#i do not want pronouns on my nametag at all !! i do not want to have to choose between outing myself to strangers and misgendering myself !!

[thepinkseashell]

so. today one of my bosses walks in and says theyre giving us all name tags. all of the name tags have pronouns on them. they did not ask what pronouns we wanted or even if we were comfortable having them on our nametags at all. mine says [deadname] she/her

[munch-mumbles]

trans people working retail should be allowed to tell one customer a day to ***

[cyberdragoninfinity]

I'd love to know what the other Barians are up to in the college AU!

YESSS like i said when i was talkin about Vector, I rly wanna properly draw all these guys sometime this year, theyve been bumping around my brain for Months now. some tidbits about the other guys:

Shark/Nasch: MISTAH TRANS MASC HE/THEY OF ALL TIME. Has a really dense Carrd covered in sea predator gifs and dA stamps. I thiiink I assigned him Pursuing a Marine Biology degree, naturally--he spends a lot of time at the aquarium wishing he worked there (he works at a country club currently. he drives golf carts to go pick up errant golf balls. his little nametag says 'Reginald'.) Does really well in his classes but is becoming. a Little Bit Burned Out trying to deal with them And work And whatever bullshit his current and ex-roommates are entangling him in. Vector stole his Ikea blahaj plush and tied it to a ceiling fan. Frequents Not-Lawrence State University's esteemed Smogon Club (usually because Yuma begs and begs for him to come,) and runs a nasty Walking Wake led Monotype team.

Rio: I NEED TO DECIDE ON HER MAJOR WAHHH Atmospheric Science would be kind of insane... invested interest in meteorology and winter events. I know she's dabbled in a bunch of campus sports and ice skates at a very skilled level, probably is banking on maybe doing that professionally if she can qualify. She's also buddies with Alexis! :3 Works at a bougie gelato place not far from the country club Shark works at so sometimes she will come bother him on her break. Has a modest interest in birding and sometimes meets up with the town Birding Group. All in all just likes being active and stylish and is closing in on a date with Miss Anna Kaboom~ lord dont get me started on butchfemme annario i aint got no brakes

Girag and Alito: THE BESTIES. THE ROOMIES OF ALL TIME. They actually live in the same apartment complex as Primo and Claus so they hang out and shoot the shit sometimes. Alito I feel is majoring in something like English, he's not super attached to it, what he really is banking on is a boxing career (whether or not that pans out for him remains to be seen.) He goes and spars at a local gym frequently! Girag is a history major with a focus on feudal Japan and he's also a furry. The boys' r/malelivingspaces ass apartment is a haven for the other Emperors if they dont want to be in the Nightmare House for a hot minute. Don't mind the giant knockoff red panda squishmallow taking up half their couch. Also Ponta is still there he's still a little spirit guy that Girag is nebulously aware of but Alito isn't.

Mizar: OH MIZAR..... one of my favorite zexals in the College AUverse tbh. my failwoman. Tentatively out transfem overdramatic fake blond trying out she/they pronouns for the first time. Has a big expensive gaming desktop that lights up (it looks vaguely like Tachyon Dragon lol) and uses it primarily to get into heated furry drama online and write extensive papers and lab reports for her Physics degree, usually while under some degree of white knuckle meltdown stress. She and Dumon were dating for a while but broke up and truth be told Mizar's still got a couple hangups about it. Gets into a LONG, STUPID beef with Kite over their fursona designs "being too similar" that culminates in them having a brawl on the roof of a hotel mid furry-convention. Yes they were both in fursuits. No you can't tell anyone you saw Kite in a fursuit keep you voice down shh!!!!!!! They end up having some kind of t4t qpr-ish situationship i think. not avoiding the mizakai allegations i fear HDFHSFGF

Dumon: WHO UP STUDYING THEY MEDIEVAL TEXTS. god. I love college AU Dumon. little library dyke. dweeb he/him butch kind of sort of dating clark's Paula From Earthbound and they are having In Depth discussions about a podcast they just listened to. Medieval lit major who knows more about knights than you ever will in your entire life. He was born in Utah. Organizes the finances of the Barian Rental House and takes it all dead seriously and Vector still owes like three months of back rent and he kind of wants to strangle him over it. Type of guy who spends all day at the campus coffee shop nursing the same matcha latte for five hours. Mizar is his best friend and they still hang out post-break up and they're both just kind of constantly putting up with Vector's bullshit. i mean all the Barians are but STILL.

Shark, Rio, Dumon, and Vector also all have the distinction of having known each other when they were kids, before they all moved off on their separate ways (until reconnecting in college) As you can imagine, Vector and Shark's playground wars would get. Violent. 🥴 Dumon has had a bit of a crush on Shark since they met but has absolutely never disclosed this. Because I think it is funny.

The funniest detail about them as a whole in college AU to me is theyre all transfer students from NLSU's sister-campus in Barian, Indiana. WOE! Midwestern be upon ye! And also the previously mentioned nightmare queer housing situation they live in under Don Thousand The Dogshit Landlord (or, well, at this point it's just Mizar, Dumon, and the Kastle twins living there. The situation has improved Somewhat after Vector got kicked out HHDFDF he still loves fucking with all of them though in true 🥕 fashion)

[scorpiongrassfield]

The Drive is Long

Start | Prev

A few hours in, you pull off the main road to stop for lunch. Just some quick fast food, which Pat cajoles you into eating as they always do. It’s as flavorless as always, too. 

The town you stop in doesn’t seem to have a florist, so Pat asks you to look up where a florist might be available close to the main road sometime before your journey. 

Before you get back in the car, Pat stops to search for something in the trunk. 

“What are you looking for?” you ask. 

The trunk is a little disorganized. There are a lot of tools, a few weapons, and a pack of water bottles in there. 

“Aha! I thought they might still be in here,” Pat says, brandishing their find. 

It looks like… a set of chisels. 

“What do you need those for?” you ask. 

“Just in case. You never know when you might need something like this,” Pat says with a wink. 

You don’t get it, but you figure Pat will make it clear what the purpose is when the time comes. 

You get into the driver’s seat this time, with Pat in the passenger seat. 

“My turn to pick the music,” they say with a bright smile as they buckle in. 

“Sounds fair,” you agree. 

Pat’s taste in music seems to be a little heavy on the synths for your tastes, but it’s not bad. 

It helps keep the creeping sense of dread that hasn’t left you since the urban legend encounter at bay. 

After a while of just enjoying the music, Pat asks: “Did you find a florist?” 

“No. I’m driving,” you say. 

“Right. Guess I should be the one doing that then,” they say with a chuckle. 

They fiddle around with their phone for a while, and you keep your eyes on the road. 

“Alright, found one that looks decent. I’ll tell you what exit to take when it’s time,” they say eventually. 

“Okay.” 

Pat continues to tap away at their phone. 

“You know…” they say, trailing off. 

“Hm?” 

“Well. I just realized that other than Ametrine, I haven’t been contacted by anyone since we started this case. Not my mom, not our friends, not potential clients, hell, not even a spam call.” 

You furrow your brow. “That’s weird.” 

“Yeah. It is. Like, sure, maybe my friends and family decided to believe me when I said I was fine after the fire. But spam callers should be calling no matter what’s going on,” they say. 

“Wonder what’s going on?” 

“So do I. I’ve got my theories,” they say, tapping their fingers against the car door. 

“Care to share?” 

“Not yet. I’m still not sure,” they say. 

You snort. “You can share your theories without being sure, you know.” 

“Nope. Not happening,” they chirp. 

You roll your eyes. “Fine then. Keep your secrets.” 

“Don’t mind if I do,” they say, and you can hear the grin. 

“Of course, if you have any theories, you’re welcome to share them with me,” they say after a few beats of silence. 

“Nope, not happening,” you echo. 

Pat laughs. “Yeah yeah, I guess that’s fair,” they say. 

You don’t actually have any theories to share at the moment, but they don’t need to know that. 

Pat swaps out the CD for another one, and the Killers’ “All These Things I’ve Done” drifts through the speakers.

You focus on the road, not letting yourself drift off into thought. 

Pat occasionally strikes up a conversation as you drive, asking about your thoughts on the music, or sharing a story from before you lost your memory. The conversation is pleasant and helps the time pass. 

Eventually, Pat says: “Alright kid, next exit is ours.” 

You nod and get into the lane to turn off. 

Pat gives you the directions to the florist and you follow them with ease. 

The flower shop looks nice. The smell of so many kinds of pollen and the green of cut stems gives you a headache though. 

“What kind of flowers are you looking for today?” the person behind the counter asks. Xir pronouns are listed on xir nametag: xi/xim/xir, along with xir name: Robin. 

“We’re looking to get a bouquet for a grave. Do you only do premade ones, or could we pick our own kinds of flowers to put in it?” Pat asks. 

“Hm. I could do something custom for you if you want. It’ll cost extra though,” Robin says. 

“Cool,” Pat says. They turn to you. “Do you think you could pick out flowers and tell xim what you want, or do you need to tell me and have me tell xim?” they murmur. 

The thought of talking to Robin makes you very nervous, but Pat is right here with you, which helps. “I think I can tell xim,” you say. Then after a beat. “But um. What flowers should I pick?” 

“You know Theo better than me, at this point,” Pat shrugs. 

“But you know flower language better,” you say, a bit put out. 

“Uh. If you’re interested in the symbolism, I could probably help you pick,” Robin calls from behind the counter. 

“Oh. Um. If you don’t mind,” you agree. 

“Right. So what meaning do you want this bouquet to have?” Xi asks. 

“Strength. And wisdom. Maybe hope? And sorrow. And um. I don’t… are there any flowers that symbolize trans people? Is that a thing?” you ask, getting the words out slowly so you don’t start to panic. Pat’s got a hand on your shoulder, and it grounds you. 

Robin’s got xir head tilted to the side like they’re thinking. “We’ve got forget-me-nots? Those are sometimes used on trans day of remembrance,” xi offers. 

“That works,” you agree. 

“And for the rest, if we want this to look nice besides the meaning…” xi trails off, turning away from the counter and heading into the back. 

“Good job,” Pat says, patting your shoulder before letting go of you. 

“Thanks.” 

Robin takes a bit in the back room, but eventually xi comes back holding a fresh bouquet. Some of the flowers look very familiar. 

Xi gestures to the flowers in the bouquet as xi names them. 

“How about some phacelia for strength, sage for wisdom, cornflower for hope? And some white roses, since those are traditional funeral flowers? And the forget-me-nots, of course,” Xi says. 

The flowers xi points to last are the very familiar scorpion grass that have been following you all this time.

Next

[probablygayattorneys]

Now that I've finished Kat's anime, I want to highlight these two specific moments from the final episode.

These are two beliefs that I hold very strongly, and I rarely see them expressed well, so I want to talk about them for a second.

The first one, being the idea that we do not stand where we are on our own. This is something that I think about a lot because of my sexual orientation and gender identity. There's certainly still a long way that we have to go, but I was able to come out at 16 because of the progress that was made by those who came before me. It is only because of those who were brave enough to stand up when it wasn't safe that there's a world where it's (more) safe. I live in a country where I can marry whoever I want and was enabled to ask for my pronouns on my nametag at work because of the bravery of those who came before. Of course, things aren't perfect. There is still so much to do. But that's for me to do. I owe it to the memories of those who came before me and to the dreams of those who will come after to continue the fight. The anime ended up being a beautiful example of that, and of the idea that we have to, one day, pass things onto the next generation.

Which brings me to my second thing. "The power of friendship" is, admittedly, a bit trite. This is ultimately a kid's show. But it would have been so easy for them to paint it as a mystery that Professor Layton was able to solve all on his own, that he didn't need anyone, because he's so smart. (You see that a lot in adaptions of Sherlock Holmes, but that's a rant for another time.) But they didn't. This puzzle, like most of them, were solved by working together. I made a post when I completed all of the puzzles in Kat's game that was kind of about this, but there's a quote from Newsies that I love that applies here: being boss doesn't mean you have all the answers, just the brains to recognize the right one when you hear it. It's not about being the smartest person in the room, it's about teamwork and delegating and everyone working together. I know I've posted multiple times before about how most episodes of the anime simply come down to love, and I stand by it. No man is an island, after all, and when we care about each other and the bonds that we form together, we succeed together. While maybe a little cliché, I found the anime to be a touching meditation on that.

[theappleismightierthanthesarah]

So I am cis and queer and try really hard with pronouns and names for my students. And my parents know this.

So i get a phone call from my dad about 2ish years ago where he starts telling me about this "kid" who works at the Wawa he goes to every morning. My dad tells me about all of their interactions, what the kid looks like, what he is going to school for, when he graduated from the same high school as me, etc etc. I have no earthly idea why my dad is telling me all this (he knows it all cause he is the kind of person who is a regular everywhere he goes and just loves to know about people so he can tell you all sorts of stuff about "his" bank lady and bartender and Wawa workers)

Then he tells me about either a conversation about pronouns or an observation (like pronouns on a nametag) - some interaction made him realize this kid is somewhere in the trans umbrella. And he was like, "So here is how I reacted....was that okay? Is that the way to be respectful? It feels rude to ask [kid's name] so I figured you would know." About how to correctly address a person i have never met 🙄

I said that from what he had told me, it sounded like he was doing all the right things. We talked about how to respectfully ask the person directly if he was still worried, etc.

The kid has come up in a few convos since, mostly caise my dad met the kid's parents (???) And decided the dad is a dick who should never have had kids cause he doesnt love his awesome, non-cis kid the way my dad wants him to (with respect and pride) and basically making sure his passive aggressive reaction to the parents wasnt potentially harmful to Wawa kid (cause my dad is petty and will midwestern shame your bad parenting to your face but wanted to maybe be more blatant about it but realized that wouldprobably end badly)

Anywho, that is my dad.

I started a new remote job last week, and I'm the only genderqueer person at the company (and the first person who uses neo pronouns that anyone on my team has ever met, apparently).

So far:

Manager carefully wrote down spelling and pronunciation of my pronouns and told everyone on the team to respect them.

Coworker apologized privately for misgendering me (I hadn't told her yet) and said she will practice.

Guy on another team valiantly tried to use my pronouns and ended up saying something like zirzs-zhizz (I DM'd him and thanked him for trying and linked him to a practice site).

Teammate told me he has written out my pronouns and how to use them in a sentence and literally taped it to his monitor so he can practice.

Teammate also referred to me as compañere after I linked to a comic about gender-neutral endings in Spanish (whole team except me + 1 other person speaks Spanish as first language and they held all meetings in Spanish before the two of us started).

I am so stoked that people are actually trying. 💜🤍💚

[enbygirlblogging]

dear jayden,

I feel like I have so much to tell you about everything that’s been going on. I started uni, for one. Can you imagine? Me, in university. Is that not insane? Anyways, that’s a bit beside the point. I have so much to tell you about recent events.

First off, I re-met this girl named ----- from my marketing class. Turns out she goes to --- ---------- -- ------ too, which I am forever grateful for, because if not for her, I probably would have thrown myself out the window already, which I’m strictly prohibited by the university from doing. Her roommate --- is also very sweet, and I’m excited to be their friend. I’m a little scared I’m too weird for them, but I’m like… the coolest weird kid, right? So maybe I can pass as the weirdest cool kid for a while. Not that I would call us “cool” by any particular standard, but… you know what I mean.

Even though university’s been going pretty well, it’s not been without its hitches. The first residence they put me in gave me heatstroke and sent me to the hospital. I’m doing better now that they’ve moved me, both mentally and physically, although none of the faculty in this university is particularly good for anything. I waited three weeks for a woman named ------- to move me to a new residence (despite my aforementioned hospital visit), and the first day she went on vacation, I finally got moved. Shoutout to ------ for being the only helpful faculty member at this university.

Once I finally did get moved, I put a nametag up on my door with my interests and pronouns. I worked really hard on it. I put all my social medias, and I was really excited to make friends. I guess no one else cared though, because they were torn down by the next morning. They weren’t even up for twelve hours.

Now my parents are fighting about whether or not I should even stay at the university. My father thinks I’m going to get myself hurt by being honest about who I am, and though my mom agrees to an extent, she thinks it’ll be good for my mental health and my character to stick it out and stay here. Is it awful of me to say I think I like it better out here? My friends try their best to respect my new name and pronouns, and everyone’s been doing a far better job than my family, who were supposed to accept and respect me with open arms. And although I kind of do wish I’d bitten the bullet and properly transitioned back in high school, I’m not upset with where things are now. I mean, I am, but not as upset as I thought I would be. Which I guess is something of a start.

That night when my parents were fighting, I ran away from home for the first time. I told my mom first, so I don’t know if you can call it “running away” but my original intent was to stay at a mental hospital or homeless shelter for youth until things blew over. It didn’t even really occur to me that I could ask for help until my cousin offered for me to stay with him. Ironically, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to turn to people for help, but that I forgot I had anyone to turn to at all. I just figured I would have to handle it alone, like I’ve handled everything else in my life.

He let me stay at his place, and my mom came to pick me up the next morning. She was pissed out of her mind, but she knew I was still fairly unstable and didn’t start yelling. Honestly, I probably would have bolted into the woods if she did. Sorry if this letter is worrying you. I don’t mean to worry you. I’m okay. I promise. I mean, I do kind of need a hug, but I’ll give you the biggest, best hug next time I see you. I promise.

Anyway, I decided I hate everyone on my floor, and I hope they all leave me alone. It’s not so much that I’m scared, but that I’m sad, I guess. People didn’t even give me a shot. They didn’t even consider being my friend before they started to bully me. I just wanted to make friends and they didn’t even want to meet me before deciding I was the weird kid. I never wanted to be the weird kid. I thought I would be able to shed the title like old skin when I moved here, but I guess it’s stuck on me forever. Maybe I should take a page out of your book and fake it ‘till I make it. Act braver than I feel, and laugh whenever I feel like I’m about to cry. Strangely, that’s something you taught me, even back when I didn’t really like you. You taught me confidence. Or, at least how to fake it.

I gave another listen to this song I really like recently. Could Have Been Me by The Struts. In a strange way, it kind of gave me hope for the rest of my life that I didn’t have before. I guess it just makes me sad to know that these are the years my younger self dreamed of, and now that I’m here I want nothing more than to escape them. I think it would disappoint her to know that she lived the best part of our life already. That she’d already messed it all up. I think it might’ve been too much for her to take, if she knew.

Ah, sorry to get dark on you again. I guess I just miss you. I think I’m going to sign off for now, since it’s past midnight on a Tuesday night/Wednesday morning and I have a 10AM class tomorrow/today that I really should attend for the first time in a million years. My professor probably thinks I’m such a slacker. Pfft. Watch, I’ll say that and he probably doesn’t even know my name.

…Jesus Christ, I’ve been writing for four pages. Joel, if you’re having to read this out loud to Jayden, I apologize on both mine and Jayden’s behalf. I promise I’ll go to bed.

…Right after I pretend to text you, Jayden (good God I am lonely).

Okay, okay, seriously. Bye. I love y’all.

- Hale

[quartzrainewood]

When I come out to you, I want you to say, "I know."

I'm your only child, and you were a single mother while I was growing up. We have a bond from the trials we have been put through. You and me, we fought together. A mother too young and a child forced to grow up too early. You weren't always the best, but neither was I. We both tried to help each other through everything, even if we didn't quite understand. When I went to college, we both changed for the better. Our bond became less about parent and child and more about family. Found family has always been important to me, and you changed to help align your views to always stay progressive and understanding. You have not only been my mother but a mother to all my friends. Will the changes you made to your thinking trickle down to your thoughts on me?

I've been nonbinary my whole life but didn't have a word for it until two years ago. You watched me grow up. You watched me be different. You watched me fight the norm. My partner calls me my chosen name and pronouns around you. My friends do the same. My nametag at work, the community around me, and even the book of faces has my primary name as my chosen name and not my birth name. You never mention it. You never comment on it. You continue the path you have always traveled. A path that I left long ago. Will you join me on this path when I tell you where it goes?

You always seem so accepting. You were willing to change names and pronouns for any of my friends. You commented on how you never understood how any parent could treat their trans child with anything other than love. Then, a moment later, you harshly speak about how the workplace only promotes people with crazy genders, same-sex partners, or other diverse traits. You've taken me to Pride events, watched me grab the nonbinary flags, and wear the rainbows. Will you think I'm only doing this for attention or promotions?

I'm scared to tell you. You're my only biological family. You've supported me through so much. Please support me through this. Please tell me you've seen all the signs and you've been waiting for me to tell you. I'm still me. I'm still your child. Just say you've known all along and continue to treat me the same, but use my new name and pronouns. When I come out to you, please respond with "I know."

[bucketofdeltav]

I don't give a shit what genitals people have, why the fuck does everything have to be about genitals all the time, jesus christ. I speak a language that has gendered pronouns. G E N D E R E D. You probably do too! I actively want to avoid misgendering you!

As an analogy: if you're wearing a nametag that says "Hi my name is Sally" and your purse is monogrammed "Sally Hill" and I call you Sally and you get mad at me for not guessing that your name is actually Bob, you are an asshole.

As the actual issue: if you're presenting (hair style, jewelry, clothes, gait, makeup, &c) in a way that this culture recognizes as cohesively and definitely feminine, and I look at that and go 'okay yes this person is presenting as definitely femme' and use she/her pronouns for you, and you get mad at me for not guessing that you actually use he/him pronouns, again, you are an asshole. If you want people to get it right first try or ask for clarification you have got to, I am on my knees begging here, you have got to give them a fucking clue.

I do not present cohesively femme or cohesively masc and I understand that that means people are going to struggle to gender me correctly and I'm going to get they/them'd a lot.

cis people are so funny like they’re just out there shaking & cowering in fear bc they can’t tell what gender someone is. relax

[skruffie]

So my first year at Target (2014) there was one morning where I was walking to my car and noticed a very odd object in the bushes. It was box shaped and mechanical with several visible wires poking out of it so I quickly got to the store and immediately went up to the first lead I saw and said “there’s something in the bushes outside”, described it, and she was like “are you trying to say you think there’s a bomb out there”

and I said “I don’t know what it is and I don’t want to say it’s a bomb--” so then we immediately started trying to figure out what to do. Someone figured out that it was a powercell or a battery of some kind and no further incident happened there, but I was rationalizing with myself and going “who would want to bomb a Target in the middle of [somewhat rural part of town]”?

Then 2016 was happening, and Target said “by the way you can use whichever bathroom you want as it fits with your gender” and people lost their minds. Transphobia wasn’t like how it is today. Transphobia existed but I don’t know how to describe how pervasively exhausting it is right now in the mainstream by comparison. The Pulse shooting happened, and by this point I had a shirt that was half the Target logo and half a rainbow and I deliberated with myself if I wanted to wear it as a visible sign of support or if it was literally putting a target on my chest for the next round of hate. I’m glad I wore it though because that day there was a lot of emotional support shared both with other team members and with customers that came in. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the gray-haired woman that came in wearing a Love Trumps Hate shirt and I asked her twice if she was okay. The first time she said yes, but the second time she said no.

The election happened, and I painted my nametag in the trans pride colors. I’d wear a trans symbol pin. This was a time period where TMs didn’t have the option to put pronouns on their nametags. It’s becoming a bit more mainstream in some jobs now but 2016, while not that long ago, was still not a fully mainstream idea yet. I think TMs can get them now.

I keep thinking about all of this. I keep thinking about when my coworker Tammy came into the breakroom the day after Pulse absolutely sobbing because she couldn’t get over thinking about the possibility that this is how some of the victims would be outed to their families. I keep thinking about that woman with the shirt. I think about the woman who came up to the service desk wanting to complain about boyshort-style underwear or the other woman who rather angrily interrogated me about my name and if it was “real”, and I’m thinking about how last year I spent too much money on the swimwear from the pride collection because I hated everything else and I keep thinking about how they pulled all the swimwear from the collection this year because of the hatred.

I heard that stores in Utah and Ohio had bomb threats called in and some got evacuated. I talked to one of my former coworkers who says the negative calls are daily. At my old store, there was a man in the other night livestreaming and harassing employees. I would not be able to handle working there in that climate. I would not be able to hold my tongue or sit there with a smile and I don’t think I’d be able to go in there with a target on my fucking chest for abuse.

[sweetteaswift]

.

[sweet-as-an-angel]

Ghost of Christmas Past

[Ghost x Reader]

Warnings: Implications of Ghost’s past (spoilers, in a way), fluff, FLUFF, angst for maybe 3 seconds (very brief), Reader being the best™ gift giver ever, Ghost being a little jealous, implications of romance, no pronouns used for reader except ‘You’.

Wordcount: 1,892

Summary: You try to get everyone into the Christmas spirit and show your love and appreciation, but not everyone seems willing to enjoy the festivities...

You stood watching everyone watching you, a comically large smile making your cheeks ache. Beside you sat a bag, woven with a stiff material and bulging in certain areas, some sharp, some round. The common room was vaguely decorated to resemble a sliver of Christmas, some streamers hung by nails and a wall hanging of reindeer.

"So?" Alejandro said, arms crossed over his chest and a smile threatening to break out across his face. "What did you call us all here for?"

"Good question, my shiny-haired friend!" Alejandro smoothed back his hair, a smug look crossing his features. You wanted to build suspense. You eyed everyone, gaze shifting from soldier to soldier, friend to friend. At the very edge of your vision loomed a figure who hadn't spoken all day. Your eyes passed over him, his stare, holding it there before flitting away.

"Come on, (Y/N)!" wailed Soap, throwing his hands up in the air. "Tell us what's going on! It's obviously something to do with that sack you bloody well made me carry here since you couldn't do it yourself."

His tone was joking, but what he said wasn’t a joke; he and everyone else already had a delighted suspicion that what lay in your bag was a rare delicacy in the force.

Presents.

You couldn't hold it for much longer. You cracked.

"Alright, alright! You win," You bent down and opened the sack, keeping the mouth wide open. Taking a step back you looked expectantly at everyone.

The boys just looked at each other, seeming to exchange their uncertainty. You sighed loudly, reached into the sack and withdrew a brightly-coloured something coated in wrapping paper. "They're gifts!" You said, making an excited motion with your free hand. "For you!"

Some went slack-jawed, followed by cheers and ‘thank you’s, a swarm of large men encircling you. Others showed stoic appreciation with a brief hum and a barely-contained smile (Price).

Despite their shadows encapsulating you, the room felt brighter, light. Cheery. Someone ruffled your hair, another picked you up and twirled you in their arms. When you regained your footing and the room stopped spinning, you smiled. Then faltered as you noticed a shadow of a man still sticking to the wall, not having moved since everyone first arrived.

"They're all marked with nametags so don't go opening anyone else's presents!" you called back to the group, trying not to let Ghost’s dark stare freeze you or your Christmas spirit.

"Presents - plural?" John's soft accent piqued, showcasing a childlike excitement usually stamped out by the very foundations the likes that the 141 worked for.

You nodded, and the room seemed to brighten more.

"And this is why you're my favourite soldier," said Price, patting your shoulder.

"Aw, that's not fair," said Gaz, smirking. "I thought I was your favourite."

"That was before (Y/N) showed some initiative."

Between the conversations, the rustling of wrapping paper, the passing of gifts, Ghost's silence drew you to him. The complete vacancy of his presence was...eerie compared to the joviality filling the room. You looked at each other, gaze interlocked, unable to look away. You offered him a smile, your heart pounding as it always did when Ghost was near.

The sound of tearing paper drew your attention away from him. Tailing it was a gasp.

There stood Alejandro, mouth agape and eyes wide with wonder. In his hands lay a jumper. But not just any jumper.

"This is-"

"A genuine, signed, 1986 limited edition The Who concert jumper ," you finished. You'd hand-picked each and every present, tracked them down and emptied your bank account to ensure that they came to the right people, their true forever homes.

Alejandro didn't say anything - couldn't say anything. He took broad steps towards you and threw his arms around you, pulling you tight against him. Warmth spread through you, filling you. You felt like a lava lamp long after Alejandro pulled away and pressed a soft kiss to your hair.

It might have been your imagination, but you swore you could see Ghost's grip on his forearms tighten, the fabric of the sleeve bunching.

After seeing how made up Alejandro was with his gift, everyone else tore into theirs. A wave of gasps and proclamations of "Just what I've always wanted!" and “Where did you get this?!”, followed by more ‘thank you’s and hugs filled the room. Soap got a vintage hardback collector's edition of Dracula, Gaz received a candyfloss maker (which he seemed marginally embarrassed about yet entirely grateful for), and Price, shocking no-one, received combat boots. Steel-toed, banned in 93 countries, super grip, compartmentalised combat boots. You showed him the secret sections in the heel and wherever else, perfect for hiding whatever suited him at the time.

The room buzzed with ecstaticity.

"Ghost!" Soap called, "Come and 'ave a look!"

Your heart dropped into your stomach.

Oh no.

Ghost shifted, pushing off the wall and taking slow steps towards the sack. The room quietened as he drew closer, watching expectantly with bated breath. The reveal of the present would be an indicator of Ghost's nature, his wants and desires.

Or, that was what everyone thought would happen. Everyone but you.

Ghost's eyes remained half-lidded, as if he were trying to hide something behind the guise of disinterest. He peered over the lip of the sack. His demeanour didn't change.

There was nothing left inside.

When it became clear that Ghost wasn't reaching inside not out of stage fright but out of a sheer lack of need to, everyone turned to look at you. Rather than displeasement or anger, there was...confusion?

You looked at Ghost, not wanting to face the crowd behind you. But that made it no easier to face the behemoth before you. His eyes almost didn't meet yours. He was unreadable and unequivocally terrifying.

The room tensed, air thickening like lard. You had to cut the silence. Act now.

"Ghost," you squeaked, voice thin and weak. "Step outside with me for a minute, please?" 

After what may have been deliberation, he gave a slight nod, and with you power-walking ahead and throwing open the door, followed behind.

He wouldn't admit it, but he felt embarrassed. He hadn't expected to receive any gifts this year, as he'd never received one any other year, but something about being excluded made something in him stir. Uncomfortably.

His childhood had been a piss-poor one, each Christmas a punishment rather than a time for celebration, a reminder that he had nothing while every other child had something whether it be gifts, love, or just a family.

The door closed behind him, drawing him from his contemplation. His hulking form cast a long shadow over you. You swallowed thickly, then turned to look at him.

"I-"

"Did I upset you."

Ghost's question (or statement), oddly genuine, took you off-guard.

"N-no!" you said.

"Then what inspired you to display your disliking of me so publicly." This wasn't a question. It was an interrogation.

"Ghost,  you've done nothing to upset me." You wafted your hands in front of you as if trying to clear the tension thickening around you, suffocating you.

"Then explain that little stunt of yours-"

"I'm trying!" Your voice came out much louder than you'd wanted it to and you knew that the boys had heard it, too. You cleared your throat and looked down.

"Sorry," you mumbled. You reached behind you and, from beneath your shirt, you withdrew a package. It was neatly wrapped as all the others were, but this one was different. It had ribbon tied around it, creating a neat little bow at the peak. An envelope was held against the present by the ribbon.

"This is for you," you said, quietly. Your eyes flitted from Ghost's eyes, trying to gauge his reaction, to the present, scanning it for imperfections.

Too late to turn back now.

"I didn't want it getting squished or hurt by the other presents, so I kept it safe with me."

Ghost said nothing for a moment. Then: "You've had that up your shirt all day?"

He wouldn't admit it, but the urge to hold the package, to feel your phantom warmth radiating from it, flashed in his mind.

You nodded, swallowing.

"I didn't want to embarrass you by having everyone else asking you questions about..." you motioned with the package.

You held it out to Ghost, the weight of all it implicated too much for you to bear anymore. Your face burned under Ghost's gaze and silent judgement.

He seemed to hesitate, or rather made no attempt to retrieve the gift he was not yet certain was truly for him. Was this some cruel joke? The second chapter of a novel of cruelties you had bestowed upon him as his true gift?

You gulped, then decided to take some initiative, as Price had said. You reached for Ghost's hand and slipped the package into it.

“I didn’t get you anything.” Ghost said. It came out before he could stop it, as if dissuading you from giving him the gift. You just smiled.

“Doesn’t matter.” You folded your hands behind your back. “Merry Christmas, my favourite ghoul.” You cast Ghost one last soulful, smiling look before retreating into the common room, shutting the door behind you.

Your scent followed, vaguely tingling in Ghost's nose, just permeating the fibres of his mask.

He looked down at the package in his hands. It felt soft, malleable. Curiosity nipped at him, a branch of hope, something Ghost had long since assumed to be dead alongside the rest of him.

With mechanical hands, he pulled on one of the ends of the bow, watching the ribbon unfurl. He kept ahold of the card in one hand and undressed the package.

Soft material lay amongst the second skin. Upon closer inspection, Ghost saw that they were gloves. He moved onto the card. His breath caught in his throat as he read it.

To Ghost,

I remember you saying that your hands always got "bastarding cold" during missions, so I wanted to try and stop you complaining all the time, hahaha (I'm joking)!

Anyway, I took up three months' worth of crocheting classes to make these, so I hope you'll find some use for them!

Thank you for always looking out for me us,

Merry Christmas!

Love From (Y/N) x

Ghost looked over his shoulder, expecting you to be there. When he saw he was truly alone, he allowed the warmth exploding in his chest to hold his cheeks as he imagined you would, your hands soft and warm.

The icy loneliness of the Christmases he'd endured every year before now felt a little less daunting, the phantoms of his past unable to penetrate the shield you'd cast around him.

The human touches, the love and consideration you'd poured into these gloves, was palpable, as if you would be holding his hand every time he wore them. And every time he would wear them, he'd hear you, see you, feel you with him, soothing him in a way nothing and no-one else ever had.

Ghost re-entered the room soon after that. And beneath his heavy-duty, military-issue gloves, were yours, warm and snug against his skin, flesh beneath his shell.

Your eyes caught his, a shock of electricity fired between you. Something unspoken, but budding.

Reblog for more content like this! It helps creators like myself tremendously and it is greatly appreciated :-)

Masterlist Masterlist [Continued] Masterpost Modern Warfare AI Masterlist

AO3 Wattpad

I made the collage for the post, but I don't own the pictures (screaming and crying)

[rpmemes-galore]

guests at a party ... sentence starters

change wording / pronouns as needed

“This is my costume.”

“Do you want to dance?”

“Are you friends with the host?”

“They just brought out the snacks!”

“I forgot the gift at home, I’m sorry.”

“Did you get a glass of champagne?”

“Has anybody seen the birthday boy?”

“This is supposed to be a closed event.”

“You hiding out here from the noise, too?”

“Someone stole all the finger sandwiches...”

“I’m pretty sure someone spiked the punch.”

“Did you try the snacks? They’re pretty good.”

“Why isn’t anyone dancing? What happened?”

“Why do they even make sandwiches this small?”

“Don’t bother with the drinks, they’re all pretty bad.”

“I don’t want to be rude, but this is kind of... boring.”

“I don’t think we’ve met. Were you on the guest list?”

“I’d ask if you want to dance, but I have two left feet.”

“I... wasn’t aware we were expected to bring anything.”

“Don’t say a word... I thought this was a costume party.”

“I feel like the vibe in here really shifted. What did I miss?”

“This is way fancier than I’m used to. I feel underdressed.”

“The music’s way too loud in there, I can’t hear myself think.”

“Hey, would you like to, maybe... meet up, after this is over?”

“I don’t normally come out to parties. This is kinda new for me.”

“It’s getting late... maybe we should think about heading home.”

“A nametag isn’t a full costume. You should’ve put more effort in.”

“Too many people in there... it’s a lot nicer, and quieter, out here.”

“There’s too many balloons, I’m been tripping over them all night.”

“To be honest, I don’t even know anyone here. I just wanted to party.”

“Okay, we might need to keep it down. We just got a noise complaint.”

“Someone’s passed out on the couch, so I think that’s my cue to leave.”

“Yeah, an argument just broke out and it’s really bringing down the mood.”

“You look really nice tonight. I don’t think I’ve seen you dressed up before.”

“This is lovely. Whoever did the decorating really knew what they were doing.”

[puppppppppy]

waddle dee and mk headcanons under the cut

even though waddle dees and waddle doos look really similar, and even refer to each other as cousins, waddle doos are actually closely related to Kracko. Waddle doos just happen to look similar and have the same features as waddle dees, but this is misleading. It's basically dreamland's version of carcinization

idk how sailor dee joined MK's crew (in canon or whatever idea is most agreed upon in the fanbase), but I'd like to think he snuck on the ship as a stowaway. he just wanted to see the inside of the ship, but got stuck on it when it actually took off. I guess MK made him do some chores as a small slap on the wrist (although dedede doesnt really count the waddle dees, so itd probably be a while before he notices one missing) but did some thinking and thought it would be good to have extra help on the ship, with ddd's permission of course and the kid's adorable come ON

also sailor dee is small, so they just cleaned up an old broom closet on the ship for him as his quarters; he has a hammock, and a small shelf for personal belongings, clothes, toys, etc. any drawings he makes in his free time get taped to the door by one of the Meta-Knights.

I also mentioned this in the kirby suburbs server god im so sorry for clogging up the channel, but i also have some headcanons for the waddle dees bc i love them

waddle dees use any pronouns (but i usually use he or they), they all wear the same smock. originally i wanted dedede to call each of them using different pronunciations of "waddle dee" like ice king to gunter, but i think the name tag thing is way funnier. its basically dedede wanting to be a little polite and call each of them by their name, so he made the name tag system so he could tell them apart. but the thing is that theyre ALL NAMED WADDLE DEE, so it backfired lmao

but the waddle dees are nice so they kept the name tag thing even after dedede figured out it wasnt gonna work and stopped putting name tags on them. instead, they all made their own name tags bc they like making them and they all wanna feel a little special (and they dont understand WHY they need nametags, for them its like idk why the king wanted us to do this but its ok :) this is fun :))

also it indirectly ended up working anyway because you can tell a little bit of what each waddle dee is like based on their name tag; like one might like baking so they made their name tag shaped like a biscuit, another might like knitting so they knitted a freaking name tag, maybe one really likes being a little fancy so they wrote their name in cursive, or one just wanted to feel included so they scribbled their name on a piece of paper and slapped it on their shirt.

also waddle dees can stick to each other like balloon friction. this can happen accidentally when they cuddle, or when dedede gets bored and wants to see how many waddle dees it takes to reach the ceiling. this is how you get the waddle dee balls in star allies

i cant imagine the waddle dees having a set age, so i threw that out the window, theyre all mcdonalds cup small size. they dont have an age, theres technically no biologically oldest or youngest waddle dee UNLESS you get assigned youngest, which is sailor dee, he is considered youngest waddle dee by popular opinion (dedede usually calls them kids bc theyre jUST LITTLE GUYS!! but this isnt to ship them with adult characters, i just cant think of an age that would best represent them as gijinkas)

when you pick up waddle dees you scoop them up like puppies :)

for my purposes, king dedede became the waddle dees ruler by accident and never bothered to correct them. he found one outside the castle and nursed it back to health, but his robe kind of resembles a kings robe, so it mistook him for a king. and waddle dees have some sort of hive mind, so waddle dees just kept showing up at dedede's castle (he found bandee passed out carrying another waddle dee as opposed to the lone waddle dee, so dedede took a liking to him all the way from the start)

on a related note, bandee is more active and energetic compared to the other waddle dees, which tend to loiter around the castle or outside. kirby likes playing with him because hes usually down to do whatever kirby wants to do, theyre best friends <3

idk how the GSA works in the anime, but im placing meta knight somewhere lower on the warrior hierarchy. not exactly legendary veteran among their ranks, but not unexperienced; they assigned him to popstar long before kirby arrived so he's kind of on standby and doesn't report to them unless they contact him first (and then the GSA disbanded or something and MK never found out and still thinks hes on standby, idk)

so MK is more awkward and by the book because he starts out doing everything the way he was trained, not with a certain experience you earn on the field. he does mellow out, so hes less stiff even though he still keeps to himself. hes not really jaded either, just not very social and not good at conversations (which ppl misinterpret as being cool and edgy? kind of true)

the scar on his face is from the first time he encountered kirby. dreamland is relatively peaceful so he hasnt had to face off against anyone in years, and this was before he and kirby were properly acquainted. thats also what motivatds him to train more of his own free will rather than whats been expected of him, both to be a good role model/mentor/dad to kirby, and to do things for himself.

bandee may be dedede's second in command/kid, but MK is dededes husbands no questions asked. if you ask them if theyre dating dedede will probably say something like "we're bfs," and he doesnt tell you if that means boyfriends or best friends, but its between them so thats that

[sunflowerdaisybee]

Hi Sunny, may I request some poly dream team or karlnapity fluff, romantic if that's okay. I could really use a pick me up.

(Feral boys/crew is fine too, if that works better for you )

I've been misgenderd alot today and could use a bit of comfort, no pressure or anything.

Just some wholesome fluff please

<3

Your partner in crime 🦝

As someone who has to deal with being misgendered on a daily basis I understand this completely, it’s terrible to have to deal with and I hope things get better for you <3 /p /pos /g

Summary: your boyfriend’s comfort you after a tough day at work

Pairing: Feral Boys X Reader

Pronouns: none in specific used, though responder is trans and nicknames like babe and dear are used

[A/n]: requests are open :]

You mumbled out a curse as you kicked your shoes off, you wanted nothing more than to change your clothes and take a nap. After being misgendered all day you simply wished to forget your existence for a moment, sleeping was the closest you’d get for now.

“(Y/n), you’re home early!” Karl’s cheery voice called to you from the kitchen, drawing your attention away from your shoes.

“Uh yeah, I trained shifts with one of my coworkers so they could go to some family thing this weekend.”

“That’s so sweet of you. You wanna help me and George back cookies? He’s in the bathroom right now but he’ll be back in a moment!” You smiled at Karl and shook your head.

“Thanks for the offer Babe, but I’m really tired. I’m gonna take a quick power nap before dinner.” Karl nodded his head in understanding, wishing you a good nap before disappearing into the kitchen.

On your walk to your room, you bumped into Dream and Sapnap who were on their way to the living room, likely about to watch a movie or play video games.

“Oh, hello dear! How was work?”

“Exhausting, gonna go pass out for a bit before dinner. What are you two up to?”

“Sapnap wanted a smash bros rematch, even though he’s just gonna lose again.” Dream laughed as Sapnap tried to defend himself, both walking off after giving you forehead kisses. In your bed lay the last of your partners, Quackity, wearing his boxers and a t-shirt, eyes glued to his phone.

“Comfy?”

“Very, you joining me?” You hummed a yes, changing from your work clothes into something conifer before climbing in beside him.

“Work suck today?” Another hummed yes, your eyes getting heavy as you cuddled up beside him, soaking up his warmth.

“Have they given you your new name tag yet?”

“No, something about shipping taking forever.” Quackity was the only one you had told about your work problem. They had put your legal pronouns rather than your preferred pronouns onto your nametag mistakenly and now had to order you a new nametag, which meant you had to wear the first one until it came in.

“How many times?”

“Too many.” You curled into Quackity more, expressing your discomfort at the thought. The worst part of your workday was being constantly misgendered, something you wouldn’t be able to change until your new tag came in.

Quackity did his best to comfort you, secretly texting the other four while you rested. Though your rest was cut short as the four came tumbling through the doorway, startling you from your sleep. Now sitting up you looked between the four and Quackity, trying to figure out what was going on.

“(Y/n), why didn’t you tell us?” You were confused for a moment before it dawned on you.

“You told them?”

“I know it wasn’t my place to do so but I hate seeing you come home like this, you don’t deserve that.” It only took a few seconds for the four to climb onto the bed with you, squishing you in between all five of them.

They were quick to speak of how much they loved you, how valid you were to them, a few mumbled threats to your bosses, and various other words of affection. The moment alone was enough to make you tear up, overwhelmed with how much love they were piling onto you.

“You guys are so sweet, I don’t deserve any of you.” The amount of compliments and loving words thrown your way doubled as you said that, all five men flipping it around and saying they don’t deserve you. God did it feel good to be loved.

Taglist: @joyfullymulti @minty-ghast @rokkyy @duddum-froppers @sortzz @vaxiwastaken

[allthoseotherworlds]

I won't say I love pronoun circles, and I understand the criticisms of them, but I'm also not really sure what I *do* want people to do.

I can think of three options:

1. Pronoun circles: Everyone shares their pronouns in a circle, on a nametag, etc. Basically anything that builds a norm where everyone is expected to share their pronouns to everyone they meet.

Pros: You know what pronouns someone wants you to use, and there's no inherent bias towards binary pronouns, though there is probably one in practice.

Cons: People who are closeted are forced to either out themselves or misgender themselves. It's awkward to be the only trans person in a pronoun circle, and some implementations can make a big Thing out of pronouns in an uncomfortable way.

2. Ask people for their pronouns when you meet them.

Pros: This is more likely to be one on one than in a big group, which some people find more comfortable, and you still get a direct answer about someone's pronouns.

Cons: Even if you theoretically ask everyone, in practice only visibly trans people get asked, which can be othering or dysphoria-inducing. This also still forces people to either come out or misgender themselves. Being asked privately may make some people more comfortable, but may make others feel more put on the spot than pronoun circles do.

3. Assume pronouns based on appearance until told otherwise. People can tell others their own pronouns but never ask for pronouns from others. This has to be in a social setting where many people do not introduce themselves with pronouns, or else it may become closer to option one. This includes both modes where you only assume he/she based on binary presentation and modes where you assume they/them for some people who you think "look nonbinary."

Pros: Doesn't force anyone to out themselves. Easiest option to implement because it's how most people already do it. Telling others your pronouns if you're cis can help mark you as safe to come out to.

Cons: People who don't/can't pass always have the burden of figuring out when and how to bring pronouns up to everyone they meet, and still may be othered as a result of being the only one providing pronouns. Reinforces the idea that you can tell someone's gender and pronouns based on appearance.

I frankly hate all of these, but can't think of anything better than them, so I think which one you pick has to depend on specific setting. If I'm at work, I have to always be the one to tell people about my pronouns. If I'm at a queer book club, inviting people to share their pronouns when we do introductions might make sense. If I'm friends with someone and gender comes up, I might ask about pronouns. I think there isn't a good universal solution at the moment.

i think one of the most frustrating things about the “share pronouns in a circle” phenomenon, as someone who teaches, is it has been so entrenched in the “canon” of the “progressive toolkit” that when you reject it for very good reasons, you recieve pushback for not giving space for pronoun sharing, so you just end up doing it anyways. and it really ignores the way it makes a spectacle if there are only a handful of trans people in the room, or even worse, only one