#i guess they're doing the same thing here!

[frownyalfred]

Why is it so hard to find ppl that actually understand bruce? I am tired of either finding ppl that see him as an abuser or others that only love wfa version of him I am really tired of this like really I can't even join a Fandom without getting my favorite character not getting mischaracterized left and right 😔

I'm going to rant a little bit here, and I apologize in advance. This isn't really directed at you. But I'm kind of tired of this flavor of ask. I get it a lot -- half of these asks are praising me for having a "good" interpretation of canon, and the other half are blasting me for being too "fanon" and bending too much to fandom tropes in my posts and writing. And of course the nonstop WFA hatred in my inbox is tiring.

Be the change you want to see in the world. If you don't like what the fandom is doing to your blorbo, write him your way. But sitting at the edge of the playpen complaining about how someone else is playing with their toys isn't useful. And it's really getting annoying to me, as a content creator.

I'm also tired of the superiority some canon-adherents have over those who write/draw more fanon tropes. So many of you are SO bitter over the idea that fandom is "ruining" Bruce or your other Batfamily blorbo because how DARE they write your blorbo in that way that is so OOC. How DARE they! And yet, you sit on the sidelines and create bitchy tumblr posts about how those fandom participants are stupid, or ill-informed, or simply don't have the higher thinking ability to understand your blorbo like you do.

And yet. You don't write Bruce the way you "enjoy." You don't create content or share posts or promote those canon characteristics you so highly value. Instead, you write posts complaining about the others in this fandom and deride them for being stupid like adhering to canon strictly somehow makes you better than anyone else. You mock their acceptance of fanon tropes as canon as if there is required reading in this fandom, entirely dismissing the idea that the line between DC fanon/canon is confusing as hell on a good day, and ignoring that the natural progression of engaging in fandom is finding out -- sometimes on your own timeline -- what actually happened in canon. Especially when canon is so vast.

And guess what? At the end of the day, we are all on the fandom website(s). You're still reading fanfiction at the end of the day. Canon or fanon or some blend of the in-between, you are still a fan participating in fandom content in some way or another. And we are all equal in that respect.

We are all here to enjoy these characters. Fanfiction is a medium that allows us to further explore canon, yes, But it is also a way to explore the OOC, the what-if's, the out of character but fandom-fave ideas and tropes people want. The fact that OTHER people enjoy those things should never impact your enjoyment of fandom.

If you cannot handle someone else playing with the same toys as you, but playing with them in a way you don't like, you need to go back to preschool. And if someone won't give you your toy back, find another one. Write the story. Create the post. Build your own engagement from the ground up, finding likeminded people if you can. They are definitely on here.

But I get the impression that when people complain about fanon "ruining" fandom, what they're actually saying is "I'm upset that canon content isn't as popular as fanon content." And that, I can't help you with. We can't always change what other people love or want to engage with.

I'm sorry that this rant is blunt, but it's been simmering inside me for a while. I'm really tired of getting and deleting this ask 15 times a day. You will not find much sympathy on this blog for canon purism and the derision of fanon/fandom, and for that I apologize. But it's the truth.

I enjoy consuming content about both "fanon" and canon Bruce. I like the contrast and complexities. But I have seriously had to stop following a ton of blogs in the last year who don't create "canon" content anymore and instead spend their time complaining about other people in the fandom who are just enjoying themselves and creating their own content. It's incredibly disheartening and frustrating.

[exemplarybehaviour]

let's take a tour, shall we? apartment website here: https://www.thelinden.life/

We open the website. We see some photos of nice apartments, filled with light and styled like an IKEA show room, and then......

Starting at $1783? What can I get for $1783? Let's click on available floor plans. These are the two cheapest available:

They're both tiny studios for $1850. Only the smaller one is available, so let's look at that one.

My impression is that this floor plan isn't terrible if you don't need a lot of space. You get a full kitchen, an in-unit washer/dryer, and a full bath. You only get the one window, but the list of amenities indicates there's a view so.... yay? The shape of the room and closet placement also make setting up your bedroom/living room combo area seem challenging. I wonder if there are photos?

Guess what! There's not. They literally only have photos of a single staged one bedroom (one photo posted above), and all one bedrooms are over $2k and do not even have space for a dining area. Anyway, let's look into leasing our tiny studio.

The deposit is $1597.72, which is 86.3% of one month's rent. I have no idea where this number came from but I'm actually surprised it's less than a month. Unclear if "water fee" is some sort fo flat rate utility thing or is in addition to your water utility. Remember, you also need to pay for utilities, wifi, possibly parking (there's a garage but zillow says to "call" for parking rates).

BTW these are the listed ammenities:

Because this place is on the newer side, none of the reviews I could find are from people who actually live there. I've noticed a lot of apartment complexes seem to encourage people touring to leave google reviews, so there's a ton of five star reviews from people who obviously liked taking tours with a nice agent whose opinions i don't really think matter, and then several angry reviews from locals. One person states that the mentioned gym costs extra and also there's both a pet fee and pet rent. Several mention the building is an eyesore, so I tried to see what the exterior looks like, but the google street view is from before the building was constructed. However please look at this nice neighborhood and then imagine a "luxury" apartment building instead of that lot:

So, the promised views seem to come from being in an ugly building everyone hates because it ruined the skyline of the neighborhood. All the five star reviews are praising the location, but how long will the good location last if companies continue ruining the neighborhood? And why create these weird shaped rooms if it's not even a fun quirk of being in a historic building?

Also, when I searched other rentals in the same area, I found:

a couple of other newer "luxury" apartments for about the same rate

multiple studio apartments in older buildings with less than half the price tag ($800-$900)

at least one very pretty two bedroom that looked like it was recently renovated for about the same price as the above studio (~$1800)

So, would I rent the studio up above? Hell no. I do like the trend in newer apartments towards in-unit laundry, full kitchen appliances (like a dishwasher), and big closets for storage, but they're not worth the price tag and the loss of living space, and I don't see why new constructions can't match the vibe of the neighborhood they're in. Shoebox apartments are probably great for some people (students, young adults just moving out without a lot of stuff, people newly transplanted to the city, maybe someone who has to spend a lot the time in the city but normally resides elsewhere), but how much do those people overlap with people who can afford astronomical rent? Isn't the point of a studio that you're sacrificing space for low rent? Why are even the one bedrooms tiny? Who are these apartments for???

"Fuck this shit"

Seen outside The Linden, new Luxury Apartments in West Philadelphia. Most of the units and every store are currently vacant because the monthly rent is triple the rest of the neighborhood. A few days ago 17 windows were smashed and painted messages were left.

[peppermintquartz]

Can I please request a bucktommy meet-cute with bookshop owner Buck? ☺️

Who needs the gym when you have to carry heavy boxes and shelve books all day? Buck rubs the small of his back, feeling a little stiff from unpacking the new shipment. The bell over the door rings cheerfully, defying the drone of the heavy downpour outside.

Remembering his manners, Buck calls out, "Be a moment!"

"It's alright, I'm just borrowing shelter!" The customer replies loudly. "Although if you had a spare floor mat or old towel, that'd be appreciated."

When Buck emerges from the stacks to look at the situation for himself, he's amused and alarmed to see a tall, broad man standing in the doorway, completely drenched from head to foot, his back to Buck. He had the sense to stand on the Welcome mat and not drip all over Buck's floor.

That's the second thing he notices. The first thing he actually noticed is how obscenely hot the sight before him is, that wet shirt clinging to defined back muscles.

"Uh, hey," Buck says, finding his manners. "You seem kinda..."

"Damp?" The guy turns around, and holy fuck, he is a Renaissance statue come to life. His hair is plastered to his brow and the soaked shirt is basically just a film over a beautifully broad chest, a sight from which Buck has to tear his gaze before he embarrasses himself. The man is grinning apologetically. "Sorry. I had an umbrella, and then the wind whipped it out of my hands just before a car passed by and, well."

If Buck thinks the man is attractive before, he's completely dumbstruck now from the force of that smile. That man is older, with deep crow's feet around his blue blue eyes and laugh lines around his mouth.

"Just, um, gimme a sec, I'll get you something to dry off a little," Buck stammers before he runs to his tiny pantry to grab clean towels.

The man is still standing there, so Buck isn't hallucinating that a supremely sexy guy walked into Buckley Books looking like a wet dream come true. "Thanks. Sorry for all, well, this."

"No, no need to be sorry, it's no trouble at all." They're about the same height, and Buck knows from experience that on a day with such horrible weather, this guy may be his only customer for the day. "Hey, I'm not going to be busy down here today, and you'll be a lot more comfy out of these clothes-" Buck has to stop himself from imagining anything "-and in dry ones. I live upstairs, do you wanna come up?"

The man blinks at him through damp lashes. Fuck, he's pretty. The strong Italian profile and that cupid's bow and that cleft... Buck makes himself as relaxed as he can appear.

"Thanks," says the guy. He holds out a hand. "Tommy. Tommy Kinard. I just moved here three days ago."

"Hi. Evan. Evan Buckley, which I guess you already know." He tilts his head to the back of the shop. "I promise I'm not a weirdo who'll kill you and use your skin to wrap books."

Mentally wincing from his stupid quip, he berated himself, Oh my god, Buckley, can you not be normal for ten minutes?

"My skin's too scarred for that," Tommy replies with a chuckle. "And if my fate is to be murdered by an adorable bookstore owner, so be it."

Tommy's smile is warm and teasing. Buck wants to bask in it. He flips the sign on the door from 'Open' to 'Closed', turns down the lights in the store, and leads the way to the back stairs going to his apartment. "Come on. Let's warm you up."

[howtofightwrite]

I'm planning on writing a Pokemon fanfic where the trainer is hard of hearing. They can speak and give commands but it is also normal for trainers to hear the opposing trainers commands and respond to that not just what they see. Which would put them at a big disadvantage, wouldn't it if they could only process visual information? I know you said stuff before about combat being too fast and people don't 'call out attacks' but that doesn't fit here. But also on the other hand, Pokemon don't alwa

But also on the other hand, Pokemon don't always obey their their trainers (usually a trust issue) but perhaps this actually could be a good thing and help turn that disadvantage around since if they trust each other enough for the Pokemon to respond appropriately by themselves if they feel the trainer is making a bad call or not quick enough to respond to an attack called out by the opposing trainer. What do you think? Any other ideas?

Something to remember: Pokemon is a game. I don't mean in the meta-sense that the anime and ancillary materials are based off of the video game and card game, the way you could, for example, describe the Fallout TV series as based on a game. I mean, literally, that the structure of Pokemon itself is a competitive game.

When you start stripping it apart, and really dig into the structure, combat in pokemon is a game where the trainers are the players, and their pokemon are the pieces they're using on the board. This is an important concept to grasp when you're dissecting the material, because it informs why it functions.

There is a concept in games called an action stack. When you're playing a strategically intensive game, you'll often come across some version of this concept. Basically, you announce your action to your opponent, they then get an opportunity to take a legal response (if one exists), and then the action resolves. In situations like this, calling out your actions is a necessary step in keeping your opponent apprised of changes in the game state. It's also (often) necessary as a step to give them the opportunity to respond (whether that's part of the same action stack, or as a following action.)

Now, much like in Pokemon, in casual games, these kinds of declarations, and even the structure of the action stack itself, can become very ad hoc. You wouldn't do this in a tournament environment, but in casual circumstances you'll see players doing things like say, “I'm playing this,” or just drop the card on the table as part of their appropriate action window. (Though, again, this behavior is extremely rude in a tournament environment.)

As you mentioned, the instructions given by the trainer is, technically, for the Pokemon's benefit, rather than the opponent. Also, pieces on the board not following the player's commands is a concept that does exist in some tabletop games. For example: if you botch a Leadership test in Warhammer, you're not going to get the results you were hoping for.

So in this specific case, being privy to your opponent's actions ahead of time is really more an example of intelligence gathering (even though it's at a very limited level.) And, this is, absolutely, a consideration in competitive games. If you can accurately predict your opponent's next action it can let you take preemptive steps to mitigate their move, or even outright prevent them from doing what they want.

Not being able to collect intelligence conventionally is a little bit of a problem, but it's not necessarily a deal breaker. A lot of the time, intelligence gathering in games (for an experienced player) is testing limited information against extensive system knowledge to make educated guesses about what your opponent will do. If you have awareness of the board, you don't always need to actually have specific knowledge about what your opponent is planning. Meaning, if they're extremely knowledgeable about what's out there, they might not need to hear their opponents' every command. With enough familiarity, each pokemon is recognizable on sight, and they have limited move options determined by their appearance (with the occasional outlier or exception.)

Also, lipreading is a thing. It's a lot harder when you're just sampling general use of the language, but when you're looking at a limited number of individual words (and you know which words could be issued because of the aforementioned system knowledge) it can become quite possible for someone to pick out what a trainer is telling their pokemon, even if they wouldn't be able to hear the words normally (or lipread a stray conversation between strangers.)

Incidentally, if you're thinking that it's unreasonable for someone to have the stat sheets for over 1k pokemon committed to memory, that's in line with what you need to have committed to memory for a number of competitive games, if you're operating at a high level. Chances are, if you're a highly ranked M:TG player, you'll probably have at least 2-3k cards committed to memory even if you can't use them in Modern anymore.

-Starke

[undercoverslutt]

backseat: bestfriend's older brother! simon <- masterlist

parts: one, two

this was a night that pushed the limits a little further, than blurry.

you and your girlfriends decided to go to a bar tonight. one of them turning 21. this was your first time having them come to your home town. you already being of age, did your mini-celebration in the dorms with bottles and bottles of pink whitney and hennesy and titos. it was a horrific night. you enjoyed it. you were of course inviting your best-friend, and you both needed to go shopping for this. to the fact that neither of you have had the chance to go to a bar together, legally. so here you two are about to meet up with the rest of your crew, walking down the streets of your inner town. you both lived on the outskirts. you drove your car, but the plan to get home either an uber...or something else if things get to hectic. you'd pick your car up later, this town being quite the safety net. so there was nothing to worry over.

"no man with you?" you whisper to her, her hand grabbing yours before you both step over a puddle. a hearty laugh leaves her chest, but you notice her turn around slightly. almost like to look behind you guys. you feel so paranoid all of a sudden. "right?"

"right! he's in the dog house." she makes a little noise, and you couldn't be happier. you feel the weight lifting, a spring in your step already. but you look behind you guys too. and in the distance you see the only person on your same trail. they were slow about it. not as urgent, but still on a mission. that same paranoia caved in you, but you weren't going to be for much longer. you both we're getting closer and closer to the venue.

"girls!"

with a quick swivel of your head back to what was in front of you, you now see the rest of your babes in-front of you waving the both of you down. this was going to be a cute night. you were so happy to have your best friend finally meet your other friends. with no other interruptions. just you and your girls.

mhm.

by the end of the night, you were buzzing perfectly. everyone had a light in their eyes, and everyone in the building was very respectful. it felt like their was no care in the world. there were some more girls you guys had met that night, and stayed sitting with you in the same area. the music was great, the vibes were great. everything just perfect. you felt cute. you felt sexy. free. young. all of it.

but the end of night, meant some of your girls had do be departing. and you were getting hungry. and something else was bubbling in your stomach. the lot of you begin the circle hugs, the kisses on the cheeks, taking sloppy and drunk pictures. everything becoming a memory. you're outside now, the rest of your friends waving bye as they get into their Uber's. you tell them to share the ride with you, and they do so.

"baby..." you hear you best-friend whisper out beside you, and you look towards the parking area outside of the club. there her boyfriend was, standing beside his car, with his keys in hand. a soft hum leaves your throat at their interaction, it's so cute. and soft. with you following behind her, she leans up towards him and he kisses her.

you're now on your phone as you hear them begin to talk, you're scrolling at nothing really. your brain doesn't even feel here, you still feel the buzz and you can't help but feel giggly. and then you feel fingertips at the hem of your dress. a slight tug downward.

"Your ass is out."

it's low and deterring, drawing you completely away from your phone and whatever was happening around you. but it's so slight behind you, you have to look up and over your shoulder just to see who the fuck was touching you.

simon.

was he here all along? you look into is his eyes, and they're just like you remember. this was his way of greeting you, i guess. hand that's never been lower than your shoulders in a brief hug. fingers that have barely touched any part of you. and there goes the bubbling in your stomach again. he's looking into you, for awhile, before you break the eye contact. your gaze lowering to where his hand meets the edge of your dress. he was picking at it now, the ruffles looking so small in his big fingers. you feel the fabric slip from his fingers, and the ruffle flips up, the breeze catching a squeeze between your thighs. and then simon's fingers are back on the fabric. like he can't stop bullying it.

"okay, and?" your voice is so wavery, just like your balance. you turn around enough to get his hand off of you. and now you're face to face. a silent nod is tutted to you, and then he looks towards his little sister getting into the passenger seat of your ticket home. and then one of your friends began walking your way.

she asks for a ride. of course all of you say yes, and she begins to get in the backseat. everything was happening so fast. or maybe it was your malfunctioning processing skills right now. that car was small, a tiny little four seater. it wasn't meant to be a car-pool, type of car. it definitely didn't feel like it. especially with how far the drive was to home.

you had to sit on simon's lap.

there were no words exchanged when this clicked for you when you see him situating himself into the little automobile. he still finds a way to manspread, just like any guy in any car ever. it's just a glance before you sit down on him. you fold your hands over your dress, hoping this was going be quick. you knew better.

"Sorry." simon apologizes to both you and your friend. you know he didn't think this would happen. being crammed up in the back seat with two girls. but everyone was going to have to deal with his bulky frame.

It's been a few minuets. And it's been a lot of hand hovering, and oh-so-great shifting in his lap. he can't seem to find where to put his hands. and you can't either. you guys were already on the road and it was obvious nothing was going to change. your head was almost hitting the top of the car. your best friend was supposed to be back here. and simon in the front or something. that's if he was even supposed to be here.

you think he was the figure you saw in the distance earlier. following you and your best-friend. did she make him come along? or did he want to be here? it doesn't really matter, he's here. and he's crowding you.

there's his fingers again.

peeking from underneath your still fluttering dress. his hands were on the meats of your thighs. his palms calloused like you remember. he's always felt rough, fingertips, rigid arms, scruffy. you couldn't tell if his hands were roaming your legs or not. but it didn't matter. his hands were there. and they're the only things you can feel. hear. see. just his hands and nothing else. he was having issues with this too. still trying to be respectful of course. even if you didn't feel all too respectful yourself. not with your mind going blank like this.

his name was in your mouth, but you couldn't say it. you wanted to tell him to put his hands somewhere else. because you, with all this alcohol in your system was not something to play with. if you put your hands on top of his and move them yourself, then what is he going to think?you didn't have the time to embarrass yourself. or uncover something you didn't want to have a thought about. just push it away, make it home. go to sleep.

drinking too much always made you horny, it made you feel warm down there. and you sitting and bumping in simon's lap was not helping shit.

"You okay?" his breath is right at your ear. the music in the car slowly disappeared. and it felt like it was only you and him in the car. you're sitting behind your best friend who's talking to her boyfriend, and your other friend to the left of you two. she's fallen asleep. and your dress was no longer tucked underneath your lap. it was fluttered over just enough, to where you could feel his jeans press up into your barely clothed pussy. you had a thin pair of panties on. just so you could feel more flexible with all the walking you were doing. you wanted to feel free.

you shake your head, another bump in the hilly road enlists a small huff from your chest. shit. you don't know what your panties must look like. completely sheer with your slick. and it's rubbing all over simon's crotch, do you think he knows?

maybe he'll think you were saying you were fine. the bumpy texture of his zipper keeps probing your clit. none of this is making sense. you weren't going to say anything. home. bed. you're fine.

his hands snake to your waist. maybe he got the memo. both of them gripping softly. and then you feel a slight press of him slightly lifting you off his lap. you wondered if you felt like any weight at all to him. you felt so supported. and steady. but that friction was gone.

you didn't know how to feel, especially when you hear him apologize again in your ear. he lowered his voice so fucking low, how did he do that? like he almost didn't want to say what he was about to.

"Ignore it." it feels like you are reading simon's mouth, but without looking. barely any noise coming out. just the sound of his tongue leaving the roof of his mouth, and sliding along his teeth. his mouth so close, his breath feels like a kiss to the ear. you knew what he was saying regardless. you can't help but look back. as much as you could to where his voice met with your conscious. he looks away before you can. hands still steady in your waist as he lifts you from his lap.

simon was getting hard underneath you.

but this wasn't anything you both would talk about. ever.

[panicatthefandomboy]

Can safely say i lied through years of school to my parents thanks to their great parenting. And i'll 100% justify and support telling lies that don't do any harm and offer ways of protecting yourself and others.

Just, here you are, failing this class you've struggled with for a long time. You come home, tell your parents you failed todays test again with 3 questions wrong too many. And all you hear is the "you idiot". No further input, no support, no advice only the blame of "guess you didn't study hard enough", even though you spend days going through the book, notes and practice questions.

Next test? You manage to pass it but barely? You come home all happy and proud because you finally managed to do it right for once? "So what? You're supposed to do that."

So yeah, all i learned was the valuable conclusion. They can't help me, they don't care about it except for wanting me to pass it. So why bother telling them about upcoming exams and results when they're either going to be dissapointed or indifferent?

Same for exams that have a 2nd chance if you fail them. Fail the first. Get called a idiot, wake up for multiple days without even hearing a "good moring" but the first thing they say or care about "don't forget to study, we're leaving for this thing we never told you about and never bothered to ask if you wanted to join or not, bye".

But now if you fail the first test, tell them you passed it and go for the redo? Life is normal, life is comfy, and the test is still a problem you have to solve 100% by yourself. Except now without grumpy complaints and snide remarks.

"lying is wrong" what evangelical nonsense is this???

[originalgenshinscenarios]

Variable Barricade crossover!

We're so back!!! Kinda. Who knows? Not me! I've had it almost done for like a month but I just felt so unmotivated it was kinda sad because I still really like working on this 😔

If you want to join the taglist just send an ask or dm me!

Reader here is female and has established background

Cw: Age gap (Reader is 18 and the ladies are ages 20-24) |First chapter| <= Previous chapter (Miko's route)

No matter how much time had passed, you still can't bring yourself to trust the four suitors. You don't feel like any of them are taking you seriously. Turns out, Ayaka has rather interesting connections and they're more than happy to help you out.

But now your problem is dealing with an even more obnoxious group…

Part two: chapter 1- The gang is here.

Waiting around for Ayaka is sometimes the most tiresome time of your day. A lot of students approach you and all that polite smalltalk is just so exhausting. You just managed to get to your classroom, but someone unexpected approached you. It was Kuki Shinobu, you never really talked. But how much you wish that wasn't the case. She seemed so… cool.

"Good morning L/N. I was just told to tell everyone that we don't have a homeroom today" she explained and as you looked at her you wanted to talk to her more.

"Good morning Shinobu, thank you very much for the information" you were pretty happy. Even though it was a pretty basic conversation if you can even call it that.

There was something inside you that wanted to speak with her just for even a little bit longer, but you didn't even know what you'd bring up with her. In the end you stayed silent.

That is until Ayaka showed up.

"Good morning Y/N. How was your weekend?" she had that look that made it clear that she will be a little nosy "You promised to take it more seriously, so how is the suitor situation going for you?" 

"I went on a date" you weren't sure if what you did could even count as a date… but maybe that was enough for Ayaka. You already told her enough about what happened between you and Miko so maybe she won't be mad about you staying in the same spot once again.

"Can I ask who was the lucky lady?" her looking so happy to have you progress made you rather guilty for getting her hopes up.

"Well, all of us watched a movie together, does that count?"

"So I'm guessing you were only spending time with them as a group besides that incident with Miko?" Ayaka sighed as both of you already knew the answer for that "You have no idea how that lack of your romantic spirit worries me…"

"I did spend some time with them separately too, but it's nothing worth mentioning" 

"Alright then, let's do it a little bit differently. Can you tell me how you view your future with them? After all, whoever you choose will end up being your wife so you need to think about it in that way" she pointed out with a hopeful tone.

"I think I can do that" you know that Ayaka isn't the type to push it, but at the same time you just don't want to see her so disappointed.

"Let's start with Miko, what do you think being married to her would be like?"

"Miko hm..? Well, she has her charms. But she only ever sees how someone can entertain her. So I'd be more her jester than her wife" you could definitely see how she'd just mock you in your everyday life, of course she'd also have her good moments… but being married to her would just be a constant humiliation.

"I see, perhaps she wants to help you be more self-aware?…" she tried to play devil's advocate, but you weren't going to accept that.

"Do you truly believe so?" your question made her drop it.

"Let's just move on, what about Ningguang?"

"She seems serious enough… but at the same time I feel like this is just a test to her. Like she wants to prove something to herself… I'm not entirely sure how she'll act like once she does complete her goal" she does seem little competitive about the whole thing. So you wouldn't be surprised to find out that it was all about reaching a goal and not about the "reward".

"When I talked to her she gave me an impression that she's genuinely interested" she wasn't surprised by your skeptical approach by now.

"Well, I disagree" you knew you were stubborn. But you couldn't be too stubborn about something as important as this.

"And Yelan? You mentioned that she's sweet to you" she was really trying to get you to agree on at least one thing.

"That's true but, it doesn't seem like this is care in a romantic sense. It might sound a little weird but she's sort of acting more like a guardian angel?" You couldn't find a different word. While you appreciate her taking your feelings to account you just can't help but think that it's more of a pity thing.

"That still sounds pretty romantic. She's like your knight in shining armor" she tried to lighten up the mood and help you think of it differently.

"It's not what I said" you correct her, even though you know what she was trying to do.

"My apologies, I was just trying to help you see it even just a little bit differently. Then I suppose it's time for me to ask about Eula"

"I can't read her at all. She snaps at me often and I get a feeling that she doesn't even want to be here" but you can't help but wonder just how and when did she meet your grandfather.

"Maybe much like you, she's the type to keep her feelings to herself. She doesn't have to have a reason" 

"Yeah, gaining back status and money sounds about right" now that you thought about it you could definitely see it. She did lose everything and an opportunity like a marriage with you would set her back to a wealthy lifestyle, minus the expectations since as your spouse she wouldn't have to do literally anything.

Ayaka sighed at that "If that's how you see it" she paused for a moment "But I think I have an idea as to what we could do… if you're willing to accept some help"

"What is it?" you're honestly scared to ask… but surely Ayaka wouldn't hide much from you?

"I think it's better if you see for yourself. Let's go to our usual spot after school, okay?" Nevermind. You just have to leave this to your imagination. 

-

All those classes you had to go through were making you quite the wreck. What did Ayaka mean? How much are you going to regret agreeing?

The two of you are sitting in your favorite cafeteria "So… are you going to tell me what are you plotting?"

"I'm not plotting anything, I just asked a friend to help you out" she looked proud to admit that and you decided not to comment.

You waited in silence, each time a girl entered you wondered if she was that friend but turns out that they were strangers.

That is until a girl wearing a facemask came in. Once she looked at Ayaka and then you, she turned around to leave and that's when Ayaka followed after her to stop her.

She had her hair tied in a very specific way, her eyes looked very intimidating but you couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity when you looked at her.

"I should've known it was about her" the girl rolled her eyes when Ayaka tried to stop her from leaving.

"You promised to lend us our aid, please…" she pleaded.

"Ugh, fine. But don't you dare tell anyone about this" the girl had a very annoyed tone.

"Hello, I assume that you already know me..?" you enter the conversation.

"Y/N don't you recognize her?" 

"There's no point in playing the guessing game" she sighed "I'm Kuki Shinobu"

When she said that, it was almost like just now your brain registered even knowing someone with that name. She looked so… different. 

"Oh- I'm sorry for not recognizing you" apologizing you take a closer look, although she did look completely different you really should've noticed that it was her…

"Don't be, not being recognized is my goal after all" she shrugged.

"Right." now you feel even more like an idiot…

"So, Ayaka, what did you bring me here for?" Shinobu was quick to put everything back on track.

"Oh, I just wanted you to help Y/N with her suitors. You spend so much time on dates and all, I figured you'd be able to give her any advice" 

"I'm not as experienced as you make me out to be. But alright, I'll help out. It's just so you won't tell anyone about my secret though"

"I'm grateful for your help regardless!" you didn't mean to sound so excited about that… but just the idea of getting a new ally/friend is what makes you this way. But that's just a hunch…

"Okay…" she sounded slightly weirded out by your enthusiasm "So, what's the problem exactly?"

"It's a bit tough to explain" you try to gather your thoughts. I mean, there is a lot you could say here. This whole situation is nothing but problems…

"I can already tell you're thinking too hard about this. I get it, it's about marriage after all. But if you don't have any trust in them and you don't plan on doing anything about it… then there's no reason for you- or them- to waste time if what you're looking for is something serious" she paused "Then again, they really must be taking you seriously if they agreed to potentially marry you so quickly" 

Those words were like a trigger… That's it! The main issue (now) is that you don't know if they're thinking of you so seriously! "You're right Shinobu! I need to check just how serious they are about me!"

"That's not what I meant…" Shinobu sighed

"But how do I do that..?" You pause for a second but Shinobu takes that for an opportunity to say something "But what about you? Do YOU take them seriously?"

"Huh..?" You were surprised by the question, of course you did… at least you treated them better than they do you… right?

"She might be onto something" Ayaka looked at you "Think about it, we need a way to both let you see them in different light- while also help you see if they care about you"

"Why do you insist on making this so complicated…" Shinobu looked defeated over how much you were scheming "Alright, before you get any crazy ideas let's settle for this. We'll see how they'd react if someone were to hit on you"

"Hit on me..?" You looked at her.

"Not me. I'm not exactly best at acting something like that out when I don't mean it" she shrugged. 

"I think that's a great idea, of course only if Y/N will be willing to execute it"

The idea of some stranger hitting on you wasn't something you'll agree on so easily "Hold on just a moment!" your protest was loud and clear "If not you… then who?"

"A friend of mine" she doesn't elaborate.

"Are you going to tell me more or..?"

"You'll see when he gets here. So, are you willing to agree to this or not?" A guy will help you out..? So not only a stranger but some guy will hit on you? Then again if he's a friend of Shinobu he might not be so bad…

"Alright. Fine. Let's do it…" 

After that Shinobu got in contact with the mysterious guy. Meanwhile you contacted Thoma so he can prepare some excuse to call them over one by one. He didn't exactly like the idea but at the same time he knew that it'd help you feel more at ease… so he decided to help.

-

The three of you were first waiting for Shinobu's friend before you started contacting the suitors. You didn't have to wait long but as you heard someone call out to her you were quite surprised by the sight.

The dude was very tall and had rather intimidating attire, if not for his friendly smile as he approached you three you probably wouldn't want this guy anywhere near you. He offered his hand for you to shake and said "Hey! Name's Arataki Itto- the one and oni leader of the Arataki gang ready to help out!" he was full of energy… wait did he say gang??

"I'm Y/N, and this is Ayaka" you shook his hand gently.

"Shinobu filled me in and I'll say it right now I don't like the idea of making you uncomfortable. BUT a friend of Shinobu is a friend of the gang and for friends of the gang we move mountains if that's needed! So if I need to act like a jerk, you'll get a 5 star performance!" His loud voice was slowly starting to overwhelm you a little.

You definitely had to ask more about the gang. You can't allow yourself to be associated with a bunch of criminals "Say… about this gang-"

"It's just how he likes to call our friend group" Shinobu cut in before Itto got to respond. As true as it was, it definitely offended him a little on how she put it. However, her being straightforward with it gave you quite the relief.

"How about we start calling them over?" Ayaka changed the topic and that's exactly what you did.

-

First to be called over was Ningguang. When you looked over at Itto his demeanor changed from friendly to one that made you cringe on the spot… but to be honest any man flirting with you would make you feel that way. 

His words just went over your head. Even if your short interaction made it clear that he wasn't a jerk, you couldn't help feeling uncomfortable which almost made him break his character.

But he didn't have any opportunity to slip as Ningguang pulled you away from him, confusing the two of you.

She just walked off, hugging your arm and leading the way “This way, it's more crowded there and we'll lose the guy in no time” she said calmly, she was actually surprised Itto didn't follow after you, but it was just getting rid of the problem altogether. It took you a moment to speak up “Thanks Ningguang… but uhm…” now it was for the awkward part… after being “saved” it was time to explain it “This was a test”

“A test you say?” she raised her eyebrow “Well, how did I do?” by the look on her face, you really couldn't tell what was she thinking of your deception.

“You did… well I suppose�� you answer without really thinking about it.

“We're heading back to test the rest, I assume?” she started to lead the way back, with a nod you followed her in silence.

-

Second one that was put to a test was Eula. When you gave Itto the sign, his act was up once again the moment you saw Eula. This time his act was a little bit too convincing or Eula was too pissed to even stop and think… when she walked up to him she didn't hesitate to twist his arm “Can't you see that she isn't interested? Looks like someone has to teach you some manners-”

“Eula wait!” you interrupt “It's all an act!” upon hearing that, she released poor Itto from her grip “Hmpf! Joking about a matter like that is unforgivable” she crossed her arms as she glared at the both of you.

“Sorry!” both you and Itto speak at the same time.

“Why are you apologizing?” Shinobu joins in the conversation after leaving her hiding place with Ayaka and Ninguangg “It was part of the plan”

“Hm? And who are you?” Eula turns to Shinobu “and what are you doing here?” she looks over at one of her rivals.

“I'll handle things from here, call over the next suitor” Shinobu said as she led Eula out back to the hiding place.

-

Now you only need to wait for Miko… who probably is suspicious of something by now. And Itto now knows that he can pretty much expect anything… so he only hopes Miko’s approach will NOT end like Eula’s. 

Upon hearing Itto’s comments she just smirked “Hello, darling” she ignored the big guy “My, my to think I'd catch you flirting, with a man no less” she clicked her tongue “And here I thought we were supposed to take each other seriously” you could feel how fake the hurt in her voice was, but even though you were aware of it… you recognized how it must look to her “Miko- wait…”

“Oh I'm not going anywhere, but we will talk about this later” she smirked “You still have to test Yelan, don't you? Where am I supposed to wait?”

Without talking much about it you showed her the way to the rest.

-

And last was Yelan. Itto didn't notice her as she stood behind him. She gave you a questioning look, almost as if she tried to ask without using the words “Is that guy bothering you” but she was pretty subtle about it compared to other women. But it was pretty obvious that you didn't want someone- a man no less, hitting on you. From the look on her face it was clear that she could tell that something was off about the situation but she finally spoke up “Can I help you with something, sir?” She placed her hand on his shoulder, remembering how his arm got twisted last time, he moved out of the way immediately.

“... Did one of us do something to that poor guy?” She held back a laugh “Either way, I hope you're okay” she was clearly talking to the both of you before she spotted the others and you joined the group.

-

After everything you start all going your way home, but you quickly go to stop Shinobu (, Ayaka and Itto) who moved in the opposite direction “Wait a moment!”

“Do you need something?” 

“I was wondering…” you trail off “would you mind if we… talked more often?”

For a second she didn't reply, her silence was making you nervous on top of the fact that you asked something like that near witnesses. But before your anxiety claimed you she finally responded “Sure, but avoid talking to me in school, alright?”

“huh, why?” The spectator- Itto asked the question for you.

“I just don't like attention. And with someone as popular as you people would start talking before we even know it. So either avoid me completely or only talk to me through text” she explained, she didn't seem thrilled with the aspect of being your friend but that just might be because you can't read her emotions too well due to her mask.

“Sure thing! You won't hear a word from me then” you quickly affirm her and go your way for your driver to pick you up before Thoma gets too worried about your absence.

After you were out of hearing radius Ayaka started a conversation “What do you think of her suitors?”

“I definitely don't want to get on their bad side again…” Itto looked at his hand, remembering Eula's strong grip.

“They seem normal enough… but what I think of them is irrelevant” Shinobu decided to not say anything more, however she didn't say everything that's on her mind.

“I see” Ayaka had a slightly suspicious tone. But she knows that's a conversation for later.

-

Next time you were in school you were still thinking about Shinobu… was she really someone who considered herself your friend? She helped you, sure but if not for Ayaka you don't think she'd give it much consideration if any. Yet you can't help but feel joyous about having another ally. You wanted to talk to her… but you must remember your promise and not be overly clingy. Not like you can even consider looking for her considering you couldn't see her around.

Your phone buzzed suddenly, you look down and see a text from Shinobu “Come to the cafeteria” is all it said. Weren't you supposed to avoid each other? Or better yet, isn't the cafeteria supposed to be closed right now? With those questions in mind you make your way over there and sure enough the doors were open.

“How did you-”

“I said I left something important so they gave me the keys. And that wasn't actually a lie. I didn't want to carry it around so…” she went to retrieve a backpack that was neatly hidden behind the curtains.

“What's inside?”

“A gift, it's a prototype- but… I think you could use something like that”

“A bunny?” You tilt your head as you look at something that looks like a little mascot.

“It's something my family company is developing- we call it Rabi. It might look like a toy but it has plenty of features. Give me your phone so I can install the app” as you waited for it, Shinobu began a bit more detailed explanation “Since you're so anxious about what are your suitors up to, Rabi will basically record whatever you're missing out on”

“Isn't this… kind of wrong? I may not trust them but that doesn't make it okay to invade their privacy”

“It's up to you how or if you'll use it. Besides, you can always just make it record the living room or something”

“Okay but how do I explain… this to everyone?”

“It's a toy from the looks of it. You really don't have to think too hard about this. Just say it's a robot animal and that'll be all they need to know”

“... Why are you even helping me?” You felt dumb for asking so many questions at once but you couldn't help but be curious.

“I do it because I know that otherwise Ayaka won't let me hear the end of it” despite her harsh words her tone didn't match it due to how soft it was. It was clear to you now that you can count on her as a friend. But the whole thing with Rabi… it still feels a bit wrong.

“Do you really think I should-” before you finish the sentence you got cut off.

“Whether you use it is up to you. You can use the functions or just turn it off and put it up in your room as decoration.” she paused “Besides, you're too nice to them. They're pretty much strangers to you so you don't owe them any bit of trust”

“Okay but… how do I use it?”

“It's very beginner friendly” after she saw that the app was done downloading she started to explain some of the basics functions, just in case.

-

Once you came back home with your new companion the suitors looked quite surprised. None of them asked questions though, their silence made you feel awkward so you just told them everything yourself “It's a robot pet okay? I got it as a gift so don't mess around with it!” You cross your arms after placing Rabi on the ground “It's programmed to take walks around the house so don't mind it” without letting them chime in you walked back to your room.

As you sat down on your bed you looked through Rabi’s eyes. The video quality could use some work but at least the sound was good.

“What do you think about our new roommate?” Miko teased “I'm glad it isn't an actual rabbit” she stretched on the couch.

“She really does find new ways to surprise us, doesn't she?” Yelan looked directly at the robot “What do you think? Hidden camera or something?” When she said that you could feel your heart beating faster, there's no way she'd figure it out so soon!

“I rather believe that she trusts us” Ningguang defended you… which made you slightly more guilty about the camera actually being there.

The women didn't speak much more about the new companion, you put your phone away and laid back down.

As you thought back on all recent events you could hear the robot walking just outside your room. Letting it inside you took time to examine it a bit more. It was just… so cute. You couldn't fight the urge to play with it for a moment. 

But your playtime was over as soon as you heard your doors opening, it was Thoma but you didn't feel any less embarrassed about being caught.

“That's an interesting gift…” his warm smile didn't make you feel any less dumb.

“I got it from Shinobu, she was helping me out the other day… and well, this gift is a form of help too”

“Hm? How so?” 

“Well… it records things… I just… can't help but still feel anxious!” Upon your confession, Thoma let out a soft chuckle.

“I'm glad you're looking out for yourself, but trust me- if they done or said something I think you should know- I'd tell you”

“I know, but you really can't be around the house all day. I know you wouldn't keep anything from me”

“Alright, enough about that- I'm more curious about Shinobu anyways. How did you get to know her?”

“Ayaka introduced us”

“I see… we're talking about Kuki Shinobu- right?”

You only nod but you can't help but feel a little suspicious of how his tone slightly shifted as he asked about your new friend.

“She sounds like a nice person, giving you such a thoughtful gift and all…” he trailed off, he didn't know her so of course he tried to bait you into telling him a bit more without him having to ask directly.

“That was very nice of her, although I can't really tell what she's really thinking… I'm glad to have made a new friend”

“Alright, that's all I wanted to ask. I'm sorry for barging in before. I'll leave you to whatever you were up to” he pats Rabi for a moment before leaving, returning your embarrassment from before.

-

As Thoma walked downstairs he started looking for more information about Shinobu. He picked up his phone and made a call.

“Hey there, it's me again… I just wanted to ask for a quick background check if that's okay with you?... Kuki Shinobu, and please make it quick if you can”

Unknown to Thoma, Eula heard every last word. As he turned around he put on his polite face “Is something wrong, Miss Lawrence?”

“The way you're acting, actually. You better stop that before she hates you” she warns him.

“Thanks for the advice but, I'm just doing what a good butler should”

“You sure sound convinced of it” she shot him a judgemental glare, but it didn't phase him in the slightest.

“Calm down now, I'm just looking out for her” as the tension started to rise another voice was heard from a distance “Eula, could you come here for a second?” Miko called for her.

“Go on now, surely you don't want to keep her waiting” Thoma said to Eula who didn't look like she was going to leave… but after a moment however she scoffs and leaves the hall, allowing Thoma to continue his research.

He just didn't want anything to happen to you…

-- TAGLIST

@audre-falrose @frozengenderfluid @watamehorns @bebeluvvv @fandangotales @yumi-genshin-writer

[qrtem]

random headcanon about the haitani brothers

ran is probably the type to get bored easily. he needs something new every few days (a new hobby, new interest, new favorite song, etc.) and somehow drags rindou into it. which would explain their similar hairstyles, and outfits.

like i think when they had to shave ran's hair off in juvie, ran started kinda digging it (he's coping the loss of his fabulous hair). and he even tries to see the bright side of things, "at least my scalp gets a break from all the bleaching."

i also think rindou doesn't like all the things ran drags him into. after all, rindou is his own person. but ran thinks it's so cool that they're known as a duo and he just wants them to match so bad.

"don't we look so much cooler?"

"yeah sure i guess."

notice how they pretty much have the same hairstyles in the bonten timeline and the final timeline? but rindou's hair colours are different! he stuck to the blonde and blue combo from when he was younger while ran has the purple and black combo in both timelines.

i think the good timeline was TRULY good if it's the timeline where rindou overcame doing whatever his brother wanted and started expressing himself more freely!

to explain what i mean by that in an example: maybe back then he would go "fine i'll match with you but i get to change xyz." like, "i'll match hair colours with you but i have to have a different haircut."

this image was from when they were around 16 years old i think. the order of the colours layered here are even different, which makes me believe my headcanon even more. rindou would match with ran but with conditions!

he doesn't like getting overshadowed by his older brother so he finds ways to differentiate himself.

maybe that's why rindou decided to do something about his bad eyesight, unlike ran LMAO

either that, or rindou can see just fine. but even though ran has bad eyesight, he refuses to wear glasses. so rindou just wears them to differentiate himself from his brother even more. this one is funnier, so i'm sticking to it.

and the reason why rindou sometimes gives in to ran's suggestions is he can't help it—he cares about him. he'd say it's to get him to stop bugging him, and that may be true but he also just wants ran to be happy.

i mean i don't think ran's like a controlling sibling, but considering his ability to present himself in a good light, he probably has a vision—not just for himself, but for him and rindou as well.

ever since they started getting famous as a duo, he finds all kinds of ways they can make an appearance and has endless ideas. so controlling is definitely not the word for him, it's more like... passionate. lmao

and sometimes rindou sees the vision! and he may be as enthusiastic. but sometimes he really just wants to be rindou, not a haitani, not haitani ran's younger brother, just rindou.

[glitter-stained]

I love love where your brain is going, but as pointed out in the premise, Jason wouldn't tell anyone - this is his biggest, most shameful secret. Cass can tell if someone is telling the truth, but how would she ever guess something so terrible? Something happens, they are put in a situation, hopefully a terrible one, and Jason lets out the thing he never wanted to tell anyone in front of the worst person possible. The humiliation has never been so violent. What happened? For the truth to crawl out of its grave? What happened?

And I love that you said Cass isn't upset about Bruce killing Jason she's upset about Bruce killing someone. Because that woman was raised by David Cain, she suffered horrible abuse and yet what she seems to resent most isn't how much he hurt her; it's that he made her a killer. She can comprehend fathers hurting their children in horrifying ways. She can't comprehend Bruce killing someone.

For that reason I think it'd be awesome if there was a more morally grey character (or even just a hero who's lighter on the no kill rule) to act as a counter to Cass by directing their outrage in the opposite direction. (Again, she's still the MC, but they're a major side character that stands as a counterpoint to her stance). If Jason were still at a place where he had the self-esteem and clarity to advocate for himself, he (specifically thinking about Willis here) would clamour about how terrible it is for a father to kill his son... But he's too busy trying to bury the past and shove his trauma down so he can think about anything but the humiliation and terror of being abandoned. So we have a character, outraged that Batman would kill his own son. Cass, outraged that Batman would kill. Keep in mind that neither really cares that it was Jason in particular who got hurt, there's no "they hurt someone i love" anger here. It's pure ethical stance, batman shouldn't kill and fathers shouldn't hurt their children. Something tragic about the fact neither cares enough about Jason to listen to what he wants over what they feel is right, but something comforting about the fact they're not close enough to him to allow his attempts at appealing to them to distract them from effectively protecting him.

And thus we have the worst best team in the history of dc (team as in they're going on an adventure together and are the main trio for the run: Overly Emotionally Invested Detective #1, Overly Emotionally Invested Detective #2 and Murder Victim, except #1 and #2 can't stand eachother and Murder Victim keeps screaming at them to stop like they're torturing him.

(bonus points if Cass, interviewing Jason, triggers a dissociative episode and watches him relive his murder and is triggered herself because it looks/feels so similar to when she did kill someone and she was the one who caused it. Two adopted siblings sitting face to face in a room, both violently dissociating, chronologically the same age, they could have been twins, they could never understand eachother, inventing new and previously unfathomed ways of causing the other pain. Bonus points if she watches him begin to disassociate and tells him, then yells at him to stop. She can't do anything to stop it. It's like trying to hold water in your fist.)

If Bruce killed Jason at the ending of UtH, as it is implied, and if Jason knows that he died, he' the one who keeps Bruce's biggest secret, the breaking of the no-kill rule.

And something something secrets make people grow closer, at the same time that an unwanted secret is also like an unwanted invasion of your space. So Jason is caught in this limbo where he's as closest as possible to Bruce for keeping that secret, but no actual closeness is actually there.

[maddy-k-reads-all-day]

Getting Ready for a Slumber Party!

When Riley wakes up there is no puzzle to be found, only a tape titled: Planning a Slumber Party!. They turn around to find the demon with the black space buns staring at them. They stand completely still unsure what to do, it picks up the tape and hands it to them. They notice that the demon is dripping with blood. It is injured. Riley looks to themselves and discovers that somehow, they survived that attack with minimal injury. The demon looks like it’s about to leave but Riley cautiously says, “Stay there… I’ll get the first aid kit.” Surprisingly, the demon did as it was told. Riley pulls out a first aid kit and first takes out some disinfectant wipes to treat the wounds. “You saved me, didn’t you? It’s the least I could do…” the demon backs away. “Psp psp psp psp” Riley calls it like a cat, feeling kind of stupid. But it works. The demon is suddenly really close to their face. “Oh… okay.” Riley stammers, unsure if this was a good idea or a really stupid one. They open the wipes gently. The demon feels the sting and roars in Riley’s face. “Hey… calm down I’m just trying to help.” Riley then wraps the wound and starts working on the next one. They then notice the wooly demon flopped down on the ground, knocked out but not dead. Riley sighs… “You two really do fight like cats and dogs huh? I’m gonna be here awhile…” They didn’t know why they felt like fixing these two demons up, it just felt right. “There, all better right?” Riley smiles, the wooly demon finally wakes up, it roars in Riley’s face before promptly getting smacked by the amanda demon and running away. The amanda demon runs away too, in a different direction. “Oh well…” Riley sighs. They take the tape and put it into the VCR.   

“Hi friends! I’m… Amanda!” Amanda says nervously, glancing cautiously at Wooly. 

“And I’m… I’m…” Wooly mumbles, Amanda takes a BIG step away. “What?” 

“Noooothing.” she says skeptically, looking him up and down. 

“Ooooookay?” Wooly tilts his head in confusion. “Anyway I’m… *yawn* Wooly…” suddenly Amanda lets out a huge sigh of relief. “No seriously what is it?”

“You don’t happen to remember a new friend, do you?” Amanda asks, taking another step away. 

“That wasn’t a dream?!” Wooly gasps in a panic, squeezing his arms tightly.

“No, but it’s all okay now! See, Riley is clearly fine… somehow…” She sees Wooly breathing heavily. “He-hey… it’s okay… how about we go on an adventure, take our mind off things!” she laughs nervously. He takes a deep breath and nods. 

“Today we’re going too-” Amanda then notices Wooly making a big yawn. “Wooly?” 

“I’m fine… I just didn’t get much sleep last night…” Wooly says drowsily.

“Wooly! You have to go to bed so you can be rested for our new adventures!” 

“I know! I… know… it’s just… lately I’ve been having these weird dreams… bad weird dreams…” 

“Nightmares?” 

“Yeah, I guess… but they're more like memo-” red static fills the tape and Wooly shakes his head harshly. 

“Don’t worry, I get nightmares too. That’s why I sleep with a nightlight!” Amanda announces proudly, “You know, even big girls use nightlights!” 

“But I already use a nightlight.” 

“Hmm… you know what else can help with nightmares? Having someone around to help you think nice thoughts! I know! Let’s have a sleepover!” 

“But Amanda… we live in the same house…” 

“Tonight will be different! We’ll sleep in the same room… in… I know! A pillow fort!” Suddenly they’re in the living room. “Now what do we need to make a pillow fort?” She asks. Riley types in rhinos. “Nope try again.” books “Haha, very funny.” Amanda says but Wooly flinches. Escape Rooms. “What do we need for our pillow fort?” Amanda asks, and Riley is forced to type in pillows. “That’s right? Now which room can we find some pillows? The bathroom, the kitchen, or the bedrooms?” Riley first clicks on the bathroom. “Ew, that’s gross!” Amanda remarks. Riley is about to click on the kitchen but Wooly snaps: “They’re in the bedrooms!” and Riley quickly clicks on the bedrooms. 

“That’s… right! Let’s go to my room first!” The tape transports them to Amanda’s room. “Look Wooly, do you like my new nightlight? Our friend got it for me!” 

“Yeah, it’s very nice!” Wooly smiles.

“Now can you tell me where the pillows are?” Riley clicks on the pillows. Amanda runs over and grabs them. “Wooly can you take the blankets and Dolly too?” 

“Alright.” Wooly grabs the blankets and bear and they head to the staircase. 

“Oooh, I know! Let’s play magic carpet!” Amanda giggles.

“Wha-what’s magic carpet?” Wooly stutters. Amanda takes the blanket from him, causing him to spin around suddenly. “Whoa!” Then she lays out on the top of the stairs. 

“We use the blanket as a magic carpet and ride down the stairs! Come on!” 

“Amanda, that's not safe!” Wooly protests. 

“Sure it is, I used to do this all the time!” 

“But you could get hurt! Like you could crash into the wall or fall down the stairs! Or you could rip the blanket!” Wooly explains worriedly. 

“Well… okay if it scares you that much…” Amanda says sadly, balling up the blanket and handing it back to him. 

“I’m not scared… we can do it…” 

“No, it’s fine Wooly. I can make other fun plans!” Amanda says, patting him on the shoulder. Suddenly we glitch back to the living room. Both Amanda and Wooly’s pillows, blankets, and stuffed toys are there. 

“What do we need next?” Wooly asks. 

“Well we’ll need some chairs…” 

“But we don’t have any chairs…” 

“Then we’ll go to the furniture store!” Amanda announces. Suddenly they are outside. There are three stores. A store with a picture of candy, a store with a picture of a chair, and a store with a picture of a tomato. “Can you tell me where I get some furniture?” Amanda asks. Riley points to the chair. “That’s right!” Now they are in the store and Amanda says: “We need two chairs, can you count them with me.” Riley types in three. “Don’t be a dummy.” She scoffs. Riley types in two. “Good job!”

“Amanda… how will we get these chairs back to our hou-” Suddenly they are back in the living room. ‘Oh, I guess now we're building our pillow fort right?” 

“Hmm…” Amanda thinks, “OR WE COULD HAVE A PILLOW FIGHT!” She throws a pillow at Wooly’s face. 

“You’re on!” Wooly gasps, taking the pillow and whipping it at her face. 

“Ow…” 

“Oh, I’m sorry.” 

“You’re gonna regret that!” Amanda laughs, hitting him back. The two laugh and keep hitting each other. Suddenly the tape glitches and the fort is completely built. “It’s getting dark.” Amanda says, “We should get our pjs on. Do you wanna help me pick some pjs?” Riley types in yes. Suddenly the tape changes to Amanda’s room. On the bed are three pairs of pjs: a smiley flower, a screaming apple, and a kitty. 

“Ah whoops! These aren’t pjs! This is just something I wear around the house.” She giggles. “It’s my favorite. Should I wear it for an adventure sometime?” Riley types in Sure. “Maybe… nah I don’t wanna get it ruined.” Now there are only two choices available. “Should I wear the Smiley Flower? Or the kitties?” Amanda giggles. 

Riley picks the pjs.

“Yay! Good choice. Now… while I get changed… Could you check on Wooly for a bit? He seems to be acting a little… I don’t know, just check on him okay?” Riley types in yes. Then the tape switches to Wooly’s room. 

“Oh, hi friend! You startled me… um… I was just about to pick my nighty-night hat! Should I pick the moon one, the peach one, or the… puppy one?” he asks. Riley selects the peach one. “Nice! I love peaches! Now let���s go meet Amanda downstairs!” Now we are back at the pillow fort. Amanda is sitting with some apples and peaches cut up. 

“Ready for our slumber party Wooly?” Amanda questions. 

“You bet.” Wooly grins. Then they look at us and wave. The Hameln jingle plays and the tape ends. 

The poll determines which version of the tape we get next! Chose wisely!

[improbablecarny]

spotify drops their wrapped around the same time every year the fact that it came out now isn't exactly worthy of panic. however we have known about spotify's support of the military industrial complex for YEARS and people who were previously pretending to be concerned about that and the laundry list of other ethics concerns with the Billion Dollar Corporation are throwing that to the wind so they can discredit Palestinian activists. like yes the particular alignment of the dates were blown out of proportion entirely but that doesn't mean that Spotify is innocent and accusing their critics of being in Qanon mode for not wanting to support them... while ignoring the israel apologists furthering literal qanon/conspiratorial shit like the idea of "crisis actors"... tumblr leftists have never been good at moral consistency. nevermind the fact that spotify has been censoring palestinian artists too

[dxxtruction]

"Louis acting like a pimp to Armand" And what is a pimp exactly? Quickly. And, oh so sexual trauma survivors can't engage in kink now without it being all about that? Pet names? They can't be submissive anymore? Consensually? Sexually healthy? Be serious. I'd hardly say there's much power difference between them during all this anyway, except that Louis is freer than Armand and it's been putting a strain on their relationship. Louis wants more from Armand, and less of this 'being his past' for them both, and so helping Armand with this could fix that. It's healthy to want to help your partners get out of a rough patch?

I mean, the whole exchange was very clearly set up as a "I want to help you" after such a great moment of vulnerability Louis feels just how much Armand is desperate for it. Louis called Armand so they could work out a plan together.

And the bit with the umbrella was Louis' way of asking 'are you willing to listen to me?' and Armand said yes by unfolding it. Louis goes on and explains, Armand is allowed to argue against it, but Louis makes his point. And then he gives Armand a way to make his own choice in it too. Armand's already decided 'I want you, more than anything else in the world', but Louis still asks after if he's sure of his choice, and with a name, Arun, that is the one of his fullest agency, running the point home. Honoring the situation Armand calls Louis Maitre - as a way of being like 'I'll do as you've said then'. To make this work he's going to have to give Louis some of the control, yes. But it's the first time such a role is ever established, and it was his choice to do it. So so what if they do it in a very suggestive way? They can't like doing that? I think it's them having fun.

I struggle to find how Louis is being overly domineering here when really he's giving and offering Armand the most agency he's ever had. Same with finding it manipulative. The manipulation was more earlier in the episode I think, when he was stringing him along, giving mixed signals. He's no longer toying with him like that. Louis might be pushing Armand, leading him on to make a decision, but he doesn't mean bad by it.

But back to this pimp thing. I find it frankly offensive that this is where people are going with this. I get it, but to run with it being the case is, on many levels, wrong.

Louis told us episode 1 this was the only sustainable line of work to support his family and keep their standing, at the time. It was never his choice to be doing this either but his blackness allowed no other options. He did what he did so his family could stay in that house and maintain all their same comforts. It gave him privileges most black men didn't have at the time that he wanted to maintain and even have more of. Anyway, it doesn't and had never defined him the way 'being good at running things' had. And in that case he just likes having that kind of control where he can get it, which makes sense.

The world is what placed that kind of role onto him of what he was allowed to be able to run, not himself. And on that he actually treated the sex workers he employed well and respected them enough to give them more opportunity.** He recognizes they don't have much in the way of options either.

Louis employed sex workers, yes, but he didn't subject them to abuse, (like how Armand was)*. He didn't oversee things in a way that would go against their consent (see; episode 1 again)**. Sometimes a job is just a job. And Sex work is work.

Armand's particular past with sexual abuses may strike a particular cord with Louis, given all that, but the very last thing either is thinking is that Louis' pimping Armand out here. This is merely their decision as companions, and had nothing to do with adding another line in a laundry list of selling Armands body out to people at the command of someone else. Armand rescinds some of his control to Louis' wishes, because he wants him, and he trusts him, that's all.

If you aren't allowing Armand that choice, and are doubtful it's fully his, you're putting him right back in the box of being defined by his abuses. Putting him back into that space where he isn't given any agency over what he does. (Which is exactly opposite of what the intent of this scene is for)*.

*: (edit) added for clarity.

**: (strike through) numerous people are saying I'm misremembering these points so disregard it. (Thought he was siding with Bricks, it was the other way around). (Technically one aspect of those opportunities were for getting around the law). I don't have a perfect memory, it happens. Let's not get mad about it. Doesn't change much of the point which is that Louis, now, Louis then, was always considering more about the running things and for stated purposes. So I guess I'd say he may only have respected the SWers enough sometimes for what allowed him to do that, and there are moments he certainly expressed remorse over the fact, but he has a great deal higher respect for Armand that is genuine. It's incomparable. Please read my added notes in the tags, it should address most other concerns.

[howtodisappearcompletelyand]

20/10 stars little guy

[lala-blahblah]

I will never make this because it would be for an audience of one (me) but ever since reading "If we Were Villains" (story about serious drama kids in college who perform shakespeare and deal with a murder) I have been entertaining the thought of a crack fic crossover with High School Musical The Musical The Series where the staff decides they will no longer put on shakespeare after the tragic accident that happened at Thanksgiving, because Shakespeare plays would only increase the tension and drama. So they hire Ms. Jen who decides their spring play will actually be High School Musical (which exists in the 90s in this universe) and it ruins the vibe so much that everyone gives up on being dark and mysterious because they're universally pissed at Ms Jen for making them learn choreoraphed basketball dancing.

[lightbulb-warning]

i used to freehand comics all the time as a child and since the part i liked was the drawing part i would just draw panel after panel because i didn't want to stop drawing to think about icky icky words, plus the story TOTALLY still made perfect sense! to me! and noone else, but 'whoooo caaaaares omgggg its not like comics and sequantial art are a communicative meeediummmm lmaoooooo'. i spent my entire childhood telling myself stuff like "oh pfft I know this story by heart- ill SIMPLY remember the dialogue and write it later" ...and. I can't help but admire baby maiora's (call that a minora ba tm tsk) fucking audacity? hubris? confident wrongness? kid couldn't even remember to finish the comics in the first place? INCREDIBLE levels of unearned self assurance, wish that were me, genuinely- what an icon!!! anyway i think i have forever cursed myself

[skitskatdacat63]

This is a special genre of f1 picture(to ME.)