#if you don't like what's going on in canon then write or draw about it
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2demondogs · 2 days ago
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Ok hiii
Could you write low honor arthur as the dad of gn!child reader (like age 8 or older)? Like a despicable me type thing where arthur’s a mean guy but a good dad? Can be headcanons, drabble, wtv would best for you
Anon I know exactly the archetype u mean but "despicable me" is the funniest fucking way you could've described it I'm fried
I wrote headcanons for now, but I do like Dad Arthur so who knows maybe I will scrounge braincells up. Tried to keep it canon compliant-ish. Also I wrote this a while ago, thought I'd mention it since it's a similar type of fic.
CW off-page canon-typical violence, past canonical character death
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To call Arthur a good dad is a bit of a mischaracterization. Is he loving? Absolutely. Is he responsible? Absolutely not. He is the last person anyone should leave teaching life lessons to. He also forgets that children aren't smaller adults with fully functioning brains and are, in fact... children. You've known how to shoot a gun since you were five and he lets you have a cigarette whenever you want it, because that's how he was raised.
More complex things end up piled onto Hosea, Dutch, Susan, or other gang members. It takes a village. Dutch, Hosea and Susan provide most of your education, because Arthur trusts Hosea and Dutch to teach you how to act right and Susan doesn't trust either of them. The women sew you clothes and, when you're young, toys. When Arthur is busy or in a bad mood, there's no shortage of people who will take his place for a day. Even when he's in a good one, he's just about got to fistfight Abigail and Tilly for time with you.
And he's busy often. Once you're around eight, he starts bringing you on hunting trips and off to town when he chaperones the girls. By fourteen, he leaves the choice up to you. In his eyes, as long as you're with him you're in the safest place there is. Not only is he skilled, he's ruthless; if anyone looks at you with bad intentions, they will no longer have eyes. He may also be haunted by a paralyzing fear of losing you and under the false impression that he himself was grown by thirteen, but that's neither here nor there.
It's his first time living, too. That was especially evident when you were taken into the gang, be it at birth or otherwise. Besides those short-lived weeks with Issac, Arthur's only experience caring for something so fragile was when Copper was a puppy. For a good bit he was treating you more like a dog than a human. You seemed to enjoy the head pats and extra helpings off his plate when that was his go-to form of affection, so he doesn't see the harm.
Arthur is glad that you seem to think he's a fun dad and that you love him. He knows he must be doing something right if those things are true, but he's constantly got people in his ear — and nagging voices in his head — telling him that if he doesn't shape up, he'll end up getting you hurt or turning you into the ugly thing he's set to become himself. He's learned to mend your clothes and boots, how to cook food that's a little less harsh on the stomach than his own slapdash dinners, saved money back for you. Doctor's visits, sturdy boots, good quality guns. He'd sink the gang if it meant you'd walk free. He'll make sure you have something nice for your birthday. He will try.
And there's a bright side to his inexperience. He'd rather enjoy his time with you than be concerned with what he's supposed to be doing as a father. While that's not always the smartest, it leaves you with a lot of good memories. Arthur teaches you to draw, shows you how to see the world completely; plays pickpocket games in the street with you, always passes up the big steals to let you have them; makes sure you know that items have meaning and that you must keep his hat, too. Your items have meaning, anyways. We don't talk about what's stolen or bloodied, or what selfishness looks like.
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miraculouslbcnreactions · 16 hours ago
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What do you think of the salt fic idea that Adrien's a bad hero cause he never takes anything seriously while Marinette is the perfect hero cause she always professional? Personally like always I think that the authors crank everything up to eleven and make Marinette a humorless stick in the mud and exagerate Adrien's propensity to joke around.
I don't read most salt fics because they're all about leaning into the worst things canon had to offer us. The only time I find that cathartic is when it's aimed at Lila and even there I'm picky. At the same time, salt fics are pulling from canon. They're also not doing anything all that odd when it comes to fandom interpretations of canon. They're just a more extreme version of a very common fandom phenomena. There's an old Tumblr post that accurately describes this phenomena:
character: says "I like bread" that one time fandom: character has an obsession with bread. bread is character's true love. draws character as bread. every meta joke in fanfic is about bread. the character's room is wallpapered with bread
This bread post was an example of the benign version of the phenomena. For a Miraculous-specific benign version, I give you this one, single line from The Evillustrator:
Chloé: Ugh, my brain hurts... Huh? Hey! Cat Noir, Are you any good at particle physics? Cat Noir: Oh, this cat's got particle physics in the bag.
To my knowledge, this is the only time Adrien has ever referenced physics and it wasn't even him saying that he liked the subject. He just said that he was good at it. Edit: minor correction, in French he does say it's his favorite subject, but this is still the only time he references physics and a favorite subject isn't the same as being obsessed with physics or wanting a career in physics.
In spite of that, a ton of fanfics see him pursue a career in physics or have a physics obsession because of course it does. This is just how fandom's work. For better or for worse, many fans imprint on random lines, episodes, and characters like baby ducklings.
Salt fics are doing this same thing just with less benign moments from canon. They take questionable behavior from canon and exaggerate it to be the character's whole personality usually as a means of venting their frustration at canon's terrible writing by taking it out on the bad writing's main avatars: the characters.
That's not my particular cup of tea. When I read and write fanfic, I want to embrace the best canon had to offer, not lean into the worst elements of the writing. At the same time, I can't say that these fics are just making things up. That brings us back to your ask. We'll also be discussing my oft mentioned core character concept.
What do you think of the salt fic idea that Adrien's a bad hero cause he never takes anything seriously while Marinette is the perfect hero cause she always professional?
While I don't like this fact, I'd be lying if I said that canon has made Adrien a wonderful flawless hero. There are multiple episodes where he acts in wildly unprofessional ways, leading to all sorts of trouble. This has been going on since season one with moments like this one from Dark Cupid where he decided that an akuma attack was the perfect time to confess his love:
Cat Noir: Falling for me already, my lady? (pulls Ladybug down next to him) I need to talk to you. Ladybug: It’s gotta wait. Dark Cupi- Cat Noir: (hushes her) I swore to myself that I'd tell you as soon as I saw you. Ladybug, I-I... Look out! (Cat Noir spins around to shield Ladybug, and is struck by one of Dark Cupid's arrows.) Ladybug: (gasps) Cat Noir!
Not a great look for a hero, but this is where I get a little defensive of Adrien and blame the writers instead because they're the puppet masters here. Everything Adrien does is controlled by them and so you can't judge him like a real person. You have to judge him as a character in a story which means relying on story telling language to try to unravel what the hell the writers are trying to do here.
When you look at the way canon approaches Adrien's character, you'll find that these questionable moments are never taken all that seriously by the cast. Ladybug may get annoyed at Chat Noir, but she never asks him to quit or treats his goofing off like a deeply concerning problem. When Chat Noir does quit, Marinette is always devastated and wants him back. When the story gets serious, Chat Noir is often used to get Ladybug through her darkest hours without a hint of goofiness. When you look at these high-level story beats and choices, you quickly come to realize that the writers aren't trying to make Chat Noir a bad hero. They just seem to really suck at writing a goofy romantic character who is also heroic! Or, at least, that's my read when I look at scenes like the one above. In my eyes, this isn't the writers telling us Adrien is a bad hero. It's the writers having no clue what they're doing.
I don't know why they decided to have Chat Noir confess when he knew that an akuma was on the loose. It's so easy to rewrite this scene so that he and Ladybug are just casually meeting up for patrol and don't see the akuma until it's too late. That's all that it would take to fix this moment! It would even have better tension if the audience knew that an akuma was around and the heroes didn't, but no! We go this wacky route and make Chat Noir look like a lackluster hero for no good reason. It's aggravating and I get why someone would want to vent about it by writing a fic where Chat Noir got kicked off the team, but I don't find that fun because Chat Noir is so clearly not intended to be a bad hero. I would much rather read a fic that lets him be his best self than a fic that leans into the worst parts of canon and reminds me why this show gets under my skin.
I haven't seen as much of the serious approach to Marinette, but I've definitely seen her exaggerated, too. Either way, it's the same principle at work. People take the legitimately terrible choices canon has made and exaggerate them to be a character's whole personality, ignoring anything in canon that might mitigate the questionable moments. When fics do this, they usually apply the exact opposite treatment to the characters that the person isn't salting on. If Adrien's worst moments are embraced, then Marinette is exaggerated into a saint and vise versa.
If we're being fair, sugar fics have to do some similar trimming of the fat because the bad writing choices are pervasive for many of these character. It's just that sugar fics tend to focus on the best for every character instead of selectively sugaring and salting. For example, I basically ignore everything after season three when writing Nino and I have to pretend that the Lila plot never happened if I want to make Alya work because the writing did her so dirty there. If I tried to make my version of these characters work in the full context of canon, then they'd feel as hypocritical and aggravating as canon has made them.
In summary, I get why this happens and even understand the catharsis that comes from writing salt fics, I just rarely find it fun. The only salt fic I was ever tempted to write was a Lila takedown where the class believed her lies, but she accidentally lied herself into a corner and got Adrinette together. Never actually wrote it, but imaging it was cathartic because she gets under my skin to an absurd degree and canon is giving me no satisfaction with her.
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angels-heap · 1 year ago
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And it shouldn't be! Not dunking on anyone specific, but I'm going to take this opportunity to get on my soapbox and say I am so fucking baffled by this recent fandom trend of insisting that your favorite ship is/should be canon and that this somehow makes it "superior" to other ships.
First off, shipping is a fun hobby and a lens through which we can interact with the deeper themes and context of a piece of media, not a competitive sport.
And especially in the case of ships like freehoun, where the characters are super flat and barely interact in canon, it is objectively bizarre to pretend there is or could be any actual ship text or subtext between the two. Knock it off with that shit. However, that doesn't mean you can't ship them. People have shipped pairings that are not and never will be canon since forever, and that's... fine? Arguably kind of the point?
And in all honesty, would you (again, general you) even want freehoun to be canon? Even if Valve randomly decided to upend/retcon every single character choice they've made thus far to sideline Alyx and make freehoun canon, do you think it'd be... good? Do you think a bunch of game devs who have been tasked with creating a FPS game with a vague plot and universal appeal will portray this dynamic in a better, more respectful, or more interesting way than a community of queer fans?
No, they obviously wouldn't. For the same reason, I don't really want Valve to make freemance (which is arguably canon) any more textual than it already is, because I much prefer my vision of the ship over anything a game company could possibly create.
And that's okay. That's what fandom is for.
Replaying Half Life 2 for the first time in a while (for... reasons) and man, I really and truly do not understand how people are convincing themselves there's some sort of canonical homoerotic subtext between Barney and Gordon. There's barely text between Barney and Gordon. I went in fully conscious of the fact that Barney is a one-dimensional character with less than 10 minutes of voice lines and I was still struck by how flat and plot-devicey he is.
Don't get me wrong, I love that Barney's blank slate-ness allows us to flesh out his character in fanworks, but I refuse to believe that anyone who actually thinks Valve intended to convey romantic tension between these two has played the same game I did.
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carlyraejepsans · 1 year ago
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Do you enjoy underfell? I thought you disliked aus /genq
i don't dislike the concept of AUs itself, I'm just not a fan of like... the subculture that spawned around them in the UT fandom specifically and how it eventually took over almost all canon content (especially when it limits itself to the bros)
i like aus visually! i am an artist at heart after all. it's just that, if I'm going to care about them as stories and not just fun design ideas, my bar is uhh almost impossibly high the further you move from canon lolol.
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flaming-toads · 1 month ago
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So what if I go back to s1e10 of 911 and I enjoy Bobby's little dating profile and think about silly cute ideas about it hmm?! HMMM?!
#hey what if we like just ignored canon? like nothing can stop us uwu#I've made ships outta nothing so like listen it's gonna be okay sugarplum#am i talking to you or am i talking to myself? lol i'll never say#toad rambles#ANYWAY chobby was on my dash today#i had NO idea that was the ship name but it made me giggle#ALSO the way chim looks at bobby when Buck is being an ass about his 'dinosaur' dating profile#and bobby looking at chim like wait is it really that bad 🥺#but also i want a chobby flan date like bobby sounded so offended “YOU DON'T” like how dare you not think flan is the bomb chimney?! WTF#i was too into bathena even before i watched the show lol but i see you chobby i see you and i'm writing things down -c-#AND there are so many ways you could spin Hen's reaction to her looking at the profile like my brain is like 🤯#also I'm sorry but I LIKED bobby's dating profile!! OKAY!?!#(I THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE AND HIM BEING HONEST ABOUT WHAT HE ACTUALLY WAS LOOKING FOR!!)#LISTEN I WASN'T HERE WHEN THE SHOW STARTED!! I GOT HERE LATE TO THE PARTY!!#I MISSED OUT ON A LOT OF THE SPIRALING WITH FANDOM IN THE FUN WAY!!!#AND THERE'S STILL SO MUCH I WANT TO DRAW!!!#AND MY SLOW DINOSAUR ASS IS GOING TO STAY HERE UNTIL I FEEL LIKE ITS OUT OF MY SYSTEM BUT BECAUSE BATHENA IS LIKE ON THE TOP SHELF OF SHIPS#I MIGHT ACTUALLY BE HERE FOR A LONGER TIME THAN THIS SHOW WILL EVEN AIR!#sorry for yelling#i was miffed but i took a sigh anywho#hope everyone is having a lovely day lol#i have only one job today and once that's out of the way we're going BACK to creative nonsense!#throwing you creative vibes and little tiny internet hearts#you are loved and i'm proud of you and you look super cute today pls dont forget to drink water and be kind to yourself <3
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buttercupshands · 1 year ago
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my friendship with canon ended now fanon is my new best friend
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but first a cute bird
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basically my mind decided that it's now free to draw whatever AUs and stuff that I want including random stuff like this
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and this!
I think my way of coping with 423 is just... ignoring it ever existed so now it's just this and an occasional canon stuff
but good for him he deserves to have all the fun fanon can offer
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fun fact: this was the first sketch out of all of them in this post!
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bumblingbabooshka · 2 years ago
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[TUVOKTOBER: Day 15] At First Sight. [Patreon | Commissions]
#tuvoktober#excerpt from the novel 'pathways'#tuvok/t'pel#Tuvok#st voyager#st voyager fanart#T'Pel#hey [vibrating from thinking about Tuvok - Vulcan Love & Gender Identity & Sexuality too much] -extends hand- chew through drywall with me#comix page#something about how Tuvok's identity is half T'Pel and has been for decades he's spent DECADES growing with half of him being a person#he's not just deeply in love with but literally IS. He literally literally /IS/ part of T'Pel and his children literally ARE a part of him#the SECOND he sees T'Pel Tuvok says 'Being with her isn't enough I need to BE her. NOW.'#that novel had barely anything about T'Pel in it but I'll forgive them bc what they did have (basically just this) ??? showstopping.#thinks about Tuvok alone on Voyager thinks about the unique and alien suffering#[shuddering breath...]ahgh...[cough]....h ey Tuvok!!! What're your PRONOUNS-#Guy who misses his wife who is also him#gu ys....[sobbing openly] g uys...he's INCOMPLETE without them.....#are you picking up what I'm putting down???#-chokes star trek writers- stop having straight people write alien romance. let insane gay people like me have a turn pleasepleaseplease#bea art tag#[switches out of angst mode for a second] also its SO fucking funny that in this novel's canon Tuvok didn't know about the pon farr until#it happened to him. he literally had NO idea what was going on. His parents didn't tell him. Why?? Don't believe in sexEd???#it really made me laugh. conservative coded...#drawing elaborate Vulcan head....things? headresses? is fun <3#suggestive cw
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illusioncanthurtme--art · 9 months ago
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These are a couple doodles from yesterday, Gideon as a younger teen, before the growth spurt, maybe 14? He's discovered he's a vampire, and has a lot of recovery to do, since he's severely blood deficient.
I'm gonna let myself explode about my vampire gideon ideas, under construction, under the cut: (I don't write fanfiction, I just throw up my ideas on a tumblr post, apparently :'D)
This is what I love about tumblr - it's a place where I can throw the doodles (something that isn't finished *artwork*), and let myself be really delusional about fictional characters. So I'm gonna take a moment to ramble about the ideas I have for Gideon as a vampire.
If you're a fellow Gideon Head, HI THERE... anyway, here's my thought process on a potential vampire-gideon backstory???
I've always liked the idea of gideon being a vampire, and also becoming a much better person when he's older. And that got me thinking, maybe those two things are linked. Maybe the vampire thing is somehow tied into his reformation.
But I tend to lean towards building my ideas off canon (as opposed to making an AU). And if gideon was a vampire, and knew this during the events of the show, it would have come to light at some point. So, either he doesn't know he's a vampire, or he becomes one later. Becoming one later works narratively, but he's already so vampiric, with the white hair, pale skin, sunscreen, evil, etc. So I'm like, let's go with that.
So, gideon has gone his whole life without knowing he's a vampire, and without drinking blood. I'm thinking that being a vampire in this case (my gravity falls fan version of what a vampire would be) wouldn't adhere to typical vampire conventions. You don't NEED to drink blood to survive.
Here's the idea I got yesterday: after the events of weirdmageddon, gideons experience motivated him to become a better person. It was the awakening, basically. But in the subsequent years, he's still a little shit. Maybe he's in juvenile detention, or prison again. But now, he has the self awareness to know that what he's doing is wrong. This is where my ideas get a little fuzzy, so bear with me. Bud has his suspicions, and as a last resort, puts gideon on some sort of mission trip type of cross country trip, when he's in his teens. And along the way, maybe at the end, there's this secret group of vampires that open gideons eyes to what he really is.
Basically??? Without blood, gideon is very evil. He's an evil little shit. This may not be how it is for every vampire. Maybe some grow very sickly without blood, just get hungry, etc. The effects of blood deficiency vary from vampire to vampire. But Gideon becomes very unhinged. And he'd essentially been Blood Hangry for his whole life. That being said, some of it was just his personality that he needed to work through, but drinking some blood helped a LOT. Blood isn't food for him, it's more like his medication.
Once he has that discovery, he spends a long while, I'm thinking maybe even a year, just recovering from the deficiency. He's almost always drinking blood to keep up his levels, and he's very rarely seen in public to keep the vampire thing a secret. That's what these drawings were supposed to be, him in his pseudo bedridden state. This period in his life would be one big blur; mostly spent binge watching soap operas and being all cozy. In contrast to his usual suit + tie, he's dressing for max comfort: sweatpants, sweatshirt, a knit hat over his ridiculously big hair, and always wrapped in a blanket. Not sure if somehow he feels cold when drinking blood?? But for some reason, I feel like he'd always be wearing like 10 layers and laying under a heated blanket or something.
Eventually, he'd only need to drink blood about once a month for maintenance.
Character development wise - even as an adult, Gideon isn't sure if he's truly a good person. Is the blood deficient version of himself the true gideon? Or is this well adjusted man who he truly is? And there's an issue of the chicken and the egg, too. Gideon was born a vampire. Did these genes activate because he was predisposed to being evil? Or did the vampire thing happen by coincidence? Does being a vampire make him evil, or is it the other way around? He doesn't know, and he never will.
The one thing I'm not sure I like about this idea: i'm worried that I'd be writing off his villainous personality as an illness that can be cured with a thing. Obviously, it would be better if he faced that head on, and figured out how to be better. So I'm still grappling with that. But for now, this is an idea I'm entertaining. Of course, I think it would be interesting if there was a plot point where his usual source of ethically sourced human blood was compromised for a time, and he had to grapple with his personality going topsy turvy.
It's actually embarrassing how much I just wrote???? If you've made it this far, wow, I applaud you. I guess this was just my idea of having a good sunday night, writing down my silly thoughts on gideon gosh darn gleeful. Let me know your thoughts too!!!! I'd love to know if you have any ideas, or questions, or ways to strengthen this potential backstory.
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alllgator-blood · 5 months ago
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'FOGGY STREETS AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS'
(part 3/3)
I'm gonna infodump about the backstory of this comic, don't feel obligated to read it because it's not cotl related it's just personal stuff, I just want to be able to write about it somewhere cause I can't really talk to anyone about it.
As always, thanks for reading this far, sorry my stuff has been such a bummer so consistently. This comic goes out to all my "christmas induced depression" homies, I left my house maybe like ~5 times all month and it was NOT pleasant hearing "IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!" on the radio when I'm so ready for it to be over. Gonna take it reaaaaal easy til the year ends, you guys take it easy too!! Got some asks I have to respond to when I'm more stable but probably no new comic pages til january
Alright uhhh so this part of the comic is pretty much taken directly from the last time I saw my great-grandma alive, a few days before christmas. She didn't remember me, but at the nursing home there was a piano, and I sat down and played some stuff because I didn't know what to say. I was really into lisa the painful rpg at the time, and I played that "I've got the joy" song that the villain sings without realizing it was an old christian campfire song. She didn't really say much or move that whole night, just kind of gave me a polite blank smile, but started singing the words when I played the notes to that song.
I kinda stopped in shock, my dad frantically asked me to keep playing, so I did. While the comic I made is way more sappy than the actual moment was, I wish I'd cherished the moment longer. I didn't know it was the last time I'd see her alive. Every family christmas was held at her house when she was around, so it's been weird the past few years. I actually lost another dementia-addled grandma to cancer on christmas eve in 2009, so the holiday was already kind of weird for me on top of everything else that makes me sad this time of year. That's what part 2 was about, I'll spare the details but I wrote leshy to act out how I felt back then. Why are we all sad? This is supposed to be a happy time, all the decorations are up and we're almost all here, so why is everyone smiling yet everything feels so wrong? I feel like since leshy's canonically the most ignorant one to things lurking below the surface, he'd be the one to try and make everyone feel better but not quite understand why everyone is so miserable. My first memory of having self injurious behavior came from then, hence why I had leshy pull his leaves off in the last comic. It was confusing and frustrating and I was just old enough to comprehend something was wrong, but not old enough to understand the depth of it, it DEFINITELY didn't help that nobody helped me back then so I made leshy's siblings actually come in clutch instead of grabbing him/yelling at him.
That night with the piano was something that's stuck with me the few years she's been gone, but I felt kind of strange when I asked my dad and my sister about it and neither of them remembered it. The room we were in was completely empty so nobody else witnessed it but us three. I myself have a history of head trauma and memory loss (plus, native americans are disproportionately more likely to develop dementia... lucky us) so if I ever forgot about that moment, there'd be nobody left to remember it. Sometimes when I do comics, it's my way of going "this happened at some point, and the only evidence it ever happened was me witnessing it, so if something happens to me I want the memory to stay alive in some form."
Anyway. The autistic urge to overshare, am I right? Idk what my religious ass great-grandma would think of me drawing demonic comics about my last memory of her, she'd probably think it's funny though cause she raised my dad whose interests have always been "death metal and devil worship". I'm not sure if anyone read this far, I just hope my dumb comics can convey the things I can't say with my voice and struggle to say through text. None of this was supposed to be "feel bad for me!! Woe is me!!", it was supposed to me more like...cathartic? Healing? I almost didn't post this comic because it felt kinda weird, but seeing people connect with it made it worth it imo. Thank you
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violetrainbow412-blog · 3 days ago
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Where Soft Things Grow 🌱 [B. R.]
Bob Reynolds x fem!reader
wc: 6.8k
summary: when Bob's therapist asks him to find an activity that will help him gain some control, he's forced to turn to you. That's just the first step in a series of events he never thought would happen.
masterlist
warnings: mental health (yk, canon stuff)
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It had been almost a year since the last big mission. Since the previous time someone ended up in the hospital, or any of you were trapped in your own silence for weeks.
Bob was better. Not well, not completely. But better.
At the recommendation—and insistence—of the entire team, he had started going to therapy. It wasn't easy. It took him months to accept that he needed to talk to someone who didn't carry a gun or know his traumas firsthand.
So his therapist asked him to choose a recurring activity. Something nonviolent. Something he could maintain consistently, even on bad days.
Bob thought about learning to cook, write, draw… but nothing really convinced him.
Ultimately, he ended up in a corner of the tower, with three pots, two bags of soil, and a defeated expression: so, gardening it was. He had bought plants, not seeds, because he thought it would be easier that way. He followed the shop assistant's recommendations a bit: he bought mint, lavender, and basil.
He'd never had a plant in his life and hadn't even read an article about it, but he tried to remain as positive as possible. After all, that was the goal, wasn't it? With a little practice, he could learn, and besides, he figured it shouldn't be too difficult to achieve.
What he didn't understand was that plants didn't survive on just care and excess water. Bob watered every morning, without fail. Sometimes out of anxiety, other times out of fear of forgetting, other times because he convinced himself he was doing the right thing. After a week of this routine, the most logical thing happened: the mint turned yellow, the lavender wilted, and the poor basil gave up without a fight.
He stood in front of the pots, his brow furrowed, his hands caked with damp soil. His fingers trembled slightly as they clumsily plucked the withered leaves. For a moment, he considered simply throwing them away. Buying new ones. Pretending things had never gone wrong.
But that wasn't what they had asked of him in therapy.
"It's not about making it perfect," his therapist had told him, with that calmness that made him a little uncomfortable. "It's about allowing yourself to fail, and moving on. About caring, even when you don't know how."
Then, for some strange reason, he thought of you.
You once mentioned that you liked plants, having grown up with a mother who took care of them a ton. You might know a thing or two about that, so, without giving it much thought, he went looking for you.
He wandered around for a while until he found you in the shared kitchen, sitting on one of the stools. You had a steaming mug in your hands, and he hesitated before speaking.
"Hey," he finally said, his voice softer than usual, "Do you have a moment?"
You nodded, putting the cup aside and approaching cautiously.
"Hi. You okay?"
Bob shrugged uncomfortably. He hadn't dared mention his project to anyone, for fear of feeling overly scrutinized or pressured. But now, in front of you, his nails were still stained with dirt and the smell of dead basil permeated his T-shirt. He felt ridiculous.
"I'm… trying this plant-care thing," he began, sounding a little frustrated. "My therapist recommended it. But it was supposed to be easy."
You frowned, curious.
"Easy?"
He gave a short laugh, with a hint of embarrassment.
"She told me to choose a consistent activity, so I bought three plants. But I killed them in a week."
"Which plants?"
"Mint, basil and lavender"
"Hmm, they’re whimsical…" you murmured, clicking your tongue, more to yourself than to him. "Can I see them?"
He nodded almost immediately, and then the two of you set off, walking to the space he'd selected for his little project. As soon as you arrived, he noticed you scanning everything around you. Then you knelt to touch the withered leaves and damp earth.
When you stood up, you delivered a verdict:
"They’re too wet”
"But they need water," he replied in bewilderment.
Seeing him so lost touched you slightly and you smiled at him, understanding.
"How many times have you watered them?"
"Every morning"
"Oh! No, honey. You're drowning them. Not only do they need to be watered so often, it depends on the plant. They also need space, light, and rest. Just like you."
Although your voice came out kind, he felt annoyed with himself.
"This is stupid, I'll try something else."
"No, Bob. Don't be discouraged. Gardening is… it's a very good strategy for what your therapist is looking for. It requires time, care, discipline, and above all, patience." You emphasized the last word, making him smile. "What do you say I help you? We'll buy some new plants, and I'll tell you how to take care of them."
"Would you do that?"
"Of course. Especially if this can help you in your process. You'll see how much you'll grow fond of it over time."
After that conversation, he felt more encouraged about it. He thought maybe sharing it with you would get him more involved, as he felt a certain commitment to not letting you down. Plus, he enjoyed spending time with you.
That same afternoon, you went to a nursery, with plants completely different from the ones he'd bought at the supermarket. They looked more vibrant, with bright colors and a fresh, lively look.
While there, you explained to him which ones were best suited for indoors—because yes, he didn't know there were plants for both indoors and outdoors—and then he chose all shapes and sizes. Maybe he was being superficial, but again, the criterion for choosing was appearance.
When you returned, it was no longer just three sad flowerpots, but you entered the tower carrying a wooden box full of vegetation, fertilizer, a set of gardening tools, and a metal watering can.
"What are you two up to?"
Bucky and Yelena were sitting in the living room, watching you with a strange interest. They were probably discussing important matters, a mission or something along those lines. You simply told them it was Bob's assignment and then slipped off down the hall, motivated to set up the small green area.
"Plants need different things. Some require more water, more light, more time in the shade…"
As you explained, he arranged the pots around the space, listening attentively to your words. The patio was somewhat small, but spacious enough to function.
"They're like people. Each one likes something different, behaves differently, or has different roles..."
"You know, I chose gardening without much thought, but now I'm thinking I might tell all this to my therapist when she asks me why. Would you write it down for me?"
Bob was cute and kind, but now and then he would make jokes that always made you laugh.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I must sound crazy."
"No! I didn't mean that, no. I'm just saying it would make a lot more sense for me to explain it that way than to simply justify it by saying I thought it would be the easiest activity."
With a smile, you looked at him for a moment. Then you placed the pot of dying lavender in his hands.
"This one's for you. First lesson, lavender needs lots of sun. Put it in your bedroom window."
"Can it be saved?"
"Everything can be saved, Bob. You just need to give it a chance."
The man felt that action was poetic. Would you maintain that attitude toward everything? Even him?
"You're… you're very good to me. Thank you."
That caught you off guard, though it didn't seem strange to you. He had this habit of thanking you for everything, as if you were doing him a favor by treating him decently.
From then on, the garden played two important roles: a space of stillness and order for Bob and a quiet way for the rest of the team to coexist with him.
"Looks good."
"You think so?" he asked Yelena, who was watching him from the doorway.
Now he watered the plants once or twice a week, as you had instructed. You had even helped him design a schedule that he kept posted on the wall, to ease his anxiety about forgetting.
"Yes, I mean it. I brought you something, by the way."
The woman handed him a ceramic pot.
"A cactus?"
"Yes. This one doesn't die if you forget to water it."
The gesture warmed your friend's heart, and he made sure to put the pot—small enough to fit in just one hand—in a pretty spot. He assumed it needed sunlight and little water. Later, he checked with you to be sure.
That corner soon became Bob's adoration, obsessed with learning and taking the best possible care of his little garden.
You made compost with organic waste, you taught him how to prune, and he even had his own crop of medicinal or edible plants, which more than once managed to save the day.
“Fuck!"
"What's wrong, Walker?"
"This recipe calls for rosemary. And we don't have any."
"Take it from my garden," chimed in Bob, who was sitting on the couch trying to put together a puzzle.
"Which garden?"
"The one I have downstairs. It's a task my therapist gave me. It helps me relax and so on."
John looked at him, incredulous.
"And do you have rosemary in that place?"
"Mhm. Rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, cilantro…"
He mentally reviewed the list and then swore he saw the soldier's face light up, probably already working on a couple of recipes. From that moment on, he became the official supplier of herbs within the tower. Anyone who was cooking and needed a condiment, or who fancied a medicinal tea, came to him.
On another occasion, Ava had heard murmurings in the hallway. She thought it was an intruder, then she thought Bob was having a breakdown, and when she got closer, she finally found him chatting excitedly. However, upon closer inspection, she realized he was alone.
"I didn't imagine you as someone who talks to plants."
The woman surprised him and he, logically, jumped into his own place. Then he smiled at her.
"Hi. I read somewhere it helps them grow. Honestly, I think it's helping me more than them."
"Well, if talking to them keeps you sane, then keep talking to them."
A soft chuckle escaped his chest as he stroked the leaves like one would stroke a pet.
"I discovered that plants are less complicated than people, anyway. That's why I like spending time with them."
"Well, it smells like my grandmother's patio."
Even if they joked around, everyone in the tower just let Bob be. If he was comfortable with the activity and it got him out of the darkness of his room, it was fine with them.
But to be honest, you were the one who was enjoying this hobby of his the most. In your free time, you went there hoping to find him, and from time to time, you helped him rearrange his pots, since some followed Yelena's example and bought plants from him whenever they could.
One of those days, you were immersed in your work when you heard Bob speak:
"You know, just being here makes this whole place feel different. More beautiful."
You laughed.
"Are you talking to that plant or are you talking to me?"
"Both. But you don't need that much sunlight."
You stopped turning the humus in the soil to watch him, surprised by his response to your joke. But Bob seemed to say that as if it were natural, for he didn't flinch in the least at your gaze; he continued pruning with the same delicacy and concentration as always. The mere thought of him thinking that about your presence made you blush, and although you tried to continue working, your concentration was disrupted considerably.
One day, however, the inevitable happened.
Your friend hadn't had an episode for a while, but something—you didn't know what—managed to unsettle him. It wasn't immediate or explosive. There were no screams, no blows, no prolonged absences. It was more like a fog that slowly settled over him, dulling his calm glow.
At first, no one noticed. Bob was still just as attentive, just as polite. But he stopped eating with the others. He became quieter, more methodical, more isolated. Yelena was the first to frown when he turned down a card game. Bucky said nothing, but watched him out of the corner of his eye with silent concern. John, on the other hand, was more direct:
"Everything okay, Bobby?"
"Excellent," he replied, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Ava left some snacks in the cupboard. Alexei offered to help him with an installation that clearly didn't need any help. Everyone noticed, in their own way. But no one found a suitable way in.
Except you.
Or maybe you were just in the right place when the lights stayed on past midnight.
From the common room, you could see, through the hallway windows, the warm light from Bob's room. It wasn't unusual for him to stay up late—he hadn't slept much in years—but there was something about the way that light didn't flicker, about the static shadow behind the curtain, that gave you a hunch.
So you walked up to his door and knocked softly.
"Bob?"
Nothing.
"Can I come in?"
You thought maybe he had just fallen asleep with the lights on, or maybe he just didn't want to talk to anyone. A few seconds later, as you were about to leave, you heard his footsteps shuffling toward the door.
When he opened your eyes, his eyes were red-rimmed, and the dark circles under them were more pronounced than usual. What worried you was that he didn't try to fake it. He didn't try to smile, or straighten up. He just stepped aside to let you in.
The room was messy. Not in a catastrophic sense, but the signs were there: clothes on the chair, a forgotten cup, books piled up as if he'd tried—in vain—to read one.
"No sleep?"
"I was finishing some things," you replied simply. You knew what he was trying to do; he wanted to divert attention from himself. "Do you want to talk about this?"
"Talk about what?" he asked. He wasn't looking at you.
You remained silent, and so did he. But you didn't move a muscle, making it clear that you didn't intend to leave, even if he didn't say a word. You would stay there and keep him company. Finally, he sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulders hunched. Defeated.
He was slow to respond.
"I don't know. I just… felt bad. Not because of anything specific, I just think it built up."
You sat down next to him. You didn't say anything. You just listened to him take a deep breath.
"I thought I was better," he continued. "And I am. But sometimes it all comes back. And it's like my body remembers before my mind does."
You didn't hug him. Not yet. But you moved your leg closer to his, letting him feel your presence. It was Bob who leaned toward you, placing his head on your shoulder.
"Do you want me to say something or would you prefer that I not?"
"I don't want to talk. Just stay."
You spent several minutes like that, in silence. At some point, he closed his eyes, exhausted, and although he didn't fall asleep, it seemed like his body was finally letting go of something it had been carrying for days.
At some point, you slipped your hand into his, which he gladly accepted. The way your thumb caressed his knuckles made him feel calmer, as if he could focus on that instead of his own thoughts.
"You need to rest"
"I can't. I tried, but I can't."
"But you must do it."
Your tone, though firm, tried to be as empathetic as possible. Suddenly, your gaze fell on the flowerpot resting on the windowsill, and an idea popped into your mind.
Bob looked devastated when you stood up from your seat.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll get you something to help you sleep, okay? Wait a minute."
As a farewell, you brushed his hair with your fingers and he nodded without saying anything.
You then went to the kitchen, where a jar full of already dried lavender flowers rested –product of the garden, of course– you placed them in the infuser and it went straight to the fire.
Then you went to your room. The bottle of oil you used on some sleepless nights rested on one of the shelves, and you took the opportunity to put on a hoodie, since for some reason Bob's room felt frigid. As if it reflected the mood of its occupant.
When you returned—cup in hand—you found him in the same position, almost as if he hadn't noticed your absence. His gaze was lost, a hint of sadness shining in his tired eyes.
"Hey"
"You won't be able to sleep if you have all the lights on, for starters," you smiled. You then adjusted the lighting to amber. "Drink this."
Bob took the cup without saying anything, but his fingers brushed yours as he did so. He stared at the contents for a few seconds, then brought the rim to his lips and drank… too quickly.
"It's hot!"
"I noticed," he murmured, his lips parted, rubbing the roof of his mouth with his tongue.
You couldn't help but laugh, your tone soft and not inviting mockery. He imitated you.
"Let me see," you said, leaning in a little closer, as if you could actually do something about it. Your eyes met his, and for a moment, neither of you moved.
"I'm fine,"
"Be more careful."
Bob responded with a faint smile before bringing the cup to his lips and gently blowing on the drink, as if that slow gesture might also soothe the turmoil inside his chest. Meanwhile, you poured a few drops of the oil onto your fingertips and then knelt in front of him, occupying the space between his legs. Your knees gently touched the carpet, and your hands, delicate but determined, rose to brush away a few unruly strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead. You touched him with an almost ceremonial tenderness, stroking his temples as if each stroke brought some relief.
Bob let out a long, weary sigh. The warm scent of the oil—lavender, or maybe something with sandalwood—drifted softly into his senses, and within seconds his eyelids fluttered closed, overcome by the contrast between the warmth of your touch and the coolness the ointment left on his skin. His body began to relax, releasing the tension built up in his shoulders, neck, jaw... but his heart, that traitor, only raced.
He felt your proximity like a magnetic field: the warmth of your thighs, the calm cadence of your breathing, the barely perceptible touch of your fingers as they slid closer to his cheekbones. You were too close, and yet, not close enough.
If he leaned in a little—just a little—his nose would touch yours. He didn't.
"Have you finished your tea?"
Your voice broke the warm bubble that enveloped him and anchored him back to the room. Bob blinked, disoriented for a second, reminding himself that this was all part of an attempt to get him to sleep. So he feigned normalcy. He nodded slowly as you walked away, leaving an invisible gap in the air that he instantly felt.
He held the mug in his hands for a moment longer, as if the warmth trapped in the ceramic could fill the emptiness you left in his chest. Then he took a sip and placed it on the nightstand, next to the remnants of possibilities.
Suddenly, his movements became slower, almost mechanical, as if his body were finally beginning to give in to a tiredness he'd been ignoring for days. And you stood there, staring at him without intruding. The room had that kind of silence that comes only after a storm: a soft echo of what hurt, but also the promise that everything will calm down.
"You should sleep too," he said, softly and quietly.
His eyes remained open. Not because he wasn't sleepy, but because he was still watching you.
It was a silent gaze, without expectations or intention to disturb. But there was something about it—the way his eyelids softened, the way the corners of his lips slightly curved, the way he looked at you as if you were the only certainty he had at that moment—that overflowed with tenderness. An adoration so deep he didn't seem to realize he was letting it show.
"Yeah. I'll go to my room when you're asleep," you replied, unconcerned.
Something stirred inside him. Not physically, but inside. That sentence struck a soft blow to his chest. He didn't want you to leave. He didn't want to be alone when the silence returned with all its weight. But he didn't want to say it out loud either.
How do you ask for something like that? How can you ask someone to stay, to share a bed with you just to ward off the shadow of loneliness?
He thought about thanking you and staying silent. He thought about accepting that small consolation without risking more. But just as the thought began to hurt him a little inside, you looked at him with the same gentleness with which he looked at you and asked:
"Would it make you feel better if I stayed?"
And it was as if you'd read his soul. Bob blinked once, surprised at how quickly his chest filled with something warm. He nodded with unexpected, almost awkward energy, as if yes had won out over restraint.
"Yes. Yes... please."
"Do you have a blanket to put on the floor?"
"What? No! No need. You can sleep in the bed… huh, only if you want to."
A smile crossed your face, and then you moved first, as if you understood perfectly. You silently took off your shoes and settled on the side closest to the wall. He took a little longer, as if he was doubting whether that was really possible. But he lay down.
The mattress was narrow, and although neither of you sought contact, the closeness was inevitable. Your breathing began out of sync, but gradually found a similar rhythm. The room, with its warm light and soft shadows, no longer felt so cold.
Bob kept his eyes open for a while, fixed on a spot on the ceiling. He seemed to be trying to record the way everything felt: the scent of oil still hanging in the air, the distant murmur of the city beyond the windows, the nearby warmth of someone who wasn't running away from their sadness. The sensation was strange, not because it was uncomfortable, but because it was new. And newness, for someone like him, usually came with scars.
He thought of nights past, in beds where there was only a thick silence, where darkness felt like a threat. Of the years when insomnia was the only constant and abrupt awakenings were confused with fragments of a blurred childhood. There had never been anyone who came into his room to check on him. There had never been a cup of something hot or hands on his temples to help him calm down. That's why this was too much. Almost unbearable, so intimate.
And yet, there you were. You didn't push, you didn't say more than necessary. You were just there. And that, while it disarmed him, also sustained him. He didn't understand how, but your presence slowed down his chaotic psyche.
"Are you comfortable?"
"Yes, calm down. Are you?"
"Better than ever"
He didn't turn toward you. He didn't reach for your hand. But he knew, with a certainty he couldn't explain, that if he woke up in the middle of the night, you'd still be there. And that, for someone like him, was something of a miracle.
He fell asleep before he realized it. Not with the depth of someone who has never known fear, but with the peace of someone who, for the first time, is not alone with his ghosts.
That day was etched in his memory as one of those nights that don't seem extraordinary at first, but which, over time, take on a different meaning. It wasn't what you said or what you did. It was everything you didn't say. What you left hanging in the air, in the comfortable silences, in the way the warm light seemed to embrace the space between your bodies.
From then on, something changed. Slowly, without any big announcements, Bob began to walk differently. It wasn't obvious to everyone, but you noticed. On good days, his voice sounded clearer; on bad days, he no longer isolated himself completely. There was a kind of new pulse beating beneath his usual stillness. A faint thread that kept him more present.
Little by little, he resumed a more consistent rhythm in his life. Not perfect, not linear, but steadier. He slept better. He allowed himself to be accompanied. And although he still preferred brief conversations, he began to offer you small gestures that spoke louder than any words. His presence felt lighter, less cornered by the weight of the world.
And then there was the garden. That green corner, once merely a clumsy attempt at his therapy, became a reflection of everything he was trying to rebuild. The plants were more organized, more alive. Now and then, you find new shoots you didn't remember seeing before. Pots with freshly turned soil were rearranged; he had even started planting his seeds instead of buying the plants.
One ordinary afternoon—after one of those workouts that left your muscles crying out for respite—you took a long, leisurely shower. The steam washed away the exhaustion from your body, and for a while you thought about nothing. When you stepped out, the towel still hanging around your neck and your damp hair sticking to your skin, the first thing you saw upon entering the kitchen was your water bottle on the table… and next to it, a small bouquet.
You stopped dead in your tracks.
There was no note. Just the flowers: a modest handful, wrapped in brown paper, with no need to look perfect. A few marigolds opened as if they'd caught the sun, a couple of sprigs of still-fresh lavender, and in the center, two white begonias.
You gently ran your fingers over the petals, as if afraid of ruining the gesture. For a second, a very stupid one, it didn't occur to you who had done such a thing.
"And that?" Yelena murmured, next to you. She had also showered and was looking for something to chew on.
"They were… next to my water bottle. They just appeared."
"Huh, what a mystery."
"I know," you murmured sincerely, not having noticed the sarcasm in your friend's voice. She looked at you for a second, waiting for the punchline to a joke that never came. "What?"
“You seriously don't know who gave them to you?”
"Yours?" you tried your luck. She laughed, with that characteristic raspy sound, and shook her head in amusement.
"Maybe it is a mystery. If only we knew someone who took up gardening recently and practically kisses the ground you walk on…"
Suddenly, everything clicked. And you felt stupid for not having figured it out sooner.
"Bob?"
"I highly doubt Bucky is the romantic type. And Walker… well, he's Walker."
You remained silent. You knew that even a single syllable from your lips would condemn you forever, and you didn't want Yelena to know about your feelings so soon. You had to talk to him first.
"Huh, yeah, I think you're right. I'll put them in my room then. See you."
"Your room is across the hall…" she observed, smiling mischievously.
The worst part? She was right.
"Yeah! I'm just going to get something I… forgot in the training room."
The blonde didn't buy a word of your poor lie and made sure to remember the situation so she could annoy you in the future.
You walked quickly until you reached the door of his room. You knocked, but no one answered. You assumed he was probably in the garden, so you went there, certain you'd find him watering the garden or simply admiring the surroundings. The smile you had on your face was replaced by a frown. He wasn't there either. Had he left the tower? Maybe to buy something, you thought, although it wasn't logical.
You wandered through a few floors, hoping to run into him in one of the hallways, but it was all in vain. It was just you and the modest flowers you were holding. Finally, an unknown force whispered in your ear that he might be on the roof. It was a secluded spot you sometimes used to do things off camera—which Valentina monitored and watched like a psycho—so you thought it would be good to check. After all, you had nothing to lose if he wasn't there either.
As you stepped out, the drafts hit your ears and ruffled your hair. It took only a few steps to see his figure, near the shore in a contemplative pose with his arms crossed, as if he were hugging himself.
Of course he realized he was no longer alone, but when he turned and saw you, his expression softened considerably.
"How did you find me?"
"Were you hiding?"
Your question caught him off guard, and so he didn't say anything. You walked over to stand beside him.
"For someone afraid of heights, this doesn't seem like the best place."
"I like to see the sky. I try not to look down."
A chuckle escaped you. Bob looked at what you were holding and then pretended he hadn't.
"Look what I found. No note, no nothing."
"And do you like them?"
"Of course, they're beautiful. I wonder if it was Alexei, he's usually cheesy."
His brow furrowed. You stifled a laugh at his obvious annoyance.
"Do you think they're cheesy?"
"Coming from him, yes. If someone else were responsible, it would be… sweet. Even romantic, I think."
The look you shared was one of complicity. He knew you knew, but neither of you wanted to dare be the first to speak. So, when there were no words, he decided to reach out his hand to reach yours; a trembling, delicate, and experimental touch.
His fears evaporated when you smiled and leaned a little closer, forcing him to embrace you. His free arm cupped your lower back, and the flowers in your other hand wound up on his back. Suddenly, the chill in the air was overshadowed by the body heat you were suddenly sharing.
"I would have liked to give them to you in person, but… I think I was a little afraid."
"Why would you be afraid?"
"I don't know. I thought maybe you wouldn't like them."
"I was going to like them anyway, Bob. Only because you're the one giving them to me," you swore. Against your hair, he suppressed a smile. "Where did you get them?"
"I took care of them"
"But I didn't see them in the garden."
"It's just that I don't have them there. I put them somewhere else to… well, you know. To surprise you” you smiled. "I wanted to give you something nice as a thank you for everything you've done for me."
You pulled away, just a little, to look into his eyes. He was so tall that, if he'd wanted, he could have kissed you on the forehead.
"That's what friends do: support each other. You don't need to thank me for anything."
"But I wanted to. Maybe it's not much, but…"
"Don't say that," you interrupted. "These flowers are a symbol of the progress you've made. They need sun, water, soil, companionship, care… just like you. You keep them alive because you love them, and because at the same time, they lift you, even on bad days."
For a second, Bob felt like this didn't just apply to his garden. He wasn't a great connoisseur of love, yet he knew he loved you. And you were the reason he was getting better; the mere thought of being with you was what got him out of bed on days when he just wanted to lie there until he became nothing.
Perhaps he was lost in those thoughts for too long, because all you caught was his intense gaze on you. A soft whisper from your lips brought him back to reality.
"Come a little closer."
The phrase was gentle, but laden with something that made the world shrink at that instant. He obeyed, almost without thinking, and you, on tiptoe, leaned your face toward his. The gesture wasn't invasive, it didn't exert any pressure, and it wasn't meant to be intense. It was simply a kiss, gentle and delicate.
"Is this okay?"
Your voice was barely a murmur between his lips, but Bob felt it in the center of his chest, as if something inside him had suddenly loosened. He didn't know how to respond. Any words he could utter seemed too clumsy, too small for what he was feeling.
So instead of speaking, he leaned over you, demanding a much-needed kiss. Your small sigh caught between your mouths, and that was all the permission he needed. Your arms rose to surround him, and Bob's hands—large, honest, trembling—slid down your sides with an almost reverent slowness, stopping just short of crossing the line of caution.
You didn't believe he could kiss you with such passion, as if he needed your breath to live. Suddenly, everything became a chorus of lip smacking, sighs, and stifled breaths that died in each other's throats. The scent of the flowers, the natural aroma of your bodies, and the taste of the man were making you completely dizzy.
"Fucking Jesus Christ!"
The scream forced you to immediately break away, and then you saw John and Ava standing right in front of you. Both of their faces were twisted in an expression that combined surprise and disgust.
"What are you doing here, you perverts?"
"What are you doing here?" you countered. Bob was too flushed to form a coherent sentence.
"We came to smoke some weed. Bucky doesn't like us doing it inside, and Alexei forbade us."
"Why were you two swallowing each other?"
"That's none of your business, Ava. If you don't say anything, we'll just walk away and not say anything."
You offered no other options, as you barely finished speaking when you took Bob's hand and led him toward the door leading back to the apartment. The door closed with a dull creak behind you, and the echo of laughter lingered up above, floating on the cold drafts. You walked down the steps in silence, walking quickly but awkwardly, as if neither of you knew quite where to put your feet or what to say.
Once on the ground floor, the two of you stopped halfway down. Bob's face was still red up to his ears and he couldn't look at you directly. You, for your part, weren't immune either: adrenaline was still pumping in your temples, but beneath it was a smile you couldn't quite contain.
"Well…" you began, clearing your throat, as if trying to regain some composure.
"That was…" Bob tried, but then he scratched the back of his neck and let out a sigh that barely contained a laugh. "Unexpected. And very… public."
"Yes. Although technically we were alone. Until we weren't."
Bob gave a short, low laugh, as if he didn't know whether to laugh or hide under a table.
"I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to look them in the eye again."
"Relax, I'll take care of the looks. Just stay alive."
He looked at you then. Finally. As if humor didn't diminish the value of everything he'd felt up there, in that overwhelming moment. And you saw something in his eyes: a deep gratitude, a shy but real affection, and a hint of fear, as if he still found it hard to believe this was really happening.
"About that, I… I think I got excited and… sorry if it was too much…"
"Bob."
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."
You laughed again, more freely this time, and so did he. The atmosphere between you lightened, as if you'd both let out something you'd been holding in for a long time. Suddenly, the laughter ended, and you two stared at each other again like a pair of fools in love.
"I have to make sure I thank my therapist."
"Why?"
"Because if she hadn't forced me to find a damn hobby, I probably wouldn't have kissed you like I just did."
A blush spread across your face. Then you laughed.
"Let's just say it was faster. Because eventually, it would have happened."
"You think so?"
"I know it, handsome."
Suddenly, it was as if things had changed, but at the same time, the chemistry between you was still as strong as the first time. He was your friend, after all, and you were his.
Bob knew he shouldn't rely on someone's affection or presence to be okay, but honestly, knowing that you reciprocated his feelings and wanted to continue spending time with him became a powerful incentive.
"Do you want us to accuse them with Bucky?"
"John and Ava?"
"I think telling Alexei would be more humiliating for them, right? He'd probably lecture them for hours and search their rooms."
"But we said we wouldn't tell anyone…"
Bob's honesty and the way he looked at you, concerned, made you smile. He could be so sweet sometimes.
"I assure you they'd do the same for us. At least we'll have an advantage. Come on, let's go."
"Wait," he said. He had gently grabbed your wrist to keep you there. "One and that's it."
You didn't need to ask what he meant, because his lips crashing against yours gave you the answer. Although it was brief, the contact maintained the passionate spirit of a few minutes before.
"Will this become a habit?"
"You don't want to?"
He sounded scared. Even disappointed, you dare say. A sly smile spread across your face. You looked at him calmly, as if you wanted to make sure he was really listening to you.
"I asked you because I wanted to know if this… if what just happened… is something you want too. Not because I don't want it."
Bob didn't say anything at first. His eyes moved between yours, as if trying to read between the lines, decipher if there was anything else hidden. But your expression was transparent. You were being honest.
"So…" he murmured, "why ask?"
"Because I care about you. Because I don't want this to become something that just happened on impulse, for a nice night, because of everything we've been dragging along. I don't want you to kiss me just because you were feeling grateful or vulnerable."
That last word hung in the air, but you didn't back down. He held it in silence. His lips pressed slightly together, and when he answered, his voice was deep and steady.
"It wasn't because of that."
You nodded, though you didn't let your guard down completely.
"I had to make sure"
Bob took a deep breath. Then, with a gesture that was clumsier than calculated, he took your hand again, as if he still needed confirmation that you were there, that you hadn't wandered off.
"I'm not good at this. I don't have much experience… in consciously choosing someone. In staying when things get real."
"That doesn't scare me," you said. "As long as you don't run away if I become real."
That response drew a brief, dry but genuine laugh from him. He looked at you as if he'd just seen you for the first time, as if your openness made him understand that you weren't expecting a perfect story. Just a shared story.
"Then yes," he said finally. "I want it to last. If you want it too."
You gave him an approving smile, and then he tried to walk down the hall. It was you who stopped him this time.
"One and done,"
You kissed him again, more briefly this time, but with every intention in the world. Then you took his hand naturally, as if it were something you'd always done.
And even though you didn't say anything else, the way you walked together was enough to understand that you would strive to overcome whatever came. Together.
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frownyalfred · 6 months ago
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Why is it so hard to find ppl that actually understand bruce? I am tired of either finding ppl that see him as an abuser or others that only love wfa version of him I am really tired of this like really I can't even join a Fandom without getting my favorite character not getting mischaracterized left and right 😔
I'm going to rant a little bit here, and I apologize in advance. This isn't really directed at you. But I'm kind of tired of this flavor of ask. I get it a lot -- half of these asks are praising me for having a "good" interpretation of canon, and the other half are blasting me for being too "fanon" and bending too much to fandom tropes in my posts and writing. And of course the nonstop WFA hatred in my inbox is tiring.
Be the change you want to see in the world. If you don't like what the fandom is doing to your blorbo, write him your way. But sitting at the edge of the playpen complaining about how someone else is playing with their toys isn't useful. And it's really getting annoying to me, as a content creator.
I'm also tired of the superiority some canon-adherents have over those who write/draw more fanon tropes. So many of you are SO bitter over the idea that fandom is "ruining" Bruce or your other Batfamily blorbo because how DARE they write your blorbo in that way that is so OOC. How DARE they! And yet, you sit on the sidelines and create bitchy tumblr posts about how those fandom participants are stupid, or ill-informed, or simply don't have the higher thinking ability to understand your blorbo like you do.
And yet. You don't write Bruce the way you "enjoy." You don't create content or share posts or promote those canon characteristics you so highly value. Instead, you write posts complaining about the others in this fandom and deride them for being stupid like adhering to canon strictly somehow makes you better than anyone else. You mock their acceptance of fanon tropes as canon as if there is required reading in this fandom, entirely dismissing the idea that the line between DC fanon/canon is confusing as hell on a good day, and ignoring that the natural progression of engaging in fandom is finding out -- sometimes on your own timeline -- what actually happened in canon. Especially when canon is so vast.
And guess what? At the end of the day, we are all on the fandom website(s). You're still reading fanfiction at the end of the day. Canon or fanon or some blend of the in-between, you are still a fan participating in fandom content in some way or another. And we are all equal in that respect.
We are all here to enjoy these characters. Fanfiction is a medium that allows us to further explore canon, yes, But it is also a way to explore the OOC, the what-if's, the out of character but fandom-fave ideas and tropes people want. The fact that OTHER people enjoy those things should never impact your enjoyment of fandom.
If you cannot handle someone else playing with the same toys as you, but playing with them in a way you don't like, you need to go back to preschool. And if someone won't give you your toy back, find another one. Write the story. Create the post. Build your own engagement from the ground up, finding likeminded people if you can. They are definitely on here.
But I get the impression that when people complain about fanon "ruining" fandom, what they're actually saying is "I'm upset that canon content isn't as popular as fanon content." And that, I can't help you with. We can't always change what other people love or want to engage with.
I'm sorry that this rant is blunt, but it's been simmering inside me for a while. I'm really tired of getting and deleting this ask 15 times a day. You will not find much sympathy on this blog for canon purism and the derision of fanon/fandom, and for that I apologize. But it's the truth.
I enjoy consuming content about both "fanon" and canon Bruce. I like the contrast and complexities. But I have seriously had to stop following a ton of blogs in the last year who don't create "canon" content anymore and instead spend their time complaining about other people in the fandom who are just enjoying themselves and creating their own content. It's incredibly disheartening and frustrating.
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zerocoded · 4 months ago
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summary: this is a deep dive into zayne's persona in bed. just a heads up! this is my opinion babess ♡
authors note: just got back from a 4-day trip with my family and knew i had to write more about this post of mine AND I WILL. but until then, here's a little something to keep my zayne girlies on check hehe. i found this beautiful drawing on pinterest, credits to the beautiful owner.
warnings: nsfw content ahead! please proceed only if you are of legal age in your country ♡ • minors dni • talks about temperature play, edging, overstimulation, manhandling, etc.
word count: 1.3k
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☆ zayne was a composed man until he was between your legs. his usual stoic demeanor crumbling down to sweet praises and a potty mouth for god knows how much time you allow him to go down on you.
☆ he's obsessed with pulling your torso closer to him and feeling the arch on your back with his hands. i said what i said and i have PROOF.
☆ that is because he is a control freak and loves to feel your body bending to his will.
☆ bro is all chivelry and gentle mannerisms until you both got your own house and freetime on zayne's hands. people can think that he is all vanilla and everything but i will say this man has the stamina of an athlete and the precisive hands of a surgeon canonically.
☆ this man CANNOT be vanilla with the little time he has on his hands and the iq he has to know everything about your body.
☆ i can see zayne paying attention to your every little move at the beginning of your relationship, commiting every little reaction of yours to his memory so that he never does something you won't enjoy.
☆ and he takes pride in that. glimpses of his smirk and the little sassiness he only shows in these moments are the proof of it.
☆ back to his potty mouth, i think zayne is the type of man to spend hours going down on you because he truly enjoys it. i'd say he's only second to xavier to spend major of his time between your legs.
☆ "fucking hell" "just like that, baby"
☆ oh he looooves talking you through it and i know it. like, in every intimate situation, zayne just loves to tease you and torment you with his mouth.
☆ and i mean the occasional "good girl", "that's it, princess", "let go for me, yeah", etc. he WON'T stop until you are overstimulated every time.
☆ i don't think zayne is into overstimulation when it comes to you, but he will go until you are pushing his head away from your core and spitting profanities in his ear. bro loves to hear you go mindless because of him.
☆ like he won't push you after you asked him to stop once (while giving head). but when it comes to him? bro takes pleasure in edging himself.
☆ zayne will be using his last drop of energy into thrusting into you after you both come a thousand times and he will be closing his eyes and throwing his head back and clenching his jaw and tensing all his muscles but he WON'T stop it until you are crying for him to stop. literally.
☆ his dick would ache and both of your bodies would be a mess but he would overstimulate himself for the pleasure of it.
☆ and when you find that out? you'd be making this man drool when giving him head. like he could already have come twice but you'd still be going at it and he would grip your hair so tight and keep fucking himself into your mouth until his body can't take it anymore.
☆ i feel like zayne doesn't know how strong he is when it comes to intimate sessions. like he has a powerful evol and knows how to fight, but he doesn't think much when he is pushing you around on the bed.
☆ manhandling final boss and that's on PERIOD. his last card literally screams this.
☆ loves praising and to be praised.
☆ funnily enough i feel like he has zero patience when he is actually horny but still be committed to the foreplay.
☆ the only time he is irritatingly patient is when you’re trying to dom him and he sees it in your eyes that you like being on top. he would muster all the patience he has and wait for your signal that you are tired and want him to take the control back.
☆ roleplaying? it's a yes in zayne's book. he can't count how many times he has dreamt of you being his secretary or something really corny like that.
☆ bro secretly has a restraint kink. like he loves to see you struggling so you could touch him or see him when all he did was tie your hands with his tie or cover your eyes while he sucks your chest.
☆ a brat tamer. OH MY GOD. why don't i see more people talking about this??? like zayne is the ultimate brat tamer. and i don't mean it for fun like sylus or rafayel would be into, i mean it in a way where zayne would LIVE this on a daily basis.
☆ he'd probably be ACTUALLY pissed if you don't go by a rule both of you previously established. or when you tease him when he is at work.
☆ you both know zayne needs his sanity to finish his crazy work hours, and that he is completely a freak when it comes to lingerie on you. so he would be actually LIVID if you send him a more revealing selfie or a full-on nude while he's at work.
☆ bro LOSES IT. and spends the rest of the day semi-hard or completely distracted. the worst part? he has a 6-hour surgery scheduled today.
☆ expect this man to pounce on you once he gets home. it doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing, zayne would use his strength to manhandle you to his arms and take out his frustration on you for the rest of the night. that's where he will enjoy your cries and pleas the most.
☆ i probably will make a whole drabble about temperature play with zayne but for now i'll say this: zayne is new to this as much as you are.
☆ the first time that he loses control of his evol while with you bro panics. he thinks you are screaming from pain but you are actually coming from the temperature difference inside of you.
☆ imagine...
☆ he didn't realize his cum would actually become fucking snowflakes and that you are extremely hot on the inside, making your body jolt from the initial shock and scream from pleasure.
☆ he would stop everything and start to wonder why were you getting even tighter? and why is his hands fucking freezing the bedframe?!
☆ he probably would come twice as hard now and you would scream even louder than before because his ropes are actually chilly.
☆ fuck, just imagine how red he would get after realizing what truly happened? like he didn't even know that was possible.
☆ and when he gets out of you and he sees just how much he came, he would get even more horny than before and want to go another round.
☆ "can you feel this?", he pushes his cold cum back into your heat and you start spasming from the sensitivity, his even more cold fingers making you see starts. "zayne...", you'd whine and push his hand away, trying to stop the niagara falls between your legs.
☆ he is SO dirty i just know it. loves getting it messy, especially if you both have the time.
☆ if you don't, he'd also be the biggest fan of a quickie in his office where he can shut your mouth and bend your ass over his desk. he'd probably blame the time and say it is more "effective" for him if it's this way.
☆ man just likes to shut you up and make you take it.
☆ i swear i am finishing this but i need to say it: zayne would deny every little thing you accuse him of doing inside the bathroom. like bro would pretend that was a whole different person.
☆ you are like "you literally just fucked me in a public bathroom, z!", and he'd be like "i don't know what you are talking about, woman".
☆ let me finish this here or else i won't be able to stop.
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author's note: this was nicer in my head, but ig it is the zayne brainrot making my thoughts all incoherent and numb. lol anyways, tell me what you think of this. send me a request • my masterpost
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matchamiko · 1 year ago
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hello!! could I please request prompt 25 with toshinori?
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˚₊ ⊹ 25. The first makeout session that could lead to more + Toshinori Yagi
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˚₊ ⊹ Warnings: dry humping, previous established new relationship, canon small-might, making out.
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He was - grading papers? Finishing off a report on the last homework he set? Actually writing the next homework assignment in fact? Either way, his coffee table was strewn with papers, some in neat piles and some discarded none to kindly, caught under the fans of his laptop open on a word document baring names and grades and percentages he’s not really focusing on right now.
You came over a few hours ago with a bento box or two for the next days at school. It was just something you started doing for him, claimed it was because he wasn’t eating enough and that your love language was cooking food for people, but you loved that he would kiss your cheek and parade it around the school wrapped in its cute cloth with its cute bow. And you kind of never left, chatting idly with him from the kitchen while you brewed tea, something soft for him and a herby concoction for yourself, something to make you sleepy and all the more acceptable.
Toshinori could taste it in your mouth. The tea and something else, something distinctly you. Leaning backwards as you cup his sharp jaw, smiling when you hum and kiss his nose affectionately. There was something on the TV, something mind numbing and calm, a documentary about Geisha's he thinks but he's too focussed on his work, and on you. The futon you'd insisted on setting up for him was comfortable, soft and heavy at the same time, a perfect support for his back while he was tucked up by the coffee table while you lounged like a cat on the couch behind him, asking lazily every few minutes for a kiss. This was the first one on the mouth. You'd started on the back of his head, then on his long frazzled strands framing his face and then his forehead, then his nose and when you pecked his lips; Toshinori found himself chasing and chasing and chasing.
"Don't tell the kids that I abandoned their grades for you," he's twisted at a strange angle with his lips muttering yours, a prayer only for you to taste, "Aizawa'll kill me if he knew,"
You breathe him in, eyes fluttering closed and drawing your hands up the sinewy expanse of his neck,
"You have your priorities in perfect order, thank you very much," Toshinori allows you to slink down to the floor, following the droop of your legs and curling into his lap with deep, yearning sigh "I require kisses and you're supplying them, you're serving your duty to your partner,"
He laughs and then moans with the shape of your lips on his jaw,
"I suppose, if you put it like that," he looks at you for a moment, a soft smile stretching over his features and you return it, a little something extra in your eyes he can't quite make out. You two had kissed before, a lot and often but this felt different, felt like honey trickling down his bones and crystallising hot in his belly. Toshinori hums with the tracing of your mouth over his neck, sucking something mean into his delicate skin and he shifts, hands settling on your hips.
Hips that slot deeper against his and give this shy little shudder. A large slender hand cups the back of your head where you practically vibrate against him, the air suddenly palpable and sweet. You think he might ask you to stop, that you've gone far enough and that he's not quite ready for anything more intense, given his injuries and situation and maybe he wants you to go home or even take a break or even -
"Do that again, please," he's far from sober, drinking your lips and swallowing your gushing whimpers, desperate for the kisses and the licks he's come to know so well. These are different, headier, a little smoky and a little dangerous, slow and hard and all things moreish. His free hand guides your hips, into what he's not sure but you gain confidence at his request, undulating with such wantonness that he's the first that moans out loud. Punched and loud and startling, Toshinori flushes right down to his stomach, peaking from where you'd shoved your hands under his shirt, hardly denting your frantic kisses. His grip is harsh, demanding and selfish, smoothing to your ass and this time it's you that grunts at the way he massages a spreads you, slouching lower and wider against the couch.
"I want - I wanna -," you're stuttering but it's from lust, from the sheer magnetic want for the man beneath you, heavy lidded and panting open mouthed, "Please, can we - we don't hav'ta but also, y'know?"
Toshinori kisses you again, slow and deliberate, decisive with his answer; wordless save for a whimper and a jerk.
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all rights reserved © matchamiko. do not copy, repost, translate & recommend elsewhere.
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iguana-braces · 6 months ago
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That sub!Jayce post really popped off, huh?
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Ehehe okay here's my rambly thoughts about it (I'm literally sitting at work clocked out writing this instead of going home because THOUGHTS)
Building my theory off of this post:
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And this one with all the examples of how Jayce's love language is clearly physical touch
*Disclaimer: there's a lot about season 2 that irked me in terms of plot and characterization so this is me retconning a little bit and picking and choosing what examples make the most cohesive argument. Like, in season one they're like "Jayce has this brotherly relationship with Caitlyn and him and Mel have this deep, meaningful relationship" and then season two was like "No more relationship building, it's time for trauma now" but, I digress*
First things first, he's a people pleaser. He does what he's told, clearly (against better judgment but like). And he's clearly committed to the people he cares about. HE BROUGHT VIKTOR BACK FROM THE DEAD (AND THEN KILLED HIM) AND THEN DIED WITH HIM AGAIN. You can't tell me that wouldn't translate to an "I'll do anything for you" attitude in the bedroom too.
I already did the bed gif but I also have to draw attention to the following:
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Okay but season two, post-horrors!
Mr. Dopey Heart-Eyes McGee is NOT the one calling the shots here.
Season one Jayce? That man is whipped. One glance from his partner and he's on his knees like it's a religion. Whoever you ship him with! Mel, Viktor, both, a secret fourth option--
He spent an indeterminate amount of time alone, in the bottom of a pit. He's touch-starved but also! Traumatized!
Imagine, if you will, that he survives the astral plane. Imagine he goes to find Mel, or Viktor also survives, or imagine your own y/n, OC insert scenario here. Whatever floats your boat.
In such scenario, and in the aftermath of his self-awareness epiphany where he realizes that yeah, he's kinda been used (by everyone really), I think that in regards to any potential sexual relationship, he would have to become more dominant, more in control of the situation. Especially if it's with Mel, since he does pointedly blame her, or even Viktor, who has literally shaped the course of Jayce's entire life since he was a child. The man needs to set some boundaries with people and good for him.
So I think dominant, scruffy Jayce does have a time and a place.
However, I don't think he'd stay that way forever. It's kinda like him trying to be a politician-- it's a different role that he can pull off, but it doesn't fully scratch his itch.
BONUS HEADCANON: Wouldn't it be just so interesting if he survived the astral plane and goes back to whoever, and while he's looking for comfort and reassurance and all that physical contact he's been deprived of, he realizes that he really doesn't like people touching his head.
I hypothesize that in regards to canon relationships, Mel and/or Viktor, once they regain his trust and show that they're not trying to use him again, he's 100% going to be simping for them even worse than before. Like, that relationship would've gone through the fire and only come out stronger on the other side. You might even say it's been vulcanized.... 🤭
From the on, he can go back to letting his walls down around them and letting them be the dominant one because he knows there's solid trust and respect there now.
Feel free to agree or disagree 🤷‍♀️ also please feel free to tell me all your thots about this too!!!
He's got all this beautiful hair that needs to be tenderly pushed away from his eyes by a loving hand, but he's a little fucked up from the times Mannequin/Mage Viktor did that little murder mind meld.
Like, he put his head in Mel's lap TWICE, you know it would kill the man if he couldn't do that anymore because having someone's hands near his forehead is too reminiscent of... well, basically his death.
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kleptomaniakrow · 15 days ago
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hi, i'm back on my brain rot bullshit! so you know what time it is... B^)
hear me out, (some) KorTac men (specifically König, Krueger and Nikto), dating an artist.
normally, i often see most drabbles and other thoughtfully crafted pieces delve down the writer route (go figure)! this prompt fucking possessed me whilst i was working on some art, so i'm imposing this idea into the ether for all of you to see!
kept it gender neutral! but there might be one femme-leaning pet-name + the use of "little one" for Nikto's bit! i am not a russian-speaking native so i hope the one i grabbed is gender neutral as well (feel free to correct me if it isn't)!
personally i'm run with his government first name being "Andre," this is not canon btw!
if they're a little ooc? uh... i'm still figuring out how to write these three idiots (affectionate)!
this barely proof read so if you see typos? uh... no you didn't.
enjoy these little pebbles of purely sickeningly sweet, silly fluff under the cut!🖤
♚ König. . .
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✦ he would fucking love to see your drawings i will die on this fucking hill! this fact about you was one of the most exciting thing he ever learned about you! by god was this man like a child in a candy store witnessing all of your art pieces, new or old! ✦ this big, burly man gets so soft and proud seeing your sketches become finalized pieces. the art of creation is always such a wonderous marvel to behold in his opinion! seeing you tune out the rest of the world, when you fully submerge yourself into the motions is remarkable sight to behold. he's privileged that you let him be a witness to it! ✦ honestly, let's be real. he would take this chance to just stare at you (affectionately). because you're too deep in your own little world—likely with headphones on or music playing—perhaps even a podcast of choice! consuming your audio of choice as you pen your ideas to paper, be it on actual paper or on a more digital medium! ✦ if you ever, and i genuinely mean EVER, take the time to draw his portrait (with or without his face coverings)? just know this man would full-on bawl like a baby. pathetic snot dribbling from his nose, horrendously tearful but it's all for good reasons, please don't worry! ✦ "Mein schatz..." / "Do you like it?" / "I've no words that would do it justice... it's... incredible, maus." ✦ i bet fucking money he'd save that to his phone, keep a copy of it in his pocket of a kevlar vest. something tangible that you earnestly made for him with intents of capturing your muse onto parchment. between photos of you he keeps to himself, little traces of your existence just make his heart sing. parchment long since creased from how many times he's opened it and closed it, weathered and worn but it's something you made for him to keep. these items that were made or owned by you are invaluable, no amount of money could every buy these off of him. you, as well as anything you make, are treasures he'd protect indefinitely. ✦ in the sense of a long-distance relationship be it for deployment or otherwise, you'd often share what you're working on. be it still images or (stable internet, be willing), you lull him to sleep with delicate humming a tune you're listening to whilst sharing your screen, he'd watch you work on projects you're determined to see to fruition if he couldn't be home to observe you himself. ✦ if you're ever insecure about your work, this big ass goof (affectionate) would stumble over his words but he'd want nothing more than for you to constantly be up his ass about what you do, side-hustle or hobby otherwise. ✦ König is your number 1 supporter, he'd sooner turn in his premature grave before he'd ever slip up on an opportunity to let you think otherwise. even if you find your talent lackluster by comparison, he'd perish atop mountains shouting how talented his beloved Schatz is! the way you breath life into such fictitious subjects always drew him in. especially with how you drew eyes and expressions! (when he noticed you often mimic the facial creases yourself when focusing on expressions, but he'd never tell you. it's too precious to point out so brazenly). ✦ frankly, if this passion of yours is important to you? it's important to him, and he will not budge on this. what sparks you joy will be a wonderous experience for him too, and what partner would he be if he wasn't supportive of your interests, hobbies or line of work?
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♜ Krueger. . .
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✦ see, Sebastian would be a bit interesting because you'd think at first he'd pay little to no mind. ✦ his steps are so quiet around the house that half the time you're just ignorant of his presence for several minutes. a comedically long while before the inkling of someone behind you ever crossed your mind. ✦ it's not that you'd mind (not unless he scares the proverbial piss out of you, of course) but he just can't help but be curious. maybe he's not one for the modern arts (perhaps more classical?) but... you're his darling little liebling, he isn't so much as a fool to be ignorant of your interests. ✦ however he's not too partial to being separate from you; Krueger gives me the impression he's partial to physical touch... when he wants to be that is (frankly he's no better than a cat in my eyes). ✦ "Schatzi?" / "Hmmm~?" / "Come, bring your little drawing things with you if you must but I need you here," ✦ he now fully sees a character design you've been working on and admittedly... curiosity does get the better of him and he begins inquiring what you're working on whilst your form settles into his. ✦ "Oh! This is a commission for someone who paid me illustrate a character for their indie game!" he just nods along, allowing you space to involve him into this little world of yours. revealing to him the various concepts tossed back and forth between you and your client. ✦ Sebastian is (quietly) fascinated by how your creative little mind works. keenly taken notes, exhibiting your perceptive attentive to rather pedantic details―it's so (annoyingly) endearing. he's come to find himself enamored, entertained even, by your eccentric interests. your fixations are ones that vastly differ from his, but these are distinctive traits he's come to adore you for. ✦ he jokingly threw out the idea of how he'd look in such a world of whimsy given your subjects of focus is often fantasy. oh boy, he shouldn't have said that because now you have ideas and that is dangerous to give one's partner with only their imagination as a limiter. ✦ he'd be physically unable to admit to it, but he'd likely have saved the drawings that poured every ounce of love into. utterly taken by your imaging him in a knight's garb rather than tac pants and kevlar. the thought of you seeing him as such a regal-looking protector... he struggles to give name the feeling a name most days. the one that makes his stomach feel light and fluttery, his heart feel like a frantic bird caged by bone instead of metal. that same one makes his cheeks and ears warmer than normal.
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♞ Nikto. . .
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✦ see, there's just something about Nikto that gives me the impression he wouldn't even ask. however, don't mistake this as disinterest! baby boy is so fucking curious what his little one is doing! he's just unsure how to articulate such a.. loaded question(?) and you seem so focused on what you're doing! ✦ i kinda see him doing that animal-thing. y'know, the one where he just quietly observes every subtle movement, noise or expression that catches his eye‒you two more often than not just kinda "co-exist" together in the same shared space. not always needing to talk verbally. finding comfort in peaceful, silent company is more than enough between you two! this life led with tranquility is more than he'd ever dare to ask for. ✦ instead, i can see him bringing you sustenance and fluids, you're keeping yourself so, so busy! but you need to eat and drink at some point! things he knows you like! things that he's memorized by heart! it's always the quiet bitches like him (affectionate) who have an internalized backlog of information when it comes to you. it took quite the adjustment period when you made the off-handed remark that you like a specific blend of tea, and he ensured you'd never run out. ✦ little did he know, you were working on a passion project of the indie development. working along side a few other individuals, and you were the one designing characters for a game jam! intending to make a concept a protagonist who's build you're not exactly familiar with drawing (bulky, trained, fit. think professional dead lifter types which distantly remined you of Nikto). ✦ he couldn't help but notice that the usual focus is now tightly knit with frustration. the quiet, concerned glance he shot your way went unnoticed, far too deep in your own thoughts to really pay any heed to the brewing worry. he had to say something... anything to snap you out of this mental limbo that deafened you. ✦ "любимый?" ("beloved?") / "Huh?" / "Something troubles you...?" / "Trouble me?— oh! No, no I'm okay!" / "Your expression tells me different... will you allow me to listen? To.. help?" ✦ eventually the big brutish bear cuts through your thoughts to source the root of your worries! frankly, it'd cause you to wrinkle far earlier than you mean to! as prompted, you're airing out your grievances with this project being out of your comfort zone. it's hard to come up with a concept that you're happy with and you've deadlines to meet. he listens to you diligently, he may not understand the full weight of your plight; it matters to you, then it matters to him. ✦ you don't know how exactly, but eventually, somehow, you ended up enlisting Nikto's assistance! his figure is close enough the concepts the head of your team posted onto your inspiration board! ✦ somehow, that incorrigible art block just... magically vanished, it was mind boggling even to you. Nikto didn't really understand given all he did was slide you a few photos or posed for your creative use. but the creases on your brow line were softer if not gone entirely, so he'd consider his intervention a success. ✦ you find yourself looking at the game's protagonist (whom you coyly suggested he be named "Andre" for no suspicious reason at all), and you're elated! proud of it, too! it's evident that he bears Nikto's likeness in more than a few aspects aspects! aside from the build, of course. Nikto has been watching you work your magic, manifesting such artistry from nothing but your own thoughts. finding himself in awe watching, left only with silent reverence upon seeing you in your natural habitat of creation was... breath taking. however, he couldn't help but notice his heart thumping against his ribcage a little harder seeing his likeness in something you made. it was... flattering? is that the word he's feeling? seeing how you took characteristics that elicit hardship or grief but you captured his image with calm, quiet confident air. was this how you saw him, truly?
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loathemetc · 9 days ago
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Deltarune Theory: Do you know who your FRIENDs are?
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A while ago I made this whole chart about who FRIEND might be and then I just straight up forgot to post it.
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And I think I did like, an okay job here, although there are some assumptions and confusions. It's actually the bonus drawings I did that now I think might be closer to the truth.
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Well maybe not the second one, maybe the second one, idk, but the new Spamton Sweepstakes stuff does seem to imply FRIEND is Noelle's missing digital pet, with it appearing in the cat petterz minigame and all. But hey, what can we actually do with that information?
Well, let's look at the assumptions we've had before. Obviously this being the "egg" page on the website, along with multiple red trees linking back to it across the website, it gives us the impression that the man behind the tree gave Noelle this egg. But who's the man behind the tree?
Well if you've read my other posts you'd know I agree with Spookydood's hypothesis that neither the man behind the tree nor the mysterious Valentine's letter are Gaster. But the man behind the tree and the mysterious Valentine ARE the same person. Go go gadget evidence compilation:
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That seems pretty straightforward, yeah? Very deliberate writing choices. But can we determine who this is even further?
The speaking patterns of the Valentine are very... Alice in Wonderland. A sort of rhythmic speaking in confusions and wordplay. And honestly? I think that tell us everything we need to know.
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FRIEND appears as a floating smile in the darkness. He's associated with Noelle's cat game. The egg man is associated with a tree and an odd manner of speech. A cat in a tree that turns into a floating smile and has an odd manner of speech? That's the fucking Cheshire cat, straight up.
I don't think Noelle's game created FRIEND, I think FRIEND was interfacing with it the same way Spamton did. That would explain why the sweepstakes stuff doesn't have to be canon, if it was actually FRIEND's backstory from Noelle's game that would have to be reiterated in the game itself. But if he was just giving her the egg, the same way Spamton gave her the Pipis, that's just a thing he did, not vital backstory.
"But is he Mike though?" Uhhhh. Good question? I'd probably lean no still since FRIEND's name seems to have been forgotten while Spamton just knows Mike's name straight up. Maybe Spamton is special, he does have the glasses in FRIEND's colors. Why would Tenna be looking for FRIEND anyhow? I don't really know or care if FRIEND is Mike right now, I'm pretty satisfied with the conclusions I came to. Thanks to my buddy Victor for helping me reach said conclusions.
Just one last thought though... Is FRIEND from the Card Kingdom? The tree they take with them certainly is. And after all, Chapter 1 is a fantasy forest with a playing card theme and a cruel ruler, that's Alice in Wonderland as hell. If FRIEND is a strange, powerful cat darkner from the Card Kingdom... Well, so is Seam. Seam, who has been our guide to the secret bosses. FRIEND, who''s face has only ever been seen in game guiding us to the Spamton fight. Hm.
Curiouser and curiouser.
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