#i love candy so much and they NEED to be appreciated more by the fandom

[ozclxwn]

It's SO tragic how overlooked candy diver cookie is in the crk fandom. everyone plays them off as some silly little innocent side character as if they weren't a major part of the duskgloom sea update with their own complex lore and character. LIKE. GUYS ??? they DIED at sea and spent what's theorized to be hundreds of years alone down there. they have so much going for them and both the fandom AND ACTUAL GAME seems to have completely forgotten about them. PLEASEEEE I need to know what happened to their friend 🙏 I wanna know more about their past and how they've adjusted to life on the salty shark. I KNOW it couldn't have been easy considering how long they were lost at sea.

[bluarlequinno]

I'm going mad actually

Born from twitter discourse, here’s my analysis on the fandom’s interpretation of Heathmael, one because it's all over my feed which ... Ugh, but secondly, the fact that none of the sides state all things clearly and it just ends up being a bunch of misconception regarding the ship.

Let it be said that, in all honesty, I find this drama really annoying because I genuinely do dislike the ship overall in retrospect, buuuut to contextualize, this was all born from the post "ship so ass you have to mischaracterize the characters for it to work" and somebody mentioned Heathmael. And obviously a lot of people found that baffling, but is it true?

I feel it's a big... depends, because when they are shipped the overwhelming majority of people who ship them mischaracterize them to the point where it's very obvious that they don't ship them because they find their narrative foil appealing or that they comprehend why their relationship (narratively speaking) works or why are they written the way they are. Or if they value Ishmael as a character more than they value eye candy and a male character they can insert onto.

Rather you will normally find the typical characterization of “haters to lovers” that pushes this tsundere agenda in Ishmael which forcefully feminizes her and characterizes Heathcliff as some type of bad boy which lmao wtf.

This ship is extremely debated, compared to other straight ships in the fandom, and even though it's objectively a decent straight ship narratively speaking, most of the people who ship it are well... I hope it comes through which specific people I'm talking about.

People who frame it as Ishmael finally puts down that "bitch" attitude to warm up to Heathcliff which is just... Not only extremely stupid, but is clearly ooc for both Ishmael and Heathcliff, and Heathcliff can finally find an alternative of Catherine framing Ishmael as something Heathcliff gets.

They project their own desires on Heathcliff and treat Ishmael like the woman in the straight relationship that just ends up with this ass dynamic that enforces all that is wrong with traditional straight relationships which is a big disservice to what is actually going on with their relationship in canon.

Not only because it misses the point entirely and makes the environment around the ship extremely dislikeable and impossible for people to even like because of it, but also because it hurts to watch these two characters who individually are so much more and so deep and interesting be reduced to this dynamic that butchers them.

But in essence, their dynamic, if interpreted correctly and without any of the brain rot bullshit they are normally shipped on behalf of, is actually really really compelling, does it mean it's shippy? I feel that it just really... depends. I feel that I could only ship it if it's this very specific version I've analyzed in my head and that is not a traditional view on shipping, and is in a very thin line between platonic and leaning on angsty that overall is more a character analysis than actual shipping, but all in all not necessarily with them falling in love.

Which makes it really hard for me to enjoy it and I would need for them to be tackled with extreme sensibility and consideration of both of them to be able to work, but all in all I feel is both valid why people dislike it and even ones who say it is kinda bad, after all it is mostly filled with fics and fanart that clearly put in evidence just what kind of people who engage in their ship actually are which well makes some people who appreciate their characters not like it. If you ship them and aren't like this well (if the shoe doesn't fit… don't put that shoe on then).

But, I suppose it's also valid to ship them. I mean as much as I hate to admit it, it's not like there isn't anything between them in the game.

But I also feel however that even if you dislike it, it isn't really a bad ship, nor is it inconceivable, after all they are narrative foils and they end up a little better after because of each other.

However I wanna discuss that, it is important to note that a lot of the reasons I dislike the ship, is because of this inexistent triangle they do between Heathcliff, Catherine and Ishmael which is just... So petty and stupid.

To make Ishmael's and Heathcliff's relationship look better they frame Catherine and therefore her own relationship with Heathcliff in such a negative “she was toxic and abusive to Heathcliff” kinda light that just is stupid, because not only does it overly villainize Catherine while sanctifying Heathcliff when is clear both were the problem (in their relationship, not regarding the abuse Heathcliff's went through), but it also disregards Heathcliff's feelings and makes it seem as though Catherine didn't love Heathcliff which is objectively not true, both of them loved each other so much that they had no idea how to resolve it because of their upbringings, not to mention they were both literal teenagers living on a toxic household isolated and with clear ideologies that influenced them, but also Catherine lived with the guilt of Heathcliff's pain, the reason she even does what she does in Heathcliff's canto is because she feels that she cannot do anything else to make up for Heathcliff's suffering than to erase herself. Heathcliff and Catherine's souls are made from the same after all. Heathcliff loved Catherine and still as of now up to date on the story, is still in love with Catherine, his whole arc is that he now has the self confidence, self esteem and maturity to confront his feelings and his needs with Catherine without putting himself down. He is still looking for her to be able to "who guessed it" TALK. He is learning to express and find his own feelings as valid and as worth it as any other person, leaving behind his inferiority complex. Like how he admits out loud that he sees the sinners as family.

Heathcliff is more emotionally mature than people give him credit for, and he never hated Ishmael. Heathcliff hated himself and hated to see someone he saw himself reflected on sink down harder because he expected Ishmael to be better than him, and if Ishmael can't be, then what does that mean for himself?

He helps Ishmael because he is an emotionally empathic person who understands that Ishmael needed someone who would just listen, and it worked. He didn't save Ishmael nor did he become the reason Ishmael outgrew her own trauma.

If there's anything I learned from Revolutionary girl utena is that you cannot save anybody all you can do is lend a hand.

Heathcliff is a man who wears his heart and his intentions on his sleeve, now that his relationship with Ishmael is of a mutual understanding and appreciation he wouldn't be in denial if there were deeper feelings, but there aren't, he helps Ishmael just how he realizes when other of the sinners are having a bad time, or when he accommodates for others because he realizes what they are going through.

Look how in the new Canto Heathcliff is constantly speaking up on behalf of Don Quixote because he understands her and empathizes with her enough to be one to speak up when another sinner says something negative about her.

But back to the point , does this mean that I'm saying it can't mean it could be interpreted as shipping? I feel that is just whatever, obviously it can. I'm no authority, I just feel that it's not intrinsically romantic and is not fair for it to be pushed to be so.

But I feel it was really important for me to clarify because if there's anything that I dislike is putting two female characters against each other for a man especially Ishmael who I mean... Would definitely not fight for a man in the romantic sense. Let alone with another woman 🙄. She fights for things she thinks are worth her time, don't diss my girl like that, don't make this something it's not. Ishmael is not that type of girl.

But I think it is really important to acknowledge this because Heathcliff doesn't nor did he project Catherine on Ishmael, the narrative never parallels them and in Heathcliff's canto Ishmael never is framed to be in any way similar to Catherine, because it isn't there, because Heathcliff doesn't see Catherine in Ishmael because people often don't realize that Heathcliff wasn't like Ishmael, who as smart as she was, was an emotional wreck, Heathcliff was pretty aware of what he wanted to do arriving at Wuthering Heights, so for Heathcliff it's more a thing of, I don't want you if you aren't Catherine why you dare compare to her, nobody could be for me what she was. Heathcliff saw himself in Ishmael, which is very different.

And it is really important to acknowledge that because after his Canto Heathcliff still doesn't show nor say nor do anything to showcase that now his relationship with Ishmael is more meaningful that his with Catherine. Because those two relationships are different.

With this I'm not saying you can't ship them, just that you can't ignore Heathcliff's and Catherine's relationship and how It is actually framed as.

Because it isn't fair for Ishmael to be treated as the second option, it isn't fair that she's framed as what Heathcliff settles for because his relationship with Catherine didn't work and people really do frame it like that, but if you don't frame it like that than you have to acknowledge that Heathcliff wouldn't choose Ishmael over Catherine. At least not now, and Ishmael will not just jump into a relationship regardless, she spent years with Queequeg and it is something that for Ishmael just isn't easy.

But Ishmael isn't Heathcliff's anything, Ishmael canonly doesn't have any feelings for Heathcliff and if you are gonna ship them I think is important to at least acknowledge all of this so you don't end up doing that stupid thing of putting Ishmael as the other option of Heathcliff and therefore treating Ishmael as Heathcliff's instead of an individual character brought closer to another individual character.

I also believe that a reason why, at least for me personally, Heathmael conflicts me so much is because, since Heathcliff and Ishmael are hostile in the begging, and Ishmael is a female character, shipping her with Heathcliff is almost basically an indicator of people treating Ishmael pretty misogynistically and just kinda really UHM.. it's hard for me to explain it on fully, but it's just this vision of that stereotypical men and women bicker so it means they most like each other and that Ishmael should learn to like Heathcliff because she's just so uptight and hysterical which not even Heathcliff feels at all about Ishmael so it annoys me that a lot of male shippers project that on Heathcliff to build this very specific idea of Ishmael that is so far from the truth and pains me to see given how much I love Ishmael. It's pretty ironic given how literally her whole anger in part is that nobody takes her anger seriously and her worries seriously because she's too paranoid and yeah...

Does this make sense? I hope so

Now I do wanna tackle the elephant in the room, because I feel it is also a bias I have and I think talking about it could open to more fans discussing it, but... I feel like the simple fact that it is a straight ship does make people hate it, I wouldn't say I hate Heathmael, but I do admit that the fact it's straight does kinda not make me like it as much as I would if it was sapphic, but in my defense I feel at least personally that it's more to do with my relationship with Ishmael's character than the fact it's straight in general, because as far as straight ships go, Rodion x Gregor is absolutely adorable, Meursault x Donqui can be cute and I do admit that Faust x Yi Sang has its charm, but I feel that Ishmael reads as a lesbian to a lot of the fans and tbh I feel like the lenses and proofs on the game aren't like invisible and that her relationship with Queequeg and what it means for Ishmael is too important as well.

I know bisexuality is also a thing obviously, but I feel with Ishmael specifically there is something about her and being a lesbian that there isn't in any other of the females sinners, I'm being genuine I think Ishmael is probably the only sinner I fully see as a lesbian (well maybe Outis too) and it is something that resonates with my reading of her character too much to fully be able to enjoy Heathmael, at least in the "they actually fall in love kind of way".

Honestly I feel this might sprout some controversy, but I feel like I wanted to say something about them, specifically because Ishmael and Heathcliff individually to me are extremely good characters and the discourse is annoying, but also because I feel things are never fully stated ever and it leaves me feelings unsatisfied. I have been pondering about it for a long while.

Also I feel I should also talk more about Ishmael's side in this story, but ironically speaking Heathmael is harder for me to read because of Heathcliff and his misinterpretation, both of him and his relationship with Catherine overall.

Ishmael also to a certain extent, I feel people don't understand her a lot, or they purposefully ignore canon portrayal because she's a female character and is more exposed to THAT kind of treatment by fandom (at least that very specific side of people). But I think for Ishmael I'd just make a whole separate analysis post.

[accio-victuuri]

addressing what @rainbowsky posted here. first of all, i just wanna say i appreciate you and all the things you do for fandom. most especially, keeping your anon asks open for years. your strength and patience in dealing with all of THAT is admirable but i hope people will understand why it has come to this. RBS is not some AI chat bot, he is a real person. one can only take so much hate or negative things sent their way.

here is some very cute baby dandan / banana to make you smile. ☺️☺️☺️☺️ ( source )

there is a reason why he is mostly on tumblr and has repeatedly criticized twitter and the community there. so i just don’t understand why people continue to bring stuff from there to him except to disrespect his boundaries. if you are someone who thrives in that kind of environment, then good for you but keep it there. also, asks have always been meant for “questions” not “reactions” — that’s what your blogs are for. i’m sure there are some people who love the drama and are gagging for attention via any form of asks in whichever platform. obvs, RBS is not one of those.

and this issue is not entirely about the ask function of tumblr but more of the cpf experience in fandom. i don’t know how many times i have to say this but stop making so/os’ validation on candies as the deciding factor on whether you will enjoy it or not. the freakin “melon accounts” peddling anti rhetoric on twitter are not helping too — stop reading that bullshit.

it’s tough being a CPF by default so don’t make it harder on yourself by seeking things out that deliberately try to hurt you. the best response is to ignore and let them have their online tantrums. there is no piece of news and updates that is exclusive to so/o accounts, you can argue that cpfs are better in updates and even editing content. so i don’t know what will possess a cpf to follow a solo account. i personally don’t see any benefit. if you do, be ready to see things you don’t want to.

let’s just focus on spreading the good. be kind to one another. zz and wyb literally have yxh/anti companies with hundreds of employees going after them to take em down. we don’t need to be helping those losers out by repeating those lies to other people and getting affected by it.

[chirp-a-chirp]

Flickering Light

Fandom: Ikemen Prince • Character Pairing: Leon Dompteur X OC (OC Named Carla) • Other Characters: Gilbert Von Obsidian, Chevalier Michel • Tags: Established Relationship; Angst; Hurt and Comfort; Angst and Feels; Memory Flashbacks (if stories featuring physical fights/abuse trigger you, don’t read); PTSD; references of slavery and refugees; Leon route spoilers • Word Count: ~2950

Synopsis: The Sunshine prince battles darkness in Obsidian with the help of his fiancé Carla. A crumbling tower triggers childhood flashbacks for Leon he’s tried to forget.

Alternate Synopsis: With the amount of trauma associated with Leon’s childhood, coupled with an inability to discuss it out loud due to circumstance and *insert hero archetype tendencies to not easily admit weakness*, I’m convinced Leon would have some significant PTSD. And memories he’s suppressed. This is a story about how he might deal with that with a loved one.

Want to learn more about Carla and Leon? Check out these stores: Seeker and Simmer

Folks Who (Might?) Appreciate This Story: @reborn-elven-spirit @candied-boys @wistfulwanderingone @x-daedalus-x @ikeprinces-stuff @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess @aide-falls @animehusbandharem @the-bird-and-the-flute @sh0jun @5mary5 @queengiuliettafirstlady @sonicsquid3000 @ikemenlibrary @eventinelysplayground @lorei-writes @dear-sciaphilia

…

“A rather bold request. I’d expect nothing less from his lioness.”  

Leon’s arm wrapped protectively around Carla at Gilbert’s needling. She and Leon, along with Yves and King Chevalier, were in an audience room within the Obsidian Castle, serving in Rholodite’s delegation finalizing a cooperative agreement with the nation of soldiers and steel. Carla stared unblinkingly back at the world-wide disaster. “Not really. Rhodolite is about to enter a peace agreement with Obsidian. That agreement is with the country, not just you.”

“But I am Obsidian.” Gilbert tapped his ebony cane on the floor to emphasize his point. “And so are you, little cub. You’re as much Obsidian as the half-mast mongrel there.” Gilbert did not bother to contain his disdain of Yves, whose cheeks flushed irritably. 

“Hey, leave my fiancé’s mother and Yves out of this. Your conversation is with me.”  Leon shot a challenging glance at Gilbert. “And by the way, it’s Carla. My fiancé’s name is Carla. Not little cub.”  

“Ah, so Rhodolite’s lion marks his territory.” The corner of Gilbert’s mouth quirked in amusement. “No need to roar at me.” 

“I can’t really help it. She’s like the sun that I stand beneath.” Leon asserted with pride, the tension in the room lifting temporarily as he looked fondly at Carla. He turned back to Gilbert, his voice warm but with a firm edge. “So, of course I’m gonna have an opinion on how you speak with her.”

“She’d have to stand on a pretty large chair to stand beneath her. Heehee.” Yves bristled at Gilbert’s words. Carla squeezed Leon’s hand reassuringly, refusing to appear ruffled.

“Our agreement allows Rhodolite to visit medical and military facilities. I don’t see how Leon and I touring your southern regions contradicts that agreement.” Carla was taking a risk in asking, but another opportunity to freely explore Obsidian—including areas near the underground network she led for refugees escaping into Rhodolite—would not happen again soon.  

“Access goes through me. Paths to freedom are available because I allow them to be. Including those near the border.” A crimson eye narrowed slightly. “Things can always be worse. Networks…vanish.” Gilbert grinned, as if he hadn’t just hinted at knowing Carla’s secret.   

Who does Rhodolite belong to—the people that live there, those that wish to live there, or both?  That one question from Carla before they had become a couple had expanded Leon’s perspective. And without kingly trappings ensnaring him, Leon felt emboldened to lean into that perspective through unofficial channels. Including the underground network he now helped Carla maintain. The fact that Chevalier, who sat at a nearby table surrounded by paperwork, had not interrupted thus far gave tacit leeway for Leon to continue. “The agreement is between our peoples. As such, Carla and I should get to know your people. Including those outside the Castle. We can’t exactly do that cooped up here.” 

“And what is more important? Me or the people?” 

“The people.” Carla and Leon spoke in unison.   

“A pair as pure as ever. I just might puke.” Gilbert smirked. “A pity you wear black Prince Leon. White suits you and the little cub—ahem, I mean Lady Carla—more. Certainly, more than him.” Gilbert inclined his head towards Chevalier. “I see why you two gravitate towards one another.”

“We are like candles, each lighting the other.” Carla’s voice softened for the first time since talking with Gilbert. Leon’s hand curled towards her waist, pulling her close. “You’re pretty amazing yourself,” Leon whispered.     

“Ridiculous.” A deep sigh penetrated the air. “Can we get on with negotiations?” Chevalier lifted his eyes from the stack of papers.      

“Your beastly king censures you.” Gilbert sneered, tossing a rolled-up piece of parchment in Leon’s direction. “Here’s the map of our southern lands. And passes granting permission to travel there. I’m sure you’re both eager to get going.”

“Just like that?” Leon lifted an eyebrow, catching the parchment. 

“I have more fun things to play with here.” Gilbert gestured to Chevalier and Yves in poorly concealed amusement. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he offered a final comment to Leon. “But remember this: Obsidian is a land known for darkness—even the brightest candles can burn out from what they see.” 

…

A week had passed since Carla and Leon’s meeting with Prince Gilbert. They were well-beyond the neat and orderly confines of the capital. Towns and villages were scattered across the increasingly barren landscape, with poorly maintained roads connecting them. 

The pair traveled by foot on a dusty trail, a smattering of gnarled trees dotting one side of the trail. The path meandered over mostly open land, littered with dead brush and dry grasses matted down from perpetual wind. Carla opened the map as they trekked along, head buried in the folds of paper. With a sudden THUMP, Carla found herself walking straight into the broad back of Leon. 

“Oomph!” Carla rubbed her nose and took a step back. She folded the map, placing it in her travel pack. “You OK?” 

Leon stood silently in the middle of the trail, a solemn gravity emanating from him. His expression was faraway and dark. 

“Is anyone there?”

A tiny hand reached towards the sky. Blistered fingers grasped at the emptiness around him before curling into his dirty palm. His hand fell to his side, brushing against the immoveable boulder he was tasked to transport to the Lord’s tower. The boy’s back flinched in anticipation of the abuse his handler would reap for not moving the rock in time.    

“No,” the boy murmured. “Like that’s gonna happen.” A part of him wanted to scream, but why bother. 

The boy’s world tumbled into darkness. He would always be lost. Trapped. Alone. A piercing voice broke his train of thought, causing him to whip his head around.

“Leon?!”

Warm fingers grasped Leon’s hand, squeezing tightly. The faded blur of that childhood memory scattered as Carla’s fingers twined with his, anchoring him to the present. The heavy, bleaker emotions associated with the memory lingered still—clear, distinct, and real.   

Carla’s eyes followed Leon as he stared intensely at the horizon. In the distance stood a dilapidated tower, crumbling with age and decay. Several sections of the tower were missing, sooty stones tossed about the ground. 

“That tower. I’ve…I’ve been there before.” Leon’s voice was quiet, barely a whisper that faded into the wind.  

Carla’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. They were in a part of Obsidian neither had explored previously in their rescue missions. Most Rhodolite royalty had not been in Obsidian for non-war or espionage related activities for years. There was no way in which Leon could have been near this place before, unless…

Unless as a child. A slave. Carla’s eyes widened, comprehension dawning in rapid alarm. Leon’s hand Carla held became clammy, sticky with sweat. His jaw clenched, tightly ticking in a subconscious attempt to swallow the emotions burning inside. She turned her body, placing herself in front of Leon as if she could block the barrage of horrendous thoughts assaulting him.  

“Leon? Leon!”

He did not hear her. Leon’s body stiffened, his free hand clinching the hem of his traveling cloak to the point that his knuckles turned white. The little boy in rags reaching towards the sky was a memory Leon’s heart refused to let go. It was an incomplete memory—one that had battered him inside for years even as he tried to shut it out. But with the tower in sight, Leon now recalled more. His eyes were distant, as if watching a scene only visible to him.  

“BOY!”

His handler came rushing from the work site, face ruddy, shaking with fury. The workman did not call him by name. A name implied worth and meaning. The boy had none. The boy tried to fix an impassive mask on his features. 

“I’m almost done. See? See!” The boy barely suppressed the rising warble in his voice. 

Don’t show fear. Don’t show weakness. Don’t feel it. Don’t. Don’t.  

The boy pushed with all his might against the boulder, his shoulders and back scraping painfully against hardened jagged edges. The rock, as if mocking him, moved a scant few inches forward before lurching back to its original spot.  

“I see.” His handler rasped, eyes gleaming. “I see a need for motivation.” A massive fist came barreling from the sky. 

Don’t cry out. That’ll make things worse. So, so much worse.     

The boy crouched in a ball, hands covering his face in a feeble attempt to block the blow.

“Leon! Talk to me. Please.”

Carla’s voice was distant, echoing in the far reaches of Leon’s mind. Leon was crouched up against a tree, one of his hands gripping the roots of his hair. Where was he? How did he get here? He shrank into a tighter coil, bracing against an invisible threat. Leon’s golden eyes were dilated, nearly replaced with orbs of black.

“We walked away from the tower. You’re on the outskirts of a nearby forest. You’re safe.” With difficulty, Carla got Leon to a sitting position on the ground, his back leaning against the tree. His shoulders remained hunched, as if trying to make himself a smaller target.   

This…this was not her Leon. Present Leon Carla corrected to herself. The charismatic hero with a ready smile carried hidden darkness that dwelled deep in his mind. She had seen similar scenes play out before with others she had rescued from Obsidian. The most innocuous objects—teapots, riding crops, a lady’s red hat—could induce terror, pull people into harrowing pasts. Carla mentally added crumbling towers to clear blue skies, raw hide whips, and the smell of pine bark as triggers for Leon. 

Carla lowered herself so that she straddled Leon’s lap, her eyes the same level as his. Carla’s hands framed both sides of his face, stilling his movements so that all Leon saw was her. Leon blinked repeatedly, his shallow breathing eventually slowing, his glazed stare re-centering towards his beloved.   

“Carla…”

Her name fell from his lips, half despair, half hope. Not wanting to sink deeper into darkness, Leon reached out and crushed Carla to him. He wanted to drown in her, soak into her being. His hands grasped at her curves, seeking comfort and safety.   

Trauma. It was more visible to Carla than usual. Leon’s anguish was painful to witness. Leon claimed he felt nothing when he reflected on his pre-palace childhood. But Carla had never truly believed he was as numb to those experiences as he acted. His eyes had always clouded over, shadows flickering, with each person she and he helped through their underground network. Especially children. The mightier the hero, the greater the fall. Carla’s eyes watered as she sniffled loudly. Leon stopped his movements, his eyes widening at her expression. 

“Leon…” She pressed her lips against his shoulder, caressing a scar so faded it was nearly invisible. Her hands grazed the contours of his upper back, fingers tracing muscles previously lanced with marks of a whip. “I’m here sweetheart.” 

Emotions beyond language’s ability to express them filled Leon as he clung to her. Carla could feel the thrum of Leon’s pulse against her skin, her lips connected to him in an act as spiritual as it was physical. Her presence was life giving—to the prince he was now and the boy he was then. Carla sighed softly and leaned slightly back. She wrapped her fingers through Leon’s wind-blown locks, attempting to coax him. “Do you want to talk?”

“Of course. It’s you.” 

There was sincerity in Leon’s words. “Don’t worry about me. I was just thinking earlier. That’s all.” His voice was casual, nearly dismissive. Dismissive of himself and the need to unburden his mind. 

“I’m your fiancé. It’s my job to worry about you. You don’t do it enough yourself.” 

The rebuttal that flitted to Leon’s lips vanished under the directness of her gaze. His eyes wavered with emotion. “I’m sorr—”

“If you say I’m sorry for the gift of knowing you—ALL of you—I’m going to have words.” Carla’s vivid blue eyes pierced straight into his soul. A wounded soul that did not know whether it was safe to reveal itself yet. “Your heart cries out even if your eyes don’t.”

Don’t cry out. It’ll be over soon.

The boy uttered not a sound, even as clinched fists and hardened boots collided against his arms and aching ribs. His handler had done this before. He knew it would happen again.

Nothing. He willed himself to feel nothing.      

“You hold back. Stop carrying that weight. Let it out.” Leon flinched reflexively as fingers grazed his ribs. But these touches were light, soothing, did not batter and bash. They lingered on him, as if trying to lance away the pain he held onto.  

Pain. He learned to live with it. Numbness and resilience intersecting into a blur. A blur that had him drowning on dry land. But now he sought air.

Leon let out a shaky breath. “I…I was here.” Another breath. “I looked at the sky. I couldn’t move a rock.” Another breath. “And then…fists came down.” 

Love—an emotion so sweet yet fragile. Something to protect and be protective over. Driven by the force of that emotion, Carla threw her arms around Leon, cradling his head to her as he shook uncontrollably. 

He felt everything. Everything he had suppressed most of his life. Words tumbled out of him, nightmarish memories crowding his mind as rapid fire as fists from the sky. 

“Please. Please. PLEASE. STOP!”

He screamed—for all the times he had not. 

“STOP!” Leon screamed repeatedly into Carla’s shoulder, raw, sharply piercing. The roar of a wounded beast and a terrified boy tangled into one. Leon winced repeatedly, as if struck by repeated blows. Carla curled herself around him, clinging tightly over him, her body shielding him from his handler, the looming tower, everything. He shuddered for what seemed like an eternity, gasping for breath, voice cracking. “STOP…stop…please.” 

And then, startling silence. 

The boy laid down in the mud. The air was empty, devoid of the faintest warmth. The taste of iron trickled down his cheek from a gash near his temple. His handler was gone, having made his point. 

Ache. His body ached. His heart throbbed, whether with pain or resignation he did not know. A loneliness surrounded him that ached even more. 

Another slave, trained in rudimentary medics, eventually came by to treat the boy’s wounds. The boy remained face down in the mud, barely moving.  

“Some people scream so loud anyone can hear’em. Wail like babies even.”  A glob of ointment, thick and gloopy, was roughly rubbed on the boy’s shoulders. “You kid? You scream in silence.”

To know another’s pain, to be allowed to see it and witness its vulnerability was a humbling experience. The air was still, as if recognizing the significance of the moment.

“It’s not OK what happened to you. All of it.” 

A painful pressure squeezed the breath from Leon’s lungs and then released at Carla’s words. He had never heard that—an acknowledgement of what he went through, the wrongness of it all. His brothers now knew of his past, but it was never spoken of—a buried truth, an unofficial price for maintaining his status as fourth prince. The silence of it all was too much. 

The boy was too tired to scream. 

And yet. A faint flicker within his heart refused to die out.

 He lifted his head from the mud.   

“If I were in trouble, what would you do?” The words were barely audible, mumbled into Carla’s shoulder. Leon slowly raised his head. I don’t need fixing his golden eyes seemed to plead; I need…I need…

“I’d help you.”

Understanding. “Regardless of who I am?” He hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but the words escaped him.  

“I love you. All of you: past and present; pauper and prince; perfect and pained.” Her voice flowed with understanding and affection. “You speak as if the boy you were before should be gone, forever erased. The echo of him remains, buried inside, guiding you. And I am grateful that boy is still there wanting to be seen and heard.”

Carla cupped a hand to Leon’s cheek, gently encouraging him to look at her. “That boy has made you who you are. You are a man who has witnessed darkness but carries light for Rhodolite. You have walked out of fire but come back with water for those that are still in flames, seeking help within our underground network. You show compassion because that boy knows what is like to have had none.” 

Her words seeped into his being. Love touched every fractured piece of Leon, mending him back together. “So yes, I’d help you. Because I adore you. And because you’ve looked pain in the eye, and you’ve stared back with love—love for your country, your brothers, your people.”

“And you.” Leon was filled with searing warmth. “Especially you. More than anything.” Amber eyes radiated hope again. 

“I would hope so, considering we’re engaged.” Carla smiled slightly. 

His heart squeezed at her teasing words. “You move me so much Carla, it’s almost absurd.” He clasped her to his chest, squeezing tight. “Thank you.”

A hand reached for the sky. 

Is anyone there? 

“You’re not alone.” Carla’s hand was steady as Leon reached for it. Her fingers grasped his, twining together. An unspoken promise to never let go. 

“We are candles, each lighting the other.” Carla repeated the words she had spoken to Gilbert. “And I will light your way through the dark.”

[sweetpumpkinmouse]

A quick emotional rant on how the fandom treats V and Uzi.

Warning: Pure anger (from me), ableism, sexism and sexist language, stupidity, body-shaming (maybe idk), victim-blaming, and bullying.

Sometimes the way y’all treat V and Uzi is just…yikes.

Like…can you go a few minutes without being ableist or victim blame-y towards Uzi? Or being weird about V’s body type or treat like her only value is being N’s sexy side piece?

The funny thing is that they have a common theme: ✨misogyny✨.

“Uzi is such a pick-me omg! Why is she so weird and annoying? How dare she have emotions that aren’t just being cool or edgy! How dare she be vulnerable and steal away V’s man! She isn’t even hot! Why is she so angry? Why can’t she just be grateful for her father? Why did she have to kill her classmates? That whiny hoe! No, I’m not going to acknowledge her being emotionally neglected and bullied by her classmates, she should just be a good little girl and suck it up! No, I’m not being ableist, I’m just saying she’s too unstable to be in a relationship because…she’s that unstable! Yes, I know a lot of Uzi fans/defenders are autistic/bpd/mentally ill/neurodivergent/been abused or neglected/have trauma/been bullied, but that just proves how mentally unstable they are!”

“V has no character, omg! She’s just there for fan service! No, sapphics do not exist, ignore them! If not for her EXISTENCE, people wouldn’t even be watching the show! No, I’m not going to acknowledge her growth and development, she should’ve worn PANTS! You stupid pervert! If not for Uzi, then she would’ve just been N’s side-chick, because that’s how useless she is! No, I’m not going to acknowledge their relationship and appreciate the tragedy of it, she has no depth! No, I’m not going to acknowledge her trauma, she should just get over it! The narrative really need to stop pretending that V has any depth, omg. Her only purpose is to be eye-candy! Her sacrifice means nothing to the plot, stop getting so defensive!”

Like…dear god! Give the girls a break!

I’m sorry, but women are more than just their bodies and mentally ill people deserve happiness!

“But SALEM! Haven’t you been critical towards ENVY—“

This isn’t about Envy. Hell, not even about Nuzi. No where in this post have I said much about Envy or Nuzi at all.

Am I critical about certain things? Yes! I’m critical with a lot of things I like. I don’t believe everything is 100% perfect, but still am able to enjoy things.

Sadly, some of the shitty “critiques” are often ship-related.

“You created strawmen—“

I’VE WITNESSED SOME OF THE MOST STUPIDEST, SOMETIMES EVEN DOWNRIGHT SEXIST AND ABLEIST COMMENTARY I HAVE EVER HAD THE DISPLEASURE OF BEING IMPLEMENTED IN MY BRAIN! BOTH CHARACTERS HAVE DELT WITH BOTH FROM THIS FANDOM! I’M SO SICK OF IT!

I DON’T CARE OF IT’S SIMPLIFYING IT! IT IS THAT FUCKING DUMB!

I like V. I LOVE Uzi. And those two deserve so much better treatment from the fandom! I’m so sorry about this emotional rant. I needed to get it off my chest. Feel free to give your perspective and criticism.

[spookyscaryskidnpump]

my thoughts on spooky month 6

copy pasted from a page and a half of google doc. crying. spoilers inbound.putting it under the cut cuz its super long. also swear warning.

Ok to start off LILA. LILA MY GAL NO UR DOING UR BEST AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Im crying im actually fucginf crying. She's trying. So hard. Skid is trying so hard. THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST PLEASEEEEE. Father Gregor can go EAT SHIT. THEY'RE TRYING AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS GODDAMNIT.

Susie… Susie no… please… she deserves better istgggggg. What happened to their parents? Are they actually just busy? Are they DEAD? Holy shit what if they're dead. Poor Pump, poor Susie, god please just let these kiddos be ok. PLEASE. ABUELO WONDER IS TYING SO HARD BUT SUSIE KNOWS IT ISN'T REALLY FROM HER PARENTS IM CRYING. SUSIE NOOOOOO

FATHER GREGOR I HATE YOU. ok well he obvs did some good but STILL. GREGOR. STFU GREGOR. I get that hes trying but U CANT JUST SAY ALL THAT SHIT ABOUT JUDGEMENT AND THEN JUDGE HER HER FUCKING HOUSE GOT BROKEN INTO!! YOU DONT HAVE THE FUCKING CONTEXT!!!! ARGHFDGHJSGHJKAGHSD. Also DAMN IS HE A CULTIST NOW?? IS HE DEAD?? WHAT?!?!?!

ROYYYYYY ROY MY BOI NOOOOOO poor guy :( i understand why he hates the kids they DID kinda ruin him so. At least he knows theyre trying now :( and ross n rob just ASSUME he did something bad isnt helping here!!!! I get that theyre also trying to help him and its nice to see him opening up to them about stuff (even if we dont get to know what specifically PELO WHY) but PLEASE get this kid an anger management class or smthn PLEASE. He needs SO MUCH THERAPY. I dont think hes gonna get therapy because im pretty sure his parents are Part Of The Problem but STILL.  Also FUCKER LITERALLY GOT POSSESED BY A DEMON?????? THATS GOTTA BE TRAUMATIC TF

Side note i love ross and robert dearly and i appreciate them doing their best to help on both sides i love them smmmmmm AUGH

KEVIN AND RADFORD FRIENDSHIP REALLLLLLLLLL i am SO fucking happy about that!!!! Also Kevin having conflicted feelings on the kids FAIR. Similar thing to Roy except hes an adult with a semi-functional support network and is able to understand that theyre just dumb kids and they dont actually mean any harm. He’s harsher on the hatzgang cuz theyre teens and old enough to know stealing is wrong but Skid n Pump are little kiddos they dont know better. Also him disapproving of father gregor REAL THO. also HE GOT POSSESSED TOO?? TRAUMA CENTRAL HOLY SHIT

PATTY DESERVES TO HAVE A GUN ACTUALLY. Also JOHN ANGST JOHN ANGST JOHN ANGST! IS HIS KID DEAD? IS HIS DAUGHTER OK HOLY SHIT. ALSO THEM HELPING THE KIDS PROPERLY IM CRYIG AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

WHAT WAS EVERMORE DOING WITH THE HOBOMEN???? HELLO??????

I SAW THAT CULT NECKLACE UNDER IGNACIOS SHIRT. I FUCKING SAW IT. CALLED IT BITCH!!!!!!

Rick just has the WORST luck lmao

STREBER IS ALIVE LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

DEXTER NO PLEASE AUGH…… HIS MOM TOO……

JAUNE AND ROSS’S DAD… HE'S REAL HE EXISTS!! I get ur trying jaune but that is NOT the best way to comfort poor lila… AT LEAST SHES TRYING THO I APPRECIATE HER

THE ENTIRE NEWGROUNDS ENDING?? THE THIEVES AND THE CANDY DEALER IN CAHOOTS WITH THE CULT???? HELLO??????

MOLOCH IS GONE. he deserved it but also THE KIDS ARE SO SAD ABOUT IT? Like they don't really get it but they just watched someone they thought was their friend DIE. HOLY SHIT.

finally. SKID AND PUMP. KIDDOS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ok for real tho theyre so much more self aware than the fandom and bulk of the show give them credit for?? Like Skid is VERY aware of his dad being dead/possibly missing and legit just doesn’t wanna talk about it. He knows what death is and he finds fun in it to cope. My poor sweet boyo… and PUMP. PUMP ANSWERING THE CALL AUGHHHHHH HE WANTS HIS PARENTS BACK IM CRYING. SUSIE AND ABUELO ARE DOING THEIR BEST AND HE'S TRYING SO HARD AND AAAAAAAAAAUGH. Also him getting possessed by Moloch while having Star-Eyes basically debunks the theory of the Star-Eyes being a form of possession which is FASCINATING. Anyway that scene with Susie and Pump got me misty eyed and then during the ending with Skid and Lila i actually genuinely started crying. I just want them to be happy. Please let them be happy. Please. PLEASE.

[whoishotteranimepolls]

Defend Your Blurbo Submission (this is LONG—1105 words, sorry!)

Dorsal Fin Appreciation or Lack Thereof

Hear me out y’all, but Arlong the Saw seriously needs more love in this fandom than he is getting. This is not a plea to the folks who don’t go feral at all for anyone in One Piece, this plea is for my fellow One Piece fans. Why so angry?

Out of all the villains in the entire franchise, and I am 100% ignoring the Live Action by Netflix—this is about OG canon Arlong from the anime (haven’t really read the manga yet), he seems to be the most hated. I have seen more genuine love and affection for Kleenex Boi Trebol than I have for He Carries Two Fish Sticks Everywhere He Goes Arlong.

Yes, he did conquer an island in the East Blue. Yes, he did extort money from the citizens monthly (effectively making him a loan shark). Yes, he took a young Nami and had her work for him, originally under horrible circumstances. And yes, he did kill Nami’s adoptive mother Bell-Mere. I feel like y’all shut him out of fandom love simply for killing Bell-Mere.

Out of all the villains that regularly see love, he killed a whopping one person. One.

He let Bell-Mere give parting words to her girls, he let her say goodbye, and he actually killed her rather quickly. He didn’t torture her, didn’t rape her, didn’t drag anything out. He stated that if you can’t pay, you die. He didn’t lie. She couldn’t pay so she died. Arlong is very cut-and-dry, you know exactly what you’re going to get with him.

Compare him to someone like Eustass Kid, who has killed way more innocent people than Arlong ever will. Kid got his bounty based on his egregiously high civilian casualty count. His big bad bounty came from innocent blood being spilled, that’s what makes Kid so damn dangerous to the government. Because let’s face it, he fails as much as Buggy does in the whole pirating thing. He took on Kaido at least once and lost and he took on Shanks twice and lost. He doesn’t win his pirate battles; he just wins at killing people who can’t defend themselves against him. And y’all eat him up like candy.

Arlong kills one backstory character and he’s the most hated man in One Piece. He’s better looking than Hody Jones and many other characters, he’s more humane than even he wants to admit, and he had great character development too.

He started off treating Nami like a slave or a pet and in ten years’ time grew to consider her a valued officer and crew mate. He wasn’t just fighting to keep his cartographer; he was fighting to keep the only female member of his pirate family from leaving.

Doflamingo killed his own father when he was a child, murdered his own brother, murdered countless other people, and overthrew a fucking country. And y’all drool over him like a stuck pig at a luau.

Arlong was a pretty solid pirate all things considered. He plundered consistently over the course of 10 years and built himself an empire on land rather than a fleet. He had a cunning plan. He had minions within the Marines (just as Doffy did with Vergo, but Arlong’s were actual marines), so he infiltrated through human frailty. He only committed one act of murder.

He had all the maps, a creature from the Grand Line and let’s not forget he and all but one of his crew were also from the Grand Line. He kicked ass. He even had convictions; he wasn’t all about himself. He cared about his own species, every single member of his crew, and he never turned on any of them. He did exploit a loophole with Nami but regarding his own people, he treasured all of them.

When they did something wrong or disagreed with him, he never harmed them. He didn’t treat them like shit. Their lives were precious to him. Hody Jones not only abused other fishmen/fishwomen, but he also flat out killed them. He murdered his own monarch and any fishman who didn’t agree with him 100% was killed. Arlong would fall on his own sword before even letting so much as the idea of killing any of his own kind cross his mind.

When Arlong did have disagreements with other fishmen, he just separated from them and went his own way. He never killed his own kind, wouldn’t dream of it. Arlong has lines in the sand that he will not cross, he has boundaries and respects them. Arlong actually has morals that he adheres to. Hody Jones is amoral, and Doffy isn’t far behind. Hell, Arlong has more solidified convictions and morals than Sakazuki, who like Hody, kills his own subordinates if they disagree with him.

Arlong really isn’t that villainous of a villain. In my opinion, he is a deeply traumatized person who never dealt with his trauma. He bottled it all up and is slowly consuming him. He’s damaging himself by doing that and he is able to be mislead by thinking he’s doing right and following solid ideals. He truly believes his species is superior and he truly believes that they need to rise up and take their freedom.

Now, he isn’t wrong. Fishmen are treated horribly and they do need to take their freedom, but treating humans the exact way they have been treated is also wrong. Arlong is so deeply wounded that he hasn’t figured that part out yet. He was starting to with Nami evolving in his crew. He even admitted to her intelligence and skill a few times, he was slowly starting to mend his ways when she left.

Arlong is deeply traumatized, misguided, but redeemable. And yet, no one gives him a chance. How can you all heap the love on civilian slaughterer Kid, pirate failure Buggy, snotastic Trebol, familicide Doffy, royal traitor Crocodile, domestic terrorist Sakazuki (because like me, some of y’all out there love him too), fish gutter Hody Jones, delulu “deity” Enel, lard ass Blackbeard, or giant psycho Kaido with the scrawny legs that shouldn’t be able to support him but y’all can’t find three nice things to say about Arlong the Saw and his glorious dorsal fin?

I mean come on! Have you seen that sexy dorsal fin of his? He’s tall, has luscious locks, teeth that regenerate, two fresh fish sticks in his pants, a cool ass sword, decent fashion sense, and he can breathe underwater which is just so cool.

Why must you hate him so? He’s not that bad all things considered.

Defend Your Blurbo #7

Please remember this post is about curiosity and genuine fandom discourse. Be kind with your answers because this is not a debate essay, this is a discussion between fans.

Well, in case anyone doesn't know who Arlong is, he's an early One Piece villain.

Now, this anon took a much different approach to the series than the others, so have fun with this and One Piece fandom. Defend your Blorbo

[gravityglitch-blog]

The Amazing Digital Circus, as seen by a Murder Drones fan

("Candy Carrier Chaos" inspired me to write this. Fair warning, it's a long one. Potential spoilers ahead)

I stumbled into the indie animation scene on YouTube by accident. It was like finding hidden treasure. I have no hate for the big-name studios, but everything I'd been seeing up until then seemed...homogenized...over-processed, somehow? It's hard to describe. Like eating fast food when you want a home cooked meal.

Now here were stories that were all wonderfully different, in subject matter and style. I started with "Lackadaisy", which was so beautiful, it left me stunned.

(The only reason you don't see more Lackadaisy fanart from me is because it's difficult drawing cats. I'm practicing, though.)

A few more clicks brought me to "Murder Drones", and it was love at first sight.

I connected to Uzi's character within her first minutes on-screen. Despite the dark tone of the story, I still hold out hope for a good ending.

Then I started seeing teasers for a new series, "The Amazing Digital Circus".

The art style and bright colors weren't my usual speed, but I decided to check it out anyway.

Personal confession, "Digital Circus" scares me more than "Murder Drones". While "Murder Drones" wears its horror inspirations on its sleeve, to me, it's more the "cool" kind of horror that I would scribble on my notebooks between classes.

Vampires, monsters, battling the forces of darkness while jamming to nightcore, you get the idea.

I have legitimately had nightmares that look like the "Digital Circus". Strange worlds of twisted colors and shapes, people I don't know, doors and staircases that lead nowhere.

All that said, I did enjoy the pilot, I found the setup and the characters interesting, and wanted to see more.

Side note, I know the studio sometimes seems to favor "Digital Circus", and it causes some resentment between the fandoms.

For myself, I see our fandoms as siblings. Let us watch our faves (hopefully) triumph over the horrors together.

This brings me to "Candy Carrier Chaos".

It happened to debut on one of my bad days, when I was feeling down, to put it mildly.

Like I didn't matter. Like no one would notice or remember me if I were gone.

And so that opening scene of Pomni's nightmare hit me like a punch in the gut.

I won't go into the episode's plot too much, as I'm sure others here have already done that and better than I ever could. The whole reason I'm writing this is because of that ending.

The members of the Circus take the time and care to remember the friend they lost in the pilot, apparently the latest of many.

They all feel the pain of loss, of being trapped in this strange world. But they still have each other. For now, at least.

The look on Pomni's face when she realizes she's not alone. When her vision replays, it has changed.

Now, there are helping hands to take hold of her. To pull her back up out of the darkness.

I honestly became a little teary-eyed at that scene. It got me thinking, "maybe the bad days are liars. Maybe I would be missed, after all."

The power of storytelling through animation. With all my heart, I hope this medium continues to grow and flourish. To any aspiring animators and artists out there, this random Tumblr person asks, please don't give up the dream. There are people out there that need to hear your stories.

In the meantime, Pomni remains where she is...and so do I. Thank you so much if you've read this whole thing. I really appreciate it.

[artzee-bee]

Practice on me

Fandom: My babysitter's a vampire; Ethan Morgan x reader (platonic)

Summary: "Reader likes Benny the same way that Ethan likes Sarah, so naturally a bond forms between the two, where they vent their frustrations together! But everything changes when one day the reader and Ethan realize that Benny and Sarah both have kissing experience and they don't so they decide to practice with each other first" requesed by @tomesandrosebud

Genre: pure fluff

Warnings: none

A/N: really happy with this one actually. I just hope it doesn't sound too foolish cause I haven't kissed anyone either so I don't really know how to write about it in detail like that

~~~

Getting another can of coke was definitely not your smartest idea. The electric buzz of a sugar rush was now impossible to ignore, but Ethan had been so kind to lay all these snacks out for you which you really appreciated! “It’s just sorta frustrating, you know?” popping another m&m in your mouth “I mean honestly, it’s like none of the stuff I do for him even matters!” “Benny has never been the most…observant person” comes Ethan’s reply. He’s sprawled out across his bed, playing with old chocolate wrappers. “He thinks he can read people, but really he just comes up with his own idea of what’s happening and believes it fully!” You scoff almost instinctively. Yeah, you’ve heard this before! Almost anytime this conversation was to be had, this was one of the conclusions! God you were so tired of hearing it, but you knew it was true! “Honestly Ethan! I could not be more obvious if I wrote him a love poem and serenaded him before school! It’s not like I’m good at hiding my feelings!” “Yeah, you really suck….Ow, damnit Y/N! No need for violence!” “You earned that slap! Honestly I was being very kind to only do so much!” you crawl in the bed, laying an arm’s length away from him. “You are just as obvious about Sarah, by the way! You hypocrite!” Ethan did nothing but smile in response. He knew that all too well! It was something he’d grown so accustomed to, the feeling of being so exposed and yet so ignored when it came to his crush. He tried hiding it, he even tried dropping some hits as per your advice (‘If you’re gonna be obvious at least let it be intentional’) but somehow he remained just as invisible in front of Sarah. He knew you felt the same about Benny too! After so many late night phone calls and the occasional hangout in his room, he felt confident in saying you were both fools in love. All in all he appreciated this extra time he got to spend with you and the chance to vent his feelings away freely, but that doesn’t really lift the weight of unreciprocated love.

“You know she was on a date yesterday?” he hears himself before he processes what he’s saying. No need to specify who ‘she’ is anyways

“Yeah…she texted me and Erica on the groupchat. What, she told you too?” “Rory!” “Ah…that explains it…” A beat passes. You’ve grown accustomed to little silences like this. Sometimes it was best to just feel it out! “Did she say anything about him?” “Very messy eater, but apparently a good kisser. Said there probably won’t be a second date though!” You could practically feel the relief emanating off your friend, despite the somewhat cold tone of voice. “How can you even kiss someone after you see them with food all over their face like that?”

“I don’t know Ethan! This isn’t really my area of expertise! I guess when you’re Sarah, it doesn’t matter! When guys want to kiss you, it doesn’t matter!” your voice cracks ever so slightly with frustration, which peaks Ethan’s interest. What’s got you so worked up suddenly? “Maybe he wasn’t so bad afterall…” “Maybe!” Another silent moment “I’m not a messy eater, am I?” You laugh. After so many years of knowing him, sometimes it was still a mystery the way in which his wheels turned. “I wouldn’t say so.” Your simple answer prompted another comfortable silence. You reach for more candy, as Ethan plays with the strings of his hoodie, looking up at the ceiling.

“What are you thinking about?” “You girls…you talk about guys, right? Like you know when one of you has a crush and…that sort of thing”

“...yeah?” “So, hypothetically, if I were to ask you if you knew how many guys she’s kissed-” ���Nah-uh! I’ll stop you right there sir!” “It’s a hypothetical!” “You’re overthinking!” an accusatory finger sits merely inches from his face now but he doesn’t seem bothered, pushing it away lightly. “It’s not that crazy of a question!” “You’re asking me to break the girl-code? You would never tell me how many girls Benny has kissed!” “I would!” he replies in a heartbeat. Now you’re both stuck in this unintentional staring contest, waiting to see who will crack first. It’s not like you believe a word out his mouth, but you still speak “It’s unhealthy! We shouldn’t talk about these kinds of things. It’s none of our business. Why would you even care about it?” “You’re saying you wouldn’t want to know Benny’s number?” he got you there. You just pop another candy in your mouth and he silently watches, deciding he needs to tell the truth “She just…probably has a lot of experience, doesn’t she?” This, for the first time in a long while, catches you off guard. You and Ethan have gone over the topic of your crushes more than you could count but this was a first. You weren’t sure what you could say.

“So does Benny, probably.” well that wasn’t the best thing, but Ethan doesn’t seem to notice

“Well so do you probably so it’s no big deal but I’ve never kissed a girl, Y/N! Never even came close! If I ever tried something with Sarah and it got to that point, I’d be a sure disappointment!” Now this has you turning around in bed to face him. The frustration and hurt in his voice is palpable but the roughness of his tone awakes your own feelings of dread and insecurity “Where did you even get the idea that I have kissing experience?” and E turns to look at you, genuinely confused

“You don’t?” “No! What? E, when have I ever told you about me kissing a guy?!” “I don’t know! I assumed you wouldn’t want to tell me that!” “Why?” “I don’t know Y/n! I was wrong, ok? Gee!” the irritation turns into a bit of an awkward laugh, as he processes where the conversation actually landed, and you laugh too! That’s the best that you’ve got, but it helps! Neither of you are so tense when Ethan speaks again. “So you’ve never kissed anyone either?” and you shake your head in solidarity “Oh…I see. Why not?” “I guess…I just never got the opportunity?” you reply honestly “And then I got a little insecure about it and then I got the hots for Bens and that’s that! Now we’re here!” Ethan chuckles softly at your explanation. “I understand. I’m in the same boat here!” “We’re always on the same boat E! Really, this whole thing is sounding more and more like a joke!” you both share a laugh The idea came to you pretty naturally. At first it made you laugh but after thinking about it a moment longer, you began to consider maybe it wasn’t so bad? Maybe this was actually what you both needed! You feel so comfortable with E, you don’t spare another moment before sharing

“What if we kissed?”

You didn’t think ahead on how to properly phrase it, or how Ethan would react, but you assumed the shell shocked look and the oblivious ‘huh?!’ he gave you were probably appropriate. Ethan sits up in bed, looking down at you as if you had gone mental. You’ve said many out of pocket things across the years but this one got the biggest reaction. It almost makes you laugh. “I mean, to practice!” “Come again?”

Now you sit up as well, trying to drive your point home! “Neither of us have had our first kiss! Most people our age have! So if we try to do it with anyone else, it might be awkward! We can just kiss each other and get it over with!”

“Get it over with?” he seemed to consider, which really just made you push a little harder

“Yeah! I mean we’re friends! We trust each other! It doesn’t have to mean anything and if it turns out awful then at least we know that doesn’t change anything between us!”

Ethan seems to be deep in thought. You understand, of course, how unconventional your proposal is but it was too late now. The offer was on the table! You didn’t exactly regret it but you could feel your nerves twisting and turning in your gut. All the sugar you ingested definitely didn’t help…

“Okay!” You thought you must have misheard him! “I’m sorry?”

“Okay!”

“Okay?”

“...yeah…”

“O-Okay…”

Now this was really awkward! You hadn’t exactly thought he would agree so quickly but then again, Ethan was a calculated person. He must have seen and understood all the benefits, just like you did. Shyly, he turns a little more to the right, facing you completely. He’s looking at his hands for a moment, before shifting forward. You follow his lead, moving the tiniest bit closer to him. Now, with your knees touching, you were starting to be really nervous. “Um…should I…go for it? It’s kinda the man’s job to take the lead, no?” you can tell from his voice that he’s just as nervous as you

“That’s kinda old fashioned!” you try to laugh, hoping to release the tension, which helps the smallest bit, as he chuckles “You can if you want!” “Where do I put my hands?” he’s looking down at his palms as if he’s just stepped in a human body for the first time. You’re not really sure of the answer but you’ve watched a good amount of romance movies! Your hands grab his tenderly, bringing them to your waist. He doesn’t hesitate, or pull away, just latches on with an iron grip, but you don’t comment on it. You try to hook your arms around his neck, but the position feels awkward when you’re both sat on the bed, so you pull away and rest them on your knees. His knees. Nope, yours were better!

Ethan waits patiently for you as you figure out the logistics of all this! He looks transfixed and you knew he was internally freaking out, just like you. Finally, you move a tad bit closer, which gives Ethan the opportunity to lean in, stopping barely centimeters away from your face. You could feel his breathing on your lips. “You’re okay with this?” you ask once again

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Let’s just do a small peck at first!” “Okay!”

It happens in a flash. It takes one second for his consent to register and then his lips are on yours for the briefest moment. It felt nice. Well it wasn’t anything scary or intimidating, just a little peck! It was nice and warm and soft. It makes you feel a lot better about what’s going on. You move away just a little bit to examine Ethan’s response and he seems to have relaxed as well. You don’t know what to say, so you just ask

“One more time?”

“Okay.” the tremor in his voice is gone and you lean in to place a quick kiss on his lips again. It’s only a second, but it helps knowing that you did it! That you committed!

“A little longer?” you ask now, and Ethan just nods, taking a quick breath.

He leans in, pressing his lips to yours. Your right hand almost instinctively reaches up, barely grazing his jaw and his fingers dig even more into your sides. Right off the bet, this is a lot worse. Neither of you really know how to move, much less how to read each other's moves, so the kiss is sloppy and messy and all kinds of wrong and ridiculous. You are basically just pushing your faces together! You open your mouth ever so slightly, thinking that might help, and Ethan tries to follow your lead but once again, there’s no coordination. Now you’re even more acutely aware of the awkward position you’re both sitting in and you can’t help but imagine what a ridiculous scene you two make! Ethan smiles against your lips, and you know he’s thinking the same thing. Now you really can’t hold back your laughter, giggling against his lips!

“Stop!” he laughs as well, grabbing the sides of your face, but it definitely doesn’t help, as you burst out with laughter! He laughs too, leaning away and trying to cover his face with his arm

“We’re so awful!”

“That’s why I said we do it now!” Cue more laughter, your tummy honestly hurts at this point and you let yourself fall to the floor, clutching your abdomen.

“Come back here! We can’t just leave it at that!” Ethan reaches to grab the back of your shirt through tears of laughter, trying to yank you back on the bed but it doesn’t work. You won’t move! You can barely breathe! Instead he also crawls to his knees next to you.

“Come on Y/n! Let’s try one more time!” he’s still giggling as he says this, but you run your hands over your face, moving closer to him again. Compared to last time, now you know both of your nerves are completely gone. Looking at Ethan, he seems just as at ease as ever! You guys are best friends after all! And you’re having fun! As you’re kneeling on the floor, you cup his face with your palms, his own hands returning to your waist, now with a much kinder hold. He leans into you and you do as well. The kiss, this time, is a little more promising. You’re still struggling to synchronize, but at least it feels like you’re getting somewhere. It’s kinda nice, you think? It’s nice feeling so close to someone and it’s nice sharing a breath, but then you remember this is Ethan! This is your friend from middle school and the biggest nerd you’ve ever met and God knows you never thought you’d ever kiss him. The reality of it all has you giggling again and Ethan immediately shoves you back.

“Y/nnnnn!! This was your idea!!” but he’s laughing too, red in the face from the lack of oxygen and now you’ve both reached the point where everything is simply too funny! 

“What the hell are we doing?” you manage to say

“It was your idea!”

“It takes two to tango!”

“Y/n, no! Don’t say it like that!” and he’s laughing more, shoving you to the floor again, attempting to tackle you for your filthy mouth and you let him, not finding the strength to fight him off, try as you might! It takes a couple of minutes for both of you to completely calm down, which just leaves you both laying on the floor, catching your breath!

“But all in all” Ethan says “it wasn’t a very bad idea!”

“Wanna do it again?”

“I think I’m good!”

[isadollie]

Heya! I’d be curious to get a matchup? If you’ve got time! Many thanks in advance! 💜

Fandom: Obey Me

Name: Walker

Pronouns: he/they

Sexuality/preference: demisexual, boy please

Likes: coffee, cats, Halloween, metal music, documentaries, scary movies, cryptids

Dislikes: crowded places, early mornings, sour foods/drinks, loud noises (except music)

Free time: video games, baking, drawing, working out, journaling

Aesthetic: dreamcore/liminalcore and Halloweencore are my favorites! (Warning: if you look them up, liminalcore and dreamcore can make people with dissociative issues feel weird, so be careful if that’s something you deal with!)

Appearance: averagely built trans guy, sorta messy brown hair, green eyes, the sun is not my friend (ie: pale!), a few black-ink tattoos on my arms/chest, small ear gauges, glasses

Personality: Quiet and maybe a little shy at first, but chill and easygoing once I’m used to someone. Kind of protective ‘older brother’ vibes, very responsible but not overbearing - I am there for support but won’t be pushy about it. I laugh easily and love jokes/puns, can be very playful once super comfortable with someone. Love casual touch but unlikely to initiate it, not a fan of clinging, but happy to be used as a pillow.

MBTI: INFJ

Dream bday present: probably some mix of practical and fun. Something I need at the time (small appliance, clothing, whatever I’m needing to more efficiently exist) along with something ultimately useless but enjoyable (cryptid stuff, plushies, stickers, etc)

Love Language: I show love by gift giving and acts of service. I like receiving acts of service and words of affirmation.

Zodiac: Libra!

Songs: “Be Gay, Do Drugs, Hail Satan” by Super Cassette || “Antipop” by gürl/Onlyfriend || “Barbie & Ken” by Scene Queen/Set It Off || “Father” by The Front Bottoms

Again, thank you so much! Have a wonderful day!

— matchup —

if you'd want a matchup too, make sure to check out this! link

also, a quick reminder that requests for headcannons and/or scenarios are open!! please go check it out!!

i match you with...

Mammon!

★ i have a feeling that Mammon would be the absolute king of halloween. he'd love to scare people, dress up, go trick or treating (even though beel would end up eating all the candy anyway)

★ oh he'd love your tattoos, 100%. would love to look at them, ask their meanings and details, trace them with his fingers

★ Mammon is super scared of all kinds of horror movies (which is funny cause he's a literal demon), but he will act like he's not. "The Great Mammon scared of some movie? Don't make me laugh!" but then he'll cover his eyes throughout the whole movie. will still agree whenever you ask him to watch it with you lol

★ your love language is gift giving? say no more. he's into that lmao

we all know him as an avatar of greed, who only ever wants to sell whatever will bring the most money. he could sell literally anything, but not a present you gave to him. he cherishes those way too much

★ he'd love to watch you getting more comfortable with him, especially if he sees that you get along with him better than with his brothers. such an ego boost lol

★ will laugh at all your jokes, sending a glare to anyone who, in his opinion, isn't showing enough interest. will definitely complain about them later. Levi only smiled instead of laughing out loud? "When i tell you, this man has NO sense of humor-"

★ he loves to see you being an "older brother" who's protective towards others. mostly because he think he's like this too.. or at least he also wants to be seen this way. my man just wants his demon brothers to appreciate him for once:(

★ one of the reasons why i chose Mams for you, is because of your dream bday present! i imagine he'll make a list of things that he knows you might need, and another list of things you two could do together. so in the end, your birthday becomes a whole day of receiving different things you needed, with doing a lot of fun things in between

your second match was levi btw! hope you like it:)

[devilcantspeell]

BLOOD FOR THE WORLDBUILDING ASK GAME. hi ben <3

CASSIAN YOU FUCKING LEGEND I love you for this <3

WORLDBUILDING ASK GAME:

WITH PICTURES!

WARNINGS! ⚠️: Cartoon blood, cartoon gore, body horror, diseases/medical horror, child abuse mentioned, sex mentioned.

.

1. BLOOD - Does everyone bleed the same colour? If not, why not?

The world is run by 3 Major Races! Two are organic, one is mechanic.

In order of hierarchy: Crystalline, Human, and Robot.

2. PEPPER - What is the deadliest poison?

I was wondering what to put for this one before realising there is essentially a 'poison' a strong enough crystalline may give someone manually.

Medusa Rot, or Crystalline Petrification.

It's given by an aggravated spike- this can be purposeful to attack someone or even accidental if the attacker is panicked/agitated enough, and can't control their powers.

Considering how nobles and strong crystallines gave dwindled over the years, and such harsh powers haven't been needed- it's incredibly under-researcved, like an extinct dissease.

So it's not likely the victim or the attacker know.

A timeline of it's affects: Body horror/Medical horror warning?

It affects organic species. However if given to a robot, it's likely it will just fight it's way through it and clog up their systems with crystal growth, giving a relatively similar affect that's got a slightly higher survival chance.

3. CANDY - How do they treat children?

This very much depends on the household!

Though in most houses, Children are raised religious relative to area. Most commonly, Lunnox (In-universe religion of worship of the moon, enforced by the Cobalt Empire which rules the majority of the world and is the largest power.)

If a child is born to a Human and Crystalline, it's likely to be abandoned or orphaned, due to how taboo half-breeds are. The child will appear entirely human, other than perhaps some odd colouring. (Coloured hair, eyes, birthmarks.)

If a halfbred child is kept, the crystalline is almost definite to lose any higher status, and the human is likely to he rejected by peers also. Most halfbreds will just say they're human for slightly better treatment.

Robot children are rare-

Robots are essentially dead souls made posses a robot host body, most likely with their memories gone to function as some sort of labour or built for a purpose.

So if a child is a robot, it's more likely they come from a wealthy family, and after dying or getting sick too soon, was rebuilt as a robot- and kept their memories. This can be controversial. Some consider it mutilation or depriving a child of their original race, some consider it fair to let a child live on.

Noble crystalline children?

Uhhhhhh. yeah.

MOVING ON, FINALLY:

4. BLUSH - What is their view on sex?

Sex, due to the empire being very conservative religious in it's ways, is a taboo thing to discuss.

It's not entirely medieval though, in an 'everyone be celibate' way. Its moreso taboo to discuss in places such as work or in front of elders and superiors- most adults and teens in the modern day will brag about it, or crack sex jokes and stuff like that, similar to your average modern day society. It's still a rather gossipy subject though.

example: If a frat house was personified Vs Bible thumper

YAY IM DONE

Reblogs appreciated!!!

I spent a ridiculous amount of time on this for something that isn't fandom content 💀

So uhhh. Reblog to kill Onyx's dad with hammers idk

Ask post here if anyone wanna ask other things and my askbox is just open in general :)

[gumnut-logic]

We all love a piece of fanart. Art can communicate so much in just one glance.

But I would like to acknowledge that fanart can take aaaaages to create and the result can be glanced at and then it disappears into the depths of Tumblr if you don’t have the online storage to display it on Ao3.

So let’s take January and find all the art and reblog it like crazy. It doesn’t have to be yours, just make sure you are reblogging, not reposting, so the artist gets the credit they deserve. (More on reposting vs. reblogging below).

If you are an artist and you feel like using this month to tackle some works-in-progress or create some new art, go for it…I know I have a couple that need attention.

Tag with #FanartAM and #FanartAM2024

So, what art?

Pretty much anything!

Traditional

Digital

Photomanips

Gifs

Fanvids

Craft work

Fandom inspired works

Anything that has required visual creativity.

And when?

All of January 2024! Starting tomorrow, Adelaide time (so you might get some before the end of this year in other parts of the world :D )

This year, let's just post whatever you want whenever you want. No topic restrictions, just reblog that art and celebrate our artists!

But I don’t create visual art!

Doesn’t matter! You can dig in by reblogging other artists’ art and showing your support. Or if you really want to create something and you are a writer, I certainly won’t object if you get inspired and write fic – or you could write a fic based on someone’s art (though you might want to check with the artist first if it is okay).

Reblogging vs. Reposting

This is a distinction that you must be aware of before going in. One is good, the other bad. If the art is on Tumblr, and connected to the original artist’s account, hit that magic reblog button and show your admiration.

If the art is on another platform outside of Tumblr, put a link in your post – NEVER EVER copy that piece of art and ‘repost’ it to your blog. We are Thunderfam. We can click on a link and visit an artist’s account. We can reblog that link easily to share. The art belongs to the artist and by copying it and reusing it, you are disconnecting the credit and the control from the artist – this is considered stealing. It is the same with fic – always link, never copy and repost.

This is basic netiquette, please conduct yourselves like the wonderful Thunderfam I know you are.

The Point

But anyway, the point of this exercise is to bring all that wonderful Thunderbirds (or other fandoms if you prefer) eye candy to the surface so we can all gaze upon it in appreciation, drool all over the artwork and show our amazing artists exactly how wonderful they are.

Nutty

(we did a fantastic job the last three years, let’s do this again and celebrate our artists :D )

[accio-victuuri]

Sugar Rush : August 2023 CPNs

As with all other CPN posts that involve this lovely pairing, everything in here is speculation/interpretation based on popular concepts in the fandom. facts are also mixed in as well + events that happened before. This is not meant to “deceive or lie” to anyone. If it wasn’t clear, posts like this or similar to it are for cpfs only — and even other cpfs are encouraged to pick and choose what they believe in depending on what makes sense to them. You have to know some of the “lore” in this fandom to appreciate it, or be in that mindset wherein bjyx is probably/possible to be real.

These monthly round-ups, especially for August, have additional commentary and cpns that I didn’t share as an individual post for a variety or reasons. So there may be something “new” here for you.

Enjoy all the sugar! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

• rumor/cpn : XZ anonymously booked 26 cinema screenings in chongqing for yibo’s movie. the funny thing is there was a comment that if they find anonymous screenings for condor heroes movie in henan ( yibo’s hometown ) , they will join the bjyx supertopic 😂😂😂

this could be a different person but we cpn that it’s xz who booked since it’s in CQ. also whoever this was booked premium tickets and not discounted.

no one “released” a rumor or anything, some fans just noticed this while booking their tickets and found it interesting.

• another round of bottled joy cpns, this time around wyb’s alleged renewal with them on september and so much more

• reasons why we think the 26th bday letter post was from xiao zhan

• clues in the bday instagram post art

• fake rumor of wyb’s script having drawings

• XZ’s work week around WYB’s birthday

• Bottled Joy bday greeting to Yibo + Chen Shuo’s bracelet

• A cpf said yibo looked at their phone because her phonecase was a photo of wyb and xz. but again, this is not the proper behavior — following him around and shoving your phone in his personal space. I do not take this as candy, but for archiving purposes, it’s here.

• Unintentional matching 😂😂😂😂

• WYB plays card with Chongqing people 🃏

• Fake stories from paparazzi(s) who “followed” the boys back in 2018/19

• 8/11/2023 Rio Livestream candies

• 8/13/2023 LRLG 🍓🥝

• Yes please, drop more photos and do more similar captions with posts that are days or a week apart 👀

• throwback : the best bottled joy cpn

• 8/13, WYB allegedly drove and went to XZ’s LOCH shoot. You may see some photos and videos that is allegedly the proof but you can’t even see the driver’s face. There’s also some talk that “WYB” was wearing a motorcycle helmet so there will be no chance people seeing him. I don’t know what to think. I understand how exciting it is, how hilarious that people even speculate about this and the fact that cpns like this is dangerous. i would hate for melon/yxh accounts to pick this up and get them in trouble. We already heavily speculate that they visit each other on set because or some clues we see — no need to dig and investigate too much. 🙏🏼

• In the morning of 8/17, Paparazzi were saying XZ and his co-star from the past are not real and have no chance. This went on #1 HS. As expected, XZS pulled some mild sweets. 18:33! YIBO ZHAN ZHAN!

YBO updated minutes later. But my favorite would have to be their second update with 22:30 AI AI ZHAN!

• WYB became the first spokesperson for Pokemon Trading Cards, this is wonderful cause we know how they are big fans of it. I’m happy seeing them basically be the face of brands that they have always loved ( like chanel and gucci for example )

• 8/20/2023 YBO vlog candies 🧁🍭

• Yibo’s signature hand gesture confirmed to mean “wang”

• Qixi Festival number games

There is also some conversations that said XZ was not seen going to work that day. He & WYB could be working on Ad materials and other things, but that means they can go back home earlier. They don’t need a full day to spend Qixi together, tho that would be nice too. They just need time to be together on this romantic day. Maybe we will get more details in the months to come but we wish them all the happiness! 💕

• A new BTS on XZ sort of complaining about WYB/LWJ not looking at XZ/WWX with “yearning” as he walks away. This is so hilarious to me cause it’s so on point on what we have seen from XZ. He may be the calm & poised XZ to everyone but with WYB, he can act spoiled. He can demand more and be frank. The way he wants WYB/LWJ to show the kind of devotion he expects is just— why? why????? and you have WYB who will willingly spoil him and grant his every wish. ✨ A true example of XZ wanting the love WWX/LWJ have to happen to him too.

• similar “trick” of twirling a cloth by their fingers & how different they are

• revisiting the bts of XZ saying he prefers WYB with no makeup on ( he was just stating a universal truth that wyb is handsome even when he is bare faced )

• wool/felt doll cpn

• 8/25 XZS and YBO similarity

• revisiting the blurred background in ZZ’s mirror selfie 📷

• A wedding gift of t-shirts signed by the boys

• WHITE COUPLE SUITS! ☺️

• This month, I saw 2 questionable videos going around related to them. I do not endorse spreading these videos around but i can’t help that it pops up on my weibo feed and fans really have different etiquette when it comes to this. But i have to say that it should be a genera rule to not promote these proxy shooting because it’s too invasive. If they are hiding, we should not be the ones exposing them. They are already working enough as it is to keep their privacy. Please do not ask me for the video. I am mentioning it here for archiving purposes only.

One video is from WYB’s shoot of Luoyang, Lele & YanYan were assisting another guy aside from WYB with an umbrella. Why would they do that? We know the hiding by umbrella ploy was used before, like in SDC 3. So are they using the same tactic to protect this friend when he is visiting the crew?

Second one is at a hotel. Video is allegedly from a 🍤, they were more interested with XZ but they filmed WYB was also in the same hotel. XZ went in without any luggage too.

The videos are not clear at all, to the point that you can’t provide this as evidence in court that “based on this video it’s clearly wyb or xz” , so take it with a grain of salt.

• ZZ draws poker cards

• The start of everyone’s love for the AU pair Shengyang x Chen Shuo! This Sunshine couple! ☀️ These two are so passionate about their dreams, one with art and other w/ dancing. Their smiles. Their positive disposition. How can you not love them???

There is also the observation that SBMS premieres 9/1, conveniently when all the activities for Summer Movies, which includes OnO is done. This is not the first time this year that their projects were not released within the same period. It feels too much of a coincidence. This drama will be done in a month so i don’t know if WYB’s Bright Road can still squeeze in it’s airing before the year ends, tho i’m not optimistic cause drama licensing is tricky. Before LOCH gets released Spring Festival 2024. No matter what happens, All I know is BXGs are booked and busy!

• SOMEONE OPENED A WEBSITE THAT INCLUDES a very detailed timeline analysis of the BTS. If you’re into that and wanna go back & take a look then please do. It’s so interesting! Doing a day by day timeline of the BTS and events that happened, with photos and videos is tedious work so this is such a treat! 💕

-END. See you next Month!

Note : if you plan to reblog this post. Please do not tag it as “Wang Yibo” or “Xiao Zhan” because this does not belong there. It’s specifically for CP audience and tagging it on individual name will expose it to people who are not.

➡️➡️ (2023 previous posts) Jan-June / July

[gyunmireu]

same anon again here 🙏🏻🙏🏻i am here to humbly ask for another request… since in the manhwa jun asks for something sweet after drinking the medicine… 🙏🏻maybe something about giving him some candy?? 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻as always u r my goat… thank you again…

sweet love | dokgo jun

Fandom: Best Teacher Baek

Pairing: Dokgo Jun x GN! Reader

Word Count: 800~

Genre: Fluff

A/n: this might have been the fastest I have written a request, haha! I am kinda obsessed with how cute Jun is when he gets embarrassed lol, it ended up probably making him a little ooc but I think he would be a very shy and straightforward person in love so it would end up with him feeling embarrassed a lot around his crush.

this is technically set at the end of ch. 69! if this wasn't what you had in mind anon, let me know and I'll try to write something else (I wasn't sure how to involve candy ><) I hope you like this!

also available on ao3!

A gentle knock on the door startled Jun awake. You were standing in the doorway, looking apologetic as the blonde scrambled to sit up.

"Did I wake you up?" You asked in a soft voice, careful not to be loud. His wounds were getting better but you never know if he might be sensitive to loud noises, considering how he was just startled.

"No, I was just thinking," Jun flushed, embarrassed that he had actually dozed off for a few minutes while thinking. "I wasn't asleep!"

"Sure," you indulged in his lie and just smiled to yourself. "Can I come in?"

"Of course!" Jun hastened to reply, gesturing to the seat Gang had vacated a day before. No one else had dropped by after he had gone to talk to Mr. Baek and while the quiet was peaceful and good for recovery, it was very uncommon when around the students of Baek Suryong. "If you don't mind me asking… where is everyone?"

"There's been… a situation," you said as you sat down. "You don't need to worry about it. You should focus on your recovery."

Jun paused. It clearly wasn't something minor. You looked a little upset while talking about it and he didn't like seeing you like that. It made him uneasy. But you didn't want to speak about it so he wouldn't pry too much.

"Is everyone taking care of the situation then?" He asked carefully. You just nodded. "Then… how come you didn't go with them?"

"Oh!" Your cheeks tinted a light pink at that, and you looked down at the bowl of medicine you had held in your hands the whole time. "I… I thought someone should stay back to check on you. Not, not that you need it! I was just, worried, I guess, and I trust Mr. Baek to handle the other problem so I thought I could stay back and make sure you're healing properly– sorry! I'm rambling."

You squeezed your eyes shut, and Jun noted how your fingers were practically digging into the bowl. You looked nervous and embarrassed for some reason. He should say something to make you comfortable…

"I appreciate it," he settled on those words after thinking for a few seconds. You opened your eyes and peeked at him curiously. "Thank you for staying behind for me. Is that the same medicine from yesterday?"

"Yeah," you held it out to him. Jun reached out to take it and his hand gently wrapped around the bowl, overlapping on your fingers. The innocent touch made both of you flush and you practically pushed the bowl into his hands. Snapping your hands back to yourself, you just said a quick, "There is some more left for tomorrow as well."

"Right."

Jun stared down at his reflection in the murky colours, swallowing down the lump in his throat. He could still taste the bitterness of it from yesterday.

"I almost forgot!"

Your sudden exclamation made him look up. He watched as you drew something from your pockets and held it out to him. In your hands were a few pieces of… candy?

"I heard from Gang that you were complaining about the bitterness," you explained.

"I wasn't complaining!" Jun felt embarrassed. That Gang was really destroying his image in front of you! You giggled at his defensive retort.

"So I thought you might like some candy after it," you finished with a warm smile. The sight of it was enough to make Jun's heart throb a little faster and louder and he hurried to down the medicine so you wouldn't notice his rapidly reddening cheeks. You always got his insides wrecking so easily. "Woah there, slow down. There's no rush."

Jun dropped the empty bowl on his lap, face scrunched lightly from the bitterness. He took one of the candies you were offering and popped it into his mouth, the sweetness helping to smooth over the aftertaste.

"Good?" You tilted your head in question.

"Mm," Jun gave you a small smile of his own. He watched your eyes crinkle as you returned it with your own sweet smile. "Thank you for the candy. It was exactly what I needed."

"I'll make some more for you next time," you promised, placing the remaining next to his bed. Jun looked at you in surprise.

"You made the candy?" He watched a light flush crawl across the tip of your ears and down your neck.

"I like making candy once in a while," you shrugged. "It was the only one I had on me at the moment… I hope it didn't taste weird!"

"No, it was really good," he smiled at you. Inside, his heart was beating too fast again. He got to eat your own handmade candy?! Lucky! "When you say next time… How long will I have to wait?"

You paused and looked at him with wide eyes. He had said it a little teasingly but you seemed to have taken it seriously. Before Jun could correct it, your lips curled into a smile.

"Maybe until Valentine's?"

°•❀•°

a/n: I don't think Valentine's exists in their world but let's pretend it does because I was lost on how to end this 🙏🏻

all likes, comments and reblogs are appreciated! ♡

[squadrah]

your first impressions of la squadra vs your thoughts now?

I first saw them in the anime, so these are based on that!

Risotto:

"Congratulations on being so big and managing a Grim Reaper aesthetic out of a jester's hat and prison stripe pants, what is with your eyes though."

VS.

"I wish he had gotten his backstory animated as a bonus because I feel like it would have added so much to his arc and character to make it explicit. As ruthless as he can be once he makes up his mind, I like him more for those little flecks of humanity shining through."

Formaggio:

"That has to be the ugliest color scheme they could have gone with, but he seems fun."

VS.

"He was robbed, he was slandered and he was robbed when he has one of the best abilities out there that I would want in real life, he's just a little guy, just a little birthday boy and he needs to be appreciated more."

Prosciutto:

"TATTSUN?! This guy must be really popular to get voiced by Tattsun."

VS.

"The reason he was voiced by Tattsun is because he's literally the best and he's my forever fave and a major driving force behind me writing for fandom at all, and I love him and his Stand and his everything and I will defend him to the death."

Pesci:

"I am intrigued by your shapes and your Stand."

VS.

"He is a good boy and I wish we got to spend more time with him because it is so cool to me that one of his Stand's quirks mirror's the protagonist (damage reflection). Like, this is meaningful to me and I deeply respect his potential."

Ghiaccio:

"I know this was wishful thinking but damn, I wish you were voiced by Yoshino Hiroyuki. Your Stand is amazing though!"

VS.

"He was really great to watch and I was so sad he died because he was yet another minor antagonist showing amazing integrity and spirit and I love his Stand aesthetic and I'm so glad he gets amazing fanart of it, he is extremely valid."

Melone:

"He's a walking talking aesthetic. A computer Stand, too... oh fuck, oh god no."

VS.

"Still mad about some choices made by Araki and DavePro, because I have since embraced him as such an interesting character with oodles of potential and great to meme. He deserved better than what he got, as did his fans."

Illuso:

"What a smug bastard. Very cool Stand."

VS.

"What a smug bastard with a bajillion implied issues, he is such deliciously rotten candy, he's an asshole but he's our asshole, he's literally so much fun while being such a terrible person honestly, life would not be the same without him."

Sorbet:

"That widow's peak... Very boring fashion though."

VS.

"This is a goth drag queen who was mercilessly culled before his time because he wanted cash in this shit mafia economy for his dream goth wedding. I want him to have everything that the shounen genre was too afraid to give him."

Gelato:

"There is a very uniquely naughty vibe here. Very boring fashion though."

VS.

"He is the naughtiest little devil in this hell house, he is the personification of the >:3c emoji, everyone loves him and is simultaneously afraid he's gonna set the house on fire just for a laff. Adorable."

[trekkele]

Hi this might be a weird question but how do you get your kids to be motivated for stuff that they don't feel like doing? I just started working with kids from age 6-7, and I often find myself at a loss on how to make Learning How To Write And Calculate an exciting experience. (I'm not a teacher btw, just an assisstant but I still want to help a little in any way I can like making classes go smoother.)

Do you have any tips?

Objectively hilarious ask to send to a fandom blog, but yeah!

One thing to remember is there isn't really such a thing as "no motivation". Actions or inactions are always motivated by something, you need to figure out how to redirect that motivation. My sister taught for a decade and I remember she really loved Rick Lavoie's speeches - he talks a lot about motivation.

So things like stickers, prize charts, little rewards that can be as small as a chocolate chip (that they're allowed to eat in class) work wonders, but they do need to be constant - and you cannot escalate or the escalation becomes the norm.

For calculations, what worked for me with summer homework was using mini twizzlers - they each got a sheet with a grid, and would place one twizzler in a box to figure out addition or subtraction (so 4+5 would be putting 4 twizzlers in four boxes and then 5 more twizzlers and counting up how many were on the grid). Once the sheet was done they could eat the candy, but you could probably use counters or little beads instead - with beads you could have each kid save their beads and make a bracelet at the end of the week.

Writing is harder, but maybe let each kid pick a color pencil/crayon, or let them have two different colors to make a pattern as they write? There isn't any real reason for them to be working only in pen/pencil yet. Letting the kids put their own stickers on a finished sheet also worked for me over the summer.

Also not really your job, as an assistant, but worksheets should not be taking more then 10-15 minutes to complete these kids do not have attention spans yet. Kids who finish faster should get to pick a book from the class library and quietly read while the other kids finish. Or, depending on class size or your co-workers, maybe small puzzles? Mini activities that they can finish in under five minutes? And have like five minutes between lessons so the kids work at a slower pace can also do something.

Also also! Thank you so much for being a teacher, because that is what you're doing even if you're working under someone. I appreciate you guys so much