#if you had a properly functioning brain you'd know IT ISN'T

[lavendertales]

I am begging people to pick up a dictionary & learn other words besides d*ddy. It's exhausting to see these comments under everything Pedro-related. y'all even managed to sexualize and take his hot ones interview out of context for your depraved fantasies, spreading videos saying "oh I hope this reaches him". this is fucked up. I'd be mortified to see some of the things y'all say on socials. not to mention some WOMEN are flat out catcalling him, which apparently it's "all in good fun" because he's a man.

I promise you there are other compliments in this world, and you can still appreciate someone being handsome and attractive without overly sexualizing them or fetishizing them.

[ughgoaway]

Ok maybe I missed this originally but it be nice to see when matty first fell for the reader 👍 I feel like it was a gradual thing because for her she was into him straight away and then I think she fell in love with him properly when he gave her “The Little Prince”. Whereas with matty I’m still trying to figure out if there was a precise moment where he went oh god I’m down bad for this girl 😍 (also I’m still waiting for more of that angst babysitting matty on a date idea - I need to be more depressed during this era of seasonal depression) 💡 😂

Oh, you know I really don't know how he realised he was in love/how it went down??

I mentioned in this Halloween blurb that that night was the first time he realised he actually liked you, but there's a very big difference between a crush and being in love.

I defo agree it was a gradual thing for you, from first sight you thought he was hot and when you spoke to him he seemed nice, but you'd never have guessed you'd fall for him like you did. over the weeks and months, the more you saw and spoke to him, the deeper you fell.

(more rambles below the cut as usual lol <3)

and oh, the idea of you realising it's actually love when you get the copy of "the little prince" is PERFECT!!! it's when you realise he listens to you, he thinks about you and what you said.

that was the thing that made you take a step back and come to terms with the fact that you were in love, and there was nothing you could do about it.

As for matty, I think he realised he had a crush on Halloween night, but he was assuming it was innocent attraction - nothing more.

I think he was in denial a lot longer than you were. You accepted your fate pretty quickly, but matty fought tooth and nail.

not because he didn't want you, but because he knew as soon as he admitted it to himself, it would be impossible for him to function. he couldn't have you, it would put your job and his daughters education at risk, and he couldn't do that.

so he denied, and denied, and denied.

the boys teased him mercilessly, clearly seeing through his "I'm not in love with her" act. matty had spoken to each of them about his crush (blurbs incoming on this...) but he hadn't admitted he was in love.

but I honestly don't know if it was gradual for him or whether it all happened at once.

I can see him having dinner with the Hann's, hanging out with baby Hann as carly and Adam sort out dinner. maybe he watches them potter around the kitchen, they share soft touches and smiles. but then a song comes on the radio, and Adam smiles over at carly and immediately pulls her in. She laughs and throws her head back, but let's him grab her by waist and spin her around. they dance slowly in the kitchen, looking at each other with enough love in their eyes to make anyone sick.

and instead of seeing a couple in love or seeing his best friends and being over the moon for them, matty sees you and him.

he sees your life together. confessing your love, telling Annie, going on dates, moving in together, him propsing, and he sees the two of you dancing in the kitchen of the house you share, just like that.

I think then matty realises he can't deny it anymore. and if he's honest with himself, admitting it isn't gonna change how he lives his daily life. he's been in love for months, but he's only really known it for a few seconds...

also, yes, I am defo working on the angsty babysitting idea!!! I have given myself like 2000 projects to work on, so my brain is a little bit scrambled, lol. but I'm so glad you're looking forward to it, we all need more depression in this season, lmaoooo

[steve0discusses]

S5 Ep : I don't know the episode numbers anymore I never wrote them down, so from here on out, I'm just going to number up from my previous post. So I guess episode 49

Fun fact I finished this post a week ago and then never pressed send. I can blame this on a lot of things, (work, illness, brain fog, etc) but at this point we just know it's the universe trying to keep me from finishing S5 of my Yugioh reblog, lmao.

So, last we left off, Sad Seto was next to die.

What makes this extra weird is that the other Seto is going to just watch this entire thing happen. He apparently didn't have enough traumatic disassociating while watching his Blue Eyes Wife die, now he will disassociate from watching himself go out in a blaze of glory, too.

Sad Seto's strategy against Zorc is not really what you'd expect out of the #2 of Egypt's court. Although...I guess before everyone biffed it, Seto was more like #5? #6?

He's above Mana I feel. Barely. Mostly because Mana probably isn't the right age to legally work, even in ancient Egypt when the working age is like...if you can walk.

But he was apparently so busy doing Aknadin's taxes that he's decided it's good judgement to throw himself at a 800 ft tall dragon/crotch/man.

for his credit, Sun Tzu's art of war hasn't been written yet.

And Sad Seto realizes his true purpose, which is that he has a smarter, stronger, and more powerful girlfriend (ish.) Which is a running theme on this show, as we all know.

In a bizarre cut that I can't believe they left on US TV...other than I think they couldn't cut this any other way, the penis dragon attached to Zork extended it's neck up to grab Blue eyes by her neck and just fling her into the ground, killing her instantly.

I don't like that the neck can extend longer. I don't like that it's a function of the dragon crotch. They knew. They knew what this looked like. Thanks, I hate it.

Also what an embarrassing way for Seto's past self to die. Truly the hieroglyphs about this event will be wild, and thousands of years later, Grandma Muto probably looked at this event etched into stone and just thought it was weird ancient pervert stuff.

Sorry if you were thinking Sad Seto would recover last minute and realize he's like the most OP person in Yugioh. He instead rotted from his hand and joined the rest of our Egyptian cast in Shadow Hell.

Leaving us with just Mana. And like kudos to her, but how on EARTH did she survive so freakin long!? Like of all of them, I thought Seto would be the last one. Not Mana. Not in a million years did I think it'd be the girl who hid in a pot.

But youknow maybe that's why she survived?

And then Bakura casually walked away from the only Seto who matters. Which is fitting, because if memory serves, that's also what Yami did to Seto for like half of the Battle City tourney.

It's such a weird strange bod on this dragon. It's such a strange bod. He's both got kind of a belly, but also is ripped to shreds. Such a weird bod.

In case you were like "We haven't given Seto enough motivation," we also toss in a few nearly dead brothers just to make sure we have properly traumatized this boy to the point where he'd duel someone who isn't Yugi Muto.

Seto decided magic exists 6 minutes ago, and he's already better at magic than Yugi Muto who's had access to it for YEARS.

Like he learned about magic in a different culture, a different time, a different language, and now he's fighting the final boss.

But it's Seto, so I buy it. He would speedrun his life like this.

That's the dialogue of the show where he says his first words were "neutron blast attack" and youknow...he probably has very few memories of himself as a child since his parents died and his other family put him up for adoption...but he knows his first words?

That, or Seto likes making his brand a reality by making up whatever nonsense it takes to make that brand legit. Which I can also see him doing.

Also please don't look at this foreshortened hand, don't look at it, ignore that this happened.

So thanks to Bakura's weird choice to drag Seto into this universe in the first place, now Bakura has to fight Seto and his 3 blue eyes that would not have existed here otherwise.

++++++ME RANTING ABOUT THE SETO ARC FEEL FREE TO SKIP++++

TBH it kinda makes the whole Sad Seto arc feel kind of like it didn't need to exist. Like this is the Seto fight that matters. This one right here, and although they share a name, it's not with the same guy who fought Zorc at the beginning of this episode.

And like I could add it to a list of problems with this season. But Sad Seto started out so interesting, and then forgot. It was like he only existed to introduce the dragon, and not explain anything at all about the nature of Seto Kaiba we know and love. Like the possession of Aknadin can be a parallel to how Seto was raised following Gozaburo's footsteps, but youknow...that's all old territory.

Like, I wish I had any sort of new growth from the interaction of either of the Seto's together in the same room, much like we've been getting from Yami facing his past self. Yami's been growing a lot, he's been facing his demons, but Seto? Seto's been walking around this desert trying find wifi.

(which like he did find a "wifey" which is almost wifi but wasn't as helpful because she was dead)

The Seto Kaiba who is fighting Bakura right now, is the same exact guy we saw at the end of the last arc against Zeigfried Von Schroeder.

Which means the reason that Seto is now souped up and capable of going up against Bakura isn't because of anything we witnessed here in this arc, but because of the weird horse guy last arc who taught him how to put up a better firewall.

And maybe there was a draft where Seto decides he is a spiritual reincarnation of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Maybe there was a draft where he gained a new ability. Maybe there was a draft where he realized the gravity of what was happening and wanted to save the world.

But it ain't this draft, unfortunately.

Seto is here not because of an internal growth reason, but because he was on a tablet in S2, and we have to know where that plot thread went to have an ending...but the show rewrote what it initially said in S2.

Like in the OG timeline, it was Seto who killed Pharaoh. But here we found out it was actually Aknadin who possessed Seto to kill Pharaoh. (and at some point in that fight, Pharaoh stuck his soul in a box and sealed away Zorc)

Sad Seto was apparently a chill bro the entire time. Just a nice guy who arrested half of Cairo and had a sort-of-girlfriend for about 8 hours before she biffed it.

And I would have been OK with that, if it were more interesting than what we initially thought happened in the past: where we thought it was a kickass Seto launching a coup. But unfortunately, it's not, instead it's a boy who started out powerless, and continued to be powerless despite working in Pharaoh's literal court. He didn't even have the power to not get possessed.

And I am sure there were other drafts, and endings are hard, and the author did get hella hospitalized while he wrote this season, animation is a miracle of many moving parts and budgets, and we were lucky to even get an ending to this show. So I don't want to sound like I'm complaining when there are so many worse directions this show could have gone. I'm just a little surprised it went this direction, mostly.

But say what you will about Yugioh, it doesn't like to be predictable, doesn't it?

+++++++++++++++++++OK I'M DONE++++++++++++++++++++++

Speaking of characters who haven't gained anything from being here, Tristan is no longer possessed!

Tristan begs his apologies and Yugi takes it gracefully. Which means, it's time for the main character of this entire show to finally re-enter the plot.

And they do so, in style.

Y'all I remember being excited about the look and style of extreme sports, but I do not remember this many heelies in the 00's.

Anyway, this is the link to read these in chrono order, you know the drill. See you next time to see yet another girlfriend biff it!

https://steve0discusses.tumblr.com/tagged/yugioh/chrono

[fantastic-nonsense]

I might be wrong but I figured you'd be the person to ask: Someone in a Discord server I'm in was talking about the "popular fanon idea of Cass learning ASL and sometimes preferring it to speech." And I... don't think this is fanon? Doesn't she canonically know ASL? I know she learned English and (I believe) Mandarin but I'm almost positive there are also lots of canon instances of her signing.

Okay so I'm going to split this ask into two questions:

Does Cass know American Sign Language (ASL), canonically?

Could Cass learn ASL?

The answer to #1 is no, Cass doesn't canonically know ASL to my knowledge (caveat: this does not, apparently, apply to the Young Justice cartoon universe; Cassandra Wu-San does appear to know some form of legitimate sign language). Canon!Cass, on the other hand, knows some basic signs and does use them, but it's more charades, 'loud gesturing,' and basic hand signals than it is ASL. The reasons Cass knowing ASL is such a popular fanon misperception are rather complex, but it largely comes down to two things: misunderstanding how ASL works and misunderstanding what Cass's disability actually is.

ASL isn't just some fancy hand gestures that translate one-to-one into spoken English; that would be "baby sign" or spell signing at best. ASL is a language, with all of the complex grammar, vocabulary, syntax, and sentence structure that implies. It takes years of learning and immersion to understand, learn, and utilize properly, just like any other language. Treating it as anything else is a form of ableism.

Someone like Cass who has difficulty processing language is going to have just as much trouble learning ASL as she would English, Mandarin, or any other language, because her problem isn't that she just "doesn't know English." Cass's disability is not that she can't read or communicate verbally: it's that her brain is literally built different because of how Cain raised her, and that affects how she processes language (and thus how she communicates with other people):

"David Cain…had some unusal ideas about combat. He experimented with infants. Trained them in isolation and deprived them of human speech. The goal was to adapt the language center of the brain to interpret physical movement as a language. She can…read you. Your body. That's why she understands what you're saying when she doesn't know the words. It's why in combat, she knows what you're going to do before you do it." -Batgirl (2000) #1

"The language centers of your brain are all over both hemispheres. Not centralized like with most people. When you try to read or write, your brain doesn't know how to keep it cohesive. But the good news is--you can learn. It's just a matter of figuring out how." -Batgirl #67

It's actually specified somewhere (I don't have the panel on hand, unfortunately) that she doesn't know sign language; Cain wanted her to read natural body language and nuance, not artificial hand gestures. Cass's primary "language" (and thus form of communication) until her brain was semi-rewired was body language.

But body language isn't actually a language; it's a form of non-verbal communication that functions through the (largely subconscious) 'reading' of both conscious and unconscious physical movement. Cass's childhood and training simply elevated that ability to ridiculous heights:

"A special ability to predict my opponent's moves. That doesn't begin to describe it. Time...ran together. The future...blending...into the moment. A blink of an eye...the knife thrust that follows...both one. It was like...like I could predict my opponent's moves. Okay, that does describe it. But it doesn't do it justice. All this knowledge. No substitute for knowing." -Batgirl (2000) #7

We see explicitly how this ability plays out on several occasions throughout her Batgirl run and the Detective Comics Rebirth run, and it's pretty clear she's reading subconscious feelings, thoughts, and movement, not language:

Cass absolutely communicates via hand gestures before and after Batgirl #4, but it's not any form of cohesive language, much less ASL. It's effectively advanced charades mixed with some universal non-verbal gestures:

"You don't speak any language, do you? Except violence." -Detective Comics (1937) #734

"Is he giving you any trouble?" *Cass flaps her hand to indicate the guy is a blabbermouth* "Got you. He talks too much." -Batman: Family (2002) #7

*Cass gestures to Jason's heart, Tim's mind, and Dick's voice to indicate she understands how they work as a team*-Batman and Robin Eternal (2015) #3

People learning a English as a second language already have an understanding of how language works, but Cass doesn’t have that foundation. Her primary language isn't sign language, it's body reading. Thus, she struggles to speak, read, and write in English not because it's a different language than she's used to communicating with but because it's the first actual language she's ever learned. Fanon largely projects ASL fluency onto Cass because they fundamentally don't understand how her abilities work (and thus don't understand how her disability works either).

Does Cass have the ability to learn ASL? Absolutely! Would ASL be a really cool way of depicting Cass communicating with other people and an interesting way to showcase language learning difficulties and communication disabilities in the visual medium that is comics? Absolutely! I would actually be genuinely thrilled if canon and the fandom actually worked with what a physical, visual-based language like ASL might mean for Cass's ability to communicate given her childhood training. But as it stands, "Cass knowing ASL" is a well-meaning but misguided fanon attempt to showcase inclusivity while being...well, frankly kind of offensive.

(As for why she would theoretically "know" Mandarin, it's a product of the incredibly racist and ableist writing that defined the "Evil Cass Era." This culminated in DC putting her on a bus and shipping her off to Hong Kong because "Asian girl knows Asian languages, right? Brilliant! Send her off!" while ignoring literally everything about Cass ever. She's never actually shown speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, or any other dialect of Chinese on-panel, but we can reasonably infer she probably picked up SOME level of comprehension while living there.)

[noridoorman]

Jake & Leon - Reacting to reader having an irregular heartbeat (arrythmia)

Got the idea from @hex-touchstarved cause I thought it would be so adorable if your SO would lay their head on your chest, chilling and listening to your heartbeat without knowing it's extremely irregular and they just freak out like "BABE, DON'T DIE ON ME-"

Also, I should be continuing my 4000 words Trickster fanfiction but want to spoil my favs here instead, cause THEY DESERVE IT FOR BEING AWESOME!

Jake Park

There's so much that Jake knows. His prestigious school taught all sorts of topics and fed the students with loads of informations that they wouldn't need in the future. The exact measurements of the great Chinese wall, remembering what the organs of flies are called, random historical figuers, and all of Shakespeares plays, etcetera, etcetera. All of those random facts have piled into his brain somewhere in the deepest pits of his conscious where he'll only access those when something reminds him of them. Maybe someone would like to know how breathe from their butt? Or what Shakespeares enemies were called.

But human biology? Throw it all away, Jake cares NOTHING about it. Maybe it was the painful monotone voice of his biology teacher or the fact that the students faces were glued 24/7 on biology books that turned it into Jake's most hated subject. All the information went right in his ears and left immediately before his brain could process those words. The teacher would talk about all sorts of bpring and useless informations. The only thing that stuck to him were topics about the heart, nothing else. And only because you had opened up to him about your arrythmia without going in depth what it does.

On one quiet evening after assaulting each other with love and tickles you two rested on the couch, exhausted to the core. You in particular were embedded in sweat and a red hue on your cheeks making Jake pinch them playfully. Jake was on top of you, nuzzling your nose before resting his head on your chest. Your hands tangled themselves in his hair doing soft strokes with your fingers. He hummed softly and closed his eyes, ready to fall asleep to the soothing beats of your heart. Until...

Thump, Thump... Thump... Thump, Thump, Thump...

His face pales slightly and his eyes rip open. He presses his head closer to your chest, making sure that he isn't imaging it. But when your heart couldn't find a regular beat, he jumped up from your relaxed position making you jump slightly.

"Jake?! What's wrong? Why are you so pale?" You went to caress his cheek before you took your wrist and dragged you off the couch.

"We're going to a doctor. Now" Jake pulled you all the way to the front door and took your coat out of the closet.

"But why?" A smirk slowly etched to your face as you had a feeling you know what he's talking about.

"Why?! I heard your heartbeat, it was stuttering and... It-It didn't beat properly!" Jake felt out of breath, the worry about you dying messed with his most basic functions. It was you who had to hold his face gently and snile that goddamn smile Jake fell in love with.

"Jake, that's normal. For me, at least. I have arrythmia, my heartbeat is going to be irregular" You chuckle gently and wipe the tears that emerged in the corner of his eyes. His hands felt no longer clammy and the need for oxygen made him slowly regain breathing pattern.

"Okay..." He breathes out. "You're okay..."

"Yes, I am! Wanna cuddle some more or eat something together?" You mess little with his hair that stuck to his forehead. He snakes his arms around your waist and smiles.

Leon S Kennedy

(I haven't finished RE2 yet because the zombies are BITCHES. I've got most of my info about him through RE4 and RE6 and hexy's blog dedicated to simp over him)

After the events of Raccoon City, there was nothing that Leon wanted to do more than to finally cuddle his SO. He had dreamed about your touch, how you'd comfort him and always have his back. He is a huge simp for you, no doubt, and you knew damn well that once he's home he wants to be spoiled like a wet puppy. And spoiled like a wet puppy he will be, you have already prepared his favorite meal for the night and a few candles to get the romantic atmosphere going!

The three knocks on the wodden door knocked you out of your thhoughts as you rushed over there and ripped it open, revealing Leon S Kennedy himself! His eyes sparkle at the sight of you, his arms almost open subconsciously for a hug. You eushed in the embrace and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Welcome back! I missed you so much!" You were the one to break from the hug (much to Leon's dismay) and pulled him inside to show him the neatly decorated living room. His smile widened when the delicious smell tickled his nose.

"You did this all for me?" He walks towards the table and inspects it all, not finding a single flaw in your decoration. He shuddered at the thought that you might have intruded into his mind and pulled out everything that Leon liked and/or wanted.

"Of course! I wanted to spoil you a little since you were gone for such a long while. I hope you like it" Your gaze fall to the ground but your smile never left your face. You heard Leon chuckling before you were picked up and dropped on the couch.

"Like it? I love it! And I love you" Leon left kisses on random parts of your face between every word of the "I love you" making sure you know just how much he loved you. He dropped his head for a few seconds on your chest, listening to your heartbeat until he moved his head up just to drop it slowly again on your chest.

Zombies that are trying to kill him? He can bear that. But what he cannot bear? Hearing his beloved have an irregular heartbeat.

"Quick, get up" Leon helps you off the couch while you tilt your head to the side. You tried to hold on his shoulders which have tensed up, his face no longer holding that soft smile and the sparkles all erased from his eyes.

"Wha-?"

"Your heartbeat, it's irregular! We have to go to a doctor now-" You clasp your hands on his soft ones and kissed gently his knuckles.

"Honey..." You chuckle which made Leon tilt his head in confusion. "I already told you! I have arrythmia"

"Arryth- What?" Leon's shoulder dropped when your hands moved up there, massaging them.

"Arrythmia. It causes slower, faster or irregular heartbeats in others. In my case, it's irregular" Your giggle increased the more did the realization settle in his expression. "Wanna eat now and then cuddle later?"

"Yeahy that sounds like a good idea. The shock made me a little hungry" He chuckles breathlessly and rests his head on your shoulder.

[completeoveranalysis]

~

Warning! This post contains spoilers up to chapter 170 of Tsubasa (and Chapter 71 of xxxHolic). Please skip this if you have not read that far.

Please also make no comments about what happens after that point in either manga.

~

SO here is the other splash image that really stuck out to me:

This time not because of the Seresu arc but because of how the Infinity arc itself ends.

Here's the link to the original post the image is from if you'd like the full context, but the particular quote from that post I want to use as a reference is here:

"Syaoran also sits on the throne - which as far as I can tell, isn’t his. ... The only one ever wearing the crown they’re all wearing [on their clothes] is Sakura. Now, does it make sense that Syaoran has usurped her throne? Heck yeah! He’s stolen everything from her. He’s stolen her journey (they’re following him now, always a step behind), he’s stolen her feathers, and he’s stolen the person she’s in love with."

Where I was kind of on the right track but couldn't have possibly guessed what all the chess imagery was ultimately feeding into. Looking back now the initial liveblogs for all of these Chess-related splash images are such a big mix of different iconography, so it’s very fun reading through all my old guesses back then. I think I did a really good job of trying to decipher some of it, especially the Cinderella and Snow White imagery in Chapter 140, but the Chess was a bit trickier.

Which, like, understandable, because the chess game that was happening in the chapters was stressful as heck and did not end well, but there is a nice conclusion to it with this image which is easier to read now - especially in regards to Sakura. Because it's made very clear to the viewer that the symbol of the Queen piece is in reference to her; both in these splash images (where she wears the crown at one point, and every character wears the symbol in ways that reflect their allegiance to her) and in the plotline, where she functions as the Queen of the battles taking place. Here is another good example of the symbol being used for Sakura with it right there on her throne, and the two Syaoran's wearing the symbol in smaller ways to represent their relationship to her. But with that all in mind? I had no idea what it was really getting at with Syaoran on Sakura's throne here.

BUT NOW I DO.

If you go back to that example I just gave with Sakura sitting on her throne? It's a different throne! It still makes it very clear that she's undeniably the Queen piece, with the symbol in gold actually being a key part of the throne itself.

And the throne Syaoran sits on? It has the crown symbol as part of the decoration, but it's not representing him, it's just a small symbol to show that matches Sakura's throne. This throne is his own.

He's the King piece.

(And, important distinction; the throne is not Lava Lamp's, but our original plotline Syaoran who is now in Autopilot mode.)

This wouldn't have occurred to me the first time through because I was focused so much on what this might mean for Sakura, and how she related to everyone else, but the way the Infinity Arc ends really hammers this home. After all, Sakura is the mastermind in this arc - everything that happens is according to her plan. She's not playing chess just during the literal chess matches, but during the entire plotline, moving every character and circumstance into place to enact her final plan; to activate both Chi's at once, absorb both their feather's, and trigger Fai's curse - resulting in her pseudo (if purely physical) death. But like we see in the plotline, this isn't a loss - it's a win. It's exactly how she planned things to unfold, and it will lead her to winning the game.

Just in case anyone isn't familiar, in Chess the queen is the most powerful piece capable of the widest variety of moves - but the queen is not the endgame goal. You can lose the queen piece in any game and (besides losing a powerful piece) it's not the end of the world. You can still win the game without the queen piece. It's the King piece that's the Win/Loss condition. The King is the piece you have to keep safe at all costs, even if you lose other pieces in the process. The second the King dies, the match is over. You've lost.

And this matches exactly how Sakura played the series events. She was the Queen in control of every move, and Syaoran was the Win condition she was focused on. She foresaw Fai killing Syaoran in the future - which, for her, is the Losing Scenario. She planned everything to avoid this, and she succeeded! She lost the Queen piece (ie, her physical body) but won the ultimate goal of keeping the King safe. She won the 3D future chess game that she was playing by herself, and positioned herself in the place that would have the most benefit for the victory at the end. (Which I still haven't seen, but she was VERY confident about this having a better result than Fai killing Syaoran.)

I'm also super happy that this ties in really well with the fairy tale allusions I talked about back in Chapter 140, but in ways I wasn't aware of back then either.

I talked about Snow White and how the apple (that shows up in a lot of the splash images in Infinity) may have been referring to Sakura's tendency to sleep a lot. What I didn't realise was that Sakura was essentially about to pull the Big Brain Snow White maneuver on herself to ultimately win her chess game. While in Snow White the poison apple is a trap, here Sakura sprung the trap intentionally. Fai is the apple she bit into deliberately - she arranged it so that killed her body, breaking his own curse, and sent her to the World of Dreams (and thus, she is asleep) which also placed her in a Glass Coffin (aka The Jam Jar of Dreams - Im sorry I have no memory of what it's really called). So the Snow White metaphor is now complete.

But also Cinderella! In the image for 140 Sakura is trying on a glass slipper - so she's Cinderella figure as well. But at this point in the plot the clock hadn't struck midnight just yet - like Cinderella, Sakura knew the exact time limit she had to work with, and for her the timing had to be PRECISE. She spent all of Infinity stressed out of her mind about this plan she couldn't trust anyone else with, knowing full well that if she missed the window even slightly it would ruin absolutely everything and they would all lose. Which, funnily enough, makes Yuuko the fairy godmother, since she provided Sakura with the magic she needed to make her plan happen (via wishes). This also means that Fai stabbing her with the sword is the exact moment the clock struck twelve - and like the spell finishing, Sakura could finally drop the act and explain what she had done, even as all the magic disappeared (ie, her luck being traded away). There's even a detransformation sequence of a sort, with her body and soul going in two different directions. But either way, the Cinderella metaphor is also complete!

And with all that done the last part I want to talk about is back in the image of Syaoran on the throne. He's framed on either side with the curtains that portray the chess board, and they're tied back by chains with him in the very centre. He is visually chained to the board - which, like, of course he is. With his Autopilot programming in place he's essentially just a chess piece without any will of his own - a winning piece, for sure, but he's still being moved around without his choice. He's playing the game on auto, making the moves that will lead him to the winning gambit, but without his individual soul he has no choice but to keep playing until the game is over. The goal he's working towards isn't even his - it's Evil Wolverine's. So in the same way that everyone else was a chess piece in Sakura's strategy (if, sort of, willingly), including Sakura herself, Syaoran is a piece being moved around in Evil Wolverine's favour - though if he dies, it's game over for Sakura's side as well.

I'm unclear if Syaoran dying would be a game over scenario for Evil Wolverine, but at the very least it would end the game he is currently playing.

So, in the hyper future 3D chess game that Sakura was playing by herself she couldn't properly win the game for her side by taking out Syaoran because he's her king piece too. Syaoran is the piece at the centre of everything, and will be the key to winning the game for either side. We just have to wait and see if Sakura's gambit will pay off in the way she thinks it will.

[sometimesrosy]

I hate people using the topic of abuse and trauma as there aesthetic of how they see themselves. When the only thing that really happened is that life was challenging or low grade disappointing. Obviously there are people with real people who do fit the terms but if you just stuck to social media you'd swear that there isn't one adult who isn't abusive and all the children will never live long enough to properly recover from their trauma.

I feel like you’re reading my mind a little. I was JUST thinking of something similar. Did you happen to read my twitter or are we just coincidentally on the same wavelength?

I mean, because the truth is that life damages every one of us. We are ALL traumatized in one way or another. NONE of us get out of life, or even childhood, undamaged. 

I’m afraid it’s just what it means to grow up. And we can be parents who try our hardest to keep our children from trauma, and that’s just not going to happen. It can be the slightest thing that settles into your kid for life. 

Like I remember when I was FOUR (I did work to recall this but I definitely remember it,) I tried to go into my father’s photography studio, reaching up to the knob and stopping, because I knew I wasn’t allowed in there. I might mess it up like the cats do. And in my 4yo brain, I equated myself with the cats, not quite as human and worthy as others, and hence, gate kept my own life from me for the next 45 years. The irony there is that my father was a fucking abusive fuck, but the first thing that stuck with me was not abuse. It was my dad keeping his delicate study safe from kids and cats and me thinking that meant I was lesser. Even if he hadn’t been a terrible father, that moment with the door would still be with me. And it would still be a valid pain for a tiny child.

I know my son is traumatized, (diagnosed) despite me working my hardest to keep him from being traumatized. I know my daughter thinks there’s something wrong with her, despite me actively working towards getting my kids to love themselves. I consciously got rid of my ex because I could see his actions starting to have an effect on them. Doesn’t matter. You can protecc. Life will attacc.

Meanwhile, we, who have grown up with the pain of living, the trauma, the abuse or whatever it is that scarred us, are still responsible for our own actions. And we are responsible for spreading it about onto other people.

I think every one of us needs to take ownership of our own pain and get to the root of our trauma, no matter how big or small, and figure out what makes us tick so we don’t perpetuate that pain onto to other people.

I’ll never be okay with the the excuse of “oh he was traumatized” as a way to brush away the harm that abusers or bullies do to other people. 

TBH I don’t know any people who had great childhoods. I mean, maybe that’s a function of who I surround myself with, and I hope at least my daughter feels like she has a good childhood, and maybe my son too, even though he struggles with his own issues and challenges. I hope they look back on their childhood and see that although it wasn’t perfect I tried to give them the skills they need to be happy people. But to be honest, I’m not sure I can do it for them. 

I don’t know. We’re all fighting a fight with our pain and our pasts and our dreams, and I hope we can remember that about other people, and not take our pain out on them. 

[memorydragon]

Tagged by @subtextsays   I'd planned to do this a few days ago, but the Chinese Government said No.  Also, tumblr is now giving me a major issues actually typing right now, so we'll see if I make it.  Seriously though, the fuck tumblr.  Your post function is nigh unusable right now.

🍓 what do you prefer to be called name wise?

Mem or Memory.  I answer to both irl, mostly because people who know my real name tend to just be like, no, you're Mem.  I go with the flow since there's really only one name I refuse to answer to anyway.

🍓 when is your birthday?

Same day as Dr. Suess.

🍓 where do you live?

South China.  Yeah, it's been a fun year, let me tell ya.  

🍓 Three things you are doing right now?

Fighting desktop tumblr because fuck it.  I never thought I'd say that the mobile version actually has more functionality, but 2020.

Drinking tea.  Because I need tea right now.

Trying to navigate an online teaching system that is entirely in Chinese.  It's going about as well as you'd think.  

🍓 four fandoms that have piqued your interest right now?

I'm currently in a Tales rabbit hole right now.  My Vesperia playthrough has awakened things that I thought had long past and Crestoria is tempting me with a scene of Vicious and Aegis that my brain wants me to write.  Because, ya know, there's only like, ten fics in the whole tag for Crestoria right now, so between a ten year old game and a gatcha mobile phone game, I'm totally getting a huge audience for these fics.  -_-;;;  Though the Tales game I'm currently playing is actually... not going to end up as a favorite, to be honest.  Graces isn't vibing with me at all.

DC is still on my mind as well.  Vesperia just kind of highjacked a few things.  

Whizzy, you need to join me at Relena's birthday party.  You really should.  XD  And it seems I'm not the only one who's trying to drag you down to it again.  

Not sure if I really have a fourth one at the moment?  Mostly because Tales is actually more than one fandom, I'm just grouping them all together.  I'm also currently on the fence of what to do after I finish Graces, because on one hand, I will have a shiny new gaming laptop tomorrow which I can replay the psx version of Phantasia on (or even find Destiny or Eternia on for replaying?  It's been so long and I've needed to replay those games for a while now).  On the other hand, I also have Xillia, plus the other PS3 Tales games I can buy (Xillia 2, Hearts, and apparently both Symphonia games I need to replay) and I've kind of wanted a replay of Zesty and Berseria.  And given how long all of these fuckers are, this ends up being a massive conundrum.  

🍓 how is the pandemic treating you?

So, you know how a lot of people have had major stress because their job stopped paying them properly and/or were layed off, had money issues, and anxiety/depression combo?  Yeah, I've had all of that several months in advance from everyone else, then had to watch as other people also went through all of that, knowing they were just starting what I was going through.  It's not been fun.  At least China has actual control over Covid at the moment though, so I managed a quick trip to Shanghai which was fun.  If it weren't for the pollution, I'd love to live in Shanghai, not gonna lie.  The city made a pretty big impression on me and seems to be more of a San Francisco/Austin sort of vibe.

🍓 song you can’t stop listening right now?

Honestly, screaming/crying through the lyrics of Rent was how I survived quarentine.  The lack of getting paid and living through disease combo plus a side of Queer really worked for me.  Right now though, I've kind of been on a Carole King kick?  Tapestry has been in my head a lot.  

🍓 recommend a movie.

Willow.  Because Willow is just, so good.  

🍓 how old are you?

Too old to deal with the fact that my new job wants to force me to live on the 7th floor with no elevator.  Yeah, trying to work around that right now.  

🍓 school, university, occupation, other?

University professor now.  That's right, I'm now working at a University. May be temporary though, depending on the aforementioned 7th floor business.  Mostly because I like breathing, which I can't do very well in this climate's humidity while exercising.  It'd be different if like, the stair well was air conditioned (I'm out of shape and would hate it, but I could breath), but if the building don't have an elevator, I know the answer to that...

🍓 do you prefer hot or cold?

Cold.  Yes, I live too close to the equator for my own good.  Sadly, until the pollution problem goes away, it's as far north as I can live in China.

🍓 name one fact others may not know about you.

I...  always never have any idea what to say to this sort of question.  I don't really hide things.  Like, I'm sure things just, haven't been mentioned, but like, I never know what those are?  Like, the top things I can think of that I just don't talk about often are that I travelled around the world preforming with Up With People and that I love murder mysteries (not true crime.  Give me a proper Agatha Christie).  

🍓 are you shy?

No, not really.  I'm quiet a lot of times, which is very different from shy, even though a lot of people don't understand that.  I've never had a problem chatting with new people or what not, but in a large group if I don't have anything I actually want to add to a conversation, I won't talk very much.  Which doesn't mean I'm not listening, or that if I have something to say, I won't try to speak up, but just...  don't really need to most of the time.

🍓 what are your pronouns?

she/her

🍓 any pet peeves?

Another question I never really know how to answer.  Like, I'm sure I have them.  I'm just generally pretty easy going.  At the moment, I suppose female characters who's defining characteristic is that they're in love with a dense protag.  Anaden and Graces have been giving me an overdose on those lately.

🍓 what’s your favorite “dere” type?

...I think the only one I actually know is tsundere and I wasn't aware there were more than that.  

🍓 rate your life 1-10. 1 being really crappy and 10 being the best you could ever be.

5ish.  Was doing better, but then now on top of everything else, I also need to buy a new phone... that's not from China.  Which is a lot more difficult when I can't hop the boarder.  I actually have to return the phone I just bought because despite what they promised me, googleplay doesn't work at all.  So now I have to figure out how to buy a Hong Kong phone without actually being able to go to Hong Kong.

🍓 what’s your main blog?

Random.

🍓 list your side blogs and what they are used for.

I only have Vengeancedragon, which is used incredibly rarely and is mostly for contemplating Vengeance.  

🍓 is there anything you think people need to know about you before becoming friends with you?

A friend once told me that the fact my mother put Spock ears on me and took me to a scifi convention when I was 6 months old explained everything about me.  I'm not sure if it explains Everything, but it does explain a lot.  XD

[punkscowardschampions]

Rio & Buster

Rio: Out and only got spotted by your nosiest neighbour Rio: 👋 Doris, don't give Nance my deets and we're sweet, babe 😙 Buster: 😂 Buster: Didn't doubt you could handle it Buster: I've had girls do it still off their heads, like so Rio: Yeah, but they probably wanna be seen Rio: think they hot shit out here laying claims by getting caught Buster: They do like to try and leave shit behind Buster: I ain't gonna call you back babe I'll just throw it out Rio: Cold 😂 Rio: Hope they ain't leaving anything worth having Buster: Feel free to go through it next time, babe Rio: 😑 Buster: Come on, we got some Chanel, YSL, all the classics Rio: I told you before, I don't want your sloppy seconds Rio: even if they branded Buster: Suit yourself Rio: That's the idea, yeah Buster: 😂 Buster: You going home? Rio: Yeah, I got hoes of my own to kick out, apparently Rio: Picking up food first 'cos priorities Buster: I would've fed you if you let me Rio: Just checked her snap and she's been having a feast so fuck it Imma treat myself Rio: No need, plus if Nance saw two lots of stuff going up, she'd wanna peep the talent coming down Buster: She don't do sloppy seconds either, don't worry Rio: Charming, not gonna insist she'd make an exception for me though 'cos weird Buster: Don't take it personal, ain't never seen her with a girl since she said she wanted one Buster: That's weird if you ask me Rio: Well, it's not like she's got unlimited options Buster: Dublin's well gay what you chatting Rio: The clubs aren't really her scene are they Rio: so that leaves her with whatever gay girls are at School, maybe they're ugly idk Buster: How does she know she doesn't like clubbing if she's never even been? Rio: I get you, but I think you can imagine being in a room with loud music and lots of sweaty drunk people without doing it, you know Buster: Whatever Buster: It's not like there's only clubs as in clubbing anyway Rio: She'll find someone, in her own cute, dorky way Rio: You should tell her 'bout it, she might not be in the know Buster: Yeah that's a convo I wanna have Rio: I'll tell her then, always in other people's business me, idc Buster: At least you said it Rio: It isn't a bad thing wanting to help people, you know Rio: if she don't want it she can tell me to fuck off, like, if she appreciates, i'll give you the credit Buster: I never said it was Buster: Well, only when I didn't mean it Rio: I mean, it's not a bad thing about you Rio: grant you, Nance probably would be weirded out on this score but you can show you care still Buster: I can't show what I don't feel Rio: Sure Buster: I get that you're about your sibs but me and her aren't like that Buster: Got more in common with the cleaner and see her more when we're both around Rio: You've not always been like that though Rio: Do you miss it? Buster: I've not always been fucking you either but that was then and this is now Rio: Yeah, things change Rio: doesn't exclude changing back, that's all Buster: There's nothing to change back Buster: We aren't kids anymore, that's all Rio: Okay Buster: I can't still hold her hand through everything and she doesn't want it, yeah? So it is what it is Buster: What are we talking about my sister anyway for? Rio: Of course not Rio: but it doesn't have to be that or nothing, like Rio: 'Cos I just had to play hide and seek with her, duh Rio: Still shook Buster: You love it Buster: Dangerous woman, like Rio: And you don't, I suppose? Rio: Everyone likes the idea of being caught, as long as it doesn't actually happen, lemme enjoy it 😜 Buster: We can let it happen, just not by her Buster: Plenty of strangers around you can get the thrill from Rio: You make it sound like it was my idea to go back to yours Rio: not my plan Buster: You make it sound like you want me to regret it Buster: I'm not sorry I can't get enough of you Rio: Me either Rio: You can be obsessed with me if you like, I won't complain Buster: I know you wouldn't Buster: You'd be moaning but not like that Rio: Promises, promises Buster: When haven't I kept one? Rio: Your records pretty good, can't lie Buster: 😏 Rio: As for the sex Rio: all wins there, spotless, like Buster: I'll put you down as 10/10 in my little black book, like Rio: I'll call you out if you give me anything less Buster: I don't need to lie to motivate you, don't worry Rio: your usual tactic, is it? Buster: I've done it Buster: Not like I've got a set strategy though Rio: Tailormade Rio: You do spoil us Buster: Aiming to please, as standard Rio: Well you've got my review now Rio: Use it as you need Buster: Cheers, babe Buster: Stick it on my apps Buster: Dates will be rolling in Rio: You're so welcome Buster: Yeah Buster: How's Inds? Rio: She's loving life but grilling me on mine Buster: What's the story now? Rio: I figured don't tell any lies but be vague Rio: not gonna get caught out Rio: never gonna assume it's you, we're golden Buster: Good Buster: Don't need her to be the one catching us for you to live you fantasy either Rio: Oh hush Rio: not totally fucked my brains out, please, make it sound like I've got some sense Buster: You better turn back around then Buster: I'll do you again Rio: Don't worry, babe, not gotta be braindead to want you 😉 Buster: Too kind Buster: Must be why I miss you already? Rio: Must be Rio: nothing to do with how great I look morning after 😜 Rio joined the chat 7 hours ago Buster: You're never gonna look as good as you do when you cum but you don't look bad, like Rio: I'll take it Rio: since we couldn't round 2 before I left and really 🏆 Buster: Since you couldn't trust yourself to stay quiet any longer, you mean Buster: When can I see you again? Rio: Didn't reckon you'd wanna risk Nance OR the cleaner hearing those adorable lil noises I get you to make Buster: Babe, come on, we both know it's really about how you want me to say your name Rio: 😳 Buster: So answer my question Rio: I've got work at 4 Rio: but sounds like I'm going to need to clean up the flat so Rio: tomorrow, maybe? Buster: I'll send the cleaner over when she's done here Buster: She's seen worse Rio: Boy, no Buster: Babe I'm joking I ain't got her as well trained as you Buster: She's not just gonna do what I tell her Rio: She better not Rio: and you better stop Buster: Stop what? Rio: I don't know Rio: stop being so distracting Buster: If I was trying to be distracting you wouldn't be able to ask me to stop Rio: Buster Buster: Yeah, baby? Rio: You're making me wish I never left Buster: Then come back Buster: Whenever you can Rio: How am I supposed to wanna get anything done when you exist and I could be fucking you instead? Rio: Might still have a brain but I got no sense Buster: When your break? Call me and I'll come find you Rio: Usually take it like 8, before the night crowd comes in and shit gets hectic Buster: Alright Rio: just me and the 'quick one after work' knobheads 'til then Buster: Is that you saying you need me to entertain you? Rio: Don't let it go to your head Rio: but sure even you've got better craic than the bankers, christ 🙄 Buster: I can easily promise it's not my head it'll go to Buster: Especially if you keep giving me compliments like that 😂 Rio: 😂 Rio: Watch this Guinness be ALL head if you're gonna make my thoughts wander like that Rio: soz lads Buster: I can't help it, you're such a sweet talker, Cavante Buster: The punters won't blame me, sure they know it Rio: You know Rio: If I'm gonna serve shit pints, gotta be the best barmaid some other way Buster: Nobody can take that from you whilst they're also taking those shit pints Rio: Exactly Rio: Tell me we should share the tips out evenly again, Tina Rio: put in half my work and we'll talk, babe Buster: I've seen her, she's got no room to be trying to tell you anything Rio: Ain't heard I'm 👵 obvs and reckons just 'cos she's got 20 years and double the pounds on me she can tell me shit Buster: 😂 Rio: God, I can hear myself btw Rio: Not the moaning anyone is after but at least I'm saving a poor punter by doing it digitally Rio: you can always leave me on read Buster: you wish, babe Buster: You think you're suffering now wait until I properly start distracting you Rio: Please Rio: Wait 'til you go Home and I'm racking up airmiles like no one's business Buster: Technically I am home, just the 2nd Buster: I can stay as long as I want Rio: Well, 'til September Rio: really got me out here feeling like a pervert, McKenna 😏 Buster: The uniform not one of your fantasies then? Got it Rio: Not's a bit strong Rio: all about that role reversal, doing it for my sistas, obvs Buster: I'll just bring the tie then Buster: See I can't make you change your mind Rio: 🤤 Rio: One way to make me stay, babe Rio: 👀 you Buster: I've got plenty of others too, like, you'll see Buster: There's no way you'll be ready to go anywhere Rio: I wasn't ready today Rio: Stupid life and other people Buster: You can say it, sisters. who'd have 'em, right? Buster: Couldn't let me be an only child, like Rio: 😂 Chat to me when you've got 5 Rio: Poor Nance, I can't kick her out her own gaff and you couldn't kick her out the womb, like Buster: I did try, on both counts so it's your turn to be fair Rio: I'm good, not sure I'm THAT good Rio: arrange a playdate for her and June like 👋 Buster: She'd love it Buster: Those two sneak around together more than us Buster: Never out the corners at fam functions Rio: Bless them Rio: Gutted they ain't straight so they can't do it forever, like Buster: They might Buster: Not like either of them are hooking up with anyone Rio: How do you know? Rio: Sneaky, like you said Rio: didn't bump into any babes on the stairs but Buster: Shut up Rio: Awh babe Rio: 😚 Buster: Don't Buster: Anyway you're at school with her, you'd know Rio: Yeah but I've been slipping lately Rio: well out the loop Buster: I can get her and put her on if you want a catch up, like Rio: Didn't say I was mad about it Rio: love her like but, you're more fun Buster: I better be Buster: Don't be trying it on with my twin, cheers Rio: Don't be gross 😂 Buster: Thank Christ I don't have an identical brother Buster: Still the hot one, like, but closer race Rio: Willing to kick it that cliche, not too proud Rio: maybe he'd have a great personality tho Buster: Yeah 'cause who wants a shy ginger lesbian Buster: Unlucky Nance Rio: Stop being rude, honestly Rio: She's beautiful, I just don't fancy her myself, like Buster: Shut up, she looks like my mum, you gonna say you would? Rio: So do you though 😂 Rio: Strong genes and a strong lewk 👌 Buster: Seriously, draw the line at working your way through my fam, yeah? Buster: Stop yourself Rio: I think I'll manage Buster: Cheers Rio: You're still my favourite, don't worry Buster: Good Buster: 'Cause you're mine Rio: 😋 Rio: Gonna be smug about it Rio: not just 'cause it means i get you all to myself but 'cos that makes my odds shit hot, like, damn i'm 🔥 Buster: You can be Buster: You know I don't wait for anyone, they come to me Buster: And I don't jump through this many hoops to fuck a girl either Buster: I'm breaking all my rules for you Rio: Yeah, not to mention the unspoken one we both are Rio: Worth it though, yeah baby? Buster: Yeah Buster: You know it Rio: Yeah I do Rio: I still want reminding Buster: Me too Buster: Nance may have done it first but still tempted to play her game and leave my London life like Buster: You'd miss the uniform, obviously, but I'd make it up to you Rio: 😏 Rio: The pipes are calling, boy 🍀 Rio: What Unis are you applying to anyway? Buster: The best of course Rio: Expect no less Rio: Could end up anywhere then Buster: Yeah Buster: If only to piss Nance off like Buster: I'm tempted to be here 😂 Buster: No other reasons Rio: 'Course Rio: Whatever motivates you 😉 Buster: 😏 Buster: I won't be getting top marks if I keep letting you distract me though Buster: Well, not at school at least Rio: We already got plans for you, me and your desk Rio: You got this Buster: Don't put them in my head when you haven't scheduled them in yet Buster: Fuck Rio: Gotta, then you'll be wanting to study ALL the time Rio: not gonna give you room to say I drag you down, boy Buster: But I wanna give you all the room to drag my head or my hands down if that's how you want it Rio: Baby Rio: you're killing me Buster: Not yet Rio: You are though Rio: don't even have to touch me and I'm there Buster: I'm there with you, babe Rio: Good 'cos my break ain't long and I want to cum with you Buster: It'll be long enough to me to cum with you and make you cum again for me Buster: Don't worry Rio: I'm not Rio: You're so good to me Buster: You're just so good, end of Rio: Do my best Buster: I know Rio: Only for you, though Buster: Good Buster: I'll fight for you if I have to but Buster: You're all about this cute face so Rio: Yes, boy! 😍👏😂 Rio: Keep it in the ring Buster: Should hit the gym today really Rio: Think I've worked you out enough you don't need to be too worried Rio: do it for the 'gram tho Buster: It's better than the one at home too, one thing Dublin does right Rio: You love it Rio: so 💚 Rio: get sweaty Buster: 🍀 Buster: Shame you won't be with me Rio: Honestly Rio: no chance of me keeping up on that score but catch me out here like 🤤 you want me to spot you??? come bench press up on me daddy! 💦😍 Buster: Well now that's all I want Rio: Same Rio: Gutted Buster: Fuck tomorrow, give me tonight Buster: I don't care how late you're working Rio: Fuck Rio: Yeah, okay Rio: Can be home before Inds wakes up, that Summer life got her sleeping 'til tea time basically so Rio: why not, I need it Buster: If you don't want to come back here again, I'll book us a room Rio: I don't care either way, down to sneak and be good for you if I have to Rio: but if you wanna hear how you're making me feel properly then Buster: Christ Buster: You're so fucking sexy Rio: It's how you've got me Buster: I wanna hear everything. I don't know how I got this far not having you any time I want Buster: We should've been doing this for so much longer Rio: I know Rio: now all I wanna do is be your little fuck doll Rio: make up for the lost time and then some Buster: I need it Buster: I need you Rio: Go get all worked up for me, baby Rio: then you can come and take all your frustrations out on my body Buster: You're gonna be the death of me, Cavante Buster: You know that, yeah? Rio: If that's how I gotta go Rio: I'm not mad about it Buster: I'm only mad when I can't have you Buster: And nobody can blame me for that, like Rio: I'll keep you smiling Buster: 😏 Rio: Welcome, world Rio: that little face 😚 Buster: You're an idiot Rio: Ha, you love it Buster: Yeah Rio: Drew's here Rio: What does Ro think he does all day, genuine question? Buster: What? Buster: Are you joking? Rio: No? Buster: Embracing that sad old man stereotype Buster: What's he want? Rio: Just a drink, I guess Buster: He can get a drink anywhere Buster: And with Indie, like Rio: Not if I'm serving 😂 ain't getting the sack for her Buster: You know what I mean Buster: He's there 'cause you're serving Buster: Without her Rio: Nah Buster: Babe, yeah. How are you looking today? Catch yourself on Rio: Not special enough to make a point of it Rio: no doubt got loads of customers 'round here Buster: We'll see Buster: I bet he'll come at you with his chat Rio: It's chill Buster: Says you Rio: What? Buster: Don't you want you and Indie to stay good Rio: Of course Rio: but she don't need me to be drama about it Rio: it's fine, I've got it handled Buster: She don't need her dad staring at your tits but it's still happening Rio: So that's my fault is it? Rio: Find my cardigan hold on Buster: I'm not saying it's your fault Buster: I'm just saying tell him to fuck off Rio: and I'm saying I can't Rio: not when he's just being friendly Buster: Bullshit is he Rio: Please don't make a fuss Rio: I'll just pretend I've gotta go change barrels or something, sure he'll be gone before I'm back Buster: I ain't, I'm reacting how you should be Buster: If one of your friends was like this with Indie you'd lose it and he's a grown man Rio: That's different, not like he's a random Rio: it's just Drew, s'what he's like Buster: Yeah it's different, it's worse Buster: Fuck's sake Rio: It doesn't matter, it doesn't worry me Rio: just forget I said it, yeah Buster: No Buster: If he was like that with my sister he'd be fucking dead Buster: And I don't even like her Rio: Yeah, he's a bit of a dick but Rio: what can we do? He's always gonna be around, like Rio: just gotta deal Buster: I could tell my aunt, for a start Buster: Or my mum Buster: Or yours Buster: I can't kill him but they would Rio: Well, don't do that Rio: Nothing's happened, I can't be out here saying it has Buster: Yet Buster: And look where saying nothing about Ryan got you Rio: That's completely different Rio: and has nothing to do with this Buster: Yeah but the point's valid Buster: How bad to you want things to be before you admit it is Rio: Nothing's going to happen Rio: I'm not going to let it, even if that is what he had in mind Buster: I know you don't want it to, that's what I'm saying Rio: He's not that dodgy Rio: we're fine, trust Buster: It's not you I don't trust Buster: He shouldn't even be looking at you like that Buster: It's fucked Rio: Can't expect him not to, yeah? Rio: kinda my vibe, how I dress Buster: Don't Buster: I mean it, it's not your fault Buster: It's mine for being jealous Rio: Nah, you've got some points Rio: I just don't know what to do with them Rio: and idc if you're jealous, just get to prove you don't have to be Buster: I just hate him thinking of you how I do Rio: I know Rio: I don't want that either Buster: Why can't he just leave? Do everyone a favor like Rio: Go where? Rio: Only leaves to go Prison, like Buster: I don't care and who else would, anywhere that ain't here Rio: Indie would Rio: still her Dad, even if he don't act it Buster: Yeah but you know it'd work out better for her in the end if he wasn't around Buster: She'd smoke less if nothing else Rio: Yeah Rio: I know Rio: you reckon he'd've been kneecapped by now Rio: definition of 🍀 Buster: Tempted to do the honors for him Buster: Cunt Rio: I know you're being serious right now Rio: but it's hot Buster: I know you don't need me to but I'll still protect you, babe Buster: Like you said before, there's so much lost time Buster: If I'd got my act together before you wouldn't have to deal with Ryan Rio: Babe Rio: You don't need to feel bad about that one, not like you could've done anything about that Buster: I know Buster: Sorry Rio: Shh Rio: You don't need to be sorry either Buster: We'll just forget it, yeah? Rio: Yeah Rio: Already have Rio: Only you on my mind, I've told you Buster: Thank fuck you can't tell anyone what a twat I am Buster: Secret's safe like Rio: Promise Rio: I like having it just for me too much Buster: Yeah? Rio: Yeah Rio: Show me all the shit no one else gets to see Rio: I want it all Buster: You've got it, babe Buster: Can I come and see you if I promise not to knock Drew out Buster: I know it's ages until your break but Rio: 'Course Buster: I'll fit right in, won't I 😂 Rio: Totally Rio: so in touch with your roots rn, babe 🍀 Buster: Is that why you're so hot for me? Buster: I'll do the accent if it helps Rio: Nah, sick of locals Rio: I like yours, can close my eyes, pretend it's Prince Harry 😉 Buster: Fuck off Buster: I knew you had a thing for gingers Rio: 😂 knew you'd say that Rio: it was that or having a thing for receeding hairlines so Rio: i made the best choice i could tah Buster: You've already made it, just keep your eyes open and be with me Rio: 😍 Rio: can't even be mad Rio: that was smooth Buster: Yeah, well Buster: I am Buster: And I'm getting ready so what do I wear for this shithole? Rio: Since you've promised no fighting, don't have to worry 'bout blood stains Rio: Just jeans and a button-down would cut it, no need to go OTT Buster: Unless you've got some kind of vampire fantasy on your list, like Rio: It ain't 2009 Rio: though you've got the hair and the abs Buster: Fuck off Buster: I'm way sexier than that twat Rio: 😂 Rio: You gonna be jealous of Edward Cullen now? Buster: Like I said, I don't need to be Rio: What happened to him anyway Buster: Maybe he'll stop buy for a pint of your finest Rio: Ooh Rio: I can only hope so Buster: 😒 Rio: 😘 Buster: Alright I look good Buster: On my way Rio: 🙌💃 Buster: [Sends a selfie that's not as posey and just generally better than his insta snap] Rio: okay you cannot be coming in here looking like that Rio: imma die 😍 also have to jump you immediately sorry Buster: Babe, I'm out the door I can't be running back to change now Rio: Don't you look so fine Rio: gotta practice being stealth appreciating Buster: Practice all you want but how you look at me is already perfect Buster: I don't care if a few old blokes know how that I wanna bend you over the bar Rio: PLEASE Rio: So sad I ain't closing now but not 'cos we're still gonna have fun Buster: You'll forget all about what could've been in a second 'cause I'm not far