#in my feels

[socialbutterfly19]

For some reason the song 🎶 I would do anything for love by meatloaf keeps playing in my head

[futuristic-koala]

[gothamundernightlight]

I know we as a fandom don’t talk enough about the Batkids acknowledging how old Bruce is getting, but something I think we talk about EVEN LESS is the Batkids acknowledging Dick getting older.

Like Dick is pushing 30 in canon at this point, and realistically cannot do the same things he was doing as a kid. There is a reason a lot of athletes retire young, and Dick’s life has been brutal on his body, so eventually it’ll catch up with him.

Imagine if you will some random new JL/Titans recruit meeting Nightwing and asking “Is it true you can do a quadruple somersault?”

And Dick has to wince and say “I used to, but not anymore.”

Imagine the Batkids hearing that? Imagine everyone who saw him grow up hearing Dick acknowledge he is getting older and can’t do the same things he did in his youth. Imagine how they feel about their own age. Imagine the grief Dick must feel at knowing he’s losing the gifts his parents bestowed upon him, and the fact he’s out-aged them both.

Imagine Bruce painfully acknowledge (in his head because it’s illegal for him to emote aloud) that not only is he getting older, but his first child, his SON, is now the same age he was when Bruce took Dick in.

Imagine Dick picking the smaller option out on ice cream trips because his body can’t handle sugar the way it used to, or eating less in general because his metabolism has slowed down.

Imagine the Batkids sparring and Dick has to tap out because he can’t keep up with them all for as long anymore. Like he can’t keep still do a lot, and handle himself in a fight, but he is not showing off with flips the same way he used to.

Imagine the day one of the Batkids spots gray hair on Dick’s head, or realize that the lines on his face are just a little deeper than they used to be?

Babs keeps calling him the Boy Wonder as a private joke, but the boyish charm that Dick once had has since faded. He’s a grown man, and while at heart he still is the kid that brought light back to Gotham, his outside reflects the life they’ve lived and shared together, which didn’t just pass by in the blink of an eye.

And Jason pretends he doesn’t care, but realizes that Dick isn’t the same 16-year old kid that Bruce put on a pedestal. That he, out of all their siblings, saw Dick the most when he was in his prime, and that his older brother is just a little more fragile than he used to be.

And Tim thinks back to the days of him stalking Batman and Robin before, pulling out those old photos and realizing just how much Dick has aged. When did that happen, he wonders, and how much more will Dick change as he gets older?

Cass, Steph, and Duke acknowledge that Dick Grayson grew up, and left behind a legacy for them to fill, but they’ll always wonder what he was like when he was younger, and wonder how much longer he’ll be around. Bruce has been doing this vigilante schtick for 20+ years, but will Dick still be doing this when he’s Bruce’s age?

Damian takes it the hardest. He can’t look at Dick without thinking of him as the same Grayson who was his Batman, but the truth is, he’s not the same. His old portraits of Dick bear witness to that, with each one just a little different because time is not frozen to Dick the way it is with Ra’s and Talia. Damian privately grieves everyone he comes to care about in advance because death has surrounded him his whole life and eventually despite Dick’s promises that he’ll always be there for Damian, a day is coming when that promise will be broken.

But yeah. Older Dick Grayson. I have thoughts on this.

(Anyways don’t mind me. Just coming to terms with being the same age canonically as my childhood hero.)

[thoughtsofapessimistttt]

If I’m too much, go find less tf

[tearsformygrave]

“i love your personality” thanks it’s a disorder

[dr-demi-bee]

Gale's act 1 romance is just so good. The more I think about Gale the more I like it. It shows off so many parts of his character - how integral magic is to him, his love of teaching, his smugness, his appreciation for your friendship... But also his vulnerability. Before you picture something more - he looks pleased. Happy to share a moment with you as friends. (During the party he even expresses hoping that he can consider you a true friend. A self-professed rarity for him.)

At the same time he's making this face though, he moves closer to you. Whether he would acknowledge it or not, Gale clearly does seek out that intimacy.

His earnest surprise after pulls at my heart strings. He genuinely wanted to find a safe way to connect. He had no expectations of you returning his feelings (hence, embarrassment - at being perceived, or at not considering your feelings, perhaps.).

Followed by a resigned shoulder slump and a face of desperate yearning... 🥺 It's almost the same pouty face he gives you when he confesses he loves you.

Then, genuine thrill - elation - at the very idea of it! Gale has a firm grip on what he shares with us here - he's still an archmage level wizard (even nerfed), and that's a skill he would have. (It's probably why we don't ever accidentally connect tadpoles with Gale). He chooses after his initial surprise to share a feeling of not just joy but a joy with pride and optimism. He turns *towards* you - communicating not just elation but desire in his expression.

But he immediately follows this with an 'oh shit, stop thinking about it' look and a long shake of the head to clear the thought(s) away 😭 (Because trepidation here isn't about kissing you - it's about the orb.)

But he's quick to reassure you - not just because he knows you wouldn't be able to hide your thoughts from him (not an option - even picturing nothing carries a feeling with it) . "But it is a pleasant image, to be sure." And then he hits you with a confirmation of his desire and approval. "Most pleasant, in fact. Most welcome."

He hadn't considered it a possibility, but gods be damned, you've given him the first burst of hope and confidence he's had in a while. The first time in months he's felt wanted. His posture straightens with the confidence boost. He turns fully to you and clearly wants to bask in the moment - to connect with you.

But then the Weave evaporates. Whatever the reason may be, Gale didn't do it. He didn't expect it. Clearly. He posture collapses and he whimpers like it physically hurt.

The narration makes it clear how jarring the connection ending feels to us (cold and lonesome) - how must it feel for poor Gale? He hasn't had such a strong connection with someone in ages. Who knows how long since it was with another mortal (if ever)? We know from later stages of his romance and from communication with Gale that physical touch is an integral part of his expression of love and connection. And with the orb he can't have it. The loss of intimacy and connection here hurts.

"How easily things slip away from us." How easily they are lost. Anyway go hug your wizard.

[gmwpluvr]

harry who calls his time with ginny as the happiest he's ever been

harry who watched ginny run with the train during his first year until his vision could no longer see her

harry who at twelve said ginny blushed like the setting sun

harry who was the first to notice how sickly ginny's been looking in her first year

harry who who got angry and irritated with percy for shooing ginny away when she was about to tell them something important

harry who said ginny being taken down in the chamber was the worst day of his life

harry who always looks for ginny's eyes when something funny happens because he knows she'll get it

harry who got himself injured because he was staring at ginny fly so he got distracted

harry who said that his resolve will always break easily if he was near ginny

harry who thought of ginny before he died

harry who chose to come back to life because he wanted a life with ginny

[blossoms-phan]

thinking about what it means to be chained together, work, life and social, to quite literally be beside each other in life and… still make the confirmation that phil is indeed the funniest person he knows sound like the most earnest and sincere thing in the entire world? to spend so many of your days and years together now, with evidence of all those smiles and laughter written all over your face. something about the simplicity of these questions, timeless ones but untainted by social media or meme speak, leaning fully into the girly sleepover night energy but also just… answering so honestly, in a way that’s funny and charming and completely them but walls down. thinking about them trying to make dil and tabitha best friends and being disappointed when that reduced their romance level. thinking about “i think 14-year-old dan and phil would have been friends”, about more than just romantic, about i didn’t have a best friend for the first 18 years of my life, real best friends. their friendship is so important real lovers are friends first etc etc

[socialbutterfly19]

Whatever

[kiitshifts]

not to be a whore but the biggest thing i'm shifting for is not having to think about anything and cuddling up to nap with my s/o and just feel perfectly at peace.

[mercysha]

I love the irony of Neil being called rabbit, like a prey animal. Neil's scars, from what we are told, are all majorly on his front. That is a sign of Neil facing whoever is trying to hurt him. Nora doesn't mention scars on his back. I have only seen one fic address this.

I know he says he isn't good at finishing fights, but is that Neil's unreliable narration, penchant for flight, or what?

I fully feel like we see him not fighting back against Lola and Co due to the danger to the Foxes, and then he was quickly cuffed. After that he was terribly injured in front of his worst nightmare. He froze.

Neil Josten is fight. He had flee and freeze beaten into him.

[taintedmind6669]

[eghostsofdeadchildren]

In my heals feels fr.

[futuristic-koala]

[whatev-i-guess]

Soap: What if we grow old together?

Ghost: I don't think we will live this long, Johnny.

Soap chuckling: Come on, don't be a downer. We can still dream, right?

Ghost staring at Johnny's urn: There is nothing left to dream about... All I have are nightmares.