#i just realized op may not have expected an answer

[bartletforamerica]

Henry II, Edward I, and Edward III are the only really valid options, if we're accepting Henry II as the first and Richard II as the last Plantagenet.

Richard I was too busy crusading to be King and Bartlet, for all his religious devotion, puts the needs of the country first. John was too incompetent and Bartlet is anything but. Henry III trusted the wrong people, perpetuated his father's incompetent dealings with the barons, and nearly got replaced by King Louis, only to be rescued by his son, Edward I, but only by losing that which he had been fighting for. Edward II was deposed by his Queen and her lover after an ignoble reign where he put his personal attachments over the good of the country. Bartlet puts the country first. Richard II was a child leader who rose to the occasion early, but had an ungovernable temper and killed his opposition until he was killed and his throne taken.

Edward I was a good king, but a tad too militaristic-he was the hammer of the Scots. Bartlet uses the military when necessary, but it's usually more of a defensive measure. Edward III had to take power from his mother and kill her lover, but he did have a long, fruitful reign and had many children.

I think I'll go with Henry II, however. He had a strong, capable wife. He had a temper, but he repented for his mistakes and sought to atone. His favorite child was his youngest (son). He fought with his children, but there was still love, though his relationship with his second (son) was troubled. Yet he made great administrative progress, improving England's bureaucracy and courts of law. He could be very diplomatic when necessary. He was a flawed man, but a great king, who did what needed to be done.

So yes. I'd say President Bartlet is closest to Henry II out of all the Plantagenets.

I’m a little like him.

BARTLET Let me as you something, which Plantagenet do I most remind you of?

I would ask this 😆

[another-lost-mc]

When MC Needs Surgery

Featuring: The Demon Brothers, the Dateables (most briefly/vaguely mentioned) + gn!Reader

Content/Warnings: Mentions of unspecified health problems, surgical procedures and medical devices. Relationships with the cast are intended to be platonic but may be interpreted as romantic in nature (friendship was the focus here rather than romance). Word count: 3.2k.

A/N: This is dedicated to surgery!anon who requested something for their upcoming surgery. Based on the vague details mentioned to me, I assumed there might be some overlap with my own experiences which is what this is loosely based on. I guess I wrote what I would've liked to have read before my own procedures. I hope this provides some comfort to you as well.

PRE-OP

Some of the demons might wonder why they can't just find some spell to fix what's wrong with you, because how tricky can human anatomy really be? But after Satan does some research and helps you explain to the others (in easy to understand terms while being sensitive of the private details you might not want to share), they realize that perhaps your medical care is best left to the professionals after all.

Lucifer, Diavolo and Barbatos handle the logistics of your care before and after your surgery. Details from your appointments with your medical team help them get a better idea of how long your recovery will be and where you should stay once you leave the human world hospital.

There is some disagreement about whether you should stay at the House of Lamentation or the Demon Lord's Castle. There are pros and cons about staying at the House of Lamentation.

Pros: all of the demon brothers are there to help you when you need assistance.

Cons: all of the demon brothers are there.

One of the concerns – and it's a reasonable one, if you ask anyone but the brothers themselves – is that they might be too demanding of your company in your condition or inconsiderate of your privacy, and possibly neglectful of your need to rest comfortably and quietly.

As the other alternative available to you, the Demon Lord's Castle has spacious rooms so that you'll be able to have everything you need. Your friends are welcome to come and go within reason, but their visitations will be limited to prevent you from being overwhelmed. Ultimately, the choice is left to you.

When you start attending your pre-op appointments, Lucifer goes with you if you don't ask one of the others to go in his place. He's one of the best choices despite his unfamiliarity with the medical ordeal you're about to go through. He quickly picks up on the details of your procedure and the types of support you'll need during your hospital stay and once you're discharged. He helps you prepare a list of questions and concerns for each appointment; the doctors and nurses can't brush your questions aside easily, not when Lucifer is there to ensure that the answers you're given meet his satisfaction.

Later on, Lucifer provides updates to his siblings and your other friends who are keeping tabs on these developments. It's best that they're all aware of what to expect and so that they can help you prepare for what's to come.

In the days leading up to your surgery, everyone does their best to ease your nerves but do a poor job of hiding their own anxieties. It doesn't really register as a real thing that's about to happen until you get notification that your surgery is only a couple days away, and suddenly it feels very, very real.

Lucifer prepares for your long-term absence from RAD and makes sure that any of your obligations – your clubs or student council duties or your part-time job – are dealt with. He buys anything and everything the doctors recommended for your recovery once you return home. If any modifications are required for your bedroom or private bathroom, he plans to have those completed during your hospital stay. (He's grateful your room is already on the first floor of the house, although he would've built one for you if he needed to.)

Mammon and Levi spend as much time with you as they can when they're not busy with other things they try to keep secret: Mammon's new job so he has extra money to buy you get-well presents (bigger and better than all his brothers) and the games and movies Levi has been ordering since he anticipates your recovery will be boring. What better way than to pass the time (hopefully with him?). Satan wanted to go to your appointments with you but he kept grumbling things like, if someone cuts you open, I'm going to cut them open. He's been focusing his efforts on researching which sorts of potions, elixirs or spells might help you recover faster and obtaining the materials he needs for them.

Asmo took you shopping (more than once) to pick up the items on your pre-op checklist of things to bring with you to the hospital: comfortable loose-fitting clothing, slippers, basic toiletries like your toothbrush. Everything he picked for you wouldn't fit in three overnight bags, let alone the single duffel bag you planned to take with you. He just put everything in your dresser and closet and insisted they'd be useful once you were discharged and allowed to come back home.

Beel was curious about your diet recommendations when you come home and he realized that the spicy Devildom foods you like are probably going to be too difficult for you to eat for the foreseeable future . He spoke to Lucifer and Barbatos about his concerns, and they plan to stock the fridge and pantry with all the recommended foods that would ease your recovery and reduce the risk of complications later. Beel took you out for dinner one evening, as a sort of last hurrah. He felt guilty that he didn't realize how serious this was and he admires you for being so brave about something he can't imagine going through himself. He offered to follow your post-surgery diet with you as a show of support because he doesn't want to be insensitive and eat all the delicious foods you won't be able to.

Belphie gets a bit irritated that his brothers take up so much of your time leading up to your surgery date. If you've been feeling tired or unwell leading up to your surgery, you put on a brave face for their sakes but he knows better. He can't take away your pain or discomfort, and he certainly can't fix you the way these human world doctors claim they can, but he can help you relax after a long day of appointments and preparations and pretending you're not as nervous as they all are. He can sense your anxiety rising as the date of your surgery draws near: you're not sleeping as well as you used to, tossing and turning into the late hours of the night and showing up to breakfast looking worse than you did the morning before. Fortunately, that's something he can help you with. He leads you to the attic to sleep and tries not dwell on how long it'll be before after your surgery when you'll be able to climb those steps again. He lulls you into a comfortable, dreamless sleep so that you can as much rest as possible leading up to the big day.

The evening before your surgery, the brothers are practically vibrating from nervousness. Everyone seems on edge and distracted. Asmo ruins his eye makeup from getting teary-eyed and he's especially clingy. Dinner is awkward when the brothers remember that you can't eat your regular diet anymore. You're limited to bland fluids in addition to the jug of prep you need to drink. You drink the powder mixed with ice-cold water and gulp it down – after the first pouch, you disappear into your bedroom. Eventually you come back and rinse and repeat, drinking and refilling that jug until its as empty as you are. (Beel was curious and drank a bit of it despite your warning that he probably shouldn't – his stomach made the strangest sounds the rest of the evening.)

When it's time for bed, you expect to collapse onto your mattress and toss and turn until your early-morning alarm goes off. What you don't expect is for Lucifer and his brothers to lead to you his room with the giant bed that happens to be big enough for all of them. The mood feels somber and you can tell they're as nervous as you are – even Cerberus spends the night in Lucifer's room, lifting his heads up once in a while to check on you while he keeps guard at the foot of the bed. It's the Devildom's most awkward cuddle pile, but eventually you fall asleep surrounded by seven very worried demons who can't manage to sleep themselves.

THE HOSPITAL

Your alarm goes off early that morning – far too early for your liking, but you're eager to get this entire thing over with. Most of the brothers are already awake and finalizing preparations to accompany you to the hospital. You have time for a quick shower and toss on a comfortable shirt, sweatpants and slip-on shoes – you don't need to look good where you're going, and you won't be wearing these clothes for very long.

The others arrive so Barbatos can summon a portal for everyone to take. Despite your many reminders, everyone insists they want to come and support you, including your friends from Purgatory Hall and Diavolo himself.

(What you suspect but don't know for certain is that Diavolo arranged for your care in the human world hospital you'll be staying at. There were concerns about visitor limits and securing the largest and best private room for your recovery, but a generous donation from the Hotel Corvo corporation helped ease some of those administrative hurdles.)

You're only allowed one support person to accompany you to the surgical unit, so the others grab coffee and pre-packaged muffins and slowly make their way down to the waiting area. Lucifer – or whoever you asked to accompany you instead – sits with you while you wait for your name to be called.

Time passes in a blur. You put on a starchy hospital gown and housecoat while you tuck your belongings into a plastic bag and carry it with you. The nurses direct you to a chair and go over the standard medical questions you've answered a million times before. You look away when the IV goes in, and on the other side of you, warm fingers squeeze your hand.

You're tired and nervous and there are too many thoughts racing through your mind, but you sit in silence while the clock ticks down. You shuffle awkwardly down a sterile hall with too-bright lights when it's finally time, and you hope the smile you shoot over your shoulder at your companion is convincing. (It's as unsteady as you both feel when you disappear with the nurse who leads you to the operating room.)

Maybe it's the exhaustion or the empty, upset stomach distracting you while you sit on a table and ignore the cool fingers and pinching sensation in your back while they prepare the epidural because you barely feel it. You lay on a narrow table with a blood pressure cuff on one arm and your IV in another, and when the medications quickly pull you into a dreamless sleep, you feel a last-minute sense of comfort knowing that your friends are waiting close by and they won't let anything bad happen to you.

While you're in the OR, your friends make themselves comfortable in the visitor's lounge and they wait for news. Four hours, six hours, eight hours later – none of them want to leave until they can see you're alive and well with their own eyes. You warned them all it would be a long and boring day and they insisted they wanted to come no matter what.

Some of them fidget in their seats and pace when their nerves get the best of them. Levi's handheld beeps and the buttons click noisily as he plays his game, and Satan tries to focus on a paperback he picked up in the gift shop. Mammon spends way too much money buying Nevada tickets from a vendor in the hospital lobby (“It's for charity, ain't it?!”) and rubs it in Lucifer's face when he actually wins something. Asmo frets with embarrassment when he sees the SCENT-RESTRICTED FACILITY poster on the wall and covers the scent of his expensive fragrance with a dampening charm to avoid upsetting the staff (and makes note to skip the heavily-scented body products for future visits). Belphie accompanies Beel to sample the cafeteria's food, multiple times.

Throughout the day, small groups take turns leaving the waiting room to grab fresh cups of coffee or sandwiches to snack on. Diavolo and Barbatos confirm with the hospital staff that your private room is ready with the special amenities they requested for you, including a cot that an overnight guest can sleep on. You chose your preferred companion in advance, and none of the others dared voice their petty disappointment that they weren't chosen instead. What matters most is that one of them is with you at all times to assist you in your weakened state (they called it protecting you, but you tried to reassure them without success that they were being too dramatic). The others are free to visit as much as they like, as long as you're comfortable with it of course.

It feels like eternity before news reaches your friends as your surgery ends, and then another update a couple hours later when you're moved from PACU to your hospital room. The nurses have already gotten you settled into your accommodations by the time the first visitors hesitantly step inside to see you. Despite the preparations and expectations and warnings, they're still not prepared for the machine humming and beeping at your side as it pumps various medications through your IV. There's a remote looped around the bed by your arm that lets you administer more pain medication through your epidural.

It's gotten late and the surgical ward is quiet except for the ambient sounds of nurses chatting quietly at their station or other machines beeping in nearby rooms. Against the standard-issue hospital linens and the thin gown you wear, you look more vulnerable than they've ever seen you, their perfectly imperfect human who’s gone through so much in such a short amount of time. Perhaps it's a good thing that you're overcome with exhaustion and only have fleeting memories of your friends' worried faces when they each came to see you before bidding you goodnight with a promise to come back in the morning. Some struggle to contain their emotions more than others, and there's a collective understanding between all of them that perhaps they've taken you for granted because they never want to see you like this again – not if they can prevent it.

Your nighttime companion sits at your bedside most of the night and watches over you in case you show signs of discomfort or pain. They pull the cord to alert the nurses when you wake up queasy and you request something for your upset stomach with your scratchy voice and dry throat. You can't eat or drink yet, but the nurse leaves a small plastic cup of ice chips at your bedside – it's enough to remove the cottony feeling from your tongue and throat, and you can sleep once more.

Your demon friends aren't familiar with modern medicine and none of them know what the bags of fluids hanging next to your bed are. RINGERS scrolls across the screen of the IV pump but it’s anyone’s guess what it means. All they know is that it seems to be important as it’s one of the last medications you stop taking before your IV is eventually removed. Tonight and throughout the days that will soon follow, the machine beeps loudly – and often – when the bag runs dry. They remember which button to hit to turn off the awful alarm so that the disturbance doesn't wake you while they wait for a nurse to come with a replacement.

RECOVERY

The first few days are some of the most challenging, but all of your friends are there to support you as much as they can. At least one of them is present when the surgeon and his residents make their early morning rounds. You can't bear to look at the staples and incisions hidden under the thick dressings that cover a large part of your lower belly, but the surgeon and nurses all claim that things look fantastic. You can't help but snort at the odd feedback, and Asmo reminds you that there's plenty of creams that can help with minimizing those scars later, if you want them. (He prefers you exactly the way you are, scars and all, but he keeps his opinion on that subject to himself.)

Your post-surgery diet is severely restricted until you're able to tolerate basic fluids again, and solid foods are introduced slowly too. Beel reads over your daily menu selection and glares at the abysmal tray of hospital food that is delivered to your room. He tastes some of the dishes and wonders how they can make something as simple as broth or cream of wheat so unappealing. Barbatos sips the lukewarm mug of tea on your tray that you ignore with each meal; you warn him that it's not good, and the pain in your stomach is worth it when you shake with laughter at the offended grimace that sours his expression. He promises to bring you drinkable tea from now on, and he and Beel both bring acceptable alternatives to your hospital fare in accordance with your current meal plan.

One of the most challenging things you didn't expect – and it catches your friends off-guard too – is how difficult it is to get up and walking again. After a few days in bed with the epidural numbing you to the worst of the pain and being mostly stationary aside from some breathing exercises, it's time to get up and take the literal first step towards your journey home.

Your friends scoff at the idea of a physiotherapist coming to help you, until they hear the first cry of pain when you sit up on the edge of the bed and breathe heavily like it's the most ardious feat you've ever accomplished. It's another reminder that this was a tremendous thing for your delicate human body to go through, and even though they can't just take away your pain or fix things magically (no matter how much some of them might want to), they'll do what they can to help.

They don't tease you when they slip your shoes onto your feet, and they don't stare or ask about the various bags of fluids hanging from the IV pole you lean on for support while you shuffle your way around the ward one lap at a time. They match your pace and are ready in a moment's notice to support you if you lose your balance, and as soon as they sense you're pushing yourself just a little too hard, they help you back into bed where you fall asleep not long after.

Things carry on that way until the surgeon announces tentative plans for your release. By now, you're bored out of your mind and eager to be anywhere but in that bloody hospital room. Your friends are eager to have you home again, and the air is charged with excitement for the first time since your surgery. Everything you need for your recovery at the House of Lamentation – medications and supplies and your diet plan and anything else you could possibly need – are ready for you.

On the day you're finally discharged, they help scan your room to make sure all of your personal items have been packed away for the trip home. One of them carries your duffel bag for you while a couple others carry boxes filled with the numerous gifts, cards, and vases of flowers that filled nearly every available space of your room. (The human world flowers have started to wilt, but the arrangements from the Devildom and the Celestial Realm, including the bouquet you received one day with a note signed only with “M”, are still blooming flawlessly as ever.)

[were--ralph]

Hey i saw you ranting about trans men on a post, and i was just wondering a few things. This is a genuine question, as a stelth trans man, i really cant find anything about a pre op transitioning body attractive. Especially a pre op Chest. Now i do take testosterone, and i think that the parts that i find gross (ex: tits mixed with chest hair) are a perfectly acceptable thing to deal with so i can look the way i want to look. I love my body hair and my muscle growth, i just dont love the obviously not cis parts of me. What do you find attractive about this? I truely cannot for the life of me understand why people find trans men attractive but i would really like to understand.

I think spicy food is disgusting generally. it's like. hot and not fun and to me it adds nothing good to the food experience. Genuinely I don't understand why people enjoy hot foods it makes like. literally no sense.

and yet, people do. it's weird. I've tried on multiple occasions to get into spicy food and it just. suks. every single time it sucks. But everyone else in my family lives by it. And I've asked why for years literally unable to understand it until I realized.

sometimes people just. like things. things I certainly don't like and cannot enjoy whatsoever. But at the same time, this is true for me and not for them. I fucking love coffee to the point I drink it more than water most days, but no one else in my family likes it. BUT other people outside my family enjoy it too.

Life is weird and what I'm getting at is something that took me a lifetime to understand and I still can't wrap my head around it all the time.

People just like things. People love things and hate things. What things mean to one person can mean the world to another and death to the third. There's not always a reason for it, but what you have to do is accept that there are things in life that you just might not like much right now. but as time goes on you'll find value in it the same way your partner will find value in you and all the minuscule things you do and become and like and dislike.

And to build on that point, there are things I hated as a kid that I'm fine with and even love now. Each day changes you more than you'll ever know and with those changes, the acceptance that comes with them may be easier or harder.

So, to answer your question, I don't know! I just love men. Men with tits or pecs, men with vaginas or dicks. maybe both at the same time or neither at all! I just think men are generally attractive no matter the design or what's different about them. and not just men but people who present as masc in general. If you're masc nb there's a chance I'm looking at you through the window of a bar as much as if you were cis-male or trans-male.

I do know for some men, the allure of masculinity displaced with the typically-feminine concept of a vagina intrigues them. Maybe it's the juxtaposition of them together, maybe they just want something unique and new to them. Maybe they just really like vaginas and it doesn't matter who it's attached to, or maybe they just like trans men. Same thing with boobs, some guys just like boobs. Some men have boobs. the overlap doesn't mean net-negative results, it could be double positive.

And I don't expect you to love everything about yourself, god knows I don't love everything about myself, and despite people telling me what's good about me I can still find flaws within it whenever I choose. I think men with chest hair are hot as fuck, but also I've seen some smooth men that are just as if not hotter. I love me a fat man or a man with muscles, but i've seen twinks i'd demolish in one sitting as well. I've seen men with dicks and boobs and scars and and hair pretty much everything under the sun and sometimes I want them to sit on me and forget I'm there and smother me.

What you do have to do though is accept that you have those things, and you are those things, and even though you may not like those things you have to accept that they're a part of you and find value in that. And it's not an easy task at all to love yourself, but you have to try because even if you don't right now, there's a partner who will be waiting for you somewhere. there's a future version of you who loves you as you are. there are friends who love your flaws, pets who don't judge, and there are a lot of things that accept you as you are.

So just say you have boobs and chest hair. even if you don't love it about yourself right now know that there are and will always be people who do, and personally I've said before, but I wish i had boobs and chest hair it's just a perfect look to me. I'm fine with whatever my gender is, i just think its a good look. If I had money for top and bottom surgery I'd get it and never look back. You just have to find the value in yourself we all know is there, and if you can't just know that we know it's there and let that carry you through the day!

[shirefantasies]

Hello again! I have another request that came to me as I was submitting a different one. How do you think Thorin's or the LOTR companies would react to reader having a buzzcut. Especially for dwarves who pride themselves in long intricately done hair and braids. Would they think something bad must've happened to the reader for them to have short hair. Cue misunderstandings and fluff, with maybe hair petting(buzzcuts are super soft!) Hope this sounds interesting enough to do, have a good day again! :)

(I literally lied on my last post THIS is my last pre-op post by the 45 minutes left before my operation appointment)

Heck yeah friend I love this! I don’t quite have a buzzcut but my hair’s far shorter than the average lady’s & definitely so for a dwarf, so I wonder about this too 😁 hope you enjoy 🥰 Warnings: a little violence in one reaction, injury mention in another

Thorin’s Company When You Have a Buzzcut

Balin

“You’re causing quite a stir with everyone, you know that?” Giving a chuckle at Balin’s cheeky look, you lean forward with your chin upon your hand. “And why is that?” “At risk of offense,” the older dwarf answered, “they all want to know what happened to your hair.” “Yourself included,” you shot back with a grin, “or else you’d not be asking.” Taken aback, Balin stutters a bit. “Ah, well, I confess I am a bit curious, after all. Reminds me of when my brother first took all his off. What a stir over something so silly. Do what you like, I was just wondering if Dwalin was trying to get you all painted up too.” “Not yet,” your smile softens and you give him a wink, “but if he does you’ll be the first to know. Ahead of all the sensation.”

Dwalin

You start the conversation on this one, seeing that Dwalin is the other company member with little to no hair upon his head and considering it a bonding opportunity. “Well, I’ve got a reason,” he shoots back to your comment of similarity, arms crossed but expression teasing, “what’s yours? You need some tattoos up there at least.” “No thank you,” you tell him, “if I’m adding any tattoos it won’t be on top of my head! Feel how soft it is up here.” Dwalin looks at you, prompting you to take his hand and put it on top of your head, his eyebrows raising at the sensation. And perhaps because touching one’s hair is a much closer and more intimate thing for him than perhaps you realize. You are quite forward, aren’t you?

Thorin

Pays little mind to how you wear your hair…or lack thereof. In fact, by your appearance he gauges you to be a warrior of some kind, thus taking command of your actions in a fight and seeking proof of your prowess. Before your first encounter with a threat the king’s questions are more along the lines of “What is your weapon of choice?” and “From where in these lands do you hail?” The day the company fights a pack of orcs, you manage to take down more than Thorin expected and at one point, you even jump in front of Dori to parry before a potentially deadly strike takes him off guard. Rising from the struggle of battle, black blood splattered across your layers and even your shaven head, you feel a hand upon your shoulder. Thorin. "It can be hard for us to look beyond our own kin," he tells you, "but you have well proven yourself today. We may not always understand each other, but there is a beauty in that, too, I see."

Oin

Wincing despite your gratitude, you shifted in your seated position while Oin packed the poultice into the wound your side had suffered. "Don't worry, you'll go numb in a bit. If it stings, that is quite alright, that simply means you are getting clean again." Thanking him through heavy breaths, you watched as the dwarf reached a hand up toward your head, running a hand over the soft, shorn little bit of cover it had. "And this one's healing quite nicely, quite nicely indeed. Why, I cannot even see the scar!" The sting in your bloody side faded down a bit as you tilted your head to fix Oin right in the eyes. "What scar?" "Did they not have to sew up your head at some point? Figured that's why they shaved you down," he answered, finally removing his hand from your head. You giggled at that, regretted stretching yourself at a new, though much smaller, arc of pain. "No, my dear Oin, I am afraid the only thing my head has suffered is my typical madness," you teased, waving your hands mystically and grinning at the way the healer laughed.

Gloin

"Pardon me, my dear," your name rolled smoothly off Gloin's tongue as he shuffled forth, hands folded in front of him in the picture of innocence. Oh, this was going to be good. "Yes?" You indulged him, swiveling to give your full attention. The auburn-haired dwarf pointed to his head, his own flowing locks. "What happened t'yer hair?" Perhaps sheepishly, his voice suddenly quickened. Feeling your eyebrows involuntarily raise, you tilted your head- this was not exactly what you’d expected, after all. “I cut it,” you shrugged, “got tired of how it was before. Simply wanted a new beginning, you could say.” Gloin’s eyes never left yours. “So no accident?” “No.” “Ha!” The dwarf bellowed, waggling a hand at his brother and a small scattering of company members a ways back. “I was right! By choice! Now pay up and remember I told ya it was worth the risk!” Shaking your head, you playfully smack him on the shoulder. “I’d better get a cut from this, you ol’ scallywag!”

Bifur

Catching Bifur signing, you turn his way, seeing the motions he performs by his head. “Did you cut your hair yourself?” You realize he is asking. “No,” you sign back, “another did it for me.” “You must trust them a great deal.” Simple enough words signed and yet there is something in the way his eyes shine, the fond inquisition in his smile, that brings a little shock of joy to you. Barring royal dressings, it was far more common for one to do their own hair or entrust it to a loved one, and you could see intimacy in the act. It almost brought a pang of regret that it was just some small-town hairdresser that sheared it at your asking and payment. Your hands freeze for a moment as your eyes search Bifur before you finally sign a response. “I suppose. Perhaps if you ever want to do something different with your hair, I could help you, too.”

Bofur

A mix between caring and teasing, he offers you cover! “Your head looks cold. Need to borrow my hat?” Thinks he’s so funny he laughs at his own joke whether you roll your eyes or joke back. “But really, any particular reason you took it all off?” "It was uncomfortable having it long," you admit, "I was tired of it all being in my face." The way everyone spoke of dwarven culture, you half expect disapproval, but this is Bofur you speak of. Instead he nods acceptingly, smiling in that way that always has you feeling seen and reassured. "I understand that." "You do?" "Sure I do! Why do you think I keep mine braided out to the sides like this?" At that, you smile back. "Besides," he continues, "helps me see all the best sights. The trees, the flowers, that smile of yours..."

Bombur

“Singe all your hair off?” Bombur nods sagely despite the fact that he couldn’t be more wrong. “I’ve been there. Burned my beard leaning too far over the stove.” You can’t even correct him right away because you’re too busy laughing. Finally, though, you explain to him that your hair was simply so unhealthy it needed to start over. “Ah, I see, I see! Trying to take better care of it, then?” At that, you nod. He looks at you with new interest, eyes shining eagerly. “So what would you like to do with it next? I’ve got some things you might like to put in it, and I think it would look mighty nice if you wanted to try…”

Dori

"Sometimes I wish I could do that, too," Dori remarks one day, rolling blue eyes illuminated beneath the sun that peeked between the branches. Shifting carefully so as to not disturb your pony, you turned back to face him. "Do what?" "Cut all my hair off just to save some time in the morning!" He replied with a wave of a hand in your general direction. Chuckling, you gave a conceding nod. "I suppose you would gain back an hour, wouldn't you?" At that, it was Dori's turn to laugh. "But then again," you continued, "then you couldn't wear as many of those nice clips and cases. That is one thing I miss about having it all." Puffing up like a proud little bird, Dori smiled. "They are quite nice, aren't they? You know, if you ever get so bored you're tempted to let it all come back, I could make you some of your own."

Nori

Abrasive as it was, Nori's question found you in a way that raised such amusement you forgot to be upset with him entirely, instead simply falling back with a bark of laughter before you answered. "Looks like you're tryin' to hide your identity. You on the run from someone?" He continued musing, in fact, as you laughed. "Law somewhere? A scorned lover? Simply run off with something too valuable not to do that?" Finally, your voice returned. "All this because I've sheared my head down?" You burst out incredulously. "Ever consider," you gasped in mock-scandal, "I like it like this?" "Sure, but that's not exciting," Nori shot back with a smirk, "I like a good story." "Well," you crossed your arms, "perhaps I still have some of those, too."

Ori

Shuffling up to you was the youngest dwarf in the company, sweet Ori; Ori was one of the dwarves who accepted outsiders most readily, and you spent plenty of time at his side watching his drawings and records come to life. That day, though, what was in his hand was not his book, rather a bundle of fabric. "I made this for you." Eyes widening, you extend your hands to accept the soft knitting, peering back at Ori. "I thought your head must get cold," he explained his craft as you unfolded it, revealing a thick, sturdy cap you immediately began pulling onto your head, "does it fit?" Yarn hugging your head perfectly, you nodded. "It's just my size. Thank you." Before he could speak again, you wrapped your arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug. "This is the kindest thing anyone has done for me in some time. Thank you."

Fili

“One of my braids came undone. Kili?” The younger Durin prince seemingly did not hear the request for his presence, so you stepped forward. “I can help.” Goggling at you, Fili posed a question. “Do you even know how?” Hand falling to your hip, you shot him a look. “Though I may not possess them myself, I am quite capable of doing them up.” The golden-haired dwarf looked sheepish, a bit of the mischief fading from his blue eyes. “Suppose I assumed you didn’t much enjoy doing them either,” he told you with a nod toward your head. “Well,” a teasing smile drifted across your face, “I certainly would…unless you are scared.” You were no fool. You knew how the Durins were with challenges. And if you remembered correctly, you knew how dwarves were with braids…

Kili

He cares some of the least out of the dwarves being the least traditionally presenting himself. He’s sort of the type to be a little attracted to everyone, enjoying the unique traits of all types of people. You still cannot help being a bit surprised when he flirts with you, though, not expecting someone with a cut like yours to catch his eye or draw his teasing. “Not one for a courting braid, I see? No one worthy of putting one on you, no doubt.” For all his jesting questions, he never actually demands an answer, though. Instead he simply launches into a story about a haircut prank he pulled with his older brother once to keep light conversation flowing. “Well, by the end of it our uncle looked quite like you! Except he didn’t pull it off half as well.”

Taglist: @lokilover476 @fuckyoumakeart @kilibaggins | Let me know if you'd like to join!

[luffyvace]

Boa Hancock & Neferatari Vivi x female reader for women’s day!!

ik I’m late to women’s day guys!! But I’m still gonna participate! (Totally not an excuse to write for some of my fav op girls that I haven’t written much for yet)

Hancock x a fem reader would be like the ultimate alternative timeline to her not falling in love with luffy lol

let��s say your in the kuja pirates specifically,

that would make more sense as to how you got closer since your on the same crew and obviously get to interact with her more versus just fan girling in the crowd lolol 😂

just the same as luffy, she’d realized her love for you after getting worried for your safety and feeling ill (love sick 😀) mid expedition at the fact that you might be hurt

when everyone gets back to the boat she tried to unsuspectingly scope you out (tried because she was actually frantically searching for someone and wouldn’t say who as everyone panicked-) and as soon as she saw you she sighed in relief! But soon after, she started blushing and she felt a warm fuzzy feeling!

what was this? Is this what they call..? Love?!

it was such a joyous feeling..! She couldn’t believe she was feeling such intense emotions at your presence alone!

”Lady hebihime!! Are you all right?!”

”Lady hebihime!! Are you all right?!”

”Lady hebihime!! Are you all right?!”

”all right..!”

”right..!”

”right..”

Your words echoed over and over again in Hancock’s spinning head. You..we’re worrying for her?! Your so…kind!- So!- so!- your such a selfless woman!!

and yeah that’s pretty much how it went HAHAH

you can pretty much guess you’ll get special treatment from then on, she’s in love with you after all!! Naturally it’s her duty to protect her lover! 😊 (you haven’t even asked her out yet Hancock! - Glorisa)

she invites you into the palace and gives you the best food and treatment straight away!! Put your feet up dear! Are you hot? tired? Do you need water?? “Hurry up and bring the giant fans! My lover is hot!”

no pun intended even though you are 😉

“lover..? Lady hebihime..! May I ask what your talking about..😅”

”o-oh! W-well..I was just thinking…maybe…we could go on a date..?! ☺️😅”

“ME?? Hebihime!! I- I’m honored but what brought this about?! This is….strangely sudden, you know? Not trying to be rude!-”

”Hancock!”

”eh??- I mean!- hebihim-”

”Hancock!! Y-you..can call me Hancock..if you’d like!- I mean if you’d prefer to call me something else like a pet name, honey or dear m-maybe-…!”

”But!- hebihime-”

“-And to answer your question! What brought this about……I’m not sure myself…I have no idea actually, I found myself worrying about you and when I saw you again….When I saw you..! When I…..Kyaaa! 😍”

”Hancock!! Are you all right?! What happened!?

“ !!….You…! You!- You said my name!! This must be..! This must be!! What they call!- Engagement!~ 😍😍”

”huh?? 😀 hebihime?-“

“No! Go back! Don’t call me hebihime anymore!! We’re getting married next month so!- So call me by my name from now on! Okay honey?! 😍💗”

*mutters while being carried bridal style by Hancock* “I’m getting married…to the hebihime..😵‍💫💫”

and yes you actually did get married the next month :)

being the wife of the pirate empress is the liiiife 😎👍 you get whatever you want, whenever you want and however much you want of it!! Without a question! Your words are as absolute as sold gold on the island of women! Hancock will likely even ignore elder nyon/Glorisa for you <3

and yeah you can pretty much just imagine your dream life for the rest! Expect that to become your reality when married to Hancock bc even thanos snap can’t compare 🗿😭

Vivi is such an awesome girl - honorable mention okay? 😤👏

let’s say your not a straw hat tho :) just for funzies :3 imagine you’ve lived on alabasta just as long as she has and even infiltrated Baroque works with her. And also helped save alabasta!

best friends to lovers anyone?? Lesbian edition >:> 👩‍❤️‍👩 🧡🤍💖🏳️‍🌈

after it’s all said and done, and crocodile is defeated, you two say cya to the straw hats and you help Vivi rebuild her kingdom

somewhere during the time things start looking up as for alabasta’s cleanup, she confesses! Oops spoiler :}

“hey!!..I’ve been looking all over for you 😅”

“Oh hey Vivi! What is it?”

”oh nothing I just, well it’s not nothing…can we talk? Uh- you know..in private?”

”oh yeah sure! Come inside I was just cleaning up heheh, excuse the mess..”

“It’s nothing! Really, it’s fine no need to be so formal…we’re close, right?”

“Yeah :) what is it you wanted to talk about though? Is it something bad I’m nervous 😃”

”Oh! Nononono! Nothing bad nothing bad!-“

*sigh of relief* “hah, that’s good 😅”

*awkward yet adorable giggles come from both you and Vivi*

“well..what I wanted to talk about was…us, as in…who we are”

“Oh no Vivi don’t come out and tell me we’re aliens now we’ve barely finished cleaning up alabasta! 😭😂😂”

”what?? Hey! No! I-I’m trying to be serious here! 🤦‍♀️“

”OH! Oops 😄 go ahead go ahead!”

“I meant who we are as in, as a….relationship! Like- um..we’re friends right? Soo..if we could be……”

“Vivi..you mean..?”

”YEAH! 😭😅 I mean if- if we could be..more, if- if you want if not we can just stay friends-“

”No! I- hahah, I honestly never thought you’d ask, like- literally! I’ve kinda been waiting but you never did so is assumed-“

lots of awkward laughing and explaining of feelings ensue from there 💗(🏳️‍🌈😜)

actually being in a relationship with her includes training, yes training, because you never know what could happen. Just as crocodile happened and no one knew he would. So from now on she wants to be prepared, she refuses to be blindsided again—for the sake of her people!

she’s a cute mix of awkward, kind and a tad bit shy 💗 it’s like, she almost wouldn’t know how to act around you if you weren’t so close, but you are! So that makes things easier :)

she’s highly knowledgeable and I feel she’d have quiet a bit of hobbies. if you like to do similar things she’d love to partake in those activities with you! But if you have different interests, exploring each one as you teach her about them would be fun too! <3

Vivi is a literally princess, which means as her lover you get princess treatment! 😘 (all puns intended) She can afford it after all! Pell and Vivi’s father would adore you! You make Vivi so happy, how can they not?!

she talks about you more often than you know 🤫 “Dad!! Don’t tell her that!- it’s kind of embarrassing you know?!” oops Vivi heard him

well anyway 😊

Vivi is a very caring and protective lover as seen with Nami (when she stayed by her side the whole time she was ill). So of course that’s not any different when it comes to you, it’s highly likely Vivi knows first aid so if you get a minor injury? Be more careful!! 🩹❤️‍🩹💋 A major injury?! Hurry! Rush her to the royal hospital! Quickly! Giver her the best treatment! It’s okay, relax, she’s here 💖

Vivi will be with you through thick and thin and her loyalty is unwavering. She may not be the strongest banana in the bunch but she’ll certainly defend you with all she has if it comes down to it! 😤💪

Also!!! Can’t believe I haven’t mentioned this yet!!- Karoo!!!! Karoo loves you <33 Vivi thinks your bond is adorable, especially how Karoo always lets you ride on him :} you bring him snacks and drinks and he runs to you each time. If your tired of walking he’ll carry you without complaints as well so that’s a perk!

I feel the other spot billed ducks would love you as well! Karoo probably tells them how great you are 🤗 You might even like one of them enough to make them your duck! (I would, they seem cooler than a freezer 😎👍)

Okayyy~ lovely readers, followers and anyone new here..!

I hope you enjoyed these headcanons!!~

[eriilie]

Transformer prime x magical girl reader

OCC (cuz i don't watch tf prime)

And yes i am a transformer fan

I want more magical girl reader stories RAHHHHHHHHHdsafasfawff3f

Gender neutral cuz why not, Ur the magical girl that fights in the shadow to defeat the evil shadows monster that eats people in their dreams and the people die when awake, your magical girlname is royalty Heart. It's your job to protect the lives and dreams of the people in Jasper Nevada.

let ‘s start the show shall we.

You're a magical girl that only protects people's dreams. You are the only one that has this ability and No one can to help you. You have a team but they can't help you why cuz i want it that way

—

Today was the same stuff as always, Your jumping and somewhat flying through a dreamscape to one then another it was nice seeing the soft clouded area but it was getting boring by now but nonetheless you enjoy being a magical girl being one has it perks like for one you can prank anyone if the dreamscape for fun and no one would know beside that your able to conceal your true self at least

As you jumping from a cloud to reach a certain entrance to a dream and head inside, Once inside you notice something strange this doesn’t seem like any ordinary dream but you know there’s those nasty shadows monster in here you feel it in your very core but still the dream seems so alien you never seen a place like this on earth as you float around you see a figure trying to fight the shadows monster that was really pointless since no one can defeat them unless your a magical girl but props for trying at least but theres not much time before this figure gets devour so you quickly ran up where the shadows were and use your magical hammer and hit the monsters with it and you keep attacking until all of the nasty monster is gone.

You turn around to see the figure you expected to see a normal human but instead you see a big ass tall robot that looks like a truck with blue and red paint, “um.. This is unexpecting, uh are you injured?..” you ask the truck like robot as i put your magical hammer down beside you with a nervous and awkward smile on your face as you waited, The truck robot responded “..i’m fine but how did you defeat these?..” The robot's voice sounds very calm and gentle as he crouches down to your height. “Um well, that's a secret but let me introduce myself. I'm Royalty Heart but call me Love that's what everyone calls me!” you said enthusiastically as you float once again, the robot introduced himself “i am Optimus prime..” Optimus said as he looked at you curiously “you’re a human, correct?” Optimus ask as he stood up from crouching, You answered “thats correct somewhat, I’m a Magical girl here to rid of those things you just tried to defeat” You explain in a short way i supposed, Optimus humm as he grabs you while you float which makes you yelp in surprised he then ask again “ROyalty heart, what's a magical girl if i may ask..” You stutter at first before answering that a magical girl is what people say young people getting the abilities to become one and have to fight dangerous shadows monster through alter egos of themself, since you technically (i did) casually drew your magical girl outfit in one of your notebook at school and some random Creature made you a Magical girl to defeat all evil of the shadows. Back to the story Optimus with a satisfied look (not really) then lets you go letting you float back where you are “..I see, so your job is to defeat these things. Are there others like you, little one?” he ask, You look at him “well yeah but we only got one place to defend each you see i'm the only one in my team of magical girls to go through dreams and visions” You then look at the time you realize it almost morning “It’s almost morning i have to go now goodbye big robot!” you said as you quickly left Optimus dream Optimus wanted to tell you to wait but it’s too late you already out of his dream, He sigh before waking up from his recharge, Optimus is still curious and wanted to learn more of this Magical girl stuff maybe the three children would be of an assistance.

(This kinda sucks...)

[your-nanas-house]

Hi there! May I request a fic where Anthony Bridgerton’s wife gives him the silent treatment after an argument? Thank you! I love you 💖

Hello! Of course, this is my first fic with Anthony Bridgerton so sorry if it's bad. You're welcome! 💖

Silent Treatment

Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton X wife!Reader

Warnings: argument, angst, fluff

Words: 775

Summary: in the request

Note: Sorry for the mistakes and the English.

.................................................................

Everyone in the Bridgerton family knew by now well the personality of the eldest son, even the lucky lady who agreed to become his wife taking the title of Viscountess but that did not mean she tolerated it.

Her husband Anthony could be sweet, protective, a true gentleman but at the same time also competitive, annoying and stubborn; according to him everything was on his shoulders, which had been true since Edmund's (the father's) death, but there was no need to be so closed-minded and dedicated to work because if not you would become frustrated and exactly what happened one evening.

The newly married couple got along well, they loved each other and enjoyed each other's company but there were times when there were small quarrels that did not turn into something serious since Y/n's personality was able to let it be and calm the situation down before the situation  escalated but to everything there is a limit, even to the viscountess's patience.

It happened shortly after dinner, they had enjoyed a family meal and she had retreated to their bedroom, returning downstairs only when she realized that Anthony was still not joining her.

This was not expected, Anthony should not have let the comment slip from his mouth even if it was a confidential conversation with his siblings, but as one can well see from the considerable amount of children Violet Bridgerton had with Edmund Bridgerton, nothing remained a confidential conversation in that house; for that reason an argument also began that evening but it did not end as the Viscount expected because this time his wife's patience reached a limit and although they had moved to their rooms she refused to calm the situation and ignore again but answered in the same tone, letting out of her lips all the things she had been thinking and holding in for several months leaving Anthony silent for a few moments but still angry.

He had no chance to respond because as soon as Y/n finished screaming she grabbed a pillow and headed for another room, locking herself in there.

The Viscount wanted to follow her but realized that maybe it was better if he let her sleep wherever she preferred for that night since the next morning everything would be back to the way it was or so he thought.

The next morning there were no words exchanged between the two of them, Y/n just had breakfast with her husband's family while she ignored him completely refusing to talk to him, infuriating Anthony who followed her into the kitchen where she had moved and stopped his anger which turned to guilt when he saw her wiping away tears.

Apparently yesterday's words had hurt her more than the gentleman thought, it was not his intention and he did not really mean them rather he actually claimed the opposite but at that moment it had seemed right to say it to win the argument.

The silent treatment continued throughout the day, there were attempts by the viscount to try to apologize or talk to his wife but she continued with that punishment that caused Anthony to break down in the evening.

He needed to put things right as soon as possible, which is why he locked himself in his office and only came out when he was sure he had everything ready, after which he went to the rooms where his viscountess had decided to spend the night again and knocked on the door while waiting.

No one answered but he did not allow himself to be demoralized and began to recite the mediocre poem he had attempted to write in his office, waiting for a response, which there was as Y/n opened the door to the room shortly after, looking at him completely serious.

Anthony continued with his courtship for three more days before she gave in completely by forgiving him and going back to sleep in his arms at night, gladly accepting their first heir also as a way of proving to Anthony that she could be a great mother even though she might be childish at times, thus proving to him that his claim of the now-forgotten quarrel was completely false but Anthony didn't need to have proof to realize that.

He loved his Viscountess and would have done anything for her, even wooing her all week long despite the fact that they were already married, just to see that smile on her sweet lips or a giggle come out of her gorgeous mouth, her love-filled eyes directed only at him and her body asleep or awake in his arms.

.

Taglist:

@gabile18 , @mrsfullbuster500 , @rex-ray , @elizamalfoyy, @eovjjj , @monkeyking-and-liuer-mate , @jeremiah-va1eska , @gothamchic16, @rabbiteggz , @dieg0brandos-wife , @rottenecstasy , @lazyexcuse , @teh-vampire-bunny , @lobotomy-lover , @slasher-smasher

[khaosrealms]

I love the Syzoth X Princess!Reader so much I can't even- ❤️❤️❤️ Is it alright if I request something similar but with the Lin Kuei trio? Syzoth falling in love with Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Smoke's younger sister? I imagine her joining the Outworld investigation bc "Lord Liu Kang, you're sending two of the least stealthiest people in our group for a covert op? With all respect, why in the world did you think this was a good idea?" Basically pressuring the local demi-god into letting her tag along, and the mission going to hell anyway. Super-ninja be damned, the chaos cannot be contained. I also imagine Johnny isn't going to let that fact go anytime soon.

NUWA’S RAZOR. / SYZOTH X LIN KUEI! READER.

a/n: of course it is alright to ask for such a request, that is why i’m here! thank you so much for sending the ask— i am happy to respond 💚

- Perhaps it comes with the territory of being the sole sister of a family of boys. A sense of responsibility likened to that of a mother coordinating a group of toddlers. Younger than your brothers you may be, but hardly inept and hardly easily swayed enough to be told by your Lord when your presence is unneeded. What else was he to expect, when you spent the many of your living years upon Outworld’s soil doing everything in your power to prevent your brothers from slaughtering one another where they stood? If there was anyone more capable of investigating Outworld with discretion, it is you.

“Look at them, my Lord.” You utter, gazing upon his champions. A cabbage farmer, a former yakuza, a deadbeat stage fool. Men who can hardly so much as breathe before taking a bite at one another’s necks. Well, at the very least— with Kung Lao, it was more to take a nip at your own. Easier to control. “If it is recognition you fear, you know you may trust me to remain hidden much better than these… Earthrealmers you have chosen.” You do not miss the gasp of insult that escapes Johnny’s lips; rather, you choose ignorance. Searching for answers in Liu Kang’s glowing eyes. Yet nothing speaks, so it is words you are forced to accept. Words that come in what you imagine is a form of sigh from your Lord’s lips. “No one is to know that you are Lin Kuei.”

- And also, perhaps, you should have simply chosen to let the Earthrealmers suffer their own given fate. The bickering, the clumsy coordination, Tarkat, Shang Tsung, by god, Kenshi’s own eyes. By the time that you awake in a cell, dank and filthy with the smell of corpses and gore, you feel as if that day, you’d been better suited to remaining at home. Continuing your daily training as you’d had for years on end. But instead, waking with an ache in your head so deep it rushes to your spine and forces you up, you realize you no longer had that privilege. Here, instead, you were residing within Shang Tsung’s true laboratory— soon to be faced with the horror of being taken apart and made into whatever greeted your eyes through the cell’s bars.

- You’d been the second in the cell to awake, after Kenshi, woken by virtue of true and utter pain, gouged of his sight; and Baraka, awake since his capture, there to fill the hours alongside you both while you stew in your fate. You’d learned from the former merchant that your jailer had passed prior to your awakening. And now, all five of you await for his return, well— some of you. Johnny and Kung Lao were deep sleepers, it seemed. For now, the ones in the waking world, Baraka, Kenshi, and yourself, filled the rancid air with words. Jailer, you wondered. A chance to flee, bars wide enough to wrench a hand through, threaten for freedom. Options, all waiting for you to spring upon the man who chose to align himself with Shang Tsung and would die for his choice.

- Nearly, you do it. When Johnny finally rouses, stumbling to Kenshi’s side, your jailer appears. Dressed in green, red fabric tied around his bicep, and a tattooed arm that reaches in just enough to be held and twisted around. But it is Baraka who makes the first move, his word that gives you enough pause to listen and discover the true nature of your jailer. Not a herald for Shang Tsung’s cause— a slave to it. His family in the clutches of a man who would slaughter them if so much as a whisper of betrayal left him. A shapeshifter, a Zaterran. Syzoth, a name you only learn due to Shang Tsung’s arrival after fighting the hoards of his creations. A sorcerer who revealed your jailer’s only purpose for remaining in enslavement was a lie. His family dead “many moons ago”. Suffering for no cause but for Shang Tsung’s cruel ambition. Here to die alongside the five of you; suffocating in toxins.

“I should’ve simply stayed with my brothers.” You can’t seem to get the rancid smell of Shang Tsung’s labratory out from your lungs; no matter how hard you breathe in the air of Outerworld. Johnny cackling out a laugh. And too, that smell sitting in the newfound companion of Syzoth. But rather, more so— the scent of despair. Enough to give you pause; to bite back Bi-Han’s insults and instead lean towards Kuai Liang’s guidance. “…He will get what he is due.” A momentary sentiment, but you can see his eyes flicker. Heard, even in the abyss of his mourning. “I am sorry, for your grave loss.” For a moment, he reminds you of Tomas. A sort of kindness in a place where it should have no place coexisting. “Thank you.” “Thank me once we get what you are owed.”

- From that time forth, an agreement formed between you both. To seize the moment, to make Shang Tsung fear the hour for which his own actions would smite him, and you would be there— to assist in that vengeance. A blood pact, almost; shaken hands on even. A source of comedy for Johnny, who found nothing but delight of the thought of the ‘big bad serious ninja’ actually shaking someone’s hand. Syzoth simply shared in your confusion. A mutual link of attitude towards the odd Earthrealmer. If a bit more lenient of his callousness than yourself.

- In Syzoth, you suppose what you find is a… reasoning for balance. You’d cared for your family, always, yes— but you never considered what truly was at stake had someone taken them away. If, like your father, all those you loved were slaughtered. Would you still find the determination to keep going once they were gone? Would you still fair with that kindness he holds when the two of you speak during the night? Still passionate about living beyond vengeance against Shang Tsung— enough to laugh with the Earthrealmers where you failed to join. Too set in Lin Kuei ways; the silence of it, the tight grip of it that these days Bi-Han holds over it as grandmaster. You’d never considered it before. That it was possible you could be swayed. That it would be a Zaterran who would make you question the way of the Lin Kuei as it was.

[lady-of-endless]

Boku no hero academia, My hero academia matchup exchange for lovely @frostfall-matches / @rav--en

Author's Note: Thank you so much for this exchange, I loved everything about it. I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I enjoyed reading your part. Please excuse any possible grammar mistakes or odd phrases, English is not my first language.

(Lovely gif is not mine, please show appreciation to the OP)

I ship you with...

Dabi / Touya Todoroki

(Honestly, he was the first choice and as I read your description again and again, it only got better.)

- He might not like you from the start if you join LOV but that's mainly because he's not that excited for new members. So you two might have a slightly rough start. If you're a vigilante or a hero, (but personally, I see you more of a vigilante), it might be simpler for him because you should "keep your friends close and enemies closer." It gives him an idea, a suggestion of how he should approach you. However it may be, he starts unraveling your depth and is more and more intrigued with everything he discovers about you.

- Dabi doesn't realize his feelings for you as they come. The only things he knows are that you've somehow got under his skin and that he feels at ease in your presence. You don't judge him, you don't expect things from him, it's nice. He is not bothered by his feelings, he knows that once he catches feelings, he can't stop them. He wants you but doesn't seem to understand in what way exactly. It's a small, pleasant mystery; you're a mystery.

- No one can hold you or Dabi back from anything you want to do, as risky as it is, and it gets even clearer when you two are together. Everybody knows that you'll do things your way. He shares your perspective when it comes to authority and being restrained.

- Dabi not only approves but loves that you're self-assured and independent. When that slight pridefulness or arrogance arises from time to time, he doesn't consider it as a flaw at all. You should be confident and proud; you deserve it. However, that won't stop him from teasing you about it just to mess with you and hear your comebacks.

- He laughed when you told him you think you attract bad luck; saying that you meeting him is the best example of that. Bantering and sarcastic comments are your bonding time and way of showing affection to one another. Besides that, he enjoys your touch but is hooked by the feeling of his scarred fingertips on your soft skin and piercings.

- Notices how clumsy you are sometimes and it makes him tame his Quirk a bit when you're around. He's not as reckless when he plays with his flames if he feels you close. Also, he knows how you don't like it when others step in to help but Dabi will subtly pull you back by your collar if you get ready to jump into reckless stuff. By the way, he doesn't say it but he'd let the world burn for you.

- Likes that you have brains and how you question everything to have an opinion. However, knowing his past, Dabi might feel exposed when you ask him something that sounds deeper that the usual. He doesn't want his answers to be material for psychological analysis, but in time, he starts opening up to you depending on how far his broken trust lets him.

- Your style is something he admires more than he expected since he doesn't really care for appearance. But, to be honest, your aesthetic will go perfectly with his. Probably will start calling you some sappy nicknames like angel, dollface became of your facial traits and light hair only to tease you. But there's also a grain of truth behind those words...

Also, you'd be the only person who he lets help dye his hair.

- He'll encourage you to get that tattoo you want. He won't come with you to get it and hold hands because he knows you don't need that, but make sure that he'll search and find the most competent tattoo artist in town (and probably threaten them to be extra careful, behind your back, of course).

The theme song for his feelings: Lurk - The neighbourhood

Who else has their eyes on you: Hawks - A bit of a love triangle but the difference is that Hawks will force himself to be rational about his feelings for you even if you're quite the temptation.

[emphasisonthehomo]

Hi! I would like the director's cut of the tommy & allen conversation, i loved all the famous couples references (ik they had been divorced for a long time but it would have been hilarious to mention brangelina too, given their age). also your favourite part to write! Really, just talk about whatever and i am an happy person. Thank you!

I am doing the director's commentary differently than I used to, so it's just the commentary without the fic included.

The fic in question.

Anyways YES. Allen!

I wanted to give Tommy a friend, because there's gotta be someone to give Tommy shit at air support. Also from a narrative perspective, I wanted Tommy to be In The Process of being more open and out. He's out as gay now, but he is closeted as trans. And as a result there needs to be someone he's close to that knows about him being transgender, the fact that said person is also someone he works with makes it even better.

Allen knows Tommy well enough to pick up when he's sulking and being a sad sack about the date not going well. He also knows Tommy well enough to be Aware that Tommy is looking for something serious, hence the tease about Tommy's search for a whirlwind romance, etc etc. Allen is 100% one of the guys that Tommy goes to Karaoke trivia night with. I think Tommy has quite a few friends, but not very many that he's super close and open with. Allen is one of those friends for him. Frankly, Allen is Tommy's emergency contact.

In my head Allen is played by John Boyega with a mustache and the most obnoxious Southern California accent you've ever heard. He goes rollerblading on his days off with his beautiful wife.

Anyways, I was trying to think of some well known couples that are relatively mainstream. But I'm also not dialed into the cultural zeitgeist, so I wound up going with some that aren't the It Couples of 2024. Whatever. I figure they're well known enough that the reader isn't going to have to google who is who.

~

As for the scene I enjoyed writing the most, I do think it might be the scene where Tommy comes out and the lead up to it. Because it's so fucking ridiculous. It's extremely awkward, while also being kinda horny, because the entire time Buck does have Tommy pushed up against the inside of the front door.

Re: the date itself, I don't think Buck was necessarily expecting to get an invite to Tommy's place after. Howmever, I do think that Buck was over compensating a little bit during the date. He was trying to make sure that Tommy knew for sure that Buck was 'over' whatever hesitations he had for their first date. Buck speed ran his bisexual freak out. He's ready. So he was a little more forward than he would have been otherwise. He was certainly more forward with Tommy than he would have been with a woman.

But it all works out! Buck gets asked if he wants to go to Tommy's place! And the answer is yes, obviously. Evan's been thinking A Lot about sex with men, and A Lot about what Tommy might look like naked. Except Tommy wants to talk first. So Buck gets that whiplash of OH SHIT DID I MISREAD THIS SITUATION? oh oh good I didn't oH WAIT. WHAT?

Also re: Evan asking if Tommy's dick works like a "regular" dick. First of all that's the kind of question he'd ask. Also also once Buck realized that what he was feeling for Tommy was attraction, he of course did a deep internet porn dive. Which included watching a bunch of videos of dude's jorking it. And while he was browsing, one came up that was a post op trans dude having a fun time with a pump, which is why Buck brought it up. It's a recent thing he's seen, and he vaguely knows about it.

There may or may not be a Buck POV in the works. Shhhhhhhh.

[finsterhund]

ALSO not naming names (of this person)

This can be a very sensitive topic though, because not all stuffed animals even handmade ones, are specifically art dolls, not everyone keeps their stuffed animals on display. Some people most notably children, are going to be loving and appreciating toys in ways that may seem rough to some people and the idea that "you shouldn't tell artists you're giving their stuffed animals to pets" because "animals can potentially destroy them from loving them too hard" can just as easily make people feel extremely hurt about the general wear and tear they themselves might give the toy themselves.

Because ultimately nothing lasts forever and to be loved is to be changed. That and humans are animals too and that accidents can and will happen.

This is coming from me, an autistic boy who did in fact chew on his most beloved stuffed animals, because it helped me self soothe as a neglected neurodivergent child, but nowadays I feel legitimate grief and guilt for having done so because it's been equated to violence (and abuse).

A relatively modern mentality to get big in toy collecting is keeping one's collection as perfect and pristine as possible which unfortunately does make for an air of guilt and shame around those who don't just have theirs for display but give them physical attention too. I'm not saying that we should be giving away handmade pieces willynilly and not caring if they're handled with care and respect, but wear and damage are things to be expected from a toy that's going to see some action. Essentially an unintended message of "don't give these toys to animals, they'll get destroyed" is shame towards anyone, particularly those on the younger side, if they love on their stuffy too much. Which may discourage someone from getting a stuffed animal from an artist and instead pick out something mass produced because they don't think they deserve the former. Because they're just going to "destroy it" anyway.

Not at all saying this was OP's intent, but whenever I see people bringing up how soft sculpture is a collectors item or an art piece so that they mustn't be x y or z it does make me feel unwelcome in these spaces as someone who needs to hold and feel and pet and bring his friends out and about. I'm also not saying that collecting toys and never playing with them is wrong either. People are different. Animals are different. Sometimes we aren't consciously aware of how someone else's notions are different than our own.

My favourite special interest comfort object stuffed animals today are both beautiful handmade artist designed soft sculptures and I am legitimately petrified of destroying them even though the artist herself openly wanted her creations to be loved and get use out of them so it's. Idk. A difficult situation.

Additionally, and back on the subject of how somebody else's notions can be different from our own, the "a toy for a pet is intended to be destroyed. This isn't a compliment" is an assumption rather than fact. A toy for chewing or tugging is meant to be destroyed, yes, but especially in mammals, a toy intended for cuddle and downtime emotional regulation is extremely beneficial even if you have to train the individual to fully understand the concept at first. Which if anything makes this a misunderstanding. For someone who's used to their dog bringing his lovey to bed every night may not realize that a stuffed animal artist who lives with Buster Destroyer of Socks wouldn't have positive connotations being told their toy is in proximity of a pet. Without the added context. And vice versa.

You seem to go into this automatically assuming a pet is going to destroy a toy, which from my experience is a relatively alien concept, I've only recently had dogs who are destructive chewers and them destroying their toys is a NOVELTY TO ME that hasn't gotten old yet. My entire life for the most part has been dogs that are about as rough with their toys as the average seven year old. So it's reasonable to assume good intentions and that these pet owners aren't adding your own personal addendums of "so that they can chew on it and pull it apart" to their statements by default, and that this isn't something that crosses their minds even potentially. Despite it being the case for you.

I think the go to for this topic to avoid hurt feelings is for artists to set age ranges and care guides for their designs and for people to specify that the toy is being well looked after by their current owner. That way it can get rid of assumptions on both ends. The page on my stuffed sculptures artist's website explaining how to clean and repair many of her designs legitimately helps me feel better about potentially needing to someday. She understood that life can be rough and for many a stuffed animal is the protector and comfort during these dark times. Protectors and comforters don't always get away without scars.

I guess I feel the need to chime in on this (and sorry for the wall of text) because this mentality does indirectly dehumanize people who may be rougher (than neurotypicals) on things they care about. I know this is also a larger issue in toy collecting as a whole with a lot of "normies" treating individuals who were loved too hard as like "Body Horror" or something. I remember reading something, possibly owner of Bohug specifically, that they were hurt by mean comments about the appearance of the original Bohug(?) (if this wasn't Bohug I apologize my memory is shit) but as someone with a toy in a similar appearance as the original Bohug I've often been made to feel bad and somehow morally judged for him showing his age quite as much as he does.

It's not nice having another child think the closest thing you have to a parent looks "creepy" because they ended up bearing the brunt of your neglect-induced behavioral issues.

I'd also like to point out that the notion that pets destroying their toys is "the default" is also disingenuous. Pets likely don't intentionally ruin things for the thrill of it and going into this with the assumption that it's deliberate and inevitable may contribute to assigning too much blame on a naughty pet for getting into something they shouldn't.

I'd also like to point out this quote from Maurice Sendak:

“Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters — sometimes very hastily — but this one I lingered over. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, “Dear Jim: I loved your card.” Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, “Jim loved your card so much he ate it.” That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.”

and yeah, it is important to note that there are not just animals of different species, but fellow humans, who may have love languages we might not understand.

And as someone just starting to dabble in soft sculpture himself, I think personally that I'd rather have a dozen of my pieces be the tatty dragged around comfort object brought for reassurance every chemo appointment and torn up by tooth and washing machine alike than dozens sitting on shelves either because of a scalper or an inaccessible price tag.

Anyways this post is in memory of the original Mister Pengin. The first year of grief I regretted him being cremated with Cazza, and not keeping him. But you know what? She needed him, she loved him, and I don't regret it anymore.

(And for the record, other than some slobber... not a hair on his head was ever harmed)

[derangedthots]

I'm really curious about your writing process and everything ctf, got a million questions but most of them you probably can't answer because spoilers 😅.

If that's OK, I wanted to ask some more general, behind-the-scenes things? (if not just ignore them)

Like, who out of the truly secondary (as in, they don't appear that much/aren't that central to the plot) characters you like/enjoy writing the most/least and why?, what scenes came easily vs which ones were a pain to get just right? , is there anything/anyone that's been flying under readers' radars but will be "a surprise tool for later"? , when it comes to reader reaction, is there anything in particular you didn't expect or that you thought may happen but didn't?

And finally, when writing about the Tullys (Kermit, Elmo, Oscar, Grover...), have you ever been overcome by the mental image and ensuing hilarity of everyone else as human and them as Muppets? (I had the realization midscene and got the giggles BAD 🤔😲😳🤭😂)

hi darling🥰💕

i'm always getting such fantastic questions from you guys and don't worry, i can actually answer all of these ones haha

out of the truly secondary characters, it's hard to choose a fav when it comes to writing them. it's good that you narrowed down which ones you meant by secondary bc i love almost all of my ocs but it just so happens a lot of them also reoccur and play important parts LOL. if i had to choose someone tho...maybe matilda? she just gives such matronly but no-nonsense vibes and i have nothing but respect for that personality type. not to mention, i feel like with any building/home/estate, the kitchens are always one of the places where everybody knows something. it's where the food gets made which already gives very "this is the heart of the place" vibes but also lots of ppl pass through there, which means there is always tea (both literally and metaphorically). matilda's fun to write bc she's aptly positioned to receive a lot of information, while also being highly responsible and respected for her job (srsly never EVER mess with the cooking staff anywhere), and idk i just like that abt her lol. i realize i haven't written much of her yet but hopefully that'll change soon. also who knows, my answer for fav secondary character to write might very well change as we go along (i did say this was a difficult choice haha)😅🤷🏻‍♀️

as for least favorite? bors. it's bors. no real spoilers but yeah, you'll find out why

what scenes came easily? is it bad if i say none😭 i think almost every scene i've written has been jam-packed with detail/characterization which means very little relaxation while writing for me lol. oh actually, on second thought, i think any scene with vermax? just bc he never actually says anything and his interactions with jace are all pretty straightforward. LMAO that's not a v interesting answer but it's the best one i have for you rn😂😂

as for what scenes were the hardest/took the most pains to get just right, i'd have to say the really emotional ones just bc whew - jace's emotions are really quite heavy and i want to convey how he processes (or doesn't process) them as authentically as possible. his scene with daemon in the dragonpit took me forever and i was constantly switching back and forth btwn writing that scene and other ones bc i needed the brain break

weirdly enough, i'd say any scenes between jacemond themselves are both easier and more difficult? they're in a weird liminal space. on one hand, they flow quickly bc i love writing them, they ARE our romantic leads after all lol, the origin and main impetus for why i'm writing the story (besides fixing what hotd broke), but also their scenes together are always charged so i have to do a lot of thinking while i'm working on them

my only advice for now regarding something that's been flying under the readers' radars but will become a special little mousekatool (god how american of me) for later in the story is:

just like jace, you should keep your eyes open and pay attention to the shadows👥

if we're going off what i've read in the comments/seen in my asks, i will admit i was surprised no one mentioned jace's relationship to rhaenys in terms of how he learned to braid from her. then again, i'm just very soft abt the idea of baby jace getting his little fingies caught in her hair and then jace practicing on his siblings+parents after they moved to dragonstone. but honestly i'm just endlessly thankful for all the responses and continued interest regardless🥹💕💕

the tullys tho. omg the tullys. i'm so glad you brought this up bc i absolutely had to hold back my laughter while writing their scenes i'm sorry but george is a comedian for naming them after muppets😭😭 i know he ran out of ideas for names but sir? the muppets? really? i'm over here trying to picture two charming young men with red hair for kermit and oscar and instead have to physically fight back images of a stuffed green frog puppet and a green whatever-oscar-is in a trashcan💀 little benjicott blackwood sparring with two muppets i'm wheezing babes😂😭

[m1d-45]

i’ve let deity of styling creator exist too long without even the slightest bit of angst…. i’m going to fix that real quick and then my brain will finally calm down about this batshit wild dress-up game i prommy 

(also my excuse for no designer’s reflections was being able to summon people out of nowhere that can also do wild insane shit is op but then i remembered. this is the “you are op” genre. so we’re keeping the reflections i changed my mind. teyvat in this scenario is made up of converted styling power so they’re still summonable or whatever. that might be a thing for later, maybe not. who knows.)

ignoring that tho. imposter au, except now you have your two companions by your side. they may not be the targets of the hunt, but as accessories to the imposter, they’re also technically criminals. they're in danger, just by being around you.

(“please,” you beg them, “i don’t want either of you getting hurt. they won’t go after you if you leave - i can’t lose you - please please save yourselves.”)

(“no,” nikki responds, holding your hands with a gentle smile, “i’m sure things will turn out fine in the end. i’ll protect you.”)

(“me too! i’ll protect you too!” momo cries, jumping into your lap.)

it’s to be expected, then, that at some point, they’d be used against you. you’re running, momo in your arms, when you realize that, oh shit, nikki’s not with you. did she get separated? is she lost? where is she where is your friend—

there’s a loud voice, a threat disguised as a challenge: turn yourself over if you want your accomplice back. you immediately turn and run, momo yelping but hanging on tighter as you run back to the very army you were trying to escape. it’s a horrific fucking sight that you return to, nikki held hostage by a soldier.

(even with the tears just barely held back, she does her best to keep a steely glare. your dear, brave nikki.)

“you or her.” the answer is immediate in your mind - you would always choose her life over yours, but nikki keeps yelling at you to run, she’ll be fine, go! but you can’t leave her, not when she refused to leave you, not when you both still have to return to miraland. everybody’s yelling and threatening and pleading and it’s too much, you just need everything to stop-!

the world listens, and the world freezes. your styling power grabs at the fabric of the world and tugs, tugs until it rips into the pattern of your choosing. you don’t know how or why it happened, but you don’t care enough to wonder about it right now, moving forward to grab nikki and get the fuck out of there.

by the time the world starts moving forward again, you’re all running, nikki’s hand firmly in your own and momo tucked under your other arm.

(later that night, you all try to ignore how close you were to disaster. momo complains about his hunger, nikki laughs and promises to get him bbq the second you return to miraland, and you… think. you already knew that there was some kind of styling power in this strange world, but nikki, who was already such a powerful stylist, could barely manipulate it the same way she could in miraland, taking great effort to even summon a designer’s reflection to bring supplies or throw off pursuers. yet you were able to weave it to your will with ease - maybe it has something to do with your godhood? but this isn’t miraland, the deity of styling shouldn’t have any sway here…)

ik i said this would be the last one but it turned out longer than i thought and i STILL have another thought so i’ll be back with that and then i’ll be free from my shining nikki chains…. Probably.

(also. blood curse anon is probably right about the body count considering that we also have everybody who died in delmond, everybody who would theoretically die in every calamity, the war… the OTHER war… this isn't even bringing love nikki into mind so that probably ups the body count a bit. also this is my official vouch to play shining nikki you have plot AND you get to dress up in pretty clothes. it has everything) - teddy anon

oooo that’s good that’s interesting….. reader accidentally using powers they didn’t know existed….

um what. what do you mean curse anon is right about the body count. what. what wars. what’s. is shining nikki ok. how is she still shining when the air carries the death of thousands. how do people theoretically die. i’m both not asking you to flood my inbox w lore but am also very intruiged.

i know this isn’t really addressing the main body of your ask but i. don’t know what to say. it was good. i would say more if i could, swear—

[destinygoldenstar]

Not So Berry Mint Gen: But We Have A Drunk Conceiving (Red Gen might be twins??)

So I made a story idea for the Red Gen kid, with Peppers context. Pepper isn’t the type to willingly want kids, I feel. She’s more devoted to her science and pranks. So how can we, in story context, get her to have the kid?

Answer: On accident.

This was directly after our clog drain heist with our neighbors. I planned to have Pepper be so powerful in position. Better at her career, better at her skills, able to pull off successful pranks like this. She’s on top of the world. Nothing can stop her now!

And then she gets conceived while drunk.

The plan worked hook line and sinker.

It was night on the town. Drinks were free.

We were having a successful day at work. Going well. Upgrading the most OP Sims item I’ve ever owned.

A co-worker died. So that was interesting to see.

(I couldn’t plead cause Pepper was scared of death)

We didn’t know her well, so I was more surprised that she was a Spellcaster than her dying. That’s one way to learn that.

Then I went on a date with Salim. Going to a bar.

A celebrity slapped us across the face. Then I realized the bar I chose was for celebrities only.

Whoops.

So we went to the pets bar instead. I like that one.

We got to tell Salim the story about how our co-worker died and she needed a break.

We bought the Cupid juice for free and got drunk as I’ll get out

Much to the annoyance of the people around them, I just had them act like drunk idiots.

That’s the point of the story of this.

Then I ‘accidentally’ clicked on the try for baby option when they got home

With the Ruby crystal on the night stand cause Pepper LOVES her crystals. Even after I didn’t need them for the elements collection (I’m at 11/15) I still had her get them because they were cool.

They had a good drunk time.

And Bubbles too.

I didn’t have her take a test. Cause the point is that it’s ‘accidental’.

When Pepper woke up, she said that Salim had bad technique. Which I thought was funny.

And also…

I didn’t check the lot…

OH NO.

I might have messed up. Red Gen might be twins. Which… OH NO.

For the day while I was waiting for her to find out, I tried to turn my spare crystals into something more valuable. I set the house on fire.

Couldn’t extinguish it for some reason.

BOTH firefighters caught on fire like IDIOTS

I saved them cause I didn’t want another dead person in my apartment. (Pepper killed someone earlier in the game)

Got juked by insurance ($110 for a big fire)

Gave Bubbles a hug

Broke into someone’s house

Froze everyone

Clogged their drains

Got caught cause I took too long

And then in the middle of our sleep, Pepper found out she was indeed pregnant with both Salims kid, and the potential red gen heir.

Her reaction was… not what I expected of her.

I expected her to dread it. Like, “Oh no I had drunk woohoo and now I’m pregnant with my boyfriends kid”

Instead she cheered about it and was really happy.

My best guess? She’s just having no idea what she’s getting into.

“HELL YEAH! I have a new sidekick to my crimes! I get to teach a baby how to backflip and commit crimes! YAY!”

Well Pepper. I’m glad you’re happy. But taking care of a kid is not what you think.

AND IF ITS TWINS?!?! Yeah, we’re in trouble. I may have messed up.

This is how you mess up, even in the logic that you’re trying to mess up.

[itfitsitshipsart]

1 and 5 for f/os of your choice.

Though, I'd love to hear some "Tales Of" Hot Takes so if you have a general one not related to your F/Os please shout it. XD

Alright! Time to go on a limb here then!

1) what’s a Hot Take you have about your f/o?

Alright. The hottest take I've got for Tale of Vesperia is... that LeBlanc and Co. are hands down the BEST characters! And it is a SHAME that I never see anything about them! Like, okay. Story time.

Tales of Vesperia was me and my brother's first Tales game. All we knew was it was a jRPG that had co-op. So we started up the game without any expectations. And not long into it, before our first battle, we saw THIS.

such a face, after some pretty average (no offense, Yuri) looking anime/jRPG characters, my brother and I just had to pause the game and laugh. We were delighted by this duo's appearance. The tall and short one, a classic pair for media.

we just KNEW the game was gonna be good once we met them! They're both (and LeBlanc when we meet him) hilarious, and the fact that they go above and beyond they're duties, and end up being true knights and very good people. Hands down the best characters. THEY DESERVE MORE RECOGNITION AS BEST CHARACTERS

(Also, does anyone else question how the heck they got Raven and themselves to the Heracles before the group who had a fricken DRAGON to fly on! Especially considering when the main cast left, they had to dig the man out of the ruins first. Like, All I imagine is they're experts at rowing in a little rowboat. That's a second hot take I've got. They've got a rowboat and are faster than a speedboat.)

Another hot take I suppose is... that I don't think Tales of Symphonia is that great. It's fine, I suppose, and matches other tales games in what it offers. But for some reason I just didn't care for its story and the character interactions. They didn't feel as together and bouncing off one another as other groups in other games do. It's on the bottom of my Tales of list, and considering I've played 6 of them (Vesperia, Berseria, Zesteria, Symphonia, and Xillia 1 and 2), and watched 2 of the anime (Zesteria the X and Abyss), I find it odd that one of the 'best' titles people say is one I liked far less than others. The characters just didn't make me feel like the others do.

5) what’s the dumbest thing you’ve heard about your f/o, either on the internet or irl? 

So, I kinda answered this one broadly here, so... yeah. I'm gonna be crazy and grab another question to answer! Mwahaha!

10) how did you feel when you realized “oh of course i had to like That Character”?

So. One of my favorite stories to share about me irl falling for Raven, and I'm sure I've told it many a time before. BUT I'm still baffled by how I fell in love with him!

Cause I didn't even notice him in the opening animation. He was just another character. I wasn't looking for live, but anticipated I may find a favorite for the length of the game. And I decided "that guy looks cool and kinda pretty. I bet I'll like him!" When I saw who I'd learn much later was Yeager. Oh the irony.

So we started the game, and I thought nothing of the few times Raven popped up and did the group dirty. And when he joined the party for the first time, I saw he had a bow and figured I would try him out. Before that, I was just kinda playing as Yuri, and it was okay.

I didn't realize I was falling in love right away. He was funny, but very much not my type. And as I slowly grew more fond of him and got some less than pure thoughts, I was actually put off by it all. I was falling it love the longer we played. I loved playing as him, and was hanging on every word he spoke, and I wondered what secrets he was hiding.

Then he left, and Estelle disappeared with him. I was worried and had a bad feeling at him possibly betraying the group. And him being revealed as Captain Schwann gave me... *ahem* mixed feelings. Suddenly, that serious gaze and beautiful hair that actually was my usual type was there, and was quite attractive. But it was also concerning because of how different he was to the Raven I had finally admitted to myself I maybe fell in love with.

And then.

I thought he died.

I fully accepted that this game could be cruel enough to kill one of our main characters, and it HURT. So to my joyful surprise that he was alive, any hint of doubt about loving him was gone at that moment.

So that's the long tale of me falling for the old man. It was unexpected, but he's now the most important man in my life, my beloved.

[harbingerofwhump]

(Hi OP, I hope it's ok that I've added on. Feel free to let me know if it's not though, I'm happy to delete and reblog without the addition if you'd like)

- Some people will be aware and accommodate in quote-unquote "small" ways (offering a chair or making sure there's something available to sit on when possible, matching your pace while walking, waking on the side you aren't holding your cane, that sort of thing) without needing to be asked/told. Many, if not most, won't. Many won't even if you've communicated your needs previously. Some still won't even if you have, in that moment, stated your needs

- Sometimes friends/colleagues/family/etc will make plans you can't participate in without thinking or realizing you might not be able to participate. You are allowed to speak up when this happens. It can be hard to do it, and it's ok if it's too hard or too much or not worth it. But you are allowed

- Some people will expect you to push yourself to participate in plans. You don't have to do that. Some people will take it personally, but that's their problem, not yours. You don't need to feel guilty or let people shame you for looking out for your well-being

- You will be asked "what happened to you?", "why do you use that?", and other variations of The Question. You do not owe anyone that information. You do not have to explain. You do not have to justify yourself.

- Sometimes no answer you could ever give will be "good enough" for the person asking. Some people will also pry for more and more details and explanations. This may or may not be done with the intent of catching you contradicting yourself so they can prove you're "faking it". (You are not faking it. Your pain and/or illness is real. Your disability is real)

- Pebbles and things get wedged in those 'gutters' (is there a specific word for it?) on the bottom of the cane tip

- People might get confused about your age, or assume you're older than you are, because they associate cane use with old age

- Wind can be a bitch. It can blow your cane in directions you don't want it to go. If you have to walk in wind, be prepared to have to fight with it, and keep a tight grip when the cane is off the ground. (I nearly lost my hold on mine the first time I got caught in a storm.) If there's a wrist strap and you don't typically use it, this might be a good time to think about trying it

- It's a learning process. It might take some time to feel coordinated with your cane, find your rhythm, etc.

- Related: you might catch it on the ground as you swing it forward, in the same way you might catch the toe of your shoe on the ground

- Sometimes you will get forced off the path as you're walking. It doesn't matter if you're next to a ditch or a bunch of shrubs or anything. It doesn't matter if you're hugging the side as much as possible. Sometimes people (especially if there's a group) just will not give you enough room to walk without veering off path. This happens whether you're using a mobility aid or not. It seems to happen *more* when you have one

- On that note, many people don't actually realize using a cane can mean you need more space to maneuver than someone who doesn't have, or isn't using, a mobility aid

- Canes are awesome and badass and so are you

- There will be people who think you should be miserable all the time. There will be people who think you should be positive and happy and grateful all the time. These people can fuck off. Many won't. You aren't obligated to put up with this and you aren't obligated to listen to them. You feel however you feel --- nobody gets to dictate that for you

- People might try to use you as 'inspiration porn', a way to put minimize others' or their own struggles, etc

- It's alright to be positive and confident and happy. It's also alright to be self-conscious and angry and sad. It's alright to grieve and mourn. It's alright for your feelings to be complicated or to change moment by moment, day by day, etc

- You do not need to feel embarrassed or ashamed. (It's alright if you do anyway. You are allowed to feel the way you feel)

- Eventually, your palm and fingers will itch where the handle touches them. They will itch. They will itch. If you use it for long enough, they will itch. But if you use it often enough, your skin will also start ti toughen up (literally, not metaphorically. Or, not *just* metaphorically), and that will become les of a problem

- You can make it yours!

- Seriously. Have fun with it, if you'd like. Get the color you love, get the fun pattern, put stickers on it, whatever you'd like. And if "whatever you'd like" is undecorated, no pattern, solid 'neutral' color, that's perfectly fine, too

- If it helps you always, it helps you. If it helps you sometimes, it helps you. There is no quota you have to meet. If it helps you, it helps you

personal observations made by a new cane user:

you do not need to be in constant pain to own a cane.

folding canes have a clasp or band to keep them folded. losing the band is a pain in the ass.

you will get dirty looks

it does not matter what age you are. you will get dirty looks.

you have to hold it in the opposite hand as the disabled leg. this is fortunate, as I am right handed, so i hold it in my left hand to support my right leg.

people will try to steal your cane from you.

when standing still, I hold it in my right hand unless i need to do something right handedly. this does not work as well as i thought it would.

being visibly physically disabled is difficult. having a mobility aid will help with pain and movement, but some people don't get them because visible disability is treated with disgust.

if someone meets you for the first time, and you don't have your cane, then they will like you more, but they will not believe you are actually disabled.

if someone meets you for the first time, and you have your cane, they will not treat you the same.

the majority of other cane and mobility aid users I have met are homeless. I live close to a big city.

People do not want to see you being disabled.

you will not hear of the benefits of using a cane from anyone who does not use a cane.

no one will prepare you for the world of being visibly physically disabled. however bad you think we have it is usually not from the disability at all. I can deal with pain and I can deal with an indisposed left hand.

the hardest part of being disabled is the fact that no one will care until you make them care.

the disabled seats on trains are a suggestion

the disabled seats on buses are a suggestion.

you will have a different experience with using a cane than I have had.

your hand will become tired. you are using it as a leg.

your cane is legally a part of your body. this will not stop some people.

you are not your disability. but it will affect you.

i love you

theres always an invisible someone who has it worse. that person will not be affected or offended by your use of a cane. take the damn ibuprofen. put the folded cane in your bag. ask your friends for help. gd knows they need help sometimes too.

you will have to learn that things will be impossible to you. you may not run as fast anymore. you may not become a skater, like you always wanted to be. you may be left behind when everyone else runs ahead.

you deserve better.

your cane handle gets dirty. wash it.

some days pain is worse. some days you will feel it the moment you wake up.

no one deserves pain. the human condition is not to suffer. we deserve better. we deserve to be loved and not tolerated. we deserve to be seen better than from the corners of eyes. we deserve to be heard better than an afterthought at a meeting.

be quick to care for yourself. I love you.