#he's also the one the kids trust the most

[f1cflcfic]

The Prophecy (SMAU ft. Lando Norris)

pairing: lando norris x singer!reader (y/n)

summary: what happens after the break-up that noone saw coming? as Y/N L/N gears up to release her next album, each song reveals a little bit of the past, present and future of her relationship with Lando Norris. Inspired by a curated playlist built around "The Prophecy". note: this is RPF and is obviously in no way, shape, or form reflective of real persons. Also, this story is angsty with a happy ending - it does not contain any smut or suggestive themes. [A/N: This is my first SMAU and hooooooly shit did I totally underestimate how much work it is, and how things work within Tumblr to make it look alright. If you have any tips, let me know lol. I had to split it up in pieces, but i've got all the content written out already, so will be updated soon with the next part!]

♥･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♡･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♥

December, 2025

February, 2026

[Excerpt from red carpet interview at the Grammy's with Y/N]

How are you feeling tonight? You're up for 3 awards, one of them Album of the Year for All I Ever Needed - that's huge!

"It's so overwhelming, to be honest."

Even when you've gone through this experience before? This is your fourth time attending, second time as nominee.

"Yeah, maybe even more so! It's a great chance to hang out with friends and meet new people, but it's also really prestigious still. Being nominated - I try to act like it doesn't matter, because awards always involve politics too - but at the end of the day, you do want it."

And who're you most looking forward to seeing tonight?

"Honestly? I came alone tonight, so I can't wait to find Sabrina [Carpenter] and Jade. I'm gonna need my girls."

Your friend Miley is also up for an award tonight in the same category, what's that like?

"Ha, if the Grammy's do the right thing tonight she'll win it - I know I voted for her!"

You'll also be performing one of your songs - Ruin My Life, can you tell us a bit about what to expect?

"I really wanted this to be visually interesting, but it took me a while to get the right concept for it. I think it's because to me this album and song already feel sort of far removed, and lived in? I'm in a different phase of my life right now, so I had to find a new way to still connet to it. I was really grateful to work with a great art director to bring a different version to the stage."

March, 2026

July, 2026

[SkyNews excerpt]

Lando Norris wins Silverstone GP, dedicates his 20th podium win to his family

The man of the hour is none other than Lando Norris, who’s just gone on to claim his 20th victory at his home race. You’re reading that right, his home race! While he still owns his apartment in Monaco, Norris revealed today that he’s been living back in England for the past few months. “I just wasn’t in the right headspace anymore and wanted to live closer to my family. Especially now that my brother’s kids are growing up, I just like knowing I could drive over – rather than having to fly across countries.”

Speaking on the importance of his family being present, Norris shared that it means everything to him. “In this sport you need to have skill, talent, trust and investment from your team, but also you need that stable sense of safety from the people you love. If your mindset isn’t there, you can’t be competitive.”

Norris has been vocal about mental health in the past, and has advocated for more access to mental healthcare facilities and professionals across motorsport.

“Especially in tougher years where there’s just a lot of noise and turmoil, it’s nice to have a professional coach you to mental fitness as well.”

It was the only notable reference to Norris’ private life, which ended on a low note last year after splitting from long-time girlfriend y/n l/n. The two were originally thought to have had an amicable split, but recent reports hint at a different story, with Norris unfollowing his ex and her friends unfollowing him in return.

August, 2026

September, 2026

♥･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♡･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♥

Part two following soon! likes, comments, reblogs are always very much appreciated ♥

[0rczy]

I really like analyzing Varigo, one thing I've noticed recently is how different their approach to romance (and human connections in general) really is, but also how they're pretty much the perfect foils in this regard.

Varian grew up sheltered away in their mansion. He didn't have much clue about socializing, so when Rapunzel came to him, he gives all of them proper respect (calling Rapunzel "Princess", Eugene "Flynn Rider", as in the full name). You could assume it's because of his dad; later when the two confronted each other, Varian called him "Sir". Probably because Quiring taught him to be respectful of others, and they both clearly take this social rule rather seriously.

So then Cassandra comes in and saves Varian, for apparently no selfish reasons. She likely just didn't want to have a child get crushed when she could've prevented it, but to Varian, this changes his view on people. Cassandra isn't just a distant figure to respect; instead, someone he could have a connection with. And this is where one of Varian's most essential traits come to light: when comfortable, he treats situations like an experiment. He immediately starts calling her by a nickname, "Cassie", to see how she would react. At the day of the expo, he keeps trying out different tactics, trying to essentially just get close to Cassandra. One could Interpret this romantically, but I personally like to think he just really wanted a friend. A lonely kid, seeing someone cool show any kind of affection for him immediately made him go "there could be something here! I need to find out!", and so he does. In his own, nerdy way.

Hugo, on the other hand. He, unlike Varian, grew up having to socialize all the time. Having to talk his way out of situations constantly, he learned to put up walls so that the most desirable results come out, benefiting him and his missions. When he weasels his way into the Team, he also calls them nicknames. In his case, it stems from a need to distance himself from people, so that he doesn't get attached. One slight exception though is Varian, as Hugo seemingly not only uses nicknames on him to keep up built-up walls, but to get a reaction out of him. This is very similar to how Varian approached Cassandra when he was younger. He's interested in Varian from early on, and he handles this in his good old Hugo fashion, because he finds Varian entertaining. Varian at first doesn't trust Hugo, but when he proves himself trustworthy, he gives in. He's willing to reach out, making Hugo more than a means to an end. Eventually, the two become friends! Then more than friends!

And then, their approaches change.

I'd like to think that it was Hugo, who fell first. Or at the very least, he's the first to realize it, and he HATES THIS. His flight or flight is activated, and he really wants to flee. He's the type to ignore his feelings, try to bury them. That's all he knows how to do, really. Especially because for what could be the first time in his life, he's actually falling for someone who is his friend. Someone who means a lot to him! He wouldn't want to ruin things, especially because he knows that betraying Variant will break the guy's heart, once he finds out. Therefore, the less pain, the better.

Varian is the exact opposite of this. It takes him a long time to figure out what he feels, and that it could be romantic (he didn't exactly have the history with romance before. The "puppy crush" on Cassandra could have easily been more of an obsession with the possibility of someone showing affection towards him). But once he realizes that there's a chance that the two could be a thing? He doesn't have to think hard about what his next step should be: he likes Hugo, and he's a scientist. Trial and error is practically in his blood at this point, so if there's even a small possibility of them getting together? That Hugo likes him back? Varian will do anything to find out how probable his theory is. And so, once again, he treats the situation like an experiment. Wasting no time, he tries to confess or bring up the idea as quickly as possible. And Hugo FREAKS OUT. He's not ready!

Varian's other big trait is his stubbornness. He's not satisfied with an uncertain answer. He wants to know Hugo's view on them, as clearly as possible. So he keeps poking around, trying to find an approach that brings out different reactions, different answers as to why Hugo would be scared of them being together. Again. Really similar to how he treated Cassandra at the expo back then. This is the only way he knows how, though. And he needs clear answers.

He gets one at the last trial. Boom. Heartbreak. This isn't about angst though, so I'll end it here.

I find them so interesting. How their upbringing influenced their view and approach to people, to friendship, to romance. To each other. They are both scientists, but one is more afraid of the results than the other.

So it all boils down to the importance of clear communication: another big theme in Vat7k, what with Ulla and Donella setting an example as what not to do.

I could ramble about these characters for ages, but yeah. This is my view on them, I loooove reading different Interpretations in fan fiction though!

[hannahbarberra162]

Under the Microscope, Chapter 11 (Yandere Sabo x Reader)

on Ao3 | The other chapters

Note: I’m keeping Iva’s pronouns the same by chapter for ease of reading.  Also pls, this isn’t realistic science. I barely know what an atom is.

Huge thank you to TDESMC and @gouraminnow <3 <3 <3

Thank you to @kitsunechan707 for hyping me up :3

~

Sunny POV

While the first few days had been rough on your body, the next ones were rough on your spirit. It was difficult to be near Sabo one on one again without Ace as a social buffer. Ace was catching up to the ship and you’d see him soon which couldn’t come fast enough for you. Sabo was behaving like he did when you first met and it left you bewildered and unsure of what to do. You used your anger to ground yourself with the bangle on your wrist reminding you daily of his betrayal of your trust.

You had prepared yourself to face Sabo's wrath or ire but it hadn’t surfaced since his discovery of your misdeed. If anything, Sabo was more amiable and attentive than ever before. He hadn’t asked you for any more kisses or physical affection, though he did leave lingering touches on your skin as often as he was able. You were happy for the reprieve after the kiss he’d made you give him but you were walking on eggshells. The look in his eyes showed you that his intensity hadn’t faded when you continually caught his ever-present stares as you went about your days on the ship.

After the effects of the medicine wore off, Sabo took you on a tour of the ship and introduced you to the RA crew. The ship was bigger than the last though there were only about twenty people aboard, though Koala wasn’t among them. Sabo mentioned she was his closest friend but your only connection to her was her suggestion that Sabo should have killed you. You weren’t so sure you’d want to meet her once you got to the RA base.

Sabo showed you the simple ship with his tour ending at the galley just as breakfast was being served.. You hadn’t seen so many new people since you’d joined your first unit in the Marines and you hadn’t liked the crowds then either. Not only that but Emporio Ivankov was at the back of the galley and she intimidated you beyond compare. Sabo’s hand drifted to the small of your back and pushed you forward as you two began moving toward the back of the galley. Iva’s larger than life personality made her bold and loud as she spoke to people around her. When you and Sabo approached her table you were greeted with a heavy once over that made you step back in an effort to shrink away from her harsh examination. Sabo’s hand on your lower back stymied your attempt to cringe away.

“Now, who is this little lady, Sabo boy? A new lover, perhaps?” Your face flamed as Sabo laughed and walked up to Iva, kissing her on the cheeks. He returned to your side before wrapping his arm around you and leaving his hand on your waist.

“This is Sunny, she was the lead scientist on project Seraphim, although she didn’t know it at the time. She’s also the one who made Ace’s fruit and gave him his powers back,” Sabo explained. You stiffened when Sabo didn’t correct Iva’s assumption about the two of you being lovers, but decided that correction could wait for a different time.

“I-I’m sorry for being so nervous, I’m a huge fan of your work,” you forced out of your throat. Along with Trafalgar Law, Emporio Ivankov published the most interesting scientific articles. Her article about pancreatic insulin deficiencies and the means to solve them was truly groundbreaking. She’d saved thousands of kids’ lives just by publishing the article for the Marines to copy the formula for insulin. You idly wondered if she had any copies on board that she could autograph for you.

“Oh! Which of my shows have you seen?” she said with a wink. Sabo moved to stand slightly in front of you but you were unsure why, a simple wink couldn’t possibly be dangerous.

“Um, no, not the shows. I read all your articles, you’re one of my idols. Your paper about ACTH was part of the reason I became interested in lineage factors to begin with,” you said, trying not to gush too much to your hero.

“Oh ho, that old thing? I can’t show you what I’m working on now, it’s confidential…but I’d love to show you what I’m researching, interesting stuff. You have quite the resume yourself, making a Mera Mera from scratch on a deserted island. Smart girl you got there, Sabo boy. Try not to blow it,” Iva said in dismissal before sauntering off to the deck. You stared after her starry-eyed as she passed through the assorted crew gathered.

“Iva too? Do you know all pirates except Ace and I?” Sabo asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin. You knit your brows in confusion.

“What? No, she’s incredible - most people only know her for her work with sex characteristic hormones - which is beyond compare of course -  but hormones are much more complex than that. She’s revolutionized so many fields of endocrinology, she’s like the Vegapunk of the human body. And, ah, of course, the shows and piracy and all that,” you added at the end in case she could still hear you. You hoped she would stay true to her word and let you see what she was working on. It would be a true honor to be in the presence of Iva and an even bigger honor to see her unpublished research. 

After your introduction to Iva, there were still a lot of other crew to meet in the galley of the ship as Sabo wheeled you around to make introductions. Sabo walked you around the room, introducing you to the assorted RA crew that comprised the ship. You mumbled the appropriate polite words but you couldn’t help the familiar anxiety that rose as you met more and more people. The only reason that you weren’t chewing on your fingernails was because Sabo kept his hand entwined in yours. You didn’t like meeting new people, especially so many at once. You tried your best to remember all their names but they swam in your head after the first five or so. They kept asking the same questions over and over, who you were, where you were from, and how you knew Sabo. Fortunately for you, Sabo took the lead socially and answered most of the questions which left you to answer with only a few words when you needed to. 

It was interesting observing Sabo in this new setting among people he knew well. He greeted everyone with smiles and kisses to the cheeks, side and front hugs, and even a few strong slaps to the back. His grip on you remained but it matched some of the other holds you saw among the RA soldiers, friends holding each other around their waists. They were all an affectionate bunch, so maybe Sabo was acclimating you to their culture with his repeated touches. The RA soldiers greeted you with sharp smiles, like they were pleased to see you but only as long as Sabo was there to vouch for you. 

“Sabo! Your sleeping beauty finally woke up, huh?” someone named Bobby (or maybe Robby?) said with a chuckle while elbowing Sabo. Sabo smiled and patted your arm that was linked in his own with his gloved hand. 

“Something like that. Sunny is very sensitive to seasickness, but outside of rough waters, she’ll be alright. So you’ll see more of her around the ship. Right, Sunny?”

“Y-yeah,” you stammered, and as if on cue, the ship started rocking heavily from side to side. Sabo steadied you once more by wrapping his other arm around you. You were drained socially and emotionally and you wanted to curl back up in your bed and sleep this exhaustion away.

“Hey, you’re pale. Are you alright? Let’s go back to the cabin, you need to lay down,” Sabo said, putting the back of his gloved hand against your cheek. You nodded your agreement, for once thankful that the ocean had upset your stomach and finally ended your social outing.

Sabo POV

Sabo tucked Sunny back into bed after placing a bucket by her side. He reached out his hand to pat her hair as she groaned and closed her eyes but pulled his hand back at the last second. He’d resumed touching you more casually but he didn’t want to overdo it, especially when you weren’t feeling well. He would gradually worm his way back to where he wanted to be in your heart, he knew it for a fact. You had liked him before and you would like him again, he simply had to be patient as he rebuilt the trust. 

Sabo had barely walked two feet outside of his cabin after taking his leave of you before Iva interrupted his thoughts.

“So that’s the new fiance eh, Sabo-boy? I couldn’t stay away from the melodrama of it all -I simply had to come on this trip and see the new love interest. And you finally resurfaced after she woke up,” Iva teased, beckoning Sabo to follow her.

“Not exactly,” Sabo grumbled as he walked in tandem with his close friend. He trusted Iva to keep his confidence even as it applied to you. Who better to talk to about the trials and tribulations of love?

“Hmm, she won’t get over the whole kidnapping thing….but she’ll get over you taking her from the Marines. She’s a pretty little thing, I know what you see in her,” Iva said, opening the door to her cabin.

“Oh?”

“Yourself!” Iva said with a barking laugh. Sabo exhaled through his nose and stretched his neck with a grimace. He wasn’t in the mood for teasing even if it was playful ribbing. 

“She’s really got her hooks in you, Sabo-boy! I’ve never seen you so dour before, the Grand Line’s most eligible bachelor reduced to tears in my dressing room. What’s the matter?” Iva said, as she guided Sabo to the couches. Even though Sabo outranked Iva, she had the best rooms on the ship. They included a bedroom and a salon from which she would conduct her business. It was a pleasant place to discuss matters of the heart, thought Sabo.

“Ah, just some setbacks, Sunny doesn’t like me very much right now. She really is brilliant -” Sabo began, trying to get Iva to see the benefit of having Sunny in the RA. Though Dragon was the Chief of Staff, it was well known that people didn’t last long if they didn’t have Iva’s approval.

“I know, I’ve been watching her career for a few years now. I don’t have the time to read but I read her articles. But that’s not the problem, is it?” Iva asked, pouring herself and Sabo some tea from a teapot. Sabo picked up his teacup, noting that his fingers were stiff. He’d have to look into that later after he’d taken care of Sunny.

“She’s wonderful but after she made that Mera Mera I had to put her in seastone. I couldn’t risk her doing something else foolish enough to risk our lives. Besides, I told her not to try to escape and she did so I had to punish her…” Sabo lamented, trailing off as he got lost in his thoughts.

“Ooh, you know I appreciate a good kink. Now, what are you going to do about it? I know what to do about it,” Iva declared as Sabo scoffed. “I’ll put in a good word or two for you. Send her my way,” Iva said, patting his thigh.

“Thank you, Iva, I appreciate it,” Sabo said, still sulking while sipping his tea.

“She’ll come around. Who could stay away from this sweet face?” she cooed while pinching and pulling Sabo’s cheek. 

A few hours later, Sabo went to check on you to see how you were faring. The sight of you dozing in the bed reminded him of the first voyage the two of you had taken together. He couldn’t resist running his hand along your exposed lower back where your shirt had ridden up as you slept on your stomach. If he had it his way, he’d be sinking into you right now, keeping you satisfied on his cock morning, noon, and night. You groaned from his light touch so Sabo prepared a cup of water for you when you eventually woke. He knew the vomiting was hard on you - he had pondered inviting Law to the RA to take a look at your insides and make sure everything was okay. But the way you talked about Law made Sabo want to sink Law’s stupid submarine before he even got to the RA. It was something he’d think over depending on how you fared.

“Mmnmmh,” you groaned, turning your head over to the other side. 

“Any better?” Sabo asked, placing his hand on your back while slightly heating you up. He felt along your spine for knots or tight muscles that may have been causing you pain, his fingers gently pushing and kneading. He sat next to you on the bed to get a better angle for massaging you.

“Mmhmph,” you repeated. Sabo removed his hand, interpreting the message to mean that you wanted to be left alone. 

“Feels good, keep going,” you muttered into the pillow with your hair obscuring some of your face. Sabo replaced his hand and joined it with the other to continue slowly kneading your back. He was surprised you welcomed his touch but then again, you’d always been more agreeable when you were ill. 

“ ‘S Sabo, right?” you said a few minutes later, Sabo still working on your back. When you were more open to his suggestions, he was going to offer you regular massages. Not only did he enjoy touching you but your back held immense amounts of stress. The knots on your back felt like ball bearings with how tight they were. He worked them under his fingers, using his claw technique for good to rub your sensitive back.

“Mmh,” Sabo hummed in response. It was quiet for a few minutes longer until you rolled over and sat up in the bed, suddenly ending the impromptu massage session. 

“Thank you, that felt nice,” you said in a hesitating voice. Sabo decided not to mention anything because it would only cause you to retreat further. He was surprised you allowed the contact at all, much less asked him to continue.

“You’re welcome, your back’s very tight. I’d be happy to help if you’d like. By the way, I spoke to Iva. She extended a formal invitation to you to come visit her lab if you’re interested -”

“ If I’m interested?! What did you say? What did you tell her?!” you asked, rising to your knees on the bed, your shyness forgotten at the mention of your idol wanting to share work with you. Sabo smiled at your antics but found himself amused that you were so easy to manipulate with a simple invitation.

“That I would talk to you about it. It’s not my place to say yes or no,” Sabo said, planting his hands in his lap. You studied his face and nodded in agreement with his plan.

“Well, I would absolutely love to when we get to - er, wherever we’re going,” you replied with sincerity. Sabo cupped your cheek, you really were cute. “And did I miss Ace? I want to see him before he goes off to Wano,” you asked, glancing out the window and dislodging his hand. Sabo snorted - as if Ace would leave without saying goodbye. Ace had already double checked that the vivre papers Sabo had made worked while you were passed out. 

“No, he should be coming up from the south very shortly if he isn’t close already,” Sabo said, thinking about the coordinates Ace had last shared. The route he would have to take was coming up but there should be plenty of time for one last rendezvous. 

“Marine ship inbound from the south! Admiral level threat! All hands on deck!” came a loud voice over the snail intercom. You looked at Sabo in alarm, naturally seeking him out for guidance and comfort in uncertain times. He would have praised your trust in him if there wasn’t an admiral coming to capture you.

“Sunny, I need you to stay in the cabin,” Sabo said while gripping your upper arms in his hands.

Sunny POV

You recognized the large fleet ship because you had been on it twice to present your last research to Admiral Sakazuki himself. The ship was a monstrosity, with it being the largest and most powerful of all vessels in the current naval fleet. It could hold thousands of Marine troops if it was filled to capacity. It was swiftly catching up with the RA one you were on, outpacing it easily with its massive sails and engine.

Sabo had locked you in his cabin after asking you to remain inside. It was one order you didn’t mind following - you didn’t know how to fight and would be a hindrance to either side. 

Seeing the ship from afar gave you a small glimmer of hope that perhaps they’d come to save you, though the cannons pointing your way made you think it was happenstance. You hoped the RA ship could make some kind of miraculous getaway after you’d been recovered. Code stated that the Marines would board the ship and then take everyone prisoner after they’d won the skirmish. It would be obvious that you weren’t there by choice when they discovered you locked in a cabin. You’d clear your name, get back to your lab, get back to work, and…

Your thoughts trailed off as you listened to the sound of stomping feet above and below your cabin preparing the ship for battle. You didn’t want to be Sabo’s little pet for the rest of your life but you also didn’t want the people you met to be sent to Impel Down. You hated fighting, it was one of many reasons you weren’t in the other corps. The pit in your stomach grew and you bit your fingers as the threat of a clash loomed ever closer. You’d never been in a battle proper and didn’t know what to expect. As you peered out the small cabin window, you saw the unmistakable flames of Striker coming in from the southeast. Your heart sank as Striker flew across the water towards the RA ship. You knew Ace had been a Commander for Whitebeard but you weren’t sure he was healed enough from his trauma to be able to fight against the Marines, particularly if Admiral Sakazuki was there.

An incredibly loud boom shattered your thoughts as the ship listed to the side. You didn’t have time to get your bearings before two more came in quick succession, jostling the boat further. Wood groaned and snapped as something fell into the water with a tremendous splash. The sounds were deafening, like one hundred guns firing at once. Your eyes widened as you realized the sound was cannonballs the Marines were firing on the RA ship. You wished you had your power so you could see what was happening but the small window severely limited your range of vision. 

Standing on the bed to get a better look out the small window, you saw Striker circling the Marine ship as Ace blasted it with fire without much success. The Marine ship drew ever closer to your own until you could make out the shapes of hundreds of individual Marines, standing in platoon order. Ace also closed in on the RA ship, continuing to dodge cannon balls and bullets while defending the RA. The RA wasn’t fast enough to outmaneuver the Marines and soon the ships were side by side, the noise rising to a cacophonous level that made you put your hands over your ears.

As all the ships converged you lost your ability to see much of anything beyond the broad side of the Marine ship. The sounds of fighting, yelling, and gunshots grew louder as Marines boarded above you. You heard Iva’s shrill voice yelling out her attacks and the consequent screams of injured or dying Marines. You also heard Sabo’s voice as he barked orders and fought though his voice was harder to hear. What worried you was that you didn’t hear Ace’s voice even as the fighting grew closer until it sounded like it was right outside your door.

“Ensign Mag! Ensign Mag! Are you in there?” yelled a Marine voice from beyond the door. The voice had you whipping your head towards the door even as you wondered if they thought your actual name was Mag. You’d almost forgotten the nickname since Sabo had been calling you Sunny for so long. 

“Y-yeah, I’m here!” you yelled back as an unexpected uncertainty rose in you. Now that the moment of your rescue was upon you you weren’t as sure of your decision. 

“Stand back!” the voice ordered as repetitive booms smacked against the door. You were still standing on the bed as the heavy wood door groaned against the assault but finally splintered as a Marine Commander you didn’t recognize pushed through the now busted door. 

“Ensign Mag, are you unharmed?” the Commander questioned, his authoritarian voice almost making you salute from muscle memory.

“Ah, oh, yeah, I’m - I’m ok,” you stammered as the Commander rushed you. Several other Marines entered and began ransacking the room. You weren’t sure what they were looking for but it didn’t seem like the time to ask. 

“Target acquired Admiral,” the Commander said into a baby Den Den as he gripped your arm tightly enough to bruise with the other. Were you the reason for the attack? You hoped not as screams indicated that either Marines or RA soldiers, most likely both, were being killed above your head.

“Let’s go, the others will kill off the rest of the pirates,” the Commander said, pulling you along.

“K-kill? I thought they were going to be arrested,” you said, trying to slow down the speed he dragged out of the room by dragging your heels. When you first were kidnapped by Sabo, you imagined how your rescue would go down but you hadn’t imagined so much carnage. The smell of smoke hit your nose before you heard wood crackling. 

“Heh, not in the big leagues kid. All these pirates are gonna get what they fuckin’ deserve. Admiral Sakazuki’s killin’ Gol D. Ace as we speak,” the Commander said, barking a laugh. Your stomach dropped as you realized that was your Ace. Sweet, kind, self-hating, funny, idiotic, Ace. He - they were going to kill him? After everything he’d been through? He wasn’t even that bad of a pirate, he -he couldn’t be killed, he just couldn’t. You’d finally made a good friend and now - you heard Admiral Sakazuki laugh as the smell of smoke grew inside the vessel.

For once in your life, you didn’t stop to think, analyze, or plan. You just moved. You ripped your arm back from the Commander who was leading you and made a break out the door. The Marines were so stunned to see you moving quickly that they didn’t think to stop you immediately. The halls were filled with RA soldiers fighting Marines, there was blood spilled everywhere, weapons being fired, swords being drawn - but you didn’t see any of it. You ran as fast as you could up to the deck to find Ace. You weren’t sure what you’d do when you got there but you had to save him .

You pushed forward to the top deck, miraculously avoiding any hands that sought to restrain you. Dodging Marines, RA soldiers, and anyone else trying to stop you, you ran through the already broken door to the deck. There, on the bow of the ship, Marines had made a human barrier blocking off Ace from Admiral Sakazuki. RA Soldiers were trying to break through but they were outnumbered and Sabo and Iva were fighting dozens of Commanders at the stern of the ship.

Ace wasn’t doing well. He was dodging attacks from Sakazuki but wasn’t returning fire. His face was ashen as if he was fighting a ghost. You could hear Admiral Akainu taunting him from where you stood as he belched lava over the deck, Ace narrowly dodging every time.

“...Isn’t that right boy? Killed your Captain, your brothers, everyone, and you couldn’t even do them the justice of staying dead. How pathetic. Not even fit to fill the shoes of your criminal father. Whitebeard’s final thoughts were what a disappointment you are, how he shouldn’t have come for you -” 

You couldn’t listen to this bullshit anymore, you couldn’t hear Sakazuki pummeling Ace emotionally while cornering him physically. You wanted to help but you didn’t have any way to fight anyone, much less the Fleet Admiral. A flash in your mind had you quickly formulating a shaky plan to help Ace but you would need the bracelet off immediately. You heard the voices of the Marines coming up the stairwell after you - you didn’t have much time. Looking down at your wrist and tugging on your bracelet, your mind brought up an old memory of your sister. Once she’d begged your mother to borrow her gold bracelet, the only nice piece of jewelry your mom owned. Your mother agreed but at some point in the day, your sister’s thumb joint had dislocated and the bracelet slipped off never to be found again. For your sister, it was her Ehlers Danlos, but if your thumb joint broke it would be the same principle.

Without hesitation, you bashed your thumb joint against the cement wall to your right. The pain would come later, right now you were filled with adrenaline as you purposely smashed your hand against the concrete wall. Finally, you heard a snap of bone and winced as your joint dislocated. 

“Ace! Just hold on a few minutes longer!” you shrieked into the distance as you tugged the bracelet off, clattering to the deck. You didn’t think Ace could hear you but the Marines chasing you did. 

“Helping the pirates, eh? You’re further gone than we thought. It’s OK, you’re coming back -” arms reached out to grab you and you tried to duck away but there were too many. You flailed and pushed as hard as you could to escape but you were thrown over someone’s shoulder, your ankles quickly tied together.

“Calm down, Ensign! That’s an order! Not sure what they did-” You stopped listening as you realized you could still see Admiral Sakazuki. Using your thumb was difficult but you were able to make a rectangular frame and zoom in. You were being jostled and moved farther away rapidly but that didn’t matter anymore. Zooming in further and further, you searched around the lava that had been spewed on the deck until you found what you were looking for right on the shoulder of the Admiral himself. 

Uranium. 

Lava often had pockets of uranium that occurred naturally within the molten rock. You knew it was an unstable element and it would be possible to get a reaction if you worked quickly enough. Your fingers worked in a flurry as you ripped apart the atoms comprising the rare element, hoping that you were right about your conjecture. You ripped and tore your way through and you needed just a few more - when someone shook you like a rag doll and put their hands on yours, erasing the magnification.

“What’re you doing there? What’s all th— AAAHHHHH!” whatever hand was gripping yours now had your teeth sunk into it with all the force you could muster. They dropped their hand and you scrambled to remagnify the area you needed as the taste of copper filled your mouth. You were being carried farther from the action, almost to the gangplank to the Marine warship.

“FUCKIN’ BITCH! This is the thanks we get? Pirates musta cooked your brains or some shit -” You ignored them as they yelled, all that mattered was saving Ace. What was seconds but felt like minutes passed as you once again found the pocket you needed and got back to work. Holding your breath, you jostled the last atom, breaking its bonds. 

The next atom broke its bonds without your help as your mouth dropped open. You protected your ears and face with your hands, curling up as much as your position would allow on someone’s shoulder.

“The fuck is she doin’ now? This bitch really is crazy -”

Boom.

You didn’t hear the noise the explosion made. Everyone swore it had been so loud it was heard miles away on the Grand Line but you never remembered any sound. It was the blinding white light that alerted you that your plan had worked. You didn’t open your eyes but the flash was blinding all the same. A mushroom cloud rose over the ship, emanating from the location that had once been Admiral Sakazuki. There was nothing left of him but a smoking crater on the charred remains of the hull. The Marines who had once been encircling the Fleet Admiral and Ace were scattered about the deck from the force of the blast.

Everything stopped. 

Not a sound was made, it was like time had frozen.

All eyes turned to you. 

Even Ace was standing in the same defensive crouching position he had been before you detonated the Fleet Admiral of the Marines. You were dropped onto the deck on your stomach as the Marines looked at the spot that their Admiral had been standing on just seconds prior. The only sounds were the waves lapping against the side of the boat.

“What did you do?” the Commander said, still looking at the bow. You didn’t answer. You couldn’t answer.

“What the FUCK did you just do?” he repeated, this time turning and facing you, his mouth tight with fury.

“What the fuck did you do, you spineless bitch?” he yelled while rearing back his booted leg. You tried to brace for the kick you saw coming but it didn’t help the explosion of pain you felt. And just like the atoms in the uranium, his kick caused a chain reaction. Fighting resumed, but the tide had turned in the favor of the RA. Without the Admiral, their power and morale were considerably weakened and Marines started abandoning the fight in favor of retreating to their ship.

You weren’t able to see that because the Marines surrounding you closed ranks. They watched the Commander who had been carrying you kick you repeatedly in the ribs, torso, legs, and head. You tried to cover your head and neck but weren’t successful as his large boot found its target over and over on your soft body. Your bones crunched and popped as you weakly tried to abate the onslaught. He stomped on your hands repeatedly, breaking the bones that you hadn’t broken yourself.

“Try that shit now! Just you try that shit now!” he screamed into your face. You tried to look at the assembled Marines for help but they either steadfastly stared away from you or were outright encouraging their Commander. He kicked you on the side of the head, causing your head to bounce back against the deck. You tried to get on your hands and knees but your body gave out as you collapsed against the wood floor. 

“Phea -” you were drooling your own blood onto the deck as you tried to beg for him to stop but your jaw wasn’t working. Neither was one of your eyes or either of your hands. You spat one of your teeth onto the deck as you gave up trying to save yourself from destruction. You’d given your life for Ace’s and it felt like a fair trade. Your head lolled to the side and you saw the Commander taking his gun and holding the stock above you. You closed your eyes and waited for the final blow that would surely kill you.

It never came.

Peeling open the eye that worked, you looked up and saw the Commander’s skull being crushed in Sabo’s grip as he struggled and screamed against the Flame Emperor’s hold. Sabo looked as calm and collected as he always did like this was an average day for him. His normally pristine clothes were covered in blood spatter though none of it seemed to be leaking from his body. The lead pipe in his other hand was already coated in blood, dripping onto the deck. 

“Sunny, close your eyes.”

Taglist: @mfreedomstuff @epochal-oracle

[ijustliketoreadstuff]

Let’s talk about everyone who knows.

Identities have always been a strict topic for Marinette, because as guardian, she felt she alone had to ensure the safety of all the heroes who were entrusted with a miraculous, this included herself and Cat Noir

However, as much as Marinette had initially attempted to keep a strict hold on her rule on keeping identities a secret, there were eventually bound to be some who would learn who she and Cat Noir were. Marinette alone has always done what she could to keep others from learning she was Ladybug, however,  this was never foolproof as the unexpected was bound to happen. Out of all the people who came to learn about her identity, Marinette technically only ever told ONE person her secret, and that was Alya. 

Back in “Gang of Secrets”, when Alya confronted her about what was weighing on her, Marinette had to decide if she would continue keeping her secret or take a risk. Overwhelmed with her responsibilities as Ladybug and guardian, Marinette took a risk to tell Alya her secret identity, because out of everyone in Paris, it was Alya who broke Marinette’s fears over what could happen if Hawkmoth discovered someone knew her identity. Alya’s actions in “Gang of Secrets” and “Senti-bubbler”, left Marinette willing to entrust her secret, as well as a miraculous, to Alya, but most of all, it convinced Marinette to ease up on her rule to not entrust a miraculous to the people whose identities were exposed, and instead have faith her friends could protect themselves and trust they would not betray her in the same sense Chloe did, as they did not prioritize the power of the miraculous, but rather the help they could give to her and all of Paris, even without superpowers.

Now, as of season 5, including Alya, there are now 8 people who know Marinette is Ladybug, but unlike Alya, Marinette never told any of the others her secret identity, they all just found out on their own, one way or another. 

Luka was one of the rare few who learned both Ladybug and Cat Noir’s identities, but the only reason he found out both was because he was placed in the unique situation of fighting an akumatized villain with the power to potentially expose Ladybug and cat Noir’s identities. Wishmakers power transformed Ladybug and Cat Noir into physically becoming what they dreamed they wanted to be when they were kids. Normally the quantum masking magical effect of the miraculous would help confuse human minds to prevent people from connecting the obvious, so they wouldn't easily identify the heroes through appearance alone, but Wishmaker counteracted that magic by changing their entire appearance. Ladybug had hoped that by Viperion using his power of second chance, he could help them defeat Wishmaker before he got the chance to use his power on them. Unbeknownst to Ladybug, Luka felt no other choice but to lie about learning her and Cat Noir’s identities, until “Migration”, because just like Ladybug said in “Ephemeral”, if anyone knew either her or Cat Noir's identity, things could still be manageable, because at least there would still be one of them left to fight shadow moth if he took action to defeat just one of them, but if anyone knew both her and Cat Noir's identities, then it's over for everyone. Luka knew that if Shadow Moth caught him, everyone would be endangered, but he did not want to become a priority for the heroes to protect over everyone else in Paris, so he kept it a secret until he had no other choice but to tell Ladybug and all of his friends he knew.

(In "Migration", Luka reveals to his friends he knows both Ladybug and Cat Noir's identities, and must leave Paris for everyone's safety, including his own.)

Luka left Paris for his and everyone else's protection, but in the season 5 finale, it was revealed that he had come into contact with SuHan and had been under the tutelage of the guardians. Luka was taught to fight by Su Han, so if he also learned how to defend himself against the akumas the same way Su-han did in “Furious Fu”, Luka may be able to return to Paris regardless of Lila being the new butterfly holder, and unlike Su-Han and the other guardians, Luka has experience fighting against akumatized villains, allowing him to defend himself better so as to not leave Ladybug and Cat Noir to worry over his safety.

(London special, Alix reviews everything she knows about Marinette and Adrien's history as Ladybug and Cat Noir)

Aside from Luka, Alix is the only other person who currently knows both Ladybug and Cat Noir’s identities, but unlike Luka, Alix is the only person who can know any hero and villains identity at any given time, this was something that was inevitable because unlike the other heroes, Alix’s power over time left her the responsibility of ensuring the timeline stayed safe, her job meant she had to look over the history of everyone's lives to ensure everything was on track. Such knowledge would of course place her in a great deal of danger, but fortunately, she remains at a safe distance in the burrow, traveling through time. Ladybug never told Alix her identity, but she had no complaints over Alix knowing her personal secrets, along with anyone else's, because she knew it was just part of Alix’s duty as the bunny miraculous holder to one day know such secrets, secrets even she can't know, no matter how much she asks Alix. 

(Kagami learns Marinette is Ladybug)

Kagami was an interesting case. Marinette never told Kagami her secret identity, but in “Representation”, it was revealed that Kagami wound up being at the right place and time back in “Perfection”, when she overheard Marinette talk about her identity to Alya, at Anarka’s boat, during a moment of internal struggle over her love for Adrien. Even though Kagami was akumatized that same day she discovered Marinette’s identity and then later akumatized again in “Protection”, Kagami never told Monarch Marinette’s secret, Monarch never even sensed she was hiding such a secret like he did with Luke in “Migration”. Of course Kagami’s crisis over her friendship with Marinette was likely what kept her mind clouded enough to prevent Monarch from sensing she was hiding something from him, but at the same time, no matter the situation, Kagami could not help but feel a sense of loyalty to the friend who was always there for her, as both Marinette and Ladybug. 

Even after resolving those matters and being de-akumatized, Kagami did not reveal to Marinette she knew her secret, until “Representation”. Kagami is normally very upfront about things, but to know the biggest secret of Marinette’s life, was likely something Kagami felt she needed time to figure out how to tell Marinette. Kagami might have been in the dark about a lot of things about Marinette, but its interesting to see her shift from the one who knew the least, to the one who now knows everything, things Marinette couldn't even bring herself to tell Alya, like the truth about Gabriel's demise.

Felix didn't know Marinette was Ladybug until Kagami told him. Kagami telling Felix Ladybug's identity made sense seeing as he was willing to confide in her one of the biggest secrets in all of Paris, Monarch’s secret identity. Felix trusts Kagami with his secrets, but doing so meant more than it being just about trust, it was about him accepting that he needed help.

Felix put quite a target on his back when he blackmailed/bargained with Gabriel to give up the peacock miraculous back in “Strike back”, and although Felix refrained from using his powers to wipe Gabriel out of existence again (First time was in "Emotion"), Felix knew Gabriel still needed to be dealt with before he could bring further harm to him and everyone else in his life he wanted to protect, and who better to help than the one person Kagami knew wanted to stop Monarch more than anyone, Ladybug. So long as Felix prefers to rely on his own abilities, he has no interest in the powers an akuma can provide, allowing him to resist Monarch’s control, but we’ll see about Lila.

Su Han discovered Marinette’s identity with the help of a magical compass that located the miracle box. Marinette could not hide her identity from him, let alone lie to him, because the box was in her own house. Although Su-Han knows Ladybug’s identity, she had refrained from letting him know Cat Noir’s too. Su-Han may be capable of defending himself from the akumas and miraculous holders, but he has no real experience fighting against akumatized villains, leaving him vulnerable if it was ever revealed he knew both Ladybug and Cat Noir's identities, fortunately, he only ever visits Paris if it's necessary.

Marianne, Fu's wife, was someone who had a long history with Fu. Fu trusted Marianne with the knowledge about the existence of the miraculous and how he had the responsibility as the last guardian to protect the jewels that wielded such incredible power. Marinette didn’t need to tell Marianne her secret identity, it would have been easy enough for her to figure things out on her own.

Marianne knew that whoever wielded the miraculous, was in turn associated with Fu, so even after seeing Marinette in civilian form to reunite her with Fu at the end of “Miracle queen”, it would have been plainly obvious to her that Ladybug and the girl who escorted Fu after he lost his memories, were the same person. Marianne and Fu don't live in Paris anymore, so Marinette can feel assured they are at a safe distance from  the akumas.

Nathalie discovered Marinette was Ladybug, after Gabriel finished making his wish. In the London special, after Gabriel made his wish, Nathalie was originally planning to continue her efforts in stopping Gabriel the moment she returned to the secret basement under the Agreste mansion, but she instead discovered Marinette talking to Plagg and Tikki. Nathalie heard Marinette’s conversation with the kwamis and that just about confirmed Marinette as Ladybug, even before she transformed into Bug Noir. Nathalie didn’t end up learning Cat Noir was Adrien again, but now she faces an entirely new dilemma, hiding the truth from Adrien about Marinette’s secret life as Ladybug as well as the truth about Gabriel's death. Marinette might have had her doubts about Nathalie, but knowing just how much Nathalie has been there for Adrien was enough to make her feel willing to trust her. Nathalie was normally the one who was willing to be akumatized for the sake of a mission, but now that the butterfly miraculous is in the hands of Lila, Nathalie is now just another citizen trying to avoid being akumatized.

Those are the people who currently know Ladybug and Cat Noir’s identities, but let's not forget the people who knew temporarily. 

It's not the first time Nathalie knew one of the heroes' identities, in “Cat Blanc”, she saw Adrien transform into Cat Noir. However, this left her greatly conflicted about what she was doing, because she never set out to hurt Adrien. The shock of learning Adrien was Cat Noir alone made her make the mistake of telling Gabriel, who jumped at the opportunity to akumatize his own son for the chance at a quick victory. However, the events of Cat Blanc were never meant to happen and were quickly fixed by Ladybug and Bunnyx.

Lila was always hinted to be the future butterfly miraculous holder, and as soon as she got the butterfly miraculous, she wasted no time in using it to tract down Ladybug’s identity on her own. Fortunately for Lila, Marinette had no idea where the butterfly miraculous went, giving Lila the element of surprise. However, Lila knowing Marinette’s identity was something that was not meant to happen, her tampering with the timeline of events to uncover Ladybug’s identity only wound up alerting Bunnyx so she could do what was needed to help Ladybug prevent her from ever finding out Ladybug’s identity.

Gabriel had always aimed to uncover Ladybug and Cat Noir’s identities, and on several occasions, he did, even if it was only temporary. He discovered Cat Noir was Adrien in “Cat Blanc”, and both Ladybug and Cat Noir’s in “Ephemeral”. Although these moments were not meant to happen and were quickly reversed with Sass and Bunnyx’s help, as it turns out, Gabriel was at most meant to discover Ladybug’s identity without it completely destroying the entire timeline…it just had to be on the day he died. 

Fu of course knew both Ladybug and Cat Noir’s identity because he was the one who entrusted them with the miraculous. Unfortunately, in “Miracle Queen”, in a last desperate effort to protect the miracle box, the miraculous, the Kwami, Ladybug and Cat Noir, along with himself and Marianne, he wiped his memory clean. Without his memories, Hawkmoth had little to no use for Fu.

Adrien got the chance to figure out Ladybug’s identity in "Cat Blanc", but it was in “Ephemeral” that Ladybug chose to learn Adrien’s identity first and then later decide to reveal her own identity to him. In both episodes, the two learned each others identities, and each time they did, it led to disaster because of one crucial thing, Gabriel was still Monarch. The opportunity to obtain a quick victory had always outweighed any sense of logic Gabriel had, making him quick to use the control he had over Adrien to akumatize him and defeat Ladybug, but now that Gabriel is gone and the rings containing Adrien’s amok have been returned to him, who knows what's going to happen.

Moving onto Adrien, as of season 5, only two people officially know he is Cat Noir, Luka and Alix. Adrien has not had many occurrences that led to others knowing his secret identity, because unlike Marinette, Adrien was limited by what he could do, where he could go and who he could talk to while under his fathers care, he was heavily protected and controlled in his civilian life and this alone prevented a lot of close encounters that could have led to others discovering his identity. But now that Gabriel is gone, Adrien is no longer under the same restrictions he once had, meaning anything could happen. Adrien has not told anyone his secret identity, but there are a lot of characters to think about whom Adrien could tell his secret to and even more people who could end up discovering his identity, one way or another. But again let’s just wait and see what the show has to say.

[pompomchihuahua]

Genya's Role in the Family

So, today, because I never shut up and I love Genya, I wanted to talk a little more about Genya, specifically his role in his family from the little we see of them and the conclusions I've personally drawn from that.

First of all, from what I can gather, it looks like Genya filled in more a homemaker role than a "man of the family" or traditional gender normative older brother role. In fact, it seems like he's taken up the burden of what you'd normally expect to be placed on the eldest sister.

I find it so interesting that in our first shot of the whole family together where they're all sleeping, we can already glean a lot of their situation. But what I want to focus on is how everyone gets their own futon, even Sanemi! Everyone except Genya, who's sleeping with baby Koto.

We know why he's not sleeping with his mama but wouldn't it make the most logical sense for him to go with the eldest? Sanemi is older than Genya by at least five years (21 to Genya's 16 in canon) ergo he would be the most responsible. Or, if you want to be gender normative since this is the very early 1900's, why not with his eldest sister?

Well, first of all, we know Sanemi trusts him above all the other siblings. We know this because Genya is the one he chose to confide in when making the promise to protect everyone. We also know that when Sanemi goes to go looking for their mother, he trusts in Genya to watch over the kids while he's gone. Which brings me to another point.

Just look at how all of them turn to him!

How he cradles baby Koto back to sleep, Genya warning them away from the door just before disaster strikes.

Even in official art, Genya is the one carrying the baby while Sanemi does the hard labor. Which brings me to Sanemi's role. Legally in this time period, he is the head of the house, which means he and Shizu are likely their main bread-winners. In the flashback, Sanemi is the one pulling the cart with the heaviest load while Genya carries a small knapsack.

During Genya's monologue he says this: "My mother was always working, from morning until night. Not once did I ever see her sleeping."

So if Shizu is always working and Sanemi is always working, who's taking care of the babies?

Well, based on how Genya interacts with the younger siblings, I would place my bets on him!

And siblings caring for their younger siblings or just young children in general was so common in rural areas they were called Komori, though they were typically little girls caring for the children of wealthy people. Simply put, by placing the burden of child-rearing on a Komori, you could free up more time for you to work.

And, it's shown that Genya does have the gentleness and patience for it. He's fiercely protective of his siblings (punching the landlord's son for making Sumi cry, standing up the caterpillar girls in One Winged butterfly). The corps record book states that Gyomei helps him regain his "gentle nature", something you'd definitely need for child rearing. He also has the patience and attention to detail needed for it as shown by his love for bonsai.

I find it so interesting that Genya has so many parallels to Nezuko from him being the only survivor out of all the little siblings while the older sibling was away, to the demonic ties to even their gentleness. And I know this was intentional: just like Gyutaro and Daki are meant to show "what could have been," Sanemi and Genya are also meant to be a "what could have been" scenario as well.

But I find Genya so much more fascinating, not just because of how he defies gender norms just from the little that we see from his past but from littlest details of his character. I could make a whole different post just on his speech patterns and how it reflects his emotional stunt in growth and how he's forcing himself to be more of a man to get closer to Sanemi.

He wears his emotions on his sleeve but he's still a private and reserved person, he's fierce but he's gentle. He's a walking dichotomy and just an excellent character with a very interesting ability that I could go on and on about too.

I would like to give a special shout out to @princeblue and boff and bepp and rose and everyone else on the blue corps server! I never would have been able to put these thoughts into words until they let me ramble at them endlessly and they rambled back!!!!!

[demo-whale]

Brosten Pt. 2

I reposted by Brosten hcs recently and I'd remiss if I didn't include Pt. 2 - enjoy!!

Matt and Neil can both speak Spanish 

instead of using it to talk shit, they just say absolute nonsense to each other

Nicky always acts like they’re saying super offensive or petty shit

he’ll gasp dramatically and it just eggs them on

they drink from each other’s cups and water bottles and eat from each other’s plates all the time 

everyone else thinks it’s absolutely disgusting

“you didn’t even ask...”

“i don’t have to ask??” 

they go tailgating to other PSU sporting events in Matt’s truck, bringing along whoever is in the mood for hotdogs and busch lite

Matt teaches Neil how to throw a football, and they like to hang out at the park on the rare occasion that they have some downtime

Matt constantly has food for Neil in his bag, like little packets of fruit snacks or granola bars

Neil invites Matt to come running with him, and even though Matt doesn’t think he’ll like it, he agrees bc Neil thought of him and wants to hang out with him

he actually ends up really enjoying it, and Neil slows his pace way down to stay next to Matt

once Matt builds up his endurance they actually talk while running

Matt likes to say whatever pops into his brain, like he has no filter, and most of the time the completely random things he says just make Neil cry-laugh

Neil has a twitter account called shit-my-dad-says and it’s all the random nonsense that Matt says on a daily basis

it has over 500,000 followers

when Matt graduates, he continues to text Neil the funniest, randomest shit and Neil posts screenshots  

(Dan has a similar account called shit-my-work-husband-says and posts the absolutely horrible one-liners he says to her. it gets almost as popular as Neil’s account)

they know how to make each other laugh so hard they can’t breathe

once Neil becomes more comfortable with affection, they say “love you” to each all the time. 

at the end of phone, during practice, whenever the one of them does something small but sweet for the other

Matt makes Neil watch finding nemo with him, and from then on they constantly do the “gimme some fin. gimme some noggin. duuuude.” 

they watch TLC shows together

90 day fiance, say yes to the dress, Darcey and Stacey 

they like to yell at the TV

which is why they also watch bad horror movies together

when they get older and Neil and Andrew make Court, Dan and Matt take their kids to the summer Olympics every four years to watch them play

Neil makes the first exy game of the season for every single one of Dan and Matt’s kids, and the first basketball game of the season for their youngest who doesn’t play exy

Neil is the best man when Dan and Matt get married

he tells stories about them and about how much they love each other

he doesn’t get too sappy, but at the end he says, “Matt, you were the first person on the team to trust me and help me without wanting anything in return. I know the love you have for me is only a fraction of the love you have for Dan, so I know that you’re marriage is going to be unshakable. Here’s to forever.” 

Matt cries and Dan beams

they name their first child David Abram Boyd (Matt says it’s because those names are significant but Dan says it’s because the initials spell DAB)

they are the brothers they never had

[ultimate-marysue]

Identity drama but it's not Bruce "I am the cowl" Wayne or any of the angsty edgy kids either. Identity drama but it's Dick Grayson not recognizing himself in other people's eyes.

His family idolizes him to an unhealthy extreme. Most of his siblings are obsessed with him, look up to him, think he can do no wrong. He's Bruce's golden boy, the first boy wonder, always perfect despite never having been like that in his time as Robin.

Most of the Hero community treats him like the second coming of Jesus, like the absolute peak of what a vigilante should be. They talk about him like he's some sort of legend instead of a human being doing his best. It's flattering, but he isn't as awe inspiring.

Plenty of rogues and civilian friends see him as a himbo. The list of people genuinely and wholeheartedly thirsting over him like he's a slab of meat is concerning. Sure, he knows he's hot, he enjoys flirting. It's fun, but that's not his entire personality. People can get really weird about that kind of stuff, because sure, it's one thing to wink or wolf whistle and another to get weirdly parasocial.

Dick Grayson that gets back to Titan's Tower or to the Clocktower, back to his actual peers the people who have seen him grow up, and finally finds himself there. In Babs sarcastic comments or Kori's playful banter. In Wally's concerned look or Roy's teasing.

They have seen him at his worst: stupid, cocky, jealous, paranoid, rude, edgy, depressed... They don't fawn over his perceived virtues. His friends know he's a great vigilante, they trust him as their leader and value his competency... And yet they know he can make mistakes. They trust their own abilities, and they know Dick does as well. They see each other as equals and thus, there's no pedestal to put him on.

They know he's handsome, they might have had an embarrassing crush at some point, but his attractiveness doesn't change anything. They're used to it, they might joke about it, but they've grown up together: it's not a big deal.

Babs and the Titans know he likes to be silly, to flirt and joke in order to keep things lighthearted. They also know that's all it is: something he likes to play with. Dick is a brilliant strategist, and he's a hopeless romantic who prefers to date rather than fuck around. They know he's taking things seriously even as he tries to diffuse the tension.

When Dick comes back from a call with Tim and gives Roy a very thoughtful and introspective advice, the other man just (lightly) bonks him in the head and tells him to drop it. When he's coming back from patrol, all jokes and witty one liners, Babs just snorts and gives him permission to stop the performance Circus Boy. When he's acting all suave and seductive, Kory giggles and gives him a little kiss. "You know you don't have to do that with me!" And Dick just melts into her. "Dude it's just me!" Is Wally's way of getting Dick to stop bearing around the bush and just bitch to him about whatever's bothering him. Donna only needs one look, and her friend's dropping the hero posture, looking like an actual human being.

Dick is a performer, and he plays many parts in order to be the best hero, the best sibling he can be. Sometimes he doesn't even realize he's doing it, sometimes it's hard to take off the mask. Sometimes people talk about him and he's not sure who this person is. Sometimes he thinks he might be trapped in these personas. Lucky for him, his friends are there to remind him of who he is.

[tensitensi]

thinking about that one au I made back in sept 2024 where mo’at adopts spider (part 1 here)

NOW I’m thinking of the sully kids’ roles here… been being torn between caring and play-insulting his friend or.. respecting his uncle????????? And TRUST Kiri is definitely abusing the uncle privileges now.

Jake: where the hell were you? You were gone for the entire day— kiri: I was out— Jake: since dawn?! Kiri: well, I was with uncle spider, you said to bring a trustworthy elder with you! Jake: I meant people like Norm! Or Max! Kiri: *blows raspberries whilst walking away*

SPIDER is using his “respect your elders/ uncle” card EVERYTIME on lo’ak whenever possible. He wouldn’t do that to tuk, though. Also finds it funny with neteyam confused on either calling him uncle spider or spider???

now that I think of it more.. more family gatherings of Mo’at, Spider, and Neytiri. Someone (I don’t remember and I can’t find their repost) said that it would be hard for neytiri to get used to it since now she’s the elder sister, and not the youngest baby.. and I think YES.

it’d be hard for neytiri to get used to it— maybe it even strains their already fragile relationship MORE but sometimes big sister instincts set in. At some point she starts… big sistering spider.

I’m imagining a family dinner with the sullies + Mo’at and spider where they all are eating together, and neytiri notices spiders smaller bowl.

Mo’at, having gotten used to the smaller portions the boy always took always accepted it since Sky people have notoriously smaller stomachs than them. Neytiri, who most of her time catering to her family and not spending as much as she used to with her mother and spider is … odded out.

spider had always eaten with them, not always ofcourse, just the average once in awhile. And it was only for a short time as he never overstayed his welcome and she never really cared to see how much he was really eating. But now? After months of family bonding days brought on by mo’at (which was always painfully awkward between spider and neytiri)? Yeah, that isn’t gonna slide. That’s too little.

she rips off a bit of the meat from her bowl and throws it into spiders.

Jake freezes, wondering if he accidentally sniffed some pandoran weed in the air or is actually seeing what he’s seeing. Spider also freezes but quickly goes back to eating after glancing up to an unbothered Neytiri too busy digging into her own food. Mo’at simply smiles from where she sits. The rest of the sully children just view it as an average dinner.

[apollos-boyfriend]

👀

-@10piecechickenmcnugget

i need to read the comics before i fully touch on what i want to do with brian so tim time <33 i've already gotten into what he's up to a bit with the masky ramble but i can never talk about my boy enough <3

he's probably the closest thing the kids have to like. a stable caretaker. and by stable i mean consistent because that man is NOT stable in any way shape or form. in the order of events i have currently he's the first adult to show up and therefore has a much closer connection to the kids, having been unable to bring himself to leave them until jane arrived and gave him a Small break. he was meant to take a week for himself but came back after literally a day (for him, time's wonky at the mansion so it was either like a few days or hours for them) because he got too anxious and stressed about their well-being. he eventually gets better at it but it takes a Good While.

tim just feels a large amount of responsibility because in a way, most of those kids were failed by the system, like he was. it's clear most of them suffer from Some mental health issue, and tim knows what it feels like to be looked down upon and ostracized for not fitting into the norm. and like, yeah, it's not the Exact Same, but spending god-knows how long alone with just the kids and slender's inconsistent appearances made him a bit attached, despite his better judgement.

and it's funny because i don't think tim is good with kids. like at all. he barely considers himself a caretaker because he sees himself as the bare minimum at best. but he was all they had for a long time and even when jane and brian eventually show up to help, they still can't help themselves. it's like how cats have this sixth sense and can instantly swarm the nearest cat hater/person with cat allergies. brian was a camp counselor and dealt with kids for years and jane essentially raised her sister herself but no. they cling to the man with 300 diseases that spends half his time wallowing in self-pity about how he's not good enough for them

[send me a "👀" and i'll ramble about an au]

[evelynpr]

FINISHED WATCHING MHA MOVIE 2: HEROES RISING!!! SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVENT WATCHED IT

OH MY FUCKING GOD THIS WAS SO GOOD YO HOLY FUCK I LOVE IT AAAAAAAAAAAAA

This was truly My Bakudeku Academia. Watching that final battle felt like a religious experience- as if I was watching the birth of Christ. Holy fuck if that really was the original ending, with Deku passing OFA to Kacchan, and the whole "Oh it actually stayed with Deku and Bkg got amnesia" didn't happen, this would have been a dramatically different story moving forward.

Horikoshi really loves Bakugou- like absolutely no question. The story following this kind of ending would be about him continuing OFA's legacy with the guilt of a thousand suns on his shoulders for "taking away" Izuku's dream. Izuku would have continued the hero course as an actual quirkless student. I would love to see aus of this being canon and continuing their story from there.

I'm guessing Nine here was supposed to be AFO, and he would basically be gone too. Katsuma is perfectly set up to be the next protagonist (I can already imagine him using Cell Regeneration as Super Regeneration- he could become invincible while also healing others. Incredibly amazing quirk).

NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT I HAD WAS ADDRESSED. THE REST OF THE CLASS ACTUALLY DO FEEL STRONG AND USEFUL AND EVERYTHING AS SHIT I LOVE IT AAAAAAAA

YES MY GIRL OCHAKO FINALLY HAS HER BIG MOMENT FLOATING SO MUCH DEBRIS!!! I'M SO HAPPY- EVEN JIRO, AOYAMA, SHOJI, TOKOYAMI AND MORE HAD LEGIT GOOD SCENES AND FIGHTS I'M SO FUCKING HAPPY YEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH THEY ARE SOOO COOLLLLL THEY GENUINELY GAVE IT THEIR ALL FUCK YEAHHHHH

(note. THAT WOLF GUY CALLED SHOJI UGLY- A FELLOW HETEROMORPH, CUS HE WAS PROJECTING HIS "MONSTER" ISSUES ON HIM HOW FUCKING DARE YOUUUUU)

THEY ALSO MAKE IT ACTUALLY MAKE MORE SENSE HOW THE WHOLE CLASS IS SEPARATED ON AN ISLAND TOGETHER AS A WHOLE CLASS THIS TIME TOO (and not just half like last movie). They even managed to tie it in to AFO, the LoV, and Hero Society. Like it actually feels more grounded and reasonable why the class would be here alone with supervision.

They even add hints of Touya Todoroki with him having a short battle with Endeavor, Hawks spying in the LoV, the HSPC head cameo, and other little things too. Man I loved this fucking movie I would watch it 10 more times right now.

[scarlet-herring]

as someone who’s never liked timsteph i find it so funny that i just accidentally talked myself into a revrob au of them. revrob au where war games happens, steph (~15) gets captured & tortured, except this time tim (~16) comes in to try & help but due to [unforeseen circumstances] no one comes as backup, and they’re both tortured, leading to steph’s red hood era via being resurrected somehow by arthur brown and tim’s oracle era brought on via complications due to torture.

tim’s the one person steph won’t target, and steph’s the one person tim can’t really get angry with about killing, because they get it.

[allthegothihopgirls]

I love the asexual Bruce Wayne agenda and I totally agree with it. What I want to know though is how Bruce (asexual queen that he his) deals with his hormonal teenage boys?

Cause like Bruce never got the sex talk (I mean his parents died when he was young, and the family Buttler is Not giving his former employers son the sex talk) and that’s fine by Bruce. Cause he’s never felt these ‘urges’ that everyone talks about. Honestly, sex is overrated.

But, Batman prepares for everything. And one thing that people ALWAYS stress about parenting is having to give your kids the sex talk.

I just really want to know about the hijinks like;

Bruce: *Standing forlornly in front of a ‘Sex Ed’ PowerPoint* So, I understand that you probably have no desire for these… urges. That everyone talks about. But the parenting book (and society) decrees that to be a good parent, I need to give my children a proper education on sex.

Dick: *Very much not asexual* Yeah, no thanks dad this really helps!

Bruce: *Bewildered* How???

although the idea of bruce uncomfortably giving his version of a 'talk' is amusing, i don't think he'd give one at all. none of the boys would really give him any reason to, until he gets to tim at least (he's like, the only one i haven't fully projected my asexual agenda onto at this point).

dick's always been very responsible, so when he starts dating, maaaaybe bruce has like, a single thought contemplating whether or not to sit him down, but i think he'd get off with a "you know that you should always treat a woman right, yeah?" whether dick's actually dating women is up for debate but you get the point and a pat on the back. i believe that bruce operates predominantly under the 'if they have questions, they'll ask' mindset, so he trusts that if dick needs an answer to something, he'll come to bruce. (or just source an answer elsewhere)

i do also think that if anything, alfred would be the one to pull bruce up and ask if he'd adequately informed the boys of things 'one on one' (because he KNOWS that he hasn't). and even then, if bruce were to actually sit dick down, he wouldn't get so far as an introduction spent dancing around the topic because bruce is himself, mortified, before dick stops him and says that he doesn't have to give him this talk, because "wally already did" (much to bruce's disapproval).

as for jason, dying isn't great for a guy's love life. as i pretty much said previously, i don't think bruce would approach anything until it was absolutely relevant (when the boys are already in a relationship). so jason not getting a chance to really date before he died, means that bruce never had the opportunity to talk to him about it. i also believe he'd assume that jason already knows, with the crude jokes he makes, and the kind of people he grew up around on the streets. and obviously, by the time he comes back as red hood, he's too old to 'not know' and it's just presumed he knows his stuff.

i think tim might cause him a little bit (a lot) of trouble though. it definitely scares the shit out of bruce when he finds out about steph getting pregnant by her ex. it prompts him to fling fully into action mode to prevent tim ever being in that situation. that'd be the first time he's properly spoken to one of his kids about it, lots of emphasis on protection and what NOT to do.

however for any other talk pre-steph, i really do think he'd try to palm off the responsibility onto dick (he's very thankful that he's got kids old enough to do it for him), asking him to talk to tim. bruce would probably pull out all the cards "i'm too old" "he'd think it was less weird coming from you" "i don't know what you kids get up to, he's better off hearing it from someone who he can relate to" "i don't want to traumatise the kid" etc etc.

i do think the whole steph situation would be a bit of a reality-check for bruce though, and he'd have the realisation "that could have been any one of the kids" and he would be on his toes for a bit. especially with the amount of girls tim is rumoured to have relations with. him getting with bernard would be a big relief for everyone bruce i think.

once again when he gets with bernard, bruce is 100% palming off the responsibility of having that talk, onto one of his other kids. most likely jason. this is getting super far into my own personal headcanon territory, but literally none of them are straight to me, and i think jason would be the most 'comfortably' gay (mostly just his lack of care about the subject, being percieved as open-ness). bruce would 100% ask dick to talk to tim if it weren't for how private he tends to be with his love life in adulthood. (even getting him to just have the general 'talk' with tim was pushing it)

i don't think he'd ever talk with damian, the league definitely taught him (although objectively). i do think out of all the kids, he'd be the one to have questions though, mainly about the romantic aspect of relationships, as he struggles to wrap his head around the concept of 'love', (which really tests bruce's parenting abilities) i do think dick (having the bond he does with damian) would go out of his way to have a talk with him as he got older though.

as for cass, i don't think she would have ever been taught, with her irregular upbringing, as well as not going to regular school and all. but girls are new in the batfamily, and bruce doesn't want to touch that conversation with a ten-foot pole, so he calls diana in to do it for him.

final note, i also really do think a large contributing factor to bruce most likely never approaching the subject out of his own free will is just how private they all tend to be with their love lives. like i can see dick telling bruce that he's dating someone (as a teenager), but apart from a name and how he knows them, he's not really giving much else away. jason on the other hand just completely leaves it up for everyone else to figure out on their own (it lives entirely in my head that he's like this with his family, but is super close with his partner's family, which is a shock to everyone). if anything, tim's the only one who ever wants people to know about his relationships, for them to 'meet the parents' (bruce) etc etc. it probably all stems from bruce himself being a pretty secretive guy.

[milfbrainrot]

"claire's a bad mom" claire chose to have her kids claire tells her kids bedtime stories and claire pretends not to be in life threatening danger when she's terrified for her own and her kids' safety to help them stay calm and literally only wants to know if they're okay before prioritizing herself and keeping them far away from danger by rescuing herself i think ur just racist

[firefl1ezz]

i just. hit s+ rank in splatoon and i never honestly thought this would happen?? am i cool now.. do i get to be a part of the s4? do i get to be watered down to my running joke all the time?

[blluespirit]

I sort of like the thought that Zuko and Aang take the Sun Warriors' warning not to tell anyone about the dragons a little more seriously… and they keep it between them. Of course, they trust Sokka, Toph and Katara. Of course they know they wouldn’t tell anyone, but now three people (including Iroh) know the truth about Ran and Shaw. And that’s three too many when you’re trying to keep a secret.

(and there are other people at the temple as well - like Haru, Teo and The Duke - who, while trustworthy, aren’t as close to them as the others, and when it comes to secrets with as much consequence as this one, you can’t afford to take any chances.)

Furthermore, the culture within the Fire Nation since Sozin’s rein has been warped. The culture is not to respect the dragons as the original firebenders, it’s to conquer and kill them. It’s the ultimate proof of your strength as a firebender. All it takes is one mistake before rumour spreads, and people go looking for the ultimate hunt. It’s not something Zuko or Aang can risk.

Whether Katara, Toph and Sokka (and Suki) ever find out the truth is up to you. But post-war, after Zuko returns from a strange, poorly explained trip with a dragon, and eventually develops the ability to use rainbow fire, either the others have some questions about Aang’s knowing look, or they are finally let in on a monumental secret.

[longagoitwastuesday]

ngl it sort of pisses me off the way adults regard Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen at times. Which could be a very interesting and poignant point in a good way if well written, but as it is it becomes mainly just frustrating and sad in a negative way.

Nanami saying Gojo never cared about anything or anyone other than himself crashes interestingly with Kusakabe saying the whole situation was just all his fault because he refused to kill Itadori. The students are very aware of those aspects of Gojo's personality, but overall they seem to regard him with way more kindness and fondness even when at their rudest, not truly coinciding with either Nanami's or Kusakabe's views.