#if i can prevent even one person from having to deal with that mess then i've done my duty

[hanginginthevoid]

The Lighthouse

pairing: bob reynolds x fem!reader

summary: you’ve always been drawn to bob. at first you think it means something, but then you remember that yelena’s also always been drawn to bob. and its obvious that he prefers her over you.

a/n: i lovelovelovelovelove misunderstanding trope. the first thought i had leaving the theater was that i couldn’t tell if i wanted bob for myself or if i wanted him and yelena to get together, so this thought has been haunting me for a while. after this i am dried out for fic ideas, but ive been having fun writing so feel free to send reqs and ill do my best to fulfill them!

warnings: self-deprecation, misunderstandings, unrequited feelings?, kissing.., lmk if i missed sumn

word count: 3.3k

—

Outsiders would assume Bob and you were a couple. The two of you were always seen together, either doing a coffee run, or a bookstore, or the grocery store, or picking up takeout, or sometimes simply going for a walk. You’re sure the intertwined pinky’s might have swayed some elderly women in the wrong direction, but it really was just to not get separated in the crowds.

If it really was an option, you would date Bob. He just doesn’t have eyes for you.

Yelena was great, so you get why Bob would like her. She was the first person to show him unconditional kindness, probably in his whole life. The one who made sure during the whole ordeal of the vault he was safe and taken care of.

But you were there too. Weren’t you? Or did Bob just write out the fact that you were the one to pull him with you when you ran to escape the initial burning, and when you took a bullet for him since he didn’t have the reflexes to dodge.

Doesn’t matter anyway, he still only looks at Yelena like she hung the stars in the sky. Hell, he looks at her like she’s the one who blew air into his lungs to bring him to life. No matter what you do, you just can’t seem to get him to like you back.

Bob hates to be a bother, so he would rather suffer in silence instead of asking for help. You can relate to that, but you’ve helped him out after his nightmares enough times to think he would be able to wake you up when one happens. He doesn’t, so to compromise, you’ve started staying up later and later so you could hear the patter of his feet outside your door. 

Maybe you should stop though. One of these days it could get you injured on a mission. How stupid would you be to get hurt over an unrequited crush.

For once, it would be nice to be chosen. Not in the way that Valentina ‘Chose’ you to be an Avenger, but chosen because of how much someone knows you. Chosen because your qualities were redeeming enough. Chosen because all of the actions that you make that you feel are unseen, really aren’t. But that would be selfish of you, you aren’t the proper type to be chosen.

—  

Bob sees Yelena like a sister. Yes, during his bad days she's a light to bring him back to his senses. But you, you’re like a lighthouse, helping him guide his ship in the treacherous waters back to shore. No matter the problem, you always seemed to have the answer. 

In the teams early days, he tried to help out by cooking. Very quickly, he found out he couldn’t cook. You were the first to arrive to the scene, black smoke billowing out through the doorway, smoke alarm blaring. Instead of focusing on those, you focused on Bob. He had tears in his eyes, and before anyone had even arrived he was muttering apologies. 

He burnt his hand in his haste to get the meal out of the oven, hoping to prevent it from getting worse. After reminding him that mistakes happen, and that everything was fixable, you led him by his good hand to the infirmary to get him bandaged up, leaving the rest of the team to deal with the mess.

Bob can’t recall the amount of times that he’s fallen asleep in your room after a nightmare. He spent a period of time trying to not sleep, worried that the void would take over while he was in REM or something stupid like that. Whenever he did end up crashing from exhaustion, the anxiety and fear of causing havoc, or the awful memories that the void would inflict on him would wake him up. His hair would be matted all over his forehead and neck, sweat making his pajamas stick to his back and legs. 

Physically, you were the closest to him, your room just one door down on his left. Yelena was farther away, on the other side of the hall at the complete other end. Maybe his subconscious heard the sliding of your door just moments prior, but he would rather think it's the undeniable pull that you have. 

His knocking could have easily been missed, they were long allowing the noise to draw out because he knows he needs help, yet still soft and somewhat timid because he doesn’t want to be a bother. Nevertheless, you heard it and had the door sliding open within the minute.

You had a mug of hot chocolate in your grasp. A sleepy smile adorning your face as you asked him if he wanted to come in. You had some trashy TV playing lightly in the background as you worked on official Avengers paperwork, but you set it aside to make Bob a space in your bed.

You didn’t push him once that night. Just let him sit there in your company, watching as housewives made useless drama with each other.

When he eventually fell asleep, you tucked him in. Then you got up to put your a/c on since he normally runs hot, and two people under the same covers would only make more heat. When you got back into the bed Bob had reached for you so you softly grasped his hand in yours and the crease that had started to form in his brow alleviated. 

Bob tried to thank you, but you hadn’t let him because helping would be what any decent human does. Instead, he made you french toast, said it was the least he could do for taking up your space. So that became your routine, every morning after a nightmare Bob would make french toast. 

You never denied him. Never said you were too busy, too stressed, or even flat out didn’t want to. Whatever you were doing before he knocked would be moved aside, or powered down, and then if he wanted it your attention was all his, only his. Sometimes you’d talk about the nightmares, a good book your or Bob read, a recipe you wanted to try, or just the weather.  Other times the two of you would watch a movie, a show, or play either a video or physical game.

The two of you never mentioned the times that you would fall asleep cuddling. The nights where only whispers were shared and you’d rake your nails down his scalp to give him a distraction. The nights where his head would rest on your chest and he’d put at least half of his focus on matching your breathing pattern. He’d play with your free hand, either drawing patterns into your palm with his pointer finger or just simply fidgeting with your fingers.

Bob believes it's just something you're doing out of the kindness of your heart. You know it would make him feel better to let him be with someone, so you offer up yourself. Probably just so that no one else on the team has to suffer by taking care of him. But even if it's out of pity, he’d keep going to you, taking all the alone time he could get as long as you didn’t shut him out.

He’s fallen for you, Yelena confirmed his suspicion. The way he always volunteers to go on errands with you, the way he seeks you out at dinner to secure a seat next to you, the way he learned how to perfect your favorite meal before anyone else's, the way that he comms more for you than anyone else because he’d hate to see you even scratched from a mission.

—

You’ve had a long night. Too much paperwork, too many people you used to know informing you that they’re disappointed that you've ended up on such an ‘awful’ team. A wake up, preferably in the form of coffee, was necessary after the night you had. Thankfully Bob and Yelena had you covered, serving you shock instead. 

Maybe you’re overreacting, but Bob hasn’t woken you up because of a nightmare in weeks. For a normal person, that’s probably a standard amount of time. But for everyone who currently resides in the tower, that's at least a week too much.

Everyone's experienced at least one major traumatic event that keeps them up, and then continues to haunt their dreams. Most people handle it themselves, no one fully adjusted to the fact that they’re on a team and can easily ask for help when needed. Bob hasn’t been that person though, at least not with you. 

You realize this morning, it’s not that Bob stopped having nightmares. He’s started to go to Yelena for them. You heard his door slide open last night, and footsteps walking in the opposite direction of your room. Originally you assumed he went to get some water or something of that sort, but that thought was squashed the next morning when you saw Bob making Yelena french toast.

They’re laughing about something you can’t hear. And maybe its the look in Bob’s eyes, or the way he’s smiling like he’s never had a care in the world. Either way, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. From then on you’d move on from Robert Reynolds. 

—

Most people wouldn’t be able to recognize it at first. The way you drew back was subtle, made in steps so it would be less suspicious. First you started training more. You were often the first one in the gym, either punching the bag, running miles, or lifting weights. The headphones you wore always playing music, not particularly blasting but loud enough that when people approached they could understand to not bother you.

Then you started eating without the team. Whenever asked about it you’d either say you ate earlier or weren’t hungry. Usually the former was true, but sometimes you’d just blurt out something to get them off your back. Whenever you did end up eating with them, you’d avoid spots that had open seats on either side. One time you even had to sit next to Alexi. 

Sleeping earlier was the next step. ‘Sleeping’ really meant going to your room and staying as silent as possible. Leaving whatever room with a loud yawn usually meant that nobody would question if you were really getting rest or not. The few times that someone did question it, you would just tell them about how burnt out you were. 

From Bob’s perspective, all of these things were excusable. You wanted to be stronger and more prepared for missions, and you were so consumed in it that you couldn’t have meals or quality time with the team. While he wanted you to take better care of yourself, or wanted you to let him take better care of you, he would never want to overstep, so he kept to himself.

But then you started doing errands by yourself. That was always your thing. Why would you do them by yourself? Were you sick of him asking to do supplemental activities like walking through the park, or stopping in a cafe? It just didn’t make any sense.

He thought the two of you were closer than that. Maybe he really was right. You did just pity him and that’s the only reason you let him stick around for so long. Maybe Yelena knew something he didn’t. Girls have to talk about this stuff, right?

“Hey, Yelena?” Bob’s knocking on her door, hoping she’s not taking a midday nap.

A few seconds later the door slides partially open, “Goooood morning Bobert!” He winces at that, “No on Bobert then. What do you need?”

“It’s, well. Uh - you know who.” Bob’s rubbing his hand across the back of his neck.

“Come in, come in.” Yelena ushers him in before shutting the door, “What about your special someone?”

Where does he even start? The fact that you’ve been avoiding him? Or the fact that you’ve stopped finding a seat so he could sit next to you during the rare times you join the team for dinner, knowing that he’s too non-confrontational to ask someone to move. Maybe he should start with the way that it seems like you’re training all day to avoid having to talk to him at night under the guise that you’re exhausted. 

He starts with the idea that you’ve cut him out of your life completely. If it was a printout it would not be done gently, as one would to someone who they held close to their heart. But rough, the cut uneven, jagged around the edges, the type that would give you a papercut if you ran your fingers along it. 

And he doesn’t even know why. What could he have done? You’ve always been understanding, always been the one to give the benefit of the doubt even when people didn’t deserve it. What could he have done to not deserve this kindness that you’ve given to everyone else? 

By the end of his rant, he’s crying. Yelena brings his head down to her shoulder, rubbing along his back to calm him. “I jus-just don’t get it. Am I that bad?”

“No. That is not it, Bob.” Even though he can’t see her shaking her head, Yelena still does it, “You must talk to her.”

“I can’t, I really can-”

“You must. And you will.” Her tone left no room for discussion or debate. 

Yelena reminds him that while you may be closed off, as they all are, you are not intentionally cruel. You would not leave Bob hanging after he goes to you asking for answers. She sends him on his way after that. He should get cleaned up before you get back, something about ‘putting his best foot forward’. 

—

When you get back to the tower, putting away the groceries is on the top of the list. Then afterwards you’re heading straight to your room to hole up. There’s a tall, looming figure across from your door though. 

By the hair you can tell it's Bob. He’s leaning against the wall, head pressed against it. His eyes are closed so unless you’ve been super loud, you doubt he knows you're there. How you were going to actually get into your room was a different problem. The doors were fancy, but they were loud leaving no way to sneak in.

Just as you’re debating on whether or not to actually attempt to sneak in, Bob’s eyes shoot open and his head turns to look at you. 

“Hey, y/n, hi - hi.” His smile is wobbly, nervous glint in his eyes.

“Hey Bob. What’s up?” If you can appease him quickly, then you can get back to the solace you find in your room. 

“Could we talk?” He’s moved in your way, somewhat preventing you from getting to the door.

“Uh - yeah, sure. About what though?” Your fingers are twitching, hopefully it’s subtle enough that Bob doesn’t notice.

Of course he notices though, he’s attuned more to you than himself sometimes. “You’ve been avoiding me. And I just wanted to know what I did. Whatever I did it's important to me that I take accountability and apologize for it.”

Well shit. “You didn’t do anything Bob. I’ve just got a lot on my mind as of late and I don’t want to bother anyone with it.” 

“It’s not a bother. Please tell me.” He’s grabbed your hand, stilling the twitches.

“Fine! You want me to spell it out,” Taking your hand back, cradling it with your other one, “I like you Bob. A lot. Like more than a friend should. And it hurts. It hurts that I’ve given you more than I’ve given anyone in a long time just for you to go and pick Yelena over me.”

Bob tries to cut you off, reaching out to grab your arm, but after a quick deep breath you continue.

“And I get it, I really really do. She’s your person, but you were mine. My quiet in the storm. I thought that our time meant something to you, that I meant something to you. But I was wrong. Can I please enter my room now?”

“No. No you can’t. Not until you hear what I have to say.”  

You’re frustrated, tears are forming on your waterline. Today was supposed to be easy, quick errands, then bed rotting. Now you’ve been forced to confess something you haven’t even written down in your diary just in case somebody decided to snoop. And even after that you still won't be granted safety or peace in the comfort of your room. 

“Why do you think I like Yelena?”

Bob doesn’t get a response. When he realizes you’re not going to respond he tilts your chin up to make eye contact.

“Y/n, why do you think I like Yelena?”

“Because! It's always her. Movie nights, the two of you are cuddling. Dinners, sure you’d sit next to me but only when in eyesight of her! Errands, you run off to get what she likes first every time. And the one thing I had, that really seemed like it was just mine, just ours,” You’re wiping away tears and sniffling, but if he wanted a response, he’d get a damn response,  “Was comforting each other in the dead of night. But then you were there, doing our routine with her and I realized it doesn’t matter what I do, Yelena will always come first.”

“What do you mean ‘our routine’? I didn-”

“The French toast? You only make that the morning after a nightmare. And you hadn’t stopped by my room for weeks. It made sense that you’d be seeking comfort somewhere else.”

“French… toast?” Bob’s thinking, you can see it by the distant look in his eyes. “I made french toast because I missed the way it tasted, and the fact that you always get this sparkle in your eyes when I make it.’

“You don’t have to lie for my sake. I can take it.”

“I'm not. Look at me please.” Instead of making you look up, he's bending down, “I wouldn’t lie to you about this. You can ask Yelena for all the details later, but right now you need to understand that I really like you too.”

“Its fine, Bob. Really.”

You’re still rejecting the fact that he cares for you in the same way that you care for him. So he does something he’s only seen in movies. His lips collide with yours briefly, just long enough for you to confirm that it wasn’t your imagination. 

“Is that enough proof for you?” You shake your head no, because it truly wasn’t enough. You’ve waited months for this moment; the least he could do was make it last a little bit longer.

When he kisses you the second time you make sure to kiss back. His lips are soft, moving slowly but still surely, like they knew all the proper movements but they just needed to remember them. 

The sliding of a door reminds the two of you as to your location. You split quickly when the noise slices through the air. Just Ava heading towards the kitchen if you had to guess. Maybe it was a good thing, who knows how far you would have gotten if you hadn’t broken apart. 

“So.. Can we go watch that show you like so much now?”

“The one you pretend to hate?” You’ve entangled yours and his hands, pulling him lightly towards your door.

“Yeah.. That one.” Bob is grinning goofily now. He’s sure he could come into your room freely now. Really soak up all your free time. He could explain that he hasn’t come to you for a nightmare in weeks because he truly hasn’t had one, once he’s wrapped up in your arms. And after that maybe he’d work on kissing you stupid.

likes/comments/reblogs will get your cheeks squished like im your grandma

[cosmica-galaxy]

1. First time Dark Cacao held the little Witch baby was by request of Pure Vanilla Cookie when visiting The Vanilla Kingdom for a meeting. And he gets immediately thrown up on.

2. Despite him being the more strict and grumpy one, the Witch tends to gravitate towards him for some reason.

3. The Witch Baby uses Dark Cacao as their own personal playground due to him being the tallest, constantly trying to climb him or playing noise by repeatedly hitting his armor with a stick like a drum.

4. It took hours getting the baby to eventually go of Dark Cacao Cookie’s hair ( babies tend to grab onto things painful tight especially if it's hair) but at the cost of him loosing large chunks, to which the Baby tried eating but spit out due to it’s bitter taste.It doesn't stop them from doing it again any chance they get, tho.

I think Pure Vanilla would immediately apologize and help clean up the mess. Dark Cacao can only sigh out in exasperation. "Next time, heed my request to NOT hold the witch spawn." He would say to PV. .

He has NO idea why the toddler is suddenly so smitten with him when he visits. He tries to be as careful around them because they have a tendency to sneak up on him while he's talking to another member of the council. He does NOT want to get scolded or deal with a crying child if he accidentally kicks them. .

The climbing he will tolerate to a certain extent. Due to his bulkier stature, the baby can't really climb up much of his body, and being covered in non-grip armor doesn't help the baby climb him much easier. Though, the moment they start hitting him with sticks or toys, he will grab their arm (and their smaller body as well) and set them on the ground with a firm "mind your manners" as he pulls away from them. He doesn't mind them exercising by climbing on him, but damaging his armor will not be tolerated. .

Pure Vanilla usually has to help him when the baby gets their grippers on his long hair. For some reason, the child is just smitten with the way it moves and even tried to put it in their mouth. Thankfully, they spit it out with a distressed "bleh" in response to the bitterness. To prevent him from loosing his hair, Pure Vanilla will distract the little one with a plushie for favorite toy of theirs to make them release their grip on his head. Allowing him to pull away. He starts putting his hair up in response to the vapid interest the child has in his hair.

[cobaltperun]

Hey, love your writing.

So I was thinking something about (Fem)R and Tara being exes. Reader studying for finals or sum and getting a call from Chad, Mindy doesn't matter, where they ask (practically beg) R to come take Tara cause she got drunk AF and kept talking about R. So R goes and takes care of her.

Something like that, you can make changes to the plot of course. And thank you.

One time too many

Tara Carpenter x Female Reader (Request)

Part 2!

Masterlist

Word count: 2.3k

It’s been three months since she messed up, since she made the biggest mistake ever, since she couldn’t control herself. Tara drunkenly glared at the bottle of vodka in her hand before taking a swing out of it. She already ruined everything, giving up on alcohol now wouldn’t change a damn thing.

“Tara, I think you had enough,” Mindy tried to take her bottle away, but she just pulled it closer, wrapping it in her hands and clutching on to it. What else did she have left? When she lost one person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with?

The smoke and smells all around her irritated her lungs, but she wanted to be normal, to be a healthy, not traumatized student that could maintain her relationships instead of ruining them. “I’m fine,” she slurred, taking another big swing and emptying the bottle. She looked at it, disappointed that there was none left.

Mindy groaned, stopping her before she could get up to get more alcohol. “Seriously, you drank the entire bottle alone. Would you stop if I got Y/N to come and get you?” she asked, as if that was possible.

You wouldn’t come. You and Tara haven’t spoken since you broke up, you made it clear the decision was final and Tara didn’t want to cause you even more pain. She already hurt you, and she could neither forgive herself for that, nor did she deserve forgiveness.

“Sure, as if that’ll happen,” so, knowing you wouldn’t come she accepted Mindy’s deal. “I’ll go and try to find some tequila now.”

Mindy sighed and told Chad to go and keep an eye on her while she calls you. She was wasting her time, and your time as well.

~X~

You groaned, burying your face in your hands and leaning back on the chair. Notes and books and presentations open on your laptop were going to be the death of you tonight. It wasn’t usually like that, you usually did well, found these subjects easy, but tonight your brain just refused to cooperate. You dragged your palms down and looked outside the window, you knew the reason.

You broke up with Tara exactly three months ago and you were in a turmoil over it. How was she doing? Was she still drinking? Did she think about you as often as you thought about her? You hoped she didn’t. She deserved to be happy, to find someone who would love her and accept all of her. You missed her, so much it hurt. You still loved her, so much more than you expected you’d love anyone in your life, yet that love wasn’t enough to keep the seven months long relationship going.

Your phone suddenly began buzzing and you figured you weren’t going to get any studying done anyway so you got up and went to your bed where you left your phone earlier. You noticed it was Mindy and raised an eyebrow. But more than confusion you felt fear, because of what happened to Tara two times already. You would never forgive yourself if Tara was hurt, you would always wonder if there was anything you could have done to prevent it. Even if logically there really wasn’t anything you could do.

“Yes?” you asked, keeping the fear and worry at bay for now.

“Hey, Y/N, sorry if I’m interrupting, but would you mind picking Tara up. She might actually get an alcohol poisoning if she keeps drinking like this,” she said, and you inhaled sharply. “I know you two broke up, but I don’t think anyone but you can get her out of here without making a scene.”

“Text me where she is,” you said, already tossing a jacket over your shoulder and grabbing your keys.

Mindy paused, as if she thought you wouldn’t agree, or that she’d need to try harder to convince you. “Thanks, Y/N,” she eventually said and hung up, and sure enough, she sent the location to you mere moments later.

When you broke up with Tara, you promised yourself that if she ever reached out to you for help, or if her friends or Sam did that for her, you’d be there, no matter what. You still loved her, you didn’t want her to get hurt, or to feel like she couldn’t turn to you. Maybe you should have told her that yourself, three months ago, but you feared that would make the breakup hurt even more.

You drove to the location Mindy sent to you and parked in front of some frat house or something. You took a deep breath and stepped outside of your car, ready for the smell of alcohol and smoke and whatnot. Tara had asthma, how she handled being in places like these was beyond you. You saw Mindy standing outside and waving toward you to get your attention. At least you wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time inside.

“Hey,” you greeted her, and she smiled at you gratefully, she was a bit tipsy as well, but you were much more worried about Tara.

“Thanks, I think tonight might have something to do with your breakup. She’s been talking about you ever since she got tipsy,” she told you as she led you inside, through the crowds of students, dimly lit party filled with alcohol and even some drugs from the smell of it. You knew Tara wouldn’t do drugs though, she got drunk, she didn’t get high. Finally, you saw her, slightly slumped against the table as Chad tried to get her to stop. She truly wasn’t listening to anyone. Ever.

“Tara,” you spoke up and she straightened her back, her drunk eyes clearing up a bit as she saw you.

“Y/N?” she breathed out, as if she couldn’t believe she was seeing you.

“Come on, let’s leave,” you offered her your hand and smiled a bit as she took it immediately, and though she wasn’t steady on her feet she got up and stared at you. The feeling of her hand in yours made you feel like the missing pieces of your puzzle were falling into place.

You wanted to hug her, and you saw that was exactly what she wanted, but that might further complicate things, so, you just kept holding her hand and walking to the front doors with her right behind you. She didn’t complain one bit and you nodded at the twins. The fresh air felt so good now that you were out of that suffocating party, and you gently pulled Tara along to your car, opening the back seat for her and stepping aside for her to get in.

She smiled a bit at you, that same slightly shy smile she had on her face the first time you opened the car doors for her, even before you started dating, while you were in the friendship stage. You smiled back, going around the car and getting in, but before you left you quickly pulled your phone out and sent Sam a quick message.

You: I picked up Tara from a party, I’ll let her sleep at my place if that’s okay with you?

Sam replied almost immediately and once again you were reminded of how things used to be, only this time you were reminded of the worst part of the relationship.

Sam: Of course, thanks, Y/N

And she responded the way she used to, a bit out of habit. You didn’t keep in touch with Mindy or Chad, but you and Sam occasionally talked. She would catch you up on what was going on with the group, and more importantly on how Tara was doing, and you’d tell her about your life. Tara knew about it, Sam would tell her and so both of you understood that, at least on some level, you were both still okay.

“I’m sorry,” Tara slurred, leaning against the car window. “I reek of alcohol,” she did, she reeked of alcohol and smoke, and you did not like either of the smells, but you still just nodded and drove off to your apartment.

When you came home you gave Tara some of your clothes and she changed in your bedroom while you went back to your notes. She was too drunk to put up a fight and argue that she should sleep on the couch, and instead just fell asleep on your bed.

You tried to study, you really did, but Tara kept mumbling apologies and your name in her sleep, and you eventually just gave up and got up. Only then did you notice she didn’t even lie down properly, her feet hung off the bed and she was lying on it diagonally, too drunk to even handle that. So, with a heavy sigh you went and lifted her up so you could move her and make her feel as comfortable as possible. You tucked her in and left the medicine next to the bed for her and you just left her to sleep.

You dropped down on the couch, and sighed, all the emotions within you bubbling to the surface. Tara and you got along, you only fought about one thing. Tara’s drinking. Other than that, it was an amazing relationship and you were, very much, in love.

But you couldn’t handle her drinking. You promised yourself that you could deal with most things, as long as the partner of your choice wasn’t abusive or a cheater. That you could talk most things out, that you had your own faults, and that everyone did, so some tolerance was necessary. But you couldn’t tolerate alcohol.

You grew up with alcoholic parents, and they got violent when drunk, and living with them for years, seeing their fights, seeing all of that made you hate alcohol more than anything. Tara wasn’t violent, far from it, she just got drunk, fell asleep and occasionally had to throw up. She didn’t have outbursts, or tried to pick fights. She had her own issues and drowned them in alcohol.

But your parents weren’t violent at the start either.

You repeatedly had that conversation with Tara, and no matter how often she promised it would be the last time, she still got drunk again. Until you just went and broke up with her. You tolerated it longer than you ever expected you would.

You couldn’t fall asleep that night.

~X~

She woke up in a familiar environment. How many times did she wake up in your room? Too many to count, now that she thought about it. Some were perfect, after a night of hanging out, watching movies and making love. Some, as usual as the perfect ones, were filled with regret, because she got drunk again.

Tara knew what it felt like to have an alcoholic parent, though it was only her mother in her case, and yet here she was. Going down the same path. After Bailey tried to kill her, Sam and their friends she went to therapy, and soon after that she met you. She was suspicious at first but she felt comfortable around you, she felt free with you, and a few months later you got together.

And then the therapy just stopped working. And though she knew everything, a stressful week was all it took for her to relapse into alcohol again. One drink after another, she got drunk and two months into your relationship she hurt you for the very first time. She still remembered the look in your eyes, the horror that no movie could cause. And she promised she wouldn’t do it again. Only to do it again, and again, and again, until you had enough.

And now, three months after your breakup, she was back here, after another drunk night. She hated herself for that. For every time she got drunk.

How many times did you try to help her? To support her through everything, to make it so that she didn’t need to drown her issues in alcohol, and she still did it. You were there for her, no matter what she needed. She had it all, she was happy, truly happy in a relationship for the first time in her life, and she threw it away.

It meant everything to her, and she threw it away as if it meant nothing.

She drank her medicine and went to the bathroom, only now noticing your clothes. She was so used to them while you were in a relationship. She loved wearing them, she felt warm in them, she felt safe. And then, when she came out and went to the living room she saw you, sitting on the couch with a mug of coffee in front of you. You probably didn’t sleep last night.

“Good morning,” you still smiled at her, that same loving smile she used to wake up to, only reminding her of what she lost.

“Good morning,” she replied, tears filling up her eyes. “I didn’t think you’d come and get me, I’m sorry you had to see that even now that we’re no longer together,” she said, she meant it, she truly did. “Why did you-“ her choked up slightly. “you didn’t have to,” she lowered her head and let the tears fall as you got up, went around the table and stopped in front of her, hugging her tightly and letting her cry. She didn’t deserve this, you being gentle and still there for her even after everything.

“I loved you, I still do, Tara,” you whispered, and thought you felt like that, though she loved you back, there were words neither of you spoke.

‘But you broke my trust one time too many.’

A/N: I did not think this would turn into angst! I swear! I did change a thing or two from the request, but I think it still fits. Part 2!

[arc-misadventures]

You know what be fun a female Rusted knight Jaune.

The Rusted Paladin

Jeanne: Hey, Jaune?

Jaune: Yeah?

Jeanne: Do you think if I was in your place, that I could have been the, Rusted Knight?

Jaune: Hmmm... Maybe... I'm not really sure.

Jeanne: Why not?

Jaune: I never understood how I became the, Rusted Knight, I sorta just became the, Rusted Knight. I understand, Alyx gave me the moniker of, The Rusted Knight, but I did not understand how my armour began to rust as it did. I personally think due to the nature of the, Ever After; My mental state effecting me as it did so, and probably caused my armour to rust as it did.

Jeanne: Mental state?

Jaune: The conscious mind of an individual often warps the reality of the, Ever After around them. This can often lead one to being trapped in a situation that feels like you are being toyed with an eldritch horror that is messing with your mind simply because it was bored. Or, you'll be stuck in a tea party with a sentient slug who is a massive pot junkie.

Jeanne: Did that often happen?

Jaune: Often enough that I was able to 'dull' my mind enough so it wouldn't effect me as much as it first did. And, that I was able to see the signs of what was coming to avoid them, or choose which scenario I would rather deal with.

Jeanne: So less dealing with eldritch horrors then?

Jaune: Actually the eldritch horrors were easier to deal with.

Jeanne: Really?

Jaune: Yeah, they usually had some sort of gimmick to them, speak in opposites, talks in rhymes, stuff like that. Once you figure it out they were easier to deal with. I even became friends with some of them!

Jeanne: And, that was better then dealing with a slug pot junkie...?

Jaune: You've read the book where it comes into the story. Those drugs play havoc on the mind, and body.

Jeanne: Okay. So do you think I could have become the, Rusted Knight?

Jaune: ...

Jaune: I honestly believe if we swapped worlds, the Fall would never have happened with you in it.

Jeanne: You do?

Jaune: If you as you are now, Jeanne went to my universe, and took my place. You would have probably have killed, Cinder, and became the, Fall Maiden.

Jeanne: Seriously?!

Jaune: Cinder may have been more experienced then you, but in combat she is no where near as strategically minded as you are. She relied on brute force, and the mastery of her semblance to defeat her foes. You would have probably adopted a defensive stance, and waited for your semblance to super charge before activating your, Arc-Angel persona. I can't think of a single individual who can withstand your semblance as it is now when you let loose, let alone when you become the, Arc-Angel. Hell, you could have easily soloed that, Grimm Wyvern with it. People may have mistaken you for a, Maiden considering it's visual appearance.

Jeanne: But, what if I was the, Fall Maiden, and I used my semblance?

Jaune: ...

Jaune: You probably could have cut a path straight through the, Grimm Lands, right into, Salem's Castle, and captured her.

Jeanne: Sweet~!

Jeanne: But, seriously, would I have become the, Rusted Knight: Yes, or no?

Jaune: Well... If you becoming the, Rusted Knight that meant you saw the members of, Team RWBY fall into the abyss. Had to do preform a mercy killing of your friend to prevent the, Winter Maidens powers from transferring to, Cinder. Failed to escaped through a portal before you to fell into the, Ever After. Accidently touched some clock fruit thingy that sent you back in time. Was betrayed by the first human you saw in ages. Had to deal with a psychotic cat antics where it was trying to weaken your mental stability so it could take over your body. And, you became the over protective parent to a village of sentient origami paper because you had developed a savior complex because of all the people you failed to save. And, that you were doing all of this for... a long time because you knew that one day, some day you would be reunited with your friends, and you would finally manage to get out of the psychedelic nut house that was the, Ever After.

Jaune: Then yeah, sure... you could have become the, Rusted Knight.

Jeanne: Uhhhhh...?!

Jaune: What?

Jeanne: That's what fucking happened to you in the, Ever After?!

Jaune: I didn't tell you what happened? Could have swore I did.

Jeanne: I knew you were the, Rusted Knight. I didn't fucking know how it happened?! I would have remember you telling me if that's how it fucking happened?!

Jaune: Oh...

Jaune: Still want to be the, Rusted Paladin?

Jeanne: Paladin?

Jaune: I would assume that because you would have your more... developed staged armour, by the time you became, the Rusted Knight.

Jeanne: By developed stage, you no doubt mean me having armour plating that can hold my, F-Cups?

Jaune: Yes.

Jeanne: I see. Please continue.

Jaune: Having your developed stage armour, your helmet, and your semblance you would have been mistaken for some holy figure with rusted armour. Hence, the name: the Rusted Paladin.

Jeanne: The Rusted Paladin... Not bad... My helmet would have given me a crown of rust... I bet it would look pretty cool.

Jaune: I would have liked to have seen that. Mostly.

Jeanne: Mostly? I thought you liked my helmet.

Jaune: I do, it is...? It will look awesome! But, that stupid hole in the back of the top your helmet to let your hair out, that makes your helmet look like it has plumage is so stupid!

Jeanne: Hey, I have...! Or, will have so much hair, I have to put it somewhere, or else I can't see in it! It works, and it looked awesome!

Jaune: I know! That's why it annoys me so much!

Jeanne: You're just jealous of my style.

Jaune: And, you're just jealous that I became a famous character from a children's book!

Jeanne: No, I'm jealous that you got to ride on a giant jackalope because you became the, Rusted Knight!

Jaune: Oh, Juniper... I almost forgot about her...

Jeanne: You did...?

Jaune: I miss my giant bunny...

Jeanne: Uhhh...?

Jaune: I am sad now.

Jeanne: ...

Jeanne: Oh shit...

///

It's nice to see I can still write stories for the, Rebirth AU.

I guess I need to scrap what I previously wrote for the separation bit to actually finish it.

[moonshynecybin]

What would happen if Marc woke up in a world where sepang never happened...

ooh the classic what would happen if you got everything you wanted scenario… idk i think we could do a time travel sitch, where he gets his ass dumped into his 2013 body and has to set about preventing one of the more` significant little tragedies of his life, but that would also count on marc having the emotional intelligence to think he did ANYTHING wrong in his relationship with vale, and i don’t think he can do that quite yet lol… maybe it has to be a story where he realizes that he couldve handled things differently? in that clip from his recent interview, he talks about how when he was younger he would go flat out every training session but he doesnt feel the need to do so nowww, so maybe hes processing that sort of internal shift while also looking at vale from the perspective of an injured, post-honda marc who has personal knowledge of how hard it is ego-wise to mount a comeback... maybe this inspires some empathy w vale (he's looking at him and realizing THAT vale is only 4 years older than him and hes like. hm...) and the fic ends up being a character study on baby marc vs marc now PLUS actually internalizing all of the lessons he thinks he’s learned… i don’t wanna make this sound like sepang is marc’s fault lol like to be clear i don’t think he did anything WRONG per se, he was just marc level abrasive in ways that specifically rubbed against vale’s tender bits, but i also think that if he handled vale with more care than perhaps some parts of this could have been avoided ! so maybe older marc's presence removes the ranch nasty and the assen nasty (“marc is only my friend when he wins”) and gets vale out of the 'well clearly marc is sabotaging me' mindset. and then at some point marc has to like. TELL vale about all this after sepang has technically passed and vale. perhaps does not handle that well in conjunction w his title loss anyways BUT this version is closer to marc and its a different sort of less public sexy mess....

OR it could be marc gets sent to an alternate reality of 2025 where sepang maybe doesnt happen, but him and vale still kinda implode a little less dramatically and marc is like well this IS what i wanted but it feels hollow as fuck lol. no new, frothing vitriol between them really, like vale will shake his hand and do the same kinda stuff he does w jlo or whatever (vale shows up to the paddock and takes a pic w marc to get reposted on socials bc the press ask and marc is like ??? bc he has never been a somewhat neutral topic to vale before ever in his LIFE… unsure how to deal w the rivalry treatment that jlo or casey or sete get handed. little does he know vale is still insane, he just has less cause to go nuclear lol) butttt marc still had to leave hrc, still alienated from the academy, still breaks his arm… like realizing that sepang isnt this huge axis that the bad things in his life kinda spin on.... and maybe he sets about interrogating all the ways they would’ve broken up even without the heightened melodrama of the sepang race… starts hanging out w vale even though that’s something they Don’t Do Now and vale is surprised but likes it (and is also. still somehow DEEPLY hurt by how everything went down maybe just less specifically delusional/paranoid to cope in conjunction w title loss. idk maybe he won 2015 here and marc was injured for the back half of the season and they both feel weird about kinda drifting apart)... this fic would have lots of fear from them both about the other leaving, the injury stuff, the age stuff--- all the reasons why sepang happened that they never delt with, just without the actual sepang… and i think it could be sweet idk i like it when they’re fucked up but they spend time w each other and it’s like oh it’s you… of course it’s you…. its always been you

[turbolezgooo]

Why ya'll hate on Cait and call her a dictator?

Well-written characters often have a story deeper than what you explicitly see them do or hear them say. Just because everything is set in a fantasy world, doesn't mean that characters are not affected by tragic events and the human condition.

First of all, Cait wasn't the one who made a police state. Ambessa and the council did that. Ambessa orchestrated the whole thing. Cait went along with it because she was turned around by grief. That shit messes with your judgment, but she was still trying to do what she and Vi agreed on. To focus on the real problem and prevent hurting innocent people.

Cait tried to control an unraveling situation AND literal warlord WHILE being inexperienced in how to deal with it, having a big ol' lesbian break up, AND dying inside.

You could see that when Cait argued to Ambessa that there are innocent people and there MUST be justifiable cause to arrest anyone. In Cait and Ambessa's interactions it's implied that Cait was getting in the way of Ambessa's agenda off-screen. She tried to keep something worse from happening because she does acknowledge the historical and current oppression of Zaunites.

This mirrors the way she offered Vi the badge to give her a voice in what happens to her sister if the enforcers caught her. The enforcers coming after Jinx was going to happen regardless of Cait. She took control by volunteering and taking precautions. See- While they did use gas, Vi would never agree to something that would permanently hurt the people of Zaun. The tactic gave them fewer chances of having to physically fight Zaunites who were just trying to defend themselves. Believe it or not, it was a controlled operation until grief got the better of Cait and things looked worse than it actually was.

The way that Cait deeply believes in equality in spite of a personal vendetta is why Ambessa sent Maddie to try and control her by 'filling' her hole (no pun intended). When Maddie attempted to have Cait stop the police state situation and withdraw, she did focus on Jinx at first but the second part of not wanting to make things worse was something she had a lot more to say about before Maddie interrupted. And Cait was right. What would have happened if she hadn't taken the role and played along? A puppet councillor or Ambessa herself would have been the figure head and do so much worse. Those people don't have the same perspective and understanding as Cait.

When Cait and Vi argue about listening to a war pig oink poison in her ear, she yells "I know!" as she throws a piece of war ship used in strategizing. You can tell her role was a strategic choice to have some control over the events that unfolded. That's why Vi didn't villinize her. Vi understood that Cait never really accepted anything Ambessa said. That's why she helped Vi at the commune. Cait was a double agent taking shit from all sides to stop worse things from happening.

She had grief and really crap options, but she always chose the lesser of the evils to try and stay true to who she really was. She even resigns in her argument with Vi, that she didn't put Jinx, her own mother's killer, in jail or punish her in any way. It's another example of her faltering in decision-making when overwhelming or unexpected things happen and it also tells us what she is. She's human. She doesn't make excuses for taking on an objectively bad role and making mistakes. When she said "We can't erase our mistakes.", she's also talking about herself. She takes responsibility and tries to do good. In the end, all she wanted was closure for her grief by having Jinx accept responsibility NOT by killing or abusing her or innocent Zaunites for that matter.

Imo there's a lot in Arcane that shows Cait as a flawed but inherently good person, and Vi absolutely knows it. They see each other warts and all. If you think CaitVi's lex scene was poorly written read this: https://www.tumblr.com/turbolezgooo/768190482340773888/bro-this-outrage-about-caitvi-relationship-in-s2?source=share

[tiredfox64]

Hello! I wanted to know if you can make a request for kuai liang mk11 and his wife that have newborn twin babies?

Relax Mama

Yip notes: I love old men….

Pairing: Kuai Liang (MK11) x Afab reader

Warnings ‼️: I don’t want baby fever

Giving birth ain’t easy. But giving birth to twins, ah good luck.

Thank goodness your baby boys were healthy. You were stuck in labor for about fifteen hours so you were beat. So was your husband, you crushed his poor hand.

And to think you thought with Kuai Liang’s old age there would be issues with getting pregnant. Hah! Jokes on you, you get two. Never doubt him again.

You knew the struggle wouldn’t end even after you pushed those babies out. They are needy little things. But Kuai Liang was determined to let you rest as much as you could. If the babies woke up in the middle of the night he would be the first to get out of bed to deal with them. If the babies were hungry he just brought them to you. You’re responsible for the breastfeeding part.

He tries his hardest he really does. No one taught him how to be a parent he is going on pure instincts or what he can remember from his childhood that wasn’t so messed up. He was doing his best so that you could get rest and he could prevent any mental stress. He has the strength to carry these baby around all day, he’s got this.

What a sight to see for everyone in the Lin Kuei. Seeing there grandmaster who is always so serious and gruff carry around two sweet, cuddly babies. The twins immediately fall asleep in Kuai Liang’s arms. One of them was even drooling on his uniform. People are just melting at the sight of your husband holding onto those babies. That is until he yells at them to keep training. The babies have gotten used to the yelling at this point.

Motherly instincts won’t let you sit down at all. You’re still tired but you want to tend to the babies even though they are in safe hands. You walked over to Kuai Liang, your movements a bit sluggish.

“Why are you out of bed? You should not be up while in your conditions.” He warned you.

“I know, I know. I just feel like I need to check on them.” You replied.

Kuai Liang could see that you were worried. He knows you want to help out since they are your children too. You don’t want him doing this alone and neither does he. You’re new parents and this can be exciting yet also scary. Perhaps it’s time that you both get some outside help. Any help would do and Kuai Liang knew the right person to call.

══💤══╡°˖✧🦊✧˖°╞══💤══

A tall man with tan skin and yellow attire stood before you in the doorway. He had swords and a chained kunai with him.

It’s Hanzo.

It’s freakin-it’s freaking Hanzo! YOUR HUSBAND CALLED HANZO FOR HELP.

“I was unaware that you had a wife and children.” He said to Kuai Liang.

“Did you doubt my ability to find a partner?”

Hanzo didn’t say anything because, yes, he did doubt that Kuai Liang would ever settle down. Hell you thought the same but look where you are now.

You informed Hanzo that the babies were only four weeks only. They still got that new baby smell. You handed over one of the boys to Hanzo to hold onto. Your baby looked up at him in confusion, unsure of who this man was.

“You have been feeding them well, I can already tell. They do not seem that fussy. You are incredibly lucky.” He stated.

Hanzo bent down and began to put your baby on the floor. Kuai Liang did the same with the other one. He was not too sure why he was doing that until he saw Hanzo put the baby on their stomach. Oh right, it is best to start helping them grow some strength in their neck and limbs.

Your sons didn’t seem to like that. They kept trying to roll over but then Kuai Liang would roll them back on their stomachs. It looked silly but they really do need tummy time. When you asked Hanzo if there was anything else you done were not doing right he asked you simple questions.

“Are you feeding them?”

“Yes”

“Are you changing them?”

“Yes”

“Are you bathing them?”

“Definitely.”

“Do you love them?”

“Absolutely.”

“That’s all you need to do for now.”

If you think about it, it makes sense. They are new to the world and although they are needy there isn’t much they truly need. You and Kuai Liang absolutely adore your sons. They are the cutest things ever that will eventually turn into honorable warriors. But for now all you need to do was give them your attention and love.

A few minutes passed and that was enough tummy time for your boys. You and Kuai Liang picked them up. They stopped being fussy the moment they were in your arms. This whole time you and Kuai Liang have been doing the right thing. You were worried about nothing. Your babies are doing fine. You are doing fine, mama! Kuai Liang took hold of your hand and squeezed it gently as a sign to just relax.

Kuai Liang thanked Hanzo for his help. Though he didn’t do much anything was still helpful. The only thing Hanzo asked of him is to not ask him to babysit, they ain’t that close.

Once Hanzo left you two seemed to be in a better mood knowing that you both were parenting well. For some reason others in the clan took that as a signal to approach you two with wide smiles. They seemed giddy about something.

“Since you both are more comfortable…does that mean we get to hold them?” One clansman asked.

Even the toughest warriors can’t help but to gush at a pair of well-behaved babies. But your husband will tell them to,

“Get back to training!”

Yap notes: I’m sorry if this is too short I tried. You legit can’t do much with newborns because they are like potatoes, they don’t even know they exist. I would like to do more with mk11 Kuai Liang and im just sad I might have botched this. If you want me to try something else with him or possibly redo this I understand.

[bumblingbabooshka]

'Learning Curve' is an interesting episode because how Tuvok deals with the Maquis isn't just a Tuvok Thing but also reflects how Starfleet treats its (mostly teenaged) cadets. Tuvok's tactics are very militant: Don't speak unless you're spoken to. Getting in your face to intimidate you (though he doesn't yell). What was that? Speak up. Look at me when I talk to you. Run 40 laps for disobeying and if you talk back, you get 10 more. 10 more. 10 more. No stopping for water. Clean the floor with a toothbrush for 26 hours. Tuvok was an instructor for 16 years and they were obviously more recent than not because his first stint in Starfleet led to him quitting after his first mission as an ensign. Tuvok also (as shown in the episode) isn't someone who deviates from rules and regulation.  "My methods are sound and time-honoured. I insist on strict adherence to rules and protocols. I never waver from that approach. I have always been successful in honing each cadet into a Starfleet officer." Maquis are walking out on him? He tells them they're being insubordinate. Dalby is being a problem? He says "dragging him in front of a disciplinary board" (Chakotay's joking suggestion) is "Perhaps the best approach." He's rigid in his commitment to upholding these rules even when they're obviously ineffective. All this to say that Tuvok's methods are (I think) harsh and militant, I don't think they're harsh because Tuvok made them that way. Even when that Bajoran man is made to remove his earring, it's because it's against Starfleet code. There's no consideration about what it means to have it removed. It's against code, so it must be removed regardless of its personal/cultural meaning. It's interesting then that the episode doesn't criticize Starfleet. It (rightfully) criticizes Tuvok's rigid adherence to Starfleet code and how it prevents him from connecting with the Maquis and earning their respect, but I think it would have been interesting to take the opportunity to perhaps think about whether or not Starfleet code SHOULD be followed, especially with how highly Janeway talks about it in the beginning. Tuvok was an academy instructor for almost two decades, so Starfleet obviously didn't see anything wrong with his method of teaching. Given Tuvok's disposition, if he'd received orders or criticism from Starfleet about how he taught, he would've changed it. Janeway's "We'll show them why we do what we do" could have been interesting if maybe we considered that Starfleet's methods AREN'T always effective or logical to follow and a character like Tuvok (Unemotional Vulcan) would've been a great character to explore this with. The scene in the mess hall where Chakotay punches Dalby for being insubordinate really isn't that different from Tuvok forcing Chell to run 40 laps because he's talking too much. They both even have a moment where the person they're intimidating responds too quietly and they tell them to speak up. They both do this in front of others to embarrass them and threaten to continue their punishments indefinitely unless they comply. HMM sure seems like these militant organizations aren't as different as one might think and that there's something interesting to be said about how that reflects on Starfleet, which champions itself as inherently more moral and ethical. The closest the episode comes to actually conceding that The Starfleet Way isn't always the uncontested best way is going 'Maybe we can bend a rule or two sometimes, to save a man's life' but what we NEED to be doing is interrogating the system. Like for one it's insane to me that there's no follow up scene about the Bajoran earring thing. I would have loved to see Chakotay and Janeway debating about it. And hey, maybe in the end we could have shown Tuvok truly changing by having him propose some new measures to improve Voyager that he got through speaking with and learning from the Maquis (which Chakotay catches and we end on him teasing the Vulcan about it).

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #21

Best of Wish

This is way more intense of a Rock-Paper-Scissors competition than I expected. I love how the stakes in this show are kid-themed, but still flashy enough to be engaging.

For some reason, even though I know Dev's surname is Dimmadome, it's still funny to hear a kid be announced like that. For years, that's been an "old man name" burned into my mind.

Are they allowed to do that?? Does apple beat worm?

He's just a little guy! You wouldn't beat a little guy at Rock, Paper, Scissors, c'mon!!

Time of his life.

Dev: I cheated! And you're supposed to be SAD now! That's the whole point!!

Dev is having a very hard time dealing with his emotions. I am definitely enjoying him screaming about how he cheated to win and that means Hazel should be miserable now. You can just TELL the words he's throwing out reflect how he feels and he's super confused as to why she congratulated him on his win.

-> Gives me similar vibes to Foop in "Blue Angel" screaming about how it wasn't fair that Chloe kept forgiving him despite his best efforts to tear her apart, although I think the emotions are being played better in this set-up.

-> With Foop, even though he also has a messed-up past (37 years of solitary confinement from the day he was born according to my frozen timestream notes), he was born with murderous rage, and his culture definitely leans in the direction of encouraging that.

With Dev, you know he's lashing out with things that would hurt him specifically and that he's having a really rough go of things. I like that.

If I'm feeling like Dev reminds me of Foop, that kind of implies Dev and Peri are supposed to me a good match that balance each other out. I like that.

That checks out- Peri has doting parents and wants LESS attention, and Dev can't keep his dad's focus and wants MORE attention. Peri's the one who keeps trying to rein Dev in and Dev is always trying to get Peri to go further.

Agency knew what they were doing when they assigned this pair, huh?

/war flashbacks to Foop being distraught that his parents left him alone for spring break back in the day.

THERE HE IS!!

Irep implying he didn't have a choice in his name change? I wonder what the reasoning was, since he even says it's "Harder to pronounce" than Foop? Curious...

As much as he hated his name when he was born (Season 7), he was very attached to it by "Love Triangle" (Season 8), correcting Goldie every time she got it wrong until he finally snapped and screamed at her about how "It's not that difficult!"

Goldie got Fairy names right, AND every character in the school play right, but never bothered to learn her one Anti-Fairy classmate's name despite all the time they spent rehearsing for the play and him making it very clear he wanted her to say it right. Big yikes.

He's very proud of his name in later episodes (announcing himself often) and has his business cards. I mean... Sure, he's allowed to change it- It just surprises me that he's heavily implying it was against his will since his attachment to his name was such a big part of his character in my memory.

He's developed an entirely new identity, lmao. Who are you?

Potentially setting up a plot about how he's mad he has to copy Peri, but I feel like there would've been easier ways to do that?

I assume the logic here is that it needs to be clear to Hazel and/or viewers that they're opposites (We got the info here, but he'll probably appear in future episodes where it needs to be clear to prevent confusion for people just tuning in), but if that's the goal...

W... why would he not just change his name to Anti-Peri?

Plot twist of the century: They bring back Anti-Cosmo and Anti-Wanda, but their names are Osmoc and Adnaw now and we all suffer for it.

/record scratch

Hey, um. Why did they give Irep body language that was pretty much exclusive to Foop's alternate personality??

You're really gonna play me like this??

Straight out of the GATE!?

Okay, I just rewound to his first appearance of this episode and I do see the Foop-exclusive body language in Irep too, but... ???

Just really caught me off guard to see two poses I've burned into my memory as "alt personality things" back to back in like, 10 seconds, but okay. I don't care if this is a tangent; the actual episode can wait. It's important to me...

All right, the context:

So, OG Foop does fists when he's frustrated / scheming / cackling / nervous (usually above his head or down by his sides).

His alter does upturned fists when he's praising / cheerful. That's always been one of their switch cues, from the alter's debut in "Playdate of Doom" (Season 7) up through the last implied switch in "Return of the L.O.S.E.R.S." (Season 10).

Even the very first onscreen switch in Season 7 ("Playdate") depicts the alter holding his fists like that, before the double eye highlights were introduced in "Spellementary School"-

-and he does the fists several times throughout his first episode.

Other body language habits include big, flat hands lifted towards the mouth, plus clasped hands. In other words, the alter is more "dainty" and "gushy" compared to Foop- I've always imagined him "doing everything over-the-top and unironically."

Don't confuse that with him being the nicest person, though. He's very funny; I like in the OG series when he's totally down to butt heads with Poof and coos "Does Mr. Popular want to fight~?"

Like. Logically, I know that is just a weird coincidence. There's no way the storyboard folks studied that, and there's no way they're planning to bring the alter back, because if they were, I'm sure he would've been blatant in this episode.

Foop's not using his high-pitched voice here and we can't use his eye highlights as a faithful signal since that's on-model for this show, but...

I mean... He's talking about Da Rules when he does the upturned fists. That does fit the "grumpy / scheming" energy which is correct for Foop (although he usually pumps his fists above his head or clenches them down by his sides instead of upturning them like this), but... ???

Wow, that is not a pose I'm used to seeing on Foop instead of his alter. I've written this little guy in 'fic a bunch of times; I know his body language pretty well and it was a switch cue for 3 seasons??

I'm okay. It's fine.

Also, here's a video showcasing their switches. Volume warning:

I just found out I missed one switch in "Terrible Twosome" when Poof gives him chocolate (even before his Terrific Twos kicked in), and I was always unclear on the full diner scene in "When L.O.S.E.R.S. Attack" (though I don't remember why; maybe because the voice is deep despite the highlights and I'm only rethinking it 6 years later), but... Them.

-> I do count "Terrible Twosome" as essentially the alter because the eye highlights, voice change, music change, and clenched fists all match the standard, but I'd accept arguments to the contrary since it's confirmed all Anti-Fairies have some version of Terrific Twos, and this is the only one we have for reference.

I was today years old watching this old compilation when I realized the music consistently zigzags between super cheery and dark when they switch, even outside "Terrible Twosome," which was where I remembered it. No... It's been there since "Playdate of Doom." Huh.

Okay, so... This is actually really interesting. When they switch, the music does too, but their music doesn't overlap. It's a very clear, jarring switch. There's often, though not always, a pause before this switch (such as their very rapid back-and-forth in "Playdate of Doom"). I've learned something new. Huh.

... Wait a sec.

They wouldn't...

...

Hey, uh ???

why does the tense music in "Best of Luck" cut off immediately before Irep temples his hands, drop to silence, and then switch the thumping part of the music to the cheery part underneath it and put the thumping part underneath the cheery bit instead?

I already used my one video for this post, but I can post the audio. It's subjective; I'm sure it's not supposed to indicate anything, so just bear with me...

- Okay, so we have this dark "BUM-bum, BUM-bum, BUM-bum" pattern. That goes for 12 seconds into this clip before fading out. - Note that you can hear, like... a scale underneath, like a swish, 4 or 5 seconds in. Right as 12 seconds turns to 13, there's a "sparkle noise". - And then we drop. And silence. So, that's the exact moment before Irep temples his hands.

- NOW the cheery scale in the music is louder and the thumps are very faded in the background, but definitely still there. - So, the stings are no longer "always switching, but never overlapping" the way they were in the OG series, apparently.

- Irep clasps his hands and says a couple more words, then drops his hands on "quitting." - RIGHT THEN, his music switches back to loud tension.

What the fliiiippp... what the fliiiiiippp?

?? I said I could see Foop-exclusive body language in him too earlier in this episode. Are they together again? Is that why they're sharing the music sting!?

SURELY that is not intentional. That HAS to be coincidence. I cannot imagine a world where that is on purpose. I'm losing my mind.

I... I don't really know where to go from here. I gotta lie down.

Bonus notes about the fists I moved down here due to length:

Okay, upon review, there are several ambiguous moments in the OG series where Foop himself makes potentially joyful fists instead of scheming fists, such as:

- When trying to fool Jorgen into thinking he's rehabilitated in "Playdate of Doom" (and Jorgen clocks him as lying) - When he's trying to sweet-talk Poof in "Two and a Half Babies" (and Poof also clocks him as lying) - Both times he's brownnosing up to Crocker in "School of Crock" (and Crocker clocks him for it) AND when he's sweet-talking the principal to trick him into activating his door trap. He also makes the fists when he's mimicking Poof in his first scene, so... he pretty much does it anytime he's "not being Foop," lol. -> In that case, it's funny he makes those fists when telling Poof in the closing scene that he's "sorry for trying to annihilate him." That said, he DOES switch a few seconds later while gushing over how Sammy Sweetsparkle is "kind of a bad boy." -> Clasped hands (also a thing his alter does a lot) is ALSO something Foop does when he's blatantly lying (The last of the Snow Wanda scene in "Fairly Odd Fairy Tales" is a good example, but I saw other episodes too). - Continuing with ambiguity talk, he does the joyful fists both times he enters the pet shop in "Man's Worst Friend," (a scene where he seems to switch multiple times, so it's clearly a place that affects him, but he doesn't have eye highlights when he first enters the building) - When the Anti-Fairy Council names him a scary godparent in "Fairy Godcouple" and he grins and says "Bring it on!" (though I can see that as scheming about what he can do with this power) - At the end of "Fairly Odd Fairy Tales" when he's trying to coax Timmy into eating his food and Wanda hands him a treat, interrupting his scheme (and he leaves his fists in the air while expressing interest in the treat) - The first time he meets Vicky during "When L.O.S.E.R.S. Attack" (when she joins the team's plan to get Timmy, so... arguably scheming, though the alt personality is known for crushes - and had eye highlights when asking Crocker if the mystery person he wanted to bring in was single - so I'd accept that as an answer).

Yes, I did drop everything to rewatch every Foop episode for this. hey man how's it going.

[theotherpacman]

ok im back on wicked again just for a second and i need to say something

does the wicked musical treat nessa's disability with all the respect and tact with which one should approach a topic like ableism? not really. BUT the movie is sooooo fucking afraid of being called ableist that it completely flattens nessa's character to a degree that i dont think they can come back from in part ii

major spoilers for wicked below the cut

in act i of the stage musical we see that nessa is a deeply bitter and selfish person. between the sense of entitlement instilled in her by her rich, powerful, and doting father treats her as the favorite and the sense of powerlessness afforded by the way he treats her as fragile and helpless, nessarose has grown up feeling like a victim, like her disability completely prevents her from living the happy life she deserves. her relationship with her sister is profoundly messed up because of the OCEAN of difference with which their father treats them: nessa is quick to blame elphaba for things that go wrong and doesn't care much about her feelings, while elphaba always indulges her and enables her bad behavior.

act i is the more lighthearted part of the story, so these issues seem unfortunate but maybe not that big of a deal. but then in act ii elphaba is being fucking hunted by the state and asks her sister for refuge which nessa refuses. how much resentment do you have to harbor towards a family member to refuse to protect them when they need help? and not only that but to act like they deserve it? elphaba is shocked by nessa's cruelty, but it's completely foreshadowed. nessa has always taken out her bitterness on elphaba.

furthermore, as the ruler of munchkinland she oppresses the munchkin population and then tries to magic boq into loving her against his will, which is again completely foreshadowed bc we've seen her 1) act entitled bc of the way her rich father spoils her and 2) desperately want more control over her life bc of the way she's treated as helpless. so yeah it makes sense that this character, entitled and bitter with control issues and a tendency to lash out, would respond to the threat of abandonment by violating the autonomy of the man she claims to love.

the movie made two major changes to nessa's character: she's much much much more at ease with her disability, and her relationship with elphaba, while perhaps not perfect, is healthy and loving. this,,,, pisses me the fuck off. bc if nessa accepts her disability and has a healthy relationship with her body, then where does the sense of powerlessness come from that pushes her to react so severely when boq tries to leave her? and if nessa feels so much sisterly love towards elphaba and harbors little resentment against her then why in the hell would she refuse to hide her from the cops which is well within her ability? and why would she scream "it was elphaba" after boq was transformed, leading him to be one of the loudest voices in the witch hunt against elphaba?

like yeah the "my disability ruins my life" angle is a tough one to tackle and the musical doesn't necessarily do it perfectly. but it makes sense that she would feel that way when her father treats her like she can't do anything. and what's the alternative? a sanitized, well-adjusted, perfectly emotionally healthy girl who behaves insane in the next act for no reason? i dont know WHAT theyre going to do in wicked part ii, esp since the part of the show i would argue has the most ableist rhetoric is when elphaba magics nessa into walking and she's ecstatic, which is the catalyst for boq begging her to let him go confess his love to glinda..... if they dont do it it's like ok we get it you can't handle complexity and if, as i suspect they will, they DO do it but without putting in any work to explain why she feels that way then it's like ok we get it you're averse to ableist optics but not ableist rhetoric

and DONT even get me started on how they downplayed galinda's cruelty and vindictiveness to the point where the highly ableist stunt she pulled setting up boq and nessa doesn't read as the Mean Girl Behavior that it does in the show

[cozyforjate]

It surprises me when people say Chapel doesn’t have a trait, personality, or plotline other than being Spock’s love interest... Let me list all the things we know and have seen about this amazing character.

Christine Chapel is a nurse on The Enterprise. She is on civilian exchange from the Stanford Morehouse Epigenetic Project. She is also a part of Starfleet’s initiative to better observe alien cultures without contamination.

M’Benga treats her as an equal. Pike called her “doctor” in the very first episode which suggests that her medical knowledge and experience must be impressive.

She is an expert on genetic modification. She can mess with your genome and temporarily turn you into an Alien. And she makes it look easy.

She is also interested in archeological medicine. She is doing fieldwork, making discoveries, and writing papers on the subject while doing her other duties on the ship.

Long story short she is quite the genius!

She is outgoing, friendly, witty, funny, adventurous, strong, brave but also compassionate and emotional.

She doesn’t judge, she accepts people for who they are.

She is confident in her abilities. She doesn’t take anyone’s BS. “I don’t think the Vulcan Fellowship is ready for me”… No one, not even Vulcans can bully or make her feel insecure.

But when she was a kid she was bullied. Milo, her Malamute, bit one of those bullies. Good boy!

As it was implied in one of the episodes she is most probably bi.

She has a vulnerable side. She is afraid of commitment. Afraid of romantic relationships getting deep. Perhaps even afraid of falling in love. She uses humor when things get too serious or personal for her. There is a story waiting to unfold in time. And i can’t wait to know more of it!

She was in the Klingon War with M'Benga. They witnessed the ugly face of war and had to make some hard decisions. They used (perhaps even developed) an illegal serum that temporarily gives them enough power and stamina to survive against Klingons. This left a scar on her as much as it did on M'Benga. We will revisit this story in episode 8 (i guess).

She knows how to fight. She is a quick thinker during stressful situations. And she is a badass. For example, she can handle space pirates and all she needs is a hypospray! She can deal with baby Gorns and survive!

She is heroic. She would jump into space without an EV suit to prevent a war.

Oh and she is also Spock's love interest and it's a delicious relationship that enrichens both characters.

This is what we got in 15 episodes. I'm sure we'll learn more about her and she will get new storylines in the seasons to come.

[teenyagent]

Yooo!

First of all your Fic Playhouse is amazing! I loved to read the relationship between Mc!Sans and Alphys! There is so little interaction written of those two. And I think your Alphys is so well characterized! Her insecurities, vices, strength and lovable personality are very well flashed out!

I love how her gift to Sans is so Her. Using technology to help him continue living but avoiding the problem while she is alive. Only telling him about her suspicions and doubts after death where she doesn't have to deal with the consequences. But reinforcing her love to him and giving his life meaning to continue. One thing I loved is: How this present is a gift but a curse at the same time. This helped him continue living but prevents him from moving on. I can see him grieving again when the prerecorded messages run out (and his ritual of listen to her phone call can't continue he could very well crash). The messages helps a lot. And I don't think he would be alive without them. But I wonder how this will play out after? Will he be able to continue in this new world without a pseudo Alphys (that remembers their time together, no taking someone else's wife Sans!!)?

Also I wanted to ask:

It's already been a long time since MC was human. They spend more time as a monster them a human. And this is just my interpretation of the character. If I'm wrong just set me straight.

But I see our MC as a third individual. A person born from Sans and the human characteristics. The MC just identify more as human cause Sans was falling when the two of them merged. But he still is part of the MC, and a huge influence into this new personality. Even more by the fact MC had to act like him. Turning something that was once an act into MC second nature.

And I saw they referring to the Sans part of themselves as Sans. Also MC is using the same pronouns to refer to the Human part of themselves(the past as a human and personality as a human).

So I was wondering if in the future MC will start to refer to their human self as THEY or Human? After accepting they are not that person any more?

Rahhh!! Thank you!! I love my girlfailure so of course I invested my heart into her lmfao. Also Alphys is so underrated as a love interest outside Undyne, so I explored what her dynamic could be like with someone similar to her personality-- nerdy, secretive, etc. I'm glad it's paying off haha!

And you!!🫵 you get where I'm going with her character at the neutral route!! Alphys never learned to build her confidence, as her support system from the pacifist route is non-existent. She never learned to be confrontational or to stand up for herself, and thus never confronted MC about any heavy topics. What glues their relationship together is love, fear and guilt. Fondness is inevitable when you only have one person in your life. And since they're the only person in your life, you fear losing them; so, you had to learn to never snap at them, never fight, never do anything to drive them away-- even when there's already frustration or resentment building underneath. Finally, there's guilt, where you feel responsible for the other's well-being because you're aware that you're their only support system. It's a mess of emotional trauma full of pent up emotions that MC is dying to let out. It's no wonder they're so sassy and snappish the moment they're confronted by the skele-lodge.

MC is a ticking time bomb waiting to crash out lmfao

Yes, that's right! MC is basically the secret third thing lol; not entirely human and not entirely monster. MC has long accepted that they're not the same person when they died, especially when they continued pretending to be someone they're not. Fake it til you make it, they say, and MC eventually became who they're faking. The best analogy I can think of for this is a tomato lol

A tomato in botany is a fruit, but in culinary arts, it's identified as a vegetable. Social construct required them to be a vegetable because that's what the recipe asks from them. And it works! Tomato in vegetable dishes are delicious! The tomato is good at being a vegetable. But then, people began to think that the concept of a tomato being a fruit AND a vegetable is mutually exclusive when it's not. In its very essence, a tomato started off and always will be a fruit. But it can also be a vegetable. That's MC as Sans.

MC was human, but was turned into Sans. They continued to act like Sans, because that's what Alphys expected of them. So, they acted as Sans for so long, they became good at it and adapted to be him. The pretend eventually stopped being pretend, and transitioned into something real and genuine. Except, there are tweaks here and there that makes it uniquely MC's, even though it's Sans' habit. There's more nuance to this than a tomato agdjskak but basically, in MC's core, they're still human. Sans gave MC the knowledge, and MC utilized it. Neither could have done what they've done without the other.

Sans with his intelligence and MC with their perseverance. They are separate beings who complimented each other so well, they started to unite. Not merge; not really.

They can still get separated, proven by their journey with the machine. Except, MC never lets him go.

Can Sans choose to let go? Yeah, he can. Will he? Who knows.

Rahhh!!! excuse my scattered rambling lmfao I have so many thoughts about them agdjskal

Thanks for the interest in my fic!!

[yoshinoritoshi]

can i have some lucky guy relationship hcs? the lucky guy girlies starve in this fandom

This ask has left me stumped for days, I have agonized over it with such pain and sorrow for you, debated with friends and strangers alike on what exactly I'm supposed to answer... And my conclusion? You're insane. More insane than Yoshi. This man has less than nothing in terms of lore, personality, any quirky traits, anything. You're crazy, like actually, I'm sending you to White Street Sand Aslyum for fifteen quick matches against a Fool's Gold with full presence AND abnormal.

Is what I would say, if I didn't come up with my own stuff for him just for you. I hope you believe in the theory of him being a time traveler, because that's what I'm going with, and it's what you're getting. I even played through his deductions for this, anon, he doesn't even have a real name. Pain. 🥲

•

•

Lucky Guy Relationship HCs

Let's be clear, he's an enigma to most, even you. Not because he doesn't tell you anything, but because it's pretty hard to believe him when he says he's from nearly a hundred years in the future and that he misses playing 'Halo' on his 'Xbox'. Of course, you support his ramblings regardless, even though you probably think he's a little insane, but given how nervous he was (and is) of most people, you did your best to be kind and things naturally went from there.

You have to be the one to show him how things work in your time, proper manners and dressing and such, even so he is very hesitant to leave behind the modern outfit he showed up in- not cause he doesn't like the clothing you pick out for him- it's great! He just doesn't want to lose his only connection to his time, even if he has no idea if he will ever get to go back. Despite everything, he does love you after all, so it's not like he wants to, but he also isn't sure what choice he'd make if he was given a chance either...

Regardless of that possibility, he does want to make the most of his time at your side (however short or long that may be) and willingly indulges you in anything you want to participate in, be that matches, dates, events, or just sleeping in. Very supportive of all your endeavors no matter what they may be- unless he gets too anxious and has to retreat to privacy before getting overwhelmed. In that scenario, he will politely grab your arm and tug you away until you follow him, cleaning his glasses every few seconds while his heart rate calms down. (Embrace him and he will melt into your arms, trust.)

All in all, a very easygoing partner compared to like, most IDV men. He likes to show off his luck to you by finding lost things, preventing dishes from being dropped, silly things like that... If you're in a match with him, he always gets quite proud of himself after if he saved you or provided support for your escape... Only time he will ever be even slightly cocky, so praise him for it and he'll then be an embarrassed blushing mess in 0.2 seconds.

As long as you can deal with him being nostalgic for things that would be invented for a century, and give him comfort when his worrisome nature gets the better of him, I think everything will be alright. Even better, try to recreate something from the future given your supplies at the manor in order to remind him of his old life and he'll break down sobbing in appreciation... "I don't know what a 'Minecraft' is, but I had a craftsman make a playing board of a mining game I invented just for you!" "Oh my god, wow, it's... It's really Minecraft... waughhhhhhhhhh—!" (He really loves the game, even though it's basically just Break the Ice with wooden cubes painted to look like various Minecraft cubes... That he helped you paint.)

[wispythreads]

Some thoughts as I spent a significant portion of my day today playing Dead Plate by racheldrawsthis (which you can go find and play yourself https://racheldrawsthis.itch.io/dead-plate), and honestly it was pretty fun! Enjoyed it a lot!

I got the Table for One ending first, which is an ending most people would probably get first since the other ones require specific triggers. I'd missed some cutscenes, but talked a bunch whenever I could with the restaurant owner/head chef, Vince. Even though I knew that this was a horror game and that Vince was probably up to something incredibly shady in the background (i.e. the usual the food = human remains trope that kinda follows this setting), I was hoping that there might be an ending where he and Rody go beyond a boss/employee relationship.

There was just something really endearing about that first cutscene when Rody arrives late after biking through rain, and Vince took the time to not only help dry him off but gave Rody an umbrella so that it wouldn't happen again in the future. I found their conversations really fun and silly and began to formulate a scenario in my head where this very put-together, cold and quiet no nonsense guy grew to begrudgingly but genuinely like the blunt energetic but absolute mess of person he'd happened to hire, and maybe the two of them could balance each other out a bit more (and Rody could maybe put an end/prevent Vince from treading into cannibal territory)

Having gotten all four of the endings now, I'm torn between appreciating them all and being a bit sad that the one I was hoping for didn't come to fruition, and, judging by the timeline of events going on that I somehow just completely missed the first time, really couldn't. like. ever...?

I am very much stuck contemplating just what the hell was both of their deals now. (why lemons specifically what does it mean something outside of it being a food he appreciates its existence for why was the wine bottle broken with wine spilled everywhere why doesn't he follow you in and you have to come back out with it why was her silhouette standing in the street staring up at you ghost not dead just spooky event to be unsettling what was the real purpose of the dinner party what is that one inaccessible room of the apartment what did she mean by that when they broke up why was he bouncing between jobs so much why such a violent reaction to the garbage tearing how the hell do you burn pbj what is the deal with the fridge freezer why does it seem like he initially intends to leave and then decides on such a firey response instead why not an ending where he does just leave flunked out obsession what was the point of the whole plan he just lets you leave in the first ending what does he gain from that)

The fact that it was just released today and I have no idea if anyone else will be talking about this game has me very Normal.

[snorlaxlovesme]

my problem recommending Link Click to people

clearly, i love Link Click. i find the show emotionally compelling, the characters are well-written and interesting, the complex/convoluted plot is very crunchy for my adhd brain to chew on. LOVE that. however. i have yet to find a person irl who Sees My Vision when i recommend the show to them, and i think it's the fandom's fault.

not in bad way! but i think this show is a good example of media that exists for FANS and not casual viewers.

season 1 is by far the most accessible. a straightforward story about two guys solving crime by time travelling in photos. don't mess up the past, it could mess up the future, etc etc. everything is linear, the character motivations are pretty clear, the plot is seriously gripping. the only accessibility hurdles are the piss poor subs we had to deal with and the lack of on-screen text translation. and i suppose if you don't like shows that are episode-5-level heavy then this probably isn't the show for you.

season 2 already starts off on a very niche foot with the fact that there was a pretty big spoiler (or a hint at one) in the XETROVERTHINK music video that released before the season aired. fans who knew about that video were already speculating, and by the first 30 seconds of season 2, theories were running RAMPANT. NOW everyone was intentionally looking for hints of time travel mid-season. they were predicting how and when cheng xiaoshi might die. it made an extremely confusing season FUN because even when we didn't know what the hell was going on, we could always fall back on the lu guang timeloop theory to chew on.

but if you didn't see the XETROVERTHINK video? well, you probably weren't paying as close attention to what lu guang was saying in the first 30 seconds. the shot of cheng xiaoshi dying lasted for only a second or two. blink and you miss it. if you didn't rewatch the episode, you probably wouldn't notice. in a show where so many things don't make sense, that could have just been one more to add to the pile.

cut back to all the people that I've forced to watch the show, I can say that they did NOT have the same watching experience that i had as a fun following along on tumblr. which is fine, but they do look at me like i'm insane when i try to explain that this is the most fun show ever created.

after one of my friends finished season 2 i sent him a draft of the fic i was writing for some feedback and when he got to season 2-spoiler specific part, he didn't fully understand that lu guang had gone back in time to prevent cheng xiaoshi from dying, and therefore didn't understand what i had written. he didn't have the fandom, who had been speculating about that for 12 full weeks before the reveal, so as a casual fan, the first time he received that info was in that last 2 minutes of the season, and he didn't full understand it

my younger sister has made it to yingdu, and every time i try to talk to her about it when get to talk about shiguang a lot, but i don't have much time to sit her down and show her frame by frame analyses of why the lu guang vs vein interaction in episode one looks like it might be in two different timelines. she's not seeing that there's morse code in the books or interpreting sonnets or pausing to check the eye color of characters, so when i talk to her about it we're scratching maybe 3% of what the show is truly communicating with us.

and again, it makes me look like a total headcase when i try to explain to people that this is the best show ever and so much fun because if you're not INTERACTING with the show and with the fans, mulling over the minute details in a scene or asking for a more accurate translation of something, it's like you're missing out on most of the show

i once tried to recommend my sister one of my favorite pokemon fanfics of all time. she'd read some others and seemed interested, so i sent her the link and then told her that to fully understand it she'd need to have knowledge of basically every major character in the entire pokemon anime, from kid trainers to gym leaders to Champions to villains to rivals to professors. she'd also have to know how they all relate to each other, PLUS some game characters. i sent her a list of episodes she needed to watch for character and plot relevance and links to wikipedias for other main characters. after she absorbed all this information then she could truly understand why this was the greatest fic ever!!

that's what recommending Link Click is feeling like, currently. like i want you to like this show, i want you to understand this show like i do, but that means you HAVE to be insane about it. there's no other way to appreciate it if you're not in the fandom.

[calypsolemon]

A question for the Pen & Ink AU (since I find it so very facsinating)! How do you think Thespius interacts with both Sweater and Ink Click respectively? Is it any different to how he normally is around Click Clack? How does Sweater Click's arrogance and Ink Click's self-isolation affect their dynamic? That kind of thing!

Overall, Thespius does interact with Sweater and Ink Click different than he does Click normally, though initially that isn't due to their split nature, but rather because Thespius understands what he is essentially dealing with is Click Clack in the middle of a mental health crisis. In the same way that you might act differently around a loved one who is having a breakdown or going through a hard time, Thespius is being very patient and cautious as to what he says and does around both Clicks. Especially at first, when they're all just trying to figure out what even happened, and all they can tell is that Click Clack is clearly distressed.

That being said, as the situation stretches on, the differences between the two halves settle in a bit more, it gets a lot harder for Thespius to treat these two parts of Click Clack as just... Click Clack. This is, in part, because most of his interactions are with Sweater Click, whose stubbornness, self-negativity, and complete refusal to listen to reason push the limits of Thespius's patience. Sweater Click embodies a lot of the hard-headed behaviors that hurt Thespius the worst during his over-a-century of pining for the fellow god, and so soon after their confession to each other, its increasingly difficult for Thespius to continue holding back his negative emotions. And keep in mind, those negative emotions are something Click Clack was previously helping hold back with his overzealous editing, preventing any potential conflict from breaking out between them before.

Feelings only get further muddled when he gets the chance to interact with Ink Click too. Ink Click is... difficult for him to wrap his head around, in many ways. He's still Click Clack, but disconnected from much of the personality quirks that make him recognizable as such. Less capable of communicating properly as well, as he can't speak directly, and the narrative he desires to tell is gradually buried by the cacophony of the world's story. Thespius can tell he's gripped by an existential guilt he can't even begin to fathom, and the primary feeling he evokes in Thespius is pity, which is not a great thing to feel about someone you're supposed to love. In many ways, he's a reminder to Thesp that, despite knowing and loving Click Clack for so long, there's still aspects of his partner he has yet to learn about, let alone understand.

All this to say, both halves of Click Clack are a bit of a confusing and upsetting mess for him to be around, and this really puts a strain on their relationship! He tries to act calm and collected around both of them, FOR their sake, but even a god of love can only keep face for so long.