#is this just a my family thing or is this common

[nightwingsgypsyrep]

Ok so might accidentally end up doxxing myself with this one but here we go…

The Himboification of Dick Grayson, and Why It Sucks From A Gypsy Perspective

Warning: this is a long one! Also tw for brief mentions of Dick’s canonical SA/rapes, and discussions of purity cultures.

And disclaimer: none of this is intended to slut-shame anyone, so hopefully it doesn’t come across like that. I’m just hoping to explain the weird sexualisation of gypsies in the media, vs our more conservative attitude to sex. This also isn’t meant to shame anyone or tell you how you must imagine Dick Grayson - if you like dark skinned, more-fem Dick, then you keep on enjoying that! This is just what I’ve noticed as someone who is a gypsy, and some patterns I’ve seen in how Dick is portrayed and received.

So, I have a lot of problems with the depiction/perception of Dick Grayson, and particularly the hyper-sexualisation we see. I am not alone in this, and I know it’s something which has been discussed a fair bit in the past.

Honestly, I don’t even know where a lot of this came from? It’s only really in the past decade or so that we start to see it emerge properly in canon; prior to this, whilst it was agreed that Dick is good looking, he was kind of able to get around as a normal guy, and was praised a lot more for his capabilities and athleticism than for his looks. But with the New 52, there seemed to be this shift where Dick is really reduced to his looks. The Grayson/Spyral comics are particularly guilty of this: so many times we see Dick called an idiot (even if somewhat affectionally), sexualised (even by teen-aged girls when he is in his twenties), and reduce himself to his looks (Dick himself even says something along the lines of ‘It’s a good thing I’m pretty’). You can argue that the whole point of Spyral is that Dick was undercover, but it’s something we still see today (I’m thinking the 2025 Valentine’s Day Damian storyline). We can dismiss this as being ‘out of character’, but with how it’s been a gradually accepted part of DC canon over the last decade especially, I don’t know how long we can reasonably make that excuse.

The gypsy perspective isn’t necessarily the main reason I hate this, it’s just one which I feel capable of offering. (if you’re new here, hi, I’m a traveller/gypsy/showman/whatever you want to call me from a fairground and circus family in the UK. I’ve always stuck to fairgrounds myself but a lot of my family were/are still with the circus so I’m not an idiot and it’s all closely related anyway. I also grew up speaking Romani so there’s that.)

Other reasons I hate it include: the double standards of objectifying Dick being treated as almost acceptable because Dick is a man; Dick as an SA/rape survivor; and the fact that it’s bloody stupid because Dick is a highly competent vigilante and detective - a partner of Batman, then Batman himself, who even on his sick days is solving cold cases for fun. He is a genius ffs.

But anyway, onto the potentially doxxing gypsy perspective.

I know that Dick’s ‘gypsy rep’ has been a bit touch and go over the years. Grayson’s run is quite infamous for her handling of this (the whole internalised racism she gave him during his Tevis mob era, and Bruce’s stereotyping in Gotham Knights still makes me feel icky), and it’s only recently that it’s really been discussed again, mostly being ignored by writers in between. However, I’ve also mentioned before that to me, the writer with the most accurate representation is ironically Morrison (because he wasn’t trying). The thing is, even if writers have kind of circumnavigated the whole ‘gypsy’ thing (a term I use because it’s common in the UK, and is one Dick uses himself, alongside ‘carney’ which is the American English version of the British ‘showman’, a subtype of “gypsy”), it’s been canon since Day One that Dick is from the circus. And due to how circuses work, especially with the hereditary nature and how it was more common for the gypsy family who ran the circus to perform in the 40s when Dick was introduced, even if it wasn’t explicitly stated, Dick Grayson has kind of canonically (or at the very least, subtextually) been a gypsy since his introduction.

So now that bit of house keeping is out of the way, why does the himboification of Dick Grayson really annoy me, as a gypsy/showman/carney myself?

So, the first issue I have is really the exoticism. There’s been a large push especially from fan-artists (though it has been very subtlety reflected in canon) to have Dick portrayed with darker skin, to more “accurately” portray him as Romani (spoiler: this is not accurate). There is a fantastic post which explains this further, but it’s actually kind of colourist to say that Dick Grayson is whitewashed. I’m a full gypsy, not a diddakoi or anything, and I’m pasty as fuck. Sure, my dad was often mistaken as South Asian in his youth, as his family are all very olive-skinned and tan dark in the summer, but my mum is white as a sheet (much to her own father’s annoyance) and I take after her. This is the case for a lot of us, especially in the North of Europe. And yet, I am still ethnically a gypsy. Dick does not lose his ‘gypsy card’ for being white. And the fact that many of the fandom view it as necessary for Dick to have a darker complexion to fit this perception of what a Romani person looks like (especially since this perception largely comes from gorjas who’ve never knowingly met a gypsy before in their lives) is not only inaccurate, but kind of problematic. I don’t mind seeing a darker Dick Grayson, but it’s how people act like he has to be dark skinned to be Romani which is frankly just incorrect.

This is doubly problematic when people use his being Romani to exoticise and sexualise Dick. Like with Esmerelda in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I’ve often seen the fandom (and even canon, to some degree) use Dick’s heritage to make him seem other, and almost remove some barriers for proper conduct (i.e. be overly affectionate, etc). We see this kind of sexualisation with a lot of non-white characters, like Talia for example, and I think that the push for a visibly non-white, exotic Dick Grayson does fall in line with the same kind of racist hyper-sexualisation we see there. Alternatively, maybe this idea of a ‘sexy gypsy from the circus’ has its roots somewhat in real life, but actually results from major misunderstandings: until the sixties, it was common for circuses to have peep shows, with girls outside advertising it in their underwear; the misunderstanding comes in that these girls were not gypsies themselves (see my next point) but hired gorja staff who worked for or alongside us. It’s not unreasonable, then, that a child visiting the circus (and thus shaping their idea of what a circus is) up until the 60s might misinterpret this as being related to gypsies ourselves (songs like Cher’s Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves, also add to this misconception that we’re the ones in the peep shows when we are not, even if that song is a bop) - if that child then worked for DC or was in the fandom, as writers/artists/fan-fic authors/fanartists in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, from the 80s to the 2000s, they might have mistakenly thought this was part of our culture, and not a business running parallel to ours (I hope this makes sense?). This is just a theory, but one of the only places I can think of this stereotype coming from, besides just plain racism?

Anyway, this hyper-sexualisation is ironic because a big part of our culture is actually that it is a purity culture, with equal expectations on both sexes to maintain modesty and virginity prior to marriage (of course, it’s a bit more relaxed nowadays but the expectation is still there, even if you’re in your 30s and unmarried!). This is drilled into us from a very young age, so even if Dick was removed from his culture by the age of eight, in a real life situation, he would likely already be well versed in this aspect of our culture. As I mentioned earlier, even before Dick was explicitly stated to be a gypsy, I think it’s definitely possible to read a gypsy upbringing into his character, even if unintentional, as written pre-Grayson - there’s one discussion Dick has about his anxieties about moving in with Kory whilst unmarried (I forget which comic this is from), and I cannot help but feel this resonate with me as a gypsy.

Then there’s the element of dress. TV shows like ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ have done a lot to convince people that we all dress immodestly, but first of all: MBFGW focuses on another subtype of gypsy, Irish travellers - not showmen/circus like Dick is portrayed to be; and secondly - it’s such a small percentage of the population who do dress like that, that it cannot be taken as truth. I’ve a fair few cousins who are half-Irish traveller, and none of them dress like that. You’re far more likely to find a gypsy man wearing a shirt, a jumper, a pair of jeans, and boots than any of the gelled hair and vest top combos you see on there.

It’s a big thing that Dick has some questionable fashion choices (which are often featured as justification for his supposed ‘himbo-ness’), and this is definitely true in canon (Discowing, that one polka dot shirt, the mullet era… oh Dick, you disaster), but I’ve seen a lot of people correlate that directly with his growing up in a circus. As someone from that background, let me tell you that is just a Dick thing. It has nothing to do with being from the circus, we all dress rather normally - I’m sat writing this in a blue T-shirt, a pair of navy jeans, and a pair of boots - aka the kind of thing Dick wears more often than not in later not-the-80s canon! The thing is, this kind of presumption is something I’ve experienced myself in real life. I was doing some charity work, and there was a press element - when the journalist found out I was a gypsy from a circus family, and that I had horses, I was told to come to the photoshoot in my ‘little pink sparkly dress or whatever it is I ride in.’ I ride in jeans and a T-shirt btw. They just presumed because my family owned circuses, I must do vaulting and perform and I don’t - I worked in the kiosk or on the rides. The point is, people make a lot of presumptions about us just because we’re from the circus, and it’s not accurate.

Then there’s also the fanon effeminising of Dick: often giving him softer, feminine features, make-up, etc, to make him ‘pretty’. Like with the skin-colour issue, draw Dick however you like. You do you. But don’t use his being a gypsy to justify that. Tbh, the vast majority of gypsy men I know are extremely masculine: physically, the cis-men of our community tend to be quite tall, stocky, with calloused hands and broad shoulders, by virtue of the fact that we have to build up everywhere we work, and that’s a lot of physical labour. In Europe, there’s a big drinking culture, and playing football, etc. Men also tend to dress quite masc and practically for blue-collar work. And whilst I am sure that there are some more gender-fluid gypsies out there (I have quite a few gypsy friends who are openly queer, or trans), I have seen so many posts on Tumblr with Dick presented as being quite soft and feminine looking, with make-up etc, and when people in the notes ask why he’s drawn like that, the artist replies ‘He’s Rom!’ and I just want to facepalm. You can be a gypsy and masc-presenting. You can be a gypsy and fem-presenting. However, being a gypsy ≠ being feminine, and I’m really sick of seeing it. As someone who studies ancient Persia (like, I have a degree in it and am writing an academic book), the similarities are so obvious with how the Greeks portrayed the Achaemenids as effeminate, and like with the Achaemenids, it’s just not accurate. Again, if that’s how you headcanon Dick, then that’s great, but let’s not pretend that Dick being a gypsy has anything to do with it.

So I’ve now discussed the sexualisation aspect of Dick’s character a bit (I’ve probably left something out but oh well), and now I’ll speak a bit about the ‘dumb’ part. This is a far more recent thing, I think, and I suspect it might be because: a) people have weirdly tagged Tim as the Smart!Robin (they’re all geniuses) and thought this somehow means the rest must be dumb?, b) because of how sexualised Dick is, they’ve gone full himbo (see: Dick in the Grayson comics saying ‘at least [he’s] pretty’). However, from a gypsy point of view, this really annoys me as well.

When travelling with the fairground/circus, it is difficult to get a stable education. We tend to go to school in the winter months, but in the warmer months, we are more homeschooled (maybe using education packs from our normal school), or at larger fairs/events, a special teacher may be present. It used to be common that if we were at a ground for two weeks or more, we’d be enrolled temporarily in a local school for that time, but this isn’t really realistic today. However, it is also true that traditionally, our schooling was quite halted. Whilst less common, it’s still fairly normal for us to leave school early - for example, I left school entirely aged 13 to work full time on the fairgrounds (yes this goes against child labour laws but nobody actually cares). As a result of this, a lot of us have very limited education (illiteracy is not unheard of in the older generations), so it’s not uncommon for people to mistake this for us being stupid. But the thing is, this isn’t true. My dad left school aged 11, and eventually got a gorja job in his late 30s - he is now the top in the country at his job. I left school when I was 13, but decided I wanted to go to university, so I sat my GCSEs without studying, got into college, and whilst also working a full time job, got my A Levels and got into what is ranked the number one university in the world. When I got in, people really could not believe that someone of my background could do it, so it was on national news and television. It’s not that other travellers/gypsies are incapable - for the most part, we just don’t see the point as we’ve got a job and a culture wrapped up in one which we want to keep alive and successful. The point is, it’s so common for us to be underestimated, and part of what I loved about Dick’s character is that he is unapologetically clever. But over the last decade especially, Dick is once again being reduced to just a pretty face. Now, growing up, it was a cultural expectation to take care of your looks, and whilst I think I always looked ok (washed hair every day, showered, ironed matching clothes), it was not my primary interest in the same way that it was for a lot of my peers. So having a character who was from the same background as me and allowed to be intelligent and respected for it in a way I sometimes wasn’t was really special. So to see that intellect being taken away from Dick, somewhat, does strike me. If Dick is reduced to just being pretty and flirty, that’s as stereotypical as it comes in my community, and I love it when he can be more. I’m not saying that Dick has to be super serious all the time (that’s what makes Dick’s character so great, even if he is a bit more serious in canon than in fanon, though to be fair that’s probably because canon is a lot harder on him than fanon), but he can be hot and flirty without being dumb and overly objectified.

I hope this makes sense and I also hope that none of my relatives or uni friends see this and immediately work out it’s me - there’s a reason I started a whole side blog to separate my silly little nerdy interests from anything my friends might see - but Himbo Dick Grayson is something which I can’t get behind. Let him be smart. Let him be hot but not overly exoticised.

[theameba1436]

Get to Know Wesley Price.

──〔❨✧✧❩〕───〔❨✧✧❩〕───〔❨✧✧❩〕──

CWS: self hate, self harm, depression, mental problems, talks like someone is bipolar, scars, torture, I'm so sorry if I forgot any. Please he safe and have fun reading about Wesley my little oc.

What parts of their childhood trigger them? There is a lot about Wesley's past that is triggering to the poor guy. However there is one moment that will always make his fight or flight since kick in. This being the moment he was burned by his sister. This is how he got the burn scars on his right shoulder and left elbow. One would think it was due to his sister torching him and the pain he went through. This is not the case. There is a much darker reason.

How do they treat themselves when they're feeling sad? Wesley has a bad habit with self harm in many ways. This can rang from inner mental abuse to himself to physical abuse to his being. These thoughts rise up the strongest when he is sad and mad. The two emotions he can not deal with the most.

What parts of themselves do they tend to hide? Wesley will hide a good few things about himself. Starting with the fact that is has feelings of any kind. Not wanting people to know that he has a weakness. Because of course emotions lead to weakness. Second would be that he is a weak man when it comes to making decisions on his own. Due to the way he was raised. Third is the fact he is a snake mutant. Since his mother and father raised him to hide it in the first place. going so fair as to have him take weird meds and shots to try and suppress his mutant powers. This forced his body to stay more human then it supposed to be.

How do they punish themselves when they make mistakes? This is the same as three. However the most common thing Wesley will do is either bite his inner cheek until it bleeds or hit his hand or on a wall over and over again until he is bleeding.

Who are they loyal to? Why? Wesley is loyal to the league of villain. Most of all Dabi Aka (Touya Todoroki) It started out as him just being his partner and Wesley has a code to protect his partner since the training he has when he was younger told him so - However over time him and Dabi became lovers. This leads to them falling in love. If you could call it that.

Who do they avoid? Why? Almost everyone - this is even the league at times. Not because he do not like them. It is due to who he is as a person. Plus a mix of his natural instincts as a snake. That makes him feel more at home when he is left alone.

What emotions or situations do they try to avoid? Why? As fair as emotions - these would be almost any since he dose not know what he is feel half the time. Wesley will try and get out of any situation on where he has to make a hard decision that he dose not have the answer to. Most are dealing with Dabi and how their relationship is.

What angers them? This is a number of things. So - we will shorten the list and do the top five things. A. People who hurt children. (He maybe a villain but that dose not mean he dose not have a moral code.) B. People who pry into his business. (This is towards people he dose not know. He is not into gossip. But - he will use black mail if he needs to. He is a villain after all.) C. Vanity (There is no point in someone loving themselves so much and it makes his skin crawl.) D. People not respecting his personal space. (He has a bubble and so dose everyone else. It is respect to not touch people without asking. You can be a villain and still have manners.) E. Time it's self. (Time id a funny thing and Wesley hates it. Time never dose what he wants.)

What are their insecurities? Wesley hates his scars and the fact that he is a mutant. He also hates the fact that his mind is the way it is as well.

What are their emotional triggers? This is a hard thing to tell for him. Since his emotions can bubble up at anything. However the thing that seems to do the most damage to him is when he sees happy families.

How do they feel about love? Love was always something to Wesley that he thought he never would have. So - therefor he calked it up to a chemical within the pain that mixed with hormones. Making one go crazy - like they took a sort of drug. But when he meet Dabi and started to have feelings for him. He had realized that love was much more then that. It was life being born again with a new purpose.

What are their fears? There are a few so we will do the top one for now. He also fears losing control over who he is as a person. Since his quick was suppressed he has no clue what it will do if he lets go. Plus there is the fact that he blacks out due to anger.

What is their relationship with their family like? He dose not have a good relationship with his family since he has done what he did to make them hate him. The only one he has a connection with is his older sister. But - to be honest she was more like a mother to him.

What kind of people do they tend to gravitate towards? People who understand what he has been through. Or people that think closely to how he dose. However- he can work with almost anyone since he is good at hiding how he feeling towards people and has a good talent of blinding in.

What do they like/dislike about themselves? His teeth, His eyes, the scars on his body, the fact his skin is so pale and smooth, the fact that when he sweats he ends up sticky, the fact that he shorter then most other males. His natural hair color and the fact he looks like his mother mixed with his father.

This was very fun to write up. I hope everyone enjoyed reading more on my baby boy Wesley. I hope to write up more about him very very soon.

Get to Know Your Character

Here are some questions to consider for character development:

What parts of their childhood trigger them?

How do they treat themselves when they're feeling sad?

What parts of themselves do they tend to hide?

How do they punish themselves when they make mistakes?

Who are they loyal to? Why?

Who do they avoid? Why?

What emotions or situations do they try to avoid? Why?

What angers them?

What are their insecurities?

What are their emotional triggers?

How do they feel about love?

What are their fears?

What is their relationship with their family like?

What kind of people do they tend to gravitate towards?

What do they like/dislike about themselves?

Happy writing ❤

Previous | Next

[snail-day]

TW: Yandere Hybrids, Somnophilia, Dubcon, Oral fixation, Overstimulation, Gagging, Crying during sex, Power dynamics, Humiliation, Knotting mentions, Manipulation WC: Under 1k

A/n: have I yapped about this? Probably. Mmmm well here's more yapping about Satoru's suckling problem.

Imagine bringing home a puppy hybrid. They're sweet, loud, impossibly affectionate. They make great additions to the family! Now you got a real pretty kind with snowy white ears that twitch when he’s happy, a big fluffy white tail that wags wildly whenever you walk through the door before his arms snake around your waist, and the brightest blue eyes you’ve ever seen.

Satoru. Sure he's sweet. Clingy. Always wants to be touching you, whether it’s his head in your lap, tail thumping against you, or palms nudging under your shirt just to feel skin.

You got a great deal! You weren't even sure why the agency was offering him so cheap! They did warn you about a little problem, sourced from anxiety. Suckling. Though they assured you its common with puppy hybrids.

It starts small. Barely even noticeable. Just the blankets at first. Then your socks. Then your clean laundry, pulled warm from the dryer only to find damp chew spots on the crotch of your panties. You figure it’s probably the anxiety. Poor thing’s home all day, curled up alone, waiting for his human to come back. He probably misses your scent. Probably needs comfort.

But comfort becomes a little more complicated when you wake in the middle of the night to wet heat lapping at your chest. When you find him latched onto your soft nipple like a pacifier, soft pitchy whines in the back of his throat as his hips rock gently against your leg, grinding himself through his boxers, a wet spot forming in the front.

You try to be good. Attempting to gently peel him off. Drowsily hushing his protests. But your body betrays you. Slurps echo embarrassingly loud when the flat of his tongue flicks over the sensitive bud. You’re sure you came in your sleep. More than once based on the slick between your thighs. Thankful he hasn't discovered that region, giving you time to correct his behavior before it gets worse. Your poor soft nipples are sore for days, and even the cream you bought doesn’t help.

And now nothing else soothes him. Not blankets, not toys, not even the shirts you leave behind that smell like you. He wants you. Wants your tits in his mouth, wants to be smothered by the soft mounds for the rest of his life.

So, what do you do?

You get him a friend. A dominat hybrid. Someone who can put him in his place.

Which is how fox hybrid!Suguru ends up in your home, quiet, slow-moving, sticks mostly to himself. Occasionally narrows his keen eyes at Satoru's antics. Though it didn't work out like you'd imagine.

He’s not the solution. He’s the problem.

Because he doesn’t correct Satoru’s behavior, he cultivates it. Encourages it.

“You’ve spoiled him,” Suguru murmurs one night, his firm chest pressed to your back, voice thick and deep against your ear. His arm is slung around your hips, strong, holding you open while whine into his long dark hair, attempting to hide yourself away.

“No - not my fault - ” you try, but your voice dies in a choked sob when a soft tongue flattens against your cunt again, suckling on your puffy clit like it’s candy.

Between your thighs, Satoru whines. Loud. Messy. His pretty blue eyes are hazy with need, pupils blown wide as his hands clutch your thighs, nails breaking skin and buries his face even deeper in your pussy. His ears are drooping low, flicking with every moan you make, and his cock is leaking all over your sheets as he humps the bed like a mindless mutt.

“See?” Suguru hums. “He likes direction.”

You’re overstimulated. Sore. Barely coherent. Your clit aches, your hole’s fluttering, and you don’t even realize you’re crying until Suguru kisses the tears from your cheeks, soothing you while his other hand grabs the panties you wore yesterday and shoves them between your teeth.

“There we go,” he croons, lips brushing over your cheek. “Let him taste you properly.”

You sob around the gag as Satoru moans, loud and high-pitched, grinding his tongue deeper like he’s trying to fuck you with it. Your hole aching at the desperate pushes. His nose nudges your clit with every thrust and his tail is wagging wildly behind him, thumping against the bed. You’re cumming. Again. Again. You don’t even know which number you’re on.

Suguru just watches. Eyes heavy-lidded and glowing in the moonlight. Something hard pressed against your back. His hand never leaves your belly, his claws gently stroking patterns over the soft skin.

“You’re lucky,” he murmurs against your ear, before shoving Satoru's face more into your cunt, a loud groan leaving the pup's lips. “your sweet puppy hasn’t learned how to knot yet.”

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

caught my eye that jade thinks merpeople marrying humans are eccentric (pot calling the kettle black). of course, such marriage would have its difficulties due to intercultural conflict, yet i thought somebody as eccentric jade (and leech family in general tbh) would think of it as his cup of tea.

then again we did have floyd finding a story of a merlady changing into a human form for her lover strange, proclaiming that she is already cute as an octopus. hm. i wish we had some more lore on this, the differences in a way of living and how much it influences octavinelle's viewponts (what's beautiful? practical strength as implied with azul's lack of agility? some obscure trend of decorating one's body? something else entirely?) are so fascinating to me.

Welllll, my guess is the devs didn’t want the characters to give their commentary on who they would be romantically interested in, as that could conflict with who the players ship them with (whether it’s other canon characters, themselves, an OC, etc.). For example, having Jade express an interest in one race over the others (such as humans) might be upsetting to fans who ship him with fae, beastmen, or fellow merpeople.

Life in the sea and life on land is very different. I’d imagine there would be several cultural clashes as a result of this. Their food is different (food in the sea is usually raw, there aren’t a lot of sweets), merpeople don’t know about common land things like fire and clothing, even the concepts of breathing and walking are limited, humans may not understand merpeople values (such as for music, or worrying for the survival + safety of their children)… That’s why the mermaid princess established the land boot camp—in an effort to bridge this knowledge gap.

I don’t think it’s strange or out of character for the twins to find interracial marriages eccentric. It’s something that seems to be pretty rare in Twisted Wonderland when you consider that fae-human marriages are frowned upon (see: the Zigvolts), there’s only one merperson-human marriage per year (if any at all, according to Jade in Eternity Float), and there are cultural conflicts between different types of beastmen (stated in Tamashina Mina) so it’s likely that even within one race they keep to marrying within their species. Because it doesn’t happen much, of course the twins would see it as odd. That’s not to say that they aren’t also fascinated by it, but it’s just not something they may understand. While Jade and Floyd find different aspects of life on land interesting (mountains, fashion, etc.), they are still most familiar with the environment and culture they grew up in and use that as a means of comparison for what is “weird” or not.

I think Floyd calling octopi cute has less to do with actual attraction and more like… to do with him being a predator?? Like, wanting to actually CHOMP. Because he also calls Azul “cute” but also says he’s “squishy” and jokes about wanting to eat him. (Ominously, both he and Jade’s favorite foods contain octopus.)

It might be interesting to consider how the beauty standards vary for the different races. Merpeople don’t normally wear clothes, so I guess that doesn’t factor into “beauty”. Judging by how Azul got bullied in school for his size and speed, I’m assuming how well you can survive in the wild does factor in. Not sure about everything else or the other races though. If I had to guess, subspecies of fae or beastman probably factors into this; for example, the colors of a bird beastman’s plumage may contribute to their physical appeal.

[steddieas-shegoes]

future is bright

for @steddieholidaydrabbles pop up event 'school's out for summer'

rated t | 916 words | no cw | tags: mild hurt/comfort, strangers to lovers (implied), open ending, super senior eddie, eddie needs a hug, steve is ready to give it to him

also on ao3

����🏫🏫🏫🏫🏫🏫🏫🏫🏫🏫🏫

He cannot believe he failed again.

Well, he can. But he figured the teachers would pass him just to get rid of him.

He avoids the school on graduation day, but he can’t resist moping in his van at the quarry. He knows most of the seniors won’t show up here until long after their celebratory dinners with family. He’s got the place to himself for a few hours at least.

Or he thought so, anyway.

He hears footsteps coming up behind him, and he turns to see Steve Harrington of all people walking up to him, still in his cap and gown.

“Not selling tonight, man. Sorry,” he says as he turns away from him. Hopefully that’s all he wanted and he leaves.

He doesn’t.

Steve sits down next to him, barely leaves any space between them.

“Is this an act of rebellion or did you really not graduate?” Steve asks him.

Eddie turns and prepares to reply with something cutting, something that’ll hurt Steve enough that he’ll leave. Steve’s looking at him with a genuine sadness, concern written in his frown.

“Isn’t it an act of rebellion to not graduate twice in a row?” Eddie asks, giving him a small, sad smile.

“I’m sorry,” Steve says and it sounds genuine so Eddie nods once in acceptance. “Gym?”

“Shockingly, no. Chem.”

“Chem sucks.”

Eddie snorts. “Yeah. I probably could’ve tried harder.”

“Eh. Next time.”

As if it’s that simple. As if a third senior year is an acceptable thing to be doing.

“Not sure I can do another year, man,” he says quietly, voice nearly breaking around the words. “Might just have to be what everyone expects me to be after all.”

“And what’s that?” Steve’s thigh is warm against his, but his gaze is hotter.

“A failure. Just like my dad. Loser who never leaves Hawkins or does anything,” Eddie shrugs. “Everything your buddies used to say I’d be.”

“I never said those things.” Steve pauses and sighs. “I don’t believe any of that.”

Which is at least partially true. Steve never did say any of that to his face, and maybe not even behind his back. Steve’s dad was actually Al Munson’s lawyer back in the day, probably knows more than anyone else besides Wayne and Eddie himself how shitty Al was as a person and father. But he never said anything. A part of him must’ve thought it, though.

“It’s okay if you do. Not much of a case for me to be any different.”

Wayne hugged him earlier, before he left for the shift he picked up, said he was proud of him no matter what. Wayne always believes in him, more than he should. But it doesn’t make Eddie feel any more confident.

“I dunno. The fact that you didn’t give up the first time is already a lot of proof you won’t be like him,” Steve’s smirking when Eddie looks over, but he doesn’t turn towards Eddie. “And the fact that I know you’re gonna try again proves you’re a lot better than he ever was.”

“You don’t even know me,” Eddie has to say, bites it out so Steve stops being nice to him.

“I know what it’s like to have expectations on you to be like your dad,” Steve finally turns to him. “Maybe mine isn’t the same as yours in some ways, but I think we have a lot more in common than you think.”

Eddie thinks about the time he saw Steve getting yelled at in his father’s office when Al dragged him to a meeting with his lawyer, how dejected Steve looked, eyes cast down to the floor. He didn’t know what it was about but he knows he couldn’t have been older than seven or eight, didn’t deserve to be berated in an office full of people over something that ultimately didn’t matter. He remembers Al saying something about rich people getting away with things poor people can’t, and remembers seeing Steve with bruises on his arms the next day.

He may have failed chemistry, but he got an A in math.

“You still trying to make him proud?” Eddie asks, unsure if he ever even tried in the first place.

“Nah. I learned a while ago nothing will. Not worth being someone I’m not,” Steve leans his weight against Eddie. “You gonna keep moping or come hang out at my house?”

Eddie’s jaw drops. “You want me to come to your party?”

“No,” Steve laughs. “I want you to come hang out with me and a few of my friends. Nancy and Jonathan and Robin. They’re cool. Promise.”

“Ah. To bring weed.”

Steve’s brow furrows. “No. To hangout. I mean you can bring whatever you want, but I’ve already got drinks and food and stuff so.”

Eddie thinks about it. He’s been wallowing for days now, and he’s pretty tired of himself. Steve’s offering something that seems like friendship, and he has no reason to believe he doesn’t actually mean it.

Wayne won’t be home until morning, and he probably wouldn’t notice if Eddie wasn’t around. He could smoke a little, maybe crash on one of Steve’s couches.

“I’m in.”

Steve beams at him like he just told him he won the lottery. It’s a beautiful smile, one that has Eddie’s heart skipping a beat traitorously.

Going back to school for another year will suck, he’s sure of that.

But he’s also pretty sure that he’s walking into a pretty great summer.

[hollie-san]

[O'SEA] Osomatsu x Tea - Yumeship Acc

Trope Appeal:

Friends to lovers, new old flame, childhood friends, the power of love, "just friends", everyone sees it but them, red string of fate, physical touch, acts of service, slow burn, birds of a feather, playboy settles down, sweethearts

If you care to ask any questions... Please do!! ❤️ I've also included

More Info Down Below!!! ↓

Tea Rose ティローズ | They / Any | 20's | 5'2 ft (158 cm)

Previously a financially irresponsible codependent alcoholic hikkikomori NEET, Mx. Rose now lives on the grounds of a graveyard at the edge of the district. Moving on from the mistakes of their past, Tea's adamant on making the right choices from now on. They're a sweet-hearted worrywart, flirty, shy, and optimistic. Tea is humble, caring, and follows a strict moral code. They love being creative and all forms of art & expression. They tend to believe they're always second-choice but they're an adept emotional regulator. They're private, and struggle to open up. They strive for perfection and hold themselves to those standards unfairly- it takes someone just as stubborn or simply reasonable to lower their walls.

Common attributes/symbols: roses, crosses, black nail polish, graveyard, frills / ruffles, v-neck, collar / chokers, worried face, smug face, blushing face

Common activities/hobbies: hanging out with Osomatsu, eating food, painting traditionally / digitally, & enjoying nature, dancing, reading, gardening, playing video / board games

Setting: graveyard where they live / work at is surrounded by a thick forest of oak and pine trees, Akatsuka is a prefecture in Tokyo, and any canon locations

You can draw them with:

Osomatsu Matsuno (friend -> lover) - Oso is 5'7 and Tea is 5'2. They're both physically affectionate and love food and lazing around. They often fall asleep on accident.

Matsuno Household (platonic / familial) - The brothers are also 5'7. Matsuyo & Matsuzo are taller than Tea.

Your OC/SI (platonic) - Tea is friendly and outgoing! They're a doer and prefer to be active during social outtings.

Additional stuff to keep in mind: Tea has a tattoo on their inner left wrist, their inner left forearm, on both outer ankles, on their inner upper right thigh, and on the back of their neck. They have a birthmark by their bellybutton in the shape of a heart and a surgery scar on their upper right arm.

Osomatsu Matsuno おそ松 松の | He / Him | 20's | 5'7 ft (170 cm)

Osomatsu is laid-back, foolish, and has low ambitions. He feels that he has the responsibility of being the eldest brother. He is not a fan of losing. He is a lech with a good heart. He's thought of as a bland, shitty face with nothing special in characteristics about him and has identity issues. One of his favorite phrases is one spoken by his own creator, "This is how things should be!". This all transforms with Tea, as he realizes what's comfortable for him is at stake, but he's willing to brave that pressuring territory and do things proper with them. He finds value in things he previously deemed hassles or wastes of time, including his self worth. He's challenged by Tea's entropy but drawn to it.

Common attributes/symbols: beer, money, mahjong, kissy face, bedhead, horse racing tickets, red, pine family crest, pervy face, relaxed face, tired face

Common activities/hobbies: day drinking, gambling, smoking, lounging, fishing, eating food, flirting with Tea, drawing and crafting, being included, reading (mostly manga), watching videos / TV

Setting: same as Tea including the graveyard area since he visits so often he basically lives there

Additional stuff to keep in mind: My Osomatsu has a chronic bedhead on the back of his head, the hairs point downward. Tea has a strict sobriety so he doesn't drink around them too often since he's willing to sober up to be with them.

Other things to keep in mind: They both go back and forth of who is more forward and who is more shy. They're in a spot where they flirt exclusively but avoid confessing- they're still honest with each other about how much they care. Their arc is about maturing together and living life proper.

Dynamic Examples:

Setting Ideas:

Content Warning Tags (to filter):

#cw // alcoholism, #cw // alcohol

#cw // suggestive

#cw // graphic violence, #cw // blood, #cw // death

#cw // sex work

O'Sea / Tea Related Tags:

#oc: tea, #oc: rose (girlmatsu)

#osomatsu, #osoko, #shuten-doji, #lucifer

#oc: osoma, #oc: tiro

#ship: o'sea, #ship: jiang'sea, #ship: xiao'sea

#duo: tiara, #duo: keropea, #duo: o'chi, #duo: jy'ocha, #duo: rose lense

#trio: wo ai ni family, #trio: silly crew

Popular AU Tags:

#au: youkai on ice

#au: religion

#au: pokemon

#au: dead of night, #au: pinnacle of day

You may see other tags like friend oc tags, friend/ships, and less commonly engaged AU's that I don't care to mention on this post.

[hyperfixationcenter]

My full review on the Eltingville Club comics

After a long month of work I've decided to treat myself to read ALL of Eltingville Club, overall this was one of the funniest and saddest comics I've seen AND BEFORE I START!! If your new to the fandom or haven't found a place to read it: https://batcave.biz/27970-the-eltingville-club-2016.html have fun!!

Alright, this is a long one so if you love extensive overviews your in luck!

My favorite moments ੈ✩‧₊˚ Jerry being geeked out is really funny to me

THE WAY THEY LOCK IN 😭

Josh being a bisexual for a panel

I actually love jerry in a hoodie he looks so cutie

Good to know that Pete knows how to read

Me listing off my hyperfixiations to make me feel better

Idk why but Pete's reaction is so funny to me 😭

For some reason Joe looks way better in the comics, still a dick head tho

A moment of clarity for the boys

Common Josh L 😭

fuck'n 😮

Top 10 moments before disaster

THE ZONEEE

Josh being an absolute hater

The slow decline of man

Greedo318 gotta be my favorite character

Bill being a classic manipulative little shit

The one time Josh and Bill actually team up 😭

PREACH PETE!

You wont like me when I'm angry ahh Bill 😭

This Fan, This Monster ੈ✩‧₊˚

One of the most saddest chapters and the one that absolutely broke my heart as much as anyone who's read this comic.

Now we know what happened to Iron Jaw

It was kinda sad seeing Bill in shock that Joe isn't really that cool

I feel SO BAD for the geek girl

Its nice to see Pete stand up for the others

THE INFAMOUS FIGHT SCENE!!

PETEEEE MY KINGGG 😭😭😭

The most HEARTWRENCHING PANEL OF MY LIFE

My Overview ੈ✩‧₊˚

They just wanted to enjoy friends who liked the same things they did but power and greed can corrupt anyone and so manipulative minds that were raised from broken families learn that if your not at the top your nothing in this life. I understand that people have hyperfixiations and obsessions but what happens when someone loves something so much they lose what they have in their real life.

Many times mentioned in the comic people who were ex fans tell Bill to repent and stray away from his fandom that has corrupted him and twisted him into a man with no soul for anything else than a lust and hunger for things that aren't even real.

It does show a real harsh lesson of obsession and how far people will go to achieve such heights. The eltingville club was a very funny comic but the end made me think for a minute about how people like to go so far for things they can't achieve, in doing so destroying their own lives. I feel we could learn a lesson from this comic, weather it be about obsession, relationships, and oppressing sexuality to keep a quota. I loved this comic, and now to read the epilogue.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT POST!

ELTINGVILLE CLUB FAN OUT!!! 📕

[maraudereestauderelb]

A Walk Around the Block (Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Summary: A chance encounter with a charming soldier leaves you reeling after a kiss you never meant to give. You swore you’d never fall for a man in uniform—but James Buchanan Barnes isn't easy to forget. Then he shows up outside your door...

“Wherever you want, doll. I’d walk to the end of the world with you.”

Set in 1940s Brooklyn, before James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes is deployed in the beginning of Captain America: The First Avanger and long before he becomes the Winter Soldier.

"You know I would have bought these red pumps with the cute bow for you! They looked so adorable!", Y/BFF/N gushed as you two walked down a road in Brooklyn on your way to your home.  

"I know you would have...but", you sighed: "You know I don't want that."  

You had just been shopping in the city center and carried your bags home now. Y/BFF/N’s family was one of the richest on Long Island, therefor she always offered to get you all the nice things you couldn’t afford, but you never let her – the one exception being your birthday. To outsider’s it seemed like you didn’t have much in common, but you were inseparable ever since you had bet at thirteen-years-old in a theater workshop in central park. 

"It's so sad that you have to work today...we could have gone dancing again!"  

"I'm sorry...but I promised my father to check our books today.” The weak excuse came in handy. You had in fact promised your father to help in his car repair shop, but you also weren’t keen on dancing as well. 

You were still thinking about the night before and about the man you had danced with. Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes. Bucky. Of course, you remembered his name, how were you supposed to forget it? Or the kiss? 

Why had you been so stupid? Of course, you had danced with men before or had talked to one for an entire evening at one of these parties, but you had never kissed one of them! And a soldier?! What on earth were you thinking? 

You were looking out for a decent young man with whom you could fall in love, not for a soldier! They weren't looking for love, they just hoped to get in as many girls' pants as possible for the short time they were home. 

But Bucky had been so nice...a bit direct and a tease for sure, but funny and polite. God and the kiss! 

"We should have taken your driver", you sighed with a smile on your lips.  

"Oh no. He only would have told my parents what we have been doing all the time, and I hate that!"  

"I know. I get it", you nodded: "What did they say when you came home so late last night?" 

"Same as always", Y/BFF/N shrugged.  

"You know you can always stay at my place for the night, my parents wouldn't mind and-"  

"Oh my", Y/BFF/N suddenly gushed and stopped in her track as a devilish smirk appeared on her face: "Look who's leaning at a lamp post next to your house. Your little soldier."  

"My what?", your eyes widened, and your gaze drifted to the lamp post next to the entrance to your father's car repair shop which was located on the ground floor underneath the flat your family was living in. Y/BFF/N was right!  

Casually standing there -this time dressed in normal clothes rather than his uniform- was Bucky. What was he doing here? 

"What is he doing here?", you whispered to your best friend.  

"Looks like he wants to see you. Let's not disappoint him, come!", she dragged you in his direction. What on earth was she doing?  

You tried to loosen your friend's grip and attempted to escape until Bucky spotted you - then, of course, you tried to seem as casual and relaxed as possible.  

You hadn't told Y/BFF/N about the kiss. It was unnecessary! You would have bet you'd never get to see Bucky ever again. And the kiss simply wasn't like you! 

When Bucky saw you, a grin found its way to his lips. A grin which immediately made your chest hurt. 

Trying to act all cool you laughed from a distance: "Oh Sergeant, to what do I owe the honor?"  

"Wanted to see you.", he smirked.  

Sure. Only because you didn't get what you wanted last night.  

"In this lighting he looks even more handsome than these shitty dim lights yesterday", Y/BFF/N whispered and she was right. Bucky was the most handsome man you had ever seen.  

"Do you want to go for a walk, doll?", he suddenly asked when you stood in front of him. 

You rolled your eyes in Y/BFF/N's direction and said: "If anything, it's darling. Not 'doll'." 

Which only resulted in Y/BFF/N gently pushing your shoulder with hers.  

"If I went with you...where would we go?"  

"Wherever you want, doll. I'd walk to the end of the world with you."  

You rolled your eyes yet again at his words trying to cover up your blushing cheeks, but Y/BFF/N had somehow already answered for her when you took your bags from her. God, she really wanted you to go with him. But did You? 

"Okay fine Sergeant Barnes, let's go. But only because I don't have anything else to do right now!"  

"Of course not", he nodded and winked at you. 

"I'll see you tomorrow", you said to your friend and followed Bucky, after your friend had answered with an excited squeal. 

 "So you remember my name, doll?"  

"Of course I do", you looked at him surprised: "But apparently you forgot mine, doll." 

"How could I, Y/N?", he grinned at you and walked beside you, with enough distance between you, so you would't accidentally touch. 

"Okay, maybe you haven't."  

"I never forget a pretty girl's name."  

Of course not. You sighed.  

"James, what do you want from me?" 

"Bucky. And like I said I wanted to see you. I figured you wanted to see me as well after you showed me where you lived."  

Damn it! Why had you let him walk you home last night? 

"Maybe...", you bit your lower lip.  

"I really enjoyed our last night!"  

"Could you please lower your voice? What are the people going to think?", you nervously looked around if one of the people passing you had been paying any attention.  

"Why?", the soldier laughed: "We've only been dancing! Nothing inappropriate, doll."  

"I'm not your doll!", you pouted but the smirk on your lips gave it away. 

"Not like I wouldn't be down for inappropriate things", he grinned and stopped so he was able to look at your face better.  

He was more than one head taller than you and was looking down to you with bliss in his stunningly blue eyes.  

"But you set the pace, beautiful", he whispered and tugged a lose strand of hair behind your ear which left you speechless for a second. 

"Pardon?"  

"Pardon?", he grinned innocently and walked on certain you would follow once you had overcome the obvious and adorable shock. And you did. 

"Sergeant Barnes, this is not something- I mean...I'm a lady! And I would appreciate if you'd put a little more effort into treating me as such!" 

"Oh but I do", he said as he picked a white flower from a low hanging flower box and tugged it behind your: "Milady."  

"That's a lot better, Sergeant", you smiled softly while the red of your cheeks turned even brighter: "Plus, I think I like 'milady' a lot better than 'doll'." 

He laughed...and God, his laugh... 

"So...tell me, where do you want to go?"  

"Just walk around a few blocks?"   

You knew you still had work waiting for you at home. 

"How boring! I told you I'd walk to the end of the world for you!"  

"But isn't boring like a welcome change for you?"  

"Shouldn't I be at home all day, laying around if that was the case?"  

"I just thought..."  

"It's alright", he smiled: "A few blocks it is." 

"I'm sorry if that disappoints you."  

"It doesn't", he demanded and winked at you with a cheeky grin: "I'd rather just walk a few blocks with good company than to lay around at home." 

"Your family must be very happy you're home", you smiled but he just shrugged and tugged both of his hands in the pockets of his trousers.  

"My family is rather small actually. Consists of exactly one person, although my best friend would be very pissed if he heard that, he's like a brother."  

He tried to joke it off and acted all casual, but you had realized how his mood had changed.  

"Oh...so you're all alone?"  

Somehow she couldn't quite believe that. A happy person like Bucky was so lonely, how could that be the case? And why did the idea of it hurt so bad? 

"Yes, but it's okay, really. Don't worry about it. I get along just fine on my own."  

"I can imagine", you nodded: "Bet nobody is dumb enough to mess around with Sergeant Barnes!"  

"Exactly, so you better behave, doll, and stop calling me Sergeant! Except you really like it."  

You rolled your eyes yet another time, you just couldn't help it.  

"You know , you look adorable when you do that, don't you?" 

"When I do what?"  

"Roll your eyes at me. Through that I can tell you must really like me!", he teased her. 

"Oh really?", you raised your eyebrows: "If I wasn't raised properly I would definitely call you an idiot right now, Sergeant." 

"That only proves it even more."  

"Dream on!" 

"So you're saying you kissed me without even liking me? Now you hurt my feelings, doll, you really did!", he acted over the top hurt and upset.  

"You mean you kissed me", you lowered your voice and your entire body tensed.  

"Relax, doll", Bucky laughed and took a step closer towards you: "You are right. I kissed you", and whispering into your ear he added: "But it did not seem like you didn't enjoy it."  

You felt your heart starting to beat faster when he came closer but his gentle touch of your cheek and earlobe had been swift and he quickly leaned back again. 

You swallowed visibly before you said with a thin voice: "I...Bucky, I'm not like that. I don't know what came over me yesterday and-"  

"Don't worry. That's every girl's reaction to me." 

How could he say that?! That was every girl's reaction to him?! Well, if that's the case. 

"Apparently you're really nothing but an impatient womanizer", you shook your head and went past him with quick steps.  

Why had she been dumb enough to even imagine he could be a decent man? 

"Hey, wait, Y/N", he rushed after you: "I'm just teasing you, doll! It's all fun!"  

"I'm not your toy, Bucky!" 

"Got it. No games."  

"Okay...", you gave in again. God, why did he have to look at you with these stunningly beautiful eyes? 

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" 

"Why?"  

"We could go dancing in the evening again", he offered: "Or if you finally figure out a destination a bit further away than just a few blocks I could pick you up in the afternoon and we drive wherever you want to go, how does that sound?" 

"You have a car?", you raised your eyebrows and eyed him critically, trying to figure out if he really meant it.  

"No, but I would organize one." 

She chuckled: "Okay, but I have to work tomorrow. What about the day after?"  

"I'll be there." 

--> MASTERLIST

[skay-ali]

Older sister program

a bit of fluff and eventually yandere from other characters It is just a protogo or attempted draft

"It was a bit childish."

"And you're a... a child..."

"Wow, you've got no answer," he sounded arrogant.

Ahhh, it's only a few months, just a few months, and you'll be punished.

Let's start with your story and how you ended up being a sisterly figure and guide to a troubled child.

Since you were 12, you began your independent and rebellious life against adults, rules, and society. You considered yourself an anarchist.

You didn't let anyone walk all over you; you were always on the defensive, snapping at anyone who messed with you.

Your beloved family isn't spared... it's not like they had a great relationship; your father and brothers were always busy with their own lives.

But friction was common, between dad's favorites and his only disappointment, namely you.

"You're nothing but a disappointment to the family."

"Well, at least I'm not dad's little robot, with no life or thoughts of my own."

"You're very childish."

"Thank you. They'd rather enjoy themselves than grow old and bitter."

"You're only bringing shame on the family with your behavior."

"Oh, Dad, I think you're doing well enough."

Seriously, sometimes you thought about stopping, about being a good girl, but you couldn't help but open your mouth and protest.

But in your defense, that might not have mattered in your family. Now that you were hated, they remembered you... that's better than being forgotten.

Besides, it's not as if society deserved your respect.

You hated everyone in your city. There were the wretched, the victims, the innocent, the scavengers who took advantage of any opportunity to kill someone; those who operated in the shadows; those who scrounged for leftovers, pretending to have power; and finally, the kings, who were at the top and had the right to kill whoever they wanted, just for fun.

Oh, and not to mention the heroes.

"That's why I think you should create a comic about corrupted heroes."

"Yeah, I don't think that would be well received."

"Boo, chicken, it's a wasted idea and it would be a hit."

"Sorry, but I don't think it is."

"I'm giving you an idea to take you to the top, friend, but I see that... maybe it's not your thing." With your arms crossed, you began to check your nails. It was more interesting than seeing the man a few years older than you sitting at a booth at the convention.

That was your belief, one that was often frowned upon and judged.

After all, who wants to see another version of their beloved heroes?

And about the comic book artist, the one who had a certain charm, disappeared for a while and didn't produce many works anymore, so you assume his career is over.

Well, it turns out that during your time as a university student, away from home, away from your city, with a new kind of pretentious people with their own principles, one must be careful, even if it's just to defend oneself.

You hit an idiot you shouldn't have, even if it was just to try to defend yourself.

Jail was an option, but apparently the lawyer who got you Alfred didn't like it; according to him, he'd been paid to get you off without a stain on your record. The plump, elderly man, a realistic version of Porky Pig, defended you until he got you community service.

Fawcett City, a big city, with little crime unlike other places.

You thought it was a great place.

Well, now you were on your weekend, a perfect Saturday morning for doing nothing, trapped in a boring building, receiving training for your new unpaid job.

Taking care of a homeless child and making him forget and guiding him from a potentially bad life to a decent one.

Wow, if that had existed in your city, maybe you wouldn't have ended up so badly, you recognized it.

"So you were my new... ah sister," the boy said doubtfully.

"Yeah, I guess I am," you said, feigning encouragement. Ahh, it would be a very long year.

You started with a boy with a surly personality, most of the time, and he was very serious and quiet.

Oh, he was a mini-you, like when you were little.

So you tried, of course, when you weren't tired of life, with your old woman's body.

You took him to many fun places, you talked to him, although many times it was just you.

You gave him many life lessons and advice, which he probably never paid attention to.

But his few words and occasional smiles were enough for you.

"Yeah, well, I have to be with you until it's 6." You looked at him and his friends.

"But it's enough for me to watch you have fun and make sure you don't die," you said disdainfully before looking back at your phone.

"Oh, here, you're going to have fun with your friends." You threw him some bills.

The boy gladly took them and smiled before showing his friends and running off.

"Take care, Billy, and don't get into trouble," you greeted encouragingly as he walked away.

"Kids grow up so fast," you commented to the women standing next to you; they were probably babysitters.

It was all calm; babysitting wasn't so bad after all.

You walked through the park with a soda bottle, looking for the boy. Damn, they're easy to lose, you should have put a tracker on him.

But voices and screams alerted you.

You approached the source, finding a group of older children bothering your son and his friends.

You leaned against a tree, waiting to see what would happen. They would surely defend themselves; it was normal; all the children in your city did that.

But this wasn't the same city where you formed your defensive, rebellious, and strong character. No, this was a peaceful city, full of light and happy people.

You approached carefully and grabbed the boy who seemed to be the leader of everyone.

"Am I interrupting something?" you smiled friendly.

"Yes, you are, idiot, so go away," the teenager replied, trying to escape your grasp.

"This isn't your business," his companions followed.

You looked over at your new "brother."

You saw him a little beaten up and sitting on the floor. His friend was in worse shape.

"You're wrong, brat," you shook him harshly.

"If it's any of my business, you're messing with my brother and his friend." You left your friendly voice behind and changed it to a more threatening one, still maintaining a smile.

"Hey, leave me alone or you'll regret it," the boy threatened.

"Oh, I don't think so. You were hoping you'd get what you deserved." You pushed him to the floor with moderate force. His friends tried to help him, but with both of your free hands, you grabbed the back of his clothes.

"Go ahead, kids, hit him back."

You had all eyes on you because of your words.

"What? I firmly believe in an eye for an eye."

The two children, barely recovering from their bullies' ambush, just stood up and stared at you.

You were a tall figure in their eyes; now with your new actions, not one full of brilliance, but rather dark and fearsome.

"It's not right," Billy decided to speak out, despite his fear of confronting you and not following your orders.

"Ahhh, but he hurt you," you said, bewildered.

"Yes, but it's not right. We'll only make things worse."

You looked at him calmly.

You sighed tiredly. Children are sometimes wild, sometimes compassionate.

You forcefully threw the other teenagers to the wind.

"Okay, you guys are the ones who're in charge." You raised your hands in surrender.

"You better remember that. Next time I won't hold back," you threatened the young people lying on the floor.

"Let's get out of here before we get into trouble," you called to the children, taking another sip of your soda that was resting on the floor.

The children hurried to follow you.

"That was great." "Is that so?" you asked without interest as you devoured your plate of chips.

Billy's friend nodded enthusiastically as he repeated your actions.

"They were strong, how could you stand up to those three?" Billy commented, still watching you, analyzing you.

"Well, my appearance isn't for nothing, you know..."

"Besides, where I come from, if you don't know how to defend yourself, you're doomed."

What a distrustful kid you have! They'd known each other for a few days, and he was still on the defensive. You threw a chip at his serious face, which earned you an angry reaction from the boy.

"Just eat and stop overthinking. It takes away your age, believe me, I speak from experience."

Seeing your father, with his beloved cases and his double life, showed you what seriousness can do to you in life.

Ahgg, old age was an inevitable monster.

"I thought you weren't coming," the boy commented, sitting on a swing in the park.

"Ahhh, why wouldn't I? I'm not supposed to miss it. Besides, I told you I'd come."

"Yes, but... this is a day people spend with family," he whispered in a weak voice, hiding his gaze.

You walked carefully to another of the swings and sat down. It was freezing, because the boy showed no signs of freezing and acted as if nothing had happened.

"Well, I'm supposed to be your sister," you smiled at the boy.

"It's just a job." The boy didn't look at you.

"I guess it is," you decided not to lie, to be honest.

You moved carefully onto the swing, pushing your feet off the ground as you moved.

"I don't have a good relationship with my family. I've been practically alone since my mother died."

"The little time I spent with you was the closest thing I'd ever had to a sibling relationship. It was a new family relationship since I lost my mother." You looked up at the sky. It was sure to start snowing. The low temperature was a sign

The sky was so calm, peaceful, just like the celebrations taking place.

"I came because I wanted to, not because I had to."

"Is that right?" he asked doubtfully.

You stood up. The swing made a squeaking noise, the wind blowing sent a chill down your body, and you spun around in front of where the boy was sitting.

"Look at me, I'm outside my warm and cozy apartment, on a cold, almost dark afternoon, freezing."

"Just for you." Your hand gently stroked his head, his small black locks.

It was unexpected, but the boy pushed himself forward, freeing his hands from the chains of the swing, taking a few small steps and hugging you. His small strength made you step back a little, but you recovered and continued stroking the boy's head.

That day, you took him to a 24-hour cafe. A misfit's paradise without company, perfect for the big day it was.

"Go ahead, order whatever you want, this will be our celebration," you smiled and pushed the boy into a seat, placing a paper menu in his hands.

It was a great night, with delicious and unhealthy food, a movie on the restaurant TV, small board games from your favorite manager and business owner.

And long conversations, jokes, and pointless ramblings.

Your phone received a few texts and a call. It was your family's butler, asking about your attendance.

A big party, being thrown by your father and your siblings, for their acquaintances and friends... you didn't fit in. Before, you had to attend, but now with your little brother, you have a perfect excuse.

You watched the boy smile and devour a plate of sweets.

Oh, it was like those days with your mother.

"Hey, ___, I have news for you." The boy appeared at your apartment. It became a habit for him to always visit you, in his free time, even after your time in the big brother program.

Even when the boy grew up, even when he found loving parents and siblings who appreciate him, he still visits you, even introducing you to his parents, who were kind to you, even inviting you to some of their get-togethers or parties.

You have a sneaky suspicion that if they could, they'd adopt you too. It's not that you were complaining; you loved that loving, large family, and your brother too.

You looked up from your computer and drew paper designs.

"What's up, sweetheart?" you called him by his nickname.

"Hey, stop calling me that, it sounds weird," he complained.

"Hahaha, sorry, I can't help it, it's funny to see you angry."

"You know what? Forget it," he pretended to back down and ignored you.

"Hey, come on... don't leave me with any doubts."

"Hmm, I'll do it, but you need to stop joking."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop." You shuffled your feet across the floor, moving your stroller to where the boy was sitting on the couch watching you.

"Well... my school is going on a field trip to the Metropolis Museum, and they've also organized some friendly soccer games with some schools from other cities." You could tell he was excited.

"Is that so? Well, it'll be a lot of fun, but make sure you don't get into trouble."

"..." You saw the boy squirm nervously in his seat, avoiding your gaze.

"What's up, what's that reaction?"

"Well, maybe I put your name down as a volunteer for the trip, and I'll assure my parents."

"Yeah, well, I hope you enjoy it... wait, did you put my name in it?" You were distracted, but after absorbing his words, you became alarmed.

"Yeah... well, I wanted to take a trip with you and my other siblings. They're coming too."

"I thought it would be fun," he said with a little hesitation.

You rubbed your fingers against your forehead, trying to relax and not explode.

Well, it wasn't a big sacrifice. You had your work at home. You could get ahead a bit, make deliveries quickly and finish some client orders, reschedule your schedule, make some calls, postpone, and stop accepting jobs.

Ah, just thinking about it exhausted you.

You looked angrily at the boy who smiled innocently.

"Ahhh, I'll go." That earned you a cheer. You even heard voices in the hallway; it was probably the other kids.

"But I need everyone's help to finish my work, or else I won't be able to go."

There were no protests, just hugs first from your favorite brother and then from the other children you grew attached to.

Damn, your time with children was spent talking to you. You even stopped picking verbal fights, the only ones you had left after leaving physical ones behind when Billy told you it was better to talk than to fight and settle things with blows.

Even when they drove you crazy, you promised to behave yourself with people.

"I heard your academy is going to Metropolis," Dick said curiously.

"Yeah, now they've decided they'll do programs to integrate different schools, to share bonds... and all that ridiculous stuff," Damian said without interest.

"Oh, come on, it'll be fun," Dick defended the idea.

"No, it won't be, even the games."

"Maybe they included you in that," Jason mocked the demon child's fate.

They only received a frown in response.

"Oh, haha, so it's true." Tim also took the new information with grace.

"Well, how about we all take advantage and go watch the games?" the oldest brother of the family suggested.

"What?"

"What?"

"You're joking, right?" It wasn't surprising that everyone reacted badly.

"Yeah, let's do it," the father of all the children, who had been listening silently, confirmed the idea. which ended in many complaints, but none of them managed to prevent the trip.

[gaoshun]

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬

cw: 3.2k, angst, happy ending, mutual pining, childhood best friends to lovers

note: finally posted the fic i made a poll for. wrote this while listening to this exact audio. split screen or use premium if you have for a better reading experience.

“Play for me!” Shinichiro grins widely as he sits at your chair in your room. You sit on your bed, your guitar in your hand.

You were still in your school uniforms. Shinichiro and you were with your friends and when everyone dispersed to go home, he decided to accompany you home. It wasn't something new. Your house was like another home for him. Your parents knew him well, and his family. It was so common for him to come to your house after school that room privileges were already earned.

“Shin,” You giggle, shy.

Shy because playing in front of someone was always an embarrassment to you. Even if that someone was your best friend. Especially because all the songs you wrote were… for him. You never let him find out though. Everytime he caught you writing lyrics to a new song he would get so excited to read. Half of the time you hid your notebook from him.

“C’monnnn!” He pouted. “I am your best friend. I need to have some benefits.”

“Play for me please. I will always be your #1 fan. And I wanna be the first to hear whatever your genius brain comes up with.”

It was so hard to take his comments and compliments at face value when the deeper meanings begged for you to grab a hold of them and… do something about it. Well, if there was a deeper meaning in the first place. Which, you very well knew, there wasn't any.

Shin made it abundantly clear. Not directly. But it was obvious. Shinichiro Sano had asked out so many girls in his life since you two became friends that you had lost count by now.

That's another thing that no one ever reciprocated those feelings. And you never understood how. People liked him. But girls, they never did. Not in that way. Especially with his history of asking out any girl he had an inkling of feelings for.

How could one not like him? His kind heart? Forgiving, caring and giving. He gave his all to everyone. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Open for anyone to use and hurt him. He was so funny, he made you laugh till your stomach and jaw hurt. He would soothe your cries and do anything for you to stop crying. Even if it ended up hurting him. He was so responsible and mature. Didn't girls like those things in a man?

People made fun of him behind his back. He took it in stride, though. Always laughing at himself along with him. Acting as if it didn't hurt him. But you knew better.

He had practically asked out every girl in the school. Some from outside school too. And unfortunately you were there for most of them. Asked out, rejected, asked out, rejected, asked out, rejected. The cycle continues. But never you.

They said that if you are a girl he would ask you out. But then… why not you? Were you not feminine enough for him? Is femininity what he liked? What did you do so wrong that you were never proposed to? Why did he not like you like that? Just what did you do wrong? Where did you go wrong? Was being his friend the crime? Did he not see you a potential partner because you were his best friend? Just his best friend?

“Fine, fine.” You played with the strings of your guitar as you looked down, a smile playing on your lips.

Getting in the groove you started the tune. The tune you had created and practiced to perfection. Till the music personified your emotions. Coloured them in your feelings. Exuberated with words you never could speak, expressions you hid, fondness you brushed away.

“I wanna be your vacuum cleaner

Breathing in your dust

I wanna be your Ford Cortina

I will never rust”

He giggled and you smiled involuntarily. You continued singing.

“Secrets I have held in my heart

Are harder to hide than I thought

Maybe I just wanna be yours

I wanna be yours, I wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours”

You panicked. For some reason you couldn't tear your gaze away from his deep, deep black eyes.

Fuck, did he catch on? Does he know now? Does he look disgusted by any chance?

“I wanna be your setting lotion (wanna be)

Hold your hair in deep devotion (How deep?)

At least as deep as the Pacific Ocean

Now I wanna be yours”

Shinichiro wasn't smiling. His eyes had gone dark. Expression passive and hard to read. You had never seen him like this. It was kinda scaring you. You willed yourself to continue.

“Secrets I have held in my heart

Are harder to hide than I thought

Maybe I just wanna be yours

I wanna be yours, I wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

Wanna be yours

(Wanna be yours)”

You eased the song to an end by a few slow, soft strings of your guitar. Slowly you kept the guitar beside you. But the way Shinichiro looked at you made you yearn for the feeling of the guitar on you. It acted as a shield.

“What happened?” You chuckled nervously. That made Shinichiro shake out of his stupor. He grinned. But something told you it wasn't true.

“Nothing.” He smiled.

“That was a wonderful song. I loved the music so much. And the words really displayed how strong the singer feels. Amazing experience, thank you (name).” At least that felt honest, so you smiled back.

“Thank you, Shin.”

“So,” he stood up, leaning against your study table now and crossing his arms. He wiggled his eyebrows. “Who did you write this for, hm?”

“What?” Your eyes widened.

“Oh c’mon. Who’s the lucky guy? Whom did you write it for? Who was the inspiration? Tell me!”

“Shin-”

“Nooo tell me! Tell me! I deserve to know! You have a crush and I don't know? Blasphemous!” He dramatized it a bit.

So you had no choice but to lie.

“Someone.” You acted smug. Acting all cool and mysterious.

What other choice did you have? Tell him? Confess? And then what? Lose years of friendship because you couldn't keep friends as friends and turned them into stupid feelings? How are you any better than the guys the girls in your friend group make fun of? Because you are a loser who isn't good enough for him? And you can't get over him? And seeing him on his knee in front of yet another girl broke your heart a bit more every single time?

The rest of the evening went with Shinichiro trying his hardest to make you open up but you willed your heart strong and continued to pretend. To not show how your heart was breaking into a hundred pieces with every lie you spewed. Until he eventually gave up. Thanks to your mom calling you both downstairs for lunch.

“Another day went by. You didn't confess. Just how long was this torture gonna continue?” You thought as you laid on your bed staring at the ceiling. A tear slipped from your eyes before you closed them shut and fell asleep.

—

The first thing you see the next morning predicts the mood of your entire day better than the meteorological department of japan.

Shin, with another girl. Yes it always hurts but it's nothing new. What's new and extremely shocking – even to Shin is – she. said. yes.

A girl said yes to his proposal. She wants him to date her. Shin is now dating a girl. They would most probably make it official soon. And they would fall in love. Would be one of the many couples in your school. Be highschool sweethearts. Go to university tog- ain’t no way Shin is going to a university. Get married. Have kids. Get ol-

Someone pushes against your shoulder as they pass by to enter the school building. “Watch where you're going.”

But you are too stunned to retort that it was their fault.

—

Shin boasts about his new girl in front of you, Benkei, Takeomi and Wakasa. They all roll their eyes. But still seem happy because he is happy. Except for you. One couldn't have a more fake smile than the one you had slapped on your face. He blabbers on and on about how he did it and what she said and the moment of confession. And of course he was exaggerating a lot, you saw it after all. But the others didn't believe much either. Except Takeomi, he valued every bullshit Shin spewed as if it was set in stone. You rolled your eyes.

“And when I finally said those words, down on one knee as I was. My knees hurt, they are red even now! But I didn't budge. I didn't recite anything of course, I said it all by heart. Then she-”

“I have class.” You cut him off and get up. The boys look up at you and nod. Shin pouts.

“What? Not everyone is as aimless and free as you. People have work.” You raise your hands in defense and smooth your skirt. Exiting the confines of the bench you move exit the otherwise empty classroom.

It's only when you passed a few corridors and entered an usually empty bathroom did you let your tears flow. You missed the class for that period. And wailed without hesitation. No one came inside.

—

“Bro, fuck my life.” You smash your fist against the punching bag hanging in front of you. It was a pretty gloomy looking basement, all greys and dirty whites; one could consider it abandoned by the fact that there was no one here.

You didn't confess and now it was too late. You had gotten over your earlier crying fit. Now the sadness had turned into anger. Not towards him or the girl, but on you. It's all your fault. If only you had been brave enough. Had confessed earlier. Then maybe you would have saved yourself a heartbreak.

No. Of course you can't, couldn't. You couldn’t possibly ruin years and years of friendship. You two knew each other since early years of school. It was the most beautiful thing in your life. The security and safety you felt in this friendship with a guy was unprecedented, to you at least. Years of laughter, memories, mistakes, crimes albeit small and so many more friendships.

You backed away and sat on the floor, playing with your gloves. Your knuckles hurt with constant friction and force they were experiencing against them for at least thirty minutes straight. You sighed. You loved Shin too much to even risk a break up. Nevermind. It is what it is. You have cried enough the past few days, enough now.

“What's gotten into you?” Your eyes snap up and there you see Takeomi.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I am talking about.” He walks towards you. “Been weird always if you ask me but, the past few days you’ve been weirder.”

“You think too much, Takeomi.” You shrug, choosing to say as little as needed.

“You know you aren't as evasive and cool as you think you are.”

“Fuck you man.”

“Just confess.”

“Huh?!” You look up at him, eyes wide.

“We all know. You have liked Shin for like, forever now. How long are you gonna pretend it doesn't hurt you, (name)?”

You are quiet for a minute or two before you mumble, “He is dating someone now.” No use of denying, they have always known.

“Oh c’mon. Do you really thi-” His phone rings. It's Shin.

“Confess, (name).” He spoke, voice of finality. Also sounded as if he knew something but you couldn't pinpoint what. With that he left you alone. And you continued your pity party some time more.

—

Shinichiro wasn't happy.

Shouldn't he have been? He finally had a girlfriend! After so many years and so many confessions, this should have tasted like sweet victory. But… it doesn't.

The girl is amazing. Sweet and cute. Smart, great at history and talented at playing the harp. Definitely above his league. He doesn't understand how he managed to get her as a girlfriend.

But it wasn't even the league difference that made him feel out of place. It was the pain.

Did he even qualify to feel hurt when it was him in a relationship and not you. He had a girlfriend, he was set, right? She seemed to like him, and seemed to enjoy their relationship. All seemed good.

But how can one erase years of yearning? The pining he did after you ever since he met you. He accepts that it was just infatuation in the beginning, a girl became friends with him. Then it was an emotional connection and a strong friendship when he lost his dad and mom one after the other. Then as he turned towards teenage, it was a crush. He liked you. A lot. Everything about you made his heart race, his throat dry and his mind reel.

He remembers how he would always be with you. Is Shin at home? No. Of course he isn't.

Where is he? With (name) of course.

Where are they? Probably doing stupid things together.

Shin would always hang out with you. At your place, at his place. At school. After school. At convenience stores. With his gang. With his friends. With his siblings. At random places. At dangerous places. At the wrong places. Everywhere.

Study sessions together became a routine. Shin wasn't bad at studying. And when needed he would get the work done. He had his own unique ways of studying so studying with him was always fun.

But of course. The same old common ass reason that holds everyone in love with their best friend back. “What if I lose my friendship with them?”

So he never confessed. Always held back. Tried to forget his feelings by trying to date other girls. Soon it became a coping mechanism. He didn't even mean it at one point.

And when you played the song to him a few days ago, confessing that you liked someone; Shin cried himself to sleep. Heart absolutely broken and shattered into pieces. All his hopes died at that moment. World became gloomier than the skies of London. The one person he found solace in might drift away from him, into someone else's arms. Just the thought alone could make him break down into another crying fit.

“Bro for fuck sakes just confess.” Wakasa rolled his eyes. He was so fucking done with this guy.

“She likes someone else.” He mumbles after a minute or two.

“No the fuck she doesn- Whatever. You do your job. Trust me on this. There is literally no reason for you to sulk all the time, you know? It's fucking pathetic man. Just ask her out and get dating already.”

“Yeah man this has been going on for like, forever.” Takeomi chimed in, sighing.

Benkei stayed quiet, empathetic towards his friend. He understood him, but knew that the other two weren't wrong either. Benkei knew you liked him just as much as he liked you if not more.

“Too risky.” Shin pouted. He played with the wall, poking it as he made himself small, arms wrapped around his legs and put his head in between them.

“Oh my fucking God.” Wakasa and Takeomi exclaimed in exasperation.

“Shin, let's have a talk.” Benkei’s voice was deep and comforting. Shin nodded.

—

The one day Shin wanted to desperately talk to you, you were nowhere to be found. In his nervousness, he forgot you had swimming practice.

So when you came back to your class freshly showered Shin almost knocked you over as he skated towards you. “Holy shit Shi-”

“We need to talk!” He exclaims, too loud.

“Okayyy…?”

“I am in love with you!”

The whole corridor quiets down. Not a single person dares utter even a gulp. It was luck that there were still ten minutes for class to start. Benkei, Wakasa and Takeomi watching from the sidelines hidden from view slapped their palms on their heads. This was anything but a romantic setting, and everything Benkei taught him went down the drain. He really wasn't smooth.

“I have been in love with you forever. Since the day I met you. I have never liked anyone other than you. It was, is and will always be you. Even if you decide you don't feel the same way. I’d understand.” He blabbered on and on without taking a single break all in one breath. “But till the day I die I will always hold you close to my heart. You mean everything to me. My best friend, my confidant, my crush, my world. You can say no if you want, that's alright. Please don't feel compelled to say yes just cause my dumbass couldn't control himself and confessed in front of everyone. I promise you this isn't one of those bullshit confessions I do almost everyday with every other girl. I truly mean it, (name). This is more important to me than my life.”

“Shin, shin, shin. Breathe.” You somehow find the will to muster up these words. What with the wide eyes, jaw on the floor, stunned as fuck expression you wore on your face.

When he does, he looks at you. As if waiting. Yeah he did say he would wait for your answer and you could never like him back but… well… that doesn't mean he would just not do anything, you know? He was a boy in love after all.

“But weren't you dating some other gi-”

“Broke up.” He cuts you off. He was buzzing with energy and adrenaline, and almost couldn't stand stable on his feet. “Broke up a day ago. She agreed. All good. Now?”

Everything was quiet for some time. You got your bearings right. A million thoughts in your mind and all a mush at the same time.

You never prepared yourself for when it would finally happen. If it would finally happen. And it did. And holy fuck was this more romantic than anything else Shin could have done-

“Oh wait, I forgot to get on my knees. I am so sorry.” He gets on one knee and looks up at you as if you hung the stars in the sky just for him. You would, if he asked.

You giggled. Then bent down and got on one knee too. Held his outstretched hand in yours and spoke, “I fucking love you too. So much and for so long. So consider this my confession too.”

Shin finally knew what his English teacher meant by ‘being on cloud nine’. Because he was. Irrevocably so.

“You- you do?” His voice was low, almost afraid.

“I do.” You matched his tone as you looked into his eyes and he did in yours.

“Can I hug you?”

“You can do anything you want.”

And Shin pulled you into the tightest hug you have ever received as you two sat on your knees on the corridor floor. He squeezed you close to him and didn't let you go.

“I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The moment was broken by Tanaka-sensei’s scolding as he subjected you both to an hour of detention.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Knowing Shin and you, of course you two escaped school laughing out loud as you ran hand in hand.

[amarriageoftrueminds]

I just discovered your 'peggy free fics' tag and I'm delighted. I can't tell you the amount of stucky fics I've read where there'll be a paragraph of random peggy worship that was never built up and then it'll go back to the boys like nothing happened. You could edit it out and the story wouldn't change at all. (Not unlike certain mcu movies . . . *cough cough* catws and cacw 👀).

I remember this one Wakandan stucky fic where the boys were trying to navigate a relationship after everything and one night where they were hanging out they were suddenly like 'hey remember how awesome peggy was? she was amazing and special and talented and she'll be so missed' then she wasn't mentioned again. There's ones where Bucky will barely remember any of his life with Steve, but he remembers Peggy and how much both of them loved her. I swear I've seen more fics where Steve and Bucky more her and even Howard more than they do Sarah or Bucky's family or the Howlies. Steve never misses his mother or wishes he could get guidance/support from her - but he does from Peggy. I even remember this one fic where Bucky when to get support from Peggy after catws and bonded with her over losing memories.

And god so many stucky fics have steggy as a past romance so Steve is always like 'Peggy was the perfect girl for me and I'll always love her and carry her in my heart . . . but now I have Bucky so now I'll be okay.' Like Bucky is always presented as second best or something that'll have to do, cause he can't be with Peggy (implying that given the choice, he'd choose her over Bucky).

One of the worst ones I've read though was this Howlies fic where there was a scene that took place after Peggy shot at Steve. He was whining to Bucky about how terrible he felt that he screwed things up with her, he really liked her and made her mad, and then Bucky gave him advice on how to make it up to her. I clicked out of it so fast let me tell you. (It's definitely tricky to find a good Howlies fic without Peggy. It's really common to find one where there's shooting competitions where she's as good as if not better than Bucky, stuff like push up competitions where she can keep up with Steve. You'll even find the guys, including Bucky, thinking Steve is a joke but they'll cower before Peggy because they know better. A lot of 'Peggy is the only competent one with any braincells who has to sort the boys out' 🤢. I also remember one where Steve was smiling and joking with Peggy a few hours after Bucky fell off the train.)

Even Buck will be raving about how great she was. All 'She loved Steve as much as I did and I'm glad she could be there for him when I wasn't'. Even if he's with Steve in the future he'll still be like 'She was so good for you, you could put you in your place, you would've been happy with her.' It makes me wonder why the author didn't just write a steggy fic.

Anyway sorry this got longer than I meant it to. Obviously needed to get all this off my chest 😂

OMG yes, even a fic I've just recced has this in it!

I almost end up doing a Mystery Science Theater thing in my head where I'm finishing every her-related line

like: fic-Steve: gee Buck Peggy sure was great me: ...at hiring Nazis!

fic-Peggy: boys I am so great I will officiate your wedding me: ...as a cover for shooting Steve in a jealous rage for rejecting me like I did in canon!

fic-Bucky: Steve you really shoulda married her I'd be fine with that me: ...and totally wouldn't cockblock you like I did in canon honest!

Genuinely the depth of delusion fic authors have about her to the point of assigning her actions that are literally 100% opposite to what her canon characterisation is, and warping other characters' personalities to praise her too, is actually like..... like they have an RFK Jr brainworm chomping away and cannot think sensibly when it comes to this one character. Like they've been possessed by an MCU writer parasite.

And the way it's invariably inserted into the middle of a stucky scene, too? Like you can almost feel the author's fear of the stans, and thinking 'I better insert a quick comphetero disclaimer so as not to Insult Her Majesty by implying someone else is just as good or even better!!' 😨

Like ok you know you can just not mention characters who have no importance to the plot, right? You know you can literally pretend that character never existed, when they're so unimportant it changes nothing??

[tiktaalic]

Demon and s3 dean. Whatever. Who cares. Aaaaauagh I’m gonna go to hell and on top of that become evil. S3 dean has kind of just maxed out his worst thing that could ever happen to me scale I don’t think being a demon maxes that scale again I think it’s pretty comparable in terms of bad things to happen. And deans reaction to this is just more self hatred and fear about very immediate hell waiting for him. Demon dean of course would be like you are so fucking whiny why are you even worried about it just torture people it’s fun and you’re good at it. Demon dean doesn’t interest me because he’s just dean in a bender being an asshole. So idrc how he reacts to s3 dean. I do care about how s3 dean feels about demon dean but I don’t think it’s anything super different from what he’s already doing.

Hunter corp and dean smith. Literally who gaf. They wouldn’t even tell each other to kill themself they’d just match on grindr.

Stanford and endverse. Well I do love dean seeing Christmas future and turning white as a sheet. I do love that. And I think endverse dean would be like Jesus Christ I can’t believe I was ever this young and stupid and useless. And Stanford dean in search of a father figure takes it really personally ���

Widower and divorcee. Haunting. HAUNTING. oh my god. Boiled disaffected dean who is not so disaffected that he’s against getting on his knees and sobbing and apologizing and saying I fucked up and I’m sorry and you are so so so important to me. But is disaffected enough that it takes threat of death to get him there. And depending on when this is in the divorce I can see a dead behind the eyes dean who’s screaming about how he had to wrap Cas’s body and you just let him GO? Either making divorce Dean dig his heels in more (yeah well he fucked up you’re right that kid is bad news and he dug his claws into cas and it’s gone really badly.) or. God. Fuck. He’s right. Fuck. I don’t WANT to be divorced. I want to be in a common law marriage with cas because I love him and don’t want to lose him. Widower Dean I think at minimum punches divorce dean in the face very easily he tries to choke him to death and or pulls his gun out and tries to shoot him. Because he’s so mad. And in the middle of their physical altercation he’s like. Wait. I can kill this dipshit and take his place with a cas who is alive. It would be sooooo awesome I can’t believe it took a poll for me to consider this concept because it OWNS.

Mark of Cain dean and purgatory. I don’t care. That’s the same guy. I love killing I need it to live 4 I love killing I need it to live. I’m not crazy and neither are you core. I don’t care!!!!!!!

6 and 15 could be interesting depending on where in both of those. Lavender married dean and tmwwbk dean both solid options in different ways. S15 includes divorce dean who I wouldn’t like. Care about in this context. But s15 also includes. Despair dean. And I would love this with either s6 option. I think divorce dean and lavender marriage dean would be interesting because I think divorce dean would be really bluntly writing things off. (I love Lisa and Ben and I’m so glad. That they’re my family.) (yeah because the idea of having no family makes you want to hurl. Not because you care about them.) (yes I do) (you care about being normal. Doesn’t matter to me it’s not gonna last but it was a good way to kill a year.) lavender marriage dean and despair dean. Also good in that despair dean would be shaking him like listen to me. Listen to me. Walk out on your wife and kids right now to spend more time with cas. If cas upsets you get over it because he’s the best friend you’ll ever have. Tmwwbk dean and divorce dean least interesting out of these combos. Two dumb bitches complaining about the ball and chain (cas). Tmwwbk dean and despair dean. Similar but different to lavender marriage in that despair dean is like “ahhhhhh cas betrayed me” like I give a fuck? Who cares. You’re gonna feel really stupid when cas dies in three episodes and it takes you till the end of the next season to see him again. And he’s married. To a woman.

[puckpocketed]

Extra quotes from the Calgary Flames

I don't go here (yet) but this post has just 85 likes on twt and it was in my bookmarks from weeks ago so I'm gonna assume I wanted to archive it - includes quotes from Joel Farabee, Dustin Wolf, Dan Vladar, Zayne Parekh, and Morgan Frost.

Most Self-Critical Evaluation – Joel Farabee

“The whole year itself, even in Philly, was pretty embarrassing for me,” said Farabee, who joined the Flames in that January 30 trade with the Flyers.

After scoring a career-best 22 goals a year ago, the 25-year-old saw his production dip to exactly half that, including just 3 goals in 31 games as a Flame.

“I'm a guy who in season, it's all about confidence for me and trying to keep the confidence going,” he said. “I feel like I lost it pretty early this year and just never could find it.”

Farabee said resting and resetting will be his priority this off-season.

“It's up to me to be better, and I take a lot of pride in that. It’s something I think about every day, basically,” he said. “It was pretty challenging for me this year, not providing the offence and points the team needs.”

Most Insightful Perspective – Dustin Wolf

Asked about the specific things he’s still working on as part of his ongoing development, Wolf got into some interesting detail.

“It's a learning curve,” said Wolf. “When I came into the season this year, it was about how I was managing my depth. I didn't want to play too far out, I didn't want to play too deep, trying to find the middle porridge, if you want.”

The rookie goaltender had an impressive 29-16-8 record in 53 appearances, which included starting eight pressure-packed games in a row down the stretch as the Flames pushed for a playoff spot.

“The three things we strive for each and every day was managing my depth, making sure my awareness on rushes and in-zone plays was where it needed to be because if you're not ready for what's behind you, guys are too good in this league and they'll make you look pretty silly, and just making sure I look big in net,” said Wolf.

Big?

“That's been the talk of the town on me for my whole career so trying to make you guys stop talking about that crap," added Wolf, with a cheeky smile.

Tough, but fair.

Most Random Anecdote – Dan Vladar

When you’re a pending UFA, it’s common for players to turn down an invitation to play at the IIHF World Championships because of the importance of staying healthy as they negotiate their next NHL contract.

Well, safe to say Vladar ain’t too fussed about that.

“The biggest risk is an injury, right? I have a cottage an hour and a half away from Prague. I told my wife, we can go up to the cottage, and she'll be like, ‘I'm cold’ and I’ll be like ‘OK, here’s a campfire, I'm going to cut some wood’ and what can happen? I could cut my fingers off, right? You can get injured everywhere.”

A morbid thought, but okay!

To refresh your memory, Czechia won it last year so Vladar is joining the defending champs for this year’s Worlds that run May 9-25 and is being co-hosted by Stockholm, Sweden, and Heming, Denmark.

“I'm so proud of that,” said Vladar about getting selected, which he looks forward to being a great family occasion, too.

“I'm going to go play for my country. I want my family to be able to visit my grandparents and stuff, because it's a long, long journey to Calgary. It will be fun.”

Most Hilarious Anecdote – Zayne Parekh

In speaking glowingly about the team culture and how everybody’s been so welcoming since joining the team in early April, Parekh brought up the team's final players get-together on Friday before they headed their separate ways for the off-season.

“I went out and spent some time with the guys yesterday, pretty much all day, and everyone was chatting with me and I was getting to know everyone and towards the end of the night, Weegsy pulled me in and we chatted for like three hours.

"That speaks wonders to the kind of character that, obviously, he has, and, obviously, the guys have here. It makes me feel so happy because you don’t know what to expect going into an NHL locker room, but the way those guys treated me, there’s no better feeling than that.”

So, when you spend that much time with MacKenzie Weegar, you no doubt cover a lot of terrain, but hilariously, one of Parekh’s learnings was his need to add some denim to his wardrobe.

“He was giving me shit, sorry, he was giving me 'crap' because I don't own a pair of jeans," said Parekh.

"I showed up for a team dinner in these Lulu ABC Joggers and Weegsy and Backs have been given it to me for the last three or four days.”

Wait, what? Are jeans an old person thing, as media colleague Danny Austin curiously questioned?

“I think it's an NHL thing, I learned that,” said Parekh with a laugh. “That's the biggest takeaway, I guess, in my last two weeks here is that I've gotta go buy a pair of jeans. I may go in the next couple hours to the mall and figure that out.”

Most Cagiest Comparison - Morgan Frost

Also part of that mid-season deal with the Flyers, Frost offered a perspective on how different Ryan Huska and the Flames coaching staff prepare the team for games compared to all he knew previously in Philadelphia while toiling under John Tortorella, who was fired in late March.

"The coaching staff was great. They're pretty dialed even with pre-game meetings and the way they prepare for every game and prepare us, it's second to none," said Frost with a wry grin. "So that was a little different for me coming in here, all the information before the game.

"In Philly, it was more go play and we'll talk about it after. It's a lot of information (in Calgary), a lot more paying attention before games, for sure, felt like I was learning a lot of stuff."

[sunnysam-my]

Okay, I'm back from my superfandom hiatus and have a big one for Sam that I never forgiven the writers for. So, Dean had a daughter… and Sam murdered her because… pure pettiness?

Emma was a biological child of Dean who appeared in S07E13. She was an Amazonian which meant she grew up to a teen in two days since birth. At the biological age of 16 she started growing normally. The Amazonians forced their babies to kill their fathers, but when Emma comes to Dean she explains she doesn't want to be a monster, in reality she is trying to bring his guard down but fails and Dean pulls out a gun. They talk about how they don't actually want to kill their family and Dean tries (quite successful) to convince her to ran away and live a normal life. This is when Sam comes in and despite explaining and protest just kill her with no mercy.

Why? Was it because she was still trying to attack them? Nope. Because he was angry Dean killed Sam's monster ex/friend who had murdered multiple people and would kill again in a heartbeat if her child asked for it (he did however spear the child who did nothing wrong). That is not me reading into it, that's literally the cannon explanation explicitly said in the episode. And you know what happens at the end? Sam is the one that's pissed and fucking Dean has to comfort and cheer him up! Dean who just had his bio child killed in front of him by Sam, meanwhile Sam literally is telling Dean that wasn't his child. In the end it's treated like Dean is in the wrong for mourning his own child and being upset with Sam because Sam keeps making exceptions on what monsters are allowed to live and Dean can't even talk to his own child? Yeah, hate that bullshit.

I think this really highlighted the worst of him. He's petty, he's self righteous, acts like he can do no wrong and expects everyone to agree, he acts like he's the only exception.

And that's just one of my biggest things against him. I absolutely hate how Sam not only constantly disregards Dean's trauma, especially from going to literal hell, he also mocks it. Like, a lot. He is really emotionally and verbally abusive IMO and this post sums it up pretty well.

Ending of S04E21 is enough already on its own to make me hate him. Because Sam has some weird savour complex he despise Dean for being chosen by Angels to save the world. I get the trauma of having demon blood and all that jazz, but he literally says he thinks Dean doesn't deserve and can't possibly save the world. Sam constantly acts like he knows better and is better than everyone while completely ignoring all criticisms, logical arguments and concerns from people around him. He gets pissed and hits Dean when he says Sam is turning himself into a monster because he doesn't trust Dean can stop Lilith (while also whining about Dean not trusting him), which was, you know, literally what was happening, Sam was turning into a demon. You know, you would hope he would get better, apologize and stop acting like this, but nope. This is never truly unpacked. Oh, and the cherry on was Sam being like "You don't know me, you never did" to the person who raised him and gave away his childhood and comfort to raise his brother who just beat him to a pulp. Person who knew exactly how to find said brother despite him being excellent at hiding. Again, this behaviour never really changed or was properly addressed.

I hate how many fans defend his behaviour with "Oh, well, he was under the influence of demon blood so it's basically like drug addiction and that means it doesn't make him a bad person!" WRONG! I don't give a fuck what you are addicted to, if you abuse me you are abusing me, period. Just because you were drunk when you fatally run over someone with your car doesn't change the fact that you killed them, which makes you a killer. Substance abuse and trauma are not valid excuses for abuse. How is that not common sense? Come on.

And there's just so so so much more. I just can't handle him anymore. I hate him so much with each new rewatch.

I know that this is technically still him sucking in relation to Dean but if he did this bs to anyone I would still hate him the same.

is there any people who hate dean or sam that can tell me why without comparing the two. like every anti-dean (or sam) post is like

“dEan hAs dOnE _____ And sAm WouLd nEvEr dO tHaT”

like let’s see some real hate!! tell me you hate dean or sam because they suck even out of relation to other each other!!!!

[lazylittledragon]

y'know every time i feel guilty about bothering someone by singing along when i'm listening to music, i just remember that i have to tolerate my dirtbag brother screaming at his ps5 for hours every day so listening to muffled off-key fall out boy is probably preferable

[dukeofthomas]

"Jason just needs to see things from his family's perspective and understand how much they love him (despite them never actually communicating or showing him through their actions)" is out. "The batfamily putting a single bit of effort into understanding Jason and reconciling with him on his own terms" is in.