#i won't go over 2000 words apparently

[osaemu]

GOJO SATORU: ❛❛ ONE MORE CHANCE? (IT WON'T BE THE LAST) ❜❜

.ೃ࿐ you hate your ex, but nobody else can fuck you half as well — so maybe you'll give him one more chance.

contents: fem!reader. implied unprotected sex, dirty talk (?), lil' bit of praise, lil' bit of degradation, oral (fem. receiving), couch sex, gojo covers your mouth at one point, cursing, lil' bit of teasing/mocking (?). sorta toxic but whatevs we love a toxic king! 2000+ words.

author's note: got lazy in the middle of writing this loll

"he's just so fucking annoying," you groan, swirling the drink in your hand. the ice clinks against the side of the glass as you lift the cup to your lips, sipping the whiskey and wincing at the way it burns the back of your throat. you lean back in the plush couch in your friend's living room and sigh. "i don't know why i ever dated him."

your friend nods in agreement, eyes fixed on her phone for another second before she turns it towards you. "look what he posted on his instagram."

on your friend's screen is an instagram story, and the tag shows that it's from your ex-boyfriend — satoru gojo. tired of his insensitivity and annoying nature, you had dumped him two weeks ago, and god, you'd never had such a petty ex in your life.

after you broke up with him, he blocked you from all his socials and got all his friends to do the same. so, since he practically knew everyone, you lost a hundred followers.

and apparently, he's out fucking some other girl right now.

the story on your friend's phone is a picture of a smirking satoru with his arm wrapped around some girl with a red plastic cup in her hand. they're bathed in overhead red lights, and you can barely make out a familiar dark-haired boy in the back — another one of satoru's fuckboy friends.

"he's such a manwhore," your friend says with an eyeroll. "d'you want to stay the night?"

you shake your head, setting down the now-empty glass on a coaster. "it's alright, i wouldn't want to intrude," you say with a rueful smile.

your friend eyes you suspiciously for another second before leaning back in her own seat and closing her eyes. "stay safe, it's pretty late."

you nod and toss your things into your bag before stepping out the door, closing it gently behind you. as you get in your car and drive back to your house, thoughts of satoru fill your head. 

you don't recognize the girl under satoru's arm, but she's pretty — too pretty for him. sure, satoru was conventionally attractive, with his ocean-blue eyes and flawless physique, but still. 

satoru was a shitty boyfriend, and now he's an even shittier ex. when you two dated, his spoiled brattiness and constant sorry, i forgot's drove you insane. he couldn't even remember your birthday. it was a miracle that you tolerated him for that long — until your one-year anniversary, which obviously slipped his mind.

"you're so insensitive," you groan, dragging a hand down your face. satoru suppresses a sigh, blue eyes looking everywhere but at you. "and— satoru, are you even listening to me?"

you're quiet for three seconds before he responds, and naturally, it was with a "huh? yeah, what is it?"

every time. every single time.

"it's over," you mutter, shaking your head frustratedly. "we're over, satoru."

"fine," he responds after a moment. "i never really liked you anyways."

"fuck you."

if you didn't give a fuck about that white-haired bastard anymore, why did the memory of your breakup still sting?

you try to tell yourself that it doesn't matter. maybe it was for the best — he was out with some pretty girl, so why couldn't you go out and sleep with some hot guy? 

you make up your mind right as you step into your house, and thirty minutes later, you're in a tight dress and four-inch heels. and it's almost funny how easy it is to doll up when you don't have a horny boyfriend trying to fuck you every two seconds.

right before you step out the door, you eye yourself in the mirror and can't help but admire the way your dress hugs your waist, accentuating your curves. that smug manwhore didn't know what he was missing out on — so why not show him?

you pull out your phone and take a picture of yourself, snapping a couple before deciding on one and posting it on your story. you knew he'd see it — you intentionally let his burner stay unblocked, and coincidentally, he didn't block you either. 

just as you push open your door, you realize that your phone's on death's door — just over five percent remaining. so you plug it into your charger, kicking your feet impatiently as you wait for it to charge to a reasonable amount.

some part of you wants to chicken out, to stay home and spend the night watching a classic romcom. but the other part of you, the part that can't ignore the fact that you haven't had sex in two weeks, urges you to go out and get laid.

so twenty minutes later, when your phone finally hits forty percent, you practically throw open the door and rush out and find yourself face-to-face with the guy who's somewhere between belly conklin and andy bernard on your most-disliked list. satoru gojo.

"what the fuck are you doing here?" you snap, wrapping your arms around yourself as the cold night air touches your bare skin. satoru eyes you up and down, and suddenly, you're very aware of just how exposed you are. "satoru, answer the damn question."

"where are you going?" he asks, eyes narrowing when they settle on your dress's deep neckline. 

"none of your business," you reply shortly, biting the inside of your cheek. unfortunately, satoru looks good. just like in his instagram story, he has one button undone in his collar, and his hair is rumpled and perfect all at the same time. "answer the fuckin' question."

"saw your story," satoru replies, slipping his hands into his pocket. "you going out on a date or something?"

the question catches you off guard, and your irritated expression drops for a moment. strangely enough, satoru doesn't have his usual smug expression on his face — he looks conflicted. he never looks conflicted.

"doesn't matter," you respond, walking around him and relishing the way your heels clack on the concrete ground. without turning around, you ask, "so, what about my story made you come over?"

you're not sure why you're baiting him. maybe it's the slight chance that he would beg to get you back, maybe it's the tightness in your chest and pussy, or maybe you just want the satisfaction of seeing satoru squirm.

whatever it is, it lets satoru take you by the wrist and drag you back inside. you suppose that if you can get dick at home, then there's no point in going all the way to the club. and it's not like you're gonna get back together over one night — this would be purely physical. he wanted you, and you wouldn't mind him.

"fuck, right there, sweetheart," satoru groans, pushing your legs impossibly farther apart as his tongue laps at your pussy. the two of you barely made it to the couch in your living room before satoru pushed you down, a mischievous smile on his lips. one thing turned to another, and soon enough he was on his knees in front of you and eatung you out like a starving man.

"you're such a loser," you mutter, threading your fingers through his hair as his tongue makes you see stars. he really was — who shows up to their ex's place after getting dumped? a laugh bubbles out of satoru's lips while his mouth is still on your pussy and it makes you shiver. satoru looks up at you, an amused gleam in his eyes.

"s' that so?" satoru mumbles, pressing his lips to your inner thigh with a smirk. "then why'd you let me in, huh?"

"why would i go out when i can just get fucked at home?" you say dryly, a smile growing on your lips. "since you made the effort of coming all the way here."

"my pleasure," satoru scoffs sarcastically, getting up and joining you on the couch as he tugs you into his lap. "so i'm the pathetic loser here, yeah?"

you nod, letting satoru unzip the back of your dress with one hand. he laughs and shakes his head. "you're the one who let me in, baby."

"yeah, well, you showed up."

"you coulda slammed the door in my face."

"maybe i should've," you mutter, not liking the way he's grinning at you. "you gonna fuck me or what?"

"aw, you're desperate. how cute," he replies without missing a beat. it's been a while since you got to banter with satoru like this, and some part of you misses it. sure, he's disgustingly cocky, but at least he has the dick to back it up. and it's fun, too — you like the chase, and clearly, he does too.

"not really," you say with a shrug. that's a lie — the only reason you let him in was to get fucked, and contrary to the excuses falling from your mouth, you were getting impatient. not that he needed to know that.

"fine. have it your way, brat." satoru smiles cheekily and bounces his leg up and down, making you grit your teeth as you struggle to focus.

you make a face at satoru, crossing your arms. "what are you—"

"waiting."

"for what?"

"for you to beg."

your mouth falls open, and you glare at satoru, hating the way he's smugly grinning at you. this isn't the first time he's asked you to beg for him to fuck you — back when the two of you were dating, he had no problem edging you the whole night and practically making you cry for him.

"not this again," you groan, letting out a drawn-out sigh. "just fuck me already, satoru. or i'll go get someone else to."

satoru clicks his tongue, smiling lazily. "we both know you won't do that."

again, he's right, and god, you hate him for it. "just shut up and fuck me."

"alright, since you asked so nicely," satoru drawls, running his tongue over his teeth. he studies you intently, white hair falling into his eyes. before you can ask what he's looking at, he has you pinned against the couch cushions, face down and ass up. 

"good girl, stayin' nice and quiet for me," satoru groans, hand clasped over your mouth as he pounds into you from behind. "you always talked too much. never knew when to shut that damn mouth."

you moan against his hand, unable to think about anything else but satoru and his dick. that's the only reason the two of you stayed together for as long as you did — because the sex was irreplaceable. and after two weeks without getting fucked, you seriously consider throwing all pride out the window and begging for him back.

"shit, you're so fuckin' tight," satoru says with a rough laugh. "have you really not fucked with anyone else since you dumped me?" 

you shake your head, eyes pressed shut as satoru continues sloppily thrusting into you. there's a coil in your chest that's threatening to burst, and the whines slipping out of your lips increase in both pitch and volume.

at this point, you can hardly remember why you broke up with satoru — or maybe, he's just not giving you a chance to remember. his pace is relentless and mind-numbing, and shit, maybe it's for the best.

when he finally lets you cum, it's the best feeling you've had in what feels like forever. the edges of your vision go white, and satoru removes his hand from your mouth, letting out the lewd, muffled sounds that you've been suppressing all this time. not long after, satoru cums too, and it's sloppy, messy, and all over you. 

satoru collapses on top of your back, hot breaths slipping out of his mouth and brushing against your cheek. "took me so good, baby," he groans, pressing his lips to your neck and laughing breathily. "we should do this again sometime."

you shouldn't like this. you should be shoving him out your door, but his mischievous smile is irresistible. and even though you know this time probably won't end any different than the rest, you decide to give satoru one more chance.

"yeah, same time tomorrow?"

"anythin' for you."

[garf-lover96]

alright so i wrote it, it's just kind of self indulgent because i use Rowan for basically self insert stuff. content warning for homoerotic wound stitching??....... and just blood (but it's not actually that bad).i've never posted something like this before anywhere so i kind of feel like i'm about to be burnt at the stake lol!!!! also the word count is like almost 2000 words. i kind of just freestyled this but also i watched a few wound stitching videos on youtube

and this was the idea btw, but i changed it a little after

———

He was reckless again. Of course he was. Being reckless is practically in his blood. But being reckless also comes easier when you know that getting hurt won't have lasting consequences. Ever since Julian's healing mark disappeared, he was just a—mostly—regular person again. He should've known better not to continue that little quarrel at the Red Market. Now he was walking back to the magic shop, the numerous slash wounds on his left arm hidden effectively under his coat. His thoughts raced. Making anyone worried about him was decidedly one of his worst nightmares. And now that he has someone waiting for him every evening... That obviously made it even worse. Rowan will be furious. Or devastated... He wasn't sure anymore, given how many mixed reactions he's already gotten after coming back home with any kind of injury.

He had no idea what he'd even say to him. His guilt was so overwhelming that his mind went blank every time he tried to come up with an explanation, an apology.

His breath gets a little heavier by the time the shop is in his eye's reach. Is it from the pain or the anxiety? It's so hard to tell now. He approaches the door slowly, stopping just in front of it. His hand hovers over the knob hesitantly. Come to think of it, maybe just sleeping outside would be a better idea...? No, that'd obviously make Rowan even more worried. Then his worry would turn to frustration and then... He'd have that dejected look on his face. At the very least, if he's lucky enough, maybe Rowan is already asleep and he will have the whole night to come up with something, anything. He remembers his partner complaining about a headache in the morning. It's rather reasonable that he'd want to rest sooner.

He snaps himself out of his momentary zone out session and shakes his head with a sigh. After he opens the door, he notices that there's no light inside. That would mean that Rowan is upstairs already. Maybe Julian can manage to be quiet enough just to reach the bathroom and quickly tend to his wounds? It seems like a better idea than having Rowan fuss over him. He slowly closes the door and then takes off his boots. He'll have to be completely silent. Years of experience in having to sneak around, unnoticed, definitely come in handy in situations like these. He makes an effort to take long, slow steps, leading by his heels. When he reaches the stairs, he makes sure to avoid any creaky spots on the steps. He takes another look around. He has to stop himself from sighing out of relief loudly when he notices the complete darkness around him.

He scurries over to the bathroom and shuts the door behind him, then hastily lights a nearby candle. He pulls off his eyepatch, his gloves, tosses them aside and starts peeling his overcoat off carefully. His arm is still bleeding which means that he has to grit his teeth tightly not to make even a single sound. Once he manages to get shirtless, he can assess the damages. A large, leaking gash on his upper arm and a few smaller ones on his forearm. Since he didn't have anything to stop the bleeding with previously, his whole arm has been painted red, down to his fingertips. This will be a nightmare to clean up... The longer he stares at the laceration, the more apparent it becomes that he's going to need stitches. He bites down on his lower lip while looking around the room. There has to be a needle and thread around here somewhere. After searching through some shelves and cupboards he finds what he was looking for, along with bandages for later. He pulls up a nearby stool to start on his task but the moment he sits down, it collapses right under him and he falls back on the floor. Stupid old chair... He can only manage to let out a soft, breathy whine before he hears Rowan from the bedroom.

"Julian? Are you alright?" Rowan calls, already being heard getting up from the bed and heading for the bathroom door.

Julian's voice gets stuck in his throat. His first instinct is to lie and to try and convince his partner to go back to bed, but he stops himself. This wasn't going to work from the start. Rowan would have always had to find out eventually.

A few soft knocks on the door are heard.

"Can I come in?" he asks, his tone already taking on a worried note.

Julian gets to his feet with a groan and opens the door, just peeking out of it at first.

"I'm sorry." he blurts out the second he makes eye contact with Rowan.

Rowan raises an eyebrow, then pushes the door open. Julian instinctively steps back, already raising his arms up defensively.

"This is not as bad as it looks, dear, I swear-" he starts, but gets cut off when Rowan sees all the blood.

"You told me you were going grocery shopping!" he scolds with a growing disturbed expression on his face.

"I know, I know, there was just... There was a detour and I... I remembered I'm out of leeches... The um, the Red Market..." Julian manages to stutter out in defense but Rowan's eyes are somewhere else now. Namely, they land on the needle and thread that got knocked to the floor when Julian fell.

"Darling, I just didn't want to worry you-"

"Just... Sit down."

"Where...? T-the stool is broken..."

"Then sit down on the floor!"

Julian obeys and sits cross legged on the floor with a deeply embarrassed expression. Rowan kneels down next to him.

"Er... I do need those stitches, Rowan."

"Your hands are shaking."

"W-well, you're not..." Julian exhales nervously "You're not that squeamish, are you?"

Rowan gets the implication and takes a moment to rub the bridge of his nose with a small sigh.

"I don't suppose magic can sterilize needles...?" Julian adds with an awkward chuckle.

"I could heat it up."

Julian nods, "That works."

It doesn't take much time for the equipment to be sterile again. Rowan moves to sit closer to the injury and gets the needle ready.

"You'll have to walk me through it." Rowan utters, still trying to put on a brave face.

Julian tilts his head a little "But you can sew."

"I've never had to sew up a wound!"

"I suppose that's fair..." he acknowledges "But I find it really similar to working with fabric, if that's any comfort."

"It's not."

"Nevermind that... You're familiar with the blanket stitch, right?"

"...Right."

"If you can manage that, the wound should get closed up properly."

Rowan nods and takes a deep breath to ground himself, then makes the first puncture. He can feel the warm blood on his fingers and the sickeningly metallic smell in his nose. The only sounds that can be heard are his and Julian's heavy breathing, and the soft, unnerving squelching sound of Julian's wound being sutured.

Rowan's hands are steady enough but he sniffles from time to time and wipes his eyes into his sleeves. Julian is staring at him all the while, more concerned about his mental state that his own injury. The guilt is already eating him from the inside by the time Rowan's eyes start getting glossy. The sheer embarrassment and remorse hurts infinitely more than the laceration. He starts getting a little teary-eyed himself as Rowan ties that final little knot.

Julian smiles softly as he looks down at the stitch work, hoping to lighten the mood a little already.

"Ha, you honestly missed your calling as a doctor."

He raises his eyes only to be met with Rowan's furious stare.

"...You're still mad" he notes quietly.

"You think?!" Rowan snaps and gets to his feet "You can't keep doing this!"

Julian follows suit but stumbles a little, "I didn't mean for this to happen, I just wasn't thinking."

"Of course you weren't!" Rowan agreed roughly "You know, I was worried from the start, when you started living here. I was hoping you'd make more effort to adjust properly and start actually taking care of yourself now that you finally have the chance. But it's like putting yourself in danger is the default brain function of yours and it won't disappear no matter how hard we both try! And I hate it, Julian, I hate it so much. It's my least favorite thing about you."

Julian can only listen as Rowan unloads all his frustrations. He can't help but agree with his arguments... He doesn't even attempt to get a word in.

"I don't even want to know the details. It'd just make things worse. I already almost lost you several times. I can't imagine what I would do if something serious happened. Not that this isn't serious! Whoever did this, whatever they cut you with, they could've just went for a major organ. And... And you'd just bleed out in some back alley. And I'd probably be the last to know."

Rowan pauses and looks down at the floor. His speech was like a gut punch to Julian, more painful that anything that happened yet. He hesitates before getting closer to Rowan and wrapping his arms around him. Rowan reciprocates immediately, squeezing him as tightly as he can.

"At this rate, you'll make me go gray before thirty..." Rowan weeps into his chest.

"I, for one, would think you look dashing." Julian sniffs awkwardly, holding onto Rowan's shirt "I'm so deeply sorry for making you worried again."

They stand there in silence for a few minutes, attempting to calm down after the endeavor.

If there's an upside to the frequency of those accidents, is that they manage to get a hold of their tears and frustrations quite quickly. After a moment, Julian pulls away a bit and looks into Rowan's eyes.

"You're right, of course... I know my recklessness takes a toll on you too... I promise that from now on there will be no spontaneous detours. If I get into a sticky situation, you'll know where to find me. I'll carry an additional knife with me as well." he adds with a soft chuckle "And I'm sorry for getting the blood on your shirt, just now... I'll buy it back for you."

"It's not completely ruined, I'll just need to soak it overnight... Though a compensation is definitely in order. For the tremendous emotional damages." Rowan sniffs.

"Then I shall take over making dinner for the whole month."

"Sure, that's fine..."

"And I'll buy you a new shirt anyway."

"Alright..."

"And I'll buy a new stool to replace the one I broke."

"Mhm."

"And you can stab me yourself if you'd like."

"...I think you're missing the point here. But if you scare me like that again, I will lightly choke you."

"We have a deal, darling."

———

i would appreciate opinions about this honestly..... and i had fun writing the descriptions the most i think

and this was the writing time + like 30 minutes the previous day

[stupid-interrupted]

I have Couvid from work so that means I get to ramble and debunk the ghost equipment used in the RLM video all I want in a non professional view !

So I'm only gonna really talk about some of the basics as shown above and some random ghosty moments, because I can, the guys kinda went over a few things in regards to them being not the best pieces of equipment but I need more people to know how like abysmal these things are in the sense of gaining evidence.

Also I'll throw in like an estimate on price cause,,, why not i dunno I'm sick also pre warning I am not smart and I am not an expert, I'm just kind of obsessed with watching ghost debunking videos and watched ghost adventures too much as a teen,,,, this is also gonna be really long sorry

1. Junk aka the shitty voice recorders and tiny camera's

This is just a throwaway thing really encapsulating the voice recorders and the tiny camera mike brings, I think it's common sense and even pointed out in the video that these things are just useless, they barely worked during the time in recording voices and give a shit ton of rough audio and catching small noises like getting brushed against your clothes etc it's easy to misinterpret a random noise as anything you want. I'm not sure with this model but some voice recorders let you even keep certain old messages and such.

And in similar vein, old camera's are not gonna give you high quality pictures, so like what's the point ? So it can capture dust and grain or crunch pixels so you can claim it to be a ghost ? The ghost won't disrespect you for using a higher quality camera.

Estimate Price ( Aiworth(?) Recorders x2, digital zoom recorder, Canon digital still camera) - $200

2. Mel Meter + EMF Readers

I don't ever understand the point of these things, it detects the temperature and like EMF readings, both things that are supeerrr debunkable, it's good visual point for ghost hunters to be like look ! it's cold ! but like cold spots/ drafts will happen in shitty old houses and buildings, hot spots can also happen because of electrical spots and again more shitty structure of the building. I was amused to see a reddit thread talking bout how ghost adventures apparently barely use them anymore, I guess it's easier to just claim you're cold now without having to show it.

Also EMF is like gonna be picked up from so many things especially in buildings, any man made object will, as shown by rich's phone setting it off, also simple electrical wiring which is why apparently you can stick these near outlets and it'll go off. Also, whilst the Axe Murder House claims to have no power etc it does have AC/Heating so like,,, there's wiring and such around new and old for sure.

Estimate Price (EMF readers x 4 , Mel Meters x 2 ) - $280

3. Spirit Box

A classic ghost device which i'm pretty sure is the one Mac gifted Mike, either way, pretty useless lol it shuffles through radio signals, what sense does this make with a ghost interacting with it, I dunno either way it purely works on the logic of pseudoscience, concentrating on nonsense of static to hear something you're bound to fool yourself into having heard something once it pauses on certain words, and as even used by RLM the use of captions on the screen greatly helps fool anyone into hearing what you read, kinda like when you repeat audio and hear different words when you read different things, right ?

It's like convincing yourself to see a face in tv static, that whole Pareidolia thing, seeing jesus in your toast etc.

Estimate Price - $90 but technically free being a gift

3. Ovilus V aka the overpriced magic 8 ball

These things are apparently known and called out for being dumb, it coincidentally only has 2000 or so words in it's dictionary and as pointed out by other rlmblrs and blortch :3c it's easier for it to have a bunch of pre-set spooky words in it's dictionary that could be interperted into any scary situation then having like,,, "penguin" "mustard" etc and whilst some claim that the timing on the words is too mysterious to be useless, as the saying goes a broken clock is right twice a day.

Plus, this thing goes off so much when it wants to, I remember watching a guy show a demonstration of how to use it and when he turned it on it shouted like 15 nonsense words all one after another and when someone pointed that out in the comments, the dude claimed his green screen room was haunted asjdksjdklfkj

Also, why the fuck did these assholes keep saying they're going to switch it to drawing mode like 5 times in the video and then never do it, show me it draw,,,

Price Estimate - Allegedly $800 ,,,, though the one I saw on the ghost site I'm using was only like $600 *shrug*

Ghost Phenomenon break - Battery draining

So I know Mr. Bauman is the Camera guy and I can barely work my phone's camera BUT from research I could find there's quite a few reasons on why this happens for camera's. The most plausible and likely answer is,,,,dodgy batteries which was even noted by the guys themselves, as when they put in a new battery, it was fine.

I did find it interesting though that apparently these fancy camera's are gonna drain batteries faster when shooting in higher quality, which is probably why you see that they're always plugged in around the studio. Also, some other features apparently will drain batteries much faster, such as having auto focus on or just having night vision which i don't ?? think this camera does ?? i couldnt see anything about it. But either way, there's a multitude of reasons on why the battery drained,,, that doesn't come down to it being a ghost.

5. Rem Pods aka their big scary moment

These things suck.

They're cheap as shit material wise and prone to going off for the most random of things, as I found out when I was "researching" these machines. Being built from just shitty mini theremin circuit boards super glued to a bunch of LED lights that flash when it detects vibrations, there's no fancy science or logic to em. There was even a guy in one of the forums noting that he can make these things for like 20 quid and big ghost companies will upsell em to hundreds of dollars to scam people basically.

But basically, these things will go off from even just wind brushing against them, or just anything disrupting it's sorta electromagnetic field, there's videos you can find on youtube of people managing to set these things off by being in a completely different room using a walkie talkie, not saying the RLM guys did this but,,, these things will literally beep for fun asjdksldjfk

The whole dust thing touching the antenna is not a ghost touching it,,, its showing that dust is being carried/ falling with some kinda draft and therefore probably disturbing the theremin setting it off. And finally, as shown in the big moment of it going crazy, as even discussed by the guys themselves,,, the battery was probs just busted once again as it fixed itself the moment a new battery was put in asjdkljsdfkl I would also note though that it probs isn't gonna help much if a bunch of middle aged guys (affectionate) come walking across the creaky wooden attic floorboards that it's sitting upon too asjdklsdj

Price Estimate Rem Pods x 2 - $380

Conclusion -

Overall Price Estimate (maybe!) - $ 1, 660 !

In conclusion, ghost hunting equipment is a load of shit and a waste of your money, don't fall for it, if you want to experience ghosts you need to raw dog it.

Also, I'd say don't go to haunted locations/buildings, these places are mostly just there to profit off the murders and abuse/torture and trying to twist some weird stories, theories or hell even political agenda into the lives of very real people which is kinda crazy IMO

[saltygilmores]

Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls- Season 2, Episode 16, "There's The Rub", aka a Masterpiece of Gilmore-dom, AKA Forrester Can't Bring Me Down, AKA Jess Rory And Paris Eat Together And All Is Right With The World-Part 2

Before we continue I'd like to acknolwedge the sweet and thoughtful people who have been leaving generous compliments about this shitcircus of a thing I'm doing here. Mwah. Who's ready for more TTR? (PS-Don't forget to check out part 1 and all of the previous episodes I've recapped! You can find them in my pinned post. Tryna work on a new master index in the meantime).

Dean Forrester's reaction to a woman talking. Can I just ask a question? Forrester, why are you even with this girl in the first place? Why did this relationship drag out over the course of five long years? You clearly don't like her. Every word she says seems to bore and annoy you. You don't want to join in any activities with her. She's clearly not gonna have sex with you (yet). You don't respect her or support her in any of her endeavors. Every week you do something to frighten her or make her fear you, and frankly, she's not a big fan of yours either. Truly, what is in it for you? Oh right, it's cause you're using her so you can eventually fuck her Mom. Silly me. Carry on, you sexist worm (no offense to decent worms everywhere).

Rory:

R: Do laundry, and watch tv and eat the Indian food that I love but my mom hates. Can ya'll believe this is an actual exchange of words that is happening right now? They're really going back and forth so Rory can gain Dean's approval to do her laundry. Oh hey, my Gilmore Girls Bingo Card is filling up! We have a "Dean, are you mad?" TIMES TWO.

WHY SHOULD HE BE MAD THAT YOU WANT TO SPEND ONE EVENING WITHOUT HIM. RORY... PLEASE. This is so worrisome.

Idk maybe cause you're a fucking tapeworm? Sorry tapeworms. You're head lice. Your leather coat fucking smells.

WHAT IS HAPPENING? Dear God, Rorygil. I love you but please grow a spine. In the span of mere minutes we saw her cave under pressure from Paris to the point she agreed to tutor her for an entire week, which was totally unnecessary. Paris was asking for like, one evening. A minute later RoryGil caves under pressure from Dean, and now she's talking like she's going to cater to his every (probably sick and perverse) need like some kind of servant, just because he scowled when she said she wanted to do her laundry. THERAPY NOW, RORYGIL.This people-pleasing is wildly out of control. If therapy is not a viable option, just fucking kick Forrester in the nuts and tell Paris to chill because you'll have plenty of time to play Dysfunctional Marriage when you're older and married to each other someday.

(TWWGG is alone in her room, repeatedly saying KICK HIM IN THE NUTS out loud) IT'S OKAY NEIGHBORS. I'M JUST YELLING AT DEAN FORRESTER. FICTIONAL CHARACTER FROM EARLY 2000s TV SITCOM. SLIMY WORM. NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. Let me translate this DeanSpeak for you. I'm a pro. "I'm a saint": "I'm a saint for dating you even though you won't let me do things like come over while your mom is out of town and feel you up on the couch." "I'm confused": "I'm confused as to why you would ever prefer blissful solitude over giving me an awkward handjob on your Mom's couch." You know, if you weren't enough of a worm as it is, you probably fucking pressure her sexually too. Me singing to Dean Forrester:

Is a kissing coach a thing? Couldn't someone at the WB Network put aside a couple of bucks to teach Jared Padalecki how to kiss? Barring that, at least a blow up doll or pillow to practice on? The fault CLEARLY does not lie with Alexis Bledel.

Can you imagine you're AB, you fucking get paid to kiss Milo at work and if that wasn't enough, you're really dating him, so you leave your job where you got paid to kiss him all day and go kiss him some more at home... I think about this A LOT. Cut to Emily and Lorelai at the spa, where hell has apparently frozen over because Lorelai Gilmore has actually shut the hell up. Me trying to make small talk on a first date:

HA, someone won't shut up and leave you alone and is constantly invading your personal space! How about them apples, Lorelai!

What is this magical place called a "Quiet Room" and can I shove any gilmore girls character of my choosing in there at any time? L: Mom, you booked us for a couples massage. Do you know what most couples do 5 minutes after this is over? They have sex, together, probably while wearing their robes. Someone on Gilly Girls said S-E-X. I am scandalized! E: You've been pouting, sighing, sulking, mumbling, rolling your eyes the whole time. L: That's just how I detox. LMAO. What a stellar line. This episode is so great. Despite the presence of Forrester the Worm.

Whoa Nelly! What kind of cosmic alignment was in place that day for Lorelai to actually apologize for something?

Err, two things... Firstly: Mr. Peanut Pajamas. I always love Rory's pajamas and I wonder where they all came from. Secondly: Is Rory running a laundry service for all 9,000+ citizens of Stars Hollow out of her home? Five days a week she wears a school uniform. Where did all these clothes come from?

I love it when Paris shows up on Rory's door step, she always looks like an abandoned puppy looking for a home for the night. And she sort of is. P: I tried to stay home and study by myself! But I can't! There is this aching in my heart that I just cannot ignore! It grows louder and louder by the minute! Rory Gilmore, I love you! Will you marry me? Okay, so I made up everything past the first line, but you know she was thinking it.

Paris guilt trips Rory into letting her stay because Rory feels bad that Paris' parents don't love her. Poor RoryGil. Just let her LIVE. R: Fine I'll study with you for one hour then you have to go home!

Narrator: Paris Geller would not in fact, be going home, but her NotGoingHomeNess would make for one enchanted evening.

Literally puppy eyes! This is after Rory said they would start studying after she got changed, and Paris responded "My hour doesn't start until you get back, right?" To be continued.

[narastories]

This autumn is all about getting back to older things I love, isn't that right? So Kuroshitsuji. I have so many thoughts about re-reading it now as an adult. I was in high school when I first read/watched it and it was pretty new then. I had the intention of making this post shorter and more snappy but I don't actually want to attract the wrong kind of attention with it, if you know what I mean, so let me ramble.

Personally, if you know me, you won't be surprised that I love how... (I almost used a word I hate here)... deliciously subversive everything is. I love the characters and as I mentioned how adult the humor is.

However, I couldn't help but imagine someone who might be in their teens, grew up with today's morality police internet culture, and then hears about Kuroshitsuji for the first time next year when the new anime season comes out. And then they might go and read the manga from the beginning. People are going to have a terrible time lol

For the uninitiated: the entirety of the Black Butler manga is very easy to find in English online for free. This version is what is known as a scanlation: someone took the original manga, scanned it, and then created a fan translation to English and overlaid it on the images. It's awesome, because it takes years to publish an original English translation and because poor high school students can't afford it. My intention is not to shame the scanlators at all, I support fandom activities wholeheartedly.

The tiny bit of issue I have is that this early 2000's translation has some things that will make you shudder in 2023. Especially about gender. That was what prompted my curiosity to get the kindle original of the second volume just to compare if it was as... unfortunate as the fan version. It's better. You could nitpick it, but it's better.

The left is the free version the right is the original. This was the panel that made me cringe.

So, my point is: if you are very sensitive about this sort of wording maybe buy the originals. No shade either way, just make sure you're having a good time if you are consuming media for entertainment.

But I guess, even if you read the originals there is no way around some things that fandom antis will have an absolute field day with, I can already tell.

Ciel, apparently, according to canon, age 12. Even if you don't ship him with his demon butler (which I think already has been canceled as a ship, you know how it goes)... there are panels where they are intentionally in very compromising positions.

No, let me rephrase that: if you don't ship them, this shit will make you feel uncomfortable. Personally, I'm eating it up, of course.

I mean look at them. (And this is uh a relatively tame one.) In my opinion, their power dynamic is what makes the whole manga/anime so enjoyable. But I can already see the fandom bloodbath lmao

Then there is Grell. I think if you can't love her at her worst you don't deserve her at her best, personally. Still, she's a trans woman who chops up prostitutes with her girlfriend. And gets misgendered all the time.

Anyway, I don't know where I'm going with this. I love Kuroshitsuji. It's beautifully drawn and extremely funny. And people are going to lose their shit over it even before Ciel gets to say "fag".

[skiplo-wave]

RANT!

You may not watch this show. But I use to watch MTV's 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom. Tyler and Catelynn was my favorite couple. I think they are just about the only couple that made it. They put their first child up for adoption in 2009. Carly was adopted by a couple named Brandon and Teresa. It's a open adoption, but recently that communication was cut off. While we don't know the whole story, but I can't help but to go back on that episode when they go over the adoption papers again. They didn't know what they was signing and apparently they was lead to believe that there would be annual visits. And it seems that young moms that put their babies up between 2000-2010 all said they was lead to believe that they would have annual visits. Coincidence? I think not. I think certain agencies took advantage of teens and young moms that wouldn't know to get a lawyer to look over these contracts and would word things a certain way to trick them. And once the papers was signed, there was nothing they could do.

Again, while we don't know the whole story, but as for the visits, Tyler and Catelynn seemed to had been told there would be annual visits. Brandon and Teresa will regret it one day. It won't be long, in a few years Carly will be 18. She'll find out the truth and be upset that she lost all that time.

[don-dake]

programme title: 《創業者心路》

(rough translation: “Entrepreneur's Journey”)

Since looking up some Gregory Charles Rivers (aka 河國榮 — Ho Kwok-Wing) videos a while back, YouTube keeps recommending me more and more vids with him in it…not that I mind! I love his voice and the breezy way he spoke and it's good for Cantonese listening practise!

So here's a vid from c. 2014-ish since the programme mentioned he had left TVB — Hong Kong TV station that had hired him for 20+ years — six years prior and 2007–08 was the year he quit the station full time.

Apparently a sort of info-ed programme showcasing various folks from all walks of life who are trying or starting out an entrepreneur journey? And of course, this particular episode featured the aforementioned Mr Rivers, Ho Kwok-Wing.

I find this video quite heartbreaking now in light of what happened to him and his wife, but also still so inspiring and sweet (to get a glimpse of the mutual, quiet support he and his wife had for each other) and worth sharing and archiving here too!

video summary

(it's a little too time-consuming for me to translate everything word-for-word — even if the vid is not that long — so I'm just gonna give a translation in English, for the odd person (besides me!) here who may have more than a passing interest in this man, who's largely unknown outside of Hong Kong.)

Interviewer (Vincci):

“Entrepreneur's Journey” has showcased lots of successful entrepreneurs throughout the course of this programme but there are also lots of budding entrepreneurs who need our encouragement and support. This episode's main guest is too in need of some cheering on!

Voice-over:

Ho Kwok-Wing, a face that you and I (mainly Hong Kongers who grew up in the late '80s–early 2000s) are very familiar with.

Once gracing our TV screens in countless supporting roles, six years ago, he got really dispirited with TVB and decided to finally quit full time to try and strike out on his own.

But prospects for a foreign actor in Hong Kong are ultimately limited. Ho Kwok-Wing had very little job opportunities as an actor these last few years. To try and create another path (and earn a living) for himself, he and his wife decided to try their hand at a DIY trinket/jewellery business.

Vincci: So why did you think of starting such a business in the first place?

GCR/HKW: Not me really! I'm just an employee! (laughs) My wife runs the business! Really, it's because my wife has experience in the jewellery business, she has done jewellery exhibitions in places like Switzerland, USA, many times in the past.

So last year, when she decided to quit her job and after an extended break, gave serious thought to trying this business on our own, and how to go about it, what kinds of jewellery to procure…the whole shebang, she did all the homework, she's the one who knows (better).

She actually tried balloting (for permission) for (setting up) a (bazaar) stall many times before but wasn't successful until this time, our first try balloting for a place here in Sai Kung (西貢 — a peninsular in the New Territories part of Hong Kong). Even then, there was a 7–8 month waiting period.

Vincci: So what made you finally decide to leave TVB?

GCR/HKW: I'd been with TVB for 20+ years, I knew TVB would not give me any more room for advancement (as an actor). Although there were occasionally still good roles for me, (I knew) there won't be any more chances for me to go beyond being a supporting actor.

So I pretty much had only two choices; stay on and continue being a supporting (but increasingly dispirited) actor, or take a gamble and try to start something for myself (outside TVB).

So I decided to take that gamble. And even if I end up losing, I can at least say I've tried. If you don't try, you may have regrets for life…and you never really can know what the outcome will be!

Vincci: I know right now you're taking things on the chin, striving hard to get by, so did you ever think that this is too difficult and you should just go back to TVB for more job stability and call it a day?

GCR/HKW: Someone I've known for a long time just asked me a similar question this morning, like, why don't I go back to TVB? At least there'll be a base salary, and I told my friend, TVB does not do “base salary”! My friend was taken by surprise, thinking a contract with TVB would guarantee me a basic salary but the reality is, I'd only get paid if I actually had an opportunity to be in something! Being tied to TVB is no guarantee of salary stability.

I've friends (colleagues) who sometimes only get to do about 1–2 projects a year, and if you'd signed an exclusive contract with TVB, that means you can't take on other projects outside of TVB.

[n.b.: these are not so-called “top tier” actors; their pay is not that high to begin with and they don't have much bargaining power to negotiate for much salary increment or more job opportunities, so many are actually struggling to get by.]

Vincci: So these past 6 years must be pretty difficult for you…after all, opportunities in the entertainment industry are quite limiting in Hong Kong…

GCR/HKW: Difficult…yeah a little…I'm probably…like what you read about in the papers too, in that group of people who are basically living on their savings right now…seeing our savings shrink, shrink, shrink, shrink, shrink! (chuckles) Right? But…we're not giving up (yet)!

Voice-over:

Due to Hong Kong's sky-high rental prices, Ho Kwok-Wing and his wife cannot afford a brick and mortar store and can only afford this “nomad” style of business, moving every other month, going along with where the bazaar goes. And this weekend, after two days of being under the humid, 30°C weather, they have only managed to make about HKD$2000 (approx. USD$250) in total.

But enduring these hardships is not just for making a living, but for personal ideals (and dreams).

Vincci: So the transition from being someone on TV to now running a (modest) business (in a street bazaar), is there any sense of awkwardness/difficulty for you to be seen as falling on hard times and doing this to earn a living?

GCR/HKW: Difficulty…no I don't actually feel so. Because I've long treated Hong Kongers as my friends and they too have embraced me as a local and good friend, like, I'll smile and greet anyone (who recognises me), we'll all smile and wave, pose for photos, I'll sign autographs, everyone's been real friendly! It's a really fun and enjoyable situation really! And I'm after all just an ordinary person, not some global superstar like (Maggie) Cheung Man-Yuk for example! If a real superstar suddenly has to go from superstar status to selling trinkets at a bazaar…then yeah, they may find it hard to make that change!

But I'm OK with this and everyone (the people he's met so far) understands I'm not some big star, and ultimately we are all people and have to make a living somehow, so no one has made me feel awkward about selling jewellery at a street bazaar.

Vincci: So I know you're trying your best to also earn enough to cut your own album all this while but we all know this is a very uncertain industry and there's really no telling what the response will be like even after putting in all your effort and finances into it…

GCR/HKW: Yeah…and it really feels like all your finances can vanish any minute, going with this endeavour. Especially nowadays when people can pirate music so easily, to the point that some people don't think albums are worth buying anymore and they actually feel entitled to free music…

Vincci: So why do you still persist trying to break into the music industry?

GCR/HKW: Well because my main goal when I first came to Hong Kong, has always been to have a music career.

Voice-over:

Ho Kwok-Wing's perseverance in pursuing his dreams, even when knowing fully he's likely making a losing investment, this “gritting one's teeth and just making the best of things as they come”, this inextinguishable fighting spirit is certainly something to be inspired by and learn from!

GCR/HKW: With dreams, you have to have a lot of patience sometimes, be prepared for disappointments and also feeling utterly defeated. After so many years, and I've been in Hong Kong for 27 years now, I've learned to take disappointments in my stride.

This week's disappointments may turn into next week's joys. So this is how I deal with life now: Keep an optimistic outlook!

And I wish everyone who has unfulfilled dreams like me all the best and may your dreams come true!

[walnutbun]

How about you take your infantilization and shove it? I at least tried to treat you with some respect, considering you purport to be a leftist and an adult.

Once again, since you're apparently too busy viewing other adults as children to read what we say:

painting everyone who rallies behind the Democratic Presidential candidate as being "uncritically supportive of Democrats" is beyond idiotic.

That isn't "extrapolating what [my] arguments imply" - it's reading into things that aren't fucking there. If I wanted to say "we should support Democrats no matter what", I would have fucking said that.

how many policies do i need to disagree with before you think it's ok to not vote blue?

You should vote for whatever major party most closely aligns with your beliefs. Key word there is major. Unfortunately, thanks to our FPTP electoral system, voting for a third-party candidate is actively harmful. If you want proof just look at the results from 2016.

Had Stein voters in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan voted for Hillary, we would've never gotten Trump - Stein got 207k, 146k, and 172k votes in those states respectively, which Hillary lost by 113k, 44k, and 11k. Winning those states would have boosted her electoral vote count to 297 (or 292, if we're assuming the same faithless electors).

A similar thing happened in 2000, but even more extreme - had just 537 Nader voters in Florida voted strategically for Gore, we would have never gotten the second Bush. Winning Florida would have given Gore 292 (or 291 if we're assuming the same faithless elector). That's not a typo, by the way - that's five hundred and thirty-seven. Not even a thousand Floridians stood in the way of Gore becoming President and sparing us from so much shit.

Ultimately, we do need to switch from FPTP to something else - even approval voting would be better. That said, while we are still under FPTP (which we still are), refusing to vote strategically is actively harming the policy positions you support.

that safe states do not exist because hundreds of thousands of voters might spontaneously change their voting behavior

I did not claim that they would "spontaneously" change their voting behavior. I didn't say 2% of Texans had to swap from red to blue, or 12% of Californians from blue to red - I said that they simply had to stay home or protest vote, which is the end result of messaging like "if you do not live in: pennsylvania, north carolina, georgia, michigan, arizona, wisconsin, or nevada, your presidential vote doesn't count!"

And before you try to respond with "but my post won't reach all those people", you're absolutely right - but I'm not talking about just your post. I'm talking about the idea that Presidential votes don't matter outside of swing states, and you are far from the only person pushing that narrative.

Finally, you keep trying to bash the very *idea* of the tragedy of the commons, which is insane. Then, instead of even bothering to respond to what I said defending its existence, you just attempted to deflect by nitpicking about my choice of metaphor - all over some easily disproven idea that it originated with Garrett Hardin.

i see a small possibility to push [the Democrats] left by strategically withholding your vote

The issue with this is that it's impossible to "strategically" withhold your vote - you never know how many other people are going to withhold their vote until it's too late. Yes, my examples have (mostly) all used vote numbers in the hundreds of thousands, because statistically it is unlikely that an election will ever be won or lost by a single vote. The closest we've come that I'm aware of is my example of Florida in 2000, where 537 votes left us with the second Bush.

Withholding your vote is like playing Russian Roulette with an unknown number of bullets and an unknown number of other players who have gone before you. You don't know your odds - you can't know your odds - until you take your turn.

Yes, it is stupid that our best weapon - voting - is also our worst. It's terrible that our only other options are primary voting, petitioning, and down-ballot voting. But that's the hand we've been dealt - and choosing not to play it isn't an option.

fuck. me and my 9 roommates were at the pound voting on which cat to get. each of us cast our ballot for a different cat, except that two of us voted for the rabid horse so I guess that's who we're bringing home today

[hoshikonobleach]

19 Rukia/Hoshi please! Maybe late 1800s? Honestly whatever speaks to you I'm into it

GASP. Y’all, here it is… the first Ruki/Hoshi on this blog. Enjoy it. 

19. historical AU (historical period of your choice)37. arranged marriage AU49. psychic connection

watch me FAIL lmao. This one is LONG. And I hope I did it justice. Rukia’s a lot closer to her personality when she’s with Ichigo & the others. And Ichigo is a sweetheart someone pls love him (besides me)

From a young age, whenever Rukia went to visit her grandfather in the summer, she knew never to go to the Urahara Manor. It was just something that you didn’t do. When she was allowed out to play with the other children, they would always dare each other to go and touch the front gate of the Urahara Manor, and some would report back saying they heard a noise or saw a figure, and that would cement Rukia’s fear even more.

There was something about that place that made her senses act up. And it was on her way home, so she would pass by it. Normally, she would uphold the Kuchiki Ideals. Walk, not run, through anything that scared you. But now, she only ran. She knew Renji wouldn’t tell on her. They would make a game of it—whoever ran past the Manor the fastest had to by the other ice cream next time.

Rukia hadn’t bought Renji one single ice cream.

But today, Renji and the other kids couldn’t play something about summer homework. And Grandpa Ginrei had given Rukia money to buy ice cream on that hot summer day for them both, hoping that she’d hurry before his son got back and scolded them for not doing any of Rukia’s extravagant list of activities. Rukia had the two ice creams—an ice cream sandwich for her grandfather and a weird looking character ice cream for herself—in hand as she walked by the house, excited to eat, when she heard it.

“I-I-Is someone there?” Her little voice quaked with fear. She was across the street, but the cries sounded like they were only a foot or so away from her. Despite everything, Rukia took slow steps across the empty street and stood in front of the house. “H-H-Hello?”

The street in front of the Urahara Manor was mostly deserted. The town was about a mile in the direction Rukia came and her own home was about a quarter mile away from this place. All the other houses were rundown around it.

“Why won’t anybody play with me?” The voice, much clearer, cried. Rukia peered in through the gates. A young girl, about her age stood there, hands rubbing against her eyes as she cried.

“You have a scary house.” Rukia blurted out before she could stop herself, then slapped her hand against her mouth. The girl pauses, looking up at Rukia. Her eyes are red and puffy, but lighter than her bright red hair. “U-Uh, I’m… I gotta go.”

“Wait!” The girl reaches out, running towards the gate and slams into it. The look on her face is pleading. “Y-You can hear me?”

Rukia tilts her head. “Y-Yeah?” She says, blinking. “You’re talkin’ real loud. Crying loud too.”

“D-Do you wanna play with me?” The girl asks, hope filling her silver eyes and Rukia almost says yes, then she feels the ice cream dripping down her hand.

“I can’t!” She yelps, which startles the girl into falling back. “B-But, tomorrow! Tomorrow I’ll come back!”

“You promise?” The girl stands again. Rukia nods, sticking her pinky through the bars of the gate.

“Yeah, pinky promise. You do it like this.” Rukia gestures for the girl to copy her, which she does, “I pinky promise to come back tomorrow or I’ll stick a thousand needles in my armpits! Or that’s what Renji says anyway.” The girl giggles, wiping excess tears from her eyes.

“Then it’s a promise.” The girl grins.

“I’m Rukia.” Rukia finally says, pulling away.

“Hoshiko.”

Rukia awakes with a jolt, sitting up and startling her maid. Momo jumps, almost dropping the tea tray she had been carrying. “L-Lady Rukia!” She yelps, her eyes wide, “Is everything alright?”

“Yes,” Rukia replies, her voice breathless, “I just… I had a dream—more like a memory, I guess.”

“Oh?” Momo puts the tea try down on the cart, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Is it the nerves?”

“Maybe,” She replies, “I dreamt about the summer home, when we would visit Grandfather Ginrei. And my friends from that town.”

“Hm,” Momo hummed, “Your husband-to-be is from that town, so maybe it resurfaced some memories. It has been some time since you’ve been there, right?”

“Yes,” Rukia finally pushed back the duvet and swung her feet over the edge, “Grandfather became too sick to live on his own when I turned sixteen. We haven’t been there since, now I am twenty-one.”

Momo pours Rukia’s tea while Rukia herself moves around the room, opening the curtains and windows, letting in the fresh air. “Well, today is a happy day, is it not?”

“It’s certainly a sunny one.” Rukia replies. Her fingers pause on the back of her sitting chair. “Momo,” Momo looks up, setting down the tea pot. “Do you think I’ll like him?”

“He seems very likable.��� Momo replied, “From all the stories I’ve heard… it seems he has an easy time befriending people.”

Rukia feels a ghost of a touch on her skin, and in her mind, she sees red hair and a bright smile. Somehow, she doesn’t think she’ll like her suitor much.

Her dress is large, nearly taking up more room than it should as she stares out the window for the tenth time. Her grandfather chuckles, sipping at his mid-morning tea while Rukia huffs, sitting down on the sofa. “Are you hoping, perhaps, they’ve gotten lost?”

“If I said that, Byakuya-nii-sama would surely had my head.” Rukia replies, “So instead of saying it, I shall think it and think it loudly.” At this, Ginrei laughs, and one of the attendants enters the room, “They’re pulling their carriage around to the front!”

Rukia tenses, her hands freezing where they are and her eyes go wide. “I was just as nervous,” Ginrei says, “Meeting your grandmother. Though, we did come to love each other.”

“I’m already in love.” Rukia blurts out, then slaps her hands against her mouth. Ginrei chuckles.

“I know. As was I, at that time.” Ginrei sounds wistful, and the look on his face is far off. “Maybe you should make yours eternal.”

Byakuya is already outside when Ginrei and Rukia arrive. The carriage pulls to a stop and it’s quiet for a moment, before the door is slammed open and a boy flies out, landing right at Rukia’s feet.

“Guys, we’re supposed to be making a good first impression.” Another voice says. Rukia notes that the horses aren’t startled and the driver looks bored.

“My son should be more prepared to meet his new fiancé! Instead he’s playing around!” At this, two more people come falling out of the carriage. A large man with facial hair and a much younger man with glasses, dressed in white. Two girls follow him, then another man, much larger and tanner than the rest. And then finally, another girl.

Before she can get a clear look at the girl, the boy on the ground finally stands up, blocking Rukia’s view of her. He is tall and well-built and his bright orange hair is exactly as she’d imagined it and Rukia blinks. He acts as if he hadn’t been tossed five feet from a carriage. Really, the only thing noting he had been tossed was probably the dirt marks on his clothing. “Sorry about this lot. I’m Ichigo Kurosaki. You’re Rukia?”

“Yes.” Rukia finally says, “R-Rukia…. Um, Kuchiki. Please to make your acquaintance.” She bows and he laughs.

“We’re to be married, but you act so distant. I hope we’ll be good friends.” Ichigo then says, “I brought my entourage, I hope this is alright?” He turns to Byakuya who merely nods. “That’s my dad and sisters, that’s Uryu, and that’s Sado, and the girl is—“

“Hoshiko.” Rukia breathes out, startling Ichigo.

“Er, yeah, do you know each other?” He steps out of the way when Hoshiko comes barreling towards them and slams into Rukia, sending them both to the ground.

“Rukia! Rukia! I was so worried when you didn’t come back! I thought you hated me!” The girl cries, hands gripping onto Rukia’s dress.

“Of course I don’t hate you!” Rukia yelps back, “I could never! I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you when we left.”

“I’m so glad we’re reunited!” Hoshiko cries, sitting up and pulling Rukia with her. She then hugs Rukia around the neck, “Don’t leave like that again!”

“Not to, um, break this up,” Ichigo cuts in, “But, Hoshiko, how do you know Rukia—er, Lady Rukia?” Hoshiko pulls away for a moment, standing and pulling Rukia with her, though she doesn’t let go of the girl at all.

‘Rukia’s a friend of mine from childhood. I met you guys the summer she stopped coming to Karakura Town.’ Rukia watched, puzzled at the hand movements Hoshiko made.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Lady Rukia, friend of Hoshiko.” Ichigo finally says, though it sounds a little odd to Rukia. Hoshiko looks at him, and Ichigo nods, “Let us have fun tonight.”

“I’m confused.” Rukia says at the banquet that night. She and Ichigo are dancing across the ballroom floor. “What was Hoshiko doing with her hands? All that.. stuff, and how you guys did it back or... just spoke.=”

“You don’t know?” Ichigo raises an eyebrow. “She was signing. It’s what people who can’t hear or speak—or don’t want to speak—do to communicate.”

“Hoshiko can speak just fine.” Rukia argues, her eyes gliding across the room to where Hoshiko dances with Ichigo’s father. The two laugh as he spins her around much more aggressively than any other dancing pair. “I’ve heard her voice, it’s lovely. She can sing as well, and that’s divine.”

“She can’t.” Ichigo says, “She had a disease at birth, which muted her for life. I don’t know how you manage to figure out everything she’s saying when she doesn’t speak.”

“Because she is speaking.” Rukia gets a little louder, before coughing and lowering her voice. Her cheeks tinge pink and she looks down.

“They say,” Ichigo changes the subject, “That how you know someone is your soulmate… you’re able to hear their voice even when they don’t speak. Like some kind of mind connection or something.”

Rukia hums, but Ichigo continues speaking, “When I saw you two in the garden earlier, all I heard was you speaking—and Hoshiko wasn’t signing. She was just sitting there, listening and nodding and making wild gestures. It made me really think about my decision tonight. I knew there was nothing else I could do.”

“Decision?” Rukia echoes. Ichigo nods and they stop near the middle of the dance floor, coincidentally near Hoshiko and Ichigo’s father. “What do you mean?”

“I’m breaking off the engagement.” Ichigo says loudly, and without preamble. The look of shock on Rukia’s face is enough to make Ichigo laugh. He motions Hoshiko over and breaks away from Rukia. “I’d very much rather not fight Hoshiko for your hand in marriage. So, it was nice meeting you, Lady Rukia, but I’ll take my chances elsewhere.”

Ichigo bows to her, before signing at Hoshiko and then walking away with his father. Hoshiko takes Rukia’s hands and they begin dancing as if they had never stopped. “Ichigo’s always like that, don’t mind him.” Hoshiko grins, “He’ll find someone someday. Did you know this was his third broken engagement? That’s why I was surprised when such a noble house sent a letter.”

“To be honest, it’s because I’ve had just as many broken engagements.” Rukia replies, “I must confess, Hoshiko, I have often thought about you and longed to return to you.” The words make both of the girls blush and Hoshiko looks away.

“I was supposed to be the one laying down all of these cheesy lines.” Hoshiko pouts, then laughs. “I wonder if your brother will allow this. If he is looking for benefits, House Urahara has much to offer. I handle business with many people from different lands and my father is a very bright inventor. We have many allies and much to offer.”

“I don’t care if he doesn’t.” Rukia surprised herself. What surprised her even more was that she meant it. “I want to be with you, I… I love you, Hoshiko.”

“And I love you, Rukia.”

[giorno-plays-piano]

Your friendly neighborhood man-serpent

Pairing: naga!Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings: yandere, dubcon, kidnapping, mind control (kinda).

Words: 2000.

Summary: You definitely had to choose the mountain road over the forest one.

P.S. Again, huge thanks to @navegandoaciegas for giving me the inspiration to write!

_______________

"You chose the wrong path." The creature whispered into your ear as it carried you in his long, pale arms back to the light, away from the cold cave where it cornered you, frightened and frozen, barely feeling your legs in the cold groundwater.

Oh, you knew you chose the wrong path when an enormous naga started chasing you in the forest, his scary green tail big enough to wrap around your body and suffocate you in a couple of minutes. Honestly, you had never even imagined such monster to exist in the first place: you would definitely prefer taking the mountain road despite it being far more difficult than the forest one.

As you kept running away, screaming and crying, pleading the creature not to bite you, he drove you to that nasty cave where you fell into the freezing waters, hurriedly scrambling to your feet before you felt the scales of his tail rubbing against your skin: the creature had already wrapped his tail around you, probably eager to squeeze your poor human body to death and have you for breakfast. When you turned your head and saw its sharp fangs glistening with saliva, you finally cried like a little girl.

"Please, don't bite me." You pleaded in a weak voice as the creature caressed your cheek with its oddly human fingers.

"Just once." It assured you softly, bringing his fangs to the crook of you neck. "It won't hurt too much."

Though you thought with a teeth like this it definitely would, the creature told you the truth: it truly didn't hurt as bad as you had imagined. It was quick, like a shot a healer would give you, and then you felt warmth spreading slowly from the place of the bite. It felt... strangely comfortable when you realized you were calming down despite the horror of the situation. Weren't the venom of a naga supposed to hurt terribly?

"It does hurt." The creature hummed, releazing you from his tail's grip and gently taking you in its arms when you weren't able to stand on your own, too weak from whatever it got into your system. "Not that I actually poisoned you, darling. Of course, since it's the mating season, I wanted to inject some aphrodisiac so you'd be more willing to accept me as your mate, but you were so scared I thought it's better to let you calm down and rest."

Oh. Apparently, you got yourself a pretty compassionate snake friend. Oddly enough, you felt you worries fading away in a matter of a couple of minutes, relaxing in the creature's hands. Was it some sedative he used on you? You thought it was, exhaling loudly and closing your eyes.

As he - it was a male, surely - carried you back to the sunlight, you snuggled against his warm chest, enjoying being carried as if you were a little girl. Mating season, huh? This naga male deemed you attractive enough to have you as his mate despite you being a human. It was definitely flattering, you thought when a man-serpent gently brushed your hair away from your face and smiled at you.

The human part of him was quite handsome, you had to admit - he had shiny brown hair slicked back, a pair of pretty dark eyes, pale skin and lips that were thin, but there was substance to them. Besides, even the snake part, that tail starting from his waistline, wasn't as frightening to you anymore: well, what of it if he was a naga? The world was full of peculiar creatures, and all of them deserved to live despite their scary looks.

"Where are you taking me?" You wondered when you saw him entering another cave, though much smaller one than where you tried to hide before.

"Hot springs." The man-serpent said with a little hiss, licking his lips with ahis long, girthy tongue. "You are totally drenched, precious. This is no good."

How sweet of him, you thought, relaxing in his arms and feeling your heartbeat totally coming back to normal and your body becoming weightless as whatever sedative he injected came to full force.

"Girls shouldn't get into cold waters. It's not good for your health." He kept talking quietly, lowering you to the ground near a little pond filled with warm water and starting to strip you of your drenched clothes. "But don't worry, these springs are very good. They'll keep you nice and warm."

You nodded to him, paying no attention when Peter, that was his name, bared your breasts, caressing them just ever so slightly before taking off your pants torn in the chase. Soon he left you completely naked, though he hadn't tried touching you inappropriately - well, almost. Instead, he got inside the pond and gently tugged you by the arm, making you slip on top of his tail as your body refused to move by itself. When you asked him if you'd always be like that from now on, he laughed at you, saying the effect would fade off soon. In the end, he only wanted you to calm down and relax.

"Is the water good for you?" The man-serpent asked, lowering himself into the pond so much you were now laying on his chest, your body almost fully covered by water.

You hummed with content, a huge serpent's tail in between your legs while you put your head on the man's chest, too. Oh, it was nice and warm, just as he said. You certainly loved this place, enjoying those little noises Peter was making when he started pouring water on the back of your neck, then your head, soaking your hair. Since you couldn't move much, he was willing to help you bathe.

"It's so sweet of you." You murmured, feeling pure bliss when he started scratching your head with his nails, his other hand caressing your back. "Thank you, Peter. You're lovely."

Apparently, nagas could be shy, too, as you watched him getting a little red from your compliment. Instead saying something, he just muttered a few barely audible words and flipped you, your back now laying on his chest while he kept washing your body, now caressing your breasts. His touch was so pleasant you mewled when Peter was rubbing your belly in circular motions, his hands so gentle and soft as if he was a healer, not a creature of the forest.

Inhaling the smell of your damp hair, he then paid attention to your hips, shaking his head disapprovingly when he saw the little scratches and bruises everywhere on your legs. "You're not taking good care of yourself." He said with regret in his voice, and you bit your lower lip, feeling a little guilty. "You're a girl, aren't you? You have to be kind to your body."

"I'm sorry." You murmured and licked your lips when Peter's hand clamped down your pussy, spreading your folds gently. "I didn't know how."

"It's alright. I'll teach you." He exhaled into your ear, making you giggle from the warmth.

He let you sat on his tail again, just so he didn't have to support your body, and then his hands drifted to your lower belly, rubbing your mound, then spreading your pussy wide and caressing it so tenderly as if he were your lover. When you though Peter was going to push his fingers inside a little further, he withdrew them and started touching you hips and thighs instead, washing the dirt and dry blood away.

Shit, you loved his hands. He was so gentle and attentive it made you sob.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" Peter asked with concerned expression when he heard you, but you shook your head instead, a little embarrassed at the noise you made. "Oh, precious little thing, you're so sensitive. Did I make you hurt down there? Did I? I'm so sorry, darling. I know girls are very sensitive over there."

Strangely, you didn't feel shy when he spoke about something so intimate, nor you found odd that a stranger you barely knew was helping you bathe, all naked and completely helpless. Barely noticing how agreeable whatever he injected made you, you simply nodded at him, and Peter promised he will be more careful from now on.

When he touched your lower belly after that, his fingers barely brushing against your skin, you let out a little moan. He was so, so good. How did he know how to touch you, relaxing your strained muscles? As his arms moved to your back, attacking certain points and sensitive areas with his finger pads, you were ready to mewl, enjoying every touch and slowly melting on top of him.

"This feels like heaven." You mumbled with your eyes closed and feeling lightheaded. "Peter, I'm... oohh... so grateful to you. How can I thank you?"

If you opened your eyes and turned your head to face him, you would see him blushing yet sending you a slightly sly look, licking his lips. But you were in pure bliss, listening to the water washing over your relaxed body and unaware of what was on Peter's mind.

"I like kissing. If you want to thank me, maybe you could kiss me?" He asked you innocently enough, batting his long eyelashes at you as you giggled softly, finally turning your face to him.

"Kiss? You're so sweet, Peter. Of course, I"ll kiss you."

But before you leaned over, reaching to his face, he quickly dropped his head to you and claimed your mouth, spreading your lips with his long tongue and sneaking it inside. Swirling it inside your mouth, filling it full, naga licked it's insides, dominating over you and placing his warm hands on your breasts. If only you could gather yourself together and think what he was doing to you, you'd slap his hands away and try to escape, fearing of what the man-serpent could do to you... but your mind was empty when Peter kept kissing you, massaging your breasts tenderly and pinching your nipples.

When you finally thought he could accidentally suffocate you, Peter released you, letting your breathe.

"Can I ask you for one more favor?" He smacked his lips, licking them as he stared at you with his cheeks turning pink. "Please."

"Hmm? Y-yeah."

"Can you make love to me, precious? I know it's a lot to ask, but nobody's been coming to my place for such a long time." He sighed sadly, pressing himself closer to you. "All I want is just to feel somebody's warmth. Believe it or not, you're the only girl I've seen seen for the last couple of years."

He sounded to pitiful, you thought, watching him slowly becoming red with shame as he kept throwing shy glances at you, his lips glistening with salive as he licked them again and again, showing you his forked tongue. Poor little creature, he couldn't enjoy anyone's company for so long! Of course, you had to help him, you decided, thinking of how gentle he was to you all the time, surely knowing how to treat a girl right. Besides, what would you lose from spending some more time with him?

"It's alright, I guess." You slurred in a daze, turning your head to him and feeling him kissing your cheek.

"I'm so happy I met you." Peter murmured, then licking your ear with his long tongue as his hand crawled lower, touching your mound. "It's gonna be alright, I'll prepare both of your holes before, so you won't feel any pain."

"Woah, both?" For a couple of seconds your eyes widened: it appeared Peter was quite a pervert. You had never tried having sex like that before, and your expression turned a little anxious.

"Didn't you know? Oh, I'm so, so sorry." His low whisper made you tremble with want, his fingers already fucking your cunt. "Men of my kind have two dicks, darling. But don't you worry, you'll take both of them just fine."

_____________________

Tags: @finleyjayne @alexakeyloveloki   @helenaeisenhower @villanellevi @hurricanerin @abyssaint @heeeyitskay @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @navegandoaciegas @rosalynshields @brattycherubwrites @sllooney @angrythingstarlight @lookiamtrying @buckysbunny @soleil-dor @stargazingfangirl18 @dillybuggg @literate-lamb @cosicas-cuquis @sarge-barnes-sir @buckybarnesplumwhore​ @jaysayey @megzdoodle

[flufffysocks]

let's talk about andi mack's worldbuilding

sorry this took forever to make! i've been pretty busy with school stuff and i kind of lost my inspiration for a bit, but i ultimately really enjoyed writing it! i wish i could've included more pics (tumblr has a max of 10 per post), and it kinda turned from less of a mini analysis to more of an extremely long rant... but i hope it's still a fun read!

i've been rewatching the show over the past few weeks (thanks again to @disneymack for the link!), and i’ve been noticing a lot that i never did the first time around. this is really the first time i’ve watched the show from start to finish since it aired, and it honestly feels so different this time - probably a combination of the fact that i’m not as focused on plot and can appreciate the show as a whole, and also that the fandom is much, much smaller now, so there’s a lot less noise. so the way i’m consuming this show feels super different than it did the first time, but the show itself doesn’t - it’s just as warm and comforting to me as it was the first time around, if not more so.

i think a lot of that can be attributed to andi mack’s “worldbuilding”. i’m not quite sure that this is the right word in this context, to be honest, because i mostly see it used in reference to fantasy and sci-fi universes, but it just sort of feels right to me for andi mack, because you can really tell how much love and care went into constructing this universe. for clarity, worldbuilding is “the process of creating an imaginary world” in its simplest sense. there’s two main types: hard worldbuilding, which involves inventing entire universes, languages, people, cultures, places, foods, etc. from scratch (think “lord of the rings” or “dune”), and soft worldbuilding, in which the creators don’t explicitly state or explain much about the fictional universe, but rather let it’s nature reveal itself as the story progresses (think studio ghibli films). andi mack to me falls in the soft worldbuilding category. even though it takes place in a realistic fiction universe, there’s a lot of aspects to it that are inexplicably novel in really subtle ways.

so watching the show now, i’ve noticed that the worldbuilding comes primarily from two things - setting and props, and oftentimes the both of them in tandem (because a big part of setting in filmmaking does depend on the props placed in it!).

one of the most obvious examples is the spoon. it really is a sort of quintessential, tropic setting in that it's the main gang's "spot", which automatically gives it a warm and homey feel to it. and its set design only amplifies this:

the choice to make it a very traditional 50s-style diner creates a very nostalgic, retro feel to it, which is something that's really consistent throughout the show, as you'll see. from the round stools at the bar, to the booths, to the staff uniforms, this is very obvious. the thing that i found especially interesting about it though is the choice of color. the typical 50s diner is outfitted with metallic surfaces and red accented furnishings, but the spoon is very distinctly not this.

instead, it's dressed in vibrant teal and orange, giving it a very fresh and modern take on a classic look. so it still maintains that feeling of being funky and retro, but that doesn't retract from the fact that the show is set distinctly in modern times.

of course, this could just be a one-off quirky set piece, but this idea of modernizing and novelizing "retro" things is a really common motif throughout the show. take red rooster records. i mean, it's a record shop - need i say more? it's obviously a very prominent store in shadyside, at least for the main characters, but there's no apparent reason why it is (until season 2 when bowie starts working there, and jonah starts performing there). a lot of the time, though, it functions solely as a record shop. vinyl obviously isn't the most practical or convenient way of listening to music, but it's had its resurgence in pop culture even in the real world, mostly due to its aesthetic value, so it's safe to say that it serves the same purpose in the andi mack universe.

the fringe seems to be nostalgic of a different era, specifically the Y2K/early 2000s period (because it's meant to be bex's territory and symbolic of who she used to be, and its later transformation into cloud 10 is representative of her character arc, but that's beside the point). to be honest, exactly what this store was supposed to be always confused me. it was kind of a combination party store/clothing store/makeup store/beauty parlor? i think that's sort of the point of it though, it's supposed to feel very grunge-y and chaotic (within the confines of a relatively mellow-toned show, of course), and it's supposed to act as a sort of treasure chest of little curios that both make the place interesting and allow the characters to interact with it.

and, of course, there's andi shack. this is really the cherry on top of all of andi mack's sets, just because it's so distinctly andi. it serves such amazing narrative purpose for her (ex. the storyline where cece and ham were going to move - i really loved this because it highlights its place in the andi mack universe so well, and i'm a sucker for the paper cranes shot + i'm still salty that sadie's cranes didn't make it into the finale) and it's the perfect reflection of andi's character development because of how dynamic it is (the crafts and art supplies can get moved around or switched out, and there's always new creations visible).

going back to the nostalgia motif though, the "shack" aspect of it always struck me as very treehouse-like. personally, whenever i think of treehouses, there's this very golden sheen of childhood about it, if that makes sense. i've always seen treehouses in media as a sort of shelter for characters' youthful innocence and idealistic memories. for example, the episode "up a tree" from good luck charlie, the episode "treehouse" from modern family, and "to all the boys 2" all use a treehouse setting as a device to explore the character's desire to hold onto their perfect image of their childhood (side note: this exact theme is actually explored in andi mack in the episode "perfect day 2.0"!). andi shack is no exception to this, but it harnesses this childhood idealism in the same way that it captures the nostalgia of the 50s in the spoon, or the early 2000s in the fringe. it's not some image of a distant past being reflected through that setting; it's very present, and very alive, because it reflects andi as she is in the given moment.

some honorable mentions of more one-off settings include the ferris wheel (from "the snorpion"), the alley art gallery (from "a walker to remember"), SAVA, the color factory (from "it's a dilemna"), and my personal favorite, the cake shop (from "that syncing feeling").

[every time i watch this episode i want to eat those cakes so bad]

these settings have less of a distinctly nostalgic feel (especially the color factory, which is a very late 2010s, instagram era setting), but they all definitely have an aura of perfection about them. andi mack is all about bright, colorful visuals, and these settings really play to that, making the andi mack universe seem really fun and inviting, and frankly very instagrammable (literally so, when it comes to the color factory!).

props, on the other hand, are probably a much less obvious tool of worldbuilding. they definitely take up less space in the frame and are generally not as noticeable (i'm sure i'll have missed a bunch that will be great examples, but i'm kind of coming up with all of this off the top of my head), but they really tie everything together.

for example, bex's box, bex's polaroid, and the old tv at the mack apartment (the tv is usually only visible in the periphery of some shots, so you might not catch it at first glance) all complement that very retro aesthetic established through the settings (especially the polaroid and the tv, because there's really no good reason that the characters would otherwise be using these).

besides this, andi's artistic nature provides the perfect excuse for plenty of colorful, crafty props to amplify the visuals and the tone. obviously, as i discussed before, andi shack is the best example of this because it's filled with interesting props. but you also see bits of andi's (and other people's) crafts popping up throughout the show (ex. the tape on the fridge in the mack apartment, andi's and libby's headbands in "the new girls", walker's shoes, andi's phone case, and of course, the bracelet). not only does doing this really solidify this talent as an essential tenet of andi's character, but it also just makes the entirety of shadyside feel like an extension of andi shack. the whole town is a canvas for her crafts (or art, depending on how you want to look at it. i say it's both), and it immensely adds to shadyside's idealism. because who wouldn't want to live in a world made of andi mack's creations?

and, while it's not exactly a prop, the characters' wardrobe is undoubtedly a major influence on the show's worldbuilding. true to it's nature as a disney channel show, all of the characters are always dressed in exceptionally curated outfits of whatever the current trends are, making the show that much more visually appealing. i won't elaborate too much on this, because i could honestly write a whole other analysis on andi mack's fashion (my favorites are andi's and bex's outfits! and kudos to the costume designer(s) for creating such wonderful and in-character wardrobes!). but, i think it's a really really important aspect of how the show's universe is perceived, so it had to be touched upon.

[^ some of my favorite outfits from the show! i am so obsessed with andi's jacket in the finale, and i aspire to be at bex's level of being a leather jacket bisexual]

and lastly, phones. this is a bit of an interesting case (pun intended), because the way they're used fluctuates a bit throughout the show, but i definitely noticed that at least in the first season terri minsky tried to avoid using them altogether. these efforts at distancing from modern tech really grounds the show in it's idealist, nostalgia-heavy roots, so even when the characters start using their phones more later in the show, they don't alter the viewer's impression of the andi mack universe very much.

so, what does all of this have to do with worldbuilding? in andi mack's case, because it's set in a realistic universe and not a fantasy one, a lot of what sets it apart from the real world comes down to tone. because, as much as this world is based on our own, it really does feel separate from it, like an alternate reality that's just slightly more perfect than ours, which makes all the difference. it's the idealism in color and composition in andi mack's settings that makes it so unmistakably andi mack. even the weather is always sunny and perfect (which is incredibly ironic because the town is called shadyside - yes, i am very proud of that observation).

the andi mack universe resides somewhere in this perfect medium that makes it feel like a small town in the middle of nowhere (almost like hill valley in 1955 from "back to the future"), but at the same time like an enclave within a big city (because of its proximity to so many modern, unique, and honestly very classy looking establishments). it is, essentially, an unattainable dream land that tricks you into believing it is attainable because it's just real enough.

all this to say, andi mack does an amazing job of creating of polished, perfect world for its characters. this is pretty common among disney channel and nickelodeon shows, but because most other shows tend to be filmed in a studio with three-wall sets, andi mack is really set apart from them in that it automatically feels more real and tangible. it has its quintessential recurring locations, but it has far more of them (most disney/nick shows usually only have 3-4 recurring settings), and it has a lot more one-off locations. it's also a lot more considerate when it comes to its props, so rather than the show just looking garish and aggressively trendy, it has a distinctive style that's actually appropriate to the characters and the story. overall this creates the effect of expanding the universe, making shadyside feel like it really is a part of a wider world, rather than an artificial bubble. it's idealism is, first and foremost, grounded in reality, and that provides a basis for its brilliant, creative, and relatable storytelling.

tl;dr: andi mack's sets and props give it a very retro and nostalgic tone which makes its whole universe seem super perfect and i want to live there so bad!!

[aotopmha]

Attack on Titan in 2020

I've sort of dropped doing detailed chapter posts on the series because that type of writing wasn't very fun for me anymore and I have taken a liking to a bullet point kind of approach where I list the elements that stood out for me in the chapter or make a separate post for some specific topic I'd like to talk about in it.

I've started like 10 different posts to attempt to talk about AoT this year and I always end up with incoherent rambling because of all of the elements I'd love to to talk about.

This year's chapters were 125-135 and this year's episodes episodes 1-4 of season 4.

The anime episodes in particular have given me a lot of food for thought, so I'm just saying fuck it.

I think the biggest misstep of the story for me will forever be the fact that it decided to use fairly specific historical imagery.

The Eldians are clearly supposed to have allegorical equivalency with Jewish people, but the Jewish people were never the oppressors. There weren't any Jewish empires. That's conspiracy theory bullshit.

But on the other hand, the series clearly takes great effort to not stereotype any of the groups it's portraying and gives complex reasons for what both sides do. It's one of the few Japanese series that I've seen not stereotype Middle Eastern-coded people (Ramzi and Halil) or black people (Onyakapon). Everyone are people, it says. It even champions diversity:

(Chapter 118)

It is also very much true that a bunch of fascist states use long-term history as an excuse for their actions:

(Chapter 127)

Nation did X 2000 years ago therefore our conquest of them is justified.

This makes discussion about the series' themes like a minefield.

The people who are very critical about its imagery are right, but the people defending the series aren't wrong, either because it condemns all of those nasty ideas of conquest and hurting innocent people.

You can't have a more clear-cut condemnation of genocide:

(Chapter 127)

If you combine all of these details instead of zoning in on them one by one, to me what the story is saying is that *even if* all of that conspiracy bullshit is true, innocent people don't deserve to be slaughtered no matter the reason because they are still people who have their own feelings, thoughts and wishes.

The story clearly gets the baseline, but fumbles the details. I decided to look up some more discussion surrounding this these past few days and I just wish there was more good faith discussion about it. A lot of it feels like a moral superiority contest.

I think it's these kind of flawed stories that actually deserve detailed scruitiny over stories that are rotten to the core because they are *almost there*. Talking about them is a good topic starter in what to do and not to do in a story like this.

Speaking of rotten to the core, I think the absolute highlight of the chapters this year is Eren and some of the chapters this year finally gave me a pretty clear picture of what is going on with him.

Context from 123 certainly helps, though:

(Chapter 131)

This is about Eren's perspective. He can't accept the destruction of Paradis.

It's not that this solution was inevitable looking in from the outside (which is one of the interpretations I see around for Eren's actions), it's that *Eren* can't see any other way out of this except the most extreme because of all of the horrible things he has seen from the outside world. It is very similar to the way suicidal people can only focus on the negative.

You can tell them everything is going to be okay, but those words won't reach them because their mind won't let them and loops them back to those negative thoughts.

Eren can't see the ice cream or silly clowns. But he can see how the other Eldians in the league of Eldians are willing to push Paradis under the bus. He can see how Grisha's sister was killed. He can see how racist and cruel Marley is towards the Eldians in Liberio (and how the people have racist leanings towards other nations, too).

He can only see those bad things. But he also understands how everyone outside of the walls are human just as the people inside of the walls are.

So he is torn to pieces by guilt.

He doesn't want to do this, but he can't see any other solution.

This is why I also think he can't rob his friends of their agency. He is fighting for them to have a good future:

(Chapter 133)

(Chapter 131)

What really stood out to me on a revisit is that Eren considers himself much worse than Reiner.

I've seen criticism on how the story pushes the narrative of both sides being the same and this detail is really important to me because this is the story acknowledging that what Eren is doing is worse and gives all of the following exchanges about this the context of it being a similarity in principle.

Both sides have killed for what they think is right and have to deal with how they have killed people. This is such an important detail in the Uprising arc, too, where Erwin firmly acknowledged that overthrowing the government might not actually be the right choice by him. It was simply what he saw as right. On a narrative level this avoids absolute truths and preference of one character perspective over the other and once again makes it about individual perspectives.

The theme of individual perspectives is so ingrained in this story at this point in my eyes that it's another cornerstone in understanding what is going on with Eren to me.

I think it's great.

I also really appreciate Annie and what was done with her in this chunk of chapters.

(Chapter 127)

There has been this narrative going around that proposes that the story is in Eren's corner too much. But these chapters are nothing but questioning Eren and Annie is one of the main voices in this. It's the Marleyan girls, really and I think this is a very necessary part of making the narrative work. Once again, it separates the narrative and character perspective.

It says that the Paradis side caring is about character perspective, not what the narrative sides with and Annie is even sympathetic to Mikasa in that instance.

She gets it. Unexpectedly, I think Annie might play a bigger role in taking down Eren than expected. Her character arc about deciding to no longer go with the flow because she doesn't want any more tragedy to happen is basically calling for it.

(Chapter 128)

Another element I've seen brought up is the fact that nobody seems to address the Bert-sized elephant in the room, but some of our characters are certainly thinking about him.

This is such a thematically strong element and really interesting because Connie joined the military to make his mom proud and be a good soldier. This is the motivation behind his claim when he says they are going to save the world. But what does becoming a good soldier mean, exactly?

Well, apparently possibly gunning down people you care about.

This moment is so good because it's another moment where the idea of glory in war is taken down a peg.

The moment with Connie declaring they're going to save the world is so often criticised, but it is actually turned on its head in 128. There is no heroics in this. This is actually Connie's big "killing a person" moment because it strips away the final bit of comfort in killing in war, the excuse of killing for good moral reasons.

It is also a wonderful complex evolution of the series' themes. Trost was about fighting monsters. In the Female Titan and Clash of Titan arcs some of those monsters turned out to be human. In the Uprising, Return to Shiganshina and Marley arcs all of those monsters turned out to be human and here in the War of Paradis arc, everyone is human and the only separating system is what everyone views as right.

I really hope the anime will let this chapter breathe a little bit more.

Moving on, I guess it is time to address the rumbling.

I love it as a horror spectacle.

(Chapter 130)

And I really I think it needs to be non-CG when animated. CG is fine in spectacle battles, but not in horror settings because it is too clean.

The rumbling needs to be disgusting and dirty.

Chapter 132 gave me one of the few moments in which I truly cared about Levi. I think him telling Hange to dedicate her heart was a very good moment to cap off their relationship. He sent another SL commander to fulfill their duty.

The speech about hatred in chapter 134 also stood out to me. I think it definitely should be fitted in there somewhere in this, but I also see a bunch of criticism for it.

I want to point out that this is the side of present Marley talking here. It's the military dictatorship.

It's the Nazis. I think the Nazis should feel regret for exploiting innocent people and admit they're wrong.

I also like how the horrors here are undoing the brainwashing and showing the truth to the citizens.

I guess you could read it as heavy-handed, but it is also something that needs to be addressed and in principle, it's not wrong.

I'm also going to put a mention of Historia here. I've talked about how this is my biggest and most glaring problem with the series because of how thematically unfitting it feels, but I've also talked about it in many posts. I wanted to focus more on other stuff in this post.

So now, we make it back to chapter 135.

I think having stewed on it for a month now, I like the element of mindscrewing our cast with the Titans of the people they love is the strongest element of it. It's making them face their personal traumas and we also get some great character moments and payoffs from it.

Mikasa ended off the year in a very good note in my eyes.

Even this deep in the story, this chapter left me in a situation where I have no idea how things might turn out.

I might have rough ideas, but not anything specific and that's fun.

Well, this is it on my retrospective.

2021 is confirmed to be AoT's final year of publication as volume 34 is set to be the story's final volume.

Those who hate the story can finally be free of it and those who care for it, can look back on it with fondness and sadness and many other emotions and evaluate.

It's been 7 years for me. What a wild ride.

So, I'm asking everyone, what are some of your observations on AoT in 2020?

Is there anything you'd like to add or do you have any observations or counterarguments for anything I've said?

I'd be curious to see what everyone else thought of AoT in 2020!

[paleangels13]

✏️🌈🌾 🎨

Thank you ☺️💖

✏️ The first fanfiction you ever wrote? (doesn’t have to be a posted fic)

A Borussia Dortmund/BVB (German soccer team) fic, pairing Own Female Character(s) x Player(s). Had 197 chapters i think and was posted on Instagram (because that's apparently what you did in 2014...post on ig and wattpad :')). But they were short chapters, I still wrote around 1 1/2 years or 2 years on it 🤔 (I think in 'normal'/average chapter length (like... Up to 2000 words?) it would probably have 80+ chapters?).

I'm very much cringing about it now but the feedback back then was really good soo... Idk different times 😂😭

🌈 Your favorite tropes to write about?

Already answered here

🌾 A fic you really want to write but you haven’t (yet)?

Ohh, I kinda answered that here when I answered the question about ideas I haven't done anything with but let me just put a few from my "really wanna write" list here:

Pole dancer AU (characters, etc are fully planned out just gotta start writing...which I've been telling myself for 3 months now...)

Escort AU (which I already started quite a while ago but had to put it on hold because I struggled to continue from where I left it and have to overthink it again)

Joonas the tourist guide

Third part of the toxic series

Quite a few angsty/dark fics from my chat with @bc-sideblog :DD

A Joel/Johnny/Aleksi/Robin one because I'm a mess but I won't spoiler anything (might be part of the same universe as my "baby if I let you in (...)" fic)

One involving a blindfold 👀

Someone wearing a corset and platform boots 🥰

Someone else (not Joel this time) wearing a dress ✨😌

... Way too many more :))

🎨 Show us a sneak peek from a WIP!

Ohh... I didn't know which one to choose from... ☹️

I think I'll give you two snippets because I don't even know if I'll ever finish the first one even tho I really, really want to 🥺

Sooo (not beta read or anything) under the cut because it got quite long (and well spoilers)...

Escort AU:

He had uploaded a morning picture to his, well, adult website and was curious to see if there had been any comments so far. It was the usual stuff: "pretty boy", "mind turning a bit more next time? ;)", "oh, I sure would like to join you in the shower. We could have some fun while we're at it". Aleksi huffed and shook his head. One comment caught his attention though. To be fair, it wasn't an actual comment, just a bunch of random letters and numbers. He raised an eyebrow and clicked on the notification to reply something: "I take it my pic got you a little excited, sweetheart? Hope you had fun 💋". The young man chuckled a little and put his phone back on the sink before focusing on getting ready. It didn't really matter if his suspicion was correct or not, he knew most people subscribed to his account to get pics and possibly videos they could use to get off, what about it? That was kind of the point, right? So he didn't actually mind or think about it too much. It is what it is, and he enjoyed knowing what effect he had on some guys. 

Mhh...Tommi taking care of Joel 👀🥰:

Not even an hour had passed, yet the table was now filled with more than two empty drinks, mainly beer, and Joel was a tint drunker than he had originally planned.

“We should go to bed.”

“Mhh…”

His gaze flickered over to the drummer, rising from the sofa and his head unwantedly reminded him – very vividly – of how long he had not had sex. Well, technically that wasn't entirely correct. Joonas had given him a blowjob in the bathroom backstage not so long ago. Very blurred he also remembered that something had happened between himself and Niko, but that was already weeks ago. But this wasn't what he had in mind. If he had wanted a quick fuck while being the top, he only needed to ask their guitarist, who'd undoubtedly be happy to help with that. No, he wanted to be driven mad by someone, wanted that person to help him relax a bit and forget about the troubles of the past few days. Oh, and how perfectly the drummer seemed to fit into this role right now. Joel took the hand that Tommi held out for him, and stood up. He shook his head over his own thoughts. This was bullshit. His thoughts were blurred by the alcohol he had consumed and the fact that he hadn't had sex in a while probably didn't help either. He wouldn't sleep with the taller one. Definitely not!

[introvertguide]

American Graffiti (1973); AFI #62

Our most recent movie under review was the George Lucas homage to 50s California car culture, American Graffiti (1973). It was nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture but did not bring home any Oscar trophies. The film did win the Golden Globe for Best Picture and actor Paul Le Mat won for Best New Artist. The film features a bunch of future film stars, an accumulation of 41 of the best songs from the 50s and early 60s, and some of the sweetest cars from the 50s. I want to speak more about the different aspects of the film, but I will try and summarize the plot first. There are 4 concurrent stories so I will try my best to summarize each one from the view of each of the main characters. It probably won't spoil much since the movie is more like a series of events, but I will do the standard...

SPOILER ALERT!!! I AM GOING TO SPOIL THE FILM, BUT YOU CAN STILL WATCH IT AND IT WILL NOT FEEL LIKE YOU MISSED ANYTHING!!! OK, LOOKING BACK I SEE THAT I ORGANIZED IT IN A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSABLE WAY SO IT WILL SPOIL EVERYTHING!!! WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST AND COME BACK TO THE ARTICLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED!!!

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The film starts with a meeting at Mel's Drive In that involves Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), Steve (Ron Howard), Terry "the Toad," (Charlie Martin Smith), and John (Paul Le Mat). With these four is also Steve's girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams), who is also Curt's little sister. The whole group are discussing the last day of summer vacation before Curt and Steve start college and the others go back to school. John is not going back to school since he is older and still just likes to cruise with the high school kids and drag race against people around town. Everyone starts out together and end together, but they all spread out for a last night of driving down the main streets and have very different adventures.

Steve Bolander and Laurie Henderson: These two have been a couple for a while and talk about being married some day, but Steve wants to take a break in the relationship and see other people while he is gone. Laurie agrees but is not happy with the situation. This will drive the drama between the two for the rest of their evening. Steve lets Terry use his car for the night and then Steve, Curt, and Laurie go off to the End of Summer Hop at the high school. On the way, Curt sees a girl driving a white T-bird and his night is spent chasing after this angel.

At the dance, it becomes apparent that Laurie is not happy with Steve at all and she doesn't want to dance. Awkwardly, the two are asked to lead a dance since Steve is leaving so the two go to the middle of the floor and Laurie quietly berates Steve and cries on his shoulder. The principal tells the couple that they are dancing too close and Steve will be in trouble. It is one of those moments that many people dream of because the man has no power over Steve anymore and he tells the principal to "Go kiss a duck." Harsh words. The couple then leave and go to make out in the hills. I guess Laurie was turned on by Steve's strongly worded come back? They get stuck out in the woods for a little bit and run in to Terry and another girl he picked up with Steve's car and there is a reset back to the strip.

Steve continues to say the wrong things and eventually breaks up with Laurie and she jumps into the car of a stranger from out of town with a really fast car. Steve goes to different locations and mopes about his loss until he hears that Laurie is hanging out with the guy who is racing John for the title of fastest guy in town. This is where most of the group all rejoins towards the end of the film.

Curt Henderson: This character is in a great situation because he is given a $2000 scholarship to go to school on the East Coast and all of the town seems to be proud of him. He was a big man on campus at the high school (despite wearing one of the ugliest shirts I have ever seen) and is having cold feet about leaving. On the way to the hop with Steve and Laurie, Curt sees a beautiful blond (Suzanne Somers) who mouths "I love you" at him from a white T-bird and he decides she is his destiny and he has to meet her. He tells one of his old teachers about her at the hop and decides he needs to find her before he leaves. Curt breaks away from Steve and Laurie and ends up wondering the streets on foot looking for the lady.

He finds some other ladies in a VW Beetle who drive him around for a little bit, but he embarrasses the driver and is kicked out. He becomes depressed and sits on a car outside of a TV shop and watches all the black and white screens. This is a mistake because a gang of greasers called "The Pharaohs" come by and tell him that he scratched their friend's car. They take Curt over to a local pinball shop and use Curt to get inside and distract the owners while the Pharaohs steal money from the pinball machines. For one last task, the gang drives around (listening to disc jockey Wolfman Jack on the radio) until they find a police car and have Curt attach a chain to the back axle. The Pharaohs speed by and the police wreck their car trying to chase after the gang. This seems to be enough so they drop Curt off.

Curt wanders around and eventually sees the wires of a radio station and goes to the building in hopes that Wolfman Jack is there and will ask the woman in the T-bird to call a pay phone by Mel's Diner so he can talk to her. Curt eventually gets back to his car at the diner and waits for his dream girl to call. She finally does call early in the morning and asks Curt to meet her somewhere, but he really needs to leave town now since his involvement with the greasers might lose him his scholarship and could even mean jail time. He drives to the airport to meet with everyone before he flies off to college.

Terry "the Toad" Fields: We get a feel for Terry from the very beginning because he practically crashes his little moped into the diner when he first meets up with the group. Steve tells him to care for his car while he is gone and Toad almost starts crying. He takes the car out to try and pick up girls and his best reaction is people insulting him for a car that is too cool for him. He accidently backs into somebody because he had the car in reverse when he was going to race somebody off the line. He is a nerd.

He sees a very pretty blond woman who is being accosted constantly as she walks down the street. Terry is able to compliment her enough that she joins him in the car. Her name is Debbie (Candy Clark) and she seems like trouble. She wants Terry to get her some food and then she mentions that he is smart enough to get them some booze. There are some awkward attempts at getting alcohol at the corner drug store but it eventually works out. Terry takes Debbie up to the hills to make out somewhere in the time and vicinity of Steve and Laurie. Terry and Debbie have a picnic and come back to find that the car has been taken so they get a ride back to town with Steve and Laurie.

By luck, Terry sees the stolen car in a lot and tries to steal it back but runs into the guys who stole it from him and a fight ensues. He lucks out because good old John is driving by and he stops and beats up the robbers. The car is reacquired and Terry takes Debbie home. He admits to her that it is not his car and a lot of things he had bragged about over the evening were lies, but she says she had a great time. Terry goes over to see John race the new guy in town and is the one who starts the race.

John Milner: A man who has long since graduated but never left town. John has a great car and uses it to drag race anyone willing to challenge him. He has heard that there is a guy looking to race him when he sets out at the beginning of the night, but he avoids the challenge because he is tired of trying to live up to his reputation and taking on everyone. He sees a car of girls and asks if anyone wants to join him and they send over the sister of one of the girls. Unfortunately for John, it is a very young girl named Carol (Mackenzie Phillips) and being an adult with an underage girl in the car could mean some major problems. Carol is a handful and threatens to accuse John of rape if he doesn't drive her around, so he is stuck with her.

John is in his twenties and Carol turns out to be only 12 years old. She just wants to be treated like she belongs and he is tired of wearing the target for all the hot rodders who come to town. He realizes that he carries an insignificant title and it brings him nothing but grief. John begins to bond with Carol when some people in a car drive up and throw a water balloon in the car and it hits Carol in the face. The two jump out at the next light and jump on the car from which the water balloon came and Carol squirts shaving cream all over their windows while John lets the air out of their tires.

After a night of driving around and talking, John finally drops off Carol. While driving back towards the main strip, he bumps into the guy who was looking for him named Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford). He has a sweet ride and challenges him to a drag race. John agrees but sees Terry being attacked on the way to the race so he stops and punches out some thugs. Terry is grateful and asks to be the starter for the race.

Whole Group: John is in his yellow 1932 Ford Couple and Bob Falfa is in his 1955 Chevy with Laurie riding shotgun. The race begins and Bob almost immediately swerves off the road and he and Laurie crash and flip over. Both of them get out of the car before it turns into a fireball and Laurie runs to Steve and begs him not to leave her. John tries to convince Terry that he would have lost so that he doesn't have to defend his title, but it is apparent that his legend is bigger than he is so he accepts the win and goes with Terry to the airport to see Curt off.

A final scene involving the whole gang shows Curt getting on a plane and saying goodbye to everyone. He has burned his bridges and has no choice but to leave. As the plane lifts off, he sees the white T-bird driving along the road and Curt looks on in thought. A set of photos with text reveals that John would be killed by a drunk driver within a couple of years, Terry would go missing in Vietnam, Steve would become an insurance salesman in Modesto, and Curt would become a writer in Canada.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have completed plot summaries for 90 movies on the AFI list at this point and this has been one of the most difficult. It is right up there with the non-linear Pulp Fiction (1994) and the 3 hour long, 4-in-1 jumble that was Intolerance (1918). The style of George Lucas in the 70s seemed to be to find as many innovative ways to get footage as possible and then have other people edit it together. The man has a lot of big ideas and creativity, but he doesn't seem to really have a lot of focus. He does seem comfortable flying by the seat of his pants and recording what happens. It is definitely a method that has worked for him.

George Lucas had a lot of difficulty getting this project done and it wasn't until he got Francis Ford Coppola as a producer that things started coming together. He didn't have the money to get the songs and cars that he wanted so he had Universal Pictures make a flat deal for songs and put in what he could. He also found a cover band whose members were able to recreate a lot of the classic music that Lucas wanted to use. This was one of the first major examples of a sound supervisor which is more of a DJ instead of a composer. There were no songs created for the film and 41 songs from the 50s and 60s were used on the soundtrack.

As far as the cars went, Lucas was only able to purchase three 55 Chevys since he would be destroying them and almost all of the other cars were just borrowed. The total budget for the movie is listed at $777,000 which is nothing compared to the box office total of $140 million. The movie is very convoluted, but it sparked this nostalgia for an era passed that a lot of the Baby Boomer generation longed for. With the Vietnam War and the massive social changes, a lot of people were longing for a time when people just cruised up and down the street looking for adventure.

There are a lot of old interviews in which George Lucas takes credit for the stories of American Graffiti, but he became more sure of himself following the massive success of Star Wars and later interviews show him giving much more of the credit to cinematographer Haskell Wexler, producer Francis Ford Coppola, and screenplay writers Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck. This is mainly because no studios wanted the script until Coppola came on board and Katz and Huyck punched up the story. The film is very dark and was apparently out of focus and unwatchable until Wexler was hired as a visual consultant.

In my opinion, this is a very fun movie and has a lot of memorable scenes: future directing icon Ron Howard telling somebody to kiss a duck, singer Mackenzie Phillips taking a water balloon to the face, acting legend Richard Dreyfuss hooking a chain to the back axle of a police car, and the great Charlie Martin Smith standing outside a drugstore trying to get somebody to buy liquor for him. It is quite an enjoyable watch but it doesn't really make a lot of sense as far as a developed plot.

So does this film belong on the AFI top 100? It sure does. It is a time capsule of the era right before the social upheaval of the 60s and speaks to an easier time that a large part of the American population identifies with strongly. This film has great historical significance and I respect that. Would I recommend it? Sure. It is more like a series of fun stories that are related only by time and location than a movie. It inspired films like Super Bad (2007) and Dazed and Confused (1993) as well as ignited the desire for nostalgia based TV shows like Happy Days, Freaks and Geeks, and That 70s Show. It is a fun watch and inspired a lot of other fun projects, so I say give it a view and enjoy.

[fal-carrington]

168 hours without you

Pairing: Kamilah x Mc

Disclaimer: Characters belongs to PB

A/N: Mother has arrived bitches

Prompt: Married life was something so new, so strange and wonderfully good, being a wife was something Kamilah would never have imagined she was extremely good at, but when Mia has to travel to a business conference and spend a week away, Kamilah will have to deal with the 168 hours without her wife, can she handle it?

tag list: @made-me-deep-blue @gavryllo @kamilahtopme @nighthuntresskatherine @iam-the-fuckin-queen @whoinvitedalx @thepotatobleh @zerozone-80 @shanuuh @scarlet-letter-a0114​ @soundtrackforlife​ @thecleveridiot09​ @wildsayeed @deereboy97​ @justejuste727​ @ilovekamilahsayeed​ @otakufangirl-12 @sapphics-choices @desireepow-1986

The penthouse, 21:45pm

Leaning against the threshold of the door, Kamilah stood silently watching Mia, with her back to her, patiently packing her suitcase, folding piece after piece and placing them in her Louis Vuitton suitcase.

"So, are you leaving already?" The question came out in a low tone, but enough so Mia could hear it.

"Yup" She answered without turning around, her attention focused on her purse and the items she was going to put in it. "Do you think it would be too much if I put on a sixth dress? I want to keep my options open."

Kamilah shook her head when she heard that, an affectionate smile on her lips.

"In all my business trips, I never considered adding more than two dresses, but you seem to be the exception to the rule."

Mia laughed looking over her shoulder with her greenish eyes, and that bright dimpled smile, which made Kamilah's heart soar with a certain frequency, more than she would like to admit out loud.

"I am aware, Mrs Sayeed." She smiled and went back to what she was doing.

Kamilah crossed her arms and entered the room, seeing Mia going on a business trip to London, leaving her at a crossroads of feelings.

She was proud, incredibly proud that her wife had ascended to such an important position as COO of Raines Corp, even though Adrian was now completely devoted to his position as Senator of New York, he still remained CEO, and the promotion her wife had received was more than deserved.

However, another part of her heart still remained restless, both were married for only 4 months and that was still all too new for her, and seeing her wife travel, and spending a week away negotiating with investidors in London and leaving her in New York alone in their penthouse, made her heart restless more than she would have liked.

"I know you're worried about me" Mia broke the silence, surprising Kamilah before she could say anything. "But it'll be okay, I promise. I won't mess up this opportunity."

Her words left Kamilah surprised in those mere seconds, and Mia saw this, her green eyes carefully watching her wife recover her composure and her usual stoic look.

"I-" Kamilah began to say, but was interrupted by her young wife.

"Telepath, remember? I know you don't like it when someone invade your mind. It's not as if I'm reading your thoughts on purpose, sometimes it gets out of my control." She shrugged.

"What I mean is I know the importance of this trip and the seriousness, and it's an opportunity to show Adrian that he wasn't wrong to give me the COO job, and to show you that I've matured."

A smile escaped Kamilah's lips before she could contain it.

"I know. I see it, every day."

"You know you could go with me." Mia approached Kamilah, a small trace of hope in her eyes.

Kamilah smiled at her words. As much as she wanted to go with her wife, she knew that this was to be her trip, and the success of the negotiation depended exclusively on her, and Kamilah did not want to steal her merit or distract her from her goal. Besides, she still had to keep her company in control too.

"You know my company needs me, even if I am supervising from home, and my garden needs my attention too."

"I knew you'd say that" Mia gave a smug smile that Kamilah knew perfectly well and turned her attention to her bag.

"Okay, I think we're all set." Mia climbed up the zipper of her purse, looking around at all her necessary utensils on the bed. "I think I've got everything I need."

"Dresses"? Check. Heels? Check. Dryer, toothbrush, notebook and everything a modern woman needs to survive on a trip? Check. Joke cards to tell at the meeting? Check."

Kamilah rolled her eyes.

"You're not taking this." She said by approaching and taking the joke cards out of her wife's hands. "That'll stay with me."

"Hey! I got great jokes there." Mia tried to take them back, uselessly.

"Are you seriously considering telling jokes during an important business meeting?" Kamilah arched one of her eyebrows, knowing Mia that was a silly question. Of course she would.

"I don't see a problem with that, it's to relieve more of the weather and tension. I do it when I'm nervous."

"Absolutely not." The Egyptian vampire ripped up the cards and threw them in the bathroom trash.

"Uh... You know I have a copy of these with my assistant, right?" Mia said pointing to the bathroom.

"You're unbelievable." Kamilah rolled her eyes again.

"I prefer the term ‘misunderstood amazing genius’, but we can work with that one too.”

Mia checked her wristwatch.

"Alright, I have to run so I don't catch traffic."

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather use the jet? I'm not using it."

"Of course not." Mia took her bags out of bed without the slightest effort and put them on the floor, wearing her overcoat that was on the bed. "It's a business trip for Adrian to make a profit, and besides, I'd much rather travel at the expense of the company and Adrian than yours. It's my way of fighting capitalism."

Kamilah didn't contain her smug smile.

"Do I need to remind you of your salary before we go to argue about capitalism?"

"Nobody's perfect." Mia fired back while finishing the final touches to her makeup.

Kamilah accompanied her with her handbag, while both went down the stairs towards the elevator. Mia left her bags on the elevator floor and took a step towards Kamilah.

"I love you." Mia fired before Kamilah could say anything. "Kind of a lot."

Kamilah laughed a little, smiling affectionately.

"I love you too. Very much." Mia wrapped Kamilah's neck with her arms, standing on tiptoe and giving her a long, warm, deep kiss.

"I'll miss you every day." Mia said. "I don't know how I'm going to sleep without you, I got used to sleeping with you, you know? Because when I hug you when we go to sleep cuddling, your hot ass warms me up during the night. And there's this way that we sleep that you fit in with me, which is so good."

"Was that supposed to be a declaration of love?" Kamilah arched an eyebrow, the humor evident in her face.

"Of course it was." Mia rolled her eyes with a smile on her lips. "I love you, babe." She said leaving kisses on Kamilah's cheek and lips.

"All right, before I go I want to say goodbye to someone else, where is he?" Mia looked over Kamilah's shoulder, looking for that little fuzzy ball.

"Come on, kid." She whistled with her fingers, and seconds later, a little Corgi's puppy appeared in the penthouse living room, with his tongue out, his collar leaping as he ran, stumbling on his own paws trying to get to Mia.

Kamilah watched the scene with her usual stoic look, maybe that dog was the animal personification of her wife, — dumbass, hyperactive, always cheerful and clumsy.

"Who's the good boy? It's you, Dexter. You're mommy's good boy." Mia got down on her knees to welcome him, picking him up on her lap and pouring kisses into his hairy body. Dexter reciprocated her affection by cheerfully wagging his little tail.

Kamilah remembered perfectly the day Mia adopted Dexter.

"Please, please?" Mia followed her through the penthouse, while Kamilah kept busy with some reports from her company that had just arrived. 

"No." Kamilah responded without diverting her attention from her reports.

"Why not? I won't even buy it! We won him. My cousin's dog had puppies and she asked if we'd want one, I don't see why not adopt one. He'll keep us company."

Kamilah sighed, stopping in the hall, turning to look at her wife.

"We live in a penthouse..."

"...Which is very big, by the way."

"The dog will bark and defecate and leave excrement all over the house, and I don't know if you've noticed, but I have objects over 2000 years old in this house, worth millions, which would make me very angry if some animal destroyed them.”

"It could be our son, love."

"When your mother asked us when we'd give her grandchildren, I don't think it crossed her mind that it could be a dog. The answer is no." Kamilah walked down the hall again.

"Don't you love me anymore?!" Mia screamed after her trying to keep up, frowning.

"I love you, even too much. Stop being dramatic, I'm doing this for your own good."

Mia ran in front of her and crossed her arms, staring at the tall vampire, the woman who for many could be the worst nightmare of their lives.

"You want to bet me we'll adopt him?" Mia smiled with conviction. 

Kamilah gave her the smile back.

"Nothing you do will convince me to keep him. I am a woman of my word."

...

"What were you saying?" Mia lifted her face, with a sarcastic smile on her lips, the apparent victoriness before her wife.

Kamilah opened her mouth to answer, still panting. Her chest descending and rising as her breathing returned to normal. Ignoring her wife's words, she took it upon herself to pull up her pants and fasten her belt, then closing the buttons on her shirt.

"I can't believe you convinced me through sex."

"Fucking mind blowing good sex, by the way." Mia laughed leaving a kiss on her right shoulder.

"You can keep the dog, but I don't want him near my plants, my things and my garden, you hear? You're responsible for him," she said standing and leaving the room.

...

"I don't want to be late, I better go." Mia stood and left him on the floor. "Take care of him, okay? His things are in the kitchen. I think you two can keep each other company while I'm gone."

Kamilah rolled her eyes.

"Looks like I don't have much choice." Mia gave her that bright dimpled smile, came up and kissed her.

"Behave yourself while I'm gone." She gave her that look Kamilah knew well, a funny look, but deep down, Kamilah knew about her wife's jealousy, and she had fun knowing that. "I promise I will behave and not cause any confusion."

"As if you could keep that promise." Kamilah laughed, gently kissing her lips.

"Well, at least I can promise to make you proud. I'll make you proud of me, you'll see." Mia got in the elevator and pressed the button.

"Call me when you get to the hotel." Kamilah said, Mia just nodded before the doors closed. "And so there were only two left."

Day 1

The alarm clock next to the bedside began to ring, showing that it was already morning, the CEO passed her hand through her tired eyes, she sighed, her hand stretching out to her right side, finding only the emptiness.

She was not there. But her perfume remained present, as if she had slept through the night next to Kamilah. The Egyptian woman stood under her elbows and lit the lamp beside the bed, turning off the annoying alarm that sounded over her ears. Automatically she looked to her right side, being greeted by just a smiling photo of Mia in a portrait beside the bed.

"It's weird not having you here and waking me up with all that noise you make in the morning." Kamilah laughed at herself with that thought and sat down, looking for her slippers.

As she looked down, she was greeted by Dexter who was nibbling her slippers with his little teeth.

"How you got up here I'll never know." Kamilah sighed and took her slippers and put them on. The dog sat down and looked at her, tilting his head to the side. "Well, good morning to you too."

Kamilah put on her black robe, and left her room going to the bathroom for her morning routine involving a great dozen hair and skincare products. After finishing, she directed her attention to the kitchen after a good breakfast, being followed by Dexter who ran as fast as his little paws allowed.

With the intention of preparing her breakfast, Kamilah turned on the coffee maker and set out to prepare her pancakes. With Mia absent, she knew perfectly well that she would not get her morning coffee made by her wife, she would never admit it, but she had a weakness for the coffee made by Mia.

As soon as she set the table, Dexter's bark caught her eye.

"Are you hungry?" She asked to him. Then, she made sure there was food and water in the bowls, which made him run to her to eat.

Never that she thought she would have a dog, Mia really was a box of surprises, it was amazing how she made Kamilah agree to everything.

Sitting at her usual place at the table, having everything settled and reading the newspaper, her cell phone started vibrating on the table and Kamilah caught him, seeing a picture of Mia on the screen. She smiled unconsciously.

"Hey!"

"Good morning, my love." Kamilah smiled.

"Okay, first of all, hotel rooms on the penthouse are incredible! Ugh, you don't know how I missed sleeping with you. And that wonderful thing you do in my hair, you know what I'm saying?"

"I certainly missed sleeping with you too, and you stealing all the bed space, sleeping on me and stealing all the covers for yourself."

"It's not my fault what my subconscious does and I've apologized!"

Kamilah laughed lovingly.

"How's the trip?"

"It's great, I've been to three stores and yes, I ignored you and bought you a present, even though you said it wasn't necessary."

"You're impossible."

"Just fulfilling my duties as a wife. How are you doing? I bet it sucks to stay in New York without me. Without my coffee, without my good morning kisses, and without me to put my Angry Birds socks on your feet every cold night." Kamilah smiled, feeling her playful tone on the other end of the line.

"...Every time I wake up they're on my feet."

"You're welcome."

Kamilah laughed affectionately.

"Well, since you asked, the house is slightly quiet without you. Just the way I like it."

"Oh, come on. You love my noise." Mia laughed. "So, how's Dexter?"

Kamilah spied over the counter, finding him on the carpet.

"Right now he's in a war against a rubber duck." Kamilah listening to the shrill sound coming from the duck being attacked.

"Aw, send me pictures of him later."

"Absolutely not."

"Is everything okay in there?" Mia asked, worried.

"It's all right, my love. I'm fine, and yes, I'll be fine for the whole week."

"That doesn't mean I won't call you every day just to make sure." Mia replied stubbornly, making Kamilah laugh. "I miss you, a lot. I can't wait to come back and see you."

"I miss you too, love. When you come back maybe we could go to that shady restaurant in the suburbs you love to go to."

"Excuse me, I like my shady restaurant in the suburbs, thank you very much, it was the restaurant I used to go to when I didn't have a dollar in my pocket when I started in New York, I have to stay humble, but OH, HELL YES!". Her excitement was so infectious, Kamilah barely noticed the smile on her face.

The CEO could clearly hear voices in the background behind Mia.

"Who's there with you?"

"Just Tyler and Nathalie, my assistants. They're discussing which of my cards I should use first."

Kamilah rolled her eyes.

"And I told you not to use those cards."

"When will you and Adrian learn that I do the opposite of what I'm told to do? It's in my nature."

“Your brat.”

"I have to go, I have a meeting in a few minutes and I have to finish my paperwork. Good luck with your garden and your reports, sweetheart. I love you." Mia said a few seconds to say goodbye and hang up.

“I love you too.”

Kamilah sighed, a week without Mia would probably be something new, especially knowing that since the wedding they have not separated for a long time, now she would have to spend a week alone, just her in that big apartment, with all her attention on her plants, and with an unexpected company.

[wegoinncthardhours]

Crave you

Summary: Reader is needy in public but Mark refuses to touch her. Gives it to her just right when they get home.

Pairing: Mark Lee/Female reader

Tws/warnings: My bad writing, slight dom/sub undertones.

Word count: Around 2000 (will update exact count)

Almost in trance you watch Mark where he sits next to you. Closely observing his every movement, following his every gesture. He's deeply engaged in the conversation at the table but you find yourself distracted and you've been ever since he came to pick you up. Because he looks so good in that shirt that hugs his broad shoulders and lean torso just right, but you know he looks even better undressed. And you love to hear him get philosophical, talking about his music, the meaning of life and such but right now you would rather have him spitting filthy things in your ear. A bit less poetic yes, but way more primal. Besides, you're not really in the mood for poetic tonight.

You let your thoughts wander as you watch him. Scenarios plays out in your head; how those pretty fingers currently fidgeting with the salt tray would feel exploring your curves, how those pretty pink lips would look as they fall open to moan your name. And Mark must have caught you staring because now he's looking at you with curious eyes. Reaching out to gently caress your cheek, a soft "Hey, you good?" on his lips. So overwhelmed by all the sudden attention you don't manage to form a sentence, so Mark just chuckles at the confused expression on your face as he returns his attention to the conversation between the boys at the table. 

Not knowing what he's doing, not aware of how on edge you are right now, he rubs your thigh under the table. The small sign of affection is nothing new and would be innocent enough if your mind wasn't so clouded with these dirty thoughts. So your pulse rises, breath hitches when his fingers make contact with your skin and Mark definitely felt that because now he's looking at you again. He let's his fingers travel a bit further up your leg as he watches your cheeks turn red and your eyes flick down to the floor. By the amusement evident in his eyes you can tell that he's figured it out now. Figured out why you've seemed so off tonight. 

In the back of your mind you register Johnny saying something about ordering dessert and Haechan urging Mark to tag along. He tells them to go ahead, promising to "be there in a sec" and all of a sudden you find yourself alone with Mark. He keeps tracing circles on your skin as he speaks "What's going on tonight? Tell me what's on your mind, baby."  And that's almost cruel of him, because you know that he knows, but apparently he wants you to say it, wants to play the game. But you're beyond the game at this point and he knows this too, so you look up at him with pleading eyes, mouthing a "please.." and he just smirks. Because he loves it when you get like this. Desperate and needy for him. But he won't give in that easily. Mark retrieves his hand as he leans back, running it through his hair and then weaving it together with his other one behind his neck. His takes up a lot of space like this, thighs spread wide apart as well. He looks proud, powerful, like he owns the place.

Knows what he's doing to you when you whine at the loss of contact, your thigh still burning from his touch. He locks you down with his hungry gaze, surely undressing you in his mind and for a moment you wonder if the people around you are aware of the little game going on between you and Mark. You take a deep breath as you cross your legs, voice a little shaky as you speak "Please Mark, I want.." you interrupt yourself as you rub your thighs together, searching for some kind of friction. "Touch me." You whisper. And he almost gives in, because you look so pretty right now. Eyes wide and shiny with lust, pink lips slightly parted and chin a little tilted upwards, exposing your neck; an unconscious invitation. But Mark shakes his head "Right here? 'S too risky, sweetheart. You want me that bad, huh?" And his words makes you flustered, frustrated, because yes, you want him that bad and no, right now you don't care who sees because currently he's the only one who can put an end to your misery. So you keep rubbing your thighs together, craving his touch, feeling the heat that starts to pool between your legs and your pulse that keeps on rising until Mark groans. It's a warning. "You better stop it with those noises, baby. Don't want the whole place to know how bad you need it.." He mutters, causing you to harshly bite down on the soft flesh of your bottom lip, not having realized you were being vocal. He watches in amusement as you throw a quick look over your shoulder, making sure no one has heard your soft sighs. You see the boys making their way back to your table, laughing and talking loudly while their at it. You return your gaze to Mark "Please, let's get out of here."

And now you're here, outside of Marks flat. Said flat-owner is currently busy fumbling with the keys, almost as impatient as you now. When he finally unlocks the door you stumble in, almost tripping as you quickly remove your shoes and jacket. You're not sure where on the floor it ends up because finally Marks hands are on you, all over you.

He pushes you against the wall. Greedily squeezing the plush flesh of your ass, gripping your waist, tugging at your top as he mumbles "off". And you obey, immediately of course, so eager to finally feel his body against yours, just skin on skin. Your lips connect in an open-mouthed kiss, teeth colliding as you manage a small "y-you too". Marks shirt accompanies your top and jacket somewhere on the floor and you can't decide between leaning back to admire his body or leaning in for another kiss, cause God, this man is a work of art; every inch of skin, every muscle, every single bone so beautifully carved and chiseled. But he wastes no time as he dives in to kiss your neck, nibbling at the skin, rolling it slightly between his pretty, sharp teeth. You mewl and squirm, perhaps in pain but surely in pleasure too and your pretty sounds spur Mark on further. A groan is ripped from his throat. "What was with you tonight? You were all over me.." he mumbles into your neck. He nudges your legs apart with his knee. "Ready to let me touch you in front of everyone. Bet you'd love that, me fingering you right there under the table. So fucking needy, God..." And you just nod, only managing a soft whine in response. His hand makes it's way up your thigh and you gasp once, twice as his digits move closer to your core, throbbing by now. And it may seem a little dramatic of you to behave like this, to be so ridiculously responsive, but you've been craving this for hours and Mark knows this. Still he has to roll his eyes and mutter "I'm not even touching, calm down." As his hand moves up, up finally just ghosting his fingers over your center. "Jeez, you're fucking soaked." He murmurs, the grin on his face evident in his voice. And a string of pleas spills from your lips as you're close to desperation now, begging for him to finally give you what you need. Suddenly Mark abruptly removes his hand and you let out a confused whine when he spins you around and pushes your chest flush against the wall, back arched. And you're a little breathless because Mark just manhandled you like that and now he's lifting your skirt as you hear him unzip his pants and you let out a relieved sigh because finally, he'll give you what you've been waiting for. 

You moan when he presses up against you. You feel his erection against your ass and instinctively you push back even further against him, desperate noises falling from your lips. He tangles his hand in your hair as he mumbles praises in your ear, telling you how beautiful you look, filthy promises of how good he'll make you feel as he grinds up against you. And you can't take it anymore, all this teasing. "Mark, please just fuck me.." You manage, a little surprised by yourself as you're usually shy with expressing these things verbally. And he chuckles in your ear as he starts sliding your panties down your legs, you're quick to help him, rushed hands fumbling with the piece of fabric now soaked with your essence. You spread your legs wider, arch your back further and you can't help but moan when he dips a finger between your folds. And he groans in approval of how wet you are, how ready you are for him. Suddenly he plunges two long digits into your core and you gasp, so very sensitive. Your body's on fire, and you moan loudly when he starts thrusting his fingers into you. He whispers right in your ear "You look so fucking pretty right now, begging to be fucked. God you'll feel so good around my cock." His words make you shudder and would want to tell him to just get on with it then, but right now you're not really able to form a sentence. 

His fingers are replaced with the blunt head of his cock and you try to push back against him, but he tuts and holds you in place. Runs the tip between your folds, collecting your juices that are almost dripping down your legs right now. "P-please.." You beg and at last he complies; pushing his lenght into you all the way, your lips falling apart in a silent moan. He stays there for a moment and you gasp, so overwhelmed with the feeling of him stretching you out, of him filling you. You can feel how he's throbbing and twitching inside of you as he snakes an arm around your body, kneading the soft flesh of your breast.

You're writhing before him, just able to take it as he thrusts into you. He hisses when he feels you clench around him, thrusting into you even rougher. Your moans are accompanied with the obscenely errotic sound of skin slapping together and the wet sounds when his cock enters your center repeatedly. "You're so wet, baby. Take my cock so well." He praises, voice husky and dark with lust. 

You're a mess as he fills you again and again and it's almost too much, the way he fucks into you, his cock hitting that spot that makes you see stars with every thrust and you writhe before him, barely able to hold yourself up. You could be embarrassed, because you're already so close to coming but frankly you don't care because Mark is taking you apart with his cock right now and judging by his moans and the rhythm of his hips, he's getting close as well. 

He tilts his hips, just changing the angle of his thrusts slightly and your lips falls open at that, eyes wide and almost rolling back because you can really feel it now. Your orgasm is approaching quickly and you beg him to "Please, keep going. God, right there." So desperate to reach your high. Mark can tell by your breathless voice and the way you're squirming. "Yeah, you feel good baby? Are you gonna cum?" And you just manage a small "yeah" before your voice wobbles into a whine. Your mind goes blank as your orgasm is punched into you. Completely lost in pleasure, your legs shake and you moan uncontrollably, body thrashing as Mark holds you still while he keeps fucking you through it. "Oh yeah, baby, just like that." he murmurs in your ear. And you're slack in his arms now as he plunges his length deep inside of you, one hand thrown around your waist. The other tangled in your hair, yanking your head back roughly, and you know he's about to come undone too because he only let's himself get this animal when he's close to desperation. He thrusts harshly a few more times before spilling his cum inside of you. You feel how his cock twitches as his hot seed coats your clenching walls. He groans into your neck and you whimper and sigh at that. Leaning your head back against his shoulder, a blissful look on your face as Mark squeezes you tightly.