#if it's too good to be true it probably is

[alexandra-erin]

Oh, this is fascinating. Scams and cons are a long-standing special interest of mine, but I also lost a very random/arbitrary selection of memories about a year ago; most of these specific examples above are "new" to me but they fit the profile of things I would have known about, and I recognize them as updates of a scam that's at least as old as check-kiting.

I first learned about this one decades ago as "the secret shopper scam", where the mark answers a job listing in the classified to act as a secret shopper (freelance undercover quality assurance agent for stores and businesses), and their first task is to go buy a money order using funds provided by the employer, allegedly to vet that procedures are being followed.

The funds were furnished in the form of a check; the mark deposits the check and then pays for the money order, which is sent to the employer. The check bounces and the mark is out the money, but the money order is as good as money.

Obviously that particular format is badly dated these days, but the basic scam is the same: float the mark money in a bad transaction and get them to send money back in a clean transaction.

The language in the "PayPal" emails clangs like a bell to me. Phrases like "You're to make the refund back from your own money" and "account limit has been expanded" are proper English but it's not the right proper English. The insistence on "as soon as possible" is vague about timeframe but definite about urgency, because they need the good transaction to be complete before the bad one is flagged.

A similar tell in a lot of scams that also hinge on urgency is a time limit expressed in hours (24 hours, 72 hours, etc)... functional business measure deadlines in business days, not clock hours, but everybody's got the ironclad seriousness of "you have X hours" ingrained in them from pop culture. There's a "package held up by fees/inspections" scam with a lot of currency that makes this (calculated for effect) mistake.

On the subject of urgency: one reason that these scams have so many red flags like loosey-goosey language and suspiciously large amounts of money is that scammers aren't snipers, they're automatic shotgunners. OP smelled the scam off the bat and had it confirmed by the counteroffer of $300 for a $15 job. This means OP isn't a mark, and there are enough marks in the world that it's not worth the effort to try to lure in somebody who isn't a mark with finesse.

The ideal target of this scam is somebody for whom a $300 commission is a needed lifeline to make rent or the stroke of luck they've been holding out for. The more excited they are by the $$$, the more devastating the holdup is and the more focused on clearing the hurdle ASAP they will be. A classic in-person con relies on constructing a narrative for the mark to become invested in, but a shotgun hoax conducted by remote needs the mark to buy in of their own initiative.

An artist in any medium who does commission work might well encounter the genuine joy (and potential sweet relief) of a gratified patron who gratuitously tips far in excess of the commission price. I've had a version of that experience more times than I can remember (literally, LOL) and it is amazing, but genuine support is not something dangled upfront and it's not worth jumping through hoops for.

It's not actually hard for someone who has money and wants to give it to you to just do it, once they have your payment information. Someone who wants you to commit up front to taking extra money probably has a reason for wanting that. A gift is a gift, but an offer that's too good to be true probably is.

Hey guys let me tell you about advance fee scams

I hope y'all are familiar with these in this day and age, especially my artists out there, because they're incredibly common.

About half an hour ago I posted a drawing and tagged it #artists on tumblr, and very quickly received this comment.

My scam radar went off immediately, due to the generic blog name and lack of any emotion in the comment, but I decided it might be an entertaining venture so I dmed them. They asked for a drawing "of these", and sent me a random selfie. I got the details and told them it would be $15, and they promptly offered me $300. At this point I know it's a scam, but I play along for funsies and give them my paypal. Shortly, they send me this image for "confirmation" (I blocked out my email)

And they began to insist that I checked my email. I looked in my spam folder and found the following email.

This is fake. This is not a thing. And the "you're to refund the $200.00 back" is the scam. They send vaguely official-looking emails at you to "prove" that they sent you the money, then have you send them $200 (or however much the scam is for). Then, surprise surprise, you're out $200.

I continued to play along for a bit, and in the second email "Paypal" told me that I had to refund the $200 before they could "credit the $300 to my account", along with these lovely threats.

And yeah, it's silly. But it's not silly if you don't know and get scammed. So. Spread, please! And thank you very much to @mlaurel for the opportunity to get these screenshots.

[butyoudidthis4what]

Perfumer

Jack Abbot x Reader

1.5k || All of my content is 18+ MDNI || CW: none I think. Hinted at sex and suggestiveness but that's about it really.

Summary: Jack smells the perfume you're wearing, flirty fluffy happy teasing ensues. That's it, that's the fic. Established relationship. No use of y/n or related. Zero proofreading of any kind. No beta.

A.N.: The summaries and titles will not be getting better I fear. After getting out some sadness in that last one I just needed something fluffy and happy and flirty. This is very self-indulgent as I love perfume and wish I had Jack Abbot giving me some and then smelling it on me, and telling me I smell good, you know? Honestly I'm quite shocked I wrote anything with like no level of angst in it that was just fluff. But my mental health needed some pure happy fluff with him so here we are. Anyway, this is exceptionally short for me and as with last time this is my first time back writing fanfic in a longggg time so please be gentle and kind and also let me know if you like it! The ending is very open, so there's definitely part two potential depending upon reception and if anyone would like.

��I should have known the trail of smell good was you. You always smell good.” Santos comments as she walks up to you while you stand by the center desk. “Do you own like a thousand perfumes or something?” 

Jack’s head popped up from looking at the tablet in his hands a few rooms down from the desk at ‘smell good,’ correctly assuming it meant you were here. You can feel his eyes on you and look over at him. “Probably not a thousand, but a lot, yes. I collect them.” 

“Why? Aren’t women supposed to want, like, a signature smell or whatever?” She tilts her head at you. 

You start smirking but Robby beats you to it. “Oh, she has to keep Abbot on his toes somehow.” 

“What does that even mean?” She looks between you, Robby, and Jack.

You bite your lip and stifle a laugh. It’s nice, having your relationship out in the open, having been able to get to know Jack’s friends. He’s still quite private though, which you respect, and know Robby is flirting with the line. You weren’t going to go quite as far, but can’t help the way it made you smile, in large part because it’s true.

It’s become somewhat of a game for you and Jack. You wear a different perfume everyday and he guesses what it is. He’s good at it, which isn’t surprising, he’s good at everything he does. It’s a nice way to have a close moment together. He likes buying them for you too to keep the game interesting.

It lets him read your moods a bit too. He’s learned that when you’re a bit down you have a tendency to go for perfumes that are heavier in a sense, more warm and comforting. And if you don’t wear perfume he knows it means things are bad because you don’t want to end up associating a smell with however you’re feeling or what you’re going through. He also swears they mix with your chemistry and smell different at certain times during your cycle. You don’t know why you found the idea of him being able to smell that on you so hot, but you very much did.

Recently you’d taken to layering some of them, in part to be creative and in part to make it more challenging for Jack.

“It means-” Robby starts.

“Okay, can we just not?” Jack asks as he walks over to you, shooting Robby a look and standing next to you. 

“I just think it’s cute how-”

“Still talking.” Jack cuts Robby off. 

“How the tables turn.” Robby shoots back, making Jack roll his eyes. 

“I was just trying to help-” Jack starts.

“Now, now, boys, no fighting in front of the children.” You fake scold them. This time they both roll their eyes at you. 

“Go back to work since you all still want to be here past your shifts.” Jack tells everyone, grabbing your hand and leading you to the doctor’s lounge. 

You expect a kiss and hug now that you’re in private, but instead you’re met with him pressing his chest to your back, one hand coming to hold one of your hips and the other moving your hair off one shoulder and tilting your neck before he leans in close to breathe you in. You can feel the soft skin of one of his lips brush against you and the stubble from him not shaving for a day. 

“Jack,” you breathe, heavier than you mean to, one hand coming to rest on his hand on your hip and the other reaching up to cup his face. 

“Celeste,” he murmurs against your skin. He’s right so you nod. That’s the name of the perfume you’re wearing on your neck and wrists today. “No wonder Santos picked up on you. Heavy sillage.” He gives you a kiss to the neck before pulling back to spin you and give you one to the lips. You smile as he does. “Stop smiling so I can kiss you properly.”

That makes you laugh, but you’re able to control it and in turn he’s able to kiss you properly, how you deserve to be kissed. “I love that you know what that word means and actually used it. It’s kind of hot.” You give him another kiss. “I’m making my military man into a perfumer.”

He hums at you, low and from the back of the throat. He loves it when you call him yours. “If you ever told anyone I would deny all knowledge of having a clue about what sillage and gourmand and all of the other pretentiously fancy perfume related words mean.” 

“I never would. Couldn’t ruin your reputation could I, Dr. Abbot? Plus I like having our little secrets.” You let your voice trail down on the last sentence, run your hands all over his scrub top.

His eyes darken just a little and his jaw tightens. He never really had any sort of title kink before he met you, but there’s something about the way ‘doctor’ slips off your tongue that really gets to him. Same with sir. 

“You’re not here for an ED related reason, are you? Hurt? Sick?” It’s teasing but there’s just enough of a tinge of real concern to the question that melts you. 

“I am not, no. I promise if I ever was here for such a reason I would make sure you knew immediately.” You smile at him softly, run a hand through the salt and peppery curls you love so much. “I just wanted to lay eyes on you, even if only for a moment. I missed you extra today. I’ll let you get back to work.” He nods, the little smile he gives you saying everything it needs to. You share one last kiss before going to leave the room.

“Oh,” you say, turning around and shutting the door again. “You’ve only answered half the question today. I just thought you should know.”

He raises his eyebrows. “You layered scents?”

“No.” You shake your head and smirk. He narrows his eyes a little as he tries to find the answer in your eyes. It suddenly clicks.

“Fuck me, your ankles?” He groans. “You put a different one on your ankles? Why?” He can already feel himself starting to fill out. He doesn’t know if he could articulate why he finds it so hot when you put perfume on your ankles for him to discover but he does. 

Your smirk widens. “For a fun surprise and to see the look on your face when I told you.” He glances around the room and then gets a look on his face like he’s thinking. You’re shocked, honestly. It’s so out of character for him to think about trying to do it at the hospital. It’s only happened twice. “Oh no,” you laugh, “no, no, no, Jack rabbit, you are not finding out here at the hospital, so don’t even think about places you could take me to try and find out.” 

He makes a noise of protest, somewhere between a growl and a whine that makes you bite your lip. He pins your back to the door with his hips and rolls them against you, grinding him into you to let you feel what you’ve done to him. “So what, I’m just supposed to go around like this for the rest of my shift?”

“Well you might want to take a couple of minutes to let that go down baby, but yes. You can finish your shift thinking about what could be on my ankles and what position it is you’re going to put me in to find out.” You press a kiss to his collarbone and his hands squeeze your hips a little harder, an unspoken command to look at him. 

You pull back and do as he asked. So big on eye contact, your Jack. He blinks at you, jaw clenched. “I’m going to be half hard and uncomfortable there for the rest of my shift, you know that right?”

“I am nothing if not a cruel woman.” You say with fake solemnity as you smooth your hands over his chest. “I’m sure as you get drawn back into work it’ll go away. Plus, you know the anticipation and wait makes it better.”

He somehow steps closer to you, almost puts a knee between your legs and leans in close, dropping his voice and making his voice even more gravely.“I want you to remember those words because you’re going to find out all about them once I’m home and I don’t want to hear any complaining.”

“Oh?” You raise an eyebrow. “Are you threatening to edge me, sir?” His jaw grinds and you see the slightest twitch under your eye that makes you smirk. You love that you can affect him like this.

“I don’t make threats, Doll.” He whispers at your ear as he steps back from you and pulls the door to the lounge open for you both to walk out of. Everyone glances up at the two of you, effectively forcing you to control your reaction as he keeps his voice low, only for you to hear. “Only promises I intend to keep.” 

[bonefall]

[ID: Ask from @storiesandsquirrels, transcribed in alt text]

also: link to Cow Lore

There's one major misconception here I've gotta correct before answering earnestly; Holsteins do need Super Duper Food. This is one of their major problems as a breed, you need to give them high quality feed for high quantity, low quality milk.

But! That said! These are valid questions that deserve real responses. In spite of the quick correction, I actually want to answer them as you phrased them because I think it would be more illuminating. I'm going to try and summarize them as I go along;

Question 1: "Why wouldn't we want to use The Most Efficient Cow?"

The simplest answer is disease. My ""prediction"" came true, and bird flu has mutated to spread extremely easily through the infected udders of Holsteins. No one has died of bovine-contracted HPAI yet, but with Brainworm Bobby and his love of raw milk in charge of the CDC...

well. my last prediction was prophetic. let's hope this one's not.

Minmaxing a breed for one specific purpose always means intensive inbreeding. Like I mentioned, 9 million Holsteins are genetically equivalent to 60 individuals. A more genetically diverse population is one that will be better at preventing disease outbreaks, and reducing their severity when they do.

And what even is the Most Efficient Milk Cow? If you're only selecting for pure milk production to drive down its cost, you get a breed of cattle that lacks every other important trait that would make it good livestock;

They get sick more often, due to inbreeding depression and lack of physical fitness, requiring more antibiotics and veterinary care.

They are bad parents who will need more human intervention to birth and raise calves

They won't be good grazers, meaning they need a specific food grown for them, increasing how much "functional" land is actually dedicated to cattle husbandry.

Their carcass won't yield as much meat, so more cattle have to be raised and slaughtered to meet demand.

Their bodies will burn out much quicker than a healthier animal, meaning you need to replace your livestock more often.

When it comes to living beings, "efficiency" is "fragility." It's not a stable system to begin with.

Even with the pure logic aside, just, step back here and look at the situation with a heart. We'd be making unhealthy, short-lived animals lacking critical instincts to lead good social lives. AND we probably haven't even fixed the "less land" problem, just shifted the land off-site.

For what? For more milk? We have SO MUCH milk we don't even know what to do with it!

Question 2: "Isn't an overabundance of cheap milk a good thing?"

no.

Under the infinite genius of Capitalism, thousands of gallons of milk just gets poured into the sewer daily because there's too much of it. Transporting it to a processor would cost more than it's worth, sometimes the processors turn milk away because they don't want to overproduce products, and even the US government can't subsidize every last drop; it still has 1.4 billion pounds of cheese in various caves and warehouses across the country.

The price of milk cannot get any lower because it's already being sold below the cost it takes to produce it, and yet, we're still here literally pouring it down the drain.

[photo from bill ulrich who photographed a farmer dumping milk back during the pandemic. this isn't even a recent photo. this happens every time there's a milk surplus. im using this photo because i like the farmer's cunty little pose. look at him. "just ain't right"core.]

And milk being dumped into the sewer is more than just wasteful. It's a biohazard.

Milk doesn't stop rotting when it's dumped. If you live downstream of a milkhouse, improper milk disposal reeks.

It's full of nutrients, too, which causes diatoms, cyanobacteria, and other types of algae to go into overdrive-- causing a Harmful Algal Bloom event in the water, or HAB.

HABs are horrific. There's HUNDREDS of different types. They can suck up oxygen and create "dead zones" which kills all aquatic life, they can poison the water supply for an entire town, and some can even cause toxic fumes that make it hard to breathe on land.

Now, listen, I don't want to scare you into never dumping out rotten milk or anything! It's that on an industrial scale, it's REALLY REALLY bad if a farm overproduces milk-- especially crummy milk that can't be made into decent cheese or other dairy products.

In fact, if we did produce milk on a smaller scale, it would be better for everyone! Unless you're a Milk Guzzling Fiend like I am, you probably wouldn't need to buy a whole gallon at a time. In countries like Italy, it's sold fresh and in smaller containers, and you're just expected to pick it up as you need it.

This is why milkmen used to exist, and still do in places that are cool; they'd deliver your supply fresh from the creamery. Less waste, less stress! The "subscription model" is actually sooooooooooo much better for milk production, since it helps to stagger out those "surges and drops" of demand that leads to milk dumps.

Question 3: "If the cow eats less, doesn't that mean less land for pasture, which is a good thing?"

There's a lot to unpack within this sentiment. It's actually based on a couple of common assumptions on a few levels, which are incorrect in fascinating ways. Challenging this means opening up your worldview on how complex keeping livestock actually is!

I'll start with the simpler part;

You could cut fresh pasture out of the equation entirely and shove a cow into a concrete pen with a food box-- but are you counting the land growing the fodder?

When you grow corn the way that we do on industrial farms in the US, it's unbelievably destructive. Unending oceans of monoculture. Fogged with pesticide, pumped full of fertilizer which causes HABs like dumped milk does, sprayed with thousands of gallons of wasted water.

When you look at this image, I need you to understand you are looking at a dead zone. Like a suburban lawn, just because it's green doesn't mean it's good. Nothing grows here but corn and pests of corn, which gets poisoned and dies without returning any of that energy to the ecosystem.

This is usually what is being given to "grain-fed cattle," either when they're sent to a feedlot to hit their slaughter weight, or when they're lactating so they need the extra nutrition. It's also so nasty it's inedible to human beings.

Now, a lot of cattle farmers will just supplement their cow's diet, doing a mix of pasture feeding (much cheaper) and grain feeding (quicker gains). But the facts on this are clear; pasture-kept cattle result in LESS emissions and need LESS total space than cows in confinement.

In fact, there were a LOT of benefits!

Overall gas emissions from the cows dropped by 8%

Ammonia pollution was down by 30%

Not needing to run farm equipment for fodder planting and harvest reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 10%

Rotated crop fields didn't sequester carbon; but the newly converted perennial grasslands store as much as 3,400 pounds per acre.

The outside cows did produce less milk volume, but the milk they did produce was higher quality. So, looking at all the benefits here, it's clear that pasture is actually something that should be embraced for ecological reasons, not rejected.

In FACT, it should be EMPHASIZED. Because, this is the mind-blowing part,

Pasture can ALSO be an ecosystem.

In fact, I'm a Warrior Cats guy who once did a deep dive on moorlands just so I could write WindClan better. There are entire biomes that only exist because of grazing, and British lowland heath is one of them!

Keeping cattle in a sustainable, ecologically sound way is going to look different depending on where in the world you're doing it. So many earnest, good-willed people have bought into the lie that humans are a problem, and that everything "associated" with us becomes a barren wasteland as if we are tainted. YOU are not the problem! The problem is, and always has been, exploitation. Unsustainable relationships with the land we're part of.

Indigenous people in Europe, Asia, and Africa have been keeping cattle for thousands of years. In North America, cattle can be used to maintain ecosystems that have been badly affected by the colonial eradication of the American Bison. In South America, Brazil specifically has been making incredible advances with highly efficient integrated crop-livestock-forestry farming.

Generally, pastures here in the US are not as intensely managed as an equivalent crop field. Some people fertilize them, or water them mid-summer, but absolutely not to the same extent as industrial corn farms. Cattle are typically rotated between pastures, allowing each to re-grow before they come back to graze again.

Obviously, yes, overgrazing can be an issue. Not every open space should be converted into a pasture, and the destruction of other environments to turn into cow land is a problem. But that is an issue of bad land stewardship, not the mere practice of keeping livestock.

Bottom line, though? Cattle who can graze and survive outside are better for the environment than cattle that can't.

...but hey, you know what Holsteins happen to be really bad at?

EVERYTHING. GRAZING.

They are notoriously terrible grazers. They can't do megan THEEEEE thing that cows are known for. Fragile frames, a lack of fat to keep them warm outside, increased demand for food, distaste for any rough forage, horrible mothering instincts, the list goes on. Holsteins are a NIGHTMARE to try and keep outside all year round compared to other breeds.

(especially heritage breeds, like the Milking Devon, Florida Cracker, or Texas Longhorn. Between these three, you'd be totally covered in 80% of American climates.)

I've already explained why it's not actually very good or important that we minmax milk volume, but even if that was actually something we should value, there are so many downsides that they would absolutely not be the dominant cow breed in a truly "efficient" system.

"Less cows means less cow food and cow land" is sound logic, but Holsteins are not the right cow for that job.

Question 4: "How could this be done in a way that doesn't increase cost of living?"

I'm not sure how to answer this question, simply because I'm not Bonestar, Leader of AmericaClan. Wish I was. I would rule tyrannically.

It's worth noting that Brazil is the second largest producer of beef in the entire world, AND the number one largest exporter of it, AND only puts 30% of its land to total agricultural use. The USA dedicates over 50%. And also Brazil is net reducing its amount of agricultural land while increasing output.

It seems clear to me that the USA actually has a massive food waste and resource distribution problem, to the point where the price we pay for stuff is actually wildly disconnected from the actual value of the goods and labor.

I think the way that us Americans tend to frame our conversations on these topics as "growth" vs "cuts" instead of asking how to minimize waste by making existing systems more efficient prevents us from solving problems. We're also just... really culturally resistant to the idea of anything being more "expensive," even if it ends up costing us a lot more money in waste or mismanagement later.

Penny wise and dollar foolish ass country.

Question 5: "What can we personally do about this?"

I mean, I wasn't making a call to action in Cow Lore, I was just explaining to one of my regulars why I don't like Holsteins LMAO. Since you're asking though...

I don't think we can change the wider trend in the dairy industry without actual government intervention and regulation, though, and that's very unlikely in the current political environment. they just sent random dudes to Ausalvador-Birkenau and when the Supreme Court said "bring this specific person back" they said "nuh uh." fellas I don't think we're getting better dairy regulations in the foreseeable future.

So I think the most productive thing to do is focusing on supporting small farms and heritage breeds. Get involved in your community garden or heritage society if you have one.

Not only is that generally a very rewarding thing, but it will be helpful to you in case The Situation Gets Worse. Knowing your neighbors and having real human connection is your best defense against economic recession.

Supporting the locals is always a great thing to do, which can be as simple as going to farmer's markets. You don't need to buy fancy food every day to make an impact on your community-- it can be a treat sometimes!

You could also subscribe to the Livestock Conservancy's free newsletter, where they talk about the work they're doing and upcoming events. If you're a knitter, crocheter, or any other kind of fiber artist, you could even join in on a challenge they're running where you make items out of rare wool for prizes!

Should you end up liking the work they do, you can become a member for 4$ a month, or go to one of their educational events.

Even just talking about the problem can do a lot! Did you know the Highland Cow was actually critically endangered in the USA within the past 10 years? It was the work of the Livestock Conservancy, plus a surge in their popularity, that helped to bring their numbers up. Word of mouth is a powerful thing.

All that said, remember, you can't solve every problem. It's a big world and there's a lot of them. Being made aware of an issue doesn't mean you have to drop what you were previously doing-- just care a lot about something that you want to improve, and let that guide you.

[themaresnest-dumblr]

Well ... yes ... but ... this all seems just a little bit too good to be true, just as the Skyblivion project (for the uninitiated, Oblivion remade with the graphical niceties of Skyrim) is about to appear. For free. There's part of us that feels this 'leak' is a spoiler by Bethesda, the sort of mean move that EA tried doing against all its Sims competitors, because they don't like anyone doing anything outside of their paid for Content Creation guild. Of course, we'll probably get both - same as one of us was dumb enough to get the console ports of every PC game they had for the Switch 'because ...' - but would much prefer something new about the Elder Scrolls VI, or, hey, some more Skyrim stuff (this time, without bloody zombies ...)

OBLIVION REMAKE TRAILER IMAGES HAVE LEAKED FROM THE VIRTUOS WEBSITE THIS IS NOT A JOKE

[traincat]

I know there's like 0 possibly of marvel ever letting Peter Parker officially be queer, but what about Johnny? Do you think it's possible that he could be confirmed as bi/pan at some point?

Johnny Storm exists in the weirdest canon sexuality grey area known to mankind. Is he constantly referred to as gay? Yeah. Is there evidence that several high profile Marvel creators think he's queer? Yes. Marjorie Liu confirmed that the intent in her run in Dark Wolverine was that there was a sexual relationship between him and Akihiro. Kurt Busiek retweeted an article I wrote that explicitly discussed the homosexual subtext of Johnny's character. Dan Slott reportedly wanted to write Johnny and Wyatt in a romantic relationship, which is believable if you look at the beginning of his run, but was told no. (Slott's written gay relationships before in Amazing Spider-Man, so I wouldn't find this so surprising.) And John Byrne wrote this:

(FF #251) John Byrne I desperately want to study you in a lab.

But is Johnny canonically anything but 100% straight? No, not officially. Marvel, the conglomerate, officially views Johnny as heterosexual, and if the Dan Slott thing is true even recently blocked an attempt at having Johnny come out. If this is true, it's most likely because of the new movie, because let's be honest, corporate Marvel does not care about Johnny Storm on the same level it cares about Spider-Man or the Punisher or Iron Man.

Because let's be honest. This goes deep. And it's been going on a long time. The above John Byrne panel is not the only example. There is a long-running thread of homophobic comments targeting Johnny running through 616 canon.

(Hulk vs Thing: Hard Knocks #3) "Light in the loafers" is slang for a gay man, for anyone who doesn't know.

(Dark Reign: Zodiac #2. I don't recommend reading this, by the way, not even if you're going deep down the Johnny Sexuality Well, but for the record Johnny, despite not being canonically gay, literally gets gaybashed in this comic.)

(FF #151) Does it get more blatant than a character named "Mahkizmo" referring to Johnny as "an effeminate"? Someone get me Gerry Conway on the phone, I need to know what he was thinking when he wrote this. (I know what Gerry Conway was thinking because Gerry Conway is a very good and very intentional writer.)

Then there's Ben's repeated teasing about Johnny's "crush" on Spider-Man, referring to them as "love boids" and so on. This is friendlier than the above comments, but then, if we assume Johnny is queer, Ben would know about it. He certainly knew what was going on with Johnny and Akihiro.

(Daken: Dark Wolverine #4) "Got what he came for, right?" Real double entendre here, since "what he came for" is both a weapon from Reed and, clearly, sex with Johnny.

The posing here is not subtle, even before you factor in that Marjorie Liu, who co-wrote this series along with Daniel Way, confirmed on social media that the relationship was meant to be read as sexual. (So you can probably add Way to the list of writers who think Johnny is queer, too.)

In fact, I'd say that Liu and Way depict the whole family as knowing about Johnny's sexuality and about the relationship.

(Daken: Dark Wolverine #4)

So if Johnny is in the closet, the way this issue frames it, he's only in the closet to the public. He's not in the closet to his family.

(Deadline #1) "All right, Storm, who were you with last night: Britney? Christina? Eminem?" in reference to Johnny getting caught "with a bottle in one hand and a blonde in another." So he's not doing a great job on that front, either.

Then there's Johnny's tendency, despite the perception of him as a womanizer, to look incredibly uncomfortable when he's kissed by a woman -- even a woman he purportedly has romantic interests in. Take, for example, the following panels:

(FF #562) He certainly is just standing there while Psionics, his one-time bad girl fling, kisses him and invites him to come see her again. Which he doesn't do, by the way. The next time he sees Psionics, she'll kill his close family friend Alyssa Moy right in front of him. Great!

(FF #259) Literally running away from Sharon Selleck. Now, we can say that he just wasn't attracted to her, which is true -- he was very ardently pursuing her roommate, Julie DeAngelo. Except.

(FF #263) That's certainly some kind of posture when she kisses him, and of course as soon as she kisses him, he's "over her."

There's more examples of this, too, where Johnny has a pre-existing connection with a woman only for him to completely freeze up or lean away from her when he's kissed, with no follow through on his part. (This is part of the reason I personally headcanon him as gay and not bi, but that's besides the point.) And it's a totally separate issue from the other longrunning thread of him being kissed as a form of assault. Which also happens. Like a lot. "Johnny Storm" and "consent issues" are basically synonymous at this point, which again is really interesting if we're looking at this from the perspective of Johnny and sexuality, since most of these incidents involve women as the perpetrators.

(Most. Not all. Dark Reign: Zodiac definitely implies some things, and I think it's interesting that Akihiro initiates his connection to the Fantastic Four by shooting Johnny through the thigh with an arrow.)

I've mentioned this before, but again, for a character who has the reputation that Johnny has developed, both in and out of universe, it is deeply bizarre that he does not have sex scenes. He doesn't have them. Peter Parker has sex scenes. Kinky sex scenes! There is zero doubt in my mind that that Peter Parker is attracted to women. I can't even show you Johnny Storm having vanilla missionary honeymoon lovemaking that fades to black. Whenever they want to show you he's had sex, it is always in the aftermath, and he is rarely having a great time about it. What's up with that, Marvel! I know, but do you!

Then there's Unstable Molecules: Fantastic Four, which exists in a metatextual area -- it's a fictionalized account of the "real people" who inspired the Fantastic Four, the story of four people rapidly barreling towards a disastrous dinner party that would be witnessed by two comic book creators. And it's Johnny is definitely queer.

(Unstable Molecules #3) "Johnny, it is the fiery night, and you are a holy flaming flower." The extras for Unstable Molecules even include a love poem written by the beatnik who calls him "a holy flaming flower" that is definitely supposed to be about Johnny.

So that's the grey area. You have all of this content that either implies or occasionally outright states that Johnny is not straight. But according to Marvel, the actual publisher and company, Johnny is straight. Personally, I don't like saying things are canon if they aren't explicitly 100% confirmed canon, but the wealth of evidence here is so substantial that I make an exception. It's just a matter of when Marvel the actual company is going to admit it.

(Fantastic Four: Marvel Snapshots #1)

[rosenkranz-isnt-dead]

I simply must know your least favorite XF episode, and also the most aesthetic ep.

okay the answer to your first question is getting very long so I'll put it under the cut, and as for the second one: I've thought about it and decided that it's Gender Bender. I'm not particularly fond of the episode, I've only ever watched it once, but the Aesthetic there is top notch, thank you mr Rob Bowman

(yes these are all from Gender Bender)

well alright! so as you know I haven't seen *all* of it so I'm 100% sure there are much worse episodes later on, and before too, but En Ami just pissed me off really bad. it's far from the only txf episode to piss me off, but something about it makes my skin crawl. people always praise the x files for not sexualizing Scully, and while it's mostly true, it's not always the case, as for example in En Ami. her wearing that black dress which doesn't leave much for imagination to appease the smoking man (or his mysterious "friend") is not very hashtag #feminism. when the smoking man undresses scully in her sleep (did he drug her? I don't remember but seems probable) and she wakes up in bed wearing pajamas, and even after that she does not leave?? y'know, Dana Scully, MD, who's been violated on multiple occasions before? but no, she trusts him to share the Ultimate Cure For Every Disease with her, or whatever it was, I only watched it once. sure, let's all trust the smoking man, it's always worked so well. and Mulder! doesn't have a key to her apartment! even though it was established early on that they just casually break into each other's places like once a week. and of course the smoker lied, but it's apparently news to Scully, who "saw something in his eyes". fuck OFF! the only thing this episode is good for is comparing it to All Things, where Mulder leans over the sleeping Scully and fixes her hair, like the smoker does in En Ami, but unlike the cancer man, what Mulder does next is he covers her with a blanket and leaves her be. y'know, because he's not a creep. ANYWAY! i just generally have a problem with the episodes where Scully gets violated/is taken advantage of, even when it's played for laughs, like in Small Potatoes. oof! that was good. I never get the chance to properly be a hater, so thank you for this!

[locketsvault]

「 CUDDLING WITH PENACONY 」

pairings: sunday x reader ፥ acheron x reader ፥ aventurine x reader ፥ black swan x reader ፥ dr ratio x reader ፥ argenti x reader ፥ boothill x reader

tags: gender neutral reader, no agab mentioned, first person, fluff, cuddling/phyiscal affection

warnings: angst for sunday, acheron, aventurine, and boothill, abuse, slavery, and sa mentioned in aventurines, canon past traumas mentioned in sunday, aventurine, and boothill, not properly proof read

other parts: star rail ᨒ stellaron hunters ᨒ jarilo-vi ᨒ xianzhou ᨒ penacony ᨒ amphoreus

a/n: this should hopefully be a complete series in time. thus, I will not be taking requests for the next parts release, they’ll be pumped out in time. I do not mind taking requests on proper scenarios or more elaboration on a character though! no gender or sex mentioned, no pronouns either!

// sunday⌇˚.༄

⮑ Oh boy… we’re starting off angsty I see. Yeah so he’s never been in a relationship, ever. He’d never put someone else in his role willingly, especially if he cared about them. And I feel he would never have been allowed to. After his parents death, I think the only physical content he ever really had was Robin.

⮑ He has a lot of religious undertones, he was kept pretty pure and followed the rules he was given as much as possible. I’d also like to say, being with Sunday pre him joining the astral express and after is pretty different. Pre joining the express, let’s say he is allowed to be in a relationship (or he keeps you secret), he’s very nervous with physical contact. After joining the express, he’s more open to it. He can admit how touch starved he is, how much he craves it.

⮑ Pda is 100% out of the question. No. That’s way too risky, even if your relationship is public (which I don’t really think he’d do). After joining the express though, I think he’d be worried of making the crew uncomfortable. He’d probably hold your hand or put his hand on your back but that’s about it. Affection is vulnerable and private, and to him should stay that way.

⮑ Before it was mostly you. Even if he allowed himself in a relationship he’d keep you at arms length trying to protect you. He wouldn’t allow himself the luxury of falling asleep in your arms, or the reprieve of holding you close after a long day. After, he’d go to you a lot. He’s admitted his vulnerabilities, he’s changed, he doesn’t want to be ashamed that he wishes to hold you or be held.

⮑ Sunday before would always take on the dominant roll, but tbh, I think he’d be a little spoon. I don’t necessarily mean in a submissive way, and I don’t think it’s an indicator on his role in the relationship. When he was a child he was very sensitive, and it’s clear he still is now. He’s building himself back up, trying to be true to himself. Before, he’d be afraid of being vulnerable. After, he could really use being held as he cry. He’d be curled up into your chest, gripping your shirt. But he’d still hold you just as willingly, because he still feels responsible for you.

⮑ 8.5/10, he’s actually a really good cuddler and will always put you first, he doesn’t get a higher number bc before, he was a mess.

// acheron⌇˚.༄

⮑ She’s not used to people being comfortable around her, and frankly, she doesn’t blame them. But when you show you feel safe with her, when you hug her for the first time, it all changes. You find that actually, she’s quite the cuddle bug.

⮑ On first glance she may seem like someone who doesn’t do affection, especially physical. She keeps a distance from everyone. But that’s because she has to. Being an emanator makes having relationships very hard. But she found you, and you got to see past her mask. She’s caring, she’s kind, and shocking to most, she’s gentle. She knows how to cuddle, she knows how to show affection, and she loves spoiling you with it.

⮑ She is not one for pda, she would never put you in such risks, and she is not one for attention. Even if no one knows who she is, being physical with you will surely draw some unwanted attention.

⮑ It’s pretty 50/50 on who goes to who to be honest. She’s not ashamed of wanting to be affectionate with you. If she needs a hug or knows you need one. And she makes it very safe for you to go to her first. She’s very intuitive though, so there’s a good chance she will go to you first when she knows you want/need it.

⮑ The most common is you laying your head in her lap. She will play with your hair and intently listen to you yap about how your day went. It’s honestly her favorite. But she will happily change it around to whatever you wish. You want to hold her? Okay then, she will pay on your chest. You want to be more physical? You can sit in her lap and hug her.

⮑ 10/10, as long as you don’t mind that she doesn’t do pda, she’s honestly a wonder cuddle partner. I desperately need a hug from her.

// aventurine⌇˚.༄

⮑ If sundays was angst my then idk what to call this. Bc how Aventurine reacts to affection is purely based on his past. Which is… traumatic, to say the least. It involves so much violence, slavery, and sa. Touch is dangerous, touch is vulnerable, touch is a tool. For him to feel comfortable enough to let you in truly, he must really love you. Bc oh boy is this man broken.

⮑ I honestly think we glossed past the part where Aventurine was a slave and was sa’d too quick. I get it, he’s sexy, charming, got twink energy, whatever you guys wish to say. But he does have a history, it was shoved right in our faces. In order to buy his “freedom” from all the physical torment, he took on a position which causes him to have a heavy mask, one that is charm and flirtatiousness.

⮑ He does not trust easy. His friendliness, his charm, it’s all a mask to hide how scared and broken he really is. We see a few times his hands shaking while he’s performing, seemingly prideful and confident, when in reality he’s scared. He doesn’t do physical touch with just anyone. If he feels safe enough for you to touch him, to cuddle him, he must first really get to know you and truly love you. He’d have to let his mask down.

⮑ Sadly, yes, he will do pda. But it may not be for all the right reasons. He doesn’t like to if he can help it, he doesn’t want you to end up contracted to the IPC. He wants you to be free. But if you’re already known, he’ll be protective. Always an arm around your waist, kissing your cheek is someone gets too close. But there is a part of it that is genuine. When he’s anxious he will hold your hand, or fidget with your clothes ever so slightly when he’s got his arm wrapped around you.

⮑ Honestly, it’s pretty balanced on who will seek who out. However, in the beginning stages of your relationship it had to be you. He’s super busy, and still pretty hesitant about cuddling you. The easiest time to catch him would be when it’s time to sleep. But once you two fall into a rhythm, once he’s more comfortable and relaxed, he will seek you out as well.

⮑ His arm wrapped around your shoulder or waist, holding you close while you two watch a movie together. Him holding your back to his chest and taking in your scent, which just so happens to smell like his body wash. Him clinging to your torso after having another nightmare. Cuddling with him is chaotic at times, but also desperate. He prefers picking the position, it feels safer to do so. But he will let you pick as well.

⮑ 9/10, he’s very warm and attentive, just a little traumatized.

// black swan⌇˚.༄

⮑ She’s definitely a cuddly person with her partner and she’s not at all afraid to show it. Hers is going to short bc I don’t have too much knowledge on her or too much to say.

⮑ She’s confident, she’s comfortable, and she’s not the type to be ashamed. While some of it may be a mask, I do think it’s part of her actual personality. She doesn’t mine physical affection, and she loves the reactions she can get out of you.

⮑ She spent mine pda. Partly because she can show herself at any time, so if someone she’s she’s usually in control of who and when. But also because she doesn’t see it as a problem or a threat. If she wants to hold got hand, then she will.

⮑ It’s balanced on who goes to who, you feel comfortable enough to seek her out first, but she too will also seek you out. She likes having you near while she’s dealing with things. She loves having your touch or tbh even just your presence.

⮑ She loves loves loves having you in her lap. She loves teasing you, she loves just holding you. Awake or asleep, though she prefers awake. She’s also down to cuddle however you wish, but she prefers to be big spoon.

⮑ 8/10, she’s very comfortable to cuddle, but she’s also a big tease.

// dr ratio⌇˚.༄

⮑ I’m not gonna lie, while I don’t pay too much attention to dr ratio (I’m sorry yall he’s just not my cup of tea), I feel like you deserve an award for getting that close to him and getting him to be physical.

⮑ He’s very closed off, he’s private and purposefully doesn’t let people close. Whether it be because he doesn’t think they’re worthy, or because he’s hiding something, it doesn’t matter. So the fact you got close enough… you’re both brave and lucky. He’s not very physical, especially at the start. You hug him and he’s disturbed.

⮑ Lmao… no. Like- never. How dare you ask. He wouldn’t do it to be protective, he wouldn’t do it to make someone jealous or back off. No. He finds physical intimacy of any kind in public to be foolish and inappropriate. For you, and for others.

⮑ You got to him, I can’t picture him wanting ti go to you much first. Something would’ve had to really shake him up, or he’d realize you really need it. Despite how critical he may be, he does genuinely care for you. And if he sees you struggling and knows you need a hug, he will initiate it. I don’t see him as someone who thrives off of physical touch, so it makes no difference to him.

⮑ Whichever ones you like the most and he can be the big spoon in. You want to lay between his legs and against his chest? He’s fine with that. You want to spoon? That’s okay. You want to sit in his lap when he reads? That’s… actually not bad.

⮑ 5/10, he’s surprisingly warm and being wrapped in his arms is nice, but he’s quite the soul to deal with.

// argenti⌇˚.༄

⮑ Thee knight of beauty who swore a solitary life for Idrila? You managed to get him to commit to you? Congratulations, he quite literally worships the ground you walk on. And physical affection comes with that package.

⮑ He is actually very physically affectionate, he’s very affectionate in general. I really do mean it when I say he worships the ground you walk on. If you enjoy physical affection, if it’s a main love language for you, he will make sure to do it always.

⮑ He is comfortable with pda for the most part, he’s not ashamed of how he loves you. He will hold your waist, your hand, cup your cheek, he loves you. And he will show it whenever. I mean, bro literally rizzed a plant. He doesn’t care.

⮑ He probably goes to you more, especially if you love physical affection. He does it for himself, but most importantly, you. But if you’re the one seeking him out, he will happily oblige.

⮑ He loves holding you, he loves taking care of you. So any position where he can do that is a must. Other than that, I can see him loving to lay his head in your lap, and he loves when you play with his hair.

⮑ 7/10, he’s a wonderful cuddler I’m sorry but that armor, ouch…

// boothill⌇˚.༄

⮑ Bro is a wanted criminal who’s planet got destroyed and who’s daughter got murdered. Yes this is relevant to cuddles. Because he was a dad, to a girl, he gives amazing cuddles. But he’s also private and doesn’t trust easily, and you can’t convince me cuddling another living being doesn’t hurt.

⮑ The first time he ever touched you, ever did any sort of physical affection, it hurt him. To allow himself to love and be loved again… But he craved it, he wanted it, and you enjoying it did help. It took him a bit to grow comfortable with affection, but once he did, it’s home.

⮑ He’s iffy on pda, it isn’t his style. But if he needs to be protective, if someone is trying to make a move, then he definitely would. But if you’re out and about no not really. Not that he’s the type to be out and about.

⮑ You mostly go to him for cuddle time. But he isn’t above going to you. Mostly if he knows you need it, but sometimes he will indulge himself when he wants cuddles. Usually when he’s feeling down.

⮑ He loves hugging you from behind, spooning, having you between his legs or laying on his chest. He loves holding you.

⮑ 6/10, it takes a bit to get him comfortable with cuddling, but I also deduct points bc his chest is metal, that can’t be comfy for long term cuddling.

main hub ✦ masterlist ✦ to do list

[digiblueslush]

a duck. I used to say "stingray" every time because they're my favorite animal, but i think being a duck would be the best animal to be. You sit in a lake, thats probably man made. you waddle around. you float there. theres drama but its nothing too offensive or draining. its literally taking it easy.

whatever I was already wearing (hot take I KNOW but the idea that you can only wear clothes once before washing, or you can't wear the same clothes 2 days in a row is absolutely crazy. I wear the same outfit for a full 2 days before changing (exceptions with socks and underwear) and I don't understand why people think thats something so disgusting. Like unless your constently working outside or working out or extremely messy and dirty, your clothes are still clean. pretty sure this idea was put out there just to sell more clothes lolz #ihatecapatilism

vampire 100%. I too follow very particular rules, feed off of other people's resources, and mentally serve cunt 24/7 even when im just sickly and wearing black

in actuality, i have this cool collection i wear called "PJs". one of a kind, top secret, never for sale. If i had the money, sensory tolerance, and energy, id probably go for something like cyberpunk. Emo and frutiger aero are pretty much opposites, so i think cyberpunk would be a good inbetween.

regular milk. i can fuck with oat milk every now and then, but i can't ever care too much about finding a "good brand" of milk. plus when im feeling 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 and want a plain glass of milk (or 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓮𝓻 and want a glass of milk with ice in it) plant milk will never hit IM SORRY ITS JUST LIKE WHAT AESTHETICALLY HAPPENED TO MCDONALDS IN FLAVOR FORM. WHY IS MY MILK MATTE?

cereal. milk first makes no sense

for silly hahas, grabbing someone by the ankles and spinning around super fast in a circle and then they kinda go horizontal and i let go and they go flying and hit their head in. For something that follows the rules of physics and my strength levels, i think secretly blood letting someone would be kinda cool. it'd take a long time but unless you were very evidently up to no good, it would just be super severe anemia. No true injuries, no poisons or anything. blood letting!

TY FOR THE TAG!! doing this on my personal so yea! tagging: @fishermansfriendsworld @radiowave-slushie @rubes2do @satanicjamanic @lessthanpog

yk what I'll also do this get to know your mutuals cuz I thought bout it for a bit and I think I have to or I'll explode

get to know your mutuals♡

if you could be any animal which one would you choose to be? (can be fictional) (and you can explain why if you want to)

what would you choose when you're in a hurry and have nothing to wear?

are you a witch, vampire, fairy, dryad, siren or a mermaid and why do you think so?

what is your style?

regular milk or plant based milk?

which one do you put first milk or cereal?

fav way to kill someone? (idgaf if you never thought of it now you have to think of something and make it at least a bit cool I'm begging)

and I'll go first cuz I can

girl I wrote kinda a lot in these answers but I just had to brag about my fav way of killing people🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ and okay maybe it's kinda stupid that I'm also doing this game even tho I made it for others but who cares?

I can't choose but either a phoenix or a wolf cuz the allegory of both of these animals absolutely stole my heart

anything in my wardrobe that looks good (and it's almost always not adequate for the cold weather, I literally can wear a mini skirt when it's like 2°C outside and there are times when I am wearing a mini skirt and a crop top when it is 0°C and even when it was -3°C I don't care)

something in between vampire and a dryad cuz I feel like I would be a good vampire I don't know how to describe it but I just know and that's it and also a dryad cuz when I think of them they give me rather a messy and chaotic vibe which is def how I act and overall express myself so I'd say that I'm sometimes both sometimes one and sometimes the other

I'm goth so my style is overall gothic and / or cunty

regular but only 1,5% fat

CEREAL

sooo this is my fav way, first - pepper spray in the face so they can't see and therefore they can't run away, second - start scratching their legs with a pocket knife as hard as possible and try to find an aorta and cut there (making it even harder to run away), third - stick the same knife into all of their fingers (why not), fourth - knock out their teeth with a knuckle duster and finally - when they open their mouth trying to catch a breath from the blood and saliva running into their throat pour fluoroantimonic acid into their mouth and it's done! and I'll add that fluoroantimonic acid is called the most corrosive acid in the world ans if it touches the skin it causes huge damage and if poured into someones throat it'll burn the insides and kill. I think I'm really creative cuz I came up with this when I was writing one of my books and now I'm obsessed

tags: @n1eprzytomnadesperacja @niketas-s @r4tkisses @dawkacynizmu @gothicm0rph @slowacki006

and with question 7 rn I'm mostly thinking about one bbg ( @dawkacynizmu I'm looking at you ) cuz a bit after I came up with this question I thought that you might have an interesting answer

[jazeswhbhaven]

Demon Butler Buffet, Enjoy your stay | April Fools' Event 2025 | React/Recap Spoilers Part 2

Screenshots only this time for this post! If you want to go over the summary check it out here:

🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🖤🤍

The old man is done with these games lmaooo

Idk but my hunch that Asmo is quite keen on Belphie is starting to look correct because of how buddy buddy he's been with him this entire time

Ofc he did, because even the merch has the kings on it. I bet he sets the prices for WHB indirectly too if we're being honest /hj💀

You tell 'em Lizzy! Man I would get so annoyed at coworkers like this who had no other reason to be late other than they felt like it when I was dealing with a crowd or people or waiting to clock out and go home for the day...

They knew what was up the minute Lizzy showed concern for Jihoon getting his shit rocked by Satan (nah srsly don't touch him without permission unless you're MC)

Okay, I'll be ready. And I'll do it again, trust.

He said something sensible, and he's being cute. Look at hims.

MAMM'S NIP IS OUT.

🎵lemme suck your titties bby...ooooooo whoaaaaaaaa🎵

No frfr, he was lookin' thicccccc (all of 'em were) I also like seeing his hair this way because it gives me a better visual of what his ponytail looks like, also have y'all noticed his horn shape changes?

Ah, I was wondering where his wings were. Seems they fit under the fabric easily in the suit but with how they usually look I can tell why they would bother him...the bone is still pokin' out 😭

Sorry for the jumpscare with Beel's pale arm, but him thinking the talismans worn off and everyone was dying is so him. Asmo was like "nah they're just fainting that's normal" is also funny

Oh boy, at least they did o k a y. I would be satisfied by their butler roles 😭 but Levi in that maid outfit? the fave poster boy foreallssss

I hate that he's correct, because I actually cannot buy a realistic experience with me hanging out with the Kings for an entire day just doing random stuff and being flirty.... p a i n (yes cosplayers exist but they are real people 😭😔 it's not the same to me)

Well...yeah Asmo we know why you'd find that exciting...

Oh, well this looks like it could be Beel's true form? The color of the eye and the VIVIVI floating around??? But either way....lol they got some crazy things on their camera

Nice save, Luci <3 we would be lost without you

idk he just looks really good in this fit and tail included

Luci meant that shit, which is why Asmo just kinda nervously laughed. Even he...knows better than to play with a former angel.

Ah so that's what his side effect was...unable to count money 🥴🥴

Nuh uh, what you doin' Jihoon? 🤨🤨🤨

All I'm thinking about is taking a trip to Paris with Luci and Levi while they're in those outfits...especially after being recused from some whack dude

He was crying because the Kings were giving Lizzy things to sell and we're just suppose to "ignore that" lmaooooo

Happy Lizzy is happy <3 she can pay off a lot of things now! (Wish I were there working with them then cause shit I need some things...)

Girls trip!!! *beep beeepppppp* ( •̀ ω •́ )✧o(*^＠^*)o

literally them rn with their photos of their kings in the outfits lmao I found it hilarious that Beleth wasn't really phased and it makes me wonder if Belphie does shit like this all the time because he's an Otaku so cosplaying is literally something to expect (and because he probably has to help him change into it)

Also what I found funny is that the nobles also were talked about on Earth's social media as the "hot cosplay group" and I'm just like awh they were popular too. Which I mean they would be popular anywhere. All the while Bael is cussing out Beel in hopes to drag him back to Abyssos but I guess that ain't gonna happen

Not when we have.....the butt contest underway.....👀👀👀👀

Which concludes my react! See y'all for the second part of the event...I can tell this shit is gonna be unserious because the kings...are unserious.

[alexanderlightweight]

Was told something recently that hit hard, don't know why exactly, I think maybe because I was already defensive and ready to justify myself that getting support shocked me. My doctor said 'If a diabetic person needed to be on medication for the rest of their life, you won't argue it. If anxiety medication is what is needed, why is that any different? Why shouldn't it be used to ensure on-going quality of life? It really hurts but so relieved. Could I see a Malec situation with similar emotions?

my dearest Anon, I am so very happy for you and I hope you are proud of yourself. I have been there. you are so strong for accepting the support offered and ALSO being ready to fight for it if needed. i'm so glad you didn't have to fight for it. but also good job for realizing that the epiphany both hurt and relieved you. also there is nothing wrong with feeling defensive about needing support since in this world getting help is so often met with scorn.

i wrote this based on some of my own experiences with chronic fatigue and anxiety but every person is different so if it doesn't mesh well, let me know and I can try again. Its important

tw: chronic fatigue and anxiety

i hope you enjoy? which feels like a weird thing to say about this fic but I know that's MY brain raveners (will be explained in the notes).

<3 lumine

-

attacked from within

Alec stares at the small clear vial of pink liquid, so delicate in his calloused hands.

It would be so very simple to take a sip. To swallow the potion that Magnus specifically asked Catarina to make taste like strawberries and know that the tension he’s holding will start to fade.

That the spiraling dizziness in his head will clear soon after taking it, not an instant relief but a gradual recovery from the doom encompassing him.

Still... it’s not that bad yet.

Alec’s thoughts have certainly done worse to him than this and today hasn’t even been that bad of a day. Alec’s clearly just let Magnus pamper him too much if he can’t even handle a normal shift at the Institute without wanting the potion.

After all, it’s not bad enough that he needs it.

Not yet.

—

“Alexander, the point of the potion is to take it.” Magnus is holding the vial between thumb and pointer with a pinched expression on his face and Alec winces.

He made Magus worry.

Again.

Even if he didn’t need the potion, he should have just taken it, to avoid Magnus’ sad face and the disappointment he’s no doubt hiding so Alec doesn’t feel worse.

“I wanted to wait until I really needed it.”

It feels like such an excuse in the face of earnest gold eyes watching him with sincere concern.

“Were you stressed? Did your head swirl after meetings and when talking to your mother about your future plans for your career? Did you want to simply slide to the floor and pull at your hair until the thoughts left?”

Alec really wishes that he hadn’t been so honest — well that's not true, Magnus deserves his complete honesty — because Magnus knows now what to ask about. What to look for, even when Alec is too used to it to notice himself.

Alec swallows and nods, “yeah but it wasn’t... it wasn’t as bad as it was last time.”

Last time specifically referring to a night Alec barely remembers but he knows that Magnus hasn’t forgotten and probably never will.  Not if the terrified devastation on his face when Alec finally came back to reality meant anything.

It was a night like any other, except that Alec had felt like his mind and heart were tearing him to pieces and that maybe he should just let it. Maybe if he succumbed the battering of his thoughts and accepted his failures and the crushing reality of his dreams being erased it would ease the pounding of his head.  

Where Alec was the prey and his thoughts the hunter.

“Darling, the potion is to make sure it doesn’t get that bad again. It’s preventative.”

“Then I’d be taking it all the time, Magnus. Every day.” Which is hard to admit and also sounds ridiculous. Why would Alec need to take it every day when he’s been surviving so far without it, except for a few incidents?

“Yes darling, because it’s to help manage the symptoms.  The gold vial? That one is for emergencies.  An extra precaution for truly horrific days that attack regardless of if you’ve taken the regular potion or not.  The pink vial? That’s just to help you live life to the fullest, Alexander. Because you deserve to enjoy life.”

“I can handle it, Magnus.” Because Alec can, he’s been handling things that would break other people his whole life, he can’t let this small thing be the breaking point.

“Do you want to live the rest of your life managing yourself like this?” Magnus sounds so concerned, so worried and Alec really, really doesn't want to live like this. But he can’t help but feel this isn’t the correct way. That he should be stronger or that he’s taking the easy route to all of this.  Because wanting to take the potion feels like a weakness. Can’t he just work on his thoughts? 

He says the last part out loud and Magnus sighs, but he’s smiling at Alec.

A soft, proud and slightly sad smile.

“Yes, working on your thoughts is good. However what happens when your thoughts fight back darling? Do you simply try harder? When you’re already exhausted and doing your best? How is that fair to you?”

“Shadowhunters don’t get anxiety.” Alec mutters, just to be contrary because he’s a shadowhunter and he definitely has anxiety. It’s true in a way though, because shadowhunters aren’t allowed to have anxiety. 

Magnus reaches out his fingers, running them gently down Alec’s arm in a soft, soothing motion.

“Do you think Helen doesn’t need her potions?”

The question strikes true, a hot poker that burns Alec as deeply as iron burns Helen.

“Of course not! She takes it to protect her from iron, which she could come into contact with at any time in her field. She needs them to function properly since she doesn’t know when iron might—” Alec pauses and frowns, lips tugging downward as he crosses his arms.  “I see what you’re doing there. It’s not the same.”

“Isn’t it? If it improves your quality of life and helps make you safer, even if it's from your own thoughts and the targeted words of others that pierce too deeply, isn’t that the same? Don’t you make better choices, greater advancements and have more time and energy to enjoy life with the potion?”

Alec really wants to grumble but he can’t deny it.  It feels like a weakness to need the potion but he knows that’s his parents talking.  And the Clave. And every other figure in his life before Magnus.

“I shouldn’t need it, though.”

“Oh for...” Magnus grabs his wrist and pulls him into a tight hug.  It makes Alec squirm, wanting to get away from the blatant affection, love and acceptance but Magnus doesn’t deserve that and he loves touching Magnus. So he stays where he is, even if he feels like clawing his own skin open, but that would only worry Magnus and cause Alec to waste energy on an iratze.

So Alec steels himself, gathering up his courage and lets himself relax into Magnus’ arms, his own coming up tightly as he hides his face in Magnus’ neck.

If Magnus can’t see him then he definitely won’t know how torn up Alec is.

It doesn’t work.

“Alexander, sweetheart. You’re shaking in my arms, if you’re trying to hide how upset this conversation is making you, it's not working. However, if you'd like, we can finish it later. When you’re up for it.”

To be fair, Magnus’ voice isn’t the slightest bit amused.  Instead it’s soft and tender and so understanding that Alec feels overwhelmed, lashes kissing Magnus’ skin with a wet sheen of tears.

“I don’t want to be like this.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Alexander. Not a thing. You just need a little help in this one area.” There’s a pause as Magnus runs his fingers through Alec’s hair and then he adds, “or do you think I’m weak for needing the rejuvenating teas that Catarina specifically makes for me?”

The tea isn't a necessity.  Alec knows that Magnus can live without them.  But it’s harder.  Edom left scars and Magnus wakes tired, the pull of Edom draining him even as he sleeps and while it doesn’t affect his magic, it certainly affects his energy.

Magnus mentioned it one day.  That sometimes, no matter how deep he sleeps, once he wakes it feels like he never slept.  That his eyelids feel weighed down by the sands of Edom, that when he wakes and tries to get up his feet feel like he is sinking into the traps of shifting dunes, keeping him sluggish and unable to move for fear of falling.

It passes.

Magnus forces it too, just like Alec does with his mind, but it is no way to live. Alec hates seeing Magnus like that, frustrated with himself and the world and too tired to even enjoy life as he has for centuries.

The tea changed that, for him, gave him back the ability to express himself the way Magnus loves to and socialize as he desires.

“Will you try, darling? Not for me or the Institute or your family, but for yourself?” 

And Alec nods, because Magnus is right.

Alec deserves to be able to enjoy the life he’s sharing and building with Magnus, without the threat of his own mind swallowing him whole.

It feels like a step back, instead of a step forward but only until he takes the vial with barely trembling fingers and lifts it to his lips. At the taste an unbidden smile crosses his lips, knowing that Catarina had cursed Magnus out in five languages for asking her to make it taste like strawberries.

But she still did it.

Not just for Magnus, but also for him.

Because Alec can admit that he needs help and the people who care about him make sure he has it.

—

AN:

This is magic. You bet your fucking ass they have something for chronic fatigue which is what magnus has and i wish they had something for it in real life. Never ever tell a person with chronic fatigue to ‘drink caffeine, or exercise, sleep more or whatever so they’re less tired.’ Those aren’t actual solutions unfortunately and depending on the severity of the fatigue can make it worse.

Hence, Magnus manages his symptoms in a different way here, with teas that have magical herbs and siphoned energy (from alec/catarina/ragnor)  but he still also has changed his work schedule and sometimes needs several days of recovery after big events/parties and meetings. He’s less likely to want to go for days around the world and to parties because the effort is a lot more. He’s not less powerful, he can use his magic as much as he wants, but life itself is harder. Edom changed him and he’s in for a long recovery, if he does recover and so the teas definitely help. I think a part of it is the drain because he’s so far from Edom

Alec has Clave/Parental/Institute induced anxiety and because of how he was raised believes he should just ‘do/be better’ even though that's not how it works. And he was bullying himself because he felt like a failure which is exactly why he needs the potion!!! Because he’s not a failure but you don't recognize that in the throes of anxiety. no matter how logical you try to be. Alec is hesitant to accept help in this fic only because I felt that would be how he felt based on how he grew up. he really does want to take it, but he feels like he can't justify it. when there is no need for justification.

Yes, the gold potion is gold like Magnus' eyes so Alec will be more willing to drink it. unfortunately, Catarina was not color changing the daily potion when she already went through the works making it taste like strawberries when there are no strawberries in it (interfere with ingredients).

Magnus: alexander it’s your brain weasels 

Alec: whats a weasel? (he mostly knows magical species)

Magnus: ... changing tracks. so it’s your brain ravenors

Alec: you think there are demons in my brain and that's the problem?

MAgnus: ... give me a moment, my beloved and very literal shadowhunter.

Magnus downing a cup of tea and taking a very deep breath: alright, sweetheart the brain raveners are a metaphor. The bad thoughts in your head? They’re attacking you. Like raveners or shax or whatever demon you want to call them. 

Alec: can they be edomei demons?

Magnus with a endeared smile but also very tired: yes darling, they can be edomei

Alec: good, if there are going to be demons in my head then at least want them to be the ones you have some control over

MAgnus: alec thats... okay we are moving on. I am only allowed one more cup of tea today, my love and we are getting through this conversation if its the last thing we do tonight. So, your bad thoughts are edomei demons and the potion, thats how you can both attack and defend from them. Does that make sense?

Alec very earnestly: of course Magnus

Magnus: ... okay pretty boy, summarize it back to me because for some strange reason, i’m feeling very doubtful of your comprehension of this conversation

Alec: rude... okay so there are demons in my head and the potion is a non-lethal poison

Magnus: NO. NO poison. IT is a HEALING potion. You know what. Forget the demon idea. Your thoughts are infected, okay? *alec nods* okay! The potion is an antidote to the infection. And you have to take it every day or the infection will grow and spread... of bad thoughts. BAd thoughts, Alexander! you are not actually infected with anything.

Alec: oh, so i’m taking an antidote because my brain hates me?

Magnus wondering how this is the explanation that works: ... if thats what works for you than yes. Yes Alexander, it’s an antidote to make your brain hate you less. Wonderful, please come cuddle me in bed darling. I have fought a good fight and won but i cannot deal with anything else.

Alec feeling a little silly now that the potion has kicked in and mostly relieved and very grateful and is definitely going to snuggle Magnus until he's tired of Alec's embrace: was the fight with my thoughts?

Magnus sighing: yes darling. I fought your thoughts and won, so please come cuddle me.

[lucky13cat]

Snippet of my latest Kingdon WIP:

Mel's date ends up with her accompanying said date to the Pitt. No one is pleased with this course of events. Least of all Dr. Langdon.

Mel was beginning to deeply regret agreeing to this date.

Not that it was bad or that her date was a jerk. Neither were really true. The date, meeting up at an arcade bar for drinks and friendly competition, had been nice in the way that she hadn't hated it. It was her second time going out like this with this particular person, and the first time had gone well enough that saying yes to a second had made sense. A simple decision really. Becca had been happy to hear about it though she had smiled and asked if she'd told Dr. Langdon about it.

Which Mel hadn't. Frank was her friend, and she really loved working with him. Talking about her dating life felt treacherous, especially considering his very recent divorce and her own feelings about him she chose not to acknowledge. Frank was her friend. She'd tell him if the second date led to a third. Maybe.

The second time was shaping up to be just like the first date, good with no reason to turn down another. She'd liked the skeeball machines, and the pretzel she'd ordered had been tasty though she'd not enjoyed her drink, alcohol was hit or miss with her. And Fisher, her date, had been nice and not the least bit offended when she'd demolished him at said skeeball machines and stuck with one drink. Which was... nice.

In truth, the date would have perhaps prompted a third had an unfortunate accident not occured.

Alcohol and throwing games should not be combined. Especially when said alcohol is in glass cups.

Mel doesn't see it happen. She's turned her head to stare at the machine in front of them to see how many points Fisher manages. He's quite bad at skeeball which is probably why in his drawback he'd managed to not only shatter the pint glass of someone behind them but also end up with a shard of glass through his palm.

The one time she doesn't have her emergency kit on her too.

By the time she's managed to convince Fisher not to pull the shard out and stabilize his hand for the inevitable ride to the hospital, someone's called 911. An ambulance rolls up just as she's paying their check.

"You coming?"

Technically, she did not have to get in the ambulance. This was only her second date with Fisher, which usually meant she was free to let him be on his way, but that would mean heading either back into the bar or home. Neither option sounded great, and she'd certainly be wracked with guilt if anything else happened to Fisher. So, with a sigh, she'd pulled herself into the back of the ambulance after Fisher was loaded up.

She'd asked the paramedics to take them to Presby. Both had recognized her from work, which was definitely the reason they'd let her climb in. One of them had shaken their head while the other climbed into the driver's seat.

"Sorry Dr. King, the Pitt's closer."

"Ah," Mel tried very hard not to feel defeated. "Alright then."

She checked her phone. 6:27. Hopefully, everyone from day shift suddenly decided to leave early.

[vantelover07]

⋆. 𐙚 ˚yan!biker!Jungkook x vet!reader⋆. 𐙚 ˚

Just an idea I've had for a while, sorry for all the grammatical and structural errors, english is not my first language. anyways, hope you guys enjoy!

ㅤ♡ I think it would be such a cute grumpy x sunshine trope, but like he is a grouch around everyone else, but turns soft and loving only with the reader. And he's whipped. And I mean really, really whipped like he will do anything and everything for you, and I mean it. He's a yandere after all.

ㅤ♡ He's definitely the type of guy who lives by the words "I would let the world burn for her" and "she's the ray of sunshine in my life", while the reader, on the other hand, is a cutesy, cheerful, animal lover. You work in a vet clinic, and that's how you guys met.

ㅤ♡ Jungkook came in with his Doberman for a check-up. Immediately, he was drawn to your presence, your smile, and the soft way you handled Bam. He's smitten with the way you talked, walked, well, with your whole existence basically. He felt as though he was under some spell, as if the whole world stopped moving the moment you met.

ㅤ♡ Later that day, when he came home with a dopey smile on, he couldn't think of anything else but you. He decided then and there that you were his true soulmate and he had to make you his.  

ㅤ♡ By pure coincidence, you guys met again at the park that he visits with Bam for walks. You were sitting on a bench on a particularly sunny and beautiful day, wearing a cute white dress with little pink flowers on it and a baby pink cardigan to match. You were reading a book when suddenly a familiar Doberman approached you with a wagging tail. Right behind him was a jogging Jungkook who couldn't believe his eyes. It's you in your cute, coquettish little outfit with that dazzling smile and warm, glowing aura. He made a mental note to buy Bam extra treats for being such a good boy by finding you for his dad.

ㅤ♡ He was all smiles with you, despite looking so rugged and dangerous with all the tattoos and piercings, he acted so soft and gentle with you, as if afraid that you'd run away. You guys exchanged numbers, and he made you promise that you would go out soon.

ㅤ♡ You guys text, finally set the time and place, and he picks you up in his car for the dinner date. You wore a long red dress, and he wondered how he would last all night without touching you when you looked this divine.

ㅤ♡ You two had an amazing time together, you laughed, got to know each other more, and by the time the date was over and he drove you back home, you parted with him with a sweet kiss. Jungkook swore he'd heard wedding bells in his head and felt drunk despite not drinking anything.

ㅤ♡ With how inpatient and invested Jungkook is, you guys start dating not long after (probably around the third date).

ㅤ♡ He is all in in this relationship and I mean ALL IN as in getting you two custom helmets and jackets for his bike, visiting you at your lunch breaks at the clinic and either coming with a homemade lunch or taking you out, having you over at his place and letting you wear only his clothes there, texting you good morning and goodnight which makes him the first and last person you message everyday, buying you a cute pink set to go to the gym with him when in fact it's mostly either you watching him work out or him helping you with the exercises (honestly just looking for excuses to touch you), etc. 

ㅤ♡ Jungkook is very big on pda, and he absolutely has to touch you in some way at all times. He loves to kiss you, and he's baffled how he could survive without you before. He swears he's never felt this much love for anyone in his entire life. He loves spooning you in bed, kissing your neck and breathing you in, or having you lie down on his chest completely, feeling your weight on him being the best reminder that you are here with him, safe in his arms and utterly and completely his.  

ㅤ♡ He is very protective and easily triggered if anyone even dares to look your way for too long. He believes that only he gets to admire you and look at you freely (even tho he knows you're a beauty and unfortunately for him others see that too). He might or might not have threatened or beaten up a couple of guys who (by his standard) acted disrespectfully towards his relationship, but in his eyes, it's fine, as long as you'll never get to know. You would probably worry and get worked up, and he doesn't want that. Jungkook just wants to keep you safe, and what's safer than being with him?

ㅤ♡ Despite his jealousy and possessiveness, he's the most caring, loving boyfriend ever, and he would probably rather cut himself open than let anyone or anything hurt you. Jungkook treats you like a princess, and whatever you ask of him, he's ready to deliver. You're hungry? Baby, a three-course meal is already on the table. You're feeling stressed and insecure? Let him cuddle you and pepper your face with kisses, telling you every little thing he loves about you. You're feeling sick? He's there to take care of you, cooking you soup and making sure you take your medicine. You wanna go shopping? He's already on his bike, ready to go with you, see you model all the clothes, and buy you whatever you like. You're the love of his life, his soulmate, future wife, and mother of his children and he would be damned if he ever let you slip through his fingers. You're it for him today, tomorrow, and forever.

────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────────

Let me know if u guys liked this headcanon with yandere biker! JK and if you want more! Till next time, then!

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

[8isfatesunshine]

Caffeine and Confessions (idol!Bangchan x Fan!reader)

Summary: a nice day at your favourite coffee shop turns into a conversation with the person you least expected to have one with. Reader has an interaction with Bangchan and gets to know him, will this lead to something she’s always hoped for.

Warnings: none at the moment just pure fluff.

The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans fills my lungs as I push open the door to the quaint café tucked away in the heart of Seoul. The gentle chime of bells announces my arrival, but I'm too focused on finding my usual spot – the cozy corner table beside the window where morning light streams through delicate curtains.

My hands cradle the warmth of my vanilla latte as I try to focus on my laptop screen. The café is relatively empty this early, save for a few dedicated regulars and...

Wait.

My heart skips a beat when the door chimes again. Looking up, I see him – Bang Chan. His dark brown hair catches the sunlight, creating a halo effect that makes him look almost ethereal. He's wearing a simple black hoodie, but somehow he makes it look like it belongs on a runway.

I quickly look back down at my screen, pretending I hadn't just been staring. But fate has other plans today. The universe must be playing some cosmic joke because there are plenty of empty tables, yet he's walking straight toward mine.

"Is this seat taken?" His voice is gentle, accompanied by a dimpled smile that makes my stomach do somersaults. His Australian accent adds an unexpected warmth to his words.

"No, go ahead," I manage to say, hoping my voice doesn't betray the thundering in my chest.

He sets down his iced americano and laptop, and I catch a whiff of his cologne – a subtle mix of vanilla and something woodsy. "I've seen you here before," he says, looking at me with genuine interest. "You're always in this exact spot."

I can't help but smile, surprised he's noticed. "It has the best lighting for writing," I explain, then immediately want to sink into my chair. Of course, I had to mention writing – now he'll probably ask what I'm working on, and I can't exactly tell him I write fanfiction.

But Chan's eyes light up. "You're a writer? That's amazing! I'm actually working on some lyrics myself." He runs a hand through his hair, a gesture I've seen countless times in videos but feels surreal to witness in person.

The conversation flows naturally after that, like we've known each other for years rather than minutes. We talk about music, our creative processes, and our shared love for this little café. He doesn't act like the famous idol he is – he's just Chan, the boy with the kindest eyes I've ever seen and a laugh that makes my heart feel like it's dancing.

Hours pass like minutes, and before I know it, the sun is setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink through the café window. My coffee has long gone cold, forgotten in favor of our conversation.

"I have to head to the studio," he says finally, looking genuinely disappointed. "But... would it be okay if I joined you again tomorrow? Same time, same place?"

I try to keep my voice steady as I reply, "I'd like that."

As he packs up his things, he pauses. "You know, I've been coming here hoping to run into you for weeks. I just never had the courage to say hello until today."

He leaves me there, my heart soaring and my mind already counting down the hours until tomorrow. Maybe some fairytales do come true, even in the most ordinary of coffee shops.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Authors note: I hope this was a good first chapter let me know if I should continue this as a series!! Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list🩷

Tag list:

@milkteabinniechan

[grace5425]

lead me to a place where no one ever goes

part one part two part three

True to his word, Mattheo showed up at your dorm right after dinner the next day—his usual mix of cool confidence and lazy charm. Hands shoved into the pockets of his dark jeans, curls slightly messy like he hadn’t really tried (but somehow still looked unfairly good), and that damn smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“You ready, sweetheart?” he asked, like this was something you did every weekend. Like he hadn’t spent all morning pacing his dorm, trying to convince himself it wasn’t a date, and failing miserably.

He took you to the Three Broomsticks first. The place was buzzing, but he didn’t hesitate as he guided you straight to the booth in the back—the one by the window, your favorite. The one you always gravitated to because it let in soft light and gave you something to look at when you were anxious or trying not to tap your fingers on the worn tables.

He returned minutes later with your butterbeer and a plate of those sugared scones you always pretended you didn’t want until he ordered them anyway. He set everything down without a word, sliding into the seat across from you as if he hadn’t memorized every single thing you liked over the years.

And then he just listened.

He listened as you rambled about your upcoming Potions test, and how if Snape got one more inch of attitude you were going to hex his eyebrows off. He listened to you complain about the essay you forgot was due, and how Blaise had somehow convinced the entire class dragons were mammals just to see if the professor would correct him. You even launched into a full tangent about Snape’s hair—something about how no man with that much grease could possibly be trusted around delicate glass vials.

Mattheo laughed. Genuinely. That deep, warm laugh that only slipped out when he wasn’t paying attention. And he didn’t say much. Just nodded, sipped his drink, and gave you every ounce of his focus like there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

Next was Honeydukes.

He didn’t even pretend to stop you this time. The moment you walked in, your eyes lit up like Christmas morning, and before he could blink, you were dragging him down the first aisle, pointing out new sweets and old favorites. He trailed behind with the basket, throwing in every candy you so much as glanced at.

By the time you reached the second aisle, it was already half full. Mattheo didn’t care. He never did.

Your hair had fallen mostly out of the braid you’d tied it in that morning—a wild mess of soft blonde curls that framed your face in a way that made his chest ache. You kept cursing under your breath, fingers constantly pushing back loose strands that refused to stay put.

Every time you did, Mattheo had to resist the urge to grab your wrist, slap your hand away, and tell you to stop. That you were beautiful. That you didn’t need to fix a damn thing.

But he didn’t. He just let you fuss, biting his tongue, watching you like someone who knew better than to touch a flame but couldn’t help reaching anyway.

And then, finally, came the bookstore.

It was tucked away at the end of a quiet alley—small, dim, a little dusty, and absolutely perfect. He swore it hadn’t changed in years. Probably hadn’t had a new customer in weeks, either. Mattheo was almost positive you were single-handedly keeping it in business with your constant returns.

He pushed open the old door for you, the bell above it jingling faintly, and watched as your whole body seemed to exhale.

Your steps slowed. Your voice quieted. And that look you got—like you were walking into a church, or a dream—you only got it in here.

Mattheo followed you silently, hands in his pockets, watching as you trailed your fingers along the cracked spines, head tilted, lips moving ever so slightly as you read titles under your breath.

You didn’t speak right away. Didn’t need to. You were too busy flipping through poetry collections and worn novels, pulling a few off the shelf only to put them back minutes later. The quiet filled the space between you, but it was a comfortable sort of quiet—the kind that only exists between people who know each other down to the bones.

He let you wander. Watched as you got lost. And when he saw you standing in the aisle with two books in your hands and a crease between your brows, trying to decide between them, he didn’t even wait.

He stepped up beside you, took both from your hands without a word, and carried them to the counter.

You blinked. “Matty—”

“Nope,” he said, not looking back. “Not doing this again. You’re getting both.”

You laughed, soft and fond, and he caught it like a flame behind his ribs.

Now you were sat by the Black Lake, the remnants of your Honeydukes haul scattered across the blanket beneath you—chocolate frogs half-eaten, sugar quills forgotten in the grass, a few empty wrappers rustling gently in the breeze. The moonlight danced across the surface of the lake, painting everything in soft silver and making the world feel quieter, smaller, a little more magical.

Your head was tilted back, eyes fixed on the night sky, a soft smile tugging at your lips. You looked so peaceful like that—bathed in moonlight, skin glowing, hair spilling wildly around you in golden waves. You looked like a dream someone might wake up from too quickly.

Mattheo had taken to twirling a blade of grass between his fingers, lying on his side, elbow propped up as he watched you more than he watched the stars. Your voice rose and fell in gentle waves as you pointed out constellations, telling him their stories—tales of ancient warriors, tragic lovers, gods punished and immortalized in the stars.

You spoke like the stars belonged to you. Like you’d been there when the stories were written in the sky. Like somewhere deep down, you still carried the heartbreak and hope of those mythologies in your bones.

And Mattheo… he listened. Every word you said sank into him, settling somewhere deep. You made names he couldn’t pronounce sound like poetry. You made the universe feel a little less cold.

He didn’t care about the constellations. Not really. But he could listen to your voice for hours and never get tired of the way it colored the night around him.

“See that one?” you whispered, lifting your hand lazily to point just above the treeline. “That’s Andromeda. Chained to a rock, waiting to be saved.”

Mattheo frowned, gaze flicking up toward where you pointed. “Why do all these stories end in someone being sacrificed or left behind?”

You shrugged gently, eyes still on the stars. “Maybe it’s just easier to write about pain than peace.”

He didn’t respond right away. Just let that hang in the air between you. It was a truth he felt more than understood.

After a while, you turned your head to look at him, propping yourself up on one elbow to mirror his position. You were close now, faces inches apart, breaths mingling in the cool night air.

Mattheo swallowed, throat dry. “You really believe in all that stuff?” he asked softly. “The stars, the stories?”

You nodded. “I think stories are how we survive things. Even if they’re made up. Maybe especially if they are.”

He stared at you for a long moment, jaw tense, heart pounding in a rhythm that had nothing to do with the quiet around him. He didn’t know how you did it—how you made everything feel deeper without even trying.

“I’d save you,” he said suddenly, the words tumbling from his lips like he hadn’t meant to say them out loud. His voice was rough, low, barely more than a whisper, but it cut through the quiet like thunder. “If you were chained to a rock, or whisked away by some creature. I’d always follow you.”

You stilled, breath catching in your throat. The playful glint in your eyes flickered into something softer, deeper—something that mirrored the weight of his words.

Mattheo didn’t look away. He couldn’t. His heart was thudding against his ribs, loud enough he was half afraid you’d hear it. But he meant every word. And he needed you to know it.

“I wouldn’t even think twice,” he added, voice quieter now, like the confession itself was fragile. “No matter where you were… no matter who you were with. I'd go.”

You stared at him for a moment, lips parted slightly, like you didn’t know what to say. And maybe you didn’t. How do you respond when the boy you’ve known forever—the boy who pretends nothing touches him—suddenly admits he'd walk through fire just to find you?

The silence between you stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was heavy with meaning, thick with tension, like something was shifting—like something had cracked open that couldn’t be shut again.

You reached out, fingers brushing against his hand where it rested on the blanket between you. Just the softest touch, but it sent a bolt of warmth up his arm, his breath hitching at the contact.

“I think…” you began, your voice barely more than a breath, “I think I’d follow you too.”

Mattheo's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his gaze flicking from your eyes to your mouth and back again. The space between you felt impossibly small, charged, magnetic. He could see every detail on your face now—the way your lashes cast shadows under your eyes, the faint freckle just beneath your cheekbone, the nervous twitch at the corner of your mouth as you tried to hide a smile.

You tilted your head just slightly, eyes locked on his like the air between you had thickened, like the stars above were holding their breath.

“Mattheo,” you whispered, his name tasting like warmth and something heavier on your tongue.

He met your gaze, expression soft in a way you’d never really seen before. All the walls, all the armor he kept so carefully constructed—they’d dropped. And you could see it all now. The fear, the longing, the love he didn’t quite know how to name.

“You’re looking at me like I’m going to disappear,” you murmured, a small smile pulling at your lips.

He breathed a short laugh, shaking his head. “I think I’m just trying to figure out how the hell I didn’t see it before.”

“See what?”

“That it’s always been you.”

You didn’t reply—not with words. You leaned in instead, closing the last few inches of space between you, your heart hammering in your chest.

Mattheo met you halfway.

The kiss was slow—uncertain at first, like neither of you wanted to move too fast and shatter the moment. But then your fingers curled into the front of his shirt, and his hand slid up to cradle your cheek, and something shifted.

He kissed you like he’d been holding it in for years. Like he was afraid this might be the only time he'd ever get the chance. There was nothing careful about it now—only feeling. Only the rush of finally, finally, finally letting go.

And when you pulled away—just barely, just enough to breathe—you stayed close, noses brushing, foreheads touching.

Mattheo let out a shaky breath, his eyes fluttering open. “Well,” he murmured, “that’s going to be hard to walk away from.”

You laughed softly, your thumb brushing across his jaw. “Then don’t.”

He grinned then—wide and real and maybe a little in love.

“I won’t.”

[ingenuitique]

this was probably the rookie’s strongest episode of the season (i don’t remember if there were others but I genuinely enjoyed it sm today). they handle multiple cop plotlines so well it truly felt like before (idk before what but i also sort of do know the exact issue they have). positives first - i loved lucy and celina’s plot, it was fun to see them just be badass, saving the day (lucy especially THAT’S MY GIRL crashing through windows fr). i am really glad they put Tim back in the TO roles because he might be good as a sergeant but he really shines with his interpersonal dynamics and I love seeing Tim and Miles (they’ve managed to nail another TO-Rookie dynamic which is basically my favourite thing about the show anyway). even the last few episodes where they show what a great teacher Tim is, because he understands his rookies and what they need.

The Tim-Angela scene was cute too, Tim being one of the girls is always fun to see reiterated.

I also liked seeing Miles take on something like this. He really loves his job so it’s nice to see him have individual storylines too. I don’t know where they’d eventually go with this whole Nyla cop reform storyline but it’s an important conversation so I’m happy to see it.

I honestly don’t mind that Tim and Lucy are not “together” because they basically… are? They’re not looking to date other people, they are just sort of both waiting for things to fall into place career wise (and Lucy needs time to trust him again which is completely understandable so like this is a great place for chenford to be in idk)

Also them winning the game ahah Tim as captain was a guaranteed win that man cares about the game too much.

Andd a random prediction I have (also sort of wish) that whoever sent that guy to Tim’s house is how Tim ends up with a near death experience this season… like gimme it. Come on.

Now the negatives:

First of all they REALLY need to give wopez a storyline this season because literally everyone else is doing something and they had that random cop-has-a-crush-on-angela story that ended up being nothing anyway and then nothing!! give me something! I miss them, I wanna see them!

i am glad lucy addressed the true crime thing but i also sort of found it uncomfortable cause lucy was, quite literally, a victim of a serial killer too… she just lived through it and idk maybe they’ve just forgotten it? And i don’t understand the point of removing lucy from the final scene too… everyone was there they actively made it a point to not have her there is there some eventual plot there or what

the first scene of Bailey trash talking Nolan was so?? Like it was objectively bad acting there was no emotion in the way she was saying stuff idk i was so confused.

The Amazon Prime plugin reminded me of 9-1-1 instantly and was literally the only thing I liked about the scene oops?

Also… I HATE that they got zero consequences for aiding a hitman for Jason? Like uh… their relationship constraint barely existed, there was no moral ambiguity. I was expecting at least SOME plot about Nolan being confused in a crucial moment of whether he should let Malvado go… i was totally convinced it will happen, Malvado will slip from his hands and Nolan will have some moral crisis if he was genuinely outsmarted or if he let him go to save Bailey like at least that would make it more interesting? Why is there no actual threat? Why is it that conveniently Angela is the one who killed him so there’s no reason for Nolan to even be in the picture? There was so much scope and they did nothing with it just throwaway line about him maybe threatening them?? Show don’t tell? Idk what I’m saying but it was so anti climactic. Even Nolan being the one who shoots him and questioning if he did it because the situation called for it or because he wanted to “get rid of the evidence”.

[calebslittlecrow]

Why are you letting antis shake your belief system?

No, like... seriously? Why are you handing your entire belief system over to the first troll with a Wi-Fi connection?

Every few days I scroll through some shifting spaces, oftentimes out of boredom, and sure as shit I will find someone crumbling under some "shifting isn't real" - comment they found out in the wild. And I am not talking about skeptics asking some respectful questions, I am talking about comments from the "Haha, look at the delusional people! I feel superior now!" - crowd of people. The ones who feel slightly accomplished by repeating the same 7 dismissive arguments like a broken record, because they can't come up with anything new or creative.

I do get that it stings when somebody makes fun of something that you care about. That's a natural human reaction. It's not fun and sometimes it hurts, especially if you get insulted out of nowhere. The part I don't get? How can a few of those negative comments rip your entire belief out at the roots, as if you never believed in shifting in the first place?

Imagine someone going to a monk and saying "Meditation is bullshit and enlightenment is fake!" Do you think the monk would throw their mala beads away and say: "Yes, you are right. Time to take a job at the bank"? Very likely not.

Most people who follow weird, metaphysical, or spiritual aligning paths don't usually crumble the moment someone disbelieves them. Subliminal and Manifestation communities don't implode because they are called delusional. Christians don't abandon their faith just because someone said "God isn't real lol" So why is your entire belief system collapsing the moment you see one or two of those comments?

If one snide remark can repeatedly throw you into a spiral, and I say this with love and all that shit, your belief system is barely held together by gum, coffee, and anxiety. Maybe it's time to stabilize that unstable belief with inner trust and emotional concrete.

If antis are shaking you that much, it isn't about them and their comments. It's about that inner fear you probably haven't faced yet. That gnawing, inner fear that maybe shifting isn't real or you can't do it. Ignoring that fear won't make it go away. Spiraling won't make that fear go away. But facing that fear and working through it can immensely help.

A solid belief doesn't mean you aren't allowed to doubt. But it should mean that you can hear someone say shifting isn't real or just dreaming and go "Huh. K. Whatever" and move on afterward. Like swatting away a pesky fly. It can be annoying, but won't derail your entire life and make you abandon everything. Letting antis get to you that deeply isn't some sign from the universe that they are right. It's just a sign that you give way too much power to other people and their opinions. When you are outsourcing your belief to others, you are not building a belief system, you are starting a group project. And when one person drops out, the entire thing comes crashing down. You are not here to start a group project of holding each other's beliefs because it could break at the slightest bit of wind. You are here to build your personal shifting path. Checking in with what you feel is true, strengthens what you want to believe. Look, it is of course completely fine to look for reassurance. We all need it sometimes but don't offload everything to a stranger. Trust yourself and tend to it. Also a good time to remind people to just use the block button, there is no need to waste energy arguing when it leads to nothing anyway. You got this shit. Not every voice needs to be kind and understanding, only your own needs to be. Shifting isn't one stupid comment away from breaking apart, start treating it as the powerful, personal, and real thing it is.