty, but that’s just me. I understand why people make nsfw of them without any kinda buildup because well it’s fun, but for me personally I don’t really like it 90% of the time, however I fully get this is a me thing. I can tolerate it more in fanart bc well it’s fanart so yeah there’s not gonna be 3000k words of lore behind it, but like if I’m reading a fic and Aventio go from not even being in a relationship to having sex on a whim it just confuses me.

-yandere anything

I despise this trope already but it makes me 100000x more annoyed because holy shit neither of them would be a yandere I get it some people like this but WHYY THEMMM it doesn’t make sense. Yandere Aventurine makes me even more mad bc why the fuck would he make someone suffer like he did when he was younger???

-emotionless Ratio

Idk why half the community treats Ratio like he’s an unfeeling logic robot who’s sole goal is knowledge even when the game beats you over the head about how he’s the exact fucking opposite of that, but honestly I think this is just a symptom of the fact that a lot of ratiorine writers don’t give two fucks about him at all and he’s practically written as a plot device for Aventurine’s characterization.

-misunderstanding why Ratio is a tsundere

I’ve seen a lot of people misinterpret how and why Ratio is a tsundere towards Aventurine, citing it as if he doesn’t want to be associated with him/looks down upon him/is ashamed to like him when that’s really not true at all. Ratio respects and cares about Aventurine a hell of a lot, and he isn’t shy at all to show it when it’s necessary (see DSAIWYTBOL or the “if you can’t hold on any longer then tell me”). However, the reason he pushes away Aventurine isn’t exactly personal (although Aventurine’s closeness to him is part of the reason why).

Rather, Ratio tends to downplay his close relationships a lot, likely as a defense mechanism, as he admits himself that he isn’t good with people in one of the dialogue options with trailblazer for the express visits. Now why he is this way is a subject of speculation because Ratio rarely ever talks about himself, and the only character who actually has a voiceline on him is Aventurine himself, so it’s very hard to get an outside perspective on him. His character stories don’t really help that much either, as they are more about his personal philosophy and journey in life rather than his personality.

However, taking what Ratio says towards Aventurine at face value when he has proven the opposite (especially considering how the trope of the tsundere is kinda centered on the character in question spouting bullshit) results in people completely misunderstanding their relationship which can get REALLY annoying. Ratio doesn’t think Aventurine is an idiot in the slightest, he just worries about how his methods put himself in danger, not his capabilities.

-fast burn

You’re telling me these emotionally constipated idiots will get together easily? No. There’s a reason I write the most crazy bullshit happening to them before a confession scene and that’s because that’s the only way you can get them to confront their goddamn feelings quickly.

-slavery aus/anything like this

Self explanatory. If you have fetishized Aventurine’s past or made stuff like this please stay 1000 feet away from me at all times or block me. Thank you 🙏

-babying Aventurine

He’s one of the most competent members of the cast, but somehow people act like his breakdown scene in 2.1 is how he behaves 24/7 when that isn’t true at all. Aventurine is incredibly smart, and single-handedly clawed his way to the top. He does not need Ratio to save him. Would he appreciate Ratio’s support? Of course, and he definitely needs loving relationships in his life, but Aventurine isn’t a damsel in distress and not everything in his life is miserable and related to his trauma.

-or the horrible reverse of babying Aventurine: his trauma doesn’t exist actually and he’s perfectly fine/ they write him like it never happened

This one is rather rare and it has overlap with a few of the other points (seriously I’m gonna tweak out the next time someone writes the character who is implied to have survived sex trafficking being a person who would even dream of crossing others boundaries). Usually this happens because people treat Aventurine’s playboy mask as if it’s his actual personality and not traits he picked up to survive and succeed at his goals, and while admittedly even Aventurine is losing track of where the mask ends and he begins, some of y’all take it wayy to far even going on to unironically call him a fuckboy when he’s anything but that. The thing is, I think this happens when people erase who Kakavasha is from their minds, and act as if that side of Aventurine is a purely innocent child and all the “bad” parts of him are part of Aventurine’s mask. However, that’s not true, and Aventurine’s most admirable traits ARE Kakavasha’s. His strategicness, his intellegence, his bravery, these are all traits he possessed long before becoming Aventurine of stratagems, something which he demonstrated when he for example got his sisters neckless back, or made that bet with his first enslaver.

Aventurine’s purity and Aventurine’s capabilities are not separated between Kakavasha and Aventurine of Stratagems, both of those qualities ARE Kakavasha’s so if you are going to write him with the mask off, you have to write BOTH, not give into one or the other.

The things I tend to drop when writing him with the mask off are his false compliments and niceties, acting like he really gives a shit about the IPC’s goals, turning down the flamboyance and cockiness to reasonable levels and making him seem less like he’s playing pretend. Honestly I don’t think it’s that hard yet this is still a pitfall I see a lot of people stumbling into.

-Ratio talking like a goddamn encyclopedia

I understand he’s like that sometimes, but he also is well versed in internet lingo and seriously nobody unironically talks like that 24/7 because it’s pointless, and Ratio doesn’t use big words to seem smart, he uses them when they are necessary.

Like I’m sorry but if they are in a middle of having sex and unprompted Ratio starts talking like a biology textbook I’m closing the fic and running around my room screaming BECAUSE GOD IS IT CRINGE. Promoted it can be funny because yeah I can see him doing that but oh my god HE WOULD NOT SAY THAT I don’t even want to give an example it pisses me off that bad but trust me it’s a common phenomenon AND I HATE IT

-Aventurine trying to kill himself 24/7

He isn’t an active suicide risk every goddamn day of his life, he’s just self destructive and those are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

Yes, he tested if you could die in the dreamscape several times, but that’s because one of the favorable outcomes for his mission WOULD BE DYING in the dreamscape. He’s not doing this during a normal work week and even if I believe he still has suicidal tendencies, he’s not gonna throw his life away randomly or over nothing

-Ratio holds authority over Aventurine in any capacity

No, just no. Like the only other thing he might have over him is being intelligent, although they both are smart at different things so even then does it matter? Like I’m sorry but normal human with the ability to float and make imaginary constructs versus LITERAL FUCKING STONEHEART is not a fair fight on Ratio’s end. It doesn’t matter that he’s physically larger than Aventurine, muscles don’t mean shit in a sci-fi setting, especially when your opponent can just summon 3 bajillion coins to drop into your head at a whim and there’s nothing you can do about it. Not like Aventurine would ever dream of hurting him, of course, but seriously people need to stop acting like their different in stature really means anything. Even in terms of position, Aventurine probably outranks him so this false sense of authority people apply to Ratio in their relationship is confusing at best.

Hmm, well that’s all the things I remember to bitch about although I probably have more complaints. To be fair, whenever they aren’t written like incredibly smart people who are idiots hopelessly in love with one another when together I pop a blood vessel so most of these (besides THAT one) are non issues and if you have made/enjoyed these don’t feel ashamed because of my opinions. I needed to let out my inner grinch every once and awhile, so thanks for reading

[withlove-xixi]

hi xixi!! could you write a fic where a normally teasing/silly reader actually gives chilchuck serious compliments and tells him how much they admire him? preferably gn/male reader but i’m not picky (*´꒳`*)

- bard anon

— FROM THE HEART: chilchuck x reader

ᥫ cw: chilchuck is a bit mean, but what's new? ᥫ wc: 946 ★ hello again my dear bard ano-non~! i did something short and sweet teehee :3! wanted to do smth that was chil focused, like w his perspective and him slowly warming up to things and stuff! tho ... idt its how u might've pictured this request to be im sorry but i hope you enjoy ٩(๑`ȏ´๑)۶ cross posted on ao3

— CHILCHUCK’S A BIT TOO SERIOUS SOMETIMES.

[♡]: he saves no time for dillying or dallying, he focuses on what’s important. it was a trait his employers admired him for. sure, it makes him seem more standoffish than he’d like to be, but hey, whatever gets the job done, right? wrong! because as much as he’s planned on keeping his coworkers at simply an arms reach, it seems as if he’s pushed them a bit further than anticipated.

CHILCHUCK ALWAYS SAW YOU AS IMMATURE, how couldn’t he when you could just be so childish sometimes? It’s not to say he doesn’t enjoy your company or admire your skills, but gods, you were just a bit… annoying sometimes. Chilchuck was never a patient man, but with you? It was as if you found new ways to toy with him, to drag him around like a ragdoll in a dog’s mouth. It was aggravating for one, he was a grown man, he deserves to be treated like one. It pissed him off how you’d tease him like you were school kids, how you could just be a bit too carefree at times, especially during work hours.

Now was no different as he pressed his fingers against both temples, rubbing circles on them as you conspicuously watched him work, no doubt wearing that stupid grin on your face. Normally, Chilchuck already hated it when people watched him work, it simply bugged him. He felt cramped, suffocated. Plus there was always the threat of them undermining his abilities as a locksmith, that hurt is pride more than anything. With you, he disliked it twice as much, finding there to be so much pressure with expectant eyes so intently studying the way his fingers moved.

Now was no different.

Chilchuck heaved a heavy sigh, without turning back, called out to you: “you gonna keep staring?” He said it so plainly, though you could tell his eye would twitch in frustration, as it usually did when you pushed the poor half-foot to his limits.

“I just like watching you work, Chil,” you softly said, smiling slightly. You rested your chin on your palm, squatting a bit closer behind him.

Chilchuck sighed again. You could tell he rolled his eyes with the way he shook his head.

Again, it wasn’t that Chilchuck didn’t enjoy your company. In fact it was something he looked forward to, after work hours of course. Post-dungeon crawl drinks at the bar were the carrot at the end of a stick for Chilchuck, and he enjoyed them even more when you were around. You had this way of lightening the mood, easing the tension. Could he truly be blamed if you were simply so nice to be around? But of course, work was different. Chilchuck was different when it came to work. It was something he was certain you noticed, something you’ve learned about him. The change in his demeanor, how he began to smile less, how his eyebrows knit more. It was like Chilchuck had an on and off switch, knowing the right time and place to wise up and when to just relax. And Chilchuck was certain you’d pick up on that, that it would be another thing you learn about him. He’s proven wrong, of course, with the way you leaned forward to get a better view of the lock he’s picking.

He’s about to open his mouth to scold you for doing so, to snap at you to back off and give him some room to breathe or something along those lines. But you beat him to it, cutting through the silence by letting out a soft giggle.

“You’re really cool, you know?”

Five words and he feels his breath falter.

Anybody else, he might’ve lashed out, called them out for patronizing him or looking down on him or teasing him. And honestly, Chilchuck half-expected him to do the same to you. He had fallen victim to your antics far too many times before, a half-hearted, playful quip would’ve been almost natural for him to hear from you.

Except deep down inside him, he knows it isn’t half-hearted, it isn’t playful. He hears it in the way you said it (perhaps his keen sense of hearing helps him pick up on it more). There’s something he’s not entirely used to hearing in your tone, that being pure, genuine admiration. It was the sappy kind he used to get when his daughters would watch him work or cook dinner, the one that was just so awestricken it was almost pure, innocent. And you had said it so casually too, like you were just stating facts and not shattering his world right now, chipping away at the walls he didn’t intend to build so high.

Chilchuck's heart felt a pang of guilt that for even a second he might've thought you were teasing him, because he knew that had you both been in the bar, two or three drinks down, faces flushed, smiles bright, he wouldn't have second-guessed your compliment. He would've smiled a bit wider and blushed a bit more, shoot back some weak response on how you're just joking because he knows you're being serious.

He felt just a bit more guilty when he turned back to meet your face, a gentle smile gracing your lips, staring at him like he had just constructed cathedrals, that he had done something greater than picking a simple lock. It fills Chilchuck with unbelievable warmth and it allows him to entertain the idea that perhaps he's come to be a bit too harsh, a bit too distant.

"Thanks," he says quietly, his eyes quickly averting yours.

He hears you giggle again, louder this time. "Such a cutie." He hears you say with a soft sigh right after. Chilchuck hid his face in his neck warmer, humming in response, afraid trusting his voice would expose how flustered he’s become. He turned back to his work, a small loving smile resting on his face. Perhaps it was time for Chilchuck to take things easy and start to be a bit less serious. Especially when it comes to you.

[slayingfiction]

Questions to ask your alpha/beta readers

I thought I would put together a master list of all the questions to ask your alpha and beta reader to help you improve your story.

You can choose to ask questions every chapter, every few chapters or after the whole book. This list of questions will be more generic and all encompassing for you to tailor to your needs.

Reminder: Beta readers typically receive a completed and polished version of your story. They give feedback on any last improvements based on the reader’s perspective. Alpha readers read your story or manuscript before it’s completed, usually a rough draft. Alpha readers are best if they also have some writing experience to give reader and writer feedback.

Choose some of the following questions to ask your readers:

Start:

When did you first feel the story was truly starting?

Do you like how the story started? If not, why?

Do you find characters were introduced slow enough to learn them all?

Did you find settings, different languages, and cultural differences were introduced slowly enough to not be confusing or overwhelming?

Were there any moments you found yourself going back over old exposition just to understand what was happening?

When, if at all, did you find yourself being pulled into the book?

Did the first sentence grab your attention?

Did the first few pages draw you into the story?

Did you find the opening paragraph/page interesting enough to continue reading?

Characters:

What do you like about the MC? What don’t you like? Can you name at least one relatable trait between yourself and the MC?

How did you feel about the character(s)’s growth from the start to finish of the story? Did you find there was enough? Was it believable?

Are the MC’s motivations and goals clear and strong enough?

Did you feel the MC’s fears, hopes, excitement, passions, etc.?

Did you get confused between the characters?

Were the characters believable?

Are there any characters you wish were more interesting? Why and how?

Do you feel each supporting character had their own motivations and contributed to the plot?

Are there any characters that seem cliché, underdeveloped, or stereotypical? If so, why?

Were the character relationships believable?

Did the romantic relationships build naturally, or did it feel forced?

Are there any character names that were too difficult to read or sounded too similar to others?

Were there any parts where the characters seemed to be acting out of character?

Who was your favorite character?

Which character, if any, did you wish was more present?

Which character do you care for the least?

What are your thoughts/feelings on the MC’s character arc?

Do you feel like the antagonists and/or villain is just as fleshed out and relatable as the MC?

If you had to remove one character, who would it be, and why?

Which character would you like to meet, and why?

Did you hope or dread any character relationships?

Are there any characters you found annoying and frustrating?

What are your general thoughts and feelings about the MC or supporting characters?

Which character did you find least developed?

Plot:

Which moments in the book did you find the most suspenseful?

Were there any moments in the book you found boring, lagging, or uneventful and unnecessary?

Did you find the pacing to suit the story well? Are there any areas you found moved too fast or too slow?

Was there ever a time you felt like you weren’t excited or intrigued enough to want to continue?

Did you find any plot holes? Any discrepancies in timeline, characters, descriptions, or other details?

Were there any scenes you found did not further the plot at all?

Are there any scenes or events you found to be too long or too short?

Did you find all explanations and revelations came out naturally and at appropriate times?

What was your favourite scene in the book? Why?

What was your least favourite scene in the book? Why?

Are there any chapters you found lacked conflict?

Did the action scenes make sense as you read them? Did you understand how they came to that action scene (or did they feel random)?

Where there any moments or scenes that made you feel emotional? Happy, sad, cringy and disgusted, etc.

Do you find the plot moved logically and naturally between scenes and chapters?

Are there any moments you felt detached or pulled out of the story? When and why?

Are there any events or scenes you found confusing? Either what was happening or how the characters came to that point?

Where you surprised by the plot twist?

Settings:

Which setting in the book was the clearest for you to visualize? Which do you remember the best?

Did you find the setting interesting, with vivid and real description?

Were there any scenes you thought lacked description?

Were there any moments you thought there was too much exposition, or not enough?

Did you find there were moments you didn’t know where the characters were unless stated?

Do you find the culture and historical events are realistic and add depth to the story?

Is there any exposition you found unnecessary? Are there any moments you wish you had more exposition?

Did all technology and science, or magic, make sense or seem believable?

Was there ever too much or too little description?

Dialogue:

Did you find that each character had their own personal voice when speaking?

Are there times where you couldn’t figure out who was talking solely based on how they spoke?

Is there any dialogue that sounded unnatural?

Could you see what the characters were doing and where they were while talking?

Was there any dialogue that seemed to not fit well with the story?

Was there any dialogue that you thought had too much exposition or explanation?

Did you find the dialogue kept your interest?

Ending:

Did you find the ending to be satisfying and emotionally fulfilling?

Are there any questions you had left after the story ended? (Mostly for stand-alone)

What did you hate most about the ending?

Did you find the ending believable?

Did you feel the tension building to the climax?

Was the climax worth the read, or did it feel weak?

Do you feel the ending came on naturally, or did it feel forced or rushed?

Did the book feel too short or too long?

General:

Were there parts where you found yourself skimming?

Which parts of the story did you find it easy to put the book down?

At what moment did you decide you wanted to finish the book? (If not DNF)

What are some of your favourite lines/quotes from the book?

Do you have any predictions for what you think will come next? (Good for chapters or end of book)

Is there something you hope will happen?

Is there anything you hoped would happen and was sad when it didn’t?

Did you find the map and glossary helpful? Is there anything you think would be beneficial to add, such as terms or names?

Are there any moments or scenes you found ethically and socially problematic and unacceptable.

Were there any moments in the story that made you stop and think?

Were you able to identify the story themes? Did you find the themes well developed throughout the story?

Did you think about the story when you weren’t reading it? If so, what were your thoughts?

Were there times during the story where you felt description was told instead of shown?

Does this book make you feel the same as other books in the genre when reading?

Is there anything you really enjoy from this genre that you found lacking in this story?

Did you find the story kept your attention with enough action, conflict, intrigue, and tension?

Do you find the story or writing style like other books you have read?

Are there any moments you found confusing, irritating, annoying or frustrating?

Are there any moments in the story you thought, “this could/would never happen”?

Did you have any questions after reading the book?

What are your general thoughts and feelings about the story?

Is there anything you wish there was more or less of?

What do you think were the best/ strongest aspects of this book?

What do you think were the worst/ weakest aspects of this books?

How would you describe this book to a friend?

Would you recommend this story to someone?

How likely/ eager are you to read the next book in the series?

Chapter specific

On a scale from 1-5, how much did you enjoy this chapter?

On a scale from 1-5, how eager are you to read the next chapter?

What predictions do you have for the next chapter?

What do you hope will happen next?

Please keeping in mind: Don't let another writer tell you what to change or how they would write it. You are the writer, and any changes are your decision. This feedback is only to give you an idea on which areas to improve.

*Alpha and Beta readers should be readers in the same genre that you write. People who mostly read mystery will not be good a/b readers for a romance novelist, or any mismatch. If you write romance, find a/b readers who love to read romance. Otherwise, any advice they give may not be as valuable or useful as you hope.*

If you have other questions you think would be useful to ask your readers, message me or add them in the comments so our list is comprehensive.

Happy Writing!

[arcaneconfessions]

Saw a post on here saying something similar but I can’t find it, but anyways, I feel like sometimes the shipping and shipping discourse seems to overshadow any actual critique or engagement with the show itself. And as someone who doesn’t really engage with shipping beyond a casual level, it’s SO annoying.

Season 2 felt very fanservice-y to me, like it was jangling yaoi and yuri keys in front of the audience to distract from the extremely questionable writing choices they were making. Like the writing equivalent of corporations using fandoms and memes and a cheap rainbow logo and merch during pride month to get on your side and become relatable to a gen z audience, even though at the end of the day they're not relatable at all, and all they want to do is sell you something all while using the shadiest practices possible behind your back (I’m sorry you can so tell my unending grudge against Duolingo here LMFAOO). The most frustrating part was that it lowkey worked. I remember when season 2 first ended, all everyone could talk about was ships! I get that people were likely still processing it and perhaps couldn’t immediately get out their coherent analyses (that’s fair honestly, I’d rather they sit on it rather than forcing out a half-baked analysis like a watery shit), but I felt like I was going insane for the first week or two. I’m better now but honestly I think whether you ship it or not, most, if not ALL the relationships this season were fumbled horrendously, and what confused me is that somehow people still saw that as a win. I get that it’s exciting whenever a ship or interaction you wanted to see so much gets canon content, and these ships DO mean a lot to people, that’s true, and I’m glad people are able to find joy and comfort in these ships, but.. Idk, to me it felt like they weren’t even the same characters anymore and they were barely allowed to exist or have their own arcs outside of their respective ships (cough, vi and Ekko) :/

For clarification, this is in no way saying you CAN’T enjoy shipping (I’d be a hypocrite lmao) as I think in certain contexts it can def enrich an interpretation of the characters or the work itself (also,, aside from the intellectual aspect, it’s just fun to mash characters together like Barbies sometimes idk what to tell you. That’s what fandom is for), I just don’t like it when these characters are barely allowed to exist outside of the ships either in text or in fandom, or the shipping consumes the ENTIRE conversation. It’s standard fandom behaviour, I know, especially when there’s a lot of young people in there who don’t yet know fandom etiquette and how to engage critically with works in general, but it’s still annoying and childish to me and it gets on my nerves (insert disgruntled old man shaking fist at sky gesture)

Sorry for the rant (needed it tho tbh) even tho I know that’s literally what your inbox is for but I LOVE your blog and seeing all the different takes and perspectives on here, it’s very fascinating to watch and I’m glad people have a place to unapologetically express their opinions ^_^

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