#in all seriousness go watch it in theaters it looks so good on the big screen

[cringeartisthebestart]

So after seeing the movie 5 times, I can definitely say this is totally how the final team up in the movie went. Lol.

[reidmarieprentiss]

Strawberry Lemonade

Summary: Spencer and you have a summer fling before you start your masters in theater, but you both fall in love. A chance encounter years later will give you the chance to reconnect.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Broadway fem!reader

Category: fluff

Warnings/Includes: summer love, suggestive content (16+), happy ending

Word count: 6.7k

a/n: this is cuteee i imagine season 1 spencer at the beginning and season 7 spencer at the end but its up to you hehe

main masterlist

Six years ago…

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” you heard the voice before you felt the cold liquid soaking through your shirt, chilling your skin. The sensation was sudden and startling, making you gasp and jump back instinctively.

“Ah!” you exclaimed, eyes wide as you looked down at the spreading stain on your clothes. It was a shock, but more amusing than upsetting.

“I—I didn’t see you, I am so, so sorry. Um, let me get you a napkin,” the man rushed out, his voice laced with genuine panic as he scrambled to make amends.

You finally looked up at him, and despite the situation, a smile tugged at your lips. “Whoa, wait, it’s okay!” you reassured him, waving your hands to calm him down. “What did you spill on me?” you asked, your tone light and humorous as you took in his flushed, slightly disheveled appearance.

“Strawberry lemonade…” he admitted, wincing as if expecting you to be upset.

You couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I might be sticky, but at least I’ll smell good!” The sound of your laughter seemed to ease his anxiety, and for a moment, he looked relieved, albeit still a bit embarrassed. 

“I’m really sorry again,” he said, his tone sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I was so focused I just wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking.”

“Seriously, it’s okay!” you assured him, still smiling. “I can just head home and change. I didn’t have any big plans today anyway.”

“Still, it’s inconvenient,” he insisted, clearly feeling guilty.

“Oh well, you’re just keeping my day interesting. Do you want to do that all summer long?” you joked, the lighthearted comment slipping out before you could stop yourself.

“Huh?” He blinked, momentarily confused by your question.

You chuckled, shaking your head at your own boldness. “I’m watching my parents’ house for the summer. Not sure what I’m going to do… I probably shouldn’t have told you that, random male stranger.”

His expression shifted to one of concern. “Uh, no, you should not tell people that. But, I am in the FBI, actually. I catch the people you shouldn’t tell that you’re watching your parents’ house.”

Your eyes widened in surprise, curiosity and skepticism bubbling up inside you. “Wow! That’s cool, and I totally don’t believe you at all,” you laughed again, the sound warm and infectious. You noticed how his eyes seemed to light up at the sound of your laughter.

He fumbled for a moment, clearly eager to prove himself. After a brief struggle, he managed to retrieve his badge from his pocket. “Here,” he said, holding it out for you to see, the credentials gleaming under the light.

You leaned in slightly to inspect it, your eyes narrowing playfully. “Alright, I believe you, Spencer Reid,” you said, pronouncing his name with a teasing lilt.

The blush that spread across his cheeks was instant and endearing. “Thanks, um…” he trailed off, realizing he didn’t know your name.

“Y/N L/N,” you said, extending your hand toward him, your smile never wavering.

He glanced at your hand, then back up at you, a hint of nervousness still lingering in his eyes. “It’s actually safer for us to kiss with all of the germs that are passed through hands touching,” he said, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.

You raised an eyebrow, amused by his sudden awkwardness. “Well, if you buy me a drink instead of spilling one on me, I’ll give you that kiss,” you teased, your voice carrying a playful challenge.

Spencer’s eyes widened, his blush deepening as he realized you were serious. For a moment, he was speechless, but then a shy smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Deal,” he said softly, his heart racing as he met your gaze.

—

You had gotten Spencer Reid’s number after your first encounter, agreeing to find a time to get that drink he owed you. The anticipation of seeing him again had you smiling as you got ready for your casual meetup. You wanted to see if he was just as endearing without the strawberry lemonade incident.

As you approached the café, you spotted Spencer sitting at a small table outside. His posture was slightly tense, his hands wrapped around a coffee cup as he scanned the surroundings nervously. When he saw you approaching, though, his face lit up with a shy but genuine smile, one that instantly warmed your heart.

“Spencer!” you called out, waving as you neared the table.

“Hi, Y/N,” he responded, his voice soft but filled with warmth.

When you reached the table, you noticed two drinks already waiting. You raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Did you order for me?” you asked, a hint of amusement in your tone.

Spencer nodded, looking bashful as he explained, “I did. You mentioned that you liked chai lattes, so I got you one.”

Your heart fluttered at his thoughtfulness, and you couldn’t help but smile even wider. “You are the sweetest! Thank you!” You took a seat across from him, picking up the warm cup and taking a sip. The spiced, creamy flavor was perfect, and you let out an appreciative hum. “It’s delicious, and look at that! It made it into my mouth and not on my clothes,” you teased, your eyes twinkling with humor.

Spencer chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Yeah, I promise not to ruin your clothes this time,” he said, the corners of his mouth quirking up in a small smile.

You leaned in slightly, a mischievous glint in your eye. “What about next time?”

Spencer choked on his drink, caught off guard by your playful question. You couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction, finding his awkwardness endearing. Once he recovered, he grinned sheepishly, his cheeks tinged with pink. “I’ll work on my coordination before then,” he replied, his voice laced with embarrassment and amusement.

You giggled, shaking your head. “I’m just messing with you, Spencer. But I’m glad you’re thinking ahead.”

He relaxed even more, clearly enjoying your company as much as you were enjoying his. The conversation flowed easily between you two, filled with light banter, shared stories, and plenty of laughter. It was clear that this was just the beginning of something special—something that neither of you could have predicted from a simple spilled drink.

—

As the summer days drifted by, Spencer had become a regular fixture in your life. He was your constant companion, always ready for an adventure whenever his demanding job allowed. Whether it was movie nights on the couch, intense games of chess in the park, or wandering through the quiet halls of a museum, every moment with him was something you cherished. But today, you were ready to take things to the next level, to let him know just how much you enjoyed his company in a way that left little room for misinterpretation.

Spencer was coming over again, this time for a swim in the lake behind your parents’ house. He’d been over many times before, but today was different. Today, you were determined to make your intentions clear.

The sound of his car pulling up the driveway sent a thrill of anticipation through you. You smoothed down your cover-up and opened the door just as he was about to knock. “Hey, babe,” you greeted him with a playful grin, the casual endearment slipping from your lips effortlessly.

Spencer’s cheeks immediately flushed a light shade of pink, clearly caught off guard. He wasn’t used to pet names, especially not from someone like you—someone who had become increasingly important to him over these past few months. “Hi, Y/N,” he managed to reply, his voice soft and a little unsure.

“Are you ready to swim?” you asked, your eyes twinkling with mischief as you leaned against the doorframe.

“Mhm,” he nodded, lifting the small bag he brought with him. “I brought my swimsuit.”

“Awe, damn,” you pouted dramatically, teasing him with a sparkle in your eye. “I thought we were going skinny dipping.”

Spencer’s eyes widened, and he stammered, “Y/N!”

You couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction, biting your lip to suppress a grin. “I’m joking! Maybe…” you added with a wink before turning to lead him inside. You could feel his eyes on you, nervousness and curiosity radiating from him.

Once he changed, you led Spencer out to the dock that stretched over the lake. The sun was warm, the water inviting, and the setting was perfect. Spencer was busy setting up the beach chairs, focused on getting everything just right, when you called out to him.

“Hey, Spencer, can you help me out?” Your voice was light, almost innocent.

He turned to see what you needed, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when he caught sight of you. There you stood, your cover-up discarded to reveal a tiny swimsuit that left very little to the imagination. The way the fabric clung to your curves, barely covering what it needed to, had Spencer’s mind spinning. He was completely unprepared for this.

“Su–sure,” he stammered, struggling to keep his gaze respectful even as his face turned a deep shade of crimson.

You smiled at his reaction, a mixture of amusement and satisfaction. You had his attention now, that much was clear. “Thanks,” you said, moving closer to him, letting your arm brush against his as you reached for the sunscreen. “Would you mind helping me with my back?”

Spencer swallowed hard, his brain short-circuiting as he nodded. “Of course,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

As he carefully applied the sunscreen, his fingers trembling slightly as they skimmed over your skin, you couldn’t help but smile to yourself. 

“Mmm, your hands are so warm, Spencer. This feels nice,” you murmured, letting your eyes flutter closed as his hands worked gently across your back. You could feel the heat radiating from his palms, soothing against your skin. 

Spencer made a small, high-pitched sound that was almost a squeak, clearly caught off guard by your comment. “I’m—uh, I’m glad,” he stammered, his voice cracking slightly.

As his hands reached your shoulders, you rolled them, leaning back into his touch, allowing yourself to let out a soft, almost involuntary, sound of pleasure. It was subtle, but you knew it would have an effect on him. “Can you get my lower back too, please?” you asked, your voice laced with just enough sweetness to make him melt.

“Ok—okay,” Spencer managed to say, his breath hitching as he moved his hands lower. When his fingers finally reached your lower back, you couldn’t resist arching it just a bit, causing your hips to shift subtly, drawing his attention further down.

“Thanks, Spencer,” you said, turning your head slightly to glance back at him with a mischievous smile. “You’re good with your hands.”

Spencer’s face was bright red by now, and he cleared his throat, quickly pulling his hands away as if they’d been burned. “Um, you’re all done! Let’s, uh, let’s get in the water!” he blurted out, almost too fast for the words to be coherent.

You couldn’t help but laugh, enjoying the effect you had on him. “Don’t you need sunscreen?” you asked, raising an eyebrow as you watched him turn his back to you, clearly flustered.

“Nope!” he shouted, his voice a bit higher than usual, before making a beeline for the edge of the dock. Without a second thought, he dove into the lake, the cold water a welcome relief from the heat you’d stirred up inside him.

You watched, amused, as Spencer resurfaced, his hair plastered to his forehead as he pushed it back with one hand. He looked at you with wide eyes, a mixture of embarrassment and something else you couldn’t quite place. You knew he was trying to compose himself, but you could tell you’d rattled him in the best way possible.

“Water’s great!” he called out, trying to sound casual, though his voice still carried a note of nervousness. “You should join me.”

You smirked, taking your time as you walked to the edge of the dock. “Oh, I plan to,” you said, your tone playful as you prepared to jump in after him, the summer day suddenly feeling a whole lot warmer.

You and Spencer splashed around in the cool water, laughing and enjoying the kind of carefree fun that usually only comes with childhood. The day was perfect, the sun shining down, the water glistening, and you couldn’t help but feel a warmth growing in your chest every time you looked at him. There was something so endearing about Spencer, especially now with his big, round eyes wide with wonder, his wet hair sticking to his forehead in messy strands. He was so pretty.

“Y/N?” Spencer called out suddenly, a hint of concern in his voice as he glanced around, squinting since he had left his glasses on the dock. You had slipped beneath the surface, and he couldn’t see where you had gone.

“Ahh!” he yelped when he felt hands on his waist, the surprise making him jump. But before he could fully process what was happening, you popped up right in front of him, grinning as you wiped the water and hair from your face.

“Hi,” you whispered softly, the playfulness in your eyes unmistakable.

“You scared me,” he admitted, still catching his breath from the sudden startle.

“Sorry, Spence,” you replied, your voice gentle, though there was a lingering note of amusement.

“It’s okay,” he said, his voice softer now as he looked at you, his nerves easing but still very much present.

Without a word, you wrapped your arms around his neck, drawing closer. He stiffened slightly, but didn’t pull away. Feeling bold, you decided to make your next move, wrapping your legs around his torso as well, anchoring yourself to him in the water. His hands instinctively moved to support you, his fingers brushing your waist as he tried to steady himself.

“You’re like a koala,” Spencer observed, his voice a bit breathless, the situation clearly getting to him.

“Mmm, do koalas like wet nerds?” you teased, your lips just inches from his, your breath warm against his damp skin.

“What—” he began, but before he could finish, you leaned in and pressed your lips to his, your heart racing as you made your intentions clear.

For a moment, Spencer froze, clearly caught off guard by the suddenness of your kiss. Panic started to bubble up inside you, and you quickly pulled back, searching his face for any sign that you’d made a mistake. “I’m sorry, was that not okay?” you asked, your voice tinged with worry as you began to second-guess yourself.

But before you could spiral too far, Spencer’s hand cupped your face, his touch gentle but firm. He didn’t say a word, just pulled you back toward him, his other hand sliding down to grip your hips, pulling you flush against him as he kissed you back. This time, there was no hesitation, no uncertainty—just the warmth of his lips on yours, the cool water lapping around you, and the undeniable chemistry that had been building between you all summer.

The kiss deepened, his lips moving against yours with a passion that surprised you, his usual shyness nowhere to be found. You melted into him, feeling the last of your doubts wash away as you wrapped yourself even tighter around him, the world fading until it was just you and Spencer, lost in the moment, lost in each other.

—

The day at the lake marked the beginning of your official relationship with Spencer, and from then on, your summer together blossomed into the kind of romance you’d always dreamed of. There were countless moments that felt like they were straight out of a movie—bouquets of flowers delivered unexpectedly, rosy cheeks from laughter, bike rides on cobblestone streets, and endless time spent in each other’s company. Spencer was always so thoughtful, his gestures sweet and genuine, and you couldn’t help but fall deeper for him with every passing day.

But as the summer days dwindled, so did the time you had left before returning to school. One afternoon, Spencer walked into the living room of your parents’ house, his face bright with excitement. “Hey, love,” he said, his voice warm and affectionate as he approached you.

“Hmm?” you responded, glancing up from your computer where you were half-listening while reviewing your reading list for the fall term at Hunter College. 

“There’s this annual FBI gala in September,” Spencer began, leaning down to place a tender kiss on the top of your head. “I was wondering if you’d like to be my date.”

You nodded absentmindedly, still focused on your work. “Uh, sure, babe. Sounds fun!”

Spencer smiled, pleased by your agreement. “Amazing, it’s the last Saturday of September.”

It wasn’t until he mentioned the date that realization hit you, and your heart sank. “Oh no… I’ll be back at school by then.”

“What?” Spencer’s smile faltered, confusion and disappointment flickering across his face as he looked at you.

“Well, I’m going back to school at the beginning of September… I’m only here for the summer, I told you that, baby.”

“I know you did,” Spencer sighed, the disappointment settling in as he plopped down on the couch. “I guess I didn’t think about how soon you were going back.”

Seeing him so crestfallen made your heart ache. You quickly set your computer aside and moved to climb into his lap, wrapping your arms around him. Spencer’s hands instinctively found your waist, holding you close as you nestled against him. “I’m sorry, Spence,” you said softly, brushing your fingers through his hair. “Maybe I can still come? If I’m not too busy with work and school?”

“Yeah,” he replied, though the frown on his face made it clear he wasn’t convinced. He avoided your gaze, his eyes focused on some distant point.

“Hey,” you whispered, tilting his chin up so he had no choice but to look at you. “We still have all of August, you still have me all to yourself for a whole month.”

“That’s true,” he murmured, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

You leaned in closer, your lips brushing his as you spoke. “Can you think of anything you want to do with me while I’m all yours?” you asked, your voice playful, your eyes sparkling with mischief as you smirked at him.

Spencer’s smile grew a little wider, and he let out a soft chuckle. “I can think of a few things,” he said, his tone teasing but his gaze affectionate. “But we might need more than a month.”

“Well then, you better start planning,” you whispered against his lips, before closing the small distance between you in a tender kiss, hoping to chase away the cloud of impending separation with the warmth of your affection.

—

“I can’t believe you leave next week,” Spencer mumbled into your stomach, his voice muffled as he pressed his face into your skin, seeking comfort in the warmth of your body.

Spencer’s words hung in the air, the weight of them settling deep in your chest. You’d known this moment would come, the one where the reality of your impending departure would hit both of you with full force. But hearing him say it, feeling the emotion behind his words, made it all the more real. 

You sighed softly, your fingers threading through his hair as you stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep the tears at bay. “Spence… please stop mentioning it. I don’t want to cry again. Can’t we just enjoy this week?”

He lifted his head slightly, resting his chin on your soft tummy as he looked up at you, his eyes full of regret for bringing it up. “Yes, I’m sorry, love,” he murmured, his voice sincere.

For a moment, you just looked at him, taking in every detail of his face—the way his hair fell into his eyes, the softness of his expression, the beauty that radiated from him so clearly. “You’re so beautiful, Spencer Reid,” you mused, your heart squeezing in your chest at how deeply you felt for him.

Spencer’s eyes softened even more, and then, almost as if he couldn’t hold it back any longer, he said, “I love you.” It was the first time he’d said it, the words slipping out with such raw honesty that they made your breath hitch.

“Fuck, Spencer,” you laughed, even as tears welled up in your eyes, “I said not to make me cry.”

His expression shifted from worry to understanding in an instant, and he quickly sat up, pulling you into his arms, holding you close in the bed. “Why are you crying?” he asked, concern lacing his voice as he brushed a tear from your cheek with his thumb.

“Because I love you too,” you whispered, your smile tinged with sadness as you looked up at him, the reality of your situation crashing down on you.

The look in Spencer’s eyes changed then, deepening into something more intense, more profound. He kissed you, but this time it was different—there was more emotion, more passion than either of you had ever felt before. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was a promise, a declaration, a desperate attempt to hold onto this moment, this connection, for as long as possible.

Slowly, he guided you back down onto the pillows, his body moving between your legs, his hands caressing your sides with a tenderness that made your heart ache. His lips never left yours, the kiss deepening as he settled over you, his breath warm against your skin.

“Spencer?” you whispered hesitantly, your voice trembling slightly. You knew he wasn’t very experienced, and until now, the two of you hadn’t gone further than heavy makeouts. He’d only seen you topless once, and even then, he’d been adorably flustered.

“I’m sure, darling,” he breathed, his voice steady but filled with a nervous excitement that matched your own.

“Oh—okay,” you replied softly, your heart racing as you let yourself sink into the moment, trusting him, trusting this love.

That morning, as the sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room, you lay tangled in the sheets with Spencer. Both of you basking in the intimacy you’d shared, it had been more than just a physical connection; it was a merging of hearts, a deepening of the bond that had grown between you over the summer.

In those moments, with the world outside fading away, you realized that Spencer had stolen your heart completely, just as you had become his first in so many ways. The warmth of the sun on your skin, the softness of the sheets, and the gentle rise and fall of his breath beside you—it all felt like a dream, a perfect culmination of the love that had blossomed between you.

As you lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, you knew that no matter what the future held, this moment would always be yours.

—

“Okay, so call me as soon as you make it to your apartment. And… text and email as much as you can,” Spencer said, his voice trembling as he fought to keep his composure.

The moment was heavy with emotion as you stood by your car, Spencer’s eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The weight of the impending separation hung between you, thick and tangible, making every word feel like it was being carved into your hearts.

“I will, Spence,” you nodded, your own voice barely steady as you bit your lip, trying desperately to hold back the sob that threatened to break free.

“I love you, please know that,” he whispered, the raw emotion in his words making your heart ache.

“I know, baby, I know,” you murmured, wrapping your arms around him and pressing your lips to his in a kiss that conveyed everything you couldn’t put into words. “I love you too, so much.”

As you pulled back slightly, Spencer’s voice cracked with a plea, “Please don’t forget me.”

You stared into his eyes, the depth of your feelings for him clear and unwavering. “Spencer Reid,” you said softly but firmly, “I will never forget you.”

With that, you kissed him one last time, the bittersweet farewell lingering in the air as you both held onto each other for as long as you could.

—

Despite all the promises and the heartfelt goodbyes, life had other plans. The demands of your master’s program and the grueling work on Broadway consumed your time and energy. Spencer, too, became increasingly busy with his responsibilities at the BAU and his guest lectures, often being called away for cases more frequently than before. The distance, both physical and emotional, began to take its toll.

Calls that used to bring comfort and connection started going to voicemail. Texts that once sparked joy and laughter were left unanswered. Emails that used to be filled with affection and updates were opened but never replied to. The busy lives you both led pulled you further apart, until one day, you realized that you hadn’t spoken to him in weeks, then months.

The connection that had once been so strong faded away, not with a dramatic end but with a quiet, painful drift. Despite the love you had for each other, you and Spencer never saw each other again. The summer you shared remained a beautiful, bittersweet memory, a chapter that closed far too soon.

—

Present

The present day found Rossi deep in the midst of orchestrating the final details for JJ and Will’s last-minute wedding. After wrapping up their latest case, he hadn’t expected to be planning a wedding, but he was more than happy to take on the challenge. With everything falling into place—JJ’s mom attending, the guests taken care of, food arranged, his beautiful backyard as the location, and even the rings sorted—the only thing left was the music. Rossi could have easily hired a band, a DJ, or even a string quartet, but he had someone specific in mind.

His thoughts drifted to a young woman he had met years ago, back when she was just starting out on Broadway as a background singer. Rossi had discovered her in a small, back-alley theater during an off-Broadway performance of Rent where she played Mimi. Her performance had been nothing short of phenomenal, and Rossi had made sure to keep in touch with her over the years. She was someone who had made an impression on him, and he liked to check in on those who left a mark.

Pulling out his phone, Rossi quickly typed out a message, hoping she was available. 

Am I the luckiest man alive or can you not be in Virginia tomorrow evening for a wedding?

It didn’t take long for a response to come through. 

A wedding? This is a strange proposal, but I can be there. Send me details!

Rossi smiled, relieved and excited. With her on board, he knew the night would be something truly special.

—

The air was filled with warmth and joy as JJ and Will’s wedding ceremony unfolded, a picture-perfect blend of love and simplicity. A band played soft, unobtrusive music in the background, setting the tone for the intimate occasion. As the ceremony transitioned to the reception, the band continued to provide a gentle soundtrack, allowing everyone to bask in the glow of the newlyweds’ happiness.

But as the moment for the first dance approached, Rossi knew it was time to unveil his final surprise. He made his way to the small makeshift stage, where a microphone stood unused, and with a confident smile, he took hold of it. “Alright everyone, may I have your attention, please?” His voice carried over the crowd, drawing all eyes to him.

The guests turned their attention to Rossi, their expressions warm and expectant. JJ and Will stood together, their hands intertwined, basking in the moment.

“JJ, Will,” Rossi began, his tone heartfelt, “I am so happy for you both. Thank you for allowing us to witness your union, and may you lead a beautiful life together.”

The group erupted into cheers, the love and support for the couple evident in every smiling face.

Rossi’s eyes twinkled with mischief as he continued, “Now, I do have one last surprise for you…”

JJ, ever the skeptic, raised a brow, her signature look of sass making a brief appearance as she wondered what Rossi had up his sleeve.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Rossi announced, his voice brimming with excitement, “all the way from Broadway, please welcome, Y/N L/N…”

The crowd turned with curiosity as you stepped onto the stage, ready to add your own special touch to this unforgettable night.

As you stepped onto the stage, the evening air filled with a gentle buzz of excitement and warmth. “Hello, all! Thank you so much, David,” you began, your voice clear and bright. “I am deeply grateful to be here performing for such a special evening. Thank you for letting me share in the festivities.”

JJ and Will raised their glasses to you, smiles of appreciation on their faces, and the crowd erupted into cheers. But one person did not share in the cheers, silently staring from the back of the group, his expression frozen in shock—Spencer. He never forgot a face, and yours was etched into his memory, even if time had added a few years since your last encounter.

“I was informed this first song is to be the first dance,” you continued, your eyes scanning the crowd, oblivious to the familiar face among them. “So please make room for the lovely couple!” With a graceful flourish, you began your performance, your voice effortlessly filling the space with a soft, ethereal melody that perfectly suited the evening’s romantic atmosphere.

Spencer could hardly believe what he was seeing. You were here. You were real, and you were performing at this very wedding. For someone who lived his life by facts, figures, and logical conclusions, this moment felt almost like destiny. You had come back into his life in the most unexpected way, and it left him reeling.

You hadn’t noticed him yet, as he was hiding out towards the back, not wanting to draw attention to himself. But as the evening wore on, he found himself pulled to the dance floor by Penelope Garcia, her bright smile and colorful attire impossible to resist. It was only then, as you sang and your eyes swept across the guests, that you saw him. Your breath caught in your throat, but you kept singing, the professionalism in you pushing through even as your wide eyes tracked his every move.

He was dancing with a woman—tall, beautiful, blonde, and dressed in an outfit that could only be described as whimsical. They moved together easily, and you felt a pang of something you hadn’t expected to feel after all these years—jealousy. It wasn’t that you had any claim on him; so much time had passed, and life had moved on for both of you. But seeing him again, so unexpectedly, brought a rush of old emotions, and suddenly, it felt as though no time had passed at all.

You could feel your pulse quicken as the last notes of your performance faded into the night. The applause was warm and appreciative, but all you could think about was getting off that stage and finding Spencer. The need to talk to him, to see him up close after all these years, was almost overwhelming.

“That concludes my contribution to the gorgeous evening David planned. Thank you all again for allowing me to sing for you,” you said, giving the crowd a gracious smile as you left the stage. As you descended, Rossi was there to escort you, his arm linked with yours as he guided you toward the refreshments. You wasted no time in grabbing a glass of champagne, hoping the bubbles might help settle your nerves.

“That was phenomenal, Y/N. You never disappoint. Thank you so much for coming on such short notice,” Rossi said, his voice full of genuine gratitude.

“It was my pleasure, David. Thank you for always thinking of me,” you replied, trying to keep your voice steady despite the tumult of emotions swirling inside you.

Before Rossi could say more, a voice you knew all too well sounded from behind you. “Y/N?”

You turned, and there he was—Spencer Reid, standing just a few feet away, looking even more handsome than you remembered. Your heart skipped a beat, your breath catching in your throat as all the emotions you’d been trying to keep at bay came rushing back with full force.

“Hi, Spence,” you managed to say, your voice soft but warm, betraying the flood of feelings coursing through you.

Rossi, ever perceptive, noticed the unspoken tension and slowly began to excuse himself, moving away with the intention of questioning you both later.

Spencer seemed flustered, his mind racing as he tried to process everything. “Wh—what are you doing here? I mean, I know what you’re doing here, but how do you know Rossi?”

You swallowed, trying to keep your emotions in check. “He, uh, he came to one of my shows when I first started performing,” you explained, though your voice was a little choked up, the weight of the moment pressing down on you.

Spencer’s eyes widened with surprise. “You perform? Where?”

“Broadway…” you said, a small, almost self-conscious laugh escaping your lips as you watched his reaction.

Spencer’s eyes softened, a mix of pride and awe flickering across his face. “Wow,” he breathed, clearly impressed. “I didn’t know he really meant–that’s… amazing, Y/N.”

For a moment, neither of you knew what to say, the years that had passed between you suddenly feeling both like a lifetime and like no time at all.

Spencer’s voice was soft, almost reverent as he asked, “Do you… want to dance?”

You nodded, your heart swelling with a mix of nostalgia and hope. “I’d love to.” You let him take your hand and lead you to the dance floor, feeling a lump form in your throat as you realized just how much you had missed him. As his back turned to you, you quickly dabbed at your eyes, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tears threatening to spill over.

The team, scattered around the reception, couldn’t help but glance over at the two of you, curiosity piqued. They exchanged looks, silently wondering how their usually women-avoidant genius had managed to snag the singer for a dance.

With Spencer’s hands resting gently on your hips and your arms draped over his shoulders, you felt both light as a feather and heavy as a ton of bricks, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air between you. His touch was gentle, reassuring, but there was an underlying tension—years of separation and longing bubbling just beneath the surface.

“I can’t believe I’m seeing you right now,” you whispered, your voice trembling slightly. “Are you sure you’re real?”

Spencer, always quick with a quip, responded with a small smile. “Do you often see people that aren’t real?”

You shook your head, a soft laugh escaping despite the lump in your throat. “No… I just can’t get my mind around it.”

“Me neither,” he admitted, his thumbs rubbing small, soothing circles on your waist.

You looked up at him, your eyes tracing the familiar features of his face, now slightly more mature but just as handsome. “You look so handsome, Spence. You’ve aged like fine wine.”

His blush was immediate, endearing in its sincerity. “Thank you,” he mumbled, clearly flustered. “You look gorgeous. You haven’t aged a bit.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I’m not a profiler, but even I know that’s a lie. Look at these bags!” You pointed to the faint circles under your eyes, a result of late nights and hard work.

Spencer’s gaze softened, and he smiled tenderly. “You’re perfect, maybe I’m just blind to your flaws.”

“Wow, Agent,” you mused, a teasing note in your voice. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re flirting with me.”

“Is that okay?” he asked, a hint of vulnerability in his tone. “Figured I could make up for lost time.”

Your heart skipped a beat, and you tried to steady your breathing. “Spencer…”

He noticed the shift in your expression, his brow furrowing slightly in concern. “I remember that face. What’s wrong? Do you have a partner?”

“No,” you assured him quickly, shaking your head. “Should we keep it friendly? Not much has changed…”

“A lot has changed,” Spencer countered, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Like what?” you asked, genuinely curious.

“Like… I happen to know that if you work on Broadway, you get downtime between shows. You’re here right now, aren’t you?”

“That’s true… but I still have to rehearse, practice, and prepare. And I have an audition next week.”

Spencer’s smile widened, his eyes filled with admiration. “And you will do amazing at that audition. Do you want to get dinner after?”

“In New York?” you asked, a bit taken aback by his boldness.

“Mhm,” he hummed, his forehead pressing gently against yours. “I’ll take the train, meet you after you blow the casting directors away.”

You rolled your eyes playfully, though your heart was pounding. “You’re insane. What if we don’t get along anymore?”

“That would be really unfortunate, and I’d just take the train back,” he snorted, the sound making you laugh despite yourself.

“What if you find out that you only liked me because you didn’t really know me?” you asked, the question heavier than you intended.

“I loved you, think I still do,” Spencer corrected, his voice soft but firm, taking your breath away.

“Right,” you murmured, the gravity of his words settling over you. “So… you just want to date me? After six years?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Even though it’s going to be hard?”

“Absolutely.”

“And we’ll have to do long distance more often than not?”

“Mhm,” he nodded, his resolve unwavering.  

“And—” you began, but your words were cut off as Spencer leaned in, capturing your lips in a kiss that was both tender and intense, filled with all the emotion and love that had been building up between you for years.

—

“Hey, babe, how was the train?” you asked as Spencer walked up to you, his familiar, comforting presence immediately easing some of your post-audition nerves.

Spencer laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You just auditioned for Hairspray and you’re asking me how my train ride was??” His tone was incredulous, but there was a playful glint in his eyes.

You shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m anxious and don’t want to think about it, so tell me about your train ride… or kiss me.”

Spencer’s smile softened as he leaned in closer. “I’ll do both,” he said, his voice tender as he bent down to kiss you. But in his eagerness, he completely forgot about the coffee cup in his hand. As he leaned in, the warm drink spilled, splashing down the front of your shirt.

“Spencer!” you exclaimed, jumping back as the coffee soaked through the fabric, surprise and exasperation coloring your voice.

Spencer’s eyes widened in horror, his face turning a deep shade of red. “Oh no, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean—let me—” He fumbled, his usual calm demeanor thrown off by the sudden mishap.

Despite the mess, you couldn’t help but laugh, the tension from the audition melting away. “It’s okay, Spence,” you said, shaking your head as you tried to blot the coffee stain. “I guess some things never change.” 

Spencer, still flustered but smiling, handed you a handkerchief, grateful that you were taking it in stride. “I’ll make it up to you,” he promised, and you knew he meant it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

tag list <333 @dirtytissuebox @yokaimoon @khxna @noelliece @dreamsarebig @sleepey-looney @cocobean16 @placidus @criminalmindssworld @lilu842 @greatoperawombategg @charismatic-writer @fxoxo @hearts4spensco @furrybouquettrash @kathrynlakestone @chaneladdicted @time-himself @mentallyunwellsposts @sapph1re @idefktbh17 @gilwm @reggieswriter @loumouse @spencerreidsreads @i-live-in-spite 

[nonosfics]

Mystic Messenger Relationship Headcannons!!

[Yoosung, Jaehee, Zen, Seven/Saeyoung, Jumin]

SFW!! Romantic relationship headcannons, implied fem!reader. Also I slightly stray from good ending lore.

Tw:Life360/j

Also sorry if there's typos I don't feel like checking 😭

Yoosung 💚

Yoosung is the type of boyfriend to never stop being nervous around you. It doesn’t matter if it's because of his physical attraction to you, or just because he values your opinion so much.

He looks away from you a lot, feeling slightly insecure about his eye, but you always find a way to make him feel like the most handsome man in the world.

He has clammy hands 😭

Study dates (even if you're not a student)

Getting distracted really easily during said study dates, so they during into normal hangout sessions lol

Yoosung taking you to conventions!! You'll have to train him to get good at taking pics of you and ppl with cool cosplay fits. (Or even your own cosplay)

Lots of homemade meals when he has the time outside of school.

He is a chronic reel sender, but he only sends you nice cutesy ones. Some memes, but nothing too brain rot inducing.

Lots of rants from him about literally anything, and pouting. (This is mainly caused by Seven or Uni.)

Late night convenience store trips.

Lots of campus walks, or just attending campus events. Once again even if you're not a student you will def get some idea of Uni life while dating Yoosung.

While he's staying up late playing games you play on your switch, read, or watch Netflix. Just enjoying each other's company.

Yoosung crawling into bed, upset over a loss. He'll either join you in watching your show or watch you play your game/watch you reading.

Back seat gamer 🫠

Finally dealing with a panicked Yoosung duing finals season, because y'alls study dates were very counter productive.

Taking him to a cat cafe to comfort his L on his exams.

Jaehee 🤎

SHE GIVES THE BEST HEAD SCRATCHES!!

I feel like she wouldn't be big on touch as her love language, and not a fan of PDA. Partially out of concern of homophobes AND she just doesn't fuck with PDA like that. (However this doesn't stop you from a quick kiss on the cheek to see her blush.)

While she's not outwardly nervous around you, it is very easy to fluster her.

Once again, even tho she might not be big on touch she WILL NOT say no to a shoulder massage. I just know she carries so much tension in her shoulders.

You get to help her pick out new glasses every couple of years. They all stay pretty similar/simple.

You drag her to go get her nails done with you. (You just want her to practice self care 🥺🥺)

I fear Jaehee might suffer from beige/brown blindness and you really might need to help her with her interior design of everything 😭

Even though Jaehee would def love her cafe, I'm sure she'll still get exhausted from managing it. I feel like outside of work, she'll lean on you for a lot of the little decisions (like dinner, casual dates, etc...).

Will always come to you for fashion advice, for example when she grows out her hair she consults you about adding layers.

You introduce her to pinterest 🤭 she makes the best boards

Theater/Seeing Zen act dates lol

Getting dinner with Jaehee and Zen after, and both of you making him the best bouquet for him. (Zen loves his lesbian besties 💀💀)

You're the professional taste tester for new treats at Jaehee's Cafe.

Jaehee deals with all the Karen's/dickheads that occasionally find their way to the cafe 🙄

I luv cozy Baehee 🥰

Zen 🩶

Zen needs a LOT of attention. Seriously, it can get to be a bit much, but with some communication, he'll def learn to give you a break.

He seriously does melt at your compliments though, like a fan could say the exact same shit but it wouldn't hit the same because they're not you.

He made up needing one kiss for good luck before auditions/plays. But because he's in the theatre world he definitely started to believe his own lie because of one time you couldn't give him a kiss, and he slightly stumbled on his words. So now he NEEDS 3 kisses for good luck.

He's slightly a control freak (I'm being a bit nice here lmao) like mainly when it comes to wanting you to have the same health regiment as him.

Sassy man apocalypse 😵‍💫 like petty arguments are scary between reader and him.

Yall will definitely experience fancy, extravagant dates but I think Zen will mostly prefer and put the most effort into super casual/"normie" dates.

He would do cute tiktok trend shit too. Like the boo basket, or whatever else (I can't remember other trends)

Speaking of tiktok he would def post you and him doing cute shit.

You guys get a puppy after getting engaged/marriage and that will literally be y'alls first baby for the first few years of marriage.

Zen is touchy 😳

Zen let's you braid his hair on at home spa night.

Wait what was that? At home spa nights? Yes. Face masks, wine/champagne, whatever you want. Soft music in the background, lots of gossip.

He also wouldn't say no to you painting his nails 😗, not a promise he'll keep it on for very long though.

He wants you to do the bf blue nails, tho. you'll do it the first time, but once you remove the polish because it chipped, he expects you to do it again. (He is so serious)

"Y/n how will men know you have a boyfriend if your nails aren't blue"

"I don't think the average man knows about the bf blue nail trend..."

"Well, still 🤕 please paint them blue again"

Y'all go on summer getaways to detox from his fame. Maybe a nice few weeks in the Maldives, or a visit to a small Japanese town.

Seven/Saeyoung ❤️

Not even going to lie, Seven boarders being negligent and also a handful. It slightly gives you whiplash the first year of dating but once you help him with his work habits, it'll get better 👍👍.

He's not intentionally negligent at all!! He just gets really busy work and will hyperfocus on it. His thought process is that the fewer breaks he takes, the quicker it'll get done, but it'll end up in him accidentally ignoring you for a day.

He's good at apologies and making things up to you. There's never a dull moment with Saeyoung!!

Like Yoosung, he's a chronic reel sender, but it's cursed brain rot shit. He'll pout if you don't like each one just to mess with you.

He loves to take you on rides in his cars 🤭 especially if you're dressed up really cute. He feels like he might combust from joy. His lovely gf, and cool ass cars. 10/10 activity.

PDA with Seven is a little dangerous... hah, he's just used to being isolated all the time, so he doesn't realize constantly touching can be a bit much for others lmao. (He also just wants to show you off)

He's then put in "holding hands jail" as he calls it. And if you thought Yoosung could whine, Seven really takes the cake on this one.

Constantly asking for back rubs bc of his horrible posture. And quite frequently needs nurse reader because there's no way you're convincing me he doesn't get chronic stomach aches of eating only chips and soda 💀

You're his only hope in eating real meals.

Sitting on his lap during work 🥰

Stealing his jacket, but he gen can't tell if he's annoyed or loves you wearing it. This results in playfights over the jacket.

Board games with Saeran and him 🥺

Prank wars... this is hell for everyone in your life.

After a peace treaty to prank wars, you two become prank warlords and the rfa (yoosung) is y'alls victim.

Seven needs you in order to sleep, so if you're not sleeping he isn't 😗😗

You are his partner in crime so seriously if he has free time he will insta flock to you and beg to do something fun. Even if you're the busy one now...

Jumin 💜

Okay so there's a venn diagram of Jumin and Yoosung when it comes to the reader being their first love. Yoosung is pathetic and cute, Jumin is "nonchalant"....... However, in the middle, they are both so serious from day one in "dating to marry" 😭. Yoosung is a bit more blind puppy love with it, whereas I don't think Jumin would date anyone without seriously wanting to marry them later on.

Tldr: Jumin's feelings toward the relationship itself is intense.

I feel like it would realistically be a slow roll to him being needy. He would want to be responsible but also loving so he'll take you on nice, fancy dates. But after the first few it slightly sucks the intimacy from the dates.

He would feel it in himself because he would end up feeling unsatisfied after the dates, but he'll also notice slight disappointment from you after the same cookie cutter fancy restaurant date. He just needs more of you, and that idea slightly worries him.

Not that he thinks it's a bad thing he just doesn't want to be a freak 💀 for a lack of better words.

Feeling awkward he would ask what you'd like to do, and when he gets a "let's just have a movie night at your place!! Maybe we can make pizza too 🥰" he's a little taken aback.

1. He's not a big movie person

2. Were you going to spend the night? Was it appropriate for you to spend the night?

3. He doesn't know how to feel about pizza

4. You want to make it? Yourself?

He keeps 1, 2, and 3 to himself but he does ask for clarification about the pizza.

But once he was in the first 15 mins of the date, the intimacy was definitely there now that yall weren't in an uppity restaurant with no privacy.

During the whole date yall got to talk, and laugh and actually enjoy each other's company in a casual setting. He watched you watch the movie, and he loved seeing you play with Elizabeth the 3rd.

After a few weeks and more casual dates mixed with his kind of dates, he finally asks you to move in because he is surprisingly (to himself) desperate to have you at his home.

This would lead to a marriage proposal swiftly after you move in. He can only bend so many social rules before he starts to feel like a mad man.

Saving wedding details for wedding headcannon.

Jumin has an odd sense of humor so there's many moments where you don't catch on to his joke. Be even if you're late to understanding you still end up laughing.

He loves your laugh, it's his favorite sound equal to Ellie's purrs.

He smiles a lot more thanks to you infecting his brain.

Lots of late nights getting drunk in the kitchen, talking about life and the RFA.

Business man gossip (he does not consider this gossip and if you claim it is he will adamantly deny it.)

Ofc the obvious you are very very spoiled. Almost to the point where you have had a conversation with Jumin, letting him know he doesn't need to buy you all kinds of stuff.

(He still buys you the same amount of stuff, but he puts some time in between gifts)

No matter how much money he spends on you, his time with you is the most valuable thing and when you tell him this he may or may not add some extra vacation days just to hang out with you and Ellie 🥰

He also has many scares if you're out late or if you had to travel somewhere else for work or to visit family. He calls a lot, even during work, because he's really paranoid after the events in the game that you might encounter danger again when you're away from him. (This results in life360 for ease of mind, lmfao).

[wannab-urs]

Pedro Pascal Character Fic Recs | Vol 42

AO3 | Kofi | Main Masterlist | The Spreadsheet Masterlist

Howdy Folks,

guess who's back! I don't know if I'm back to doing these consistently, but I have a hell of a list for y'all. Tags and summaries provided by the author, commentary provided by yours truly.

Mindfuck - Dave one shot by @whatsnewalycat

He said he could rattle the bees from your buzzing honeycomb brain. All you had to do was trust him with this power. So you did. And you do. Your valiant beekeeper meets you at this hotel every other Tuesday night, except on holidays.

Hypnotism, hypnosis-kink, Imperfect Praxis of Hypnosis, Humiliation, Implied/Referenced Cheating, Praise Kink, Smut, unprotected piv, D/s dynamic, Dom Dave, Mindfuck

One of the weirdest things I've ever read, but also one of the best. I was super into this. Mindfucking is WILD.... I'd read more of this universe in a heartbeat

Bittersweet Love - Dieter one shot by @ozarkthedog

Dieter is in recovery from drug addiction, the disease that cost him you. This is his first premiere after getting clean and his first one without you.

angst but with a happy ending! mentions of drug use and alcohol but nothing graphic.

This is such a sweet fic? That might be a weird way to describe it. I just love Dieter getting his shit together and all the good coming his way because of it.

Starlet - Dieter one shot by @whocaresstillthelouvre

Your husband has a big movie premiere, sure he looks great, but his co-star looks even better.

PWP, threesome, smut, fingering, oral (f receiving), lesbian fun, unprotected p in v sex, cum eating, addiction talk, sober Dieter, Kit Kats, I wrote this for the bi girls.

This fic is a dream, seriously. I want a hot movie star husband to bring pretty movie star women into my bed please and thank you.

Pas de Deux - Din series by @burntheedges

When Din Djarin – principal dancer at Concordia Ballet Company and generational talent in the classical style – suddenly left CBC and joined the Nevarro Ballet Theater mid-season, it shocked the ballet world. You never would have guessed that he would change your life, too.

modern AU, ballet AU, fluff, angst, flirting, dancing, lots of ballet terms (I’ll define things/link videos/etc. -- see below), misunderstandings, character study, romance, pet names (sweetheart, beautiful), lots of tension, later: smut, kissing, grinding, fingering, p-in-v sex, creampie, each chapter will have its own tags, Din lifts reader (see note below about reader)

This is one of the few modern Din AUs I've read, as I tend not to like them, but I can't recommend this enough. I was drawn in by the summary and hooked by the first chapter!

Never Let Me Go - Ezra one shot by @yopossum

Loving, reverent domestic smut with sweet, submissive Ezra.

SMUT; no plot that’s it just porn but with FEELINGS; sub!Ezra; established relationship; super duper in love; domestic fluff; comfort; gratuitous pet names; praise kink; body worship; body hair; grinding; breast and nipple play; teasing/edging if you squint; light bondage; riding; PIV; no condom (there’s come y’all); religious language and imagery as literary device; Ezra the human thesaurus; prose gettin purple; making grown men whine and cry; reader is not gendered, has breasts and a vulva/vagina, is described as having puffed nipples and dimpled thighs, can straddle Ezra, but no coloring, size, appearance, age, or ability is otherwise noted; Ezra is an amputee and healed and we love it (no gore or trauma or background re: his arm); but I did write this because I was watching Prospect without actually watching and was inspired by *~*those sounds*~* out of context tho; Beatrice is not reader’s name, just a nerdy Dante reference; I stole this title from Florence Welch; old person on tumblr; is this spacing wack?; not a beta in sight; 18+ only no minors

SUBMISSIVE EZRA!!! I loved this. Such a gorgeous fic.

Stick Buddies - Frankie series by @auteurdelabre

You and Frankie find yourselves in a complicated situation when invited to Benny's wedding for a week in Mexico. Despite your strained friendship, you both pretend to be a couple to save Frankie embarrassment when seeing his recently engaged ex wife. However as you navigate through this charade, old feelings and unresolved issues resurface.

friends to enemies, angst, fake relationship, bickering, there's only one bed, destination weddings, enemies to lovers, jealousy, idiots in love, revealed secrets, mutual pining, smut, HEA, so many fucking tropes.

friends to enemies to lovers??? Sign me the fuck up.

Where You Left Me - Frankie one shot by @chaotic-mystery

You meet Frankie for a date and reminisce about your relationship.

MAJOR character death. No movie AU but fuck Tom. This is overall angst heavy and please take care of yourself. Grief & loss, sadness, memories, I think that’s it? It’s just overall a bittersweet and tragically lovesick story. There’s no physical descriptions of reader other than wearing a black dress at one point and having hair that tickles Frankie’s nose. no y/n used

This shit made me cry in the best way. Please read this.

One of Your Girls - Frankie one shot by @pedropeach

unpacking some of frankie's old things leads to a revelation about his past. (OR to put it simply: frankie morales x triple frontier boys circle jerk)

Circle Jerk, Sub!Frankie, Bukkake, Facials, Cumplay, Cum Swallowing, frankie is literally a cum dumpster (and loves it), Praise Kink, Pet Names, Dirty Talk, oral (m receiving), Deepthroating, Cock Worship, Use of restraints, Sexy Photographs, Sharing, brief mentions of anal sex (m/m), for story purposes you are frankie's current gf, frankie x all the guys individually, this includes tom but he's not part of the circle jerk, sry tom

Really was not expecting this to be as tender and soft and sweet as it is considering it's one of the more filthy things I've ever read. Absolutely love it.

I'll Carry You - Javi P series by @almostfoxglove

You reunite with your childhood best friend when he arrives home from Colombia. Javier's sudden return to your life exhumes buried heartbreak, but he longs to set things right.

Eventual smut. Reference to canon-typical violence, injury, and the death of a parent. Plenty of alcohol consumption, yearning, and angst. YEARNING!!!

The yearning is exquisite. The fic is exquisite. I'm in love with this fic

Remorse for Remedy - Joel series by @pedgito

Alone, the Miller's brothers seem like your only hope. The outbreak is still fresh, weeks after the fall and all that matters is survival and the unlikely comfort that comes along with a man who wants nothing to do with you.

early outbreak, canon typical violence, morally grey!joel, smut (warnings given with each chapters), exploration of kinks, enemies to lovers, age gap (early 20s/mid 30s), unhealthy coping mechanisms, detailed warning with each chapter

I haven't ever read a series about Joel immediately post outbreak, which is wild. It's always raider!joel or qz!joel or jackson!joel. I love this new perspective and I'm so excited to read more.

Biology - Joel one shot by @endlessthxxghts

Joel hurt his back at work, so you've been helping him around the house until he heals.

able-bodied, female sex anatomy, and inherently fem!reader. No description of reader, everything is neutral (ex. “your bottoms,” “the curve of you” — nothing is specific in the way “you” are described). Age gap (reader early 20s, Joel in 50s). EXPLICIT MATERIAL PRESENT. HEED THE WARNINGS. WEIRD boundaries are crossed…you're not blood-related to Joel, but you were raised like you were. You call him “uncle.” Pet names (baby, darlin’, sweetheart, etc.). Pussy pronouns (she). Innocent touches until it isn't. Sexual tension galore. Slight dub-con. Icky Joel. Icky reader. Pussy grinding. Dirty talk. Slight degradation (“bitch” is used only once). Multiple orgasms. P in V unprotected. Reader is on top. Lots of teasing about the nature of yours and Joel’s relationship.

Well slap me silly and call me an uncle fucker because this fic was amazing. (they're not really related don't. look. at. ME.)

The Savage and the Sanctuary - Joel series by @justagalwhowrites

After the death of his daughter, Joel Miller fell apart. But when searching for answers at the bottom of a bottle and within his own rage doesn't fix it, he resigns himself to working for his brother in private security. It's a job that starts him down the path to stability and a semblance of a life, even if it's not one he particularly wants. At least it does until you show up. The biggest movie star in the world with your newly adopted niece in tow, you throw everything about Joel's life into flux. Is he capable of letting himself feel something again while protecting the only things left in the world that matter?

Protective Joel, Ellie & Joel Bonding, Joel is Bad at Feelings, POV Joel, Joel Needs a Hug, Alternate Universe - No Cordyceps Outbreak, Enemies to Lovers, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn

So pumped for a new Kit fic. Super into bodyguard Joel. The angst right out the gate is so beautifully painful, I just know I'm gonna cry once a chapter at least. (i've only read one chapter, so I have some catching up to do!)

Professor's Pet - Joel one shot by @chaotic-mystery

Professor Miller wants you to teach the class tomorrow morning & you need help being less nervous. What if he’s the reason you’re nervous, though?

Age gap but not specified, power imbalance (professor x TA, reader stutters when nervous, academic weapon, teasing, fingering, one (1) pair of panties ripped to shreds, oral (f receiving), spitting, pussy slaps, praise kink, name calling (good girl, sweetheart, baby, smart girl), dirty talk, talking you through it, spanking, condescending a little bit, cum eating, face riding, nasty freaky kisses to share your cum, no use of y/n

I cannot begin to explain how hot him helping her practice is. And then the smut.... I need a shower

Call It What It Is - Joel one shot by @joelsgreys

A disagreement over patrol duty leads to declarations that have been long overdue.

JACKSON ERA JOEL. established relationship. HEFTY AGE GAP (reader is in her 20’s and joel is 56). ellie and joel are fine bc i said so and they deserve nothing less. reader handles a rifle, joel’s a little too overprotective and almost seems controlling, but i promise he is not. well, maybe just a smidge. arguing, admission of feelings, joel miller says i love you (yes this is ooc, no i do not care bc i need this old man to tell me he loves me). angst, fluff. quite a bit of side character interaction before we get to joel and reader in the second half. the only physical description of reader is that she is shorter than joel.

We love overprotective Joel in this house

The Guard Dog - Pero Tovar one shot by @avastrasposts

Sent to your uncle's bleak castle in the north of England, you expect only a dreary existence until you meet his groundskeeper, a scarred, frightening Spaniard. But love in the Victorian era is not easy and life doesn't follow straight paths.

this is mainly all fluff with a bit of angst. Some of that casual racism and predjudice of the period rears its ugly head though. I've tried to keep the reader as blank as possible, but it's Victorian England and she's a lady so I have to presume she doesn't speak Spanish and has fair skin. No use of y/n.

This was so beautiful. I love the setting, I love the characterization, I love the story

Bloody Kisses - Tim Rockford/Dio series by @perotovar

shane has been in denial about himself for a while. newly single and with the help of one of his favorite singers, he opens his eyes to a new venture he could possibly take: the cop he sees on a semi-regular basis, detective tim rockford.

takes place in the early 00s, age gap (shane is 23, tim is 40), internalized homophobia, hurtful names (fairy boy, faggot, queer as a slur, etc), a gay porn magazine, lots of references to peter steele of type o negative (and his playgirl issue), male masturbation, acab, angst, protected p in a, fingering, excessive amounts of lube

I started reading this a while ago, but I never added it to the spreadsheet. I'm in love with how soft Tim is with Dio UgH

In the shadows of others, we grow - Tim Rockford/Dave York series by @sin-djarin

What happens when you put two different areas of law enforcement in the same room a few times a year to atone for their 'sins'? You find common ground and figure it out. Together.

M/M, Established D/s dynamics, each chapter contains individual warnings.

This pairing?? Obsessed. The feelings?!?!? Give me 14 more fics in this universe PLEASE

An End to Drought - Javi P one shot by @almostfoxglove

The future of your family's homestead hangs in the balance as Javier Peña comes home in the middle of a drought.

Javier Peña Smut, Soft Javier Peña, Sweet Javier Peña, Javier Peña Has a Big Dick, Smut, Fluff and Smut, Fluff, Neighbors,Javier might be a god? who knows!, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Porn with Feelings, Penis In Vagina Sex, Oral Sex, Creampie, Sex, Vaginal Sex, unprotected piv, Freyr, References to Norse Religion & Lore, Post Season 3

I'm obsessed with the way the challenge was interpreted. Is Javi a god? We don't know... but he sure fucks like one.

Some shit I wrote:

Make it Hurt - Logan Howlett x f!mutant!reader - sparring + pain kink

Morning Ride - Logan Howlett x f!reader - soft morning sex

You're So Dark - Dave York x f!reader - prof!Dave x student!Reader

[icallhimjoey]

Q&A things, here we go:

this is joe's first time in philly

joe said his life has changed immensely and that it's so nice to have a character that's so loved, it's beyond what he could have ever imagined

joe knew the eddie book was going to come out, he's on board with it, is involved with it, is excited about it but doesn't know much else

for the most epic theme song for his life, joe chose heroes by david bowie

joe just sat and waited for is passport to be found, didnt go "through hell" like the moderator suggested

if eddie got a spin-off, joe asked if it could be with chrissy and thinks they'd be a good duo

when asked what crimes their characters would be fighting, joe said he thinks eddie would take it very seriously (whereas grace mentioned she thinks it'll be scooby-doo funny and they'd solve nothing)

joe on eddie: eddie represents the outsider and is on the fringes of society and becomes a hero, it's brave to be different and brave to be yourself.

joe watched the peep show whilst filming st4

joe has not seen are you being served

joe mentioned set shenanigans, said it was funny to see grace in a harnes just hanging there

he mentioned how natalia is good a photoshop again

joe starts filming gladiator 2 next month and doesnt know if he's allowed to use his own accent

joe wants to use his own accent for gladiator 2

about eddie becoming kas, joe said no one has called him, but theoretically it could happen - probably won't, but it could

joe got to pick all the eddie tattoos himself, and he just picked the ones he thought looked good

when he picked the bats he didnt realize his demise

he was wearing pink socks, idk, felt like i should mention

joe's stepdad was a camera man, his mum worked in tv promotion, so joe would go into work with them and see that it was the most extraordinary place, he wanted to be a part of that

joe says you need good stamina for theater, and that you don't get paid well for doing theater

joe's scared to do a shakespeare play bc 'we all know how they end'

grace said joe should be used to dying by now

joe's never going to get used to seeing his face on so many things but he loves the creativity

joe is happy so many people have the eddie guitar, but doesnt feel like a rockstar (he did when filming that scene, but thats it)

joe loves all the heartfelt letters he receives, feels that it's more than something physical

Joe likes F Scott Fitzgerald

would love to play in something set in the 1920 bc he wants to be a flapper girl

joe had a cheesesteak for dinner last night

joe thinks eddie wouldnt have gotten into college, but instead would have been a rockstar - eddie would have made it

also said that eddie and chrissy would've been friends

joe has played DnD once, and we've all seen it, said he'd like to play again

asked for a bar recommendation from the moderator, bc why not, you know?

(big massive fat thanks to @jo-harrington who sent me live updates throughout the whole thing)

[gutghost]

[Hot Single yanderes near you! (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEAS-)]

Part 0

Gn reader

To be completely honest, you had not really been expecting to have your phone call picked up when you called the number under the ridiculous "Hot single yanderes near you!" Ad, but here you were. It all started out when you were scrolling on illegal movie sights, trying to find that one movie that just came out that you wanted to see, but were too lazy and too poor to go and watch it in theaters, when a shady ad popped up, at first, you thought it was one of those 'horny milfs wanna F!!!!!#!#@' ads, but on close inspection it didn't really seem all that similar, there were guys. Extremely cute guys. All different from one another.

Half sleep deprived you decided to click on the link, which led you to an entire page on the damn thing. It took you an hour to figure out what to do and when you finally did you had to fill out big ass forms that left you tired as hell. But you weren't gonna just go through all this and not call for an appointment, so that's how you got here, matted hair and big eyebags under your eyes. Your phone, half dead pressed to your ear as you hear the crackle of the phone being picked up.

"Hello, this is Veni, with the company LoveR, how may I help you?"

The persons voice on the other end was crisp, professional, and honestly sounded like a sales guy trying to sell you a shit car. Sputtering for a moment, you'd respond.

"O-oh yeah, I was calling about the hot single uhm...yanderes near you ad?"

Now that you actually said it out loud it sounded completely ridiculous, and you half expected the guy on the other end to laugh. But he was calm, albeit abit too enthusiastic about the topic at hand.

"Oh yes! Have you filled out all the consent forms? We want to make sure you have a...comfortable time with our rentals."

From there on the conversation went...surprisingly normal, you had to give them your card information but hey who said this was gonna be completely safe? It's yanderes after all. You had a consultation on Monday and had to be there at 1:30 sharp. Everything felt abnormally normal, to the point you half expected to show up to a random ass abandoned building to get mugged.

So...

Why was this big ass skyscraper looking thing – with the company name the guy on the phone mentioned, no less – standing infront of you?? You couldn't help but feel astonished, mouth open as you stumbled to try and find the right words to comprehend what you were staring at. You probably looked so stupid standing there with your mouth wide open like a fish out of water but really, how could you not? You had looked up the company name, and you didn't find much...so why did this large ass building not come up on any of the pictures, websites, anything?

Finally, after figuring you and your thoughts out you rushed inside, admiring the sleek architecture as you shyly made your way to the front desk. For a moment you wanted to run away, hide – but you didn't. Instead, you begrudgingly approached the guy at the front desk, holding onto upur bag with a tight fist. With as much confidence as you could muster you spoke up.

"Hello, I was supposed to have an appointment at 1:30...M-my name is (Y/N) (L/N) if that helps?"

The man at the counter would look up, and for a moment you wanted to piss yourself. He was incredibly good looking, his cheek bones defined, his skin tan and his hair a deep black that almost looked abit red if you looked at it at a certain angle. His smile was the kicker though, you were sure he could charm anyone with how kind that smile was.

"Ah, (L/N)! Yes your appointment will be on the 12th floor, there's another lobby there that handles the entirety of LoveRs...more...peculiar sessions."

Why was that omnious...no seriously, why was that so ominous??? Quick to try and not let that uneasy feeling creep too far into your gut you'd quickly nod and give a smile of your own,

"O-oh thank youuuu...."

You'd trail off, glancing over to see the name tag on the desk. Trying hard not to sound like a completely dunce pronouncing his name.

"Kabir, Thank- uh, thank you."

Jeez, if you could die, you would not even wait for a response as you fumbled to run off to catch the elevator, face feeling hot as you bit at your inner cheek.

The elevator went up at a leisure pace as you tried to calm yourself, your heartbeat being able to be felt through 0ractically your vains. What you didn't expect was to actually get everyth8ng settled both mentally and physically in that damn elevator. It was taking so long to rise to the top... Jesus. how big was this building again? Whatever the case, the metallic doors finally opened, revealing a lobby area, much like the one downstairs. The color scheme was relatively the same, black and pink sofas that look insanely stiff with throw pillows sitting across from each other infront of large windows that went through the entierty of the wall, revealing a blue sky with fluffy clouds. Which, wouldve been beautifulif it werent for tge rest of the sky scrapers. Rugs that seemed smashed in due to how many times people had walked on them framed the two couches as you stepped out, the elevator quick to descend.

Turning your attention away from the little sitting area you'd haul ass towards, go figure, another front desk. This time, a lady sat in the front. Her curly hair fell over her shoulders like harsh waves as she glanced up from her computer, quick to stop whatever she was doing. Her lips formed a professional smile as she spoke, her voice sending pleasant goosebumps on your skin. jeez - was everybody here hot??

"Hello ma'am/sir. How may I help you?"

This time you were ready to answer, inhaling softly before opening your mouth.

"The man from the front desk downstairs sent me up here for my meeting at 1:30? My name is (Y/N) (L/N),"

Recognition sat itself on her face as she typed away at her computer before standing up, grabbing a weird looking black folder as she did so. Her heels clicking across the tile floor as she made her way around the desk and in front of you. Her smile not at all faltering as she turned to gesture towards a rather intimidating hallway.

"Ah yes, right this way Miss/sir (L/N)."

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is:  @wynnyfryd! Wynnyfryd has 34 fics in the Stranger Things fandom and all of them are in the Steddie tag!

i don’t know, you figure it out

Plot Holes

biting you biting you biting you- oh! kissing you!

Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!

She's got some of the FUNNIEST writing in this fandom, and it's very snappy too like. She's an editing demon for sure, she can take a concept that I'd think would take paragraphs to explain and find the right words to make it hit just as hard with like, two sentences. I also really really love how descriptive her metaphors are, really visceral sometimes, and she's really good at writing realistic life events but still making them fun to read about even when it's about like, devastating shit. The sex she writes is also intense as hell! -- @griefabyss69

Below the cut, @wynnyfryd answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

I am but a humble bisexual — I see two beautiful brown-eyed men makin’ beautiful brown eyes at each other, I go a little insane for two years. It is what it is.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

late-night moments of quiet hopeful hesitant intimacy over a shared joint or cigarette. Thin wisp of smoke between them, stars dancing in their eyes. Yeah. YEAHHHHHHH 

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

This isn’t really a trope so much as a dynamic, but I love a good dipshit 4 dingus dialogue-heavy scene. Don’t get me wrong, I think Eddie and Steve can both be very smart and knowledgeable in their areas of interest/expertise, but these are two young dudes with no access to the internet. I love letting them be confidently incorrect dumbasses. Just ‘yes and’-ing each other’s stupidity while an exasperated third character begs for mercy.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

Well, this question is impossible and furthermore rude. This question came into my home and didn’t take its muddy boots off. This question never mailed me a thank you letter for my lovely wedding gift. That blender was expensive; the absolute nerve. No but seriously, I think The Lathe by palmviolet is going to stay with me forever.

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I’m a big fan of doing canon divergence from different jumping off points — the beauty of having characters live in the same small town their whole lives is that you get so many great opportunities for these “what if our paths crossed sooner” moments.  I have some very loose notes for a S3 fic where Eddie is the movie theater employee who finds Steve and Robin in the bathroom after they escape the Russians, and I also have an old WIP set between S1 and S2 where lifeguard Steve rescues Eddie and then spends the summer teaching him how to swim. Would love to revisit those after I finish the trailer park AU (which I will be referring to as TPAU because my fingers are tired and because ‘toilet paper au’ makes me laugh.)

What is your writing process like?

Uhhhhh. 😂 I mean, for TPAU, basically just insert the scene from Dune 2 of Paul’s first sandworm ride: I’m shaking I’m sweating there is sand in my nostrils and I am surely about to die— oh wait, maybe I’ve actually got this? Am I actually doing it? Oh shit, look at me go!   For one-shots I like to use a more structured outline and bracket method. I start by dividing my doc into numbered scenes, with each scene getting a notes section and a prose section, like this:

This format gives me a lot of freedom to switch up the order of scenes and to move between scenes so I avoid writer’s block. I can also jump ahead to scenes I really want to write without making a mess of my outline. Once I have something written in the prose section of each scene, I go back and work on replacing each bracket with prose until there are no brackets left. Lastly, I create a new blank doc and copy the prose over in order so I can read the full fic and work on edits from there.  

Do you have any writing quirks?

I have been known to abuse a semicolon. And an em dash. And a conjunction at the start of a sentence. Yes, I do have ADHD.   I’m also a lyricist, so I feel like my prose tends to stray into poetry territory pretty often.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

When I’m finished! Which is probably why I tend to stick to one-shots; I get impatient and want to post stuff the second it’s ready.

Which fic are you most proud of?

‘i don’t know, you figure it out’ for SURE. I’ve never written a fic this long or stuck to a writing project this consistently in my life. Like ever. The last time I even came close was my first NaNoWriMo when I was 16, which was, uh… years ago, plural, and I’ll leave it at that. 😂

How did you get the idea for i don’t know, you figure it out?

“There’s a dead rat on his doorstep.” That’s it. That first sentence/scene popped into my head while I was bored at work, and then I started thinking, “hey, you know what? I don’t know that anyone’s ever done a fic where Max and Steve trade places for S4; that might be fun.”  And then NaNoWriMo was coming up, so I thought it would be cool to try live posting a fully improvised fic every day for a month to see how many words I could write. And then this tragic wet cat version of Steve Harrington grabbed me by the throat and took over my whole life.

When writing Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!, what was something you didn’t expect?

How SAPPY these two got!! My god, boys, I’m trying to write smut over here, stop having a beautiful existential crisis! (I blame Briston Maroney for that though lol, I think I listened to ‘Body’ like 1400 times that month.)

What inspired Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!?

@inklessletter posted this totally gorgeous art of Steve and Eddie recording themselves kissing, and I promptly lost my mind.  

What was your favorite part to write from biting you biting you biting you- oh! kissing you!?

This exchange: Steve: “What? I’m just asking!” Robin: “You’re being embarrassing!” Steve: “No, you’re just embarrassed. There’s a difference.” Like it’s just so them lmao

How do/did you feel writing i don’t know, you figure it out?

You know when you set out on a long hike in the summer and three hours later your calves are screaming and you’re covered in sweat and your sunburn’s starting to itch and this one horse fly won’t fuck off and your cell phone doesn’t even get service out here so literally WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF, and then you climb that last hill and look out on the most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen in your silly little life? Basically that.

What was the most difficult part of writing Plot Holes?

Ooh, that one was fun! The only real difficulty was trying to keep it to a microfic because the concept could definitely be fleshed out to a full story — @griefabyss69 and I were joking around about “what if someone did ‘plot hole’ for the @steddiemicrofic prompt fill?” and then that fic just fell out of my head in about 15 minutes. 

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

For sure! I’m currently super proud of the graveyard scene in the most recent update of TPAU — I don’t write true horror often, but I love horror so it was really fun to give it a try! Favorite line from any fic is probably this reference to ‘You’re Divine’ in my fic Monsoon Season because I love uncomfortably-aroused prude Eddie, and his internal monologue cracks me up every time I think about it: Freddie Monsoon’s debut novel is called The Fourth Chime, and it is, as far as Eddie can tell, the first installment in a series of unapologetically filthy fuck fests about a man whose lover gets flung into an alternate dimension during an apocalyptic event and miraculously returns as some sort of… sexy bat-boy with a fucking horse dong and a bite kink. Critics are calling it “the most romantic novel of the last decade.” It’s me; I’m Critics.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

My main project right now is finishing TPAU if it kills me, but beyond that, I have a few one-shots for @subeddieweek in the works, including a collab with @griefabyss69 that I’m so so SO excited to share. It’s hot, it’s funny, I can’t wait for y’all to read it. 

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

First of all, as @wormdebut would say: I think you’re pretty. Thank you so much for all your hard work! I love this blog, and I love answering questions <3 Secondly: - Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. - Toss cubed sweet potatoes and parsnips, sliced sweet onion, and fresh garlic in a mix of olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary, and then spread in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.  - Bake for ~40-45 minutes. (Potatoes and parsnips should be soft without being mushy when you poke them with a fork.) - Prep your sauce: I made a dijon drizzle situation by mixing olive oil mayo, a dash of dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a splash of water, but you could also add a little dab of hot sauce, bbq sauce, or different mustards. Basically just grab like four condiments out of your fridge and play around with the flavors you like until you make a mix that’s thin enough to pour. - Drizzle roasted veggies with sauce. - Enjoy a very tasty side dish (or do what I did and eat the whole sheet as a meal like some sort of parsnip goblin because you were too lazy to make the main dish after chopping all those veggies) okay thank you love you byeeeee

Thank you to our author, @wynnyfryd, and our nominator, @griefabyss69! See more of Wynnyfryd's works featured on our page throughout the day!

Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!

[imagionationstation]

Mikey was pretty much a Donnie whisperer.

It was a badge that he wore with pride, ever since the first day that he’d managed to coax a few words out of the nervous, older teen. He went out of his way to stay out of everyone’s way, but Mikey was unbothered. He had dealt with challenges before.

Donnie was a back of the classroom kind of personality, even if his brain totally could have placed him up front.

Mikey was a middle of the classroom kinda guy. Close enough to look like he wanted to pay attention, and far enough back that the teachers didn’t immediately notice when he wasn’t. He was soo chill like that, and he liked helping others chill out too.

So when he saw the high-strung, awkward, stuttering mess of a foster kid, obviously, he had to help him out!

It had been hard, especially with his bulky twin dragging him around like he was personal property (something Mikey stopped judging him for when he learn about the time that they’d been separated for a few months, and Donnie left the home with concealed bruises and a missing tooth), but Mikey learned to manage.

Much like Raph had his ways of keeping them together, Mikey had his ways of inserting himself into their circle. He was always challenged, always with a sneer (“He bothering you, Don?” Never Donnie, always Don-) and heated glare, like he was always expecting an answer that he never got, no matter how uncomfortable his younger half seemed. (“I’m fine, Raph. Really.”)

(Mikey quickly learned that uncomfortable could sometimes translate into joy. He was uncomfortable when he rambles. He’s uncomfortable at the lunch table with Mikey’s friends. He’s was uncomfortable when Mikey first invited him to his house.)

He wasn’t uncomfortable the first time they met. It was something else. Something that stole his voice and made him hunch in on himself, looking at Mikey like he came from another planet.

Mikey didn’t let that bother him. With the sporty twin distracted on the field, Mikey swooped in with the perfect excuse (“yeah, that’s my big bro, Leo, riiiight over there”) an easy lie (“Oh, yeah, I tots come watch him practice all the time.”) and a bright smile to keep the conversation going. (It was a one-sided conversation for the first few times, but he came around eventually. Everyone does!)

Seriously, it took foreeever to start getting a good reading on the guy, but once he did, it was like finally striking a match and getting a fire so big that it burned your fingers. He was awesome.

He had sketch books filled with all kinds of crazy things and a brain big enough to actually build them. Mikey volunteered his backyard as a construction site and, within two week, they had a crazy flying assault drone. One that he immediately used to fire nerf bullets at their brothers as they walked up the driveway.

He’d tried to hand the remote back and Donnie refused.

“You can keep it.” He smiled, eyes shining with pride, “I can’t take it to the house anyway.”

It was always ‘to the house’ and never ‘home.’

It made Mikey sad, but he talked about happy things instead.

There was a lot to be happy about! Mikey introduced Donnie to everything that he knew. Carnivals, movie theaters, arcades, laser tag, and museums (Mikey loved the exhibits, Donnie gushed over the information behind them) were the tip of the iceberg. They went on hikes and had sleepovers and messed around in the dojo and played pranks that their brothers always tracked back to them. They would be uno-reversed and then the dynamic duo would have to get more creative to return the favor.

(Donnie introduced Mikey to things that he never knew too. A patient voice walking him along assignments that he can’t sit through. An attentive eye that noticed the little things that got lost in big groups- words gone unheard, downcast looks flicking by, hidden fears that come out in nervous laughter, false confidence in a bright grin that never dares to fade- and never hesitated to remind him that they mattered. He mattered. Donnie heard and saw everything, and Mikey slowly realized what it was like to be seen without trying.)

They built all kinds of fire things in the backyard- literally set it on fire once!- because Papa was afraid that they’d blow up the house. Leo tattled on them often, but Papa would take one look at Mikey’s big, guilty eyes and Donnie’s honest, sheepish smile, and they’d be off the hook. It frustrated Leo to no end, but Mikey thinks that easy forgiveness is why Raph kept coming over.

(Raph had that rebel vibe and didn’t seem to like anyone, much less his twin, but he still kept coming over, and stranger still, spending all his time with mightier-than-though Leo. He actually listens to their father, looking to him for advice, which Mikey only discovered because he came home early and found them talking in low voice.)

(Raph was relaxed and attentive. Mikey left them alone. Wonders of the universe never ceased to happen in the Hamato home.)

Mikey asked Donnie why he was so mean all the time. Donnie stood up, dirt on his pants and a black smear on his cheek, thinking deeply about a simple question, “Adults don’t care about you when you’re nice. Being mean is the only reason we stay together.”

Mikey catches the paintbrush as it falls off his nose. Some of the paint splatters on his shirt. “You’re not mean.”

“I can do stuff.” Donnie shrugs as he digs in the borrowed tool box. “People notice that too.”

“But you said that his temper gets you guys in trouble.”

“I’m okay with being in trouble.” Donnie turns around, desired tool procured. “As long as he’s there.”

“But I didn’t know you could do stuff.” Mikey presses. (He’s plenty nice and that’s why people notice him. Couldn’t Raph do that too?)

“I know.” Donnie smiles, in his small, sheepish way. It’s infectious, and Mikey always beams back. “Not everyone is you, though.”

“One of a kind, brah.”

“Yeah,” Donnie looks away, kneeling back down. “You are.”

They were both one of a kind. It was what made them so great.

They always managed to make their interests link, to find a way to have both wants met. Something only came between them once.

(Mikey remembers the horrible night of his school play, when Donnie had the mechanics meet where his club would show off their inventions. How the week before they’d bickered endlessly about how Mikey needed Donnie to be in the crowd- he was scared of losing the words, of messing up in front of the school, he needed him- his club could show off the inventions without him!)

(Donnie had gone cold, ignoring his attempts to reach out.)

(The next day, Mikey went to his foster house. He waited there on the doorstep, refusing to budge until Donnie came out. He did, eyes puffy, and Mikey wanted to shake him, selfish and mean and terrified of losing him. “Why did that matter more than me?” Donnie, selfish and mean and terrified too, didn’t hesitate, “No thing matters more than you. But I had to go. I had too.” And Mikey sobbed. And Donnie sobbed. And they hugged. And that was that.)

Donnie opened doors that Mikey never knew had been closed. He was Mikey’s secret-keeper, a lock-box that no force on earth could open. Mikey was determined to be the same, no matter how bad his stories got. Donnie needed to tell them and nothing in this world, not even his crazy, silly brain, would convince him not to listen.

“Kids don’t like nerds.” Donnie placed one of Mikey’s plastic stars on the wall next to his bed. They both loved space, even if it was for different reasons. “They don’t like feeling dumb. I’ve been a lot of places, but it’s always the same. They like you until they learn that you could be in college. And that makes the adults mad.”

Mikey makes a dog with tiny stars. “Why?”

“Because I’m wasting potential.” He stares at the star. “I could be doing great things. I should be doing great things.”

Mikey smiles, “Your constellations are really great.”

“Great enough to make mom proud?” He presses it against the wall. “Or to make Raph’s life better?”

“I bet your mom would be proud.” Donnie lays on the bed, knees pulled up to his chest. Mikey lays next to him, hands tucked behind his head and shoes on the wall. “And why isn’t that the adults job? Why are they mad at you for it?”

Donnie shrugs, “I guess I’m not smart enough to know that.”

“Still.” Mikey looks at him. “Bet your mom’s super proud.”

He plays with his hands, looking at the stars. “Yeah?”

Mikey reaches over to squeeze his arm, “Totally.”

They were the perfect pair. They were the ideal friends.

Everything was great, until the rainy night that the Shen brothers appeared on their doorstep and said that they were being moved hours away. If there was a reason for it, Mikey was having a hard time catching it through Donnie’s heartbroken stutters and Raph’s dense silence. And Mikey couldn’t make it better.

He froze there in the living room and all he could think was,

He’s leaving. He’s going away. He’s leaving.

I’m losing my best friend.

And Leo- rude Leo, perfect Leo, stiff Leo, dull Leo, tattle tale Leo (two-in-the-morning drunk laughter Leo, always gets Mikey the best birthday gifts Leo, first to speak up for the little guy Leo) decides to walk up and wrap his arms around the kid who had been no more than a nuisance to him for months, and say, “I’m sorry.”

Mikey watches Donnie break, knees knocking, tears streaming, hands clawing into the fabric of his soaked t-shirt as he blurts that he doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t want to doesn’t want to why can’t he stay he wants to stay he can’t lose them can’t lose them please please-

Donnie sobs. Raph watches him, motionless.

Their father sets a gentle hand on his shoulder, “I will find you dry clothes.”

“I’m not going back.” Raph says, oddly void of emotion, once again using singular when he meant it to be plural. “They don’t want me.”

His father squeezes, gentle, “I will pass the message that you will be staying over tonight.”

He blinks, like someone in a daze, and looks at him. He mutters. “We’re not supposed to be here.”

His father is quiet. Leo, now in need of a change of clothes himself, says, “It’ll be rude to bother them so late, drag them out here. We can tell them in the morning, right father?”

Their fathers nods. Donnie cries. Mikey scrubs the tears from his cheeks and goes to make everyone hot chocolate.

(And if he crumbles there alone on the kitchen floor while the pot boils, that’s between him and the stove. But the stove will never tell because it can’t, and Mikey will never tell because it’s not Mikey’s place to steal away attention and be this sad when he has it so good.)

When he comes back with the mugs, he finds his father gone and Leo on the rug, running his hands through Donnie’s hair, muttering under his breath, watching Raph.

His best friend, who’s leaving too. Raph stares through the wall.

Mikey sets the mugs down, walks towards him, and wraps his arms around the older teen. He squeezes his eyes shut, cheek pressed into the sticky wet fabric, and says, “I’ll miss you.”

Like a robot learning human affection, his arms slowly inch their way up. Then the hug is being returned, and he grumbles, “You don’t even like me.”

“I like you a lot.” He says, because he learned to while seeing the world through Donnie’s eyes. “You’re a good brother.”

“I’m not.” He bites. “It’s my fault. It’s always my-”

His voice cracks. His mouth shuts audibly.

After a moment, Raph tightens his grip.

His breathing changes. Mikey’s shoulder gets wet.

He thinks it might not be hair that is dripping.

He doesn’t have a clear memory of the rest of the night. He knows that Leo is the only one who drank the hot chocolate, sitting close to Mikey as the others changed. He remembers hugging Donnie, skinny arms clinging around him like they never wanted to let go, and feeling something deep in him tearing when they eventually do. He can see Leo handing Raph his old phone, looking him dead in the eyes like a promise being passed, softly asking, “Text me whenever.”

He wakes up sitting in the armchair, fogged brain taking in Leo’s missing presence and the couch where Donnie and Raph are reclining. Raph’s arm is over his younger twin’s chest, leg hanging off the recliner, free of the blanket that hides most of a friend who’d improved Mikey’s life to the point that he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to go back. Back to friends that he can’t share secrets with and activities that are perfectly safe without smiles that make him feel like he single-handedly brought the sun to a dark planet.

He finds out that Leo’s in the kitchen helping their father make breakfast. They’re talking in low voices, quieting when the rest of the small group walks in. Mikey’s clinging to Donnie’s hand. Donnie doesn’t look at him, but he also doesn’t pull away.

Mikey has to let go so he can go to the van in their driveway.

They get a few steps, before Raph pauses in his tracks.

Without a word, he spins around and charges back up the stairs, throwing himself at their dad. He holds onto him, shaking, and he whispers, “I’m sorry.”

“I am proud of how far you’ve come.” Papa soothes as he returns the embrace. “Be safe, young one. Be strong.”

“Yeah.” He pulls away. “Okay.”

And he stomps back to the vehicle, snagging Donnie’s wrist as he goes. Donnie doesn’t fight him, waving before he gets inside, door slamming shut behind his twin.

Mikey waves until the van leaves his sight and then he runs inside.

He locks his bedroom door behind him and stays there.

Hours later, the door unlocks from the outside and Leo comes in.

The light from the stars on his wall is gone, so Mikey throws a pillow. It bounces harmlessly off his side. He’s quiet, sitting down at his desk (Mikey’s desk that Leo claimed because he never used it and Leo didn’t have room for one in his bedroom) to work. He turns on music (Mikey’s playlist- he hates Mikey’s playlist when he’s working) and starts reading some book that doesn’t matter.

And Mikey stares at him and stares at him and stares at him and then whines, over the music, “I don’t want them to leave.”

“I know.” Leo rubs his eyes, sighing. “Me neither.”

And somehow that makes Mikey feel a teeny bit better.

They numb the ache together until the weekend ends. The twins don’t show up and Mikey gets sympathetic back pats and gentle smiles from teachers and it only makes him more miserable because Donnie’s going to some strange place where he won’t get that.

Donnie is always on his mind, in the fires on the tv shows and the drone under his bed and any smiles with a gap and the long boring lectures and the comic that Donnie’s never heard of and the tools that had been moved to the garage and the dead grass in the backyard. He though of him as he sent out birthday invitations, and when Leo pulled out his phone to check for responses that Raph hardly ever gave because his foster family didn’t believe in meat products, giving wifi passwords, or children with technology.

He thought about him as the guests arrived and presents were all opened. He concentrated on him when he blew out the candles.

Mikey thinks about him late that night when he should have been sleeping, teddy bear taken out of his drawer and hugged close to his chest. (Donnie didn’t think it was silly- he cradled it like it mattered- “I had one when mom was still here.”) He hoped that wherever Donnie was, he had something fluffy of his own to cuddle with.

(He should have given him the bear.)

Mikey wakes up miserable, heading downstairs and smiling at a fully dressed Leo (Mikey should probably find his shoes). Leo smiles back and says that father’s out. (He’s driving and they’re going to be on time, so get he better get his butt moving.)

(Leo proceeds to makes them ten minutes late because he forces Mikey find his math textbook before they leave. Mikey doesn’t tell him that he probably won’t be opening it anytime soon.)

Papa isn’t there to pick him up so Mikey’s forced to sit through Leo’s practice. Mikey can’t bear be on the bleachers, so he distracts himself by making sure Leo consistently remembers that he exists (“DID YOU REMEMBER TO PUT ON DEODORANT? YOU KNOW HOW YOU TEND TO SMELL!” “MIKEY!”)

Leo lectures him the entire way home. He refuses to feel any remorse for his actions, pleased to see papa’s car in the driveway.

He goes inside, kicks off his shoes to reveal mismatched socks (“This again, Mikey?”) so Leo will do his laundry, and dashes to find their father for a very good explanation.

“Papa!” He screeches. “I NEED CHEESY BREA-”

He finds his father. And much more.

Donnie and Raph are in the living room, grinning like Mikey does on Christmas morning (Raph knows how to smile?), and Mikey gets two seconds to decide what to do.

So he runs, and Donnie meets him halfway, and as he stands on his tip-toes (did he get tall?), and hugs and hugs and hugs with all the loneliness and pain and love that he’s held inside, he gasps, “YOU DIDN’T COME TO MY PARTY!”

Donnie doesn’t answer, fingers bunching in fabric (like they always do, like he’s always scared to be ripped away), and Raph announces, “It’s not like we didn’t try. Government sucks.”

“Is it official?” Leo questions as he walks up. He hugs Raph, and Raph repropriates, and then they’re splitting apart. “Not really. But Sharon said he could have us ‘til it was.”

“So just more fostering?”

“Basically.”

“What is happening?” Mikey’s voice wobbles in happy betrayal. “Why am I the only one who doesn’t know anything?”

Donnie pulls away, and gestures helplessly, and admits, “They only told me a few hours ago.”

“Wasn’t gonna get your hopes up.” Raph states.

“What he said.” Leo speaks up. (Awful, evil brothers)

Their father adds, “How about you sit down and I explain?”

Mikey wanted to run around and scream with joy, but he sits down right next to Donnie, and learns their family of three is going become a family of five. And like the baby of the family that he still is, Mikey cries. His brothers- all three of them- three brothers- exchange the first set of looks of many that will define their relationship.

And then Donnie’s taking his hand, squeezing their fingers briefly, and smiling with the gap that always proved that someone can be happy despite every reason to feel sad, and pleads, “C’mon, bro. Show me around my new home?”

“You’ve been here.” Mikey laugh, struggling to calm himself down, wiping his snotty nose on his sleeve. “You don’t need me for that.”

“I saw your house.” Donnie beams. “Now I wanna see mine.”

Mikey understands everything unsaid. He’s the Donnie whisperer.

And now he gets to spend the rest of his life listening.

[sanriokamabodo]

Interview with Akaza + Douma (Actor!AU)

A/N: wanted to write this as a full on fic but who am i kidding (not proofread haha..)

“Hi I’m Hakuji Soyama and I've had the honour to play Akaza since the Mugen Train Arc” He gives a brief nod after his introduction. Slinging his right leg over the other, he glances at his counterpart who awkwardly raises his hand.

“...And I play Douma.’’ He states, causing Akaza to erupt into a fit of laughter, the audience and interviewer joining him instantly.

“Well that’s one way to introduce yourself.” Akaza grins, dramatically wiping a tear away from his eye.

“So tell me, what’s it like behind the scenes?"

"I think everyone gets along great, we all have a similar end goal in mind and work hard to achieve that together."

Douma nods before starting. "This is my first big time job and everybody has welcomed me with open arms. The writers even listened to my ideas and we've made some changes together for me to portray him better."

"We've heard rumours about you all doing your own stunts. Is it true?"

Akaza sighs making Douma laugh.

"You know that one scene in the infinity castle where I parkour around like it's nobody's business? That took a week to film, I nearly had to relearn to walk again because I was dangling in the air so much."

"Tch, you're so dramatic." Douma quips.

"You didn't make it any easier for me! You know how ticklish my feet are and you kept taking advantage of it while I was hanging from the ceiling!" He scoffs jokingly. "You guys better appreciate that scene." He laughs, making the audience cheer for the duo.

"How do you guys get ready for a day of shooting? Walk me through the day you started filming the uppermoon meeting."

"Make-up is the first thing we do, during make-up we go over our scenes together."

"Whose make-up takes longest?"

"Hantengu's by a long shot. He's actually really good looking in real life."

"I second that. I think Hakuji's the quickest since he has temporary tattoo's and dyed his hair for the part. He only needs to put in his contacts."

"Muzan's actor is actually really soft-spoken in real life, we had to reshoot the 'Upper Moons' meeting a lot because he would be to gentle with us and we would end up laughing." Akaza chuckles.

"Who do you respect most among the actors?"

"I respect everyone, especially the younger actors! They're super professional. I shot a scene with Ume who plays Daki and she gave me a lot of useful tips."

"The way Rengoku's actor portrays him gave me chills. He did so beautifully! I really respect him!"

"Hakuji came home crying after they filmed Rengoku's death scene." Douma teases.

"It was a long day, alright?"

"Yeah, you guys live together right?"

"We've been best friends since we were like five, so becoming roommates when we both wanted to go to theater school was an easy decision."

"Is your friend a bit like the character he portrays?"

"Absolutely not! When we're not shooting he's cooped up in his room playing video games all day. I don't know how he maintains his figure because all I see him eat is instant ramen. I'm even convinced he's a virgin." He cooes at Douma, pinching his cheek.

"Get off me!" The platinum haired man laughs. "Like you're anything like Akaza, you manwhore."

Akaza shrugs, a sly smirk on his face. "I know a bit of martial arts. That's like my character, I guess."

"The karate workshop we had when we we're eleven? Really, that's your knowledge of martial arts?"

Akaza nods seriously, trying to hold in his laugh.

"Wow, you're really something..."

"We're almost out of time." The interviewer states. "Anything you want to add before we round this interview up?"

"I can't recommend watching Demon Slayer enough! I've never been so proud of a show or movie I've done, this is next level."

"What he said, and hi mum!" Douma says, waving at the camera with a toothy grin.

"Give a round of applause for the one and only Akaza and Douma! Thank you for the interview."

[phantomdreamgirl]

It's Only You I'm Dreaming Of

Modern!Actor!Steve x Actress!Reader

18+

Handsome bastard.

You narrow your eyes as you watch him smile for all the waiting photographers before moving down the line to talk to the press.

He's so effortlessly charming it makes your blood boil. He drinks in all the adoration and praise, all with that same smirk plastered on his lips.

That same smirk you had to endure for months while on set with him, and after when he'd follow you back to your trailer, using his best lines to get you to let him inside. He eventually wore you down, as the second you let him in, he pounced on you. He kissed you with a ferocity you had never experienced before, which only made you want more.

He had a reputation, though, and you felt so naive letting him get close to you like this. You knew he was just using you for sex, like he presumably did with his other female costars, but you still gave into him anyway. You hated yourself for it, especially when you started to develop feelings for him. You tried to ignore them, by locking them away, and pretending they didn't exist.

That was somewhat easy, once production wrapped and you went back to L.A. while he went to New York. The distance helped and for the first time in months you were free of Steve Harrington. That was, until it was time for the film to be released and you would be forced to do press tours together. You dreaded seeing him again, afraid of relapsing into your former, weaker self. You told yourself it'd be different this time, you weren't going to fall into that trap again.

That proves impossible, as you practically melt when you see him again. You actually gasp when you see how gorgeous he looks. You quickly avert your eyes, the last thing you need is for him to catch you gawking at him. Despite your best efforts, he still sees you, as you both make your way down the red carpet.

After posing for several pictures, you step over for the first of many interviews. You are in the middle of answering their question of what it was like filming your first big feature, when you feel an arm slip around you and lips against your cheek.

"And here he is, the man himself," they say, their face lighting up at his presence. "What was it like working with this guy?" They then ask while you try to maintain a neutral expression.

"Oh, it was great," you smile. "Its every actors dream to get to work on a project like this and with a cast like this. I was truly fortunate to be apart of it."

"And Steve, what was it like working with her?"

"It was wonderful, she's a fantastic actress, seriously, one of the best I've had the privilege of working with," he says, looking at you, fondly.

"Early reviews are raving about your chemistry and I can see why," they continue. "You both seem so natural together."

Steve smiles at this while you try not to cringe.

You bullshit your way through the rest of the interview, before you and Steve are ushered into the theater. He stays by your side the whole time, much to your dismay.

"What was that back there?" You ask him as you take your seats.

"Just doing my job, making us look good," he answers.

"Yeah, but you didn't have to crash my interview..." you add, as the room darkens.

"I wanted to see you and I knew you wouldn't be able to ignore me, not in front of everyone and all those cameras," he smoothly says, leaning in close to your ear.

"You couldn't have just waited until after?"

"No, because I knew you'd keep avoiding me like you have been for months."

"I wasn't avoiding you, we were on different coasts-"

"Yeah, you were," he persists, trying to keep his voice down. "When I was in town for my buddy's birthday, I texted you and you blew me off."

"Can we not do this here?" You snap, turning your head to the side.

"We can talk after," he relents. "I missed you, y'know."

You scoff. "I'm sure you did."

He sighs, frustrated, before leaning back in his seat.

You sit there, fuming, your thoughts racing. You feel trapped as you look away from his towering image on screen, only to have the real thing sitting next to you. You notice, in your periphery, that he's practically pouting. Your body feels like it's on fire, pent up frustration is threatening to burn you from the inside out.

Surprising him, you lean over and whisper, "Want to get out of here?"

He nods, taking your hand and leading you up the aisle. He pulls you through the empty lobby then out onto the sidewalk. You can't help the exhilaration you feel as he continues to lead you across the street, to a newer, luxury hotel.

"You're not wasting any time," you laugh, as he leads you into the lavish lobby.

"I got a room here ahead of time, in case I didn't feel like going home after the after party," he explains, as you both stand in front of the elevators.

He presses the button, then turns to you.

"Oh..." you reply.

"This is a nice change of plans, though. I'd rather be with you, anyway," he adds, with a smile.

The elevator dings before its door slides open. He lets you walk in first, with him close behind. The numbered button lights up when he presses it, before the door closes. As the elevator ascends, he pins you against the wall.

"I really did miss you," he breathes, ghosting his lips over yours. "And despite your icy exterior, I know you missed me too."

"Steve..." you gasp.

"You look so good tonight, honey..." he says, his hands now squeezing your waist. "This sexy little dress...I bet you wore this hoping I'd notice, didn't you?"

You gaze at him, innocently.

"I know you did, fuck..." he sighs, as you finally wrap your arms around his neck. "I'm gonna make you mine tonight."

He then presses his lips to yours for a filthy kiss. It has you both moaning, realizing just how much you've missed the other. Your fingers scratch at the back of his neck, before curling in his hair.

The ding from the elevator snaps you both out of your lustfilled daze long enough for him to pull you into the hallway. You're each panting as he leads you to his room. He quickly takes out his phone and holds it over the small panel, above the doorknob, to unlock the door. Once it lights up green, he hastily opens it and drags you inside. He takes you straight to the bedroom, almost tripping several times, as he couldn't be bothered to turn on any lights.

He sits you on the bed, while he sheds his jacket. You take this opportunity to slip off your heels and lean back on your hands. There's faint light coming from the bedside lamp and now you can see that his shirt was partially see-through. You bite your lip, wondering if he wore that on purpose. He also takes off his shoes before kneeling on the bed, next to you. He reaches for you but you pull away to lay against the plush pillows. He then crawls over to you and hovers over you. His body engulfs yours as he lowers himself onto you. You wrap your arms around him again while he gazes down at you, hungrily.

"Always playing hard to get..." he chides.

You shrug, feigning innocence again.

"I know how much you love to tease me, honey..." he says, leaning in close, his voice low and sultry. "...it makes me ache for you even more."

He kisses you deeply, as you whimper against his lips. He grinds himself against you, emphasizing just what you do to him.

You hold him closer, as you make out, your earlier feelings now forgotten, because all that matters to you is him. You should be furious with yourself over how easily you gave into him again, but his lips feel so right on yours. You want more, though, your greedy thoughts taking over. You remember the delicious way he thrusted his hips, making you scream until you barely had any voice left.

Your hands move down his back until they're pulling at his shirt. Once it's untucked, you slide your hands under it and press them against his skin. He moans at the feeling of your fingertips gliding up his spine. Your nails claw at his back once, before he breaks the kiss.

"Get undressed, honey," he breathes, "I need to feel you."

You nod, before he leans up. You sit up and move to the edge of the bed.

"Can you unzip me?" You ask, glancing over your shoulder at him.

"Of course," he smiles, moving closer to you.

He pulls the zipper down, revealing your bare back. He sharply inhales at the sight. When you're fully unzipped, you stand and push your dress to the floor, leaving you in dainty, black panties. Steve's so mesmerized by you, that he can't help but stare. It actually makes you blush as you climb back onto the bed. He then quickly pulls his shirt over his head, ruffling his already perfectly messy hair. His fingers fumble with unbuttoning his pants at first, but he soon pulls them from his legs. You smile at his tiny, blue underwear as he joins you, on the bed.

He crawls on top of you and props his hands by your head, as he gazes at you.

"You're so fucking beautiful," he laments, lowering his body to yours. "After I left, I thought about you every night, looking up at me just like this...it's my favorite thing in the world."

He pauses to kiss you, lowly moaning into it.

"Do you believe me when I say I missed you, now?"

You nod.

"I need to hear you say it."

"I believe you," you say, reaching up to run your hand through his hair.

He smiles, leaning in to kiss you again.

"Now," he begins, leaning up, "until you admit that you missed me, too, I'm not going to touch you."

You look up at him, mouth slightly agape as you watch him move to sit beside your head, with his back resting against the pillows.

"Seriously?" You ask, sitting up and turning to face him.

He nods, as he palms himself through his underwear.

"You know what you need to do, honey...I want you to show me how much you missed me, too."

He's extra smug, leaning back, waiting for your next move. You narrow your eyes before crawling over to him. You kneel between his legs, then run your hands over his thighs. His eyes stay trained on you as you lean down, to press wet kisses to his inner thighs. You kiss your way up one then move to the other side, while he's quietly moaning above you. You glance up at him before pressing a kiss to his clothed length. He shudders at it as his hand immediately goes to cradle your face.

"God, you're so fucking gorgeous," he laments.

You continue kissing him through his underwear, until moving your lips upward, to kiss up his stomach, then his chest. You nuzzle your face in his chest hair while pressing intermittent kisses to his skin. Your nose brushes against the thick silver chain that rests below his collarbone. His hand is still gently holding your face as you place kisses up his neck. His smile is plastered on his lips as you kiss the moles on his cheek.

"Steve..." you breathe, into his skin. "I missed you, too."

He whimpers before pulling you into a kiss.

"Mmm, I knew it," he smiles, making you giggle. "Was that so hard to admit?"

"Kind of, yeah," you confess, pulling away. "I didn't want to get my hopes up only to have them crushed again."

"That's not gonna happen this time," he assures, as he caresses your cheek with his thumb. "I want to be with you."

"Like, exclusively?"

"Yes," he laughs. "I only want you, being away from you made me realize how important you are to me, and that...I love you."

Your eyes widen at his admission.

"You what?" You ask, before you can stop yourself.

"I love you," he says again, pulling you tightly to him, so your chests are pressed together. "Even if you don't feel the same, I had to tell you."

You feel an aching in your chest that you hadn't felt in months, that you felt the last time you were together. Tears sting your eyes as you try to pull out of his embrace.

"You're not going anywhere," he whispers, "I'm not letting you leave me again."

"I'm not the one who left," you finally say.

"It felt like it," he counters. "I asked you to come to New York with me, and you said no-"

"Because it was all too much, being with you was too overwhelming, I needed a break," you defend. "I needed a break from how I felt when I was with you, because...I was falling in love with you, and it terrified me."

His eyes light up at your confession.

"Really?"

You nod, averting your eyes. He cradles your face with both hands, getting you to look at him.

"So, you love me too?" He asks, gazing into your eyes.

"Yes," you breathe, before he pulls you into a passionate kiss.

You finally allow your body to melt into his, as you fully lose yourself in his kiss.

"You don't need to be afraid of loving me," he then breathes, into the kiss.

You pull him even closer, kissing him harder, which illicits another whimper from him. His hands grip your hips as he thrusts up against you.

"I've been waiting all my life for you, honey," he pants, before kissing his way to your neck.

"Steve..." you whine, unable to think of anything else, but him.

"Take these off," he then growls, as he drags his finger under the waistband of your panties.

You scramble to the side of the bed and peel them from your body. He raises his hips and quickly takes his underwear off, throwing them to the floor.

"Get back over here," he says, his voice dripping with lust.

You climb back onto his lap and slowly sink down onto him.

"That's it, honey, fuck..." he praises, his eyes already rolling back from how tight you were.

You moan his name when you feel him fully seated within you. You press your forehead to his as you acclimate to him.

"Feel good?" He asks, as your eyes meet.

You nod. "God, yes..."

Your hands then cradle his face, before kissing him deeply. His moans reverberate into your mouth as you begin moving your hips. His hands have a firm hold on your hips as he tries to guide your movements.

"Yeah, bounce on it, honey..." he pants, as he watches you.

Obnoxious moans leave your lips as you ride him. You missed this, how good he felt, how he was the only guy to ever fuck you this deep. Your thighs burn as you can't get enough of him.

He then leans forward and presses wet kisses to your breast. His tongue swirls around your nipple, before sucking it between his lips. Your back arches, pushing your chest into his face even more.

"I fuckin' missed your body so much, angel," he breathes, with his face buried between your breasts.

You shiver from the significance of his pet name. He only ever called you that during sex, and it always made your head spin.

You moan his name again when he sucks multiple lovebites across the tops of your breasts. Your hips then slow as you lean forward, resting your head on his shoulder.

"Need me to take over, angel?" He asks, against your ear.

"Please..." you breathe.

He smiles, tightening his hold on your hips as he begins harshly thrusting up into you. The sounds of skin against skin echoes in your ears, as you sink your teeth into his shoulder. He moans as he fucks you harder.

"Such a perfect pussy...I'd keep you in bed all the time, if you'd let me..." he says, as your lips find his neck.

You whine his name, unsure of how much longer you can take him fucking you at such a brutal pace.

"Look at me, honey," he then breathily commands.

You raise your head and meet his hooded gaze.

"I love you, so fucking much...I'm never gonna leave you again..." he continues, before pulling you into a sloppy kiss.

"I love you, too," you reply, before screaming his name as he finally sends you over the edge.

He keeps thrusting until he finds his own release, moaning your name as he fills you with every last drop of him.

His body stays still, with his arms wrapped around you, pressing your sweaty bodies together. He murmurs more 'I love you's' into your hair, as you're still struggling to catch your breath. After just holding each other for what feels like hours, he suggests that you both have a shower. You breathlessly agree and that leads to more sex, as he presses you against the shower wall and makes you scream for him again.

You each then settle into bed, with his arms wrapped tightly around you, once again. He kisses you so softly, making you feel like the most precious thing in the world, to him. Which is exactly what you are, and he plans to spend the rest of his life making you feel that way.

[david-talks-sw]

So, why should I care about Lucas’s narrative? Like seriously why should I care? Not to sound dismissive but a genuine curiosity? Man sold it for one thing and the EU and the fans that made it showed Star Wars was may more then his narrative at some point.

If anything Star Wars moved beyond Lucas’s narrative even before he sold it. Even from a grande perspective his narrative stopped mattering in some sense the minute A New Hope arrived and became a hit.

Oh, you're free not to care about it.

But the fact remains:

When Lucasfilm creatives promote new content, they’ll use George as an authority figure to legitimize what they say.

Big chunks of the fandom do the same by using Lucas’ words to make authority arguments on why they believe the new films and the current direction of the franchise is good or bad.

Seeing as there seems to be a general consensus that Lucas’ word holds some power, I'd rather set the record straight on what he actually stated and intended.

You totally can just say “death of the author, what Lucas intended or what he said outside the movies doesn’t matter, what matters is what’s actually on screen” and I’d have nothing to counter that argument with because this is a subjective stance. We can debate its merits, but that’d result in a much larger discussion about the place of authorial intent in fiction.

But again, you can discard my posts and analyses by simply saying:

“I don’t care what Lucas stated, I’m a free-thinker and I can interpret any movie I watch however I want.” 

At which point, the only answer I can give you is “cool, good for you”. 

You wouldn’t be the only person I’ve met who takes this approach, either. I have friends who are older than me, saw the Original Trilogy films in theaters and felt Lucas’ dropped the ball as early as Episode VI: Return of the Jedi or the Special Editions, let alone the Prequel films. These friends don’t put Lucas on the same pedestal as everyone else seems to do, and flat out tell me:

“David, either the Jedi are the problem or the Prequels are bad, I don’t care what Lucas was going for, the result is crap and the only thing that makes it all have some degree of sense is that interpretation.”

And I mean… what do I say to that? What can you say to that? That’s a personal interpretation of a movie, it’s not an opinion that’s less valid than anyone else’s. 

But when I’m taking this approach, I’m not saying “your read of the movie is inferior to that of George Lucas” (unless you confer some degree of power to his word, as the creator of the franchise).

All I’m saying is “Lucas’ message was X”. 

You can agree with the message, you can disagree with the message, the message may be factually/morally/philosophically right or wrong, that’s all debatable. 

I’m just pointing out that, when you look at all the data and you go by what George Lucas stated, it’s X, not Y, like most of the fandom and even authors of the franchise seems to keep stating.

Finally, on a personal note:

I don't like the fact that every time I see my childhood heroes on screen, nowadays, they're portrayed as protocol-worshipping stoic assholes.

I don't like that 90% of the fandom thinks that's how they're meant to be seen when the data demonstrates it's not.

I don't like that the reason my childhood heroes keep being portrayed in this uncharitable light is because the fans from the generation prior to mine - whom these characters weren't meant for - wanted to ensure that their childhood hero, Luke Skywalker, would be preserved as "the ultimate Jedi" and concluded that the only way to do so would be to reframe the Prequel Jedi as dogmatic and emotionless.

So now the OT fans have Luke, the Sequel fans have Rey, the TCW fans have Ahsoka... all unsullied protagonists.

Whereas pro-Jedi PT fans need to mentally ready themselves for when Lucasfilm decides to release the nth "Windu was more strict than a droid" case.

[mimisempai]

Exactly where we're meant to be

Summary

Muriel, Aziraphale and Crowley enjoy an evening walk on the beach. 

Day 4  : Barefoot

Notes

On Ao3

Rating G -  620 words

The fine sand was warm under their toes as they walked hand in hand along the beach. They followed Muriel's footsteps as they skipped ahead of them in what had become their traditional evening walk since the beginning of their vacation at the beach.

The sun was beginning to touch the sea on the horizon, reflecting off the waves in a festival of warm colors.

Crowley sighed with contentment and glanced at Aziraphale, who raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I don't think I've ever seen you so relaxed."

Aziraphale smiled at him, his teeth looking whiter under the light tan that graced his skin after a few days on the beach and his hair even more tousled than usual from the ocean breeze.

Crowley went on, "It suits you, Angel."

Aziraphale's light tan didn't stop Crowley from noticing the slight blush on the angel's upper cheeks as he murmured, "Thank you."

He brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed Crowley's hand before continuing, "I'm really glad we were able to arrange this vacation. We can really get away from it all here and it's perfect."

He gave the demon a little nudge on the shoulder and continued, "But mostly, it's perfect because it's with you."

Crowley, in turn, blushed slightly and squeezed Aziraphale's hand in response, pressing himself against him a little more before replying, "Must be the vacation effect, the deserted beach, all that..."

Aziraphale, aware of Crowley's deflection, insisted, "Vacation, the beach, all that is all well and good, but if you weren't here, it would have no taste. Dining out, going to the theater or a concert, it's not as good without you."

He paused and turned to Crowley, cupping his face in his hands and pulling him close before murmuring against his lips, "You're the one who makes it all extraordinary."

Then he pressed his lips to the demon's in a quick, tender kiss, but as he pulled away, Crowley's arms wrapped around his waist to pull him closer and capture the angel's lips in turn.

Muriel was not far ahead, so while the kiss lasted a little longer than the first, it remained light and soft, and it was the lapping of the surf against their feet that brought them back to reality.

They parted with a chuckle and wrapped their arms around each other before resuming their walk.

Embraced this way, they joined Muriel in watching the sun as it continued to sink into the sea.

Aziraphale asked Crowley: "If you could do anything right now without worrying about anything, what would you do?" 

Crowley seemed to ponder, then very seriously replied, "I would be on a deserted beach, with only the sound of the ocean in the background and the angel I love in my arms, and I would do this."

He took Aziraphale in his arms and planted a kiss on his forehead, showing the angel that there was no other place in the world he would rather be, no other person he would rather be with.

Then he let go of his lover and turned to Muriel. After gently ruffling their hair, he added, "And of course I would be more than happy to annoy my little bee."

"Crowley!"

Muriel came between them and wrapped their arms around Aziraphale and Crowley's necks as they said with a big smile on their faces, "And I'd be on a beautiful beach watching the sun with the two people I like best in the world."

Crowley and Aziraphale hummed softly, their hands intertwined behind Muriel's back.

As they watched the sun sink into the ocean together, the three of them had the same thought.

They were exactly where they were meant to be.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Ineffable Growing Love - Series post S2 - Part 1 - Part 2

Ineffable fan fictions Masterpost : here

[mattnben-bennmatt]

Matt Damon presents Ben Affleck with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Modern Master Award (February 2013)

-

MATT: [Emphatically praises Ben's skills as a director and a filmmaker, telling how Ben was a great problem-solver since they were teenagers discussing movies, and how this made him both a great writing partner and also take on problem-riddled scripts in the early days of his career, as Ben could always see their potential. But it's only when he was able to implement his vision as a director that his mastery came to light, and that Ben, as the director, is the one responsible for how great his movies came out, that it didn't happen by chance. He then emotionally calls Ben to the stage to give him the (seriously heavy) award.]

BEN: [Proceeds to spend the next 3 minutes praising Matt, repeatedly calling him "brilliant" and a "genius". Explains that he knows Matt's a genius because he's known him for more than 30 years and has seen him "do about everything you can do. Including [...] in the shower", has seen "the entire range of his personality, his emotions, his life experience". So when he doesn't recognize Matt in a role he's playing, Ben's "humbled" and "completely blown away". That Matt has worked with all those great directors because they have seen greatness in Matt. And so has everyone in the world.] And so have I.

MATT: I'm not getting the award! Jesus!

BEN: I guess I'm just riffing! I've got nothing written, so. [...] I am lucky because I saw [Matt's greatness] before all of you! So thank you very much to Matt. Now onto my 10-page written remarks. [Laughter]

-

[Full transcript under the cut.]

-

LEONARD MALTIN: He just flew in tonight to do this, please welcome, ladies and gentlemen, Academy Award winner, Matt Damon.

MATT: Thank you. Thank you. This thing is seriously heavy. This is a serious award, man. So, a Modern Master. Okay.

I'll tell you what. When we were kids— we started really looking at movies when Ben was fourteen and I was sixteen. And we'd go to Somerville, as he said, to the Assembly Square Mall, they had the big pictures there; or Fresh Pond; or in Harvard Square. And it was usually the same little group of guys: it was Ben, and me, and Casey. And our other friend who Ben mentioned tonight, Aaron Stockard, who wrote Gone Baby Gone and The Town with Ben. And then a few other friends of ours. But predominantly, we all became screenwriters, either on purpose or by accident.

And we'd come out of these movies— and we saw all kinds of movies and we just loved movies. We worked in a movie theater, actually, one summer; tearing tickets and serving popcorn for— the only movie they played was Dead Poets Society, which is a movie we both auditioned for and didn't get. I don't know, some form of bizarre self-torture that we got jobs at the movie theater that was playing Dead Poets Society, and had to watch the exiting crowds weeping every night.

Anyway, we loved movies. But we'd come out of these movies and we'd say, "What'd you guys think?" and we'd have a little note session in the parking lot. And inevitably, "That was stupid, I didn't like it." We'd have these kinds of real adolescent notes. And then we'd get to Ben—who would have been quiet to that point, uncharacteristically—"And what do you think?" And he'd go, "Well, it didn't quite work for me. But had they done this, this, and this at the beginning, what you could have done in the middle was you could have a scene where you did this, and then they could have a great scene at the end, where you could have done that." We'd go, "Holy shit! That's a really good movie!"

This is a skill that he had, and I don't know if he was born with it, but he had it when he was fourteen when we started going to movies together. It was just that thing, where he could lift up the hood and look at the engine, and get in there and take it apart, and put it back together, and the whole thing would run smoother. It's what made him such a great writing partner. He could problem-solve. And so much of filmmaking is just that: it's just problem-solving and decision-making in real time.

And that's the same skill that got him in a lot of, well, mediocre movies for a patch there. Ten, or fifteen years ago I'd read a script of a movie he was doing—he'd signed on to do the movie—and I'd read it and I'd go, "Why are you doing this? Horrible problem in Act 1, and they don't solve it in Act 2, and it gets worse in Act 3." And he goes, "I know, but if you do this, this, this, and this, this movie is gonna be fantastic!" And I'd go, "You're absolutely right!" The problem was he wasn't directing the movies. And in our business, the director is god. And the director is also your boss. And like a good soldier, he would he would plead his case, but eventually he'd do what the director wanted. And the problems that were evident to him at the very beginning, were evident to him at the premiere.

So here he is now. He's made three fantastic movies, one better than the next. And one thing I've learned is that you cannot make a great movie by accident. Anybody who makes a great movie is a great director. Period. [Applause] That's true. Because the director is responsible for literally everything. Everything. The framing of the shot; where the camera is; what the actors are wearing; the color of the walls; the color of the drapes; the color of the scarf around the leading lady's neck; the way she says that line. Everything. It's all manipulated. Every single decision. These directors are making hundreds and hundreds of decisions a day, over hundreds of days. You just can't do it by accident. It's literally impossible.

And Ben's made these three great movies. And this last one Argo is legitimately a great movie: that's already nominated for Best Picture, and it's already won the Golden Globe for Best Picture, and for Ben for Best Director, and no one's gonna be surprised if it wins the Oscar for Best Picture. [Applause]

And so here I am, with my— my buddy is, without question, a great director! And so when I was contemplating this whole Master thing, I guess the only thing I could say is, please welcome... Please welcome somebody who is undeniably two things: my very old friend and a very young master. [Applause]

It's heavy, man!

BEN: Thank you very much. This is indeed a lot. I want to say thank you to Matt Damon, who when he gets this award, I hope will invite me here to give a speech about him. Mine will be a bit more of a roast because so many of the brilliant characteristics of Matt are so blatantly self-evident.

Matt Damon actually is brilliant. We traffic in these adjectives and in hyperbole in this business an awful lot, so it's rare to actually know a genius. And I know that Matt's a genius because I know him, and I've known him for more than 30 years. I've seen him do about everything you can do. Including—we played sports together—I even saw him in the shower. Which is why that was a nice speech. Because you don't roast somebody who's seen you in the shower.

But what I've seen about Matt is who he really is. So I know and I've seen what I consider to be the entire range of his personality, his emotions, his life experience, more or less. So when I go see a movie that Matt's in, and I see a fully realized, deeply nuanced, completely complicated person—who not only have I never met, I've never even seen! Not for a second!—I am humbled and I am completely blown away.

Matt talked about directors. There are a lot of things that I would have cause to envy Matt over. The one thing I probably envy him the most is: Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, the Coen brothers. [To Matt] Help me out! A whole shitload of directors who are geniuses. Clint Eastwood, twice. Cameron Crowe. I mean, on and on. Matt has worked with basically all the great directors who can still get up out of a chair. And the reason why is because they're great directors and they can recognize greatness. And they've seen it in Matt; and so have all of you; and so has America; and so have international film-going audiences; and so have I.

MATT: I'm not getting the award! Jesus!

BEN: I guess I'm just riffing! I've got nothing written, so. [To Matt, unitelligeable.]

I am lucky because I saw it [Matt's greatness] before all of you! So thank you very much to Matt. Now onto my 10-page written remarks. [Laughter]

[velvetvexations]

I'm genuinely trying to not just be constantly negative and starting shit and arguing with people. I feel like even the people I mostly agree with are getting put off by it if they haven't already. I'm very self-conscious about my opinions and how much I talk on a given subject, and I know I do have issues that make my expressed opinions more pointed than necessary.

But like, me jokingly comparing the Bad Kids to the protagonists of 8-Bit Theater is interesting, because I love 8-Bit Theater to death, it's an extremely important work to me, it hurts a lot that I didn't hear about the scriptbook Kickstarter until it was over and I'll always be looking for a pre-owned copy for the rest of my life.

Like, I think the issue isn't that I have a problem with the Bad Kids acting so awfully. That's okay, especially in a comedy. Comedic sociopathy is a totally fine trope and I enjoy it on a regular basis. The issue that gets me is that it's such a hard counter to not only D20's usual tone, but also the way the DM, the players, the narrative itself, and most of all the fandom treat them and their actions.

That's why I soured on Kristen specifically so hard and so fast, because before JY I just thought she was like, A Lot, but not really a big deal and had some good, solid moments in SY (I did not like FY in general for completely unrelated reasons, sadly). But with JY, it was like, right out the gate she's ignoring Cassandra literally half to death, and I wonder if that would have seriously bothered me as much as it did if the fandom wasn't determined to completely excuse her for it in spite of the fact that it was clearly meant to be a personal character flaw and not just "unfortunately mental illness is happening to her".

Even then I was like, hey, I watched those promo videos, this is obviously something that's been planned ahead and will be dealt with. I'm very far from the first person to point out that we're now entering the season finale and chaos has not yet stopped being cute. Partially that in particular may have been hamstrung by the dice rebellion in the mall fight, with the original plan having been for Cassandra to not get separated from Kristen so fast and subsequently unable to have them actively work on their relationship and Kristen's commitment to her. Kristen running for president also likely threw a monkey wrench into decutifying chaos, because there was never any chance of Ally going about that by having Kristen put on a slick suit and say "I need to take this seriously and research school governance and formulate a policy I'll elaborate on in a debate with Kipperlilly". The race for president could only possibly be a bit the second it went to her instead of Riz, not because I don't think Ally could handle that kinna plot if they set their mind to it, Margret Encino would have killed it just as good as Riz, but because it's simply so far from who Kristen Applebees is as a character.

So anyway, I sat there watching this season waiting for Kristen to grow up because I had faith that was going to happen. But lest you think I just hate Kristen and possibly also Ally, these last few weeks they've been the least of the issue.

As hilarious as it was I don't understand how in the good Lord's name we're supposed to care about Oisin "making Adaine think she liked him" by acting a little flustered around her when Fig literally started catfishing Ruben on the first day of school ages before they had any in-character reasons to suspect the Rat Grinders of anything, all so she could...no, really, why the fuck did she do that? What was the impetus for that decision? I cannot emphasize enough how little motivation is given for this course of action:

There is nothing to it except that Emily correctly pegged he'd be an antagonist later. It's like the detectives on Law & Order arresting someone because they recognized the special guest star.

And like, other people, I get it, other people who don't like the direction JY has taken can shrug it off more easily than I can, there are a million reasons to not treat this like the end of the world, but unfortunately my autism gets me stuck on shit and I just cannot reconcile things like this. I cannot take the show seriously and care about the protagonists as people and share joy in their triumphs and sorrow in their failures and ignore something as blatantly breaking the logic as stuff like this.

I'll grant you, okay, Adaine was understandably hurt but neither the Bad Kids nor the Intrepid Heroes were really like "oh now we have to really fucking ruin Oisin for being the worst person alive". The fandom treated it like he Frozen'd her but fandoms are dumb and should not dictate as much of my opinion as they do, I simply cannot fathom the kind of person who'll cry over the deep and traumatic emotional damage Oisin caused Adaine with his missed beer pong shots but doesn't think Fig should be in jail.

That's also not the end of it, though. I could keep going on just about Fig specifically and the fact that she is at least sex crimes-adjacent, not to mention Emily's infantilization of a very autistic-coded character, but I'm trying very hard to not just come off as being like the people who have harassed Emily and Ally over their roleplaying choices in the past. As I keep stressing, I like both of them and especially Emily because I've been a CollegeHumor fan longer than some D20 fans have been alive. I think I actually like Fig more accepting that she kinna canonically sucks and taking her as more a Complicated Woman than someone whose actions I need to reconcile with the expectation of her being better than that, although I know none of it will ever actually be addressed.

So yeah, all the Bad Kids have been fucking weird this season in ways they weren't in SY. Adaine's intense and completely inexplicable loathing of Kipperlilly was funny at first and then increasingly uncomfortable as it fed into the fans wanting to crucify her. Gorgug going full bully was weird but also like, a one line bit, but whatever. Riz stealing Kipperlilly's file was gross and would or SHOULD deeply hurt Jawbone if he ever found out, and you can say they had to do this horribly unethical action in the name of homeland security or whatever, I accept that there were extenuating circumstances, but it's given no thought whatsoever and absolutely no regard is given to the fact that she was trying to address her issues with the closest mental health professional available who Brennan goes out of his way to note is failing her by overcorrecting for his bias towards the BKs.

But as much as I genuinely believe Brennan has been planting seeds the Rat Grinders could be reached, he's not been great here either and like Mice & Murder these things are more on him than any of the players because he's the director here. Like, I'm embarrassed I got snippy with someone who guessed ahead of time that Kipperlilly desecrated the rogue teacher's grave, but nonetheless think it was a weird conclusion to reach and that it's just even more bizarre that it ended up being "right", except the way it's described doesn't even make sense.

Like, the goal was "find the rogue teacher", right? And the rogue teacher is dead. So to me, it certainly seems like bringing a back hoe to the graveyard is one hundred percent the right move! But even if we accept the apparent canonical intent that was Kipperlilly threatening to merely destroy the grave as an act of vandalism rather than retrieve the body, it's like...so what? Literally who cares? As if the Bad Kids or any other adventuring party wouldn't dig up a dead body to cast Speak with Dead or something, as if the foundational Dungeons & Dragons formula wasn't raiding tombs like 19th-century colonial archeologists? And why would any of that be necessary anyway, when Riz found Eugenia by just...walking up to the grave?

But regardless, that, you might say, is a matter of the Rat Grinders being unfairly presented as evil and not the Bad Kids being unfairly presented as good. When it comes to Brennan's part in it, though, these are the same issue, because as the creator and director of every atom of the world outside the PCs, he's just so very willing to go with what the players start to expect. That's fine for a home game, but this is like, a television show that people pay money for, and that's an issue. He'll plant enough seeds of the Rat Grinders being better than they're treated that a chunk of the audience will notice and think the players are being weird about them, but he won't push it further than that and instead just rolls with the players being weird because his first priority is their enjoyment.

Again, fine in a home game, obviously. But it creates this divide between the players and the audience because the world has been crafted in such a way that when the players being weird is noticed it's like, why are they being rewarded for that? Why are they getting zero pushback? Brennan and I both heavily, heavily value collaborative storytelling for good reason, it's why I love TTRPGs and actual plays, but if this were a story told by a single person you could either have the protagonists pick up on those hints, have it be a point that they didn't pick up on them, or just not even include them in the first place.

One of the reasons I really, really like Aabria's DMing, as I've said recently, is that she truly remains firm in her worldbuilding and is not shy about providing realistic consequences or acknowledging PC behavior is dissonant with what's going on around them. And it just makes it super ironic that Kipperlilly's whole deal is correctly identifying the fact that the world is warped around the Bad Kids, and in this season more than ever the DM is like, fully changing reality to accommodate them and giving them plot resolutions on a silver platter, to the point of letting them just full-on take back spells because the target turned out to not be there, which is pretty far beyond the quibble about the climactic move in Calamity's final boss fight.

It's not that I think D20 is 'rigged' exactly, because it's not really a game, or at least it's not really Dungeons & Dragons. This was a revelation I had when I watched Critical Role other than Calamity for the first time and was amazed by how they'd stand around after a battle looting bodies for random magic items. D20 isn't a sandbox TTRPG, it's a very on-rails shooting gallery with roughly as much choice in the narrative as a modern RPG video game, and it has to all wrap within a certain amount of sessions. That's fine, but occasionally it can feel deceptive when we pretend there's much chance of things going radically wrong. One of the reasons I liked the first half of Crown of Candy and all of The Ravening War so much is because they're the only times where failure has really, truly been on the table in an Intrepid Heroes season, but I still liked most of the other Intrepid Hero seasons nonetheless.

This season, I just, I dunno man. I don't believe Ice Feast just accidentally wah wah wah had the effect of completely neutralizing the primary threat of the final boss fight. And Blimeygate, like, I thought it was mostly a fun moment, but it also felt like the most exaggerated-for-marketing-purposes the "got'em!" bits have ever been.

But despite all that, I am still currently capable of enjoying the next season. I'm hoping next week does not make things dramatically worse.

[armenianwriterman]

If you were not previously aware, there is a My Hero Academia musical theater adaptation called the Ultra Stage. I've been watching videos of it and it is so good! I am obsessed with it and you should look it up yourself. As of right now there are four stage plays that cover the show's events up to the end of Deku vs Kacchan Part 2. Some highlights include:

A very talented cast of actors who really embody the characters and perfectly sell the songs and choreography. The big highlights for me are Ryota Kobayashi as Bakugo, Yume Takeuchi as Ochako, Raita as Shigaraki, and Yuki Okamoto as Present Mic.

Great costumes dedicated to faithfully recreating the looks from the show (seriously, Present Mic and Shigaraki looked like they stepped out of the screen and materialized into live action)

Some really dang good songs! My personal highlights for me are "All Might" (All Might's pretty catchy theme music that gets multiple reprisals), "All Might: Izuku and Shigaraki Version" (A specific reprisal I want to highlight that's an incredible duet that takes place during the mall scene), "Evil is Spreading" (A villain song by Dabi, Toga and Twice), and finally "I Want To Be a Hero" (the main theme that plays at every stage play).

Gran Torino has an entire song where he sings about frozen taiyaki using his cane as a guitar while All Might, Endeavor, Aizawa, Present Mic and Best Jeanist put on white suit jackets and serve as his back up singers. The whole thing is bonkers enough to deserve its own separate mention.

They use a ton of practical effects to recreate the Quirks in live action, such as ribbons for Tsuyu's tongue and Sero's tape, mini sparklers for Bakugo's explosions and Kaminari's electricity, and they even managed to recreate Shigaraki' disintegration power and I still don't fully understand how they did it.

The stage play is very funny. There's always someone in the ensemble doing something silly in the background, every single person hams it up like no tomorrow (except Aizawa naturally), and they have a ton of fun with the stage play medium.

The transformation between big and small All Might is to have one run on stage, stand in front of the other while matching his pose, and then take over while the first All Might runs off stage. It's super endearing.

Nezu in this play is a puppet they make the teachers carry around and interact with, and seeing it fills my heart with joy every single time.

During act breaks, they have Aizawa, Present Mic and Aoyama come on stage to entertain the audience with improv skits they do in character. They are ridiculous even compared to everything else that happens, and they need to be seen to be believed.

The fight scenes are very well choreographed and feel like actual combat.

Even in spite of all the goofy elements, they actually do take the story seriously and there are some really tense moments, most of which are Shigaraki's scenes.

There's a very funny detail at the end of the first play where every single actor comes on stage and does the "Go Beyond, Plus Ultra!", except Shigaraki, who just looks at them in annoyance

I know I mention Shigaraki specifically a lot in this list but the dude who plays him goes so hard in the role that I have to give him extra credit.

To portray Hagakure, they use a projector to create an invisible person wearing clothes and have Nazuka Kaori, her actual Japanese VA from the show, pre record a bunch of lines and play them on stage.

This one isn't really a "highlight" per say but they somehow made Midnight's outfit even hornier then canon and that's genuinely impressive tbh.

There's a scene of Tsuyu dancing around in tap shoes and it's so perfectly adorable.

The subtle character development of Todoroki slowly getting involved with the dancing and shenanigans as the plays go on are fantastic.

They don't always have all the kids in every play so instead they have items to represent the ones who aren't around, ie in the first three plays they have a smile pile of sugar cubes glued together and everyone calls it Sato while Kirishima carries it around everywhere.

There's one act break skit in particular that kills me where Aoyama and Twice try to fight for the audience's attention.

Kota punching Deku in the nuts is somehow just as funny in live action despite him obviously not actually punching him.

They made the doctor healing Izuku after the Muscular fight so funny for literally no reason and I'm so glad they did.

In this recording I watched, Aizawa got an actual leg cramp mid improv skit and his and Mic's struggle to stay in character was honestly gold.

They manage to make All for One, his big fight with All Might, and the United States of Smash just as badass as they were in the anime.

Koda's pet bunny in this version is portrayed as Bakugo in a bunny suit. That's a highlight in and of itself.

Bakugo throughout the Deku vs Kacchan Part 2 fight and the end of the final show of the fourth stage play looks like he's constantly on the verge of tears and it works so well.

In conclusion, this is so amazing, more people need to see it and I hope that they get to continue and adapt the rest of the series.

[missmaywemeetagain]

I’m not big into musicals and although The Phantom of the Opera is probably the most well known one, I have never fully indulged myself in it. What are some of your favorites moments from the musical and what about it changed your life?

(I figured I might as well learn about it and you seem like an amazing teacher!)

Oh, Stephanie, honey darlin’, I just LOVE this can of worms you are opening for me—thank you so much for asking!! ❤️ (Did I spend way to much time on this? yes. Did I love every minute of it? also yes. Did I cry watching the Overture clips? 100% yes.)

So, I was pretty young when I first listened to the soundtrack (only 8), and digging way deep, I’ll say that the drama of the music itself really got to me—the big orchestrations and amazing voices had me instantly hooked. Also, I was so fascinated that almost the entire musical was sung and that made it incredibly interesting to listen to because I could pretty much figure out the whole story just from the lyrics. I had been exposed to musicals prior to this, mainly Disney ones and good ole Rogers and Hammerstein ones, but this was so different. It was dark and scary (murder! crazy genius madman! problematic love story!). It was dramatic af. And it pulled at my heartstrings in a way nothing had ever done before. And I know Phantom isn’t for everyone because the opera-esque style of singing is not everyone’s cup of tea (and honestly, I am not really a classical opera fan either LOL), but I loved it cuz I’d never heard people do such amazing things with their voices before.

I saw it live for the first time just after my 11th birthday (and 12 -13 times since in various places, not counting filmed productions), and I will say I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. There is so much to look at and take in and somehow I always find something new each time I see it. It's a complete spectacle in the best way possible, honestly. It was everything amazing about theater that I longed to be a part of.

It changed my life because I wanted to be Christine Daae (lol). The more I listened, the more I wanted to sing like her and that led me to the fact that this was a musical and people could actually be in this production. So I learned as much as I could about the production and I tried to mold my little voice to be like Christine’s. And moreover, it inspired me to seek out more musicals in a similar vein, which opened an entire new world to me (hey, there Les Miserables and Evita and all the dramatic 70s/80s/90s musicals lol). Basically, Phantom turned me fully into a theater kid. I was already a dancer, and even though I was relatively shy, I thought that maybe, just maybe this was something I could do. And it set me on the path to do so! Lord knows without Phantom I may have ended up a STEM kid, but lol no. Luckily, my parents were SUPER supportive of this new passion and I owe so much to them for all the lessons and theater tickets and performances they had to sit through and for torturing them with the same thing over and over again LOL. Thanks, Mom and Dad! Anyway, I was the ultimate theater/choir kid in high school, and eventually got my Bachelor’s Degree in Theater as well.

Soooo, favorite moments! (There are many—I could go through the whole show but I’ll try to cut it down lol). 

The Overture (see links below). Seriously incredible music, sets the tone for the show, but when you see the stage production and see how the entire set transforms like magic and that chandelier rises above the audience, my god, it’s incredible. The organ kicks in and the floor vibrates and it's this (brilliant) sensory overload that will make you feel every emotion and sensation. It's magnificent, truly. And this was a HUGE deal in theater in the 80s cuz no one had done anything like it before. And let me tell you, there is nothing like watching that chandelier rise (and fall, later) right over your head! Every time I hear it to this day, I get goosebumps, but if I’m watching it, I will cry. That’s how moving it is. Here's some bootlegs of the stage production (which don't quite do it justice, but it'll have to do! WARNING: Flashing lights) Great quality BL (begins around 3:20 but the Prologue is a good watch!). Another one from Broadway (different angle)

The title song (The Phantom of the Opera) number is crazy. I’m not sure what they were thinking putting synth, an organ, strings, and electric guitars together, but somehow it works (the 80s were WILD lol). Throw in a stunning soprano cadenza at the end and it makes it both incredibly surreal and interesting. And the staging is fantastic. There’s a moving catwalk with body doubles. There’s a boat on a dry ice lake with candles rising out of nowhere. It’s just awesome. The costuming is iconic, too. 

The Music of the Night is beautiful. And it takes a major vocal and acting talent to traverse it well. I won’t get too technical vocally, but when done well, this song is so seductive and impactful. It’s a love song about music, about Christine, and it’s innocent and sexual all at once (when done well).

Masquerade (at the top of Act II) is a fabulous ensemble number and the costuming is amazing. Iconic number overall.

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again is my favorite song of the show (if I have to pick). For anyone who’s experienced loss (esp. that of a parent), the lyrics will hit you right in the heart. But I love listening to (and singing) this one so much. 

The Point of No Return is the most underrated number in the show, imo and one of my faves. It is sexy. as. hell. and a bit unexpected, really ramping up the passion btw the Phantom and Christine under the guise of this opera that the Phantom has written and is forcing everyone to perform. A good performance has a lot of nuance and will get you a little hot under the collar. 😏 I honestly don’t feel like I can explain it well enough, but a good watch/listen/reading the lyrics will get you there. 

The Final Lair is the insane climax and it’s a bit of a roller coaster but I love it. You’ll go from hating the Phantom to weeping over him in the span of the scene. 

The staging, sets, costuming, and makeup overall (of the original production). Like I mentioned above, a lot of what they did in Phantom was new tech for the late 80’s and to this day has a pretty stellar effect on stage. The chandelier rising and falling throughout the show is just super cool. The (4 hour) makeup for the Phantom was pretty cutting edge back in the day and has a wonderful effect on stage when done well. 

I highly recommend watching the 25th Anniversary at Royal Albert Hall from 2013 if you can’t see it live. The quality is amazing, the talent is fantastic, and while the staging isn’t quite the original because of the size of the venue, it gives you a pretty good idea of the vibe. If you don’t want to watch the whole thing at first, there are plenty of clips on YouTube of the major numbers via The Shows Must Go On (linked above). (If you are just watching clips, you may want to read a synopsis of the show as a whole so it makes sense what’s going on.) The 2004 film starring Gerald Butler and Emmy Rossum is actually pretty decent from a cinematic perspective (though I have some major qualms about GB's vocal performance) but if it's all you have, its a pretty good representation of the story. And listen, with 35 years of material, there are so many cast recordings and bootlegs, you're bound to find a combo of actors that you like! (I won't dive into that here though, cuz that's a whole other can of worms...)

Anyway, I could go on forever about it, but I will stop there as to not put you to sleep! If you choose to check it out, I hope you enjoy and you’ll have to let me know what you think! ❤️