#i love him I really do but this has been bothering me since the pilot

[symbioticsimplicity]

I have a theory that someone else has probably already put out but I haven't seen it so here we go.

I don't think Alastor is actually all that powerful.

Propaganda under the cut.

There are a lot of things that make me think this but we'll start with the first and frankly most obvious to me.

His methodology. Alastor's main thing is making contracts and deals. When we're first introduced to him in the pilot, its with a warning to never make a deal with him. While plenty of other Overlords obviously wheel and deal, I think Alastor's are different. They're more binding and more dangerous because they're his modus operandi.

Another thing is his seeming lack of territory. Every Overlord has actual terf that we see them in, except for Alastor. This could be from lack of interest, or due to having been gone so long, or what have you but it seemed like a strange thing to have not mentioned. In addition, Carmilla, who was leading a meeting on the property and interests of all the represented Overlords and how to protect it, was utterly dismissive of his sudden return. Which to me implies that whatever he controls is likely minimal at best. Meaning him being there is pretty inconsequential to the larger picture. Dude was able to disappear for seven years and it was mostly fine? So what does he actually have?? (My only thought honestly is that maybe the air is his space since radio waves and all. That would honestly be broke as hell but there's no real evidence for this, is would just be really cool.) As much as Vox as making a dig at him, he did have a good point that the reach of radio has certainly died down over the years. While that alone doesn't mean Alastor's power has waned, its not really a *good* sign for him. He still has speakers all over but that and one really rundown store front with a single radio are really the only traces we see of him outside of the hotel.

This bit is conjecture, but when talking about his past, not only does no one ever mention HOW he killed so many powerful Overlords, they don't go into detail about much at all. There's every chance that he could have contracted them the same way he did with Husk and either forced or waited for them to break their end of their deals and THEN used them as fodder to terrorize the masses. Most of his power comes from fear and word of mouth. Most people don't even bother fucking with him because they've heard the stories, or the broadcast.

Which brings me to my next point: The Broadcasts. There are a LOT of ways that Alastor and Vox parallel each other and I can't help but wonder if using their medium to deceive people isn't one of them. So far a lot of the magic we see Alastor use is largely illusionary. Phantoms and shadows and temporary changes of environment. So what if his broadcasts are the same? What if he DOESN'T kill the Overlords he claims to have and instead used his broadcast to simulate it instead. Like War of the Worlds, but on purpose. Honestly it would be smart of him, especially if he's NOT as strong as he seems. This is also conjecture but if he made deals with those Overlords instead, he could still have them stashed away somewhere and just be calling on them and their power as needed. (Also: Husk. This man is a constant pain in the ass and usually disrespectful at best. The only time he pops off on him about it though is when Husk mentions his deal which is really just a big No-No. But he still only *threatens him* which to me implies that he actually does need him. If not for his services, even if only for the power granted by his contract. In the same way that Val doesn't actually kill Angel or anything because he can't REALLY afford to, so he controls him in other ways. If Al isn't this super strong demon, he can't really afford to just go wasting the contracts hes got due to momentary irritation when he can bring them back to heel with some light terror.)

The next thing that makes me think he's probably not super powerful is his fight with Adam. Not because he lost (I firmly believe he only actually lost because he was fucking around most of the time/ wasn't fighting for loved ones) but because of the form he took to do it. He was in a life or death fight with an ostensibly high ranking angel, and yet he didn't pull out anything more than he would have used to fight other sinners. Sure, that could be him being prideful, but I just don't think so. Home boy was being recorded and presumably knew that, if he was being prideful shouldn't he have gone balls to the wall??

In relation to that, he also made a deal himself. Not that we know what it was for or who its with, but would someone as control oriented as Alastor really make a deal if he didn't HAVE to? Overlords don't just DO that, there had to have been a compelling reason and honestly assuming Alastor isn't as strong as he makes himself out to be gives a very good opening for it.

Smaller detail, but it still matters, the smiling. He very clearly uses it as both a shield and a tool to help him maintain control of a situation. Thats not really the kind of thing you think of and commit to if you're the strongest person in the room. Covering up weaknesses obsessively is the sort of thing someone who's fronting does so their secret stays exactly that.

In the same vein, the way he reacted to Lucifer. He was threatened, which is understandable given that Luci is leagues above even the strongest Overlords, but I think it was slightly more than that. Having Lucifer around would make it drastically obvious very quickly that Al isn't as strong as he claims. So of course he tries to unbalance the situation and put focus somewhere else, the same as he always does. (Its actually the same thing he does in his duet with Vox. I'm almost certain Vox IS actually stronger than Alastor but hes so wrapped up in Al's head games he might never notice.)

It's honestly unclear if this has always been the case with him, or if its a result of his deal or his time away or something else entirely, but to me it seems incredibly likely. Alastor mostly keeps order and power through fear, not through enormous shows of power. And even those when he does them are strategic and mostly against opponents he knows are weaker than him. He's clever as all fuck, and still very dangerous for it but I don't think hes actually all that physically powerful.

[joelslegalwhre]

drunk confessions

word count // 2.056k

pairing // jake “hangman” seresin x f!bradshaw!reader

summary // You’ve had enough of hiding your relationship with Jake, so you drink yourself a little courage and just screw it

warnings // established relationship. (slightly)drunk!reader, mentions of alcohol, lightweight reader, nicknames for reader (bubbles, sweetheart, etc.), Bradley is in big brother mode, the mission I mentioned isn’t from the film, the pilots still live in their own apartments (all near the base) for this fic, soft!hangman (that man alone is a warning but him being soft???), affectionate Jake and a ton of fluff

a/n // This is the new version of "drunk confessions" from '22! I just changed the wording a little, but nothing of the plot has changed. I loved writing this two years ago and if anyone wants more Hangman, don't worry I have more to come because same haha Thanks to @saradika-graphics for the beautiful dividers ❀

(as always, please tell me if I missed a warning)

Masterlist

You and Jake started dating almost a year ago when Bradley and him were together at Top Gun. 

Rooster and Hangman had never been the best of friends, everyone knew that, so it was never the right moment to tell him about the two of you. The risk of Bradley being angry or perhaps even disappointed was too big. At least that’s what you thought. 

Jake understood why you didn’t want anyone to know. And although he’d love to just scream it out into the world, that he was dating the younger Bradshaw, that he was without a doubt the luckiest man on fucking earth, he respected your decision. 

Jake knew that you’d do the same for him without a question.

You wanted to tell Bradley eventually, just right now wasn’t the right time. But the real question is, when was it really? 

Jake had a hard time keeping away from you whenever you were at the Hard Deck with the team. You mostly spent your time at the bar with Penny, to keep her company and to catch up with the latest news - often involving your godfather. 

She and Maverick were so obvious sometimes it made you chuckle, but you really hoped he wouldn’t let her down this time. But Amelia and you would ensure that. 

From your seat at the bar, you also had a perfect sight at the pool table. A lame excuse to stare at a certain blonde pilot all night. 

Jake would always be the first to voluntarily get a new round of beers for the group, and no one complained about it. They were all so caught up in what they were doing, that no one noticed how he eyed you all night, ready to be by your side in seconds if anyone were to bother you. 

-

“Hey Penny, sweetheart. Another round please!” he gave her a wink and shot her one of his handsome grins. Penny nodded with a smile in return and turned around to get seven cold beers for the young pilots. 

“You look smokin’ hot, baby.” he whispered to you as his bright eyes met yours. They had this glow in them every time he looked at you. 

“You don’t look too bad yourself, Seresin.” you teased him with a wink. 

“I can do way more than look good. Whatever you want, Bradshaw.” he grinned while his hand secretly found yours on the bartop, his broad frame shielding it from preying eyes. 

You chuckled lightly, “Oh really?”

“Oh yeah, babe. You better wait for me when everyone’s gone. I need to take ya home with me.” he flirted shamelessly in his southern accent you loved so much. Jake knew you’d do exactly that anyway, since you basically lived at his apartment at this point, but where would be the fun?

-

Not even Phoenix knew about the two of you, so you could say both Hangman and yourself did a rather good job. 

This time was different though. 

They were all going to meet up at the Hard Deck tonight, for another night of pool, darts and what not. The next mission was in less than a week, and you just wanted to spend as much time with Jake as possible. Just like he wanted to with you. 

Jake hated to keep his hands by himself when you were just a few feet away, playing darts with Fanboy or Bob. You never hid from them, after all, Rooster was your older brother. If you weren’t talking to Penny, you spent your nights with them, laughing, drinking and chatting. 

Not tonight… tonight would be different.

You met Penny at the bar in the late afternoon, to help her get everything ready before the first guests would come in. Amelia was staying at a friend’s house, so you gladly took over her part. 

When everything was ready for the Hard Deck to open, you sat down at your regula seat at the bar. 

Penny looked at you from the side while she turned on the lights underneath the bar. “Can I get you anything?” She asked, a hint of worry in her voice. 

“Can I get a beer?”

“Sure, sweetie.” Penny smiled gently. She put the bottle down in front of you, and you took a large sip. 

“So,“ Penny started, putting her hands on the bar, arms on each side of your beer. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart? You’ve been out of it today.“ You looked up at her, and she had this look on her face that gave you so much comfort. You knew you could tell her everything and she’d keep it safe. 

„I… I’ve been thinking about…„ Yeah, what exactly was it that you thought about ever since opening your eyes today? 

You didn’t even know. Not really. 

You thought about telling Bradley about your relationship with his rival, screwing everything. But you’ve also thought about keeping it to yourself just a little longer. The upcoming mission was creeping into your mind at every thought; What if they didn’t make it? You didn’t want to think about that more than just a second. Not about your brother nor Jake. 

He would come back, and he’ll be fine. This wasn’t his first mission.

“I don’t even know Penny, I’m so confused.” you sighed and let your head fall into your crossed arms. 

“You’ll figure it out, sweetheart. I know you will.” she said, caressing your hair. You lifted your head to look into her eyes, her kind smile calming your racing thoughts a little. 

Not enough, though. 

That night, you kind of ignored your limits of how much alcohol you could handle in one night. You got pretty much drunk. Not to a point where you could throw up or blackout, Penny was in charge of the bar after all, but the kind you’d be rewarded with a nice headache the next day and your mind to be pretty foggy. 

Drinking wasn’t one of your strengths. That’s why Jake liked to jokingly call you a lightweight, and he couldn’t be more accurate with it. 

You’ve been sitting at the bar for a good part of the night now. The team had already greeted you when they came in, asking you to come with them, but you declined, telling them you’d maybe join them later.

“Penny.” you tried to get her attention, a sudden certainty in your voice, “Please excuse me. I have to go and get some kisses now.“ 

“That’s his boyfriend duty,” you said with a confident nod. “You know, happy wife, happy life.” 

Penny had no idea how no one of the team could see the glances Hangman gave you. How he couldn’t tear his gaze away from you even if he tried. If anything happened, he’d be there in a heartbeat. And those poor guys who tried to flirt with you were quickly intimidated by his death stare. 

Penny just laughed. She had kept a close eye on you since your third drink of the night, the last two she gave you were non-alcoholic, but you didn’t have to know that. 

She ignored your choice of words at the saying, not changing ‚wife‘ to ‚girlfriend‘ with a chuckle and motioned you to go. “Go and tell Jake then.” You looked at her with wide eyes, “How did y‘know I’m talking about Jake?” 

Penny tilted her head with a smile, “Sweetheart, I notice things.” she winked, “Now go and get your man.” 

The next thing you knew, you were trying to your boyfriend at the pool table. 

“Hey, Jake!” 

His head snapped in your direction at the use of his first name. You were the only one calling him that. And the first name basis got everyone else’s attention as well. 

“Yeah?” he tried to not be too obvious. But his concern about how you were feeling was rising with every second. 

You didn‘t stop at the pool table, but walked up to him. Until you stood right in front of him. You looked up into his bright eyes, filled with curiosity.

“I need kisses.” you told him with a pout, wrapping your arms around his neck. He was so thrown off by what you were saying, that he almost forgot the others around him.

Jake unwrapped your arms from his neck and placed his hand on your lower back. “I think you need some water and sleep, bubbles.” he couldn‘t suppress the small grin that grew on his lips.

„Kisses?! What the fuck is-„ Rooster started but was quickly interrupted by you, “Oh for god’s sake shut up Bradley.” you hushed your brother in honest annoyance, turning to him. 

“I love you, but I’m sick and tired of hiding something from you that’s important to me, just because I’m scared of what you’ll think or do.”

Hangman’s gaze was a mix between shock and pride. That you just straight out told your brother and all of your friends standing around you, about the two of you. Not keeping it a secret anymore. He knew it took a toll on you, and he’d told you multiple times to just tell Bradley for your own sake.

“Oh my god” you heard Phoenix breath out a laugh, while the others couldn‘t find words, still shocked, while some of them were exchanging amused looks.

Bradley didn’t. He looked back and forth between you and Jake, not able to process it all quite yet.

„Sorry man, listen I-„ 

“Just give me a second, okay?” Rooster cut Hangman off, stomping to the bar. 

“Let him be,“ you said while curling yourself into his side, hugging his arm close to your body, “He’ll be fine by tomorrow, the old drama queen.” Sober-you would probably be scared Bradley would be angry or disappointed. 

Good thing you weren‘t sober right now. 

“Babe, how much did you have to drink?” Jake whispered, as he bent down a little until his lips reached your ear.

“Ohh, not that much.” you assured him as you tried to sound sober, looking up at his face, only inches away from yours.

He looked back to the bar, finding Penny’s gaze. She mouthed something like “water” easing Hangman’s concern about your drunken state.

“Let’s get you to bed, huh, sugar?” he softly smiled at you. A real smile, one he had reserved for only you. 

You instantly shook your head in disagreement, “I swear, I’m not-„ you yawned, “that tired.” 

“‘Course you aren't” he mockingly smiled down at you.

“C‘mon, on my back.” he ordered, putting his hands behind his back, ready to hold your legs for support. He bent down, and you tried your best to hop on his back. You wouldn’t win anyway, and sooner or later - you preferred later - he’d carry you out the bar. 

You rested your head on Jake’s shoulder and wrapped your hands around his body. Your eyes already closing as the exhaustion betrayed you.

“Wow, Hangman, nice one.” Coyote teased him, the others joining in with laughter. Who would’ve thought Hangman had a soft spot.

“Shut it, Coyote.” Jake said with a look that would make anyone run for the hills.

“See you tomorrow, lover boy!” Phoenix joked. 

You giggled on Jake’s shoulder, “That’s a good one!” you lazily turned your head in her direction and smirked, Phoenix and the others laughing back at you.

“You’re supposed to be on my side.” Jake complained, giving your ass a little smack.

“Hey.” you giggled, but did nothing in response. Your head ached a little, and you hadn‘t had the strength nor willpower to do so. Just relived to be carried, you let your head sink back on Jake’s shoulder. 

“I love you.” you whispered to Jake as he carefully sat you down on the passenger seat of his car. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes finding yours. Jake bent down to place a soft kiss on your lips and he smiled. 

The slight smell of alcohol was surrounding you, but Jake couldn’t care less. „I love you, and I’ll never let you go, that’s for sure. You’re all mine, baby.“ he whispered back between small kisses, giving you goosebumps. His scent surrounded you as you wrapped your hands around his neck to bring him even closer. “Good.” you grinned and pulled him into another, longer kiss.

Masterlist

[loulovingho]

Seeing the Maddie gif just reminded of all the wasted potential and storylines they could have had with Tommy and the bucktommy relationship. Because let's face it, for all of the mains it's the same storyline over and over again - we're not learning anything new about them. But then here we have a character who we sort of already know, who they've teased us with a bit of his history and it was like finally! A chance for something new! We could have learned more about his family, maybe see how Buck reacts meeting his father and then having to deal with his homophobic reaction to him, the man he loves and their relationship. He clearly sounded like he didn't have a lot of close friends/family/support outside of Buck - we could have explored that, have Buck be there for his man and show him how, you have me and the 118. We never got to see the whole "dating a fellow first responder and the challenges that come with that" - we've seen Buck in the hospital so many times, it would have been interesting to see Tommy in that hospital bed and Buck having to deal with the one being by the bedside for once, worrying about someone he loves, maybe making him fully appreciate everything his family had gone through in the past when HE was the one injured (like all the effort Maddie went into to look after him). We could have had Tommy and Eddie bonding over war stories - was Tommy discharged due to DADT? If so, we could have had conversations with Karen, who also was affected by that. Hell, if they were gonna do the stupid "he was engaged to Abby for two years" story, have Chim and Hen be like, dude, you were working with us all that time, how did we not KNOW (that story still makes no sense - he never mentioned her name to them? Because if he did, surely it would have clicked when they met her in S1 "oh, you're Tommy's Abby". But Tim acknowledged he retconned their relationship from an ex-boyfriend to ex-fiances so he clearly doesn't care.)

But most of all, despite being together for SIX MONTHS, we never saw Tommy and Maddie interact. Maddie was clearly excited for Buck ("tell me about the hot pilot"), she's married to Tommy's old friend, there was the perfect opportunity to see them start to bond over family dinner or something. We've never seen Maddie really click with any of Buck's LI's before, so it would have been nice to see Buck's whole world start to come together. And it could have led to family orientated stories for Buck for once - we always assume he wants kids because he says he loves kids and we see that with Chris, Jee etc. There could have been discussions for the first time about Buck's future - does he see himself getting married, having kids (and ugh, so annoyed that the first time Buck mentions the possibility of getting married is 30 seconds before his heart is crushed).

And that's not even going into the small things I wanted to see on-screen. I knew we were never gonna get anything too intimate - 911 is a bit prudish, they don't really do sex scenes, especially not since the first season, and hell, all their other main couples barely kiss as it is. But things like holding hands as they're walking down the street, talking about their day while making dinner together, waking up in bed together - small little domestic things that show how their relationship is developing. SHOW it developing. (Because while the snippets they showed of their relationship showed that they were growing more comfortable as a couple, a lot of that development happened off screen.)

This was the first time in a long time, maybe ever, that we saw Buck truly happy (that man was GLOWING, even covered in boils). For the first time, we could have seen his story GROW, instead of doing the same lather, rinse, repeat that has happened in all his relationships (Buck falls for someone, goes too hard too fast, they abandon him, he doesn't bother fighting for the relationship). We could have finally had a sprinkling of new storylines (Tommy wasn't a main, we obviously weren't going to get a hell of a lot, but if Karen can have her own stories/backstories, so could he). All that down the drain for what, Buck 1.0 again? Him jumping back on that hamster wheel of "find new love interest, it goes nowhere, he's single again". It's boring, and this show is on its 8th season - not only has this been played out for too long, who knows how much longer the show is gonna last. If it only goes until say season 10, that would have been two and a half seasons worth of seeing Buck be able to grow, get the love he always wanted (hell, maybe even get engaged, finish the series with a wedding implying he gets his happily ever after). Buck is only one member of an ensemble cast - they can't focus on him every episode, so two years is plenty of time to draw out only a handful of fresh stories. After 8 season, keeping him perpetually single for this long only works if he's always been played as like Joey off Friends - someone who is happy playing the dating game, not looking to go anywhere. Except Buck has been shown to be looking for love all this time - he doesn't want that single life (he doesnt want to "explore" Tim - screwing random men and women isnt going to help him find that love he's always wanted, especially when he already had it). But instead, they take it away from him AGAIN, and now they're back to square one. Sigh.

There’s so much i agree with here! They’ve tried to cram soooo many storylines into each episode that there’s no room to breathe. Everything feels stunted and half-assed. Tim said they didn’t want to ignore everything that happened at the end of 7, wanted to pick it back up, but they spent these first few episodes either destroying the storylines they built on, or ending them so abruptly it doesn’t feel satisfying. Nothing feels connected anymore. In early seasons you’d have them all working together on certain major storylines, but I’d doesn’t really feel like that happens now outside of calls. And the calls are so quick (besides the damn plane) that you don’t really connect with that either.

It would have been nice to see tommy and buck develop more, nice to see him involved with the group instead of just Eddie, nice to see them keep their word and try to make this love interest different from the rest. They did none of that.

[arandomnerd810]

personal TADC character analysis

uh warning this is long lol

autism time let’s go (/not in a negative way i have autism) stretches hands * I’ll go in order of the character episodes cause why not we have it (see below) i’ll put periods but it will just be to make it more readable not to be intimidating lolll

btw im completely open to interpretations of characters changing throughout the series this is just for fun

Gooseworx has said this series is mostly focused on characters rather than lore, and from what we know, i truly believe it. I don’t think any of the current characters will abstract because of this.

(I put a version of this in the glitch inn discord theory thing so if you recognize it that’s why)

Pomni: we already know her deal pretty well, as we’ve already had her episode. uuuh if anyone’s going to do something important lore wise it will probably be her as she’s the main character but can’t rlly tell what that may be. to review ep 2 though she’s an outcast who has felt like she was nothing and is a logical thinker.

(Kinger and Zooble will there their focus episode but i put it in order of who was revealed to be the ep 3 focus first)

Zooble: From their design (the entire motif is it can be changed at any time) and the fact she doesn’t know his gender, we’re dealing with some pretty clear identity issues. Friends with Gangle seems cool excited for next episode to learn more about them!

Kinger: One of the most interesting characters so far. I feel like we will get to learn more about abstraction though Queenie, the X-ed out door that looks like a female version of him. If i had to guess, since Gooseworx said they were not siblings, they were a couple. (Also judging by his age and the fact he could have been married, he may have been a father yeowch imagine that) I can see the common theory of the insect collection implying he was a coder before getting trapped, but i could also see him being some random guy who just likes bugs lol. He seems like really sweet guy behind his constant anxiety and disassociating.

 Gangle: (My faveorite human rn) Her mask design can be interpreted in a lot of ways but it’s clear that the happy mask isn’t her real personality. My take on it rn is she doesn’t wana bother people with her stuff so she pretends she’s happy? She seems easily embarrassed and def has self esteem lower than the last circle of hell. What’s interesting though is she’s willing to stand up for herself from time to time, even though she’s easily shot down after.

Ragatha: Waaaay too nice for her own good. Also probably has self esteem lower than the last circle of hell and bases her self worth of others approval.  Though she’s been here the second longest, she seems a lot more normal than Kinger. Makes me question how long apart their introductions have been. Probably copes via escapism.

Jax: I can see why everyone is very interested in him cause me too. He seems like the only fourth wall breaky guy (unless you count Caine cause of his intro at the pilot)which is rlly interesting how did he figure out more than everyone else? what’s with the keys? i have no clue lmao. He’s an asshole who makes the best of his situation by torturing everyone else. At the end of the day though, he’s a human and was sad at kaufmo’s abstraction but he probably isolates himself so it would probably be the same for anyone

but waAitTt a moment

that’s 6 humans but Gooseworx said we would look into 7 (cause of the “other” part) in her twitter post talking about the character focus timeline so we know our fav character won’t be left behind ��️⁉️⁉️ I hear you not asking well my dear hypothetical person, who better to fill the 7th character than Caine?

Why you did not ask? Too bad i’m info dumping. First, he’s the main antagonist and alongside Pomni, the commercial face (or lack their of haha teeth and eye joke) of the series. he’s an important character and loved by many. (and hated equally if not more aside the point lmaooo)

Yes, gooseworx can lie about stuff but I think she’s smarter than to lead this heavy into Caine depth/ angst territory if there wasn’t going to be anything On top of that, the entire purpose of the timeline post was so we know our faveorite characters weren’t getting treated poorly. It’s unlike for a character based show to suddenly drop such a major character for some random other guy were introduced to later or smth. i mean cmon there’s three episodes after all the humans at least one of them has to be focused on my boy.

Caine: I believe he really does have good intentions and wants to help but just does not understand people at all. This means he’s like an anxiety disorder; it wants to help, solves some issues but creates 500 more. Judging by the Tumblr post, loneliness may play a big part in what’s to come? I’ve always had a feeling his front was extremely fake and his VA saying “breaks keyfable” (an act that pretends it’s true) supports that theory. Episode two gives some insecurity vibes when Zooble didn’t want to go on the adventure. I find that pretty interesting cause he didn’t care at all if people went on the gloink adventure or not. Maybe he puts some adventures over others and he could have been proud of the candy adventure cause more time and care was put into it and he made a new AI. Why did he blue screen? i feel like he could have some blockages on what he can say built in though im not sure why he was blocked then if he even was. one of the biggest questions i have ab him currently tbh. what’s with him grabbing his cane like that in ep 2? if i had to guess simply be nervous = that? His VA also knows some depth to him even though his focus episode is likely going to be at least one of the last 3 episodes, which they have not gotten to recording yet. You know what this means Caine angst solidarity club? Sad Caine so more fan angst appetizers before the main cannon feast let’s friccin go‼️‼️⁉️⁉️

(try to guess my fav impossible /j)

[anurst]

Girl Bradshaw

Summary: jake makes the first move and now you've got a date for tomorrow night. But for tonight, you're spending the night with your therapist.

Pairing(s): jake seresinx (fem)(bradshaw) reader

Warning(s): language, therapy, self-esteem/self-doubt issues

Part 4: Gorgeous dirty blond, green-eyed, southern babe

So, training hadn't gone as well as you expected it to. Jensen had the time of his life knocking you on your ass more than once. To make up for it though, you had taken down Carlos more times than you could count.

You moaned as you pushed your chest towards the ground in between your spread leg. Stretching was always great after training.

"You feeling better?" Ethan asked as he sits down next to you, beginning his own stretches. You and Ethan have been friends for years, much like everyone on your team, but there was always this polite distance between you. While everyone felt comfortable asking personal question, Ethan never did. He'd wait for you to tell him what was bothering you. Which is why it made you frown when he asked how you were feeling.

"Uh—better, I guess. My body doesn't feel all tense now. My ass actually hurts a lot since Jen slammed down like a billion times."

Ethan chuckles, "Yeah, well now you know how the rest of us feel when we're paired with him for sparing."

You raise a brow, "What are you talking about?"

Rolling his eyes, Ethan his upper body towards his right leg, "Jensen's always takes it easier on you. Has been since Russia." You scoff at his comment. Ethan also had a tendency to be blunt. Not a bad thing, but it could be when he said something weird, like now. He could tell that his comment rubbed you the wrong way, so he changes the subject. "She's here."

"Who is?"

"The girl—the pilot that ghosted me."

You snort and Ethan glares at you. "Sorry! What you gonna do?" He shrugs and stands. You follow his movement and stand with him.

"Wasn't gonna do anything, really. I think she's into the blond with glasses on her team." You both begin walking to the locker rooms.

"Need me to fight her?" Ethan smiles at your words.

"As entertaining as that would be, I don't think the raiders would find it as funny as I do." You shrug.

You're talking with Amy and leaving the women's locker room when you see Jake. He's leaning against the wall, seemingly waiting for someone. Waiting for you.

Amy grins as she pulls your arm, "Your prince charming's waiting!"

You grimace at her words. "I don't know about that." Amy visibly deflates.

"(y/n), I love you. I think you are one of the best humans on this planet. But, you are goddamn stupid. There is a gorgeous dirty-blond, green-eyed, southern babe standing right over, who is clearly interested in you!" Your cheeks start to warm up as you stare at Jake. "If you don't talk to him, I will," Amy threatens before taking off in the opposite direction. You take a deep breath in and walk towards Jake.

"You make it a habit of waiting outside of women's locker rooms?" you tease, your heart beginning to beat faster. Jake shakes his head at your question and smiles at you.

"Only for you."

"Oh, I'm flattered," you joke. You reach up to brush a strand of hair behind your ear and you panic. You didn't shower after training since you wanted to in the comforts of your own apartment. Does Jake think you smell bad? That would ruin any chance you have with the dirty blond.

"How was training?" It's an innocent question but makes you panic.

"I don't smell!"

Jake raises an eyebrow with an amused smirk, "No, you don't. You hit your head too hard or somethin'?" Oh shit, his slight southern drawl makes your knees go weak.

"Well, Jensen did knock me on my ass a couple hundred times. He's the best at hand-to-hand in the first battalion, so basically all of the raiders."

Something shifts on Jake's face, but you don't notice it. "Is he your boyfriend?" You frantically shake your head.

"No! God, no! He's like my brother!" You both cringe at your words and you sigh. "I mean— he's my best friend. Has been for the past fifteen years. He's my rock, my person, you know better half or whatever." Jake nods as he smiles again.

"Good. I won't feel bad for asking you on a date then." You let out a shaky chuckle.

"Date?"

"Yep," he replies, popping the 'p'.

"And this isn't some set up?" you ask, doubt beginning to form in your heart. Jake's cute, gorgeous even, but he's friends with Bradley. What if Bradley put him up to this? Would Bradley do that?

"If you're thinking that Rooster put me up to this, you're wrong. So wrong, darling."

"Rooster?" you question.

"Bradshaw— uh Bradley's callsign."

"Really? He went with Rooster?"

"He sounds like one when he snores." Jake laughs with you before he bites his lip. "So, that date?" You struggle to answer.

"Jake. I'm sure you're a great guy, an amazing guy even. But you—"

"Work with my brother and Maverick," Jake finishes. He nods in acceptance, disappointment clear on his face. "It's alright. I get it." He begins to walk away and your stomach flips.

"Wait!" You grab his wrist. "What do you like more pancakes, waffles, or french toast?" Jake looks at you with face full of confusion and you laugh. "No jokes. Just which one do you like more?"

"Waffles," he answers and you grin. He's a waffles guy. Of course, he is.

"There's this place called Casita Ruiz. I've got a hot date with my therapist tonight, so tomorrow night. At 6. If you're late, I know how to break every bone in the human body, just so you know." Jake's smiling wide, and so are you.

"I'll show up at 5:30 then." Before you know what's happening, Jake lean forward and presses a kiss against your cheek. Your face burns up even more. "I'll see you tomorrow, Braidy."

"Call me (y/n). It's my middle name. The only people who call me Braidy are the ones I don't like."

"You like me?"

"Don't push your luck, cowboy."

No matter how many times you've sat on this sofa, you'll never get use to it. Ava's staring at you with her dark, brown eyes and you shift uncomfortably. Sighing, you decided to just lay on the sofa, even though your feet hang over.

"(y/n)," Ava begins and you groan. "You called me and said you needed to talk to me right away." You cover your eyes with your arm and lick your lips.

"Bradley and Pete are here," you finally say. Ava's eyes widen and she sits a little straighter. She's heard about them many times from you. They're the main topic you talk about. Them, and the nightmares that you get from your countless assignments.

"And, how does that make you feel?" Ava asks, her voice soft and comforting. But, it doesn't have the effect she wants because you sit right up.

"How does it make me feel?" you scoff, venom clear in your voice. "They've been stationed in Miramar for the past two year together! Miramar! 45 fucking minutes away me! You know, I bet they were having the goddamn time of their lives there! As if nothing fucking happened!" You run a hand through your hair.

Ava bits her lips. "45 minutes, huh."

"Yeah," you whisper, voice broken and Ava frowns. You've been seeing her for the past seven years, and you've made a lot of progress. But now? It seems it's all gone down the drain at the appearance of your estranged brother and godfather.

"Braidy," she says, voice now firm, and you glare.

"Don't call me that."

"They call you that."

"Well, Bradley and Pete can go fuck themselves for all I care."

"You do care. You care a lot. That's why we're sitting here," she says and you roll your eyes. You've gone back to lay down and turn your head to look at Ava.

"I don't want to care," you say, your eyes becoming watery.

"But, you do. You care so much that you're hurting yourself." You turn away from Ava's eyes and look at the ceiling. "Have you ever thought about talking to them."

"I'd end up yelling at them if I did."

"Maybe that's what you need. To yell them. Tell them everything and anything." You nod and press your lips into a thin line, debating whether you should tell Ava about Jake.

"There's this guy. His name's Jake and he's a naval aviator," you let out a humourless chuckle, "He works with Bradley and Pete. Before coming here, he asked me out and I said yes."

"That's good. It's been a while since you've been on a date," Ava teases. You snort and look at her.

"You making fun of me, Doc?"

"Just an observation." Your eyes go back to the ceiling. "I can tell there's a but coming."

"But, I'm not sure going out with him is a good idea."

Ava nods, "You think Bradley has something to do with him asking you out."

"Yes and no."

"Do you wanna talk about your doubts?"

You sigh, "Aside from the fact that I'm Bradley's sister, there's nothing interesting about me. I mean, he could have gone for Amy. She's brighter, smiles more, and guys love that. So, why me?" There it is. The self-doubt. It's one of the issues that you've been working on in the past seven year.

"(y/n)" your eyes don't stray from the ceiling, "You're not unloveable."

"I know."

Ava sighs, "Have you given more thought to my suggestion?"

"About the dog?"

"Mhmm, you've always said you wanted one."

"I work too much," you clear your throat. "I wouldn't be around enough to take care of it. It's cruel. To give someone hope that you'll be around and them drop off the face of the earth."

Taglist: @potato-girl99981 @winterrebel04 @caitsymichelle13 @darhk-angel @madkill44 @cherrycola27 @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @clockworkballerina  @krismdavis @phantomxoxo @piceous21 @laneyspaulding19 @multifandomfangirll @moron-says-what @rhirhikingston @startrekfangirl2233 @mightiestheroes @awesomebooklover17 @gizmodear @meritxellao @adaydreamaway088 @letsgomamas @midnightzonzz @iamaslytherin0 @thesewordsxlibrary @shawnsblue @theficthatwaspromised

[knight-a3]

Hazbin Hotel Sketchbook Tour Part 10

Masterpost

I need to preface this one by saying that Vox(while not my favorite character) is my favorite redesign. I've made him look so wonderfully stupid, and it makes me laugh every time I look at it.

But first, Angel Dust.

Design notes will be under the cut.

Design notes under the cut

Angel Dust: So Angel makes me uncomfortable. The innuendos and raunchy jokes are not my cup of tea. It's part of why I struggled with his redesign so much. But I think I've finally managed to balance it while also alluding to his mobster roots.

I remember reading somewhere(not sure how canonicallt viable this is but I'm running with it) that Angel doesn't dress super provocatively outside of work. He's more inclined to dress comfy. So I gave him some lounge attire.

But I'm sure he would still want to dress up when out and about in town. So I gave him an outfit vaguely reminiscent of a mobster with the pinstripes and pseudo suit jacket, but also diverts away from it by leaning more into the fashion. He may keep up with modern fashions decently, but he's still a product of his time and upbringing. He's still got some mobster in him. I also preferred the look of his shorter gloves from the pilot, at least on his main set of arms. The second set has long ones like in the series, which would help the animators differentiate them. Tbh, I'd scrap the second set of gloves entirely if only it didn't feel in character.

Overall, I like this outfit for him. I think it balances his femininity and masculinity.

Idk if anyone noticed, but I don't like drawing characters with only 4 fingers. Something about it bothers me. So I've been doing everyone with 5. But I make an exception for extra limbs. Angels' second set of arms has 4 fingers, and the third has 3. Also, the extra sets are black and more bug-like than the main set. I do this to others, like Valentino, as well.

I've also noticed a lot of redesigns give him prominent spider fangs, and I just never liked how any of them looked on him. Instead, I gave him normal teeth fangs

Vox: To begin, Vox needed more bulk so his body could concievably support the old TV models. Twink size wasn't cutting it. The change also had the side effect of making him shorter, which just works better proportionately.

I liked the idea that Vox could never get rid of his original bulky 50s TV, but also wanted him to be able to upgrade. So I decided his true body is the 50s TV, and he adds an upgraded monitor as a head as technology improves. He's hates that he's stuck as an old fashioned TV, so he hides that under his suit. Since the monitor is just an addition, it can be swapped out easily. It can be damaged and he's technically unharmed. But he has to reveal his true body in order to see without the monitor. Unless he wants to use surrounding cameras and move via third person view.

Next, I don't like that everyone seems to have sharp teeth. I want more variety. (Similar to the whole bowtie deal) So I gave Vox "regular" teeth, which help him look more trustworthy. It fits the corrupt businessman vibe. Because his head is a screen, his face can change appearance based on both what he wants and what mood he's in. When he's angry, his face may glitch out, become too big for the monitor, and/or his teeth can become sharp. He might have to reboot after a Blue Screen of Death if he gets too worked up. When he's bored or tired a Voxtech logo will bounce around like the DVD logo, or display a screensaver. When hes feeling sheepish his face will get smaller on the screen(not that he'd ever feel ashame about anything, of course), etc. So many possibilities. I really want an excuse to give him a troll face at some point. It may be an old meme, but it feels appropriate.

Anyway, I love how stupid not having a head makes him look. He looks like SpongeBob and it's hilarious.

[dorkynerd23]

My Problem With Vanitymoth/My Thoughts.

Hello guys!! Hope you're all doing good and well and you've been having a good and wonderful day/night. Now, this will sorta be a mixture of a critical/rant post, as this is someone I've been wanting to talk about as they're someone who's been criticized and talked about (mostly negatively) In regardless to the Murder Drones Community and I wanted to give my thoughts and opinions on this dude, as I don't think he's a very good cartoon reviewer but before I start PLEASE DON'T SEND ANY HATE!! This isn't meant for me to bash and send hate towards this dude, please don't do that shit as it's not worth it and doesn't make you any better, I just wanted to give my thoughts and criticisms about Vanity and his content, your allowed to critique him but don't send any hate. Anyways, the one I'm gonna be talking about is Vanitymoth and if you're not familiar and haven't heard of him, Vanity is basically a cartoon reviewer with about 12.8K subscribers and his first video which was uploaded back in 2022 (around the same year his channel was created) and was about Panty And Stocking and his channel wasn't as popular when he first started out and I discovered him around this time and thought his videos were decent and fine enough at the time, especially as he had a small following around the time but I honestly think it wasn't until he made his first MD video is when he really started to get more popular and I subscribed to him once he started making MD reviews as I was a huge fan around the time.

In the beginning I thought Vanity was a fine and decent enough reviewer and he seemed valid and gave some interesting points in his videos, but I started to notice some changes once he started putting out some more negative videos with one of the ones being his trashfire of a review on Lackadaisy and most of the time for his review he's just complaining and nitpicking as some stuff, (even though I do think in some aspects he can be valid) being negative most of the time, the only thing he really praises in Lackadaisy is the animation but doesn't bother really giving any more positive thoughts even though there is so much to adore and love about Lackadaisy, even if you aren't 100% familiar with the source material I think you'd still be able to follow along fine and enjoy the Pilot. But with Vanitymoth, it seems just didn't seem to understand and get the Pilot or what even the concept of a Pilot Is..the whole point of a Pilot Is to introduced you to the world, the setting where the story is taking place in and introduce the characters we'll be following along, and although Lackadaisy isn't perfect at all, no piece of media is, but I think they did a good job. Another thing Vanitymoth is that in his reviews for most of the time he thinks his opinions are the definitive answers to the direction the show is going and bashes people who actually know to have fun with the show and sees his opinions as definite facts.

He also constantly whined and complains about TADC getting more attention than MD, like he's complained about it a lot, he mentions it at some points in his "The Slow Death Of Murder Drones Fandom" and it seems he had an issue of another Glitch having another show going on that was more popular, like...you don't have to enjoy and like TADC but you don't need to put one show down to praise the other, why not enjoy both shows?? Also, the thing about the MD fanbase dying after the show ends, which I don't think will happen as the fandom has gotten bigger and popular since the Pilot's release and the show will still be rewatched and beloved by fans and others even now the show's over and just because a fandom doesn't interact 24/7 doesn't mean it's dead, that's like saying the Gravity Falls fandom died after the show ended..like the show is still popular and the fandom is still huge even years after the show's finale, besides Glitch has expressed that they wanna do more with MD in the future so we'll probably be seeing more of these characters in the near future, so that doesn't make sense and it seems Vanity only wants Glitch to favor MD only and it's just frustrating.

Now, let's discuss his MD reviews..alright so first let me started off my saying that I'm fine with being critical and being criticism and there's many things you can critique about MD as it's NOT a perfect show but as I said the thing with Vanity is that he seems so damn negative in almost all his MD reviews even though some points can be valid, but most of the time to me..his criticisms just seems in bad faith, not valid and just him pulling stuff and random theories out of nowhere to fit his own narrative. Let's point out and start on how he just doesn't understand and gets the characters in the slightest, he doesn't shy away or even try to hide in the slightest that he's got hatred for both N and Uzi, Nuzi especially as a couple..but is totally fine and ships Cyn and N together and then got pissed at the fanbase and acted like a baby because nobody liked the ship, like jesus dude..

And he's also mischaracterized the characters like most in the fandom do unfortunately but he's done it the most to both N and Uzi especially, like I said he doesn't shy away that he hates them with a burning passion. He's shown his hatered for Uzi (not even surprised in the slightest as he commissioned some hate art of Uzi getting beat up by J) and mischaracterized her and saying how her whole character is only involved around N and is blaming her just like some haters of Uzi and it's just frustrating..like UZI DIDN'T do anything wrong at all and characters can be characters on their own and have a love interest, I'm really sick and tired of all the Uzi hate is annoying as hell and frustrating, even after the finale Uzi is still getting hated and it's just so unjustified, Vanity and others need to realize that Uzi has gone through something called..."CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!!" ✨💜 Y'all seem to NOT understand and get it and just wanna say certain things to make characters look worse and awful and overall don't get these characters, oh and don't get me started on his video about N's character analysis..and similar to Uzi, he doesn't understand and get N and called him "obsessive" over Uzi and and killed "Tessa" without a second thought and seems to see N as some yandere or something. And he's doing this all because he hates Nuzi, like you don't have to like this ship but acting this way and getting this mad and acting the way you do over a FUCKING ship is childish as shit, and another thing is that he literally pulled something from non-canon and called it a "pattern" because of Liam Vickers or some stuff like that and reading Vanity's so-called theories and analysis just reminds me of "Analysis so bad you don't even know what it's talking about anymore" thread over on Twitter, his video and the way he analysis N's character by ignoring his feelings and trying to paint him as this savior lunatic that's so obsessed with Uzi that he'd sacrifice the universe and loved ones just to have her is just...mischaracterization is an understatement, a straight-up bastardization of his entire personality and arc, Vanity doesn't understand or get any of these characters and gives these bad takes to make them look worse.

He's currently working on his review on the finale and I'm not looking forward to it in the slightest like as I said, I'm all for giving criticisms and you're allowed to love and be a fan of show I'm the same way, and I'm sure others are the same and don't blindly praise whatever they like 24/7 and see them as perfect, you're allowed to feel how you feel and you're valid and allowed to not like the finale. But most of the time in Vanity's videos is that it's mostly negative and he complains about almost anything, even nitpicking the smallest things and he barely discusses the positives about he reviews and uses his opinions as definite facts. It sucks because I really did enjoy and liked Vanity as a reviewer in the beginning as he did bring up some valid points and was decent as a YouTuber but as he kept on putting out more videos, getting more popular he just seemed to get more and more negative and I saw a quality drop in his videos, he's barely positive in his videos and it just makes him unpleasant and boring to watch and hard to fully enjoy his stuff.

Really hope this little rant sounded fair and was okay, I don't really do these type of posts anymore and don't wanna be mean as the intension of this post was to give some opinions on this person. Once again, this isn't me trying to send any hate to Vanity and I'll say once more, please DON'T send any hate and bother him, I just wanted to give my thoughts and opinions about him and his content as I've had some issues with his content since 2023'ish and wish he could improve as an reviewer and just be more fairer when it comes to what he reviews, along with seeing that people are allowed to enjoy and love more than one show and just because one show is getting more popular doesn't make another show any lesser, both TADC and MD are great and incredible shows made by talented and amazing people, Meta Runner is also another good (very underrated, btw) show and I know Gaslight District will probably be a great too, nobody shouldn't be holding and putting these shows against each other, bashing and praising different shows, please support all shows and indie animation as a whole. ❤️

[supercalime]

hellooo, fellow bucktommy shipper (and casual b*ddie enjoyer, if it weren't for the horrors...) here! i really liked your take on b*ddie st*ns and how they are now making super wild assumptions based on some latest interviews.

you know one thing that irks me? somehow nobody seems to talk about is the fact that in canon, buck isn't written to be in love with eddie at all. like, can we please talk about this??? because I'm all for Death Of The Author. OS can talk about ships all he wants but in the end, only the canon narrative matters to me personally. i've watched long-form content with endgame couples being set up in the pilot episodes who become canon many seasons later (bones, castle, grey's anatomy, the mentalist, etc.), and the entire point of such couples is to establish that, yes, they have been having romantic feelings all this time since day one. they do so very very obviously. there is zero subtlety or room for questioning.

one of the most common tropes is to give one or both characters (of the endgame couple) another love interest so that the endgame couple can be full of jealousy and pettiness every time that other love interest is mentioned or shown. having another love interests always endangers the original closeness of the endgame couple, and then the breakup propels the endgame couple forward in their relationship. the love interest is always used for comparisons, to make it abundantly clear that everybody else is lacking in some way. at no point in 911 did they do so with buck and eddie??? these dudes go through various romantic relationships, and never ever has it been any issue to the b*ddie dynamic. never was it talked about. never were hints dropped that one of them is jealous. even now, with bucktommy, eddie shows not a single ounce of jealously. on the other side, look at how they showed us buck being obviously jealous because eddie monopolized tommy's time even though buck wanted tommy time himself! buck couldn't stand the jealousy even a little bit, and he ended up literally hurting his bestie because of it. but whenever eddie is involved romantically and sexually with someone, there are zero signs that buck is bothered or threatened or jealous. they both seem super chill? they do not question at any point that them dating other people might hurt their relationship? logically, that must mean buck's never wanted to be romantically or sexually involved with eddie (and vice versa). at it's core, b*ddie has been written as a friendship. to this day, we have no canon proof for anything else.

i would not hate b*ddie to happen or anything. i do enjoy b*ddie fics (those that aren't super misogynist ♥). and i think it could be a great couple if done well! but as you said, even when buck thought eddie was hot... well, so what? that's literally just an objective observation. RG is handsome based on societal standards. chim and hen also immediately acknowledged that eddie was hot in 2x01, and both of them are Not At All romantically or sexually attracted to eddie either. nobody is questioning chim's or hen's sexuality based on the comments they made about eddie being hot. because nothing about this equals real romantic feelings or the desire to be in a relationship. the fandom understands that logic just fine with chim and hen. why not with buck, though? also, we have yet to see a reversed moment for eddie staring at buck and finding him hot. they had no problem to show eddie Immediately having a crush on ana flores when he first met her. this shows that eddie feels sexual attraction just fine. he was, however, never shown in canon to feel it for buck.

also interesting: even though buck found eddie hot when they first met, it did not trigger buck to seriously question his sexuality at any point in the past like, 5 years or so. in all those years of canon b*ddie friendship, the show has never used the plethora of opportunities to propel b*ddie into romantic or sexual territory. the show could have! but the show never did, so i refuse to let b*ddie st*ns or OS retcon this. if it's not in the canon material, it isn't canon. with tommy, it took only a couple of weeks and a handful of interactions for buck to reach a point of clarity about his sexuality. the most logical deduction imo is that buck simply clocked that eddie's hot (like everybody else, duh, he isn't special in that regard), and it's never meant anything deep.

my only real probem with this entire situation is how hardcore b*ddie st*ns are now using this as a justification to harass others even more (especially bucktommy shippers). i'd love to enjoy canon bucktommy and fanon b*ddie in peace! but the hate that b*ddie st*ns are spreading everywhere again (like with every new season and newly introduced love interest) is so overwhelming.

sorry for the long ass rant btw oopsie. feel free to ignore this. i just wanted to let it out and it seemed like you would understand. anyway, thanks for reading in case you got this far!

I’d never ignore a sensible take, anon! (I feel bad that you had to go anon but I understand. We know the drill by now, some stans are scary lol)

But like, ALL OF THIS!!!

Discourse like this is what takes away the enjoyment of media for me. It sucks that fandom experience can have two very extreme opposing sides, specially when it comes to two “competing” ships. You can kinda tell by how bucktommy shippers behave (I’m not trying to flex at all because I am one. A good majority of us has zero problem with b*ddie endgame even though we prefer the other. We like what we are getting and are happy to see this storyline play out) compared to b*ddie shippers (of course not all of them, I’m talking about the entitled ones. That clog comment sections, bother actors, go to the other ships tag to complain about it and say how their preferred ship is better, etc).

Im not immune to bad takes and bad fan behavior. Ive surely acted like these stans in other fandoms and i do regret it, so i hate seeing it happen again and again, no matter where i go.

Not to quote mean girls, but I wish we could all get along…

All that being said, whichever ship “wins”, it’s no one’s call but the writers and producers of the show. Someone told me that Tim writes for himself and doesn’t take outside factors (at least to an extent cause it’s impossible to not know the fan reaction) into consideration when it comes to where he wants the story to go.

[marvelousbuckley]

Pardon my french!

BuckTommy Positivity Week 2024 - day two

this challenge is so fun, thank you so much @bucktommypositivityweek! and thank you @searching-for-the-moon for the inspiration

Prompt: nicknames and terms of endearment

You can read it on AO3 or down below. Every fic will be posted on AO3 as chapters of the same fic!

-----

“Mon chéri ?”

“No way, it’s how my ex’s mother called him.”

“Ok then, what about mon coeur ?”

“That’s how HE called me.”

“Hard no.”

Evan frowns, wrinkling his nose while he crosses a new line on his list, clipboard steady on his hand like he has been doing this his whole life. How can their friends think it’s annoying? Evan, with a focused face, his cutest than ever.

It’s been five days since the blond man discovered Tommy’s ability to speak French. The pilot knows that, if they had had the possibility to spend every minute of the week together, Evan would have not been able to talk about anything else.

To be fair, Tommy is not the kind of guy who praises himself a lot, nor he is the kind who shows off. But seeing the impact that it had on Evan, he played along the few times they saw each other, for his boyfriend’s pleasure. It started with words now and then, inserting one or two in the middle of a sentence, his smile growing bigger each time it flustered Evan. He played dumb for a while, denying doing it. After that, the next step had been to whispers secret promises in Evan’s ears every time the other man started to fall asleep on his arms, settling him for a night full of dreams, mostly heated ones.

“Je te veux pour toujours.” Was the phrase that he said the most, loving the taste of the last words on his mouth. Pour toujours. Forever. It made Evan shivers even though he didn’t know what it meant.

But now? Now Evan is looking at his list of French pet names, all serious, and Tommy cannot believe his luck. He knows how smitten he his, but he doesn’t care. Doesn’t want to hide his feelings anymore, especially since it his Evan that he loves. Evan who changed his whole world, who offered him the sweetest rom-com life he could have wished for.

Him having spend most of the night reading about French language and vocabulary is just another reason for Tommy to loves him.

Tommy’s dating life hadn’t been all bad. He had had serious partners. Not a lot, but few happy ones. Nicolas had been one of them. Three years, a house, hours and hours of movie nights, an introduction to his pals from the army. A clean break-up, more like fading away from each other really, and the need to find something else for both men.

They still called for Christmas, exchanged text for new year and birthdays. Nicolas had been proud of him when Tommy finally come out, even if it never bothered him to be with a closeted Tommy who could not assume his sexuality while on the job, Gerrard and all. Tommy went to Nicolas’ wedding a few years ago, had a great time with old acquaintances, even hooked up with some sexy guy from the other groom side of the family.

So, French was not a trauma for him. And Evan searching for something cute to call him in this language that fascinates the younger man? It is incredibly, stupidly hot.

“The website also suggested mon chou but apparently it means cabbage?” Evan lets himself fall on the couch next to Tommy and sets his head on the older man’s shoulder. The gesture is comforting, with a sense of habit that gets Tommy all smiley and giddy when he thinks about it too much. They’re accustomed to being together, but it is still a joyful feeling to truly experience it. Tommy can’t help himself but shift a little so he can kiss Evan’s head while his eyes perks at the list. Evan is halfway through it, a disappointed look on his face.

“Why is there so many options? We have sweetheart, dear, love, honey, babe… But them? I understand why it’s called the country of love.” Evan sighs and a light laugh leave Tommy’s lips, pushing him to kiss Evan’s head again. His boyfriend’s hair smells like coconut, a new shampoo that makes Tommy crazy. He always loved coconut cake, now all he wants his to devour the man he loves. One of his hands becomes adventurous, coming to play with the edge of his t-shirt, a finger brushing past it to touch Evan’s skin, caress all the way up to his ribs. He feels Evan’s body tense and then relax, leaning for more before his brain takes the controls back and he straighten himself, shooshing and pushing the adventurous hand before he turns back to Tommy who looks at him with a lazy smile.

“What?” The older man asks.

“This is serious Tommy, I need to know how you feels about mon lapin or ma biche.” Tommy’s face talks by itself, a displeased looks taking possession of his eyes.

“No way, it is not happening. You’ll not call me by an actual animal name.” His reaction has Evan chuckles and crosses another line.

“Knew it.”

Tommy rolls his eyes while Evan continues. Mon homme (“which you are”), mon bébé (“I’am a freaking adult!”), petit cul (“I’m not sure if I’m pronouncing it right”), chouchou (“Hell no”), bébou (“that’s it, I’m leaving you”). It is endearing, but it is also starting to annoy him a little. He would rather do something else, something less cute and with a less lot talking. If he thinks about gagging his boyfriend, well, it’s up to him.

After a little longer he finally moves. His hand grabs Evan’s shin and he turns the man towards him firmly. His lips come crushing Evan’s mouth and he’s happy that his boyfriend was still talking because it allows him to slip his tongue in him, kissing the younger man eagerly and with passion. A kiss that has Evan moans and drops the clipboard, his arms quickly wrapped around Tommy’s neck.

The older man deepens the kiss, grips Evan by the hips and lifts him in one motion, which pulls out a laugh from his boyfriend between their lips. Tommy smiles, his mouth still on Evan’s. He carries him all the way to the bedroom where he swings Evan on the bed. The blond moves in a hurry, letting enough room for Tommy to come lay on top of him, his mouth now really close to Evan’s ear.

“What about trésor ?” He ask, a naughty tone in his voice. It makes Evan shivers with anticipation and want, need even.

“Wha-What does it-it means?” Evan replies, as curious as he his aroused.

“Literally, it means treasure.” Tommy answers before he drops a kiss on his neck. “You could translate it to sweetheart but-” He stops again, this time taking time to kiss Evan’s jaws, a trail that goes from his ear to his shin. “I think it means more in French. It means that you are precious to me and that I want to keep you to myself for ever.” His lips finally go and ravish Evan’s mouth, pulling a deep moan out of him.

Yes, Evan thinks while Tommy’s hands start to unbuckle his pants. Trésor is fine.

----- 

translation: 

- Mon chéri : it is a kind of sweetheart but it's mainly used by old grandma with youngs ones,

- Mon cœur: my heart,

- Je te veux pour toujours : I want you for ever, 

- mon lapin : rabbit, 

- ma biche : doe,

- mon homme : my man, 

- mon bébé : baby, 

- petit cul : small ass, but affectionately. yes, we say it, a lot,

- chouchou : this one is not really translatable ???

- bébou : it's a french web reference lmao,

[hangmanssunnies]

Helping Hands

Summary: Phoenix has had a long day. She knows the only thing that will make her feel better is coming home to you and getting a little help to unwind.

Pairings: Natasha "Phoenix" Trace x Reader

Word count: 5k

AO3 LINK

Warnings: 18+ only, possessiveness, PWP, Slightly Sub Phoenix, Guided Masturbation, Grinding, WLW.

Authors Note: I am simply a bisexual who would love to worship this woman. Thank you so much if you take a chance to read this work. I hope you enjoy it. My inbox is always open if you want to let me know your thoughts. Reblogs with your thoughts, opinions, and tags are gold to me. I love reading through them.

It had been a really long day, and Phoenix was exhausted. She felt like she was hardly holding it together. She was stressed and had even snapped at her poor backseater. Her words were so harsh Bob had quietly excused himself from her side, crossed the room, and squarely seated himself right next to Coyote. Bob turned slightly into the broad pilot as if to hide himself. Then because obviously, Phoenix had needed something to make her feel worse or make her even angrier, Hangman had sat himself down on the other side of her WSO, blocking him from her view and throwing an arm over the other man's shoulder. 

As if any other pilot had a right to touch what was hers. No one else knew what it meant to have Bob's life in their hands every day. Someone she thought of and was concerned with over herself. Bob was HERS to take care of, HERS to linger near and comfort. The line of thought was only finally interrupted when she dug her nails into her palms, using the stinging pain to clear her head. 

Phoenix had thought a distraction might help, but when she turned to find Rooster, he was talking to Payback. He had been doing that a lot lately, talking to Payback. They had even been hanging out on the weekends. And even though Phoenix knew it was ridiculous to be jealous of Bradshaw having other friends, she was. Rooster was HER best friend. Phoenix was on his emergency contact list. She had spent the last ten years making sure he had birthday and Christmas presents, not Fitch. She glared at Payback until he finally got a hint to leave. The moment that the space next to Rooster emptied, she occupied it. 

Bradshaw was familiar. He could provide her with easy comfort just by being near. As she thought she might finally have some reprieve for the first time all day, a chance to let down her guard, Rooster opened his stupid mustached mouth with the audacity to ask her if she was okay. Phoenix was always okay; she was the best damn pilot here. She didn't even bother to grace him with an answer. The only reason she didn't move seats again was because Payback might try to reclaim this one, which at the moment was the only thing worse in her mind than the sad confused look Bradley was giving her. 

By the time the day was finally over, she was so close to snapping, wound as taut as a bow. Even as she drove home, Phoenix was white-knuckling the steering wheel, trying to keep it together. Her only comfort was knowing what was waiting for her at home. The knowledge that she would finally be able to unwind with you. 

The house smelled clean when she got home, and the soft light of candles and some lamps greeted her. She felt instant gratification stepping inside. The strain in her eyes relaxed for the first time since she woke up. After shucking off her shoes, she was moving further into the apartment, looking for you like a moth drawn to a flame. 

You were humming, listening to some soft music in the kitchen, and Natasha didn't waste a moment to come up behind you and wrap her arms around your middle. Nuzzling her face into your back, she took a shaky shuddering breath. It only took a moment before you turn and wrap your arms around Natasha, holding her close. 

Nat would spend all day step in step with the men around her. Yes, she was in a male-dominated profession, and she had to work twice as hard and prove twice as much as any of those fuckers. She never backed down an inch and always gave just as good as she got. However, being able to come home to you, having somewhere she could shed off that mask, was precious to her. It was a balm to her soul being held in your arms, letting her be as small and delicate as she wanted. 

When you pull her hair out of her bun, she has to stop the whiny moan that almost falls from her lips. The relief of her scalp is enhanced when one of your hands tangles in her hair, gently scratching at the roots. 

"Hi Tash," you say gently. Her hold on your hips tightens in response, and she shoves her face into your neck, placing a small kiss there. It only takes you a moment to pick up on her mood, and you ask, "What's wrong, baby?" 

Natasha doesn't respond. Instead, she just whines and lightly bites your neck, peppering the spot with another small kiss. As she tries to dip lower to the neckline of your blouse, you stop her catching her chin and tilting her face to make her meet your eyes. 

"Baby," You say again as your eyes roam her face. Natasha is momentarily distracted by how beautiful you are. Your eyes, your lips, the shape of your nose, it's too much, and the need to kiss you feels a bit overwhelming as you ask, "Did you have a bad day?" 

Natasha nods a little pathetically before giving in to her wants, and she leans forward to catch your lips. She does not waste a moment. As soon as your mouth opens for her, she is greedily slipping in her tongue to taste you. Drawing the kiss out for as long as her lungs will allow, only giving up her efforts when you pull away from her. The loss makes Natasha feel like nearly crying, even as she pants, trying to recover her breath. However, it is enough to reassure her when you diligently start unbuttoning her shirt. 

"Tell me about it?" You request as you slowly work the buttons open. 

"People were touching my stuff all day. My normal parking spot was taken, and I didn't get to sit where I like to sit for this morning's briefing. Hangman put his grubby hands all over Bob. My WSO, my responsibility, my friend! And Rooster stole half my lunch. Now he is going to replace me with Payback, who was my friend first."

"Oh, Tash," you sigh sympathetically to her woes. "No one is replacing you, let alone Rooster."

"How do you know?" She whispers.

"Because you are wonderful, funny, smart, and irreplaceable. Also, because he texted me asking if you were okay and wants to come over and hang out this weekend." 

"I don't want to hang out with him. He annoys me. He's just going to come over here and eat all my food and touch all my stuff."  

"None of that's new, and you've always loved him anyway. Plus, he always steals half your lunch. That's why I pack extra," you remind her gently. When her shirt is unbuttoned, you start playing with the dog tags that are hanging off her neck, pulling them from her undershirt. 

"Well, I didn't want to share," Natasha says, and she feels moments away from stamping her foot. 

"Were you just extra hungry today?"

"No, but that doesn't mean other people can just take what's mine." 

"I'm sorry people were touching your stuff. Can I help?" You ask tenderly. Natasha sometimes wonders why you bother asking when you already know what she wants. Maybe you just like to hear it from her. 

"I want to feel good," Natasha whispers. 

"You want to be my good little angel?" You ask her, and the sweet name makes her stomach flip. Just thinking about being good for you causes warmth to seep under her skin.  

"I do," she confirms breathily. 

"Good girl, Tash. Now can you get out the rest of this khaki by yourself?" 

Natasha nods in affirmation, turning away from you to go to the bedroom. However, your hand catches her wrist, stopping her before she is gone. Her breath catches as you press her back into the free wall. Holding your gaze steadily as she can, Natasha's eyes keep falling back to your lips, though. It's clearly not lost on you as she watches your lips quirk up. 

"Did I forget something?" Natasha worries.

"You're only going to touch what's yours tonight, Angel. Since you don't feel like sharing." 

"No," Natasha whimpers, wondering how you could be so mean to her after all she went through today.

"Real no Natasha? Or are you just being my whiny angel?" You ask seriously. 

"Just whiny, I'm sorry." She admits to you. You chuckle and shake your head at her. 

"You're wasting time," you have to remind her after Natasha starts staring at you again. The reminder gets her moving toward the bedroom. 

Once there, she strips her clothes, throws them in the hamper, and considers her options. She likes to feel pretty sometimes, strip off her sensible undergarments and wear something that is delicate lace with little to no support. Having no reason other than for your viewing pleasure to wear the items. As much as Natasha wanted to feel pretty tonight, she would rather feel comfy, so she finally settled on pulling out a pair of soft green boyshort style lacy panties. She forgoes a bra altogether and instead grabs one of your sleep shirts that was freshly washed but somehow still smelled like you. 

After a quick rinse off in the shower and putting on some lotion, Natasha changes into what she picked out. Finally, she lays herself out on the bed for you trying to look as enticing as possible. Laying on her stomach so you will have the perfect view of her ass when you open the door. She hides her giddy smile in her hands, picturing your reaction. She isn't disappointed. 

The sharp inhale of your breath when you open the door alerts her, and Phoenix props up on her elbow, half turning to look at you. Your lustful look has Natasha ginning and not even bothering to hide it before biting her lower lip. 

"You are an absolute vision." 

"Thank you," Natasha says, sitting up and turning so she is sitting on her calves. She parts her lips, waiting for you to come kiss her. However, your breath only teases her lips, and while you are close, you still don't kiss her. After waiting, she frowns and blinks at you in confusion.

"Angel, who's shirt is that?" You ask her in a measured, curious way. 

"Yours," she says after a second of consideration. 

Your hand lightly wraps around her neck at the answer, and staring into her eyes, you remind her, "Didn't I say you're only allowed to touch what's yours?" 

"It was an accident." 

"Okay, well, that was your reminder. Take off the shirt, Angel." You say but still haven't let go of her neck. Natasha frowns at you and furrows her brow in consideration. After a moment, she has a plan and gives you an innocent smile. 

She slowly moves like she is going to take off the shirt. As she does, you release her neck and lean back to watch. Once she is free, Natasha relowers the shirt and tugs it as low as it will go so it strains against her shoulders. Smirking tauntingly up at you, she says, "I like this. I don't want to take it off." 

"I'll make you," you warn her. She wants that, though, so she just grins and shrugs. 

As you climb on the bed, Natasha is already scrambling away. However, you catch her ankle before she can get too far. This leads to a playful wrestle that ends with Natasha giggling, laying on her back, and you have caged her down with your knees on either side of her narrow hips. 

She tries to wiggle away, but you hold her in place as you tug the shirt up over her head and arms before tossing it away. She reaches out to try and touch you, but you grab her wrists holding them together instead. It's a tight hold but not a cruel one with the soft kiss you place on the back of each palm. 

"I know you had a hard day today and that people were touching things they shouldn't. All this pent-up stress isn't good for you, Angel. I'm going to help you feel better."

"I don't need help," Natasha snaps before she can think better, still feeling bratty. 

She watches your face process her words. When you do, you release her wrists, letting them fall limply on the bed. After you ease yourself off of her. You take a moment to fold the shirt thrown aside in the playful tussle. Then you are pulling off your own clothes and head to the bathroom, not even paying Natasha another glance. Confused, she has to call your name twice before you give her attention again. 

"Yes, Angel?" You ask, and Natasha is immediately reassured at hearing that name from you. She knew it was okay and that this was all still play. 

"Where are you going?" 

"I'm just getting ready for bed. You said you don't need my help. So go ahead, get yourself off so we can cuddle and go to sleep." 

She doesn't like your answer and feels almost as if it's a trick. Not wanting to doubt it too much, she slips her fingers over her clit, giving it harsh strokes. The stimulation makes her feel aroused but nothing close to satisfied. 

She tries for a few more minutes and then a few more after she notices you watching her from the doorway of the ensuite bathroom. You are wearing the shirt you pulled off of her as if it was the spoil of war, with nothing but your own panties on. Natasha slows to nearly a stop as she appreciates the curves and shape of your body. 

When you realize her appreciation, you freeze for a moment and look away almost shyly, avoiding direct eye contact with her. The moment leaves Natasha stunned. She feels some of the stubbornness in her ease away. She likes knowing she has an effect on you, likes knowing that you enjoy how much she wants you. 

You recover from Natasha's appreciation, but the pleased glow about you hasn't disappeared. Casually you ask while approaching the bed, "Are you close, Angel?"

"No, I'm not." She says, pulling her hands out of her panties in frustration, ready to give up. She knows her efforts are futile, and she might as well stop wasting her time. You catch her wrist and slowly suck her fingers clean. Natasha's breath catches at the sight, and she feels her own mouth drop open. Releasing her wrist, it falls limply to the bed, and she whispers, "I need help."

Your eyes are loving and sympathetic as you sigh affectionately, pushing back a strand of hair that had fallen onto her face. "My Angel needs a navigator, doesn't she? Don't worry, tonight with this at least, I can be your guidance system. Do you want that? Me in control telling you exactly what to do?"

Nodding along enthusiastically, Natasha lets go of the reins on her emotions she had been holding in so tightly all day. She didn't have to be in control right now. She knew she could give this orgasm to you, that it was your pleasure and responsibility to take care of. She didn't have to worry or think; all she had to do was feel and listen. So she says, "Yes, I want that."

"That's good," you say, opening the chest where y'all keep the toys. "Now, sit up and make some room, Angel." 

Coming back with two of Natasha's favorite toys, a womanizer and a silicone purple vibrator. You set them to the side, but even the sight of them feels exciting for her. You settle against the pillows and headboard behind Natasha and trail your fingers along her shoulders. Once she adjusts to your touch, you suddenly start playing with her hair. Natasha eases back against you. How soft you feel behind her and the slight press of your nipples on her back has her sighing in happiness. 

"Comfy?" you ask her, your breath tickling her ear you're so close. It sends shivers down her body, and she nods. And then you tell her, "Touch your tits, Angel."

Tracing her fingers up her own sides, Natasha shivers at the sensation. She immediately goes to roll her hardened nipples, and the moment her fingers touch them, your teeth bite at the back of her neck. The bite isn't too hard but so surprising that she yelps.  

"I didn't say to touch there." You say in her ear. Whimpering, she is eager to follow your whispered instructions to softly caress all of the skin before finally being allowed to touch her hardened buds. Natasha's skin is so soft under her own fingers. It only ever feels this soft and supple when she is home with you. At home, Phoenix has her pick of the many lotions and oils you've gotten her. The way you take care to rub it on for the nights she is too tired to do it herself also gives a consistency she can't maintain away from you. 

Her fingers have always had calluses from the years of nightly dedication to her viola, then a whole different set she got rowing. Even now, years later, when she doesn't do either activity as often, the marks persist. As they tease her nipples and drag across her skin, she finally can appreciate the marks and the extra sensation they bring to her. 

"Pinch them harder," you breathe. Natasha instantly follows the command and squeezes harder, alternating between the sides as she does. Biting back a whimper, she pulls as well, adding to the sensation. 

"That's perfect. You're doing so well." She can't fully hold back the sound she makes, and she feels you chuckle behind her. "It's okay. You can be as loud as you want. I want you to make noise and show me how good you feel." 

"More please," she sighs.

"Okay, let's go back to soft touches now." She complies and starts just softly cupping her pert breasts. They have started to flush from stimulation, and she can't help but think your hands would look so much better than hers. The thought is interrupted by your next instruction. "Use a hand to touch over your panties. You picked such a pretty pair for me. This color of green makes you glow, even when it's as stained as it is right now." 

Wondering how you know, Natasha opens her eyes and looks around. Looking to the left, she suddenly catches eyes with you in the mirror on the vanity in the corner. The mirror is not really for this purpose, normally lined up straight and flush with the wall. However, you had tilted it without her notice, and paired with the way you positioned her on the bed, you have managed to put Natasha on full display. Her legs have already fallen open, and she sees that you're right. The green has started to darken from her wetness. When you see that you have been caught staring at her, you softly kiss her neck. She can't help but whine and arch her neck, allowing you more access to kiss and suck. 

"That feel good?" You ask her. 

"So good," she whines when you bite, not hard enough to mark her but enough for her to feel it.

"That's right. I know what you like. So, touch that pretty pussy for me, Tash." She is more turned on than she has been all night. She slips her fingers under her panties and pushes past her clit to circle a finger around her entrance. 

"What finger are you using?" You ask. 

"My middle, just touching and teasing," Natasha describes while making another slow press at the shape of her hole but not pressing her finger in. "I'm so wet and hot." 

"Take those off and give them to me," you order her. Wiggling and lifting her hips, Natasha manages to free herself of the item. Handing them to you, she more consciously turns her body towards the mirror, so you can really see her. She lets her knees fall wide open and arches to fully show off. The moan it draws from you feels like a reward, and the sound that you make sniffing the underwear before tossing it towards the laundry is enough that she nearly has to clench her thighs in need. 

"Look how swollen and puffy you are, and you haven't even touched the toys." You groan with a hum in your chest. "We don't even need any toys, do we? Here I thought you were going to be difficult and stubborn for me, but all it takes is some encouragement, and you are already needy. Put a finger in now."

Natasha brings that same finger back and starts easing it into herself with a gentle hiss. It's not difficult and doesn't hurt, but there is always something about the initial intrusion in her body. Once it's fully inside her, she leaves it, only starting to slowly stroke her inner walls when you tell her to. The action warms her after a minute or so, and she feels herself getting wetter as the ache in her core increases. 

Lifting the vibrator, you put it to Natasha's lips. She sucks into her mouth without hesitation, running her tongue around the toy and letting it muffle her groans as she adds a second finger at your command. When you pull the vibrator away from her mouth, a trail of spit connects her with the dark purple silicone. The whispered "fuck" you release makes up for the loss of having her mouth filled. 

The toy disappears from her sight, but she hears you opening a bottle of lube. Part of Natasha thinks that it's a bit unnecessary. She is sufficiently wet now, her slickness audible as her fingers move in her. It's a muffled sound as you turn on the vibrator and hold it in front of her to take. You had set it to the lowest setting, and while Nat wants to complain, she doesn't. 

"Inside please, Angel," you tell her sweetly before letting it go. Natasha replaces her fingers with the vibrator. A tingle spreads through her core as the low vibration echoes through her. Her breathing starts to come out in softer pants, and with the toy seated fully, she starts to subtly rock her hips against it. 

"Fuck, listen to how wet and needy you are. I can hear it over the vibrator. Rub your clit, Angel. Use that same wet middle finger to tease yourself." Natasha likes how turned on you sound while telling her what to do. 

"I'm so wet, all for you," she moans, pulling the vibrator out a little and fucking it back into herself slowly. Her finger dances over her clit, but not applying any real pressure. She is mostly just dragging from the wet seeping out of her hole up around the sensitive bundle of nerves and back down again. 

"Good girl, you can turn up the vibrator now." In her rush to do as you say, she accidentally presses the buttons wrong. The toy shoots to a high setting, and she lets out a high-pitched groan. Natasha leaves it, deciding to wait out the adjustment with whimpered whines and circles on her clit. You give her encouragement while she does, kissing her neck and muttering dirty praise into her skin. The tickle of your breath on her neck has Natasha's skin starting to feel tighter and tighter, her arousal burning nearly too hot. 

"Rub your clit harder." 

"Please, I want to cum. Need to cum," Natasha begs, using her pointer finger as well as her middle to stimulate the pearl. Her earlier ministrations have made it so slick that there is no resistance to her movements. However, it's nearly too wet as her fingers can touch but never hard enough before they slip again. 

"You're so fucking hot when you touch yourself. I've never seen anything prettier than your wet pussy. Except maybe your tits. And your nipples, they drive me insane, Tash. I think about sucking them all day. Someday I want to make you cum just from playing with them." Natasha moans at the idea and clenches around the vibrator pressing it tighter against her G spot. "You like that idea, don't you, Angel? Well, maybe next time we play. Now be good and keep touching yourself."

"I want that now, please. I can't. I can't do it." Natasha cries to you desperately. You shush her quietly and actually touch her for the first time in a while. It's not overly sexual but incredibly intimate as you soothingly rub down her arm and back up again. 

"Yes, you can. You can have it whenever you're ready. There is no rush, Angel. Don't think about it too hard. It'll happen. You know it will. I'm right here."

Closing her eyes again, Natasha tries to just enjoy the sensations coursing through her, the way the vibrator pulses, and picking another harsh rhythm to work her clit to; however, none of it is enough. It's just bubbling hot at a simmer, but not enough for her to reach the eruption she needs. 

"Wait, I just remembered something," Phoenix gasps. 

"What did you remember?"

"You said I can only touch what's mine," she reminds you. 

"That's right."

"And you're mine, aren't you?" Natasha asks. It's a moment where an unexpected insecurity creeps in, and she doesn't really know why she suddenly feels so small. 

"Oh, Natasha. I'm yours and only yours." You tell her. Natasha can't stop the smile that lifts her lips. She pulls the vibrator out with a pitchy sigh and turns it off in the process. She sits up then, not caring about how much she is surely dripping on the sheets, as she turns to face you. 

Her lips seek yours, and parting them open in an invitation for your tongue an instant later. When you dip your tongue in to taste her, she sucks on it, not wanting the appendage to leave her mouth. You obliged her, groaning and gripping the back of her neck, pulling her closer to deepen the kiss even more so. 

When she does try and pull away, needing a gasp of air, you hold her close for a moment more. It's the tiniest denial of oxygen, which in the realities of Natasha's life means nothing compared to the intensive training and oxygen regulation she has had to practice. In this moment though, even the tease of it feels exciting, has her panting and kissing at your neck. 

"No one else can have you. You're mine," Natasha says, biting at the skin underneath the collar of your shirt. The fabric prevents her teeth from sinking in too hard. The urge to bite you isn't fully satisfied though, so she tugs at the bottom of your shirt, pulling it off. You easily let her remove the fabric without resisting at all.  

"That's right, Angel, and I am so thankful to have been picked by you." 

Natasha kisses you again, pressing her body entirely against yours. It takes a moment of maneuvering, but with a lift of one of your legs and the help of some pillows, she finally has herself slotted as close to you as she can in this position. The angle isn't quite right, but the drag of your panties feels delicious when she grinds her hips down, and that's all that matters to her at the moment. 

Continuing on like that, grinding and kissing, you slip your fingers into her hair, occasionally tugging it when she tries to kiss you for too long without taking a breath. The slight pull on her hair makes her grind into you harder. 

"I want you to feel good, too," Natasha says, eventually resting her forehead against yours and staring intensely into your eyes. 

"I feel very good right now, Angel," you reassure her. "Nothing makes me feel better than helping you, and I haven't quite done that yet have I?"

"No," Natasha says, bringing her hands up to start caressing your chest like you had instructed her to do on herself before. "Can I have more help, please?" 

"Of course," you answer and reach for the abandoned womanizer toy that hasn't been touched yet. Natasha knows it will get her off. It's pretty much a fail-safe toy, sometimes too powerful. However, right now, it's not what she wants. So she stops you and reaches for the vibrator instead. 

Leaving the toy off, Phoenix positions it so it's nestled between the gaps of your body, pressing deliciously into her clit and yours. She grinds her hips down, which presses the vibe harder into you; it has you both gasping. You fumble for a moment but manage to turn the vibrator back on to a low setting. As it buzzes to life, neither of you can keep quiet even as you start kissing sloppily once more. 

Your hands settle on her hips to help her move. Getting closer to the edge, Natasha isn't doing much more than panting into your mouth and ignoring the shaking in her legs as she searches for pleasure. All while pathetically babbling to you, "So close, going to cum. Want to so bad." 

"I know, Angel. I got you," you say. Then clicking the vibrator up to a higher setting, you urge Natasha to press as close into you as she can. She follows you easily, and then when you buck your hips up, jostling the toy between you, she shatters. 

For a blissful moment, Natasha's brain goes blank. Her whole body shakes as her back arches. The only thing preventing her from falling backward on the bed is your hand still on her waist. She feels more sticky wetness gush from her. The high-pitched moans are beyond her control as she rides the aftershocks. 

As her orgasm fades, she observes you through lidded eyes. Watching as you seek your own pleasure, you aren't frantic like she was, though. Lazily rubbing against the vibrator, occasional moans falling from your lips. Leaning forward again, she slumps against your chest and mouths kisses and bites at your neck. 

Your arms wrap around her drawing her even closer and holding her tight. The way you hold Natasha always makes her feel so secure and safe. "I feel so good, thank you." 

"Did I help, angel?" 

"You always help," she whispers into your skin. The continued stimulation has started the build-up of a second orgasm for her. It feels much closer than her first. She doesn't make an effort to chase it this time, instead just enjoying the ride. 

She can tell you are getting close with how you start clutching her a little more desperately, less conscious of your nails on her skin. You've had many conversations and laments about not being able to mark Phoenix the way you really want. Always aware of the third person her job acts as in your relationship. She finds the energy to grind with you again, and praise instantly falls from your lips. 

"Yes, pretty girl. Fuck, you're so perfect. Just like that," you pant. Phoenix thinks she could do just about anything when you call her pretty. 

"Can I help?" She asks you, breathing the question in your ear and then gently sucking underneath it. 

"I'm already right there," you warn her. 

Working her hand down, she pushes your panties to the side so the wet vibrator can make direct contact with your clit. Natasha's juices and the lube mix with your own helping the toy move easier. One of your hands falls to her thigh, pushing it wider open to try and get your cunts closer together.  

Natasha swallows each sound you make, kissing you sloppily. It's a matter of time then for both of you. When you pull away from Natasha's lips, you suck in a few sharp breaths, then cry out and cumming hard. The sounds you make nearly had her cumming for a second time. She can feel it right there but isn't sure what to do to push herself over. 

You know what she needs, though, just like you always do. Cupping her chest, you sharply pinch her nipples, and she is falling apart again. Natasha crests the wave of her orgasm, but it just doesn't stop. She whines and shakes, trying to come back down from the high, but her body won't let her. A few tears fall from her eyes as squeaking cries continue in gasps from her. Even for several seconds after you move the vibrator away, her hips continue to rock. 

Natasha isn't much more than limp and still occasionally twitching when you untangle her from being wrapped around you. Laying her out on the bed, you pull her close to cuddle with you.  

After several quiet minutes where you're whispering to her and softly petting all of her available skin, the random twitching of sensitivity and pleasure finally seems to come to an end. Another few minutes after that until she feels coherent. 

Once you notice she is with you again, you push back her hair and trace the features of her face softly. "Do you feel better, Angel?"

"I do feel better. Thank you, don't know what I would do without you." 

"That makes two of us. I would be lost without you."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Natasha." 

"You're mine, and no one else can touch you." She reminds you. It has no real weight as she is still lying boneless and practically purring while leaning into the soft touches you're giving her. 

"I am," you easily agree. "Only yours, baby. You don't have to worry." 

"Never leave me."

"I won't. I'm yours, and I only want to be yours always," You say, pressing soft kisses all over her. 

After changing the sheets and only eating because you insist she needs to, Natasha doesn't feel anything other than reassured and happy as she snuggles into you and falls asleep that night. She knew you were exactly what she needed to finally unwind, and you hadn't disappointed her. When the relaxation in her body paired with the warmth of yours eased her into dreamland, the only thing she could think about was how lucky she was going to be waking up in the same bed as you. 

[velvet-vox]

I just wanna preamble, that I'm really sorry towards all of my mutuals who really love Yeva as a character, but for me, I just can't come forward to liking her, and it's all for a simple reason:

Genuinely, why are we getting so much content with Yeva? Why did we need a flashback to the Core collapse when episode 7 was already crammed as it was? Why did we never see Yeva die on screen but saw his unnamed, barely mentioned husband get openly murked on screen? Why do Uzi and Doll treat each other like complete and utter strangers when Yeva should have been there to forge a connection between the two that would have spared us the plot and saved the entire colony in the process by uniting Uzi's resourcefulness and spirit of initiative with Doll's badassery and tactical mind?

I like Doll's dad. Liam clearly didn't bother to give him a name or a personality since he wasn't relevant to the plot, and of course, for Liam Vickers the plot comes before the characters, so him being dead doesn't really ring any alarm bells within me; he is very clearly intended to be a blank slate for the fans to latch on any head canon that suits their ways; he's a little bit of wasted potential, a trait that unfortunately he passed down to his daughter, but at least he doesn't really terrify me in any way that matters (especially since he would theoretically be Khan's foil. ....... Yeah).

But Yeva...... My god.

I shit you not when I say that to me, she's the scariest character in the entire show, way more terrifying than whatever any of that mid crap with the Absolute Solver or that lame ass body horror porn Cynesssa were.

Because to me, Yeva doesn't scare me in any physical, gorey matter, no: Yeva scares me in a psychological way.

Yeva is definitely being built up as this non impressionable, unfathomable badass, who has passed down to Doll all of her girlbossery and mastery of the Absolute Solver; she is the true caring mother between her and Nori, she was so good that Doll wanted to avenge her dead at any cost, she is so cool and strong that the patch worked on her flawlessly, and then proceeded to just completely mop the floor with a possessed Nori; Nori, that, may I remind you, was capable of fending off against a fully possessed Solver Uzi able to throw out copius amounts of black holes; the same Nori, who, as a core, ended that fight by slapping Uzi so hard that it created crumbling debris upon the impact; that Yeva was then killed by a solo hunting V, who has been shown multiple times to play with her food.

And the fandom somehow believes all of that?!?

Nobody is questioning just how sus any of this information is? Even if so many of the pieces when put together don't make any sense?

Do you remember these two shots from episode 6?

Aside from their questionable reliability considering the fact that Tessa was actually Cyn in disguise, don't you remember when we all speculated Nori to be more than a puppet and a possibly willing harbinger of death? I do. Never forgotten.

Now, I'm not jumping the shark and saying that Yeva is actually a manipulative monster, that would be extremely detrimental to the story; I'm saying that with all the parallelisms between the two families it's suspiciously weird that we aren't getting any noticeable narrative similarities between Nori and Yeva; because, you see, when I said before that Khan and Doll's dad weren't foils I actually lied:

In the Pilot, to protect the colony, Khan sacrifices Uzi to N and shuts a door behind him, refusing to shoot with the rail gun; in the flashback of Promening, to protect his daughter, Doll's dad shoots a photo of V to distract her, while Doll watches his dad sacrifice himself behind a door.

We just saw that Uzi's mother survived the attack of the Disassembly Drone (N) and turned into a crab. Now, I don't know all of you, but to me, N always seemed like the most efficient of the Disassembly Drones. His lack of empathy coupled with his low ego and self esteem made him a much more competent murderer than J or V, who were either too busy showboating or coping hard with the consequences of their violent actions; so for N to be unable to kill Nori while V was able to kill Yeva just seems like the most convenient writing decision possible.

(Convenient is a word used by Uzi to describe Doll's trap in episode 6)

Yeva absolutely creeps the f##k out of my brain, it's genuinely so unsettling seeing how much Liam Vickers has been playing up this character's current unimportance and getting away with it by the eyes of the community.

I don't know you all, but I haven't felt scared by Murder Drones at all ever since the Alice finger scene in episode 6. I was like, "cool Liam, do whatever you want, play up all the horror that you like, congratulations, I'm officially desensitized. Your cute little flesh iron puppy that you've been building up for a year barely stroked a dent into me" but I'm not like that with Yeva. Whenever a fandom starts to play up a character's innocence that's when my fight or flight reaction kicks in. I've been a fervent protester of indoctrination for all of my life, and that includes fandom culture and mob thinking; I ain't buying any of you all sweet Yeva crap until episode 8 rolls around.

[chaifootsteps]

Welp, Chai, I rewatched the entire Hazbin Hotel pilot on the night of the 18th. It's been well over a year since I even watched it. Now onto my thoughts...

The Good 😊

The Animation: I know a lot of us complained about Viv's style of animation. But compared to the current HH animation style, it's a lot more pleasing in my eyes. I especially love the smear frames in the pilot (often referred to as "cursed images") as they really make the animation very dynamic.

The Voice Acting: I still absolutely adored the voice acting in the Hazbin Hotel pilot. Jill, Monica, Michael, Edward, Mick, etc. really brought their A-Game and really brought these characters to life. Frankly, I should've been way more upset when they were replaced back in December 2021.

Inside of Every Demon is a Rainbow: Man, I have forgotten how much of a banger this song is. I don't know how to describe the genre/genres of this song, but I view it as a strange yet effective mixture of a piano ballad, pop rock, and speed metal. I actually headbanged pretty hard during the song, something I can't say about the new Hazbin songs.

Vaggie: Still love that little grey moth sinner with an unfortunate name. I view her as the most rational (if not the only rational) character in HH. I still enjoy the scene where she explains to Angel Dust the legend of Alastor, very reminiscent of a Hey Arnold urban legend scene.

The One Scene between Angel Dust and Alastor: I don't know why, but the scene where Angel Dust offers a dick sucking to Alastor and then Alastor bluntly rejected him still makes me chuckle to this day. That's probably the only sex related joke I laughed at in my recent rewatch.

The Bad 😡

Seeing Red: This is a complaint nearly all of us had with the pilot: Too... much... RED! I don't know why didn't bother me years ago, yet it bothers me now. Granted, compared to the current series, the pilot has a little more variety of colors, even though it's still red dominated.

The Humor: Unfortunately, aside from the Angel/Alastor exchange, a lot of the jokes in HH fell flat with me during my recent rewatch. It just makes me wonder how I thought HH was funny back then. Maybe Viv's rose-tinted fog really clouded my judgement.

Vaggie's Treatment: One thing I still dislike about the pilot, even back when I was a fan, was how Vaggie was treated. Despite being the most/only rational character, Vaggie was treated quite poorly. From being ignored by Charlie, to being insulted by Angel, to being slapped in the ass by Alastor. *sigh* Why do cartoons have to torture characters with a hint of rationality?!

Too Many Characters, Not Enough Time: Not sure if this is nitpicky or not, but I feel the pilot "introduced" far too many characters in a 30-minute video. Yeah, I put quotes around "introduced" as many of them got only a few seconds of screen-time or were only there in portraits. Even "main" characters like Husk and Niffty got the short end of the stick in terms of screen-time. It also took me long to realize that Viv really favors her male characters over her female ones. Female led show, my ass!

The Ugly 🤢

The Wasted Potential: This is the only ugly thing, but the wasted potential of HH is so ugly that the Ugly Barnacle would die. Under Viv's rose-tinted fog, I foolishly grew emotionally attached and had high hopes for this show. Unfortunately, thanks to Vivienne Medrano's micro zepto-management, she pissed all the great potential away. *sigh* It could've been great... 😔

Well, that was a load-off. Now I feel like I've made some closure. 😇

-Metallica Anon 🤘

Thank you for reminding me just how Gerald Urban Tale-esque Vaggie's Alastor exposition was...between that and the constant little sound effects, the whole thing felt like a Nicktoon, and I know that's part of what I loved about it.

This was a bittersweet walk down memory lane just reading it, but I'm glad you got your closure, Metallica Anon. It really could have been so great.

[lover-of-mine]

Anna! Hi! Hello!

I literally just joined tumblr today to be able to anon ask you. I think I should be the anxiety anon (aa is for sure in honor of Capt. Dad Bobby Nash and not in bad taste) because even typing this makes me feel way too seen. Does this count as human interaction? Guys, is it gay social anxiety if you only have inside thoughts because the idea of having outside thoughts makes you unwell? I'm not shaking--no, check--I am totally shaking rn, which is making it hard to type. But, I feel like I have reached critical mass on my Buddie thoughts and I will explode if I can't share them.

It is probably very rude to bust through the wall of your house like the Kool-Aid Man, so I want to say that I love your voice--your characterization and dialogue, particularly how you use humor in your fics is just *chef's kiss* for me. I have read them all but can't anon comment. I love your color theory and costume meta, too. Your takes are so measured and thoughtful and honestly just logical in a time where 9-1-1blr feels kinda sorta unmoored in reality. Fuck Twitter, your spy network tag is now my news feed because fandom reading comprehension and critical thinking scores have plummeted recently. Lou Who knows why?

Some things that are making me laugh/cry/cry-laugh rn:

The cockfighting ring call in Bobby Begins Again (2x16). Let's talk about closet space, bro: he-who-must-not-be-named canonically full-body flinched at literal cock coming at him. Somehow this is his gayest canon moment to me even though he has 2 canon full-on face assault man-on-man kisses.

The bridge call finale in Season 6, which I haven't watched in a minute, so I welcome fact-checking. I can't recall if it happens at the end of Love Is in the Air (6x17) as a cliff-hanger or if it is in Pay It Forward (6x18) proper, but right before the truck hits the bridge and triggers the collapse, Bobby is on the medical call on the bridge and he verbally instructs "K*nnard" to do something. The extra, presumably 1 of the old man retired firefighters they use to fill-out the 118 ranks, is wearing the "K*nnard" turnouts that nobody needed since 2x16's very accurate "Fairwell T*mmy. The 217's Loss is Our Gain" cake. So, how's that for invisible string debunker costume meta. As of 6x18: K*nnard was literally just an unused turnout coat on a hook in the costume dept. "Who cares?!?" is the 118 and 9-1-1's motto, fr. Like, nobody remembers gaf that he's a pilot, too, in an episode where Lucy flies off in the air ambulance, never to be seen again. Is "becoming a pilot" 9-1-1's way of telling your kid the dog "went to the farm" when you really had it put down while they were at school?

My change.org petition is for Buck and Eddie to have OS and RG's tattoos. I know makeup has been covering them up for years, but it has been bothering me so much since the ABC switch. It's like they're using the same tone of cover-up for RG and OS and it reads so yellow-orange that I consider it color theory outlier. Like, real talk, what do yellow-orange arms mean for the data, Anna? Tattoo-having people are known to get more tattoos. This is normal. RG and OS have so many more tattoos now than in Season 2 that Season 7 and 8 Buck and Eddie look like they have skin conditions that stop at their watch-straps and somehow in Season 8 RG is getting forehead-only orange foundation? Listen, I consider myself fandom-standard unhinged, not completely deranged, but like the full body Ken-doll spray tan on OS in Masks (8x05) has pushed me over the edge.

My Ted Talk is titled "Hey, ABC: Buddie = Fiscal Responsibility" because, wtf, just stop paying superfluous guest actors to be love interests and let the 2 mains shack up like God T*m M*near intended. (I lowkey think that smart cookie JLH is a girlboss genius who tied herself to KC, yeah yeah because of chemistry, Madney forever, of course, but also as job security when she said that Chimney was what she wanted for Maddie.) Seriously, let's reallocate the bullshit love interest slush fund money and bring the kid home. I hardcore head canon that Ravi saw Gerrard from the buffet line at the medal ceremony and just noped the fuck out of there indefinitely.

I'm just gonna leave this all here and back away because I've maxed out on all the human/social interaction accepted fandom love language of hyperbolic ranting that I can partake in before I turn into a full-blown thunderstorm chihuahua.

Can someone please Uber me a clown car home?

My love, hi. This was so fucking great to read ksoskaoakoakaoaa I'm literally on the floor laughing. Thank you for the compliments on the fics and metas. When someone says they like my characterization, I ascend to a better plane of existence. Honestly, the cock fight calls is really something else kspskapakoaa and they just didn't bother checking if they had written someone off before using the turnout because they needed more people there I guess.

The tattoos one had me howling tho, the cover-up of Ryan's hand tattoo this season has been AWFUL and the fact that they just wax Oliver all over to cover him in orange foundation drives me nuts, like please, just let them have the tattoos. (I was actually informed that they would need to license the tattoo from the artist for every use of it depending on the tattoos they decide to keep and that's probably why don't let them keep them, but if we are not letting them keep them, please color match better).

Honestly, they just need to get together already, please end this madness, it's been long enough, let Ryan be paid to make out with Oliver like he's been wanting all along kspskspakaokapa

Anyway, I'm obsessed with you, thank you for this one 🫶🫶

[jadelotusflower]

Stargate Rewatch: 1x01 Children of the Gods

After rewatching the original film I'm kicking off with the show's pilot - I actually watched both the original version and the "final cut" because there are aspects I enjoy of both. The final cut removes a few problematic elements and adds in some new material, but also cuts a few lines I really enjoy and the original version is really where my nostalgia lies, so... as always, my feelings, they are mixed.

Cold open with some redshirts - four men and one woman, sadly representative of the gender ratio the show will have going forward.

The unlucky Smurfette is Sgt Carol Weterings, not that I think she's ever mentioned by name in the episode.

"Probably the only thing it ever did was cost money." Heh.

I will say that Teal'c turning against Apophis at the end of the episode is nicely built - starting here where he examines the gun and identifies it as technology far advanced beyond the humans they’re used to dealing with.

When your name is above the title, you get introduced with an extreme close up.

The differences between the film and the show don't really bother me - I view the show as taking place in a very similar but alternate universe to the film rather than trying to squeeze them together - so O'Neil becomes O'Neill, Sha'uri becomes Sha're, Tyler becomes Charlie, Abydos is the closest planet to Earth, not the other side of the known universe, etc etc. But I consider the events of the film to be canon to the show universe unless directly contradicted.

But otherwise the pilot tries very hard to stick as close as possible to the film, to the point that Major Samuels states that General Hammond replaced General West.

Hammond says it’s been “over a year” since the events of the film, unclear exactly how much over.

The final cut has a longer version of the dead Jaffa, revealing one of them was a woman, and with all the changes to eliminate plot holes I don't know why Brad Wright put one back in. While we do see Jaffa women in the series, Goa'uld and Jaffa society is depicted as highly patriarchal and female Jaffa soliders are rare - we never see them in Apophis's ranks. It's an odd inclusion.

"What if the aliens get it?" "Well, they could be blowing their noses right now." hee!

"THANKS SEND MORE" Remember when Daniel had allergies? Give it a few episodes and the show sure won’t!

Amanda Tapping, doing her absolute best with some terrible dialogue. Brad Wright blames the "reproductive organs" speech on Jonathan Glassner, and it is terrible and thankfully removed from the final cut version, along with some other 90's era sexism from the bros. However there is one great moment, where Kawalsky asks "Have you ever pulled out of a simulated bombing run in an F16 at eight plus Gs?" and without missing a beat, Sam deadpans: "Yes." I love Sam.

"I'll give you exactly 24 hours to either return or send a message through - no Kleenex boxes, please." Hee, Hammond isn't quite the cuddly commander we know and love yet, but he has his moments.

It's very cute that Sam has a very similar reaction to the one Daniel had in the film just before going through the gate, although his was based in the wonder of something incredible and unknown, and hers is based in the physical manifestation of knowledge - says a lot about each of them and their similarities yet different perspectives - the marrying of these two points of view is what makes them such a good duo.

Michael Shanks, doing the James Spader impression that won him the role. He was only 26!

And of course Alexis Cruz, the only holdover from the movie (other than Erick Avari, who won't appear until season 2).

The original team sure did leave a bunch of weapons with the Abydonians, didn't they? I presume they taught them how to fire the guns because there's no way Daniel could/would have. He did however teach them very good English.

"Greetings from Earth, Doctor Jackson" - very cute, it's sad that Ferretti disappears into the ether by season 2.

Not the face of a woman who is shy, but a woman who knows how to make An Entrance. She even smirks a little as she walks over.

There is however a weird little moment where Sha're is reluctant to shake Jack's hand and looks to Daniel first - maybe she wasn't impressed about his little joke brushing by her husband? Both of these beats are removed from the final cut version which is probably for the best.

It's criminal Sha're doesn't actually get to speak in this scene, and in fact how few lines she has in the episode altogether.

It's disappointing, because Sha'uri was such an integral part of the film, and yet the show tries to get rid of her as quickly as possible to get Daniel on SG-1 and give him a core drive for the next three seasons. Her abduction is the precipitating event of Daniel's ten-year character arc and defining moment of transition from film!Daniel to show!Daniel, and yet she doesn't get a character arc of her own.

However I do think Shanks and Vaitiare Hirshon sell the relationship in the few scenes they have - they're very physically connected/protective of one another, perhaps concerned that Jack's there to take Daniel back with him (which is in fact the case). And of course Sha're, annoyed at being left behind while Daniel shows the others his discovery, gives him a very proprietary kiss to show everyone what’s what.

I think show!Sha're gets a bad rap, she's spunky and I love her. I just wish there was more of her.

Sam and Daniel insta-bonding. Daniel making an intuitive leap to solve the puzzle and Sam filling in the gaps with science to make it work, they really are kindred spirits.

The issue with the cartouche though is that the symbols look like hierogyphs, not star constellations/Stargate glyphs.

Back in the pyramid, there's a scene sorely missing here - imagine if rather than ogling Sha're, Ferretti had a conversation with her, giving us more of a chance to know Sha're on her own terms rather than just Daniel's wife and the object of others desire. Especially when Ferretti was on the original mission so knows she's more than a "beautiful woman" - it would also give additional weight to him being the one to remember the gate address where she's taken later on.

Teal'c clocks Skaara's gun as the same tech he saw on Earth in breadcrumb no. 2.

"Nothing good can ever come through this gate!" "You came through it , Daniel" I mean...I realise there are a lot of problematic white savior-y aspects to the show, but idk, this scene and the Abydonians all petting Daniel to say goodbye gets me. Sean Amsing as Tobay also returns in Full Circle which is a nice callback to this scene.

The final cut removes a reaction shot from Jack which I have mixed feelings about - I get that the focus probably needs to be on Daniel at that moment, but I do think it's important for Jack to appreciate how Daniel really found a home with the Abydonians and was appreciated and loved by them, and it's nicely played by RDA.

LOL, watch out for how many times Jack pats Daniel on the shoulder. Apparently that annoyed Shanks so RDA kept doing it, but it's also a nice little setup of their relationship going forward.

There's a second shoulder pat in the hallway.

Just two dudes, drinking beer, (not) talking about their feelings.

“She was the complete opposite of everyone else, she practically fell on the floor laughing every time I tried to do some kind of chore they all took for granted.” Underrated line, because it gives important context to Daniel and Sha’re’s relationship, and perhaps more importantly, how Daniel characterises her - she is the one who keeps him grounded, who teases him, there is balance to their relationship. There’s potentially an interesting parallel there to Vala in the later seasons, although it manifests in a very different way.

“I think she forgave me for what happened to our kid, she just couldn’t forget…I’m the opposite, I can never forgive myself, but sometimes I can forget.” This is a great scene.

The Final Cut removes all the “harem scenes” and while I can see why, we do lose a bit of context to Teal'c's involvement in the process as he is the one who chooses the women from the holding cell to go into the harem, and then from the harem to be presented to Apophis.

There was another missed opportunity to actually see Sha're interact with the other prisoners - she could have had a conversation with Weterings at least, find out she was from Earth, perhaps assure her that the others would be coming to rescue them.

To the surprise of no one I’m sure, this episode does not pass the Bechdel test.

But there is a hint of solidarity among the prisoners - first in the holding cell where the others hold Skaara back, and here in the harem Sha're squeezes the hand of another woman.

Weterings is killed by the hand device which keeps the electrical current aesthetic from the movie the show will later abandon - as Teal'c looks perturbed.

Daniel back on Earth immediately getting stuck into the coffee even though no one else is drinking, lol.

"Ra played a god, the sun god, he borrowed the religion and culture of the ancient Egyptians he brought through the gate and used it to enslave them." A bit of a change from the movie here, where it was the other way around - slightly less problematic!

Everyone is in dress blues except Kawalsky who is in camo, and Daniel, who is wearing Jack's clothes.

"Colonel I'd like to remind you that rescuing Dr Jackson's wife is a secondary objective." This line was removed in the final cut and I don't know why? It adds to Samuels’s bastardry.

Has everyone forgotten about Weterings?

Shoulder pat no. 3!

In the second harem scene, Sha're is now sitting isolated from the other women - did she argue with them? Just trying not to be noticed? What happened offscreen?

Also what's going on in the top left corner - it looks like the healing device! Maybe Sha're did throw down with one of the others and that's why she's on her own. I have to read into things, because the show gives us so very little of Sha're and it's a real shame.

She does get a good moment fighting against the guards though - earlier she was defiant and told them she wasn't afraid of them, here she bites one of them on the arm.

I understand from a narrative perspective why Sha're is the one who gets taken over, but it really is Schrodinger’s fridging - until she’s found Sha’re is both alive and dead for the purpose of the narrative, both Daniel’s primary drive and source of inner conflict.

Christopher Judge does so much with so little. Master of the cheek twitch!

Oof, the nudity. In isolation from everything else, it doesn’t bother me - it’s intended to be horrifying, not titillating, and is effective in conveying objectification and dehumanisation by the Goa'uld.

However, it was a studio request, Wright/Glassner regretted doing it, it doesn’t fit the tone of the show going forward, but most importantly Hirshon was pressured into the full frontal when she only agreed to topless, and for that alone it should be excised.

The puppet symbiotes are so much more effective than the cgi they use later. I don’t think there’s another scene in the show that really captures the menace of the Goa’uld like this one - the symbiote (who we'll later learn is Amaunet) slithering around on Sha're's body is just so visceral and horrifying. The glowing eyes before implantation is an effective touch.

Jack sticking Daniel in it with Sam by saying Sha're was a gift could be amusing, except the conversation gets cut off before Daniel can explain. It annoys me, because Daniel not "accepting" Sha're was actually the point? It's kind of important! I assume he does tell Sam the whole story later.

"Unless we want to get ourselves a really bad reputation, I just think we should avoid shooting the first people we meet on a new planet" is a nice follow up to Daniel's sarcastic "well that would have been an excellent reason to shoot everyone" from the film. At this point, Daniel doesn't appear to be carrying a weapon other than a knife. Oh, how that will change!

The Chulak priests speak "a derivation of Arabic" and something else - the Goa'uld language is meant to be similar to Abydonian, which is based on Ancient Egyptian. Of course modern Egyptian is an Arabic dialect that came much later, but perhaps we are to assume Goa'uld - or at least the Chulak vernacular - evolved along similar lines.

Jack unable to shoot Sha're when she stands in front of Apophis is a nice movie callback.

The final cut has a good extra scene between Sam and Daniel where he is quite delusional thinking Sha're might just be drugged, and Sam tries to talk sense into him. Daniel's blind optimism against Sam's pragmatic realism will be an important aspect of their relationshio going forward.

Shoulder pat no. 4!

Teal'c P.I. sees Skaara talking to Jack and starts putting pieces together - the weapons from the opening scene, the weapons on Abydos + Jack's watch, and Daniel helpfully supplying the Earth glyph.

Alexis Cruz is committed to the film pronunciation of Sha’uri, bless him.

“But you are a great warrior, we defeated Ra together!” Skaara’s faith in Jack is so pure.

Skaara gets a shoulder pat too.

"Another fine day on planet Kawalsky" - This line was removed from the final cut! What a tragedy. I get the sense Brad Wright feels a bit cringe about the campier aspects of the show, but it's part of the charm! To be fair Ferretti was more of the wisecracker in the movie rather than Kawalsky, but I love that show Kawalsky is a little goofy.

I'm sorry, what is this silver monstrosity? I guess a sliver of credit that after the nudity not going for a sexy alien outfit, but this is a hate crime. I also have a very high tolerance, and even affection for, silly Stargate headgear, but there's camp and then there's ugly.

Peter Williams as Apophis though: 10/10, no notes.

"They're going to choose...who will be the children of the gods." I do love it when they say the title of the thing in the thing.

The subtle moment where Teal'c motions that Jack should kneel is a nice setup - Skaara being very reluctant and angry about kneeling, and being the last to do so, is nice movie continuity. Skaara really gets shortchanged by the show after this episode.

"How much would I remember if you chose me?" I wonder if Daniel ever thinks that maybe him drawing the attention of the Goa'uld contributed to Skaara getting chosen. You know, just to really lay on the angst and guilt.

So the premise is that these Apophis underlings are choosing hosts for their children who are symbiotes ready for implantation, which doesn't really fit with what we learn about Goa'uld queens/reproduction later. We also learn later that Skaara is taken as a host for Apophis's son Klorel which doesn't sqaure with these two choosing him.

Headcanon time! This is actually Zipacna who we meet later arguing for Klorel at Triad - different actor, of course, but he wears a similarly silly hat. So Amaunet now has access to all of Sha're's memories of Skaara and she and Apophis decide that he will make a good host - maybe she also likes the idea of a family resemblance between herself and Klorel (I think we can assume he is also Amaunet's son?). But Apophis doesn't want anyone to know he's choosing a host for his offspring, so sends Zipacna out to do it for him.

This makes sense of Klorel later claiming that Apophis chose his host, and also gives backstory to Zipacna showing up in Pretense. And in the scene, the Goa'uld make a very quick decision to take Skaara, while the rest get very grossly examined people before choosing.

Shoulder pat no. 5!

"I have nowhere to go." Teal'c turning on his brother Jaffa to save a roomful of people, not expecting to survive himself, really hits.

"For this, you can stay at my place." hee!

Jack not wanting to hear it when Teal'c tells him Skaara is no longer himself is a turnabout of the earlier scene with Daniel. Not so flip now it's your Emotional Support Abydonian, are you Jack?

Kawalsky getting Goa'ulded doesn't seem to hurt as much as Sha're's - because the symbiote isn't mature, or because Amaunet is particularly sadistic?

Soon to be SG-1 posing for their album cover.

It was the late 90's when tvs were tiny, so everyone had to stand uncomfortably close.

And we end with shoulder pat no. 6!

[rius-cave]

Hey! It’s the anon that hadn’t watched Hazbin or Helluva before and wanted some encouragement to try it out 👋 I wanted to let you know that I did it! I watched the pilots for both series as well as helluva boss episode 1 (as I heard that was a better introduction) and 👉👈 I actually liked both. I thought that Charlie was cool she has an attitude that I really like in characters believing in others when she has no reason to. Angel was cute Pentious was really adorable (I like weirdos) and Husk was pushing a lot of buttons for me. The only character from Hazbin that I still don’t really get is Alastor and tbh it’s 90% cause of the hair like I can’t think he’s hot with that haircut I’m sorry 😭. But I really liked it I really took to the humour and tone. 

Helluva Boss was the same I was actually surprised that the kids dying didn’t really bother me at all and the death of background guys were not as uncomfortable as I thought. I think I worked myself up about that aspect which is good cause I liked how horny and gay it was. After seeing so much nsfw of them I do get simping for Blitzo, Moxxie and Stolas now they were all kinda cute in their own way (You can tell I’m a gay guy huh?) and yeah I liked quite a few of the jokes as well. So I feel like I can go on with these shows!

I know this is a really random place to do this but I wanted to tell you since it was seeing all the nice adamsapple stuff and the storytelling possibilities from that as well as you’re specifically more chill and fun side of the fandom that made me want to take the plunge and actually watch it so thank you. 

Heya!! Yay!! We got another one boys 💪

I think I probably said this in your first ask, but well yeah Hazbin and Helluva are definitely... for specific tastes, it's not for everyone, I think if you're someone that gets offended easily they're probably not for you (which is why sometimes I'm surprised at the absolute stupid things some people say in the fandom lol) but I'm glad you gave them a try and liked them!

It's been a couple days since I received this ask so hopefully you've watched more by now and still like it? :D at least I hope so lol. One disclaimer, I believe the Helluva pilot is not considered canon anymore? I'm not a 100% sure exactly what parts are canon or not, but yeah just keep that in mind.

Your faves are absolutely completely valid, I really love those characters too! And it's not just that you're gay, I honestly think the male characters are just more interesting in the writing in general sfdggdf (unfortunately, please Viv throw us a bone here).

I absolutely feel you in not understanding why people love Alastor so much LOL. I love him, I really do, but I do think he's a taaaad overrated because he scratches a specific part of tumblr people's brains. It's... hard to explain, but yeah if you don't simp for him then he's kinda just alright lol.

Don't worry about chatting with me! Happy to hear about a new fan!! Just a heads up though, if you expect to understand why we ship adamsapple after watching the show.... you probably won't LMAO IT'S MOSTLY BASED OFF OF OUR OWN DELUSIONS TO BE FAIR (I have two friends that I got into hazbin after they saw all my adamsapple art and brainrot, and they were like ".... yeah Riu we don't get it" haha)

[ripplestitchskein]

I'm new to stolitz and HB and your takes/ your essay was a breath of fresh air. Maybe it's because I'm new here in the HB fandom, but I've seen more people talking shit about Stolas/"Stolas fans" than actual "toxic" Stolas fans? And don't get me started on those horrible ass takes calling Stolas a sexual assaulter/abuser or comparing Stolitz to Angel and Valentino, likening Stolas to Valentino.

It bothers the heck out of me but at the end of the day, with more exposure to that noise I can navigate how to tune it out and they can stay bitter and talk shit about everything they watch while we wait for "Full Moon"

Welcome Nonnie! Thank you so much! I’ve really missed doing things like this. It’s been awhile since I interacted this heavily with a fandom as nothing has really caught my brain this intensely for a long time so it’s nice to discover likeminded people in it. I’m new too! We can be new together.

It’s funny, I didn’t even know about HB until after I watched Hazbin, I had seen literally zero things about it, and while I had heard of Hazbin over the years and had seen Alastor I didn’t know what it was, I thought it was one of those popular dating sims, or like a new tumblr sexy man thing I hadn’t heard about which is hilarious to me now. A bunch of my IRL friends were talking about Hazbin a lot though and I love musical theater and have been on a personal art journey for a while (it started as getting better at art for video games, I’m a software engineer, but turned into me making a comic somehow because I’m a lifelong writer too) and the art style intrigued me so I decided to check it out. I loved it a lot, but like a normal amount. When I came on here people were talking about Helluva Boss so I’m like “ooh, more content” so we watched that and my brain saw Stolas and Stolitz and started the sirens. Like literally a “Oh no I love him” moment in LooLoo Land.

There are just characters and ships that hit just right. Imagine my surprise when I went into fandom spaces and there were people with these crazy interpretations of them and of Stolas I couldn’t reconcile with what I’d just watched. Like at all. Well I was surprised, but I’ve been around a fandom or two so I wasn’t that surprised but in this instance it was especially strange to me. It didn’t jive AT ALL with the show I just watched. Honestly, that intrigued me as much as the ship did.

Especially the Stolas takes. I’m like “This guy? This complete dork who is trying to mirror what his crush wants so bad he might as well be made of silvered glass?” “Evil Sexual assaulter? The guy in the royal romper who sings to his daughter and gets excited over legal contracts and makes silly little owl noises? This is the guy who has some evil sexual coercion plot over the dude who threatened to fuck his employees 11 minutes into the show and can’t go ten minutes without saying cum?” It was REALLY confusing let me tell you. Like you have this really fucked up reality where murder is A-Okay and characters that say vile shit to each other as a matter of course and people are all up in arms about a transactional sexual relationship? It just seemed like one of the least problematic things some of these characters do lol and I felt like I was in a room where something important happened and I missed it.

I’m pretty good about taking in different views, because of my ND I try really hard to understand where people are coming from and kind of assume I missed something everyone else knew from being in the fandom for so long, that being new I didn’t know, but the more I looked into it the more it seemed tied to an interpretation of the character that wasn’t in what I had watched. I watched the VivziePop channel playlist which does not have the Pilot. When I found out about the original Pilot some quotes made a *little* more sense especially with the huge gaps in content releases, but I’m still fucking baffled a lot of the time tbh. Sometimes I feel like these people are watching an entirely different show based on that Pilot and our social media have crossed universes.

I’m used to this though, the last major characters to take over my brain were MXTX characters, Bakugou from MHA and Killian Jones before that so I am pretty used to people having character interpretations who can’t get past first impressions, and ignore like literally years of development. (More about the last two, the MXTX fandom is one of the best I’ve been in, everyone seems to be really happy with the canon content there all around, I can’t think of any hate I’ve ever seen about any character tbh, even the actual villains. Fan fiction game is on point too, so many good writers in that fandom).

I’m also used to people ascribing love of a fictional character to a real life moral failing. My view has always been that I enjoy more complex characters and stories that aren’t always squeaky clean because it’s fiction and it’s fucking boring if everyone in it are these perfect unflawed cardboard cutouts who always act the right way, never hurt other people, and never make mistakes or fuck up or miscommunicate. People approaching relationships from differing points of view, struggling with darkness and trauma, and reconciling their issues especially together or to BE together is the fucking BEST thing about fiction.

Fandoms are fucking bizarre is what I’ve ultimately landed on. And they don’t understand what toxic means. Or problematic. Like just plain do not understand those words.

We’ll be fine Nonnie! Let’s just keep flailing over things we love, crying over the angst train that is surely coming full speed at our faces (and will probably have to deal with for years because of the release schedule), and enjoy theorizing, speculating, analyzing and creating content with other like minded people! Come vent in my inbox anytime and I’ll keep writing War and Peace length essays about 15 minute long episodes.

Seriously though, the man wears a ROYAL THEMED ROMPER how could ANYONE hate him? I love him so much.

I will say the one downside of this fandom is I know more about avian genitalia and reproduction than I ever needed to.