#i'm not trying to make an issue out of everything

[nipuni]

Alright, time to share my opinions about Veilguard!! I have both criticism and praise so bear with me as I jump from one extreme to the other 😆 spoilers ahead of course!

The game has a very rough start with the dialogue being formulaic and rushed and the characters overexposing. It feels like a heavy handed attempt at summarizing all of previous games' lore for newcomers or in case you forgot but it's so overdone it feels coddling and trivializes a lot of previous events. Luckily this gets better once all of the introductions are out of the way, though the excessive hints and clarifications continue until the end sadly.

The locations are absolutely incredible and very diverse!! This is a highlight of the game for me. There is so much detail and care in every map and there are so many of them. My pc is struggling to reach medium settings and yet everything looks stunning. The verticality of the maps is so imposing and the graphics have a very dreamy quality that I love. I also enjoy the maze-like structure to the maps, it's more linear but makes everything look a bit more intentional. The color and light direction was amazing, all the visual development really!! it has to be one of the prettiest games I've ever played.

When I started I have to admit it did not feel like I was in Thedas and it all felt a bit theme-parky, if that makes sense. A lot of previously important and established world elements that made Thedas what it is were overlooked or made irrelevant. But the more I played the more it started to feel a bit more similar to Inquisition, for better or worse depending on what you feel about Inquisition. But!! this also feels like a selectively sanitized version of Thedas compared to previous games. In it's attempt to stay safe and uncontroversial in some aspects it loses a lot of substance and it changes the tone. The surface level politics, ignoring previously established major societal issues and a tell-don't-show approach makes the world seem more simple and shallow with no grey areas to explore. ( the humor also falls flat and out of place often too, and WHY is everyone always smirking, enough!! godlike beings are destroying the planet please this is not the time for Marvel banter aaaa )

The pacing at the start is a bit of a mess. It is so fast it felt like jumping from one world shattering discovery to the next with no time to process. The characters also seem to underreact to important information and major developments. It felt like the game was rushing me through all this to get to the part of the story it wanted to tell me while I was still wrapped in my shock blanket trying to catch my breath lmao. I really like all the key story points they touched upon, I just wish they dwelled more on them to give them more narrative weight. ( though blaming every bad thing to ever happen on the Elves was certainly..a choice )

I think the writing could have used more subtlety in the first half and more boldness in the second 😆 but I loved the thematic parallels between Rook and Solas and how every quest informs the main storyline. I do wish Rook was given more impossible choices and put in more difficult situations that forced them to lie or betray their own to better drive the point home though ( listen I just love a Trolley problem!! we need more of those, I'm the Trolley problem's number one fan!! ) I feel like they missed the chance to put Rook in Solas' role and be as vilified and hated for it as Solas was despite their best intentions which would make Rook's regrets stronger and in turn make their escape from the fade all the more impressive and give them a better understanding of Solas to either use against him or earn his respect. The line 'they called me the Dread Wolf, what will they call you when this is over' from the trailers was so good I was waiting for this!! But everyone just loves Rook no matter what!!

But I feel like I stated too many negative aspects in a row so moving on to some things I enjoyed!

The characters were very lovable to me. The romances weren't as long or impactful as I would have liked but I enjoyed all the companion quests. Emmrich is a delight and his quest is so wild and fun. I loved learning about Nevarra and I was awestruck by the Grand Necropolis. The mourn watch was so interesting, it showed a whole new side of Thedas' lore I knew nothing about! and I loved Manfred! Davrin is so charming, he became a favorite. I loved his quest too and learning more bits and pieces about the Dalish was great, I wish we got more. Seeing the Wardens through his quest also made me enjoy them a lot. Assan was very cute too and I'm glad he was treated as an animal and not turned into a goofy Disney sidekick too much lmao 😭 Lucanis is hilarious. The fantasy Spain/Italy was a bit silly and off at times but he is very sweet! and I love the Spite possession, that was so fun I'm glad they kept him that way! Bellara is adorable, her first backstory quest made me cry and I just love a nerd! I wish the second part of her story was written better however, and she sort of devolves into 'it's hard, I wish it was easy but it's hard' dialogues too often sadly. Anaris and the Forgotten Ones' portrayal was underwhelming and anticlimactic which was disappointing. Harding is also very cute and her Titan plotline was the most interesting to me, I bawled my eyes out in her quest!! I love the dwarven lore of this universe I'm so happy we got more of it!! ( she also fucking died in my playthrough?! I was devastated what the hell 😭 'whatever it takes' WEUEUGHHHG I'M SO SORRY) Neve was a slow burn for me because of my choices in game slowing that relationship down ( saving Treviso I mean, perdón amor 🙏 ) but I love detective novels and she is such a badass I ended up loving her. Taash was unexpected, I didn't think they would be so young. The coming of age story was sweet, though I found myself cringing a lot too at the handling of it I have to admit ( and the Lords of Fortune in general, and the Antaam...and que Qun..listen- kajshfgf ) but I also enjoyed learning more about the first expedition and the Qunari in general despite the messy writing and choices. I also loved Antoine and Evka! and Strife! And I haven't even read any of the novels they are in 😆 also Mila!!!! and her dad oh my god and Felassan haunting the narrative!! speaking of haunting, I would have loved for Cole to be in the lighthouse too I think it would have worked well 🤔 especially with the whole 'reading Solas' secret diary' thing the game had going on lmao

Everyone seems to get along except for a bit of friction that is quickly resolved at the start, which is hmm missed potential? I would have preferred more tension personally. I enjoy the drama! gives me more to work with and gives you a better grasp on everyone's personality by contrasting values. I think they wanted to speed run a found family trope for the new hero to establish some emotional stakes early on but it ended up making everyone seem like a group therapy session instead. The group meetings also have everyone either state the obvious or repeat the same opinion or conclusion to each other, I would have loved these meetings to have more bickering, have people get mad and storm out and also get to listen to different takes on a situation. Make Rook struggle more to take the reins and keep the team functional, learning how to be a leader.

Speaking of Rook! ( who in my case has a northern British accent that I loved so much 🥺) They seem to have a very established personality. I was expecting more of a blank slate but I'm lucky that the personality they went for kind of matches what I would normally choose in a first playthrough. Though the lack of range in the choices is irritating and takes away some replayability and role playing potential. Rook is very supportive and selfless, I wasn't expecting this tbh! But it all made my Rook turn into the team's weird supportive necromancer mom so it worked out in the end I guess lmao. I can't wait to draw her!!

I was so overwhelmed by the amount of information we got about Solas and his past!! I was expecting answers but not these many and not for them to be such an integral part of the plot!! The game feels like it's about him more than anything else. His arc is the best written out of all. He is mentioned in every conversation, he's the main advisor and the narrative foil, you get to talk to him often, you work for him and with him and go into his memories it all feels so surreal to me lmao I love him so I'm delighted ngl! but also making the other Evanuris so cartoonishly evil makes Solas into such an obvious choice of an ally, god of trickery or not, that it sort of takes the decision out of your hands and makes some dialogue options and companions' opinions seem almost nonsensical. I have no idea how this game would feel to someone who absolutely hates Solas' guts honestly. I suppose I will find out soon enough 😆

About Solas' story, I loved it! I somehow also feel that I knew it already, all the speculation and theories that Solavellan fans were crafting for years were so accurate that it was all very validating. Even the wildest ones! Solas as the Maker, the elves spirit origin, Mythal giving him a body, the war with the Titans, the origin of the Blight, Solas being on your side as advisor, I can go on, we knew!! Also I have to mention this I'm sorry but they made him look so hot!! unbelievable. And the bloodied teary eyed pathetic look in the end ouurghhh I'm cheering and clapping!!

The romance conclusion was so lovely 😭 the Loki and Sigyn ending we deserved to such a mythological epic!! and open ended enough for all of us to cook!! and we got to see him fight and transform into the Dread Wolf!! and whimper and cry!! and bleed and love!! that's all I ever wanted, incredible we were really spoiled what the hell I still can't believe it 😭 GDL acting was brilliant as usual! the visuals were also incredible and exactly what I had in mind when I imagined where the story may go, the eclipse, the giant wolf, the glowing eyes, the Elvhenan ruins, the statues, even the hair lmao it all aligned exactly to what I've been painting all these years but better I was thrilled 😭

Solas backstory with Mythal also offers players that didn't romance him a chance to see him act out of love and show a side they wouldn't be able to reach otherwise and I think it was smart! also very tragic and sheds more light into all of his choices and words and his relationship with Lavellan too and the parallels and reversals and uughh thoroughly enjoying the emotional distress 👌

Pleasing both the Solas lovers and haters at the same time was always going to be hard with him being such a polarizing character by design and the world states being so different but I think they did a good job! at least from my side of things.

I think my favorite part besides the Solas related stuff was the Blight. I loved how horrific and gross and threatening it was! I've always loved the concept of the Blights and I'm glad it was such a huge part of the story in this game. I also loved Treviso!! has to be the most beautiful city in Thedas ahhh and the Necropolis!! the gardens!! Vorgoth!!! Kal-Sharok!!! I can't believe we got to see it!! and a Titan!!! the giant floating face of Ghilan'nain in the clouds??? and the huge archdemons and dragons!! oh and that warden dragon trap in the shape of a griffon?? and the giant blight tendrils!! the siege at Weisshaupt was outstanding!! and the floating panopticon castle situation in Minrathous uughh there is so much I loved.

OH I also enjoyed the Varric arc even though I saw it coming since the trailer it was still played well and it was touching 🥺

The ending felt a bit jarring to me in tone though, a bit too cheerful considering...the horrors. Over half the continent destroyed and most of the problems Thedas had before the game are still there. Veil in place and all 😆

But I had fun!! I'm nitpicking really, the conclusion to Solas' story feels very satisfying to me which was my main worry so I'm happy. It is a good game!! with a sort of soft reboot feel to it and aimed at a younger audience which is probably what they were going for? You can sort of feel the struggle the team went through during production in the way the target audience seems unclear sadly. I also can't help feeling like this is an ending, so much was revealed and resolved!! but maybe I feel that way because that is what I felt after Shadowbringers / Endwalker in FFXIV once my favorite part of the story was wrapped? They can always pivot to a new continent and expand on the world and cultures we know almost nothing about, but that is always harder to sell so I have no clue where they will go from here 😵‍💫

Anyway I'm still processing a lot of stuff that I will probably talk (and draw) about later, this is already long enough!! for now I'll look up how to get the artbook because the art direction of this game is fantastic!! I would love to hear your thoughts too really, I'm curious about the experiences of players who made different choices and with different tastes to mine!!

[alhaithams-malewife]

I remember getting into a heated argument with him over this issue, actually. (Adding a cut because this went on longer than I intended)

I was struggling with a very condescending and belittling client for about five or so months and eventually what he (client) said got to me more than usual. I don't remember the exact comment, but it was something along the lines of "you force yourself to be perfect and yet you're never good enough." Needless to say, I was pretty devastated.

So anyway, I went to Lambad's, probably gave myself liver problems during the... four hours I was there, I think? Per usual, Lambad had to call Alhaitham to come pick me up because according to him I had drank so much I was talking to the chair across from me thinking it was Cyno. Why him, I don't know. Maybe because it was around that time that he was, contrary to popular belief, the first person in our friend group to figure out that I had a massive crush on him (I hate using such childish terms, though.)

I woke up the next afternoon with a searing hangover, and if anyone knows me, they know I get really, really cranky when I'm like that. I walked over to my desk and... this is embarrassing, but I threw everything off the desk in a fit of rage directed at the client, my inability to please clients, and myself. Haitham walked in thinking I had fallen out of bed and instead saw me breaking down. The conversation went something like this:

Him, standing in the doorway: "So, are you still drunk, or are you just unable to control your emotions even when sober?"

Me, sitting at the now-empty desk with head in hands: "Shut up. What does it matter to you, anyway?"

🌱: "Because one, you interrupted my downtime. Two, I heard your tantrum through my soundproof earpieces. And three, I had to see if I needed to have you pay for damages to the house."

🏛️: "Oh, boohoo. All you ever have to worry about is money this, annoyance that." (Why did I ever say that?)

🌱: "As if your career isn't drawing boxes and lines. You're the most famous architect in Sumeru yet you don't own your own home. How sad."

Then, for some stupid reason, I threw a pen at him and yelled, "You have no idea how hard I work every single day and every single night just trying to make the clients happy. But no, they go and tell me no matter how hard I work, I'll never be good enough! Then there's you, who makes a huge salary without ever hardly moving from your desk! So of course I'm angry. Of course I'm going to let it slip!"

🌱: "Well, do you believe them?"

🏛️: "What do you think?!"

I don't remember what he said after that, I just slammed the door and left. Then it started raining hard and he pretty much dragged me home. I asked why he even cared, and he said to use my brain. ("...or are you that dense?") Those were pretty much the conclusions I came to, except for the one about my father. @ags-haitham You did what?! /lh

He probably meant what he said in the best way, though. Either way, I'd rather have petty arguments like this than be without him at all.

"but what does he REALLY want with me?" my brooo, kaveh, Alhaitham does care about you just trust me, i'm the bedside lamp 😭

inspired by daikyto9

[dailyjasontodd]

mods, what would YOU guys have liked to see from a Jason Lives AU? Where he still become red hood? Where he (temp or not) retires? I've been thinking about it a lot

I wrote this on my personal blog years and years ago and some of the things i would like to see are

his relationship with Bruce still becoming strained. death or not i think they had some issues to sort through and they both need help AND more importantly they need proper development they were never truly given in canon. the canon jason lives au sorta started strongly in that regard (and kept it strong until the end tbh, it was everything else that was fucked up) but well.

While i do think retiring from Robin for a bit would be good for Jason i hate HATE when people just turn him into a civilian and do the whole twitter-esque "he can help more outside of being a vigilante!!!". like its a bad idea for bruce, and its a bad idea for jason sorry. i think he would try to give it a try, focus on being Jason Todd, and finding out who he is outside of Robin and outside of the expectations for him and not needing to be on constant survival mode, but ultimately i think he would become another vigilante anyways. maybe return to robin. maybe something new. idc.

(in my old blog i said i liked him becoming Red Robin, and designing a new suit with the help of Bruce and Dick since he was never given his own Robin design during his original run, and not only does he deserve it but its very symbolic that he really was running around in dick's hand me downs for years. but it would be fun if he got a completely new name too, a few years ago Cardinal was very popular but my birds knowledge has become very rusty.. i remember also liking Shrike)

people might not like this idea but i do like him somewhat following up Dick's steps and forming his own little team too, especially because he lacked a strong support system outside of Bruce, you know? Dick had the titans when he left, Jason never had anyone but a friend here and there that were vaguely mentioned and not fleshed out. So i think a good step forward for Jason would be to have his own team (my usual pick is eddie / rose / connor sorry not sorry #mytitans but i'm also down for ocs, i've made a few of those too lmao)

I really think regardless of him living he would still think some people deserve nothing but death. Maybe he wouldn’t straight up kill people, but there’s a fat chance there’s times when he didn’t do “everything” he could to save some people who didn’t deserve it and i think he would still argue with bruce about it and i even like the idea of his own team having that argument as well, love the idea of connor carrying the duty of being their moral compass over there at times

that's some specific stuff i would love for a jason lives au. my vague wishes are

let him live

don't torture him

dont make him suffer anymore

dont turn him into a villain

-🐅

[ssentimentals]

Hi!!

Thank you for taking requests! 🩵🩷 Can I please ask for hurt prompt #14 with jeonghan?

I hope you're having a wonderful day ! 🌹

aww hi, i hope you are having a wonderful day too!! thank you so much for requesting 💜 hopefully you will like it!

hurt prompt: 'you see them the way i see you.'

jeonghan doesn't get it. he can't understand why and how you're willing putting yourself through this torture. it's one thing when you're being haunted by negative thoughts, spiraling into nothingness with numbness, but it's a totally different thing when you watch this happen to those who you love. he can't comprehend how you can put yourself down in a such a cruel way, comparing yourself to others and not seeing anything good in yourself.

'i want you to listen to me,' jeonghan asks. he's not above begging, really. anything to get you out of this darkness. 'please, my love.'

'i'm sorry, hannie.' you choke out, trying to stop crying and only crying even more. 'i'm sorry, just give me few minutes, yeah? i just need few minutes.'

he sighs and pulls you into his arms, not caring if you wet his shirt with your tears. 'you can have all the time you need, baby. but i need to stop thinking that you are the worst.'

he knows it's not easy; hell, when he falls into this darkness, it takes several people to pull him out. but he hopes that for you having only his presence will be enough. you sob quietly into his chest and his heart breaks at those sounds, because they should never come out from you. 'you are not the worst,' jeonghan says, meaning every single word. 'we all make mistakes. it's okay, this is life. but you're putting this on the pedestal and it's not okay. you see them the way i see you, you know?' at this you look up at him, all puffy eyed. jeonghan smiles sadly and leans in to peck your lips. 'i mean it. you see them as these super cool, super smart people and this is how i see you. you're super cool. super smart. super pretty. super everything, really.'

you laugh at this and god, he missed your laugh. this is the sound that should come out from you, not the gut-wrenching sobs. 'i'm so lucky to have you,' you whisper, coughing a little. 'thank you, hannie.'

'it's me who's lucky,' jeonghan says, holding you tight. he kisses your head, closing his eyes. he knows that the doubts are still on your mind, he knows that few well placed words will not solve the issue, but he's here. and for now it should be enough. 'i'm the lucky one.'

a/n: request your own here! <3 - nini

[swrkn]

Hihi! I see you have blue lock in your fandoms you write for, do you have any ness headcannons? thank you <3

𝐒𝐅𝐖 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

Alexis ness x g/n reader

Genre ; sfw , fluff

Author note ; hii , that’s my first request for blue lock so i would like to thank you for that ! English is not my first language so im sorry if there are mistakes, my request are open !!

⇨ Thoughtful Supporter

Ness is the ultimate doting partner, almost to a fault. He's incredibly attentive, always noticing the little things that make you happy, like your favorite snacks or how you prefer your tea. He's fiercely loyal and seeks validation in the relationship, similar to how he idolizes Kaiser on the field. He wants to feel like he's your number one supporter.

One evening, you casually mention craving something sweet while you're both texting. You don't think much of it and move on with your night. The next day, there's a knock at your door, and when you open it, Ness stands there with a box of pastries from your favorite bakery. "You mentioned these yesterday," he says with a shy smile, his cheeks slightly flushed. "I couldn't let you go another day without them." You're touched by his thoughtfulness, and as you both sit down to enjoy the treats, you realize how much he pays attention to even your smallest remarks.

⇨ Your Biggest Cheerleader

He's deeply invested in your personal goals and will do everything he can to support you, much like how he supports Kaiser on the field. He'll be your biggest cheerleader, no matter what. In return, he appreciates when you show interest in his soccer career, even if it's just attending his games or asking about his training.

You're working late on a project, and Ness texts you: Don't forget to take a break, okay? You're doing amazing. A few minutes later, he shows up with a coffee in hand, ready to cheer you on.

After one of his big games, you greet him with a proud smile. "You were incredible out there," you say. His eyes light up, and he pulls you into a tight hug. "Hearing that from you makes it even better," he murmurs.

⇨ The Peace Maker

Ness hates conflict and will do his best to avoid arguments. If a disagreement arises, he'll try to resolve it calmly, often prioritizing your feelings over his own. He's quick to apologize, even if he's not in the wrong, but he appreciates it when you acknowledge his feelings too.

A minor disagreement arises when your schedules don't align, and you end up snapping at Ness out of frustration. He takes a deep breath, choosing not to escalate the situation. "I'm sorry if I upset you," he says calmly, his eyes soft with concern. "I just want us to work through this together." His willingness to approach the issue with understanding rather than anger helps you cool down, and together, you find a solution. By the end of the conversation, the tension has melted away, replaced by mutual understanding and affection.

⇨ Romantic Gestures

He's a romantic at heart. Expect surprise dates, handwritten letters, and spontaneous compliments. Ness loves making you feel cherished. His favorite thing is to cook for you, insisting that he knows all your favorite dishes. Even if it doesn't turn out perfect, he'll put his heart into every meal.

One weekend, you find a small envelope on your pillow. Inside is a handwritten note from Ness, detailing how much he appreciates you. "I just wanted to remind you how amazing you are," it reads. "Thank you for being in my life."

Ness surprises you by setting up a cozy picnic at the park, complete with a blanket, snacks, and your favorite playlist. "I thought we could use some fresh air and time together," he says, beaming.

⇨ Jealousy and Insecurity

Ness is prone to jealousy but tries to hide it. If he sees you getting close to someone else, he'll quietly fume but won't confront you directly. Instead, he'll subtly seek more of your attention to reassure himself. In moments of insecurity, he'll need you to affirm that you love him for who he is and not just for how much he supports you.

After one of Ness's matches, you find yourself talking with one of his teammates, complimenting his skills. From a distance, Ness watches, his smile faltering slightly as he sees how much you're enjoying the conversation. Later, when it's just the two of you, he hesitates before asking, "You seemed really close with him... Do you think they're funnier than me?" His voice is soft, almost uncertain. You immediately cup his face, looking into his eyes. "Ness, you're the one I love. No one else comes close," you assure him, planting a gentle kiss on his lips. His expression softens, and he pulls you into a tight hug, his insecurities melting away in your embrace.

⇨ The playful Competitor

He's surprisingly competitive when playing games with you, especially if it's something like board games or trivia. He loves teasing you when he wins but takes it gracefully if you beat him.

During a trivia night, Ness surprises you with how competitive he can get. "No way you knew that answer!" you laugh after he correctly names a random historical fact. He smirks and says, "What can I say? I'm full of surprises." When you finally beat him in the final round, he dramatically clutches his chest. "You've defeated me, but I'm proud of you," he says, making you both burst out laughing.

✵

[anxiousapplepie]

Had an idea about the travelers's fears if you are willing to hear me out about.

All "travelers" have the feeling of "it's over when you reach the end" but for different reasons.

For Sif, he has no home or memories to return to. Hence why Mal Du Pays takes the form of Siffrin in the game over screen.

For Bonnie, their relationship with Nille is in the gutter due to their last words and fear of not having her or anything to return to.

For Isabeua, who travels to find his idenity, and distance himself from his past, the party acts as his "rock" with fear of crumbling once it ends.

For Odile, who travels becuse of her mixed heritage, having a "family" she would do anything to keep safe yet never admit it her fears.

For Mirabelle, who struggles with her innability to "change", having stability and life injected thanks to the party yet anxious for it ending as with it over, she'll go back to her own quest to change with little effort. Just stuck in rot.

Anyways. Hope these ideas help! I've read more than a few other AU as well as the script itself, so these ideas are mainly more of a base. Adding new wrinkles or changing issues enough to make sense is fun. And the idea your SwapAUs all coming together for some ungodly reason to partaking in angst and time loop shenanigans is enjoyable to me.

literally rotated every single one of these ideas in my mind all day yesterday and I was trying to think of any cool or interesting insight to add to this, but honestly you've summed up everything I'm trying to go for and I'm raising my non-existent beer glass at you for all of these nicely packaged vibes You seeing this, people? Now you have!!!

[gothamite-rambler]

A Phone Call from Jail - Kylar Got his Ass Beat Again

Wayne Manor - Study - Night

The dim light of the study casted long shadows across the room. Bruce Wayne stood alone, gazing out the window, mentally preparing for his nightly patrol as Batman. The tranquility was quickly interrupted by his cell phone ringing.

Bruce (furrowing his brows): And just like that… the moment is ruined.

Feeling a sense of unease, he answered the phone and was greeted by an automated female voice.

Automated voice: This is the Gotham City Jail. You have a collect call from—

The voice cut off as a familiar one interrupted, laced with guilt.

Jason (on the other end of the line): Um, Jason Todd.

Bruce's brows furrowed in confusion. Jason had gone six months without getting arrested and had sworn he would try to avoid ending up in Gotham Jail. He had to pay five hundred dollars for it, but still.

Automated voice: Do you accept the charges?

Bruce (irritated): Do I accept the charges? What the hell? Is this a joke?

Jason (shouting): Say yes Bruce! It's your son!

Bruce stared at the phone, insulted that he was being yelled at when he had to go out to patrol as Batman in an hour. He rolled his eyes believing his son's claims.

Bruce (annoyed): Yes, I accept the charges. Jason, explain.

Jason: Bruce… um, loving father of mine, um... funny story… me and Dick kind of ended up in jail as you heard and it's not a big deal what we were arrested for. Can you, uh… come get us and bring… bail money?

Bruce (concerned): Why do you need me to pick you up from jail? How did you both get arrested? Are you in your suits?

Jason (angry): We're not in our suits, you dumbass! The... business suits are at home, okay? When can you get here?

Bruce pulled the phone away, slightly irritated.

Bruce (aggravated): A simple no would have sufficed. Before I drive down to jail, start explaining why you and Dick are there.

There’s a pause, and Bruce can almost hear Jason debating with himself.

Bruce (demanding parent voice): I'm not leaving until you explain why you got arrested. Tick tock, detective.

Jason groaned knowing Bruce wasn't kidding around.

Jason: Well… long story short, Tim was dealing with this asshole homophobe at work. I talked him… for the sake of this recorded call, just know I ‘talked’ to him. He left Tim alone for a few days, but I guess he has a screw loose and decided to confront Tim while he was out to dinner with us. The guy was calling him a bunch of awful names—saying his reputation was ruined at work because people found out he was the one who left a slur keyed into Tim's car and a lot of words even I wouldn’t say—and then he ended it by calling Tim a dirty… bundle of sticks. Yeah.

Before Bruce could respond, the phone was wrestled away and another voice entered the call.

Dick (enraged): He called him a slur, that slur, so we beat his ass accordingly!

Jason jumped back in, a hint of admiration in his tone.

Jason: I will just take the phone back. What he said was true and man we... we kind of lost it. Surprisingly, Dick did the most damage.

Dick (in the background): This is stupid! How come we get arrested for doing a civic duty?

Jason: Would you sit down and breathe or something? Christ.

Silence fell as Bruce processed everything he had learned, his hands clenching as anger and worry swirled inside him. He was unaware that any of this was happening, but he knew how Tim liked to downplay issues, even when cases like this were anything but trivial.

Jason (confused by the long silence): Bruce… you there?

Taking a deep breath, Bruce spoke, unable to hide his irritated but steady voice.

Bruce: Just counting to ten so I can calm down. Why didn't Tim tell me any of this?

Jason: He... he didn't want to make the workers think he was running to his father for help. I don't get it, but you know how Tim is. Don't tell him I said this either, but it actually has been affecting him. A lot.

Bruce (struggling to keep his voice steady): I will... reassure him I'm here to help later tonight, thank you telling me this. Last question what was the worker's name?

Jason (disgust in his voice): Kylar.

Bruce felt a tightening in his chest hearing that name. Kylar has been hired on and Bruce saw him as one of the weaker workers, and now he had a better reason to fire him.

Bruce: Hn, that guy? I never liked him. He’s fired. I’ll make sure he’s personally escorted out of the building, and if he tries to harm Tim—

Jason (reminding his father): This is a recorded line.

Bruce (exhaling to calm himself): Right. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.

Jason (a hint of relief): Cool.

With the call ended, Bruce slipped the phone back into his pocket, considering the whirlwind of emotions stirred by the conversation. As he stood there, reflecting on his sons’ reckless yet fierce protectiveness, he felt a mix of pride and frustration. The loyalty they displayed, despite their complicated pasts, only deepened his care for them.

With determination, Bruce left his study, knowing that night would be about more than just bailing his sons out of jail. It would be about setting boundaries and ensuring Tim felt safe at work.

Stepping outside, the cool night air rushed to greet him. Gotham sprawled across the horizon—a city of shadows and complexities. As both a vigilante and a father, he had to tread carefully.

His stride quickened, fueled by a protective instinct. The Batfamily always found trouble, but he would fiercely defend them, no matter what.

Don’t Mess with Tim Drake or his family will deal with you: Kylar

[kpop-cakepops]

Hidden (Kim Mingyu X AFAB!Reader)

Description: angst. You get in a fight with Mingyu :,)

Warnings: slight cussing.

(Haha, not me writing after years of inactivity 😂😭, enjoyyy. Also, this is not revised, so excuse any grammar errors)

It wasn't that you were jealous, not even insecure... it was envy. There you were, sat in the loneliness of your bedroom, tapping through the private Instagram stories of your boyfriend at yet another function. His friends sat at a large table, enjoying their time with him. Time you were missing out on. Time that could have been yours, too.

With a dejected sigh, you drop your phone on your bed and get ready to hop in the shower. The stories had been posted 2 hours earlier, so it came as no surprise to hear the front door of your apartment open and close followed by your boyfriend's heavy footsteps coming in the direction of your bedroom.

You quickly busied yourself looking through your closet for your pajamas until you finally heard him enter. He smelled faintly of alcohol as his warm hands came in contact with your hips from behind. "Hi princess"

"Hey" your response was curt and cold and you knew you were being petty, but there was not a single fiber in you telling you be nice.

He noticed. He always did when you were upset. A sigh left his lips, and he stepped back, allowing you out of his hold. "What did I do now?"

You gave him a quick glance. He was now sitting at the edge of your bed watching you closely, like a math problem he was in a hurry to solve. "Nothing. I'm just tired" he could continue trying to solve it for all you cared.

If only Mingyu were the type to back down.

"Clearly not just 'nothing'" he insisted. "You're upset at me."

"I'm not doing this right now."

"If you don't want to fight, then at least do a good job of acting like everything is ok." now he was upset too. A small part of you wanted to blame yourself for doing this again, but the bigger part of you was hurt and felt left out. Things that a girlfriend should not feel about her boyfriend.

"Where were you tonight?" You finally met eyes with him only to have him roll his at you.

"Seriously?"

"That doesn't answer my question" you insisted.

"I went to have drinks with some friends, it's my day off." He finally conceded. "I didn't invite you because I thought you'd be busy-"

You can't help the scoff that leaves your lips, "bullshit" you interrupt. "Bullshit, Mingyu. You know my schedule. You knew I took today off- shit, I took today off for you and not one single call from you? Not even lunch?"

"Babe, it was a party for Lisa, and we all know you two don't really-"

"Holy shit, that's the excuse you're going with? That it was a party organized for Lisa, who I don't really talk to? At least fucking try to make sense, Kim Mingyu." You had said you weren't insecure, but you started to realize slowly that maybe you were insecure. This had never been an issue to you before Mingyu, you had never felt less than, you had never felt...

Hidden.

"Y/N I was just trying to save you an awkward time-"

Your eyes locked into his guilty black ones immediately, and as if by instinct you knew. "Mingyu, do they know about us?"

He stopped whatever bullshit excuse he was giving you, lips parted and eyes tearing away from your gaze immediately.

You hadn't been together for too long, but definitely long enough for his friends to know, surely. You had told all your friends by the time you'd been dating for 3 months, it would make absolutely no sense for him not to tell his friends after being together for 5 months... right?

"You know my friends know-"

You dropped the clothes in your hands and stomped up to him, shaking your head furious, "No, I know your members know. But what about your friends? Do they know that we're dating? Or am I correct in assuming that you are hiding me?"

You were met by silence. He avoided your gaze and stood from the bed turning his back on you, a hand tangled in his hair. "This is not how I thought tonight would go. I can't believe you're doing this right now."

"You're embarrassed of me?" You didn't mean for your voice to tremble the way it did. You hadn't even realized that your eyes were threatening to spill frustrated tears down your cheeks.

Your boyfriend flinched at the sound of your voice, but he didn't have the courage to face you. "Y/N..."

"Is it because I don't look like one of your super model friends?" You ask, "Or is it because I spend 40 hours a week holed up in an office? Or maybe because I live in an apartment that's the size of your walk in closet?"

He turns to look at you defeated, "Baby no-"

But it's too late. The seed of insecurity within you has germinated, it's grown roots, and they're spreading and wrapping around you at the speed of light. You can no longer keep eye contact with him. In an attempt to hide your tears, you pick up the clothes you'd dropped and start walking past him in direction of your bathroom.

His large hand grabs at your arm softly, "Y/N, please, let's not do this."

"I think you should go home. I have work in the morning." With a soft tug of your arm, his hand drops, and you lock yourself away in your bathroom, pressing a wrist to your lips, hoping that's enough to hide the choked sobs you'd been suppressing for weeks.

[rosetyler42]

Genetics has quite a bit to do with it. Everything from frame size to how fat is layed to descendants of people with food insecurity or high stress levels can be hard wired to store more fat and/or have high stress levels which make it harder to store fat.

Size matters too. For example, I'm 5' 1" and alot of my family is around 6'. All of them could eat WAY more than me because they were bigger and required more food. Interestingly, I got a large frame size for a short person since I took after my mom that way. My brother is 6' 3" and despite his bottomless pit eating habits is quite thin since he took after dad.

Exercise ALSO does effect things. Not everyone has the ability to go walking, for example, like people in wheelchairs, scooters, those that have crutches, etc. All those could have trouble exercising. Also some people are more active than others due to personality and whatnot.

Also, sometimes our weight can fluctuate over time or even just during the day for various reasons.

I myself had something of an eating disorder where I had an aversion to eating for many reasons as well as digestive issues. My parents tried to stuff as many calories into me as they could to keep me alive. And the way nutrition was taught back in the 2000s did NOT help as it made me even more scared of eating and getting fat. Going through that, I learned what works for others may not work for you, and you should listen to people who know you and your doctor's advice about your weight before anyone else. They may be dealing with shit that you don't know about or even THEY don't really know: For example, I couldn't really tell people why I had trouble eating for YEARS, I just knew I didn't like it. And it wasn't a choice either because people would get mad I took so long and if I could have eaten like a normal person, I WOULD HAVE. I've also recently learned that out of control stress and restrictive diets like trying to minimize sugar, carbs, or fruit can mess your body AND mind up even WORSE than gaining weight.

A core feature of anti-fatness is the "you did this to yourself"-view. People are very invested in the idea that size is within everyone's control. It's soothing to believe that all fat people are a small series of good choices away from becoming thin and staying that way, and that thin people are success stories by virtue of existing.

Any time we speak up about discrimination and fatphobia, someone inevitably plays that card. Trolls will say "eat a salad, pig" and well-meaning health nuts will gently explain what calories are. In either case, we're met with a "you know, you can stop this at any time." Why, if nobody was fat, thin people wouldn't need to examine their biases! It sure would be an easier time for everyone if we weren't so Around and Bulliable!

[glisten-inthedark]

Ok but the moment a fic makes you take things into account and makes you think.

What Mike notices the moment he sees Will: the painting. What does he ask: What is that?

What he could have (should have asked tbh): Oh, how are you doing, dude?

What Mike tells Will: that they're friends. They are friends! (You heard it here first, folks) and maybe Will should have reached out more.

What he could have said: I won't have an argument with you right now, my girlfriend was just humiliated and I need to find her and make sure she's ok.

What Mike says to Will in his room: I mean, Dustin and Lucas are great, but it's Hawkins... Is not the same without you/I don't know, maybe I feel like I lost you or something.

What he could have said: "I've been so busy, these last couple of months, and it's not an excuse but I feel like we drifted apart and if we want to save El I think we need to be on the same page again".

What Mike says: If I said that thing, maybe she'd let me come with her.

Will talks about being scary to open up because what the person they care about doesn't like the truth.

What Mike does: Nods, almost imperceptibly like he's agreeing with the premise of being afraid to tell the truth about his own feelings (that he knows El won't like because she was begging him to tell her he loves her so is not the mental gymnastics he was trying to use later on).

What he should have done instead would be say: The truth is that I love El, you know? That's not the issue to be honest. Is just –she's an actual superhero and I'm just me, you know?

What Mike does: Stare at Will like he's the embodiment of everything he's ever wanted.

What he should have done: Stare longingly at the painting, at the road, at anything other than Will.

[leanxooo]

L O S T P U P P Y — rick grimes x black!fem reader x daryl dixon

✷ : It had been a couple weeks since y/n arrived at the atlanta camp, everyone started warming up to her, even Daryl and Rick, but what happens when Rick and Daryl go on a run a something happens to y/n

✷ : chapter two: "yall two just love my life huh?" [ see other chapters ]

cw: mentions of daddy issues, walkers, pet names ( pretty, darling, sweet girl, princess ) , rude!daryl at first, a little sexual content ( dry humping, dirty talk, kissing ), age gap ( reader is 19 - 20 and Rick and Daryl are 30 - 40 ), mentions of rape / sa, creepy!Shane, slight daddy kink.

xoxo note: I'm bad at writing summaries so just bare with me + imjustagirlwithdaddyissues.

It had been a few weeks since y/n arrived at the atlanta camp and Y/n sat in her tent, doing her hair. Last week while y/n was on a run with Daryl and Rick, a walker grabbed y/n's ponytail and messed her hair up, she ended up crying the whole way back to camp and complaining that 'she worked so hard on her hair', leaving the two men to comfort her.

Most of the men were hunting so the only men around were dale and Shane. Y/n hated Shane with everything in her, when she first arrived to camp and saw Lorie and Shane sneaking into the woods together, shes hated them both equally because who could hurt such a caring and handsome man like Rick?

Shane came up to y/n's tent, his voice rang out, "knock knock" he said out loud "what?" y/n said half opening the tent "whatcha doin pretty girl" he asked with a creepy smile on his face.

"My hair- what the fuck do you want?" she didn't want to convers with him, he gave her a weird feeling ever since she got to the camp.

"Can I come in?" he said about to put his foot in the tent, "for what?" she kept questioning him, he knew Daryl and Rick weren't around so what was he trying to pull? she couldnt text Carol and tell on him because there's nothing she could possibly do.

"I just wanna come in and watch ya do your hair" he smiled "nah I'm good" she rolled her eyes. She hated men like Shane, dirty disgusting men who think they can have anything or anyone they want.

Lorie stood next to the camper watching the interaction between the man and the young girl, jealousy would cross her face.

"Leave me alone, your lil girlfriend giving me dirty looks" after she said that Shane fully stepped in her tent closing the zipper behind him.

Y/n have him a 'nigga is you coo?' look and pulled her phone out about to text Rick but Shane snatched her phone from her.

"Dude what is your problem?" y/n yelled, "I just wanna talk to you pretty," he ran his hands up and down her shoulders, pushing the girls boobs together with her arms.

Y/n reached behind her a grabbed the knife Daryl gave her as a little gift for just being her, Shane had a tight grip on her, forcing her to lay down on her cot in the tent.

"What are you gonna do to me?" she was scared, no one was around, all the women were down at the lake washing clothes, Lorie sure wouldn't help her and she didn't even know where dale was.

"I just wanna take care of ya" he said as he looked in her eyes rubbing up and down her legs, she looked around for her phone and saw it was next to the opening of the tent. She could stab him real quick, grab her phone and make a run for it towards the woods and hope to run into the other men.

She was about to start screaming but Shane got on top of her, covering her mouth and un-did his pants. She quickly stabbed him in the stomach and while he was still in shock, she pushed him off her grabbing her phone.

It took her a minute to get the zipper open and while she was getting it open, Shane pulled the knife out of his stomach and y/n started to make a run for it.

She didn't make it far before Shane used her own knife to cut her ankle while she was running, she fell to her knees fast, gripping onto her phone as she did.

Shane was slowly getting out the tent with a grunt, as he moved slow, y/n made another run for it and made it to the woods. She got lost and checked her phone, seeing it was on # percent, she called Rick's phone hoping he would pick up while she had enough charge.

"Yes mama," his voice rang through the phone, "please Rick help- Shane tried to force himself on me and cut me and now I'm lost in the woo-" the phone went dead while she was talking.

The girl continued her journey in the woods, y/n had no weapons and her phone was dead, and on top of everything it was getting dark outside.

'im gonna die out here' she thought as she sat down on a Rick by a creek and ripped her grey tank top up to wrap her bleeding ankle and wrapped her small knotless braids up.

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE CAMP, the whole group was panicking, Shane and y/n were gone and there was no sight of where they could have gone.

Lorie stood in the background while everyone made a plan to look for y/n and Shane. Rick and Daryl were fuming, they shouldn't have left her alone here.

Glenn turned his attention to Lorie, "did you see anything?" Lorie shook her head and rolled her eyes, "I don't know why y'all are going through all of this for a girl you just met 5 weeks ago," Lorie laughed thinking someone would agree with her.

"Lorie what is your problem?" Andrea asked, over the last few weeks Andrea and y/n got really close. Y/n taught Andrea to do her own short acrylics and how many ways she could do her blonde hair.

"What? come on there's no way y'all are gonna go through all of this for some slu-" Lorie was cut off by a loud scream heard from the woods.

"Thats gotta be y/n" t-dog said and looked around "okay, t-dog and Glenn y'all stay here Incase y/n or Shane run back to camp and we miss them, Carol get the medical stuff ready and dale you stay on lookout." Rick stated and every nodded their heads.

Carl ran up, "what's going on?" he asked standing in front of his dad. "Nothing, you stay here with your mother, you hear me?" rick asked as he sternly looked at Lorie, Carl nodded his head.

"Daryl lets go," and with the two men ran into the woods, flashlights hand, another loud girlish scream was heard "get off me! get the fuck off me you sicko" they followed the voice and it led straight to y/n.

Daryl saw y/n fighting off a walker and quickly shot it with an arrow, y/n looked up and the shooter. "Daryl!" y/n was happy to see him "oh I'm invisible now?" Rick laughed as he walked over to her checking out her cut.

"Are you okay pretty girl?" Daryl asked as he rubbed her shoulders and the girl flinched, "I'm fine" she smiled.

Rick and Daryl shared glances, "cmon mama we finne get you back to camp" Rick picked the girl up and carried her on his hip as Daryl closely followed behind.

"Can you tell us what happened sweet girl?" Rick asked as they got closer to camp and y/n's lip started to quiver, "i- i- I was doing my hair and-" Daryl felt pity for the girl, she just turned 21 and everything is so over-sitmulating for her.

"Its okay baby, take your time" Daryl said as they got back to the camp and Rick sat y/n on one of the tables and Carol ran up to them.

"Y/n I'm so sorry I wasn't there," Carol almost wanted to cry, y/n was like another daughter to her.

"Its fine, its fine" y/n breathed out, a huge pout on her face.

"Can you tell me what happened now?" Rick as as he backed up enough for Carol to fix up y/n's ankle.

"I was in the tent doing my hair.." Lorie watched from afar as y/n told her story, "and I was almost done before Shane came to the tent he started being weird and I didn't wanna talk to him," y/n put her head down.

"He got into the tent as I went to call Rick.. I saw Lorie looking right at us," everyone turned their head to Lorie.

"You cunt" Andrea turned around and headed for Lorie but t-dog caught her, "what the fuck are you talking about? I wasn't even around! I was with Carol.." Lorie wanted pity from everyone.

"You weren't with me.." Carol rolled her eyes "y/n I'm so sorry"

"Lorie I expected better from you," glenn said "no way you believe her" Lorie laughed.

Rick and Daryl ignored everyone and kept focusing on y/n's story.

"Shane came in and tried to force himself on me," she sighed, Rick felt bad for the girl. The first few weeks y/n was at the camp, she opened up about her father and how he sa'd her, she said "it made me mature faster, I didn't have a childhood."

"What happened after that sweet girl?" Rick as he redid her bun, slowly caressing her face.

"I cut him and ran but he cut me before I got far.. after I ran into the woods I don't know where he went next," Daryl nodded "we gotta find this son of a bitch."

"Everyone stay on lookout, were gonna take y/n to the tent and get her settled." t-dog, dale and Glenn nodded their heads.

Daryl picked y/n up like a baby, tapping her butt twice, "come on doll, lets get you showered."

Rick headed to their tent while Daryl took y/n to the RV to take a shower. Rick needed time to think so he let Daryl and y/n have some alone time.

"How you feeling pretty?" y/n had a sad look on her face "I don't know."

Once Daryl finally got the girl some clothes and good he laid down in the back of the RV with her, rocking her, whispering sweet things into her ear.

'im gonna take care of ya' 'no one can hurt you anymore' 'daddys here sweet girl'

Rick walked in to the RV and watched the two as they bonded, it wasn't too long before y/n fell asleep.

Daryl got up and took her back too the tent but as they were walking back, Shane came back.

xoxo note: stay tuned for part 2 of "y'all love my life huh?" , lol

[ghostmoon1]

Day Ten - Lullaby

Ghost x Soap

Master List

Very late, I've been a bit sick and lost all motivation to write sadly. I'm gonna try and keep up with it all again. But this one is okay!

CW: Nothing much :3

Words: 1,099

Their boots crunched against the leaves and dying grass, the ground painted with death. Guns were held firmly to their chests, fingers always hovering above the triggers. Sweat beaded along their browline, heavy breathing and staggering steps.

“We’re almost there, ain’t we?” Johnny pipes up, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

“Yeah, not too much longer. Hold in there, Soap,” John replies. He was at the front, leading everyone to the rendezvous point. They had planned to meet with Alejandro and his team, Los Vaqueros.

“Almost there Johnny, then a well needed nap,” Ghost mutters, squeezing his shoulder gently. He’s met with a warm smile, a silent thank you for his support.

The quiet of the night covered them, providing darkness to hide under. The sounds of nature began to pipe up, crickets and birds sung their melodies and the breeze played with the leaves and branches. The moon is hidden behind clouds in the sky, providing only a little amount of light for the team to be able to see.

Simon held his gun tight, it was a silent support. He knew with that gun, that’s what he needed to survive. Without it his chances became slim. He focused on the sounds of the forest around him. Focusing on the feelings of everything, the heat that clung to his skin, the sweat dripping down his head and back, a moist feeling against his back.

“Simon, you're standing up straighter than a pole! Lighten up,” Johnny speaks up, patting Simon’s back.

“Stay frosty boys,” John chimes in with a grin, looking back at the boys. “But Ghost, you look like you have an icicle up your arse.”

Simon grunts softly, trying to relax his stance but failing too. John sighs and rolls his eyes, keeping his focus on leading them to where they were going to camp out for the night. They walk in silence, keeping their focus on their surroundings as the night continues to creep up on them. 

They reach a small clearing, multiple buildings hidden in what seemed to be the middle of no where poked through the dark haze. John picked up the comms, murmuring something as he stands and studies the area. After a moment, he hums in approval and turns to face his team. “Alright boys, this is the spot. Alejandro is inside.”

They all take a sigh of relief, thankful to finally stop walking and be able to rest up for the night. Johnny nudges Simon as he walks past, a soft smile on his face, giving him a silent invitation to follow him. The harsh sound of leaves and sticks crunching beneath them soon turns into sound of gravel and dirt. Hushed voices came from a few of the buildings, a few lights shining around. John walks up and knocks on the door.

“Callsign?” a voice calls gruffly from the other side.

“Bravo-7. Its us,”

The door swings open, and they are met with a wide grin and open arms. “Ah my friends! Good to see you made it here safe!” Alejandro chimes. He wore a basic army-issued shirt and jeans, his gun holsterd to his thigh.

“Good to see you again,” John answers as he steps inside, letting down his gear on a table.

“Make yourself at home, you all need a good rest,” he calls, walking through the room and pulling a beer from a escy, offering it to them. 

“Probably shouldnt, we have to leave early,” John replies, sitting on the well-worn couch and bringing a cigar to his lips.

He nods, handing the beer to one of his teammates. “You all look exhausted.”

“We just tracked through half of Mexico!” Johnny groans, flopping onto the couch next to John, who grunts and moves to the side.

“It was one part of the forest…” SImon mutters, leaning down over the couch next to him with a raised brow.

“Felt like the whole arse country!”

Simon just rolls his eyes and stands “We need some sleep. Early morning…” he mutters, stretching his arms over his head.

Everyone murmurs their agreeance. Johnny relcuantly stands and almost immediately falls onto Simon’s shoulder. “Let’s go then, L.T.”

Simon laughs and takes his hand, gently leading him out of the room and to the bedrooms hidden at the back of the house. He opens the door, pushing Johnny inside and wrapping his arms around his waist with a soft sigh. Johnny groans and buries his face in his neck. “C’mon, you need sleep before you collapse,” Simon mutters with a kiss to his forehead. He leads him to the bed, falling down onto it with him. He peels off his gear before attending to his own, letting out a sigh of relief as the heavy equipment falls off him.

“Lookin’ after me, L.T?” Johnny laughs, gently holding the bottom of his mask and studying his face. As soon as Simon nods, he pushs the mask up and over his face. He smiles as the face of Simon comes into view, not Ghost any longer.

His fingers trace the scar running along his face, then the one over his lip. He relaxes as his stubble brushes into his palm. It was him. His Simon, still with him. Simon lays down, dragging him onto his chest and wrapping his arms around him. Johnny closes his eyes, groaning as he tries to get comfortable.

He lays there, listening to the minutes tick by and the crickets making their nightly tune. His mind spins, trying to fall asleep. He couldnt. He cant.

“Can’t sleep Johnny?” Simon murmurs, brushing his hand through his mohawk,

“Nah… not at all.”

He sighs, brushing his lips against his hairline then begins humming. Johnny perks up at the sound of his humming, feeling his body melt into his. He especially catches him off guard when he starts to sing, his voice gruff but somewhat calming. His chest pools with warmth, his gut almost doing a flip as the words ‘soldier boy’ slip past his lips. He knew this lullaby.

Simon’s mother sung this, he had heard him sing it before.

He feels his body melt further, his limbs tangling with Simon’s and he lets the warmth flush over him. The words lull him into sleep, a sirens song he felt he could call it. His breath calms, his fingers intertwining with Simon’s as his body begins to give into sleep

Simon continues to sing softly, until Johnny’s body becomes limp, sinking into him with a sigh. “Sleep well Johnny…” he murmurs, holding him tightly against his chest.

[stellar-solar-flare]

Hehehe, I knew where this was going from the summary but yet, seeing it unfold on page was just delightful!

I don't often go for post-Endgame fics, even AUs, but I was definitely reeled in by the way we saw, even in this one short chapter, about how there are so many issues because of everything that happened with the whole Thanos ordeal. And I love Pepper as the force that is trying to help all these people and put the influence and budget of Stark Industries to work - that feels like such a great way to honor Tony's legacy, and something he would want to happen when he's gone.

“Well, then let’s talk about it. You know I’m here for you, whatever you need. I don’t know how you think I can help, but clearly you’ve got an idea.”

And I mean this is like 100% Steve jumping in before he even knows what's going to be asked of him - I mean, yes, Pepper knows who he is and wouldn't ask anything that is against his morals but also I love every instance of Steve just being the sentence 'I am here to help, what can I do?' in a physical form.

"That's exactly why you'd be perfect, Steve. You're not entrenched in the political machine. You have a moral compass that's unwavering, and a desire to help those who need it, no matter what.”

I like her reasoning, and also I ADORED the way Steve immediately jumped to think if he's good enough for this and qualified, how he's a soldier, not a politician... A man that first thinks about the responsibilities instead of the power is a man after my own heart.

"You've shown that you're willing to stand up for what you believe in, even when it costs you everything.”

Honestly if this isn't just Steve Rogers' character in one singular sentence, I don't know what is. I love your way of writing him, the characterization is just astronomically good. You get him and I'm always delighted to find writers whose characterizations I can get behind.

I also adore the idea of him getting a good team this time, and the support, instead of just being flung headfirst into a world he does not understand (glares at canon). And the fact that Pepper also mentioned Nat's sacrifice in addition to Tony's felt like the cherry on top - I am still salty over the way they sort of glossed over her death in canon and I'm glad it's being spun as one reason for them to try to make the world a better place in this fic.

I am delighted with this, thank you so much for sharing! What an interesting idea and a wonderful characteriztion, and not to mention that your writing is so smooth and seamless that it's really gripping! I am definitely looking forward to diving into the next parts and finding out how Reader plays into all of this.

Red, White & True - Prologue

Characters/Pairings: Steve Rogers (future x curvy Millennial Female!Reader), Pepper Potts Word Count: 1.3k Summary: "There was an idea..." Words at the heart of what brought the Avengers together. Steve Rogers is no longer an Avenger, having retired after The Snap and passed his shield along to Sam Wilson, but Pepper Potts has a new idea to bring Steve back out of retirement - but in a totally different arena.

Content/Warnings: none

Notes: This takes place in a post-Endgame scenario where Steve stays and generally most of TFATWS happened.

↠ Main Masterlist | Aspen's Ask Box | Field Guide to the Forest

PROLOGUE

[MAY 1 - Upstate New York]

“You know I’m always happy to come out to the farm,” Steve says, rinsing the last plate and handing it to the strawberry blonde woman so she can dry and put it back on the shelf. “I love to see you and Morgan. But what do you want to talk to me about, Pepper?”

Pepper gives him a tight-lipped smile. “Let’s go to the study,” she answers, and leads the way to the back of the modern but rustic home. She takes a seat on the couch and motions for Steve to sit on the other end.

“I was sitting right here when Tony stood over there,” she nods her head toward a spot in front of Steve, “and told me he figured out the science of time travel.”

Steve’s chest aches at her words. “Pepper…”

She holds up a hand to stop him. “No, don’t apologize. I told him that was amazing and terrifying. Then we sat here together and really talked. He told me he could stop, put a pin in it, that part of him wanted to bury the idea in a lock box at the bottom of the lake. But I reminded him that we were lucky not to have lost each other in the Blip and so many others weren’t.”

She pauses for a moment and looks to the mantle where there’s a small, retired arc reactor on display. Steve waits for her to continue.

“When I started working for him, I had no idea where it would all lead. I certainly didn’t have aspirations to date my boss or become the CEO of Stark Industries. Tony will always be the love of my life, and each day that goes by, each month, each year, I miss him, but the missing hurts less. What’s left is the whisper, the urge of the legacy of everything that’s still here and what I can do with it. I haven’t been idle, but I’ve been trying to ignore my own time travel issue, if you will.”

Steve can hardly hold himself back from scoffing. “The medical research, the humanitarian initiatives, the scientific advances you’re still spearheading, it’s just not really enough if you can’t solve for world peace,” he jokes.

Pepper cocks her head slightly. “The thing is, I have an idea of where I could start on that last one.”

Steve’s eyebrows knit together, and he studies her face. “Okay…” he knew his voice was conveying his curiosity but also his trepidation.

“Stark Industries helps a lot of people, but there are things I can’t help no matter how hard I try there. The world is in a bigger mess than science can help, only so much can be done with humanitarian work, and there’s an area that’s haunting me because I’ve tried to stay out of it for as long as I could, and I just don’t think I can any more, not and still sleep at night.”

“Well, then let’s talk about it. You know I’m here for you, whatever you need. I don’t know how you think I can help, but clearly you’ve got an idea.”

“I know you retired one suit, but I’d like you to think about another.”

“Pep-”

“Not that kind of suit,” she interrupts. “There are still some good, decent people in politics, but money has poisoned so much of what goes on - lobbyists, special interests, politicians needing to fundraise. But I’ve got money. I could fund a campaign.”

Steve frowns. “What exactly are you proposing?”

“I need a candidate, and there’s no one I would trust more than you. I want to finance your campaign to run for President of the United States.”

Steve's eyes widen, and he feels as if the air has been sucked out of the room. His mouth opens and closes, but he can’t think of any initial words to come out. He stands abruptly, his legs carrying him to the large window overlooking the serene lake outside. The late afternoon sun casts a golden glow across the water, creating a stark contrast to the turmoil in his mind.

"President?" he finally manages to croak out, his voice barely above a whisper. He turns back to face Pepper, his brow furrowed deeply. "Pepper, I... I don't know the first thing about running a country. I've been a soldier, an Avenger, but never a politician."

Pepper leans forward, her eyes bright with determination. "That's exactly why you'd be perfect, Steve. You're not entrenched in the political machine. You have a moral compass that's unwavering, and a desire to help those who need it, no matter what.”

“And sometimes I failed.”

“It made you wiser every time.”

Steve plants his hands on his hips and sighs. “Pep, I’m just a kid from Brooklyn who wanted to serve his country.”

Pepper leans forward, her eyes intense and earnest. "And you've done that, Steve. You've served this country in ways most people can't even imagine. Think about what you could do as President. The impact you could have, the changes you could make. You've always fought for what's right, even when it wasn't easy or popular. That's exactly what this country needs right now."

Steve turns back to the window, his mind racing. He thinks of all the battles he's fought, the sacrifices he's made. Could he really make a difference from the Oval Office? Or would the political machine chew him up and spit him out?

"What about my past?" he asks, still facing the lake. "The Accords, going rogue, all of it. It would all come out in a campaign."

He hears Pepper stand and approach him. She places a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Your past is part of what makes you the right person for this, Steve. You've shown that you're willing to stand up for what you believe in, even when it costs you everything.”

He can feel Pepper's eyes on him, waiting for a response. He takes a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts.

"I appreciate your faith in me, Pepper. I really do," he begins, still facing the lake. "But this isn't like leading a team into battle. The complexities of running a country, the constant scrutiny, the compromises you have to make... I'm not sure I'm cut out for that."

"Steve, that's exactly why you'd be perfect for this. You understand the weight of responsibility. You've made tough decisions under pressure. And most importantly, you have a clear vision of what's right and what's wrong."

Steve turns to face her, his expression conflicted.

“I won’t lie to you,” she continues, “the public scrutiny will be worse, but it’s not something you’re unfamiliar with. Just like before, you’ll have people singing your praise and people ready to crucify you just for sport. But we’ll face it head-on. You won’t do any of it alone. We’ll put together a team of friends, people we trust, experts and strategists. We’ll find people outside our camp who will challenge us to make the campaign stronger. And when we get you in the White House, no president leads alone. You have a history of seeing the value in the people around you and bringing teams together. It’ll just be fighting a different fight.”

Steve thinks over her words. “In a different suit.”

She smiles. “You’ll do it?”

“Answer one more question for me.”

Pepper nods. “Anything.”

“Why do this?”

Steve sees the conviction settle in her entire demeanor, and that shift alone convinces him the rest of the way, but her words cement his resolve down to his core.

“Tony and Natasha didn’t sacrifice just to leave something broken behind. It’s time to help put things back together and try to leave a legacy of something better.”

go to chapter one: MANHATTAN & BROOKLYN

This is an idea that sparked in during the huge sleepover I hosted in July 2023, and it's been tantalizing me for a long time, but now the muse is finally ready to play with it! gee, I wonder why...

I can't wait to bring you along for the ride! This story will have 3-4 chapters, depending on where I split up the narrative. I anticipate about a chapter a week.

↠ Main Masterlist | Aspen's Ask Box | Field Guide to the Forest

I do not do tag lists, but FOLLOW @buckets-and-stories and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to be updated any time I publish a new work!

[were--ralph]

It is fuckin' crazy that for the longest time (and it still may be true, may've missed any more recent posts about it) that you didn't like your art It is such spot-on gorgeous stuff, it is nestles right up to that line of bein' too realistic for me personally but falls just below that line and it's like. It is more than a lot of other art styles makes me want to reach through my screen and do Not Good Things to that nearly real ass big boy

Oh i didnt used to like my art style, i thought it was just. generic and not very good lol. I still have issues with it but what ive learned is its not generic and bland im just staring at it got 10 hours a day and bored with what im seeing. a style isnt static it changes over time and that's up to you to figure out and implement which is what im going now.

what i hate the most is figuring out how to balance everything because there are areas im great at (metals) and things im not so good with (short fur) and its hard to get the bar to be consistent throughout the whole thing

I'm trying new things which is why its taking me so long to finish things now but im having fun and that's what's most important!

[thezombieprostitute]

Tech Tuesday: Curtis Everett

Summary: Curtis decides to take the next step and ask if you're willing to meet offline.

A/N: Reader is female. No physical descriptors used.

Warnings: Meeting someone from online, Mentions of past bad experiences. Please let me know if I missed any.

Previous

Series Masterlist

"So, what all has been going on with your computer? Did you bring it with you?" Curtis tries to keep his tone calm. He's been eager to meet you in person for months but has worked hard to make sure you feel safe to do so and that means not pushing you into it. He tries to keep his excited fidgeting to a minimum but he's worried it just makes him look even more suspicious. He's so used to keeping his features schooled into a scowl, but that's the last thing he wants to do to you.

"Basically it'll go for a while but then start freezing, stuttering and I have to force it to shut down before I can do anything else," you answer while sipping your coffee. You can't believe his eyes are as blue as the photo he sent. "I tried to see if it was because I was running some heavy duty games and maybe I was using too much RAM. I cleaned up so many programs, uninstalled a bunch of games I don't play anymore, but it just keeps happening."

Curtis rubs his beard as he thinks. "It might be a hardware issue. It's not my strong suit, but I can still take a look. At the very least I can ask my buddy, Mace, for help. He's a whiz with the hardware and could probably get you a good deal if any upgrades are needed."

"Oh yeah, you've talked about him before," you reassure yourself. Having him mention another stranger worried you but Mace has been brought up several times before, especially when Curtis mentioned getting upgraded tech.

"You definitely don't have to meet him," Curtis affirms. "He can be a real grump. And coming from me, that's saying something." He gives a light chuckle as he sips his coffee.

"Snow, I work at a hospital," you counter. "Ain't no kind of grump I haven't had to deal with before." You give Curtis a look that says 'I'm stronger than you'.

Curtis smiles fully, "absolutely fair, Heart." He struggles a little bit to not turn shy. That look, that strength, that self-assured smile has him weak in the knees. "Still," he coughs, trying to regain control of himself. "Still, uh, when...did you bring the computer with you? Would this be an okay time to take a look at it?"

"Friend of mine at the library is keeping an eye on it for me." Best to let him know you've got allies nearby. He hasn't really given anything to make you worry about, but his reactions to your safety protocols could be telling. Of course, if you were expecting him to look scared or upset at this news, Curtis happily defied those expectations as his eyes lit up.

"Oh, that's really smart! We can borrow one of their laptops to run some tests. That way my laptop's settings won't mess with your computer."

You smile, genuinely, for the first time all day. Curtis is very different and you couldn't be happier about it.

"Don't you need your diagnostic software?"

"If it's called for, sure. The basic versions are free to download and they'll help me pick up if it's actually a software issue. Plus, the libraries regularly wipe downloads after use, right?"

"Okay, everything's plugged in so let's get this running and see what happens."

After looking over the hardware Curtis had found no obvious reasons for the failure so you had gone to your friend and loaned out one of the laptops. Curtis's computer bag had an impressive collection of tools, wires and connectors. You always appreciate when a person is prepared.

He works in relative silence and it gives you the chance to really look at him. He's definitely handsome, as Cassandra pointed out when she loaned you laptop. You weren't normally one for lip piercings but it seemed to work well on him, even though it was partially hidden by his beard.

The quiet between you two isn't so uncomfortable. It's how you spent a lot of time when you started gaming together. Talking over comms almost always resulted in a bunch of idiots either hitting on you, calling you a 'fake gamer,' lobbing insults at you, or all three at the same time. Snowpiercer was one of the few gamers who didn't care that you were a girl gamer. For him it was about how well you worked together. Given that the two of you could get high scores without having to talk over comms, it was no wonder the two of you started playing together more and more.

Even after you'd started voice chatting while playing, there was always a level of respect. Something you hadn't gotten from Chase.

Curtis gets out of the chair and gets a closer look at each of the fans, stopping at the one closest to the heat sink. "There it is," he intones. "This fan is dying. It's easy to miss because, by the time you know something's wrong, the whole computer's shut down and all the fans are stopped."

"Well, at least it's an easy fix," you comment. "Thanks for taking a look at it."

"Not a problem at all," he assures. "I'm happy to help."

You smile, "are you always this nice?"

"No," he shakes his head. "Definitely not. I'm not an ass, but I'm definitely not this nice to everyone."

"I'm honored."

He chuckles at that. "Like I said, I'm happy to help you out. You're the best teammate I've ever had and it just isn't as fun paying without you."

"I appreciate that, Curtis. So, what do I owe you?"

"Nothing."

"Don't do that to me, Snow. You know how I feel about owing people." It was a wound from Chase that had yet to heal. His use of favors as manipulation made you wary of anyone who said you don't owe anything.

Curtis sighs and nods. "Tell you what, there are some pastries at that coffee shop we were at that I avoided because I didn't want you to see me covered in crumbs. Wouldn't make for a good first impression." You smile at the thought. "Just get me a couple of those while I shut everything down here and return the laptop?"

"Deal." You stand to get moving but turn to him before you leave, "and thank you, again. Not just for the computer fix, but for...for respecting the boundaries."

He looks at you with those gorgeous blue eyes, "not a problem."

Next

Series Masterlist

Tagging @alicedopey; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory;

@late-to-the-party-81; @lokislady82 ; @peyton-warren @ronearoundblindly; @stellar-solar-flare

[torchickentacos]

Disclaimer. I can hear. This is not a hard of hearing/deaf perspective. You know, this is maybe just me being petty and out of my lane, but isn't it kind of rude to add stuff to videos like "YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T HAVE THE FULL EXPERIENCE WITH SOUND OFF" "SOUND ON FOR THE LOVE OF GOD" etc? Editing to say it's mostly 'you need to have sound on to experience this fully' comments I'm talking about. Especially on videos that aren't even transcripted/CC'ed? I mean, I'm guilty of not properly ID'ing everything, though I'm trying to get better about it, but it just feels like a weird... impossible to achieve carrot-dangle to hard of hearing people, I guess, to go on about how only people who can hear will have the REAL experience of a post. Only people who can hear will have the BEST content. It's a weird, unneeded type of comment I see all over the place. I'm positive nobody ever means anything by it at all!!! I just imagine it probably feels similarly to how I feel when people talk about this SUPER COOL EXPERIENCE YOU CAN HAVE BY WALKING IN AN INACCESSIBLE PLACE. LOOK HOW COOL THIS INACCESSIBLE THING IS THAT YOU CAN'T EXPERIENCE! I'M HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME WITH THIS INACCESSIBLE THING. and like, is this totally just a personal emotional sore spot? Yes, fully. But I do still just want to complain about it for a second. read tags before sending me an anon about how I'm taking everything in bad faith about this or commenting, please.