#it is not a confusing show it’s very very straightforward

[alisonsfics]

shoulder to cry on

pairing: john walker x thunderbolt!reader, matt murdock x reader (platonic/very brief)

summary: john was the only one of the thunderbolts that you hadn’t bonded with above an acquaintance level. but, he was always there quietly brooding. so, when you find him crying in the middle of the night, you know you have to help him.

word count: 1.9k

warnings: brief cameo from everyone’s favorite devil from hell’s kitchen for no better reason than i wanted to

You walked into the empty Watchtower— the only sound in the air was the distant whirring of the air conditioning.

It was well past midnight, and you’d just returned from a mission. A solo mission that had been as straightforward as they come. Everything had gone perfectly to plan, getting the data you needed to retrieve with no complications.

You almost jumped out of your skin when you approached the kitchen and heard the sound of glass breaking.

You instinctively grabbed your gun out of your thigh holster, jogging into the kitchen. In the dark, it was hard to distinguish who the man slumped over the island counter was.

Until he turned to look at you.

“John?” You asked, confused.

You quickly flicked on the light switch. Then, the full scene unfolded in front of you.

First, you noticed his tear-stained eyes. Then, you saw a pile of empty beer bottles scattered around the counter— one being shattered on the floor behind him.

“What’s wrong?” You asked stepping closer to the man that you still felt you didn’t know.

The New Avengers had been together for a couple months. You’d gotten to know every other member of the team, and they felt like your friends.

Alexei would show you old documentaries about Russia and tell you anecdotes about living there. You and Bucky played darts together every Friday night. You’d spent hours training with Yelena and Ava. Hell, even Bob had opened up to you— usually over late night ice cream runs.

But, John was different.

Quiet. Brooding. Mysterious.

The only time he ever spoke to you was about missions. Nothing beyond that— nothing personal.

It felt like you were the only one he ignored. And you didn’t know why.

You pulled the bottle out of his hand— surprised when his grip instantly loosened, letting you take it.

As you set it down on the counter, John enveloped you in a hug. His large arms tightly wrapped around your waist. He buried his face in your neck.

You just stood there stunned for a few seconds.

Then, you felt his body start to shake as he sobbed in your arms.

You hesitantly wrapped your arms around him, running your hands up and down his back. Seeing him like this was such a contrast to the picture of strength he usually tried to convey.

“I don’t want to lose him.” He mumbled in between tears. His voice was slightly muffled.

“Lose who?” You asked, cupping the back of his head gently.

There was another minute of silence.

“My son,” he muttered, weakly. His body collapsing against yours. All his energy was gone. You could almost feel the hope leaving his body. You held him up, letting him get it all out.

You were surprised that you were the one he was confiding in, so you didn’t want to let him down. You wanted to be the one thing he could rely on if his whole world was going to shit.

“C’mon, honey. Let’s go sit down.” You said, leading him towards the couch in the living room. You weren’t sure where the pet name came from— it just slipped out. You were just trying to rely on any maternal or nurturing instincts.

When you sat down beside him, you saw the tears rolling down his cheeks. You pulled your sleeve over your hand, softly wiping away his tears.

“Do you want to talk about it?” You asked him, softly. It was like you were talking to a timid animal, and you didn’t want to scare it away.

You noticed his hesitancy. You wrapped your hand around his, softly giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Olivia said if I got a stable job and went to therapy and tried to work on myself that we’d talk about visitation. And I have…I’ve worked so damn hard. But, she called today and said she changed her mind. I miss him so much— I don’t know what to do.” He explained.

You felt stupid for how concerned you’d been about him never really talking to you. He had much more important stuff going on. You hated that you hadn’t seen it sooner.

“I am so sorry, John.” You said, pulling him to a hug. He relaxed against your body— almost feeling soothed by your touch.

He hadn’t felt this close to someone since Olivia left. And he didn’t want to let you go. “I’m so alone,” he mumbled, the words muffled against your hair.

“You’re not. I promise. I’m right here.” You assured him.

He slowly pulled away. You were worried you’d pushed him too far.

The expression on his face was…pure. If you didn’t know any better, you’d say he looked lovestruck.

He reached towards you with his hand, rough calloused fingertips brushing a piece of your hair behind your ear. His eyes glanced down, lingering on your lips for a second.

Suddenly, there was a buzzing between the both of you. You felt like your senses were on overdrive. Like there was too much going on for your brain to focus on one thing.

“Can I kiss you?” He asked, letting his hand cup your cheek.

He was sad. He was lonely. He missed his son. He didn’t actually want this…want you. He was just distraught. You reminded yourself.

“You’re drunk.” You told him, so you wouldn’t have to lie and say you didn’t want this.

He shook his head. His hand moved to your chin, brushing his thumb over your bottom lip. “I’m not, well, I can’t…super soldier serum and all. Trust me, I tried.” His voice came out at a whisper.

“We shouldn’t. You’re upset about your son.” You made more excuses. His lips were only millimeters away from yours— with every breath, you could feel yourself inching closer.

“If you don’t want this, that’s fine. But only tell me to stop if you don’t want this. I promise I’m thinking clearly. I want this— I want you.” He responded. You felt your stomach doing flips, like you were on a rollercoaster.

“I want you too.” The words escaped your lips before you were even sure what you’d said.

He closed the distance, pressing his lips against yours. He tasted like beer, with a pinch of saltiness from the tears that had dried above his lips.

His lips moved naturally against yours, like they were destined to. His hands found your hips, tugging you closer to him.

He didn’t want any distance between the two of you. All the good things in his life felt like they were being pulled away from him, and he didn’t want the same to happen to you.

He slowly pressed you down, so you were lying on the couch. He crawled on top of you and brought his lips back to meet yours. He felt your breathing as you laid below him— it felt like the only thing convincing him that he was real.

His hands slipped under your shirt, ghosting over your skin and leaving a trail of goosebumps.

“John…not like this.” You mumbled, pulling out of the kiss.

He stopped kissing you, and you could see how much it pained him.

“We’ve never even had a real conversation before tonight. You’re really telling me you’ve wanted this? We don’t even know each other.” You told him. It was hard to keep yourself from kissing him when you were this close to him. His cologne smelled like a campfire and felt so inviting.

“Of course, we know each other. We’ve been working together for months.” He said, continuing to deny the fact that he’s shut you out for that entire time period.

“We talk about strategy and tactics. We don’t actually talk about anything real.” You told him.

He sat up, scooting to the other side of the couch. He hadn’t thought about the possibility of you being hurt by him pushing you away.

“It’s cause I like you, okay?” He said, but his gaze was glued to his lap. He couldn’t dare look you in the eyes.

Before you could respond, he started talking again. “I don’t know how to do this. What if I let you in and you see how fucked up I am? And then, you leave me just like Olivia did.” He admitted.

You scooted closer to him, interlacing your fingers with his. He looked at your hands and then finally at your face. He was relieved to see you smiling.

“Just take it slow. I promise, you’re not the only one who’s fucked up.” You told you, softly pecking his lips.

“Let’s get you to bed, and we can talk more in the morning. It’s late.” You told him.

He begged you to stay with him. You couldn’t resist the puppy eyes that he gave you. So, you laid beside him and let him hold your hand, so he could fall asleep.

When you woke up, he was completely curled up against you. His arm was haphazardly thrown over your stomach, and his legs were tangled with yours.

You looked down at where his head was resting on your chest. You brushed his messy hair out of his face

After thirty minutes of you admiring him, he started to stir. His eyes immediately shot to where he was holding you. “Sorry,” he quickly muttered as he pulled himself away from you and stretched.

“Don’t be. It’s nice.” You whispered back, softly. A blush appeared on his cheeks as he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

You rolled over to face him. “So, I was thinking about what you said yesterday about Olivia and custody. Before I got powers, I used to be a lawyer. I have a friend, he’s one of the best. I asked him if he could come over and meet with you today, if that’s okay with you.” You told him.

“Are you kidding? Thank you so much.” He tugged you into a bear hug, rolling on top of you.

“Of course, you’re a hero. You deserve to see your son.” You replied, hugging him back.

You both were sitting in the living room later when he walked in from the elevator— Matthew Murdock.

“Matt! Thank you for coming.” You said, walking over and pulling him into a hug.

You quickly introduced the two men. “So, I hear you’re an Avenger now? You ever miss the nights you spent with little old Matt Murdock?” Matt asked, referencing the nights you spent working together as vigilantes.

“Wait…did you guys?” John asked, mistaking the joke as innuendo.

“Don’t worry, pal. It wasn’t like that.” Matt assured him, but John was still skeptical. You both seemed really close— closer than coworkers.

You wrapped your arm around John’s waist. “John, you ever heard of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen?” You asked him.

John furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “The vigilante? Who hasn’t.” He replied, simply.

“Well, now you’ve met him.” You said, gesturing towards Matt. Slowly, you watched the realization set in on John’s face. “So, when you said you worked together…you meant like hero stuff.” John said.

“Hero’s a complicated word, but essentially, yes.” Matt responded.

Matt spent a couple hours with John going over what would be required for a case. Then, with a handshake for John and a hug for you, he left.

“So, you just have a thing for having superhero boyfriends?” John asked, turning towards you and raising his eyebrow.

You rolled your eyes at him. “I told you. We did not date.” You promised as John leaned in to kiss you.

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[ladsaplenty]

Beyond Cloudfall Should Be a Standard Myth and Here's Why (AKA how I got Sylus-pilled)

Okay, this started as a completely unhinged rant by a non-Sylus main after watching Cloudfall, but I tried to tighten it up a bit because I really do think that this myth is essential viewing for a fair interpretation of Sylus's character. Every time I have read about someone changing their mind about Sylus, this myth comes up, and rightly so. I was sobbing by the end of it and everything about Sylus, even the stuff that annoyed the crap out of me (ESPECIALLY THAT STUFF) suddenly made perfect sense. But because he has less main story time than the OG 3 and because his backstory isn't as straightforward as Caleb's, it might be harder for some players to warm to him unless you're already attracted the kind of vibe he brings.

You can look this myth up on YouTube, but I think most people would only do that after deciding to main him, in which case they probably don't need the myth to be convinced. Some people are into Sylus right away and understand where he's coming from, but I think there are people like me who would main or second him if they understood him better but we weren't given the opportunity. When I started the game, all signs pointed to me liking Sylus, but I just didn't and couldn't figure out why until I watched Beyond Cloudfall. Not read about it. WATCHED it.

If you're someone who also feels like they should like Sylus, but he just kind of turns you off for some reason, go watch this myth and then report back and tell me if I'm insane (more so than I already am) for thinking myths like this should be in the permanent wish pool.

(Also, I know that this myth will never become standard because it's awesome and they'll get more money from it being limited. I just have too many feelings I need to express and I have chosen to spare my loved ones from hearing me gush about this game nonstop. Also, usual disclaimer that this is JUST MY OPINION. Other interpretations of Sylus are equally valid, but this is the internet and I get to yell things just like everyone else. Spoilers for Beyond Cloudfall obviously.)

1) For people who are turned off by Sylus's attitude, Cloudfall clarifies and humanizes his behavior and makes his actions less confusing.

When he first showed up, I thought Sylus would be totally dominating and aloof and other typical enemies-to-lovers trope stuff, but then he goes so overboard trying to get MC to resonate with him, putting on a performance for her with the big chair and so on, that I didn't buy it. I thought "oh, this dude is a teddy bear and he's just throwing a tantrum about something," but he then kept acting that way. Even when he stopped forcing himself on MC, he still acted like a complete prat on a regular basis and I couldn't understand it. (Like in No Defence Zone. MC WON THAT HORSE FAIR AND SQUARE, YOU CHEATING MOTHERF-)

Why was he like that and why would he expect her to like him while he's like that? (Besides the fact that he's unreasonably and devastatingly handsome and rich.) And then I watched Cloudfall. I learned that Sylus spent so long being who he had to be to survive, being what other people thought he was because if they were going to hate him either way, why bother trying. He had to become cruel and controlling and cold to live and get to where he was/is. But he doesn't necessarily want to be like that, or at least not ONLY like that. As a child, he even cut off his horns to try to avoid that fate for himself, to avoid being rejected and seen as a monster. Yes, Sylus is still imperious, selfish, an adrenaline junkie, and a bit of a brat, but the version of MC in Cloudfall allowed him to be his WHOLE self, including the parts of himself that wanted love and connection and tenderness from the very beginning. Without watching Cloudfall, that aspect of him was invisible to me. I could sense it was there, but it was never truly clarified in any of the cards I got, so I didn't trust it and that made it harder to get invested in him.

2) For people who are turned off by Sylus's initial, uh, forcefulness with MC, Cloudfall softens the blow.

Even seeing the myth explained in other posts, I didn't fully get why people were so insistent that Sylus's initial behavior in the main story was valid. My reaction to their reasons was: "so they had a soulbond, but she forgot? That's pretty sad, but not ASSAULT someone sad. He actually hurts her, she says it hurts, how is that okay??"

What was missing was the context of their previous time together. There's an inherent physicality in their first relationship that explains (BUT DOES NOT EXCUSE) Sylus manhandling MC, even hurting her, and then trying to justify his treatment of her by telling her "she could handle it." Because to be fair, she used to handle it just fine. They tried to kill each other when they first met, of course a wrist grab isn't a big deal to him. They were always very physical with each other, first violently and then lovingly. MC fell in love with him, showed him that affection physically and let her guard down around him when every other human he'd ever known had called him a monster and vilified him. And even when MC feared him, she never hated him. So now that moment in the main story when the workshop guy says "she's disgusted by you" hits so much harder. When I think about how Sylus must have felt hearing that, how he immediately stops pressuring her when he realizes how it's made her see him, IT BREAKS MY WHOLE HEART.

3) Cloudfall reveals how Sylus's love for MC works because we get to see the version of MC he first fell in love with.

And another thing the myth does is explain how and why Sylus loves MC, which doesn't really come through in the main story and standard memories like it does with some of the other LIs. MC and Caleb's relationship is beautifully encapsulated Rain's Embrace, how long they've been together and how Caleb is so obsessed with protecting her that he sometimes ends up hurting her. Rafayel also tells his story in an affinity-based Memoria so we understand his bond with MC too. With Sylus, it was unclear to me at first whether or not he even liked MC. Midnight Stealth doesn't tell us anything about what he wants with her. He treats her like a plaything, but then lets her have exactly what she wants? He seemingly talks down to her, but then always wants to include her in everything?? It bothered me because he came so hard out the gate being harsh and so the teasing felt like taunting to me and the hot/cold vibes made me anxious.

But seeing how MC acts in Cloudfall explains all of that. She's wilder, greedier, and more playful in that dangerous way like Sylus is. Sylus knows those parts of her so intimately that he's comfortable with that dynamic, and MC probably is too, deep down, or at least it doesn't take her long to acclimate. However, to me, that cat/mouse (or actually cat/smaller cat) exchanges just felt off-putting and unearned. If it were someone treating ME like that at the beginning of a relationship? No sir, I don't care how hot you are, you don't get to hurt my feelings and CHEAT ME OUT OF MY HORSE, YOU MOTHERF-

It wasn't enough for people to say that they they had a soul bond in their past lives. I had to really FEEL IT. And it was by watching the myth that I realized that Sylus loves MC by treasuring her. Not in a possessive or overprotective way like Caleb. Instead he admires her and holds her dear to his heart. He treasures her like one treasures a memory: precious, irreplaceable, part of you forever. (Also, dragon? Treasure? DO U GET IT??) He is who he is because of her and he knows that and is grateful for it, even though he would never say it that way. And when I think about how that kind of love is reflected in everything he does with her, how he teases her because he actually trusts her and adores her and believes in her? I. CAN'T. HANDLE IT. *CRIES IN INSECURE ATTACHMENT*

3.5) ALSO if Cloudfall were standard, we could see that THE PART WHERE SYLUS FORCES MC TO SHOOT HIM IN THE MAIN STORY HAS A PAYOFF. In the past, she cursed him to only die if she willed it and did it herself, so he could never do what he did last time, when he used his hands to MAKE her kill him. And in the present he repeats that moment probably because he wants her to remember! OH GOD MY HEART.

In conclusion, TL;DR, Beyond Cloudfall should be viewed by everyone because the main story and cards don't give everyone a real chance to understand who Sylus is. Cloudfall explains things about him that get explained about other LIs in their permanent content but aren't really explained in his. He still isn't my main, but he will forever have a special place in my heart now and it's solely because of this myth and I firmly believe it should be standard so that anyone who thinks they don't like Sylus can watch it before they decide and then hopefully they will see why he's amazing and why he needs all the love in the world. If you already love him, good. If you don't, go watch Beyond Cloudfall and LOVE HIM DAMMIT, LOVE HIM RIGHT NOW.

Question: are there any STANDARD Sylus cards that explain him as well as Beyond Cloudfall?

[ghostlyglimmer]

You're Grounded Mister

Summary:

A mission gone wrong leaves the Batkids bickering—until Batman grounds them and Danny Fenton, a confused civilian caught in the chaos. This one-shot is based on this post by Shower-Phantom-Ideas

It had all gone downhill fast.

The plan had been Dick’s idea—though Tim and Jason definitely could have pointed out the glaring holes in it, and Damian hadn’t exactly offered his usual dose of cynicism. It was supposed to be a quick, in-and-out operation. Minimal risk, maximum payoff.

But things got complicated when that guy showed up. Just some kid, and not even a vigilante or a rogue. It was supposed to be a straightforward job in Gotham’s shadier district—stop the exchange of a highly dangerous chemical, break up the bad guys, be home in time for breakfast. But, no, some civilian had gotten in the way and distracted the gangsters long enough to mess with their timing.

As Jason would tell it later, “It was just bad luck.” As Bruce would say, “It was complete negligence.”

And as for Danny? Well, he didn’t have much of a say in it. Not that he was about to back down from a bunch of armed gangsters, especially with the Batkids swooping in around him, leaving chaos and knocked-out criminals in their wake. Danny had handled a few of them before they even showed up, quietly taking out the last of them when Bruce finally stepped in.

And now they were here, a tense, heated argument in a dark Gotham alley.

“You should have waited for backup!” Bruce snapped, his voice slicing through their squabbles. “I told you it was a risk to go in alone—especially when we didn’t have all the intel! This is about safety, and clearly—”

“Right, clearly we were fine until you stepped in,” Jason shot back, scowling.

“It would have gone smoothly if someone didn’t just happen to be there,” Dick muttered, clearly feeling defensive.

“It was your idea, Grayson!” Tim hissed, his voice laden with frustration. “Don’t turn this around.”

“Maybe if you’d listened—”

Damian scoffed. “I could have handled them on my own.”

Bruce’s frown deepened, and he turned to Danny, who was awkwardly inching his way toward the exit.

“And don’t think you’re getting out of this,” Bruce said, turning his Batglare on him. “You’re grounded too.”

Danny froze, one foot halfway lifted in a tippy-toe pose. “I… I’m sorry, what?”

The Batkids stopped mid-argument and looked at Danny, then back at Bruce, then at each other, as if piecing something together. Dick’s face morphed from irritation to confusion; Jason’s went slack.

“Uh… Mr. Batman, sir, with all due respect, I’m just some guy,” Danny said slowly, staring at Bruce. “Can… Can Batman even do that?”

“Everyone in the Batmobile,” Bruce said firmly, ignoring Danny’s question. “We’ll discuss this further in the morning.”

Danny, still too stunned to process much beyond “Batman grounded me,” felt himself nodding along. Guess we’re going with it.

The ride was silent and tense. Jason looked broody, arms crossed, staring out the window. Tim rubbed his temples, probably rethinking every tactical choice. Dick was sulking, and Damian, surprisingly, just looked mad at being lumped in with the others. Danny, meanwhile, stayed very still, wedged between Tim and Jason, trying not to breathe too loudly. It was a surreal experience—he was tired, his limbs ached, and his brain was reeling from the absurdity of it all, but it was Batman. The Batmobile wasn’t exactly the place to make his objections.

By the time they reached the Batcave, Danny figured he’d try for some clarity.

“Uh,” he started, looking around at the cavernous space, vast and impressive, filled with tech and lights. “So, do you mind if I, uh, call my family to tell them I won’t be home tonight?”

The entire cave fell silent. Jason froze mid-complaint, Dick and Tim stopped sulking, and Damian’s scowl melted into shock. All four of them stared at Danny, and then slowly, like someone had hit pause, their heads turned to look at Bruce.

He seemed unbothered, glancing at Danny as if this were just standard procedure. But for everyone else, the realization was dawning. Dick was the first to speak, his voice wavering.

“Uh… Bruce?” Dick asked slowly, eyebrows raised. “Did… Did you kidnap a civilian?”

Bruce frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jason burst out laughing, doubling over, his hands clutching his sides. “Oh, this is gold. He’s not even a rogue, B. He’s just some random guy you told to get in the car!”

Danny held up his hands. “In my defense, it was Batman, okay? Who’s going to not get in the Batmobile when Batman tells you you’re grounded?”

Tim covered his face with both hands, muffling his laugh. Damian scowled, crossing his arms.

“This is embarrassing,” he muttered. “Father, you’re losing credibility by the second.”

Bruce’s expression tightened, clearly irked by the fact that his kids’ attention had wandered from the initial issue. They had disobeyed him, endangered a civilian, and now they were laughing because, okay, maybe he had unintentionally forced said civilian to join them in the Batcave.

He sighed, rubbing his temples, clearly rethinking several recent decisions.

“Alright,” Bruce finally said. “My apologies. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and you don’t need to be here. We’ll get you a ride back home.”

Danny blinked, a little surprised. “So, wait, I’m not grounded?”

“No, you’re not grounded,” Bruce replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Jason snickered. “Damn, you got off easy. We’re grounded for sure.”

Bruce cleared his throat, and the smiles faded from the other Batkids’ faces. “Yes, you’re grounded,” he said, looking at each of them in turn. “All of you.”

They groaned in unison, but Danny, relieved beyond measure, was already edging toward the door. He nodded a quick thank you to Batman and managed a small, awkward wave to the others.

As he left, he could hear Dick muttering, “Grounded… from what? We’re grown men!”

Jason groaned. “Grounded as in, no solo missions, genius.”

Danny paused, letting the sounds of the Batfamily’s complaints echo behind him as he took the lift back to ground level. He shook his head, chuckling. Only in Gotham. Only with Batman would you end up “grounded” for just existing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But hey—at least he got a free ride in the Batmobile out of it.

[limethefirst]

Mutual Understanding

pairings: Shadow the Hedgehog x reader (platonic)

warnings: sonic 3 spoilers, mentions of death, trauma bonding lol!!!

summary: as the assistant in training for Stone, you’re tasked with keeping an eye on the black and red haired hedgehog

a/n: just watched sonic 3, I love it so much I immediately wrote this as soon as I got home, please enjoy and go watch it as soon as possible (I LOVE YOU SHADOW AUAGHH)

You watched as Stone left the Crab, running a quick errand so he could finish the suits he was making for Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald. You had a strange feeling about him and you could tell Stone did too but as assistants all you could do was brush it aside.

As Stone left you looked towards your right, Shadow stood near you his eyes staring at where your mentor was standing only moments ago, before his head tilted to glance at you. His eyes scanned you, as you scanned him back, you knew what he was capable of, you were warned but you couldn’t help but keep looking.

Shadow held his gaze on you before he turned away, looking at the television still playing in the background, the telenovela now capturing his attention.

You watched him as he stared ahead. Deciding you had nothing else to do, you sat down on the floor, not daring to get near Dr Robotniks chair, knowing he’d notice if it was moved even a centimeter. A sigh escaped your lips as whatever was going on in the strange show kept going on, you tried to get into it but it felt too generic for you.

“Why are you here,” Was the first thing you’d heard him say. You perked up at his sudden question, this was the first time since you’d met him that shadow had talked to you.

“What?” You asked him, curious as to what he meant.

He looked back at you, no longer paying attention to the show, “I asked why are you here”

You slightly raised a brow still somewhat confused, “Well I’m uh- an apprentice here so it’s like kinda my job?” You shrugged at the hedgehog, slightly raising your arms.

Shadow didn’t seem satisfied with your answer. The room settled into an uncomfortable silence as Shadow continued to just stare at you.

Nervously you glanced around the room, not out of fear but just confusion as to what he even meant.

“Are you alone?”

“What.” You asked, deadpanning at the straightforward question, “Obviously not-“

“No” Shadow cut you off, “Why are you with them?”

You knew who he was referring to, Stone and Robotnik. Obviously they weren’t your parents, it was easy to see from the way they treated you. Stone was kind but he wasn’t very parental, he was more of a teacher. Robotnik was definitely not parental, he was more like a demanding boss who didn’t give his workers equal pay.

“They’re all I have,” you bluntly responded to the hedgehog, as you slowly brought your legs closer to you.

Noticing the uncomfortable feeling you were getting Shadows gaze somewhat fell, maybe it was empathy or something else that you couldn’t quite understand.

Nervously you fiddled with the necklace around your neck, a two little star emblems given to you by your late mother.

Shadows eyes widened, he stepped closer to you trying to get a glimpse at the necklace. You looked up at him, an arm around your legs, the other gripping the necklace tight.

“You like?” You asked him, noticing how his legs uncontrollably moved him closer to you. His gaze was still fixed on it, as if he was remembering, “My mom gave this to me before she passed, she loved the stars, I do too honestly.”

He slowly sat down in front of you, both of you now looking at each other. Slightly noticing his distress you hesitantly took off the necklace, passing it to him so he could get a closer look. You knew he wouldn’t take it, of course you’d just met him but it felt as if you two had known each other before.

The necklace was silver, it was nicely kept; obviously cleaned regularly although it was a bit too small for you by now but that didn’t seem to stop you from wearing it. On it were two stars, one big star and another smaller star, it looked as if they were shining, but one was brighter than the other.

“A light still shines even though the star is gone,” You mumbled looking at the necklace in Shadows hands. His gaze quickly snapped up, his usual angry demeanor faltering to show a small look of shock.

“What?..” Shadow asked, as he looked between you and the necklace.

You laid on your back, your knees up letting out a sigh, “It’s just, you know something I like to say when I think about her,”

Shadow got up from his sitting position, he walked over to your side, handing you the necklace back as he laid down next to you. There were no stars inside the Crab, just a bunch of machine and technology that you truly didn’t understand half of.

There was a comfortable silence now, as you two laid down next to each other; Shadow sighed, for the first time it sounded like he was free, like the demons from his past were no longer attacking his every thought.

He turned his head to look at you, “You remind me of her,”

Snapping out of your trance you looked back at him, eyebrows slightly raised, “Who?” You asked, your tone soft as to not startle him.

His gaze was, soft, no longer angry at the world, maybe at himself, you really couldn’t tell, “Someone I used to know a long time ago,”

You let out a hum of acknowledgment, “She sounds nice,” you said, looking back towards the roof of the contraption.

Shadow still looked at you, you were no Maria, but you made him rethink; that maybe, maybe the world isn’t as bad as he thought it was, maybe there were people worth saving.

“She was.”

[gyeomsweetgyeom]

⋆⭒˚.⋆ Self-On Kode with Jaehyun ⋆⭒˚.⋆

idol!Jaehyun x f!famous!reader

summary: you and Jaehyun are paired up for an interview. You should know what texting your boyfriend is like, right?

(cw: f!reader, famous!reader)

"Hi," Jaehyun greets the camera, "this is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some music." He settles into the plush pink chair while he fits the headphones over his ears.

His music begins to play while you enter the set and greet the camera which prevents him from hearing who his mystery partner might be. You pop your earbuds in and explain your screen name, "I chose Cupid because I like to set my friends up and help them in their relationships."

The camera cuts to Jaehyun who stares blankly at the camera, "I choose Valentine, because I was born on Valentine's day."

You settle into the chair and make yourself comfortable while your partner for the video begins messaging you. Whoever it is is very proper, uses all the right punctuation and is straightforward. Your eyes widen at the camera, speaking through the music playing through your earbuds, "is this an old man? Am I texting someone's grandpa?"

The staff bursts out laughing and you decide to text your exact question. Jaehyun's eyes widen and he can feel his ears heat in embarrassment beneath the head phones. He texts back with a slight pout on his face, "No, I'm not a grandpa."

You text back and forth for a while, talking about your hobbies, your MBTI, and just trying to make small talk. When you make a joke he doesn't respond with any laughs or emojis, when you try to make more conversation, he responds with short answers. You lean back in your chair, with a huff, "this person is not very fun. It has to be an old man. He doesn’t get any of my jokes!”

The staff prompts you both to send a picture of your home screens. You had recently updated it knowing that you were doing the interview and you and Jaehyun liked to keep your relationship private. Yes, it was known and public, but that didn't mean you were both open to sharing every little aspect, or really any details. Maybe one day you would both be open to sharing everything, but that day was not today.

You quickly take a screenshot of your screen which happens to be a couple folders of your apps and a widget of some picture you had found on Pinterest against the background of some flowers outside your favorite cafe.

Jaehyun perks up a little bit, "I think this looks familiar. I recognize the chairs and words on the wall, even though I can't really see it. Maybe it's one of the members?"

You study the picture sent to you with your brows furrowed as you zoom in and study the apps and the picture, "this looks so familiar to me. It looks like a restaurant in Jeju I was at a few weeks ago, I could be wrong. Let me ask."

The staff struggles to muffle their laughs at yours and Jaehyun's joint confusion. Of course, the pictures looked familiar to each of you, you were together, and had been to these places together.

You continue to text back and forth for a while, finally getting somewhere when he starts to show a little more personality and send some memes in response to your texts. He seemed to be a pretty funny guy, ultimately making you decide it was not an old man you were texting, just someone more proper and maybe old-er.

When it comes time to have you both send your recent food orders, Jaehyun pouts and furrows his brows as he studies the recent orders you'd sent him. There were 3 recent orders, 2 were for 2 people, and the last one was for a larger group. The orders looked familiar, one order for pizza and the other for ramen. It was food he had recently eaten and as hard as he tried to remember he couldn't remember who he had eaten the food with. His schedule had been so packed lately, everything was jumbled up in his head. "It has to be one of my members," he decides out loud.

You study the screenshot sent by "Valentine" while biting your lip, one of the orders was what you had eaten yesterday. A small voice in the back of your head was telling you it was your boyfriend, but he told you he was doing talk shows and variety shows today. This wasn't considered either right? Does he really text like this and you’ve never noticed? Surely, you know what your own boyfriend texts like, right?

You both continue chatting and whoever it is makes you laugh pretty hard at some points when your partner says something stupid or sends a dumb meme. You laugh especially loud, choking on your spit when he sends you a drawing of what he thinks you look like.

You have tears in your eyes and warm cheeks as you stare at a poor drawing of what looks like a boy, freckles, huge eyes, big smile. Your eyes dart from the screen of your phone to the lens of the camera, “wh- he thinks I’m a boy? This doesn’t even look like a person who actually exists!”

Jaehyun on his own side bursts out laughing after zooming in and looking at every detail of the picture, “there are wrinkles on this drawings face. And it’s bald. He thinks I’m an old man, so weird.”

As the time winds to an end you look at the staff behind the camera, somewhat shocked and saddened by the end. "Time flew by!" you scrunch up your face as you think, "I don't think I have a really good read on who it is. I think it's a man that's older than me and probably someone in the music industry since he related to so much. Maybe he's a dancer or producer of some kind."

On the other side Jaehyun is set on who he thinks it is, "it's one of my members, I know it. I think it's Jungwoo or Haechan."

You both stand and turn to face your partners. Upon catching sight of Jaehyun, you immediately scream and run behind the set laughing while screaming, "you told me you had variety shows today! Go home!"

Jaehyun bursts out laughing, hunched over as his cheeks flush, "you didn't tell me either! Get back here!"

Your voice comes out loudly paired with your surprised and embarrassed laughter, "No! I'm so humilated!"

The staff manages to get you both together for the ending conversation. The cameras start filming and you smack Jaehyun's forearm lightly, "you are a horrible texter."

"What did I even say?" He laughs in shock.

"I never realized how boring you are through words, you text like an old man."

Jaehyun answers the staff as they ask how you both possible couldn't pick up on each other through the texts. Jaehyun looks at the camera while he answers, his hand holding yours beneath the tall table, "I think texting is so boring and annoying. We call each other or video call. If we open our messages we use voice notes, we very rarely actually text each other.

You squeeze his hand under the table, eyeing him with a mischievous look, “who did you think I was? You thought I was a boy, who did you have in mind?”

Jaehyun rubs his free hand over his face, already regretting his guess, “before I tell you, you have to understand my thinking. Jeno and Chenle did one of these interviews together so I just figured it could be another member. I thought you were Jungwoo or Haechan.”

You guffaw, a shocked laugh leaving you as you pull your phone out and pull up the drawing he had sent you, “this is what Jungwoo or Haechan look like to you?”

“I’m not an artist! Well, not that kind of artist, but I think it’s pretty good. I even added teeth in the smile.”

“Babe, that’s creepy.”

“Who knew you were such an art critic all of a sudden?” He playfully asks with a bobble of his head.

The staff subtly tell you both to wrap it up, reminding you to take a selfie before ending the video. You catch the cues and smile at Jaehyun, “we’ve been together for a while now but I feel like I learned a lot about you today. You text like an old man, you can’t draw, and you have a horrible memory.”

“Hey! You didn’t know who I was either! The food orders didn’t give anything away?”

“We’re talking about this later,” you decide to reply as you lift your phone to take a selfie.

“Wait, lift it to this angle,” Jaehyun instructs as he gently moves your arm.

“Wow, so bossy,” you mumble jokingly as you snap the picture.

The screen goes black with the selfie of you and Jaehyun with matching bright smiles on your faces as yours and Jaehyun’s laugh transition into the ending of the video.

[astrologydray]

Astrology indicators 5: The good & the bad 🫠🫠

Astrology indicators of a liar 🤥

🤥 Mercury in Hard Aspect to Neptune (square/opposite): Classic indicator of lying or mental fog. Can also show storytelling skills—they can weave fiction so well it sounds real.

🤥 Neptune in the 3rd House or Conjunct Mercury.

• Neptune in the 3rd = blurred thinking, communication that’s vague, slippery, or deceitful.

• May speak in half-truths, avoid clarity, or shift narratives to suit them.

🤥 Mercury in Mutable Signs (especially Gemini or Pisces)

• Gemini Mercury: Can be clever, mentally agile, and good at spinning. If poorly aspected, it can be slick, gossipy, or say what you want to hear.

• Pisces Mercury: Prone to white lies, omissions, or fantasy over fact—especially with Neptune influence.

🤥Strong 12th House or Neptune Dominance

• Planets in the 12th house, especially Mercury, Moon, or Mars, may signal hidden motives or secretive thinking.

• Neptune dominance = master of illusions. They might lie more to protect feelings or hide uncomfortable truths than to deceive maliciously.

🤥Mercury Square Jupiter

• Tends to exaggerate, boast, or bend the truth—especially for approval, attention

🤥 Gemini or Pisces Stelliums

• Gemini = quick-witted, often walking the line between truth and fiction. Might talk themselves in circles or contradict themselves.

• Pisces = dreamy, fluid with boundaries, may lie out of emotional discomfort or escapism.

🤥 Moon Square or Opposite Neptune

• Can indicate emotional dishonesty—even with themselves. They may lie because they feel overwhelmed, ashamed, or confused about their feelings. Often not malicious; they just can’t always tell truth from feeling.

🤥 Venus Square Neptune

• Especially in relationships, this is the “rose-colored glasses” liar—or the one who lies to keep love, attention, or fantasy alive.

• May misrepresent intentions or fall for people who do.

🤥 Mars in Pisces (or badly aspected Neptune Mars)

• This Mars fights indirectly, and can lie by omission, mislead, or manipulate to avoid confrontation.

Astrology indicators of a trustworthy person😇

😇 Mercury in Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

• Grounded, clear, and straightforward communication. Especially Mercury in Capricorn: Doesn’t sugarcoat, values integrity.

• Mercury in Virgo: Precise with details—usually too honest.

😇 Saturn-Mercury Aspects (Especially Trine or Sextile)

• Saturn gives Mercury discipline and structure. These people take responsibility for their words. Rarely speak impulsively; prefer facts over fluff.

😇 Strong 6th House / Virgo Energy

• Loyal, dependable, service-oriented. These people tend to show their trust through actions, not just words. Can be your rock during chaos because they take responsibility seriously.

😇 Moon in Earth or Fixed Signs (Taurus, Capricorn, Scorpio, Aquarius)

• Emotionally stable and don’t switch up often. Scorpio Moon may be secretive but not disloyal—they take loyalty very seriously.

• Taurus and Capricorn Moons = emotionally reliable, don’t play with people’s feelings.

😇 Sun or Ascendant in Fixed Signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)

• Fixed signs = consistent, not easily swayed.

• What they say, they usually mean. If they commit, it’s for the long haul.

😇 Venus in Capricorn or Taurus

• Loyal in love and partnerships.

• These people value long-term bonds, tradition, and accountability.

😇 Saturn in Angular Houses (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th)

• Saturn here gives someone a strong sense of duty and grounded presence. May take time to open up, but when they do, they mean it.

😇 Jupiter in Libra, Cancer, or Sagittarius

• These Jupiters uphold morality, fairness, and care for others.

• Jupiter in Libra especially seeks harmony through honesty.

😇 Mercury Trine or Sextile Jupiter

• Honest, big-picture thinkers who dislike lies or petty manipulation. They’re often generous with info and try to uplift with truth.

Astrology indicators of someone who is a first responder (firefighter, EMT, paramedic, or emergency worker) ⛑️

⛑️ Strong Mars – Action, Courage, Physical Response

• Mars is the planet of fight, drive, adrenaline, and quick reaction.

• Especially powerful in: Aries: Fearless and fast. Capricorn: Controlled, professional, goal-oriented. Scorpio: Focused in life-or-death moments.

• Mars conjunct or trine Saturn: Disciplined action, professional under pressure.

• Mars conjunct Pluto: Handles crisis like a boss. Power, survival, control.

⛑️ Strong 6th House or Virgo Energy – Service & Health

• The 6th house rules day-to-day work, routines, health, and service. Planets here often indicate someone who’s drawn to serving others through skill or labor.

• Especially Mars, Saturn, Pluto, or the Sun in the 6th.

⛑️ Saturn – Discipline, Endurance, Authority

• Saturn shows where you carry responsibility and long-term effort. Saturn in 1st, 6th, or 10th: Serious about work, dependable under pressure.

• Saturn in Capricorn or Virgo adds extra structure and focus.

⛑️ Pluto – Intensity, Crisis Management

• People with strong Pluto influence (especially in aspect to personal planets or the MC) are often:

⛑️ Drawn to high-stakes environments.

⛑️ Good at staying calm in chaos.

⛑️ Emotionally resilient or intense.

⛑️ Uranus – Emergency Work, Sudden Change

• Uranus rules things that happen suddenly—like accidents and crises.

• In the 6th or 10th house, it can show someone who works in emergency settings or unpredictable environments.

• Mars-Uranus aspects: Fast reflexes, thrives in chaotic or high-adrenaline scenarios.

⛑️ MC (Midheaven) or 10th House in Aries, Scorpio, or Capricorn

• Midheaven shows your public role or calling.

• Aries = protector, responder, fighter energy.

• Scorpio = life and death service, often drawn to high-pressure environments.

• Capricorn = reliable and leadership-driven, ideal for structured emergency roles.

⛑️ Aspects Between the Moon and Saturn or Mars

• Moon rules instincts, Saturn brings composure.

• Moon-Mars: Fast emotional reactions, often gutsy and reactive.

• Moon-Saturn: Controlled emotional responses; solid under pressure.

⛑️ North Node in the 6th or 10th House

• A life purpose centered around service, duty, and practical contribution. They’re here to show up and help in tangible ways—often through jobs others couldn’t handle.

⛑️ Fire Element Dominance (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

• Fire signs are naturally bold, energetic, and action-oriented.

• Aries especially has a “rush in to help” instinct.

Astrology indicators of someone who is in the army or military 🪖

🪖 Strong Mars – The Warrior Planet

• Mars in Aries, Capricorn, Scorpio, or Leo = natural leaders or fighters.

• Mars in the 6th or 10th house = work that’s physically demanding, strategic, or structured.

🪖 Mars conjunct or trine Saturn = discipline + endurance = soldier energy.

• Mars square Pluto or Uranus = explosive strength, intensity, risk-taking, or sudden action.

🪖 Saturn – Discipline, Structure, Authority

• Strong Saturn = commitment, following rules, respecting hierarchy. Saturn in 1st, 6th, or 10th house = thrives in environments with strict order.

• Capricorn placements (Saturn-ruled) = born for command and strategy.

• Saturn-Mars combo = disciplined action—a military classic.

🪖 Pluto – Power, Survival, Transformation

• Indicates a comfort with intense, high-stakes situations. Pluto in aspect to Mars or the Ascendant = extreme focus, mental toughness, fearlessness.

• Pluto in 6th or 10th = power and control through one’s job or service.

🪖 Aries or Scorpio Dominance

• Aries = bold, combative, head-on energy. Will take the first hit if it means protecting others.

• Scorpio = strategist, thrives in tactical, high-pressure environments. Deep loyalty and emotional intensity.

🪖 Military Houses: 6th, 10th, and 8th

• 6th House: Daily work + service. Mars, Saturn, or Pluto here = service through strength or hardship.

• 10th House: Career + status. Planets here (especially Mars or Saturn) = public identity shaped by duty or control.

• 8th House: Crisis, control, and survival. Those with personal planets here may be drawn to dangerous or transformative careers.

🪖 Ascendant in Fire or Earth Signs

• Fire Risings (Aries, Leo, Sag): Brave, direct, and ready to lead or defend.

• Earth Risings (Taurus, Virgo, Cap): Grounded, reliable, and slow to break under pressure.

🪖 North Node in Aries, Capricorn, or 6th/10th House

• Their life path involves stepping into authority, service, or leadership roles. They grow by becoming stronger, more self-directed, or more focused on order and duty.

🪖 Uranus + Mars or Saturn – Technology and Sudden Action

• Uranus aspects (especially to Mars/Saturn) can suggest military careers in tech, aviation, communications, or cyber-intelligence.

🪖 Moon in Capricorn, Scorpio, or Aries

• Emotionally tough. These Moons hold steady in chaos and have no issue with strict conditions or hardship. May not show emotion under pressure—good for combat environments.

[twilightofthesandwiches]

So one of the cool and interesting ways ‘Steven Universe’ used to try and balance being both a series of 11-minutes episodes that each have their own satisfying emotional resolution and being an overarching story with complicated character arcs that take multiple seasons to resolve is the… I’m going to call it the ‘Not Quite Right Lesson’ episodes. Episodes where a character kinda learns a Very Important Lesson… but a more careful and retrospective look at the situation shows that what they learned is not Quite the Right Thing for them. They internalized something in that adventure which just ended up causing more Emotional Troubles for themselves farther down the line.

‘The Test’ is the most classic example. 

As a standalone thing, it’s just a sweet episode about Steven learning to accept that his caretakers are also flawed and confused and figuring this shit up as they’re going along just like he is, and then doing a nice thing for their sake.

But looking back at this episode, it is quite obviously the nadir of Steven appointing himself as the Family Therapist and repressing all of his problems so he could better help the Gems’ with theirs. Like, there have been some early warning signs for this Complex, but this episode is the one that really cemented that idea in his mind and probably the reason it took him like the Entire Rest of the Show Including a Post-Finale Season to really untangle it.

But… also, I’ve been thinking a lot about the episode right after that, ‘Future Vision’. I think it’s also a very important ‘Not Quite Right Lesson Episode’ for the character of Garnet, and to some extent, the Crystal Gems as a whole. In many ways, it is to the CGs' character arcs' what 'the Test' is to Steven's.

So in this episode, Garnet reveals to Steven the fact that she has Future Vision. She hoped that telling Steven a little bit more about herself and being honest with him will lead to a greater understanding and a greater bond between them… but it backfired. It just led Steven to become a total paranoid, terrified wreck stuck in a total existential crisis.

And it seems like the lesson Garnet learned is that… she should’ve never taken that risk at all. That it would’ve been better for everyone if she just kept Steven ignorant of the truth forever.

Extremely reinforced with the ending of the episode, where Garnet chooses to once again hide an uncomfortable truth (that he just came very close to dying again) from Steven, for the sake of his own ‘peace of mind’.

So, like, the Gems were already hiding uncomfortable truths from Steven since day one. “If you could only know what we really are” and all of that. But I think… With the actual truth of Homeworld encroaching on them more and more at this point of the story arc, this would’ve been a great time for the Gems to reconsider their attitude and actually Explain to Steven What the Hell is Going On. 

But instead, I think Garnet saw the events of ‘Future Vision’ as a reinforcement of the idea that there’s just some things Steven is Better Off Not Knowing. Actually being frank with him about Homeworld and the Diamonds and the War right there and then, that would have just overwhelmed Steven with fears and worries and would’ve ended up doing nothing but hurting him. And Garnet can’t accept that possibility, not again.

And so, Garnet, alongside Amethyst and Pearl, keep all these truths from Steven as long as possible. Only revealing bits of information when they have to. For Amethyst it’s about her emotionally-evasive attitude (also, she legit doesn’t know all of that stuff herself). For Pearl it’s about how she learned to romanticize Rose’s own fucked-up obsession with secrets. For Garnet, with her usually very direct attitude and preference for the most straightforward solutions, I think it’s very much the events of ‘Future Vision’ that were still playing in her head every time she had the choice to actually Explain something to Steven and decided not to. 

But that, indeed, was Not Quite the Right Lesson. While being bluntly and directly told by Garnet all about the Many Ways He Could Die caused Steven to go into an anxiety spiral and an existential crisis for an episode - the way the Gems have been consistently secretive and evasive with Steven ended up causing him so much more emotional grief to him in the long run. As all of these secrets ended up revealed to him in the most surprising, dramatic and traumatizing way possible.

And the secretive attitudes ended up driving a wedge between Steven and the Gems. 

Even after they promised to be more honest with him. Because the sight of Steven crying on the roof that day is one that Garnet can easily move away from. Because Garnet’s Not Quite Right Lesson was almost as difficult for her to unlearn as Steven’s own. 

But after the big confrontation at the start of the Zoo Arc, Garnet ended up being the most upfront about the Crystal Gems’ history. Almost overeager to share what she knows about the past.

I mean also, again, Amethyst just has less to tell and Pearl is hiding secrets for reasons beyond her control - but I think it’s also important to consider from the perspective of Garnet’s arc.

Because the fallout of the Pink Diamond Reveal is very much centered around Garnet (or, well, Ruby and Sapphire). That was the Truth that was hidden from her 'for her own good'. And at the end of the day, despite all the grief that unveiling that truth has caused

It has also brought them, all of them, a lot closer.

There's a reason why 'the Truth' is Garnet's Final Missing Piece in the movie. It is as central to her character arc in the series as Lesbian AngstTM grief over lost love is to Pearl.

And still, some remnants of the Trauma of 'Future Vision' remained...

After all, even the very last episode of 'Future' was centered around the Gems once again trying to hide things from Steven (at that case, their turmoil about him leaving) for his own sake

Even though it once again just caused Steven a whole lot of grief.

It's maybe notable that at the end of this episode, Garnet, once again, tells Steven what's waiting for him in his Future...

[cj-etc]

Writing the five senses: Sound

Like sight, writing sounds can be very straightforward. But how do you stray away from the same tired descriptions every time? Here are a few suggestions!

Figurative language

Not every sound has the same cadence, length, volume, etc.. Using figurative language to describe a sound is one of the best way to get your meaning across. Onomatopoeia, hyperbole, metaphor/simile, and assonance are all great ways to do this. For example, "Her laugh floated through the air, as sweet as the ringing of a thousand bells" uses both simile and hyperbole to paint an image.

Repetition

Sometimes, if you really want to push a sound into your reader's mind, repetition can be your best friend. Showing a repeating sound helps highlight its importance. "After the storm cleared and the thunder dissipated, Henry's ceiling made a gentle drip, drip, drip as stray water leaked through the framework." Repetition is especially useful in horror, as it helps build suspense.

Use strong verbs

"The cat screamed loudly" is an obvious description, but "The cat yowled" evokes a stronger image in your reader's mind. Using adjectives such as loud, hard, sharp, etc. in conjunction with stronger verbs like scream, chirp, rattle, etc.

Zero in on specifics

Don't feel like you have to overdo it! While using synonyms and adding additional descriptors might feel like it enhances your meaning, it doesn't always come across naturally. Sometimes, less is more! Make sure you aren't including too much, as it's easy to overwhelm readers with confusing details.

As always, nothing I've discussed in this post is a set rule, and you're free to take as much or as little from this list as you like. The most important part of writing is to do what you think is best for your story! Have a writing question? Send me an ask!

[hunhoonie]

ᦾ BUS STOP ! ୨୧ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀

⭑ in which everyday, you meet park sunghoon while waiting for your bus home .ᐟ psh x gn!reader #tw: none ¡ ʬʬ word count: 1.6k

"all giddy for your boyfriend again?" your friend teased you, elbowing your ribs lightly.

"i already told you, he's not my boyfriend" you rolled your eyes, adjusting the strap of the bag on your shoulder.

"yeah, but you wish" you didn't even bother to answer to his remark, cause you knew the reality all too well: hell yes, you did.

your first meeting with park sunghoon wasn't so usual. in full honesty, it wasn't even a meeting to begin with.

just like any other day after the never ending hours of classes, you made your way to the designated stop that was needed to get to your house. as a senior, you had decided to take more responsabilities uppon on yourself; making you stay later than ever before in the school library, burried between notes and textbooks.

so, after bidding your friend goodbye, you dragged your feet over the pavement to catch the bus home. and that september afternoon was the first time you met him: dark hair, straight nose and dreamy eyes. park sunghoon always looked unbelievable good, even with his hair damped and the very much non-flattering school gym clothes.

you obviously had seen him before (as previously stated, he was rather hard to miss), yet that one time felt different. maybe it was the limited space that the shelter provided, maybe it was the self conciousness of your tangled hair pulled up into a bun with a mymelody pencil as support. you couldn't quite put your finger on it, but the mere thought of that day tingled in your stomach.

you didn't even talk at the time. sunghoon simply nodded in aknowledge when he caught a glipse of you and you reciprocated. that was it. peak romaticism, right?

except i wasn't. well, at least not in the long run. at some point, the dry nodding became an effortless 'hi'. later on, you once asked him why he always had damp hair. turns out he always leaved school late due to practice with the school's team. he also questioned back why you took the bus at that hour, getting a concise response of 'study group'.

but that straightforward interaction somehow opened the door to new exchanges; and the ten minute wait till your bus showed up became a conversation to look forward to. it was just a moment, a brief social relation, but your heart always felt lighter in some way after it.

around mid october, you mentioned a cute place near your house. sunghoon had ask if you new any good restaurant, since his friend's birthday was right around the corner and he wanted to treat him a good meal.

"wait, you mean near the park with the huge green slide?" sunghoon brows furrowed, confused.

you nodded, impressed of how he recognised the not-so-popular spot "yeah, that's the one. have you ever been there?"

"no, not really. but i usually walk pass that place while walking my dog" he explained and that was your cue to be the surprised one.

"sunghoon... where do you live?" when he told you his adress, you couldn't help but to laugh "oh my gosh, you've been taking the wrong bus this whole time!"

as your giggles grew louder, his ears turned redder "no worries, you have me now. i'll show you where you have to get off" you grabbed his wrist as the vehicle stopped before you, dragging him with you. the touch sent shivers down your spine, but you concealed them by making fun of the boy for his lack of attentiveness.

and as easily as that, your daily ten minutes became over an hour, as now sunghoon and you took the bus together to class in the morning and back home at noon.

by the time november came around and the days became shorter, sunghoon started walking you home from the bus stop to make sure you made it safely. at first you tried to convince him that it wasn't necessary and it would just make him waste time, since your place was the opposite direction from his. but he obviously didn't listen.

in december, you made him wait at the doorway of your house as you sprinted inside. it was the friday before his birthday and you had spent a ridiculous amount of time the prevous night preparing something for him. not your smartest move, knowing that the following week you would've be facing the semestral exams.

yet it all was worth it when he peaked into the cutesy bag you had given him and grinned like a fool seeing the big container of tiramisú laying at the bottom of it. that was the first time he hugged you.

it was now the first day after winter break, and while everyone was sulking about already missing their holidays, you couldn't differ more.

"i already told you, he's not my boyfriend"

"yeah, but you wish" your silence made him gasped "are you not longer in denial?"

as usual, you side eyed him "i'm not, nor i was before" an ironic 'sure' came from your companion, while you sigh "i didn't even see him today, jay drove him here"

"how come?" he questioned.

"i don't know, he told me something about 'basketball business'" you quoted with your fingers "do you know something? isn't taehyun in the team, too?" your interrogations came a bit more desparate than intended.

"you don't think he lied to you, do you?" hueningkai broke the silence with the thought you wouldn't have the courage to put into words.

"i don't know" you took a deep breath "later today, i saw him in the hall and he faced the other way. sure, he was talking with his friends, but not even a hi? it was... just weird"

"you're overthinking it, maybe he just didn't see you. don't look me like that, you know how sunghoon zooms out, he could be staring into your soul and not register your existence" your friend continued.

"guess you're right" you agreed, with a halfhearted smile "thank you, hyuka"

on the other hand, the bus shelter was far more crowded than usual, as sunghoon paced around franatically "dude, you're gonna make a hole in the ground if you don't stop right now" jake exclaimed.

"i'm nervous, okay?" he blurted out, adjusting his clothes. it wasn't the usual poorly manufactured gym uniform, but some of his personal clothing, making him look smart. he even had put some effort in fixing his hair, which sat perfectly combed back.

"oh, we can tell" heeseung answered, raising a brow.

"yeah, coach almost used your head as ball today" niki laughed "no wonder he called the practise off earlier"

"sunghoon, calm down. you're good" jay put his hands on his friend's shoulders, steading him.

"but what if she doesn't like me back?" sunghoon could feel his whole body shaking under jongseong's grip.

"she does like you" sunoo rolled his eyes "it's so painfully obvious"

"either way, you won't know if you don't try" jungwon encouraged him, looking afar behind his frame "and you better get your act together cause she's coming"

"she's what? already?!" he turned around, dramatically.

"good luck, you got this!" jake made fists with his hands, cheering him up.

"i don't think i do" sunghoon stood still, anxious.

"i don't think he does either"one of the boys whispered, before disappearing of his vision right on time.

"sunghoon?" your voice filtered throught the air, sending shivers down his back as he turned around "goodness! aren't you cold?"

he barely had time to process your words before you raised your arms, unwrapping your scarf and putting it on him "how are you wearing only this flimsy jacket? we are on january"

"i'm not cold, though" he softly spoke, the tips of his ears turning a shade of pink because of the close distance.

"you are literally trembling" you argued as your hands efficiently worked on making a loose knot with the wool.

sunghoon suddenly grabbed your hands, stopping you from your task "i have something to tell you" your eyes met his, already looking at you. your cheeks heated up.

"sure" you stuttered, flustered "what it is"

"i like you. i have for a while now" he revealed "i was afraid of telling you, but i missed you so much during the break, i don't even wanna know what would happen if we graduated and i hadn't tell you because—"

with a swift move, you dragged him down by your own scarf, joining your lips. he stayed still for a solid second, before putting his hands on your waist and pulling you closer.

once you separated to catch your breath, a stupid grin adorned your face "i like you too" "oh, wait" he abruptly walked away to the bench of the shelter, which you haven't even noticed before, had a bouquet sitting on top "i was supposed to give you this?"

you raised your eyes, surprised, still gladly accepting the present. they were your favorite flowers "you were supposed?"

sunghoon looked down, embarrased "yeah i kinda asked for some... guidance, if you will" you chuckled at his choice of words "that's also why i didn't take the bus this morning"

"just confessed and already lying to me, park?" you joked, earning a shy giggle from him "you're lucky you are cute"

"so you think i'm cute" he judge your statement "more like handsome"

you shaked your head "no, i meant cute. especially in pink" you played with his (your) scarf one last time before kising him again "it really suits you"

and you left him behind, too stunned, before getting on the bus that had just arrived.

@ hunhoonie 2025 ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⤿ check out my archive ¡ ⋆

[vivmaek]

LOVE & SEX: ASTRO OBSERVATIONS (18+)

Happy Scorpio season everyone!

Sagittarius Risings are the best at flirting. I may be biased considering that I’m a Gemini Rising, but I stand by my opinion. They know how to evade small talk and make people melt through their warmth and charm. Sagittarius Risings can be cocky, but this serves them well when trying to gain romantic attention. Confidence is sexy. They keep things light hearted and fun. Their commitment issues add a layer of excitement to their relationships, they’re often pursued by multiple people at once. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

A Cancer Venus or Mars could spend the entire day in bed with their partner. They blend cuddles, foreplay, and sex into long sessions that seemingly have no end.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Those who have their Sun in the third house can carry out a long-distance relationship successfully. A strong sense of imagination keeps the relationship alive within their head. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

People who have Mars in the sixth house need to find a partner who is spontaneous. Their sex life might start to feel like a routine and they’ll become bored. Sex is important to these individuals, it has to remain exciting if these types are going to settle down. 

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Someone with Mars opposite to their Ascendant might find that they give more than they receive within their sexual relationships. They might participate in sexual activities just to appease their partner. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

A Scorpio Mars might have secret sex fantasies that make them feel ashamed. They also probe into the sex life of their partners through pointed questions. This does not come from a place of curiosity, if they start doing this it's because they feel possessive and jealous. They want to be the best their partner has ever had. 

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Individuals with Mars in the first house have the best stamina, hands down. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

An Aquarius Venus is always getting caught up within the most complicated romantic endeavors. They’re the first to claim that they’re easy-going and just want to fall in love with their best friend. When in reality, they’re avoidant and uncomfortable with conventional romantic affection. They’re delusional for thinking this isn’t going to cause issues. 

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

People with a Pisces Venus will toy around with multiple people at once and then they’ll have the audacity to become confused when one of their partners finds out and is upset. Their love and affection for others is innocent. They’re just following their heart, and if it leads them into the arms of multiple people, so be it. Unlike other water venus placements, a Pisces Venus is not possessive over their lovers, they’re just here for the vibe. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Capricorn Ascendants are incredibly classy. Dating them feels like a high-end experience. They know how to treat their partners right. They show up on time and are always appropriately dressed for the occasion. 

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

People who have a Libra Sun placed within the tenth house find it difficult to balance their love life and career. It seems that these two areas of life are always in conflict with one another. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Individuals who have their Sun placed within the first house are honest and straightforward, they don’t play around with people and they do everything they can to avoid hurt feelings. 

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Taurus Moons like to eat before sex. If they didn’t get a chance to do this, they’ll get up and make themselves a sandwich immediately afterwards. They’ll make one for their partner too ofc ;) They are very attentive when it comes to aftercare, they’ll help their partner get dressed and will make sure all their emotional needs are being met. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

People who have Venus conjuncting their Ascendant end up in relationships with ease, but these relationships also end just as quickly as they started.  

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

The sexual endeavors of someone with Mars in the tenth house are publicly known. Their nudes may get leaked, and their past partners like to brag about shared sexual experiences. 

[towasdandelion]

Can you also make a part two with sinostra frostheim and mortkranken with hickey smau?

👉👈

Yes! Here it is, the last part basically hehe. Hope you like it! Warning suggestiveeee

Sinostra, Mortkranken and Frostheim ghouls when they leave a hickey on you

Taiga... Do I even have to say anything? He treats biting you like a full time job. And he doesn't care about his surroundings either. You can be minding your own business taking a walk around the campus and he will just appear out of nowhere and bite your neck, getting a very embarrassing sound out of you. Shame? Not in his dictionary. So yeah, don't expect him to take your whining seriously in any way. It's not going to change anything whatsoever. But hey, at least he's usually careful enough not to hurt you with his sharp teeth!

Romeo will literally lie through his teeth. He always says how unhygienic and weird it is and how he would never bruise your skin like that but then somehow, mysteriously some marks appear on your neck. Naturally you just had to confront him about it. And behold, there's your one in a million chance to see Romeo embarrassed. He's annoyed with himself. Why couldn't he just resist? What was so good about it that made him think about doing it again? Well, I advise against teasing him too much or he will legit get upset. If it happens again don't bring it up either. Just accept his love bites.

Ritsu hmm I guess he would sneak one in here and there when he's feeling extremely affectionate. Or when you two are studying and he catches a glimpse of your exposed neck. He's not really embarrassed about it either. It's just one of the ways to express his love after all, so your reaction is a bit confusing. Oh, so it's about your image? You do have a point then. As the best lawyer, he cares about his appearance a lot after all. It won't really make him stop biting you though, no. He will just leave his love bites somewhere no one else can see them from now on.

Don't ask me why but I see Jiro being addicted to biting you. He just loves seeing and tracing the small bruises with his fingertips whenever it's just the two of you. He genuinely doesn't realize the effect he has on you. Affection is a normal part of every healthy relationship, isn't it? You could say it's very straightforward for him. He doesn't see the point in hiding anything. If he likes someone, he shows it - fair and simple. So long as you're okay with it, he won’t stop marking you with those subtle signs of how much he cares.

The "this is unsanitary!!" guy number two - Yuri. He swears he would never do something like that, adding how's there are many better ways to show affection. And yet... One day you see a small purplish mark on the back of your neck. (Yes he was trying to be sneaky hoping maybe you wouldn't notice it there) Let's just say he's less than pleased when you bring it up. It's just for science he says! (Science my ass he's just delusional and won't admit his desires for you) Well, he understands your embarrassment because he's pretty embarrassed himself. Probably won't do it ever again unless you reassure him it's okay. You should also promise him that you won't be bringing it up each time it happens.

Jin’s definitely an actions speak louder than words kind of guy, so marking you is right up his alley. He loves reminding you that you’re his whether it’s his hand on your waist everywhere you go, or draping his jacket over your shoulders like it’s second nature. Though his favorite is actually marking you. He doesn’t see why you’d get so embarrassed about it. To him, it’s just natural and instinctive. A quiet, physical way of saying mine without needing to say a word. And if you catch him glancing at it later with that faint smirk? Yeah, he knows exactly what he’s doing.

Tohma usually goes for kisses rather than hickeys, so you might feel caught off guard when you notice a small mark on your collarbone peeking from underneath your unbuttoned shirt. Oh, so at least he was considerate enough to leave it somewhere a bit less visible. When you ask him about it later, he’ll just smile, asking you to show it to him. That one picture from you makes him sure - this is not going to be the last one. It’s rare for him to act like that, but now that he’s started? He’s definitely not planning to stop.

Lucas isn’t the type to act on impulse, especially not with you. He’s always measured, always gentle, so when you catch a mark low on your neck it genuinely catches you off guard. You send him a photo later, asking if he’s aware of what he left behind. He doesn’t deny it of course. He feels a little embarrassed getting exposed like that but that's something he can put aside. What he can't however is your reaction. He's hoping he didn't make you feel to uncomfortable or weird. What can I say, sometimes even someone like Luca will give in to his desires

Kaito is not exactly known for bold moves. Don't get me wrong he wants to make a move here and there but often he just.. chickens out, thinking its probably not a good moment. And so the tiny mark just under your collarbone unexpected, to say the least. He’s more the type to apologize for breathing too loud. You decide to confront him about your finding. The 'read' appears immediately but there's no reply. He's probably screaming into his pillow right now. Five minutes later your phone buzzes with a flood of texts - panicked, and awkward. He may be spiraling but deep down he’s also a little proud, smug even. Just too scared to admit it out loud.

[heretherebeturtles-comic]

⭐

ALRIGHT! I told myself I would write this as a reward for finishing today's tasks, so lets go!

Here There Be - Director's Commentary :D!!

Starting with Chapter 1 part 1 (pages 1-4)

First of all, everyone say a big thank you to my friend and editor OurLadyOfCoffee for double checking the spelling and grammar for this comic.

Any mistakes in the writing are my own fault for making last minute changes and not showing her before posting. If she had gotten her hands on this page "missing in all the time in this city" would never have happened ( u_u)... I'll go back and fix the page eventually.

Pages 1 & 2 (and 20) did not exist in the original draft of the chapter. I made it to the lineart/inking stage and the page flow was not working. April's narration felt too cramped and boring. I completely redid the whole 4 page section, and the end the final result is so much better!

Page 1 - Panel 1 had two purposes! One, the establishing shot, introducing our setting. Two, to show that NYC is rebuilding after the Krang. Its been a few months and thanks to cartoon logic, they have made significant progress fixing everything.

I love to experiment with colour as a storytelling device. I use red/orange multiple times at specific points throughout the chapter. It simply morning in NYC or is there something dangerous on the horizon... (figuratively)? The good ol' "Red sky at morning, sailors take warning."

Page 1. Panel 2 has a little 1987 April reference with the lady in the jumpsuit on the right. I was really excited to see a few folks point it out, even if it's not quite the iconic yellow jumpsuit. The colour had to be muted or the bold yellow would pull attention away from April (the focus of the panel).

Hello Junior, what do you have there? Something that won't get context for a while? These panels almost didn't make it into the final cut due to page/panel limits. I was very happy that the added pages gave space for it.

Page 2 - someone sent an ask a while back confused about what April was saying, so to explain the text in a more straightforward way: "the mutants that started out as humans have been going missing, but no one knows how long it has been happening or who has taken them. April has figured out that the non-human based mutations disappeared first."

that orange again, this time over the spots where the now missing mutants used to be :)<. I have no idea if this sort of thing is too subtle or not subtle enough, but it makes me go eheehehee and rub my hands together like an evil mastermind.

Page 3 - I debated whether or not to have them move after the movie. How much structural damage did the Krang do on their way through? What are the chances of the lair being discovered because of this? Would the city be too focused on cleanup elsewhere to bother finding it? Do I really want to design a whole new lair when this one is cool and we barely got to see it? In the end I decided that it was more important to have a familiar visual that the readers can instantly identify as the turtle's home. We'll see if there are consequences for remaining in a potentially compromised lair. :)

Despite only showing two rooms in the page, I spent several hours gathering references and building a layout for the entire station lair. I do not control the hyperfocus, it controls me.

Did you know that there are two different designs for this one archway in the main room? I love seeing stuff like this! If an animation studio with multiple background artists can have small inconsequential inconsistencies like this, then it's completely ok if it happens in my own work. It's relieving in a weird way.

PAGE 3 - panel 5 is another way I tried to show that a few months have passed since the movie. They have put some work into unpacking some of those boxes stacked in the back.

Page 4 - Hello Two Phones Jones <3

The Jones Duo! They both have a little outfit change :D! CJ has a rough edged jean vest calling back to the 1990 movie with 03 colours. Casey has a base outfit colour change to match and a cropped hoodie reminiscent of 1987, in pink ofc.

I do not yet have the skills to show the fight that happened in that shipping yard, so I decided that this comic would begin in the tense quiet after it. This also starts us closer to the actual plot instead of dilly dallying. Maybe I'll eventually make a prelude comic to show what all went down.

Aaand that's pretty much it for April's 03 style narrated opening sequence! This is where the intro theme would start playing~

Thank you for the star, I hope this was interesting! I make so many small decisions per page, it's nice to share some of my thoughts. :)

[moonstruckme]

Hey love, im back to plague you with another idea...

A situationship / budding relationship james x reader where shes the Black brothers sister, but every time one of them catchs the two of them alone they physically pick her up and just walk away with that menacing Black stare.

Tysm love x

Thanks for requesting sweetheart!

James Potter x Black!reader ♡ 911 words

“Do you really think this is the best place to hang out?” you ask James, eyeing the closet in his dorm as if you’re brother’s going to come popping out. 

“It’ll be fine,” he promises you in that optimistic, sure-footed way of his. 

From the way Regulus had talked about Sirius’ friends at Hogwarts, you’d expected James to be insufferable. Arrogant, entitled, the true embodiment of the mask your oldest brother puts on when he’s here at school. But you’d discovered when you’d arrived that Sirius’ goofy friend wasn’t the James Potter you were warned about. He was self-assured, certainly. Confident, but in the years you’ve known him it’s never seemed like anything more sinister than that. James doesn’t walk into every room like he owns it; he walks in like it’s home. He brings that everywhere with him—that feeling of home, of belonging. It seeps into you when you’re with him, and to your brother’s acute repugnance, you’re with him more and more these days. 

“Remus is off with Lily, and Sirius got pulled aside by coach after practice, so he’ll be on the pitch running drills for a good hour yet,” James goes on. He sits down on his bed, and you follow suit. “Plus, your dorm is occupied and this is the only other semi-private place I could think of.” His smile goes a bit sheepish as he shrugs, one-shouldered and boyish. 

You catch his meaning—the privacy carries implications neither of you are ready to act on—and you’ve got no reason to feel awkward about that but a nervous laugh fizzes up out of you anyway. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” you admit. Though Sirius is far from unaware of this blossoming whatever between you and James, neither of you are keen on him finding out through the grapevine that you were seen canoodling in the hallways. Privacy is ideal. “So, I’m guessing practice went better for you than it did for him?” 

James shrugs again, the show of humility making you both grin. You can never seem to stop doing that around him. “Yeah,” he says, “practice for a seeker is pretty straightforward. Less strategy to it, so I guess I got off easy.” 

“You make it sound like Sirius isn’t just hitting things with a bat,” you deadpan, and he laughs. The sound feels like sunbeams shooting straight into your gut. 

“It’s a bit more complicated than that,” he hedges. “But hey, are you coming to the party after the match on Saturday?” 

“Is there still going to be a party if you lose?” 

James fixes you with a look. “We never lose, sweetheart.” 

Another giggle bubbles out of you, though the joke isn’t really that hilarious. You secretly love when James calls you names like that. It makes your heart do all sorts of funny, acrobatic things. You don’t love that it’s probably not so secret, and he can almost definitely tell. His eyes go warm now, a knowing smile playing on the corner of his mouth. 

“Yeah,” you say, “I’ll think about it.” 

“You should come,” he encourages, leaning his hands back on the mattress. You very pointedly do not let your eyes linger on his forearms as he does so. “It’d make me happy to see you there.” 

“You’re always happy,” you tease. 

“That’s because you only see me when I’m seeing you.” You must look confused, because James’ clarifies, voice softening slightly, “I can’t help but be happy when I’m with you, sweetheart.” 

The combined effect of the words, the tone of his voice, the sweet way he’s looking at you—it starts up more than butterflies in your stomach. There’s got to be a whole ecosystem in there by now, with buzzing bees and jumping frogs and everything. You look down, a half-hearted effort to hide the smile that takes you.

“James,” you murmur, lightly chiding. 

The door comes open, and your brother’s eyes widen as they take in you on James’ bed, his hand an inch away from your leg and both of you looking terribly caught. Then they narrow. 

“James Potter, zip your pants back up right this instant!” 

“Sirius!” you exclaim, and there’s no lightness to this chiding, your face heating with mortification. You glance at James’ zipper, just to be sure—and yup, it’s fully closed, everything contained—and then glance quickly away, horrified all over again that you’d looked. 

“We weren’t even doing anything,” you seethe, knowing your stare matches your brother’s as you glower at each other from across the room. “What are you even doing back?” 

Sirius rolls his eyes, utilizing that older brother’s insouciance he knows gets under your skin like nothing else. “It seems you’ve gotten turned around. These are the boys’ dorms.” His words drip venom onto the dull red rug. “I’ll be happy to escort you back to yours. Let’s go.” 

“No.” You set both hands on James’ bed, feeling ridiculously petulant. Sirius raises a brow as if to say No? but you ignore him. “This dorm is as much James’ as it is yours, and he invited me here.” 

“Pads,” James says, not quite softly, but mildly compared to the fiery tones you and your brother are throwing back and forth, “we’re just talking.” 

“And now you’re done talking.” Sirius shrugs, stalking toward you. You grip James’ sheets a bit tighter on instinct. “If I recall, you have a potions’ essay to write, and you’re not—ugh.” He grunts, wresting you away from James’ bed using a hold that’s worked since you were kids. James himself offers no help, other than a sympathetic grimace as you’re hauled off. Sirius fixes him with a cold glare in return. “You’re not getting that done in here.” 

“You are so immature,” you gripe as he starts tugging you towards the stairs, your feet barely skimming the ground. 

“We can talk about—oi, quit!—we can talk about who’s more mature when you stop pinching me, you prick!” 

[daistea]

I love love love the scenarios of Kabru with a person who is oblivious, but what about someone who is hyper aware of how other people feel towards them as a defense mechanism? Someone who is constantly aware of everything that's going on and it's something they can't turn off but as a result hates guessing games and won't act unless the other person is genuinely forward. They aren't bad and are polite but will blatantly ignore hints. I think there's another layer of hilarity in that one.

Ya! I don't know if I captured what you're looking for, to be honest. But I tried my best, and I hope you like it!

1600 words !

no tw or spoilers I don't think

Cracks - Kabru x reader

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Your heart was a fortress. There were moats and ballistas and canons aimed straight at anyone who dared approach. You weren’t sure when the fortress walls raised, but you knew when another stone was added, when they grew higher. 

And Kabru’s charming smile only piled more stones atop the wall. 

That smile was intended for another purpose, you knew. He’d realize that soon enough, but until then, you would maintain eye contact and nod along with his conversations. He didn’t talk about himself often, but he had stories to tell, anecdotes, theories. And he wanted your opinion on every single one. 

“What do you think?” Kabru asked. It was a line cast into the water with bait on the hook. It was the sliding of a chess piece across the board. And he didn’t mean to play these games, you also knew that. It was just how he was. 

“I don’t know,” was all you gave him. 

Kabru nodded to himself. He was good at covering up his disappointment, but you could practically see the gears turning in his pretty head. The only thing you weren’t sure of was why, exactly, he had wanted to see you today. 

Finally, he returned his attention to you, “Do I make you uncomfortable?”

You felt yourself tense. Your shoulders slumped a little and you uncrossed your arms— he was probably reading your closed-off body language, but that was all simply habit, not a result of discomfort. 

“No, you don’t,” and you meant it. You weren’t about to inform him of why you never took the bait, but you’d throw him a bone. “You really don’t. I just… Wait, that was a very straightforward question, Kabru. How uncharacteristic of you.”

“I can be straightforward when I want to be,” He sent you another brilliant smile, though the look in his eyes told you that it was genuine. 

“Why do you want to be at this moment?”

Kabru looked away. He stared at his barely-touched mug of ale, doing his best not to shift uncomfortably on the bar stool. Yet, you saw it; the slight bounce of his knee, how his nose wrinkled. 

Finally: “I’m figuring something out,” he said. 

“Aren’t you always?” You teased. 

And he sent you another genuine smile with a hint of something, you weren’t sure. How annoying. Was it affection? You decided to push the thought aside for the sake of your sanity. 

“Yeah, you’ve got me,” he put his hands up and laughed, then took a sip of his ale as if needing something to do with himself to ease the tension that was slowly seeping between you. Tension: a noxious, invisible gas. It was about to give you a headache. 

You turned on the stool to face him, “What’s on your mind?”

Kabru’s smile turned wry, “Now you’re the one prying.” Your heart clenched. That was another stone on the wall. He knew you and it made you want to run away as fast as you could. 

“I guess,” you said, “Yeah, I do that sometimes.”

“I don’t mind,” Kabru murmured. 

What a lie. 

˚ · • . ° .

“Why are you two like this?” Rin asked. Her eyes were narrowed and her hands pressed down on her hips. Both you and Kabru took in the sight and began silently reaching conclusions. 

Kabru was the first to answer. “What do you mean? What’re we like?” He wasn’t confused in the least but made a good show of it. 

“Like this!” She gestured at you both, how close you were sitting with thighs and shoulders brushing. “You’re constantly dancing around each other and, frankly, it’s obnoxious.”

She was right. One step towards each other always resulted in two steps back. Kabru would create a verbal maze that you would instantly get lost in. You knew the general layout and that you should go a certain direction, but you never did find the exit. 

“Sorry,” you offered, hoping it would quell Rin’s annoyance. (It did not.)

“Are you two aware that…” Rin paused. She seemed to choke on her words as her cheeks slowly went pink. You and Kabru both stared. And stared. And Stared. Finally, Rin groaned, “Nevermind! This is your problem to figure out. Not mine.”

True enough. 

“She’s right,” Kabru murmured after she left. He lowered his head and looked at you, trapping you beneath his spotlight. Unfortunately, you had stage fright. 

“Right about what?” You asked, standing up to create distance; that spotlight was uncomfortably warm. But the lack of that warmth from Kabru’s body next to yours only created a gaping hole in your chest. (You'd have to fill that hole with sweets and distractions later.)

Kabru pursued your attention, “About our feelings, of course.”

Your feelings? At that moment, you were feeling quite shaken as cracks began to run up your fortress walls. 

“What feelings?” You asked flatly. 

His hopeful little smile instantly fell and he started to shift uncomfortably, “Our feelings.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Don’t make me say it.”

“I’m not making you say anything,” you corrected, taking a step backward, preparing your retreat. 

“Yes you are,” Kabru began to argue desperately, “I’ve spent months trying to give you hints! I told you ‘the moon is beautiful, isn’t it?’ and you started talking about how the craters kind of looked like Laois’s face. I compared our hand sizes together as an excuse to touch you, and all you said was that I have girlish hands!”

“You do.”

“You know me,” he grit his teeth, standing up from the bench, “you know how hard this is for me. I’ve given you so many hints, so many opportunities, but you’ve ignored them all!”

Hints. Even the word made you frown. Kabru wanted to play guessing games all day, while all you wanted was a simple game of truth and dare where everybody only picked truth. 

Sometimes, you couldn’t help but wonder why you loved this man. He always banged at the walls of your fortress and, recently, some stones had begun to crumble. You added more, but they would only fall when he decided to say something outright on rare occasion.

“I don’t like games,” was all you said. 

“I know,” Kabru exhaled and ran his fingers through his hair, closing his eyes, “I know. I’m trying, really. Usually, I’m pretty adaptable, but this is just… Different.”

“And… You don’t like it?”

“I–” his mouth opened and closed before he looked at you straight on, “I don’t hate it, honestly. It’s different in a good way, as if it’s forcing me to be better with my words.”

“You’re already good with your words. You’re too good with them, that’s the problem.”

Kabru watched you for a moment. You allowed him to analyze you despite how it made your skin tingle. After a bit, he nodded to himself. “Do you want to get a drink?” He asked. 

“...I brought my water canteen with me, so I really don’t—

“You’re just blatantly ignoring my hints, aren’t you?” Kabru announced. His eyes widened and he threw his hands into the air. Whirling away, he gripped his hair and groaned. You couldn’t help but smile at the sight. 

“Maybe you should try a new method,” you offered, patting his back, “one that doesn’t involve implications and guesses.”

Slowly, he lifted his head. He looked a bit dead inside, and his jaw tensed. You felt as if you were watching him force himself to eat a monster out of a sheer need to please. It endeared him to you, but at the same time, you couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the guy. The things Kabru put himself through simply to maintain good graces were endless and difficult. 

“I…” he paused, blinking a few times before he finally looked at you, “Would that work?”

Probably. “Think of it like therapy,” you said as you led him back to the bench and sat down beside him. “Try to be blunt with me. Practice.”

“Practice,” he echoed under his breath.

“Come on.”

His eyes narrowed, “Fine. Where do I start? Give me a prompt.”

Good question. You gave it a moment of thought, “Alright, try asking me on a date.”

“I just did a few minutes ago.”

“No, be blunt about it.”

A heavy pause. Kabru slumped forward a little, an intense look in his eyes. “Alright. Fine. Will you go on a date with me?”

“...Why?”

“Why?” Fear and horror and exasperation filled his eyes, "Shouldn't you already know?"

“I don't. So, why?”

“Because—” just like Rin did earlier, Kabru choked on his words. His hands went up and he made meaningless gestures with them as if that would assist in the process of being blunt. “Because I would like that?”

“Good job!” You patted him on the shoulder. “Now, bluntly tell me how you feel about me.”

The horror on his face, you wanted a picture of it so you would always have something to laugh at. “Really?”

“Really,” you sang. 

“Fine. I—” another meaningless gesture as he cleared his throat, brows furrowing, “You really want me to be blunt?”

“Yeah. Tell me the truth, the whole truth, don’t dance around it.”

“Okay,” Kabru snorted, “Okay… I want to kiss you, I want to hold you, I want your attention, I want to pin you down on the couch and—”

“That’s enough,” you put up a hand— your cheeks were burning— and smiled, “we’re in a public place. But I get the point, thank you.”

Kabru sighed in relief. He closed his eyes and fell forward, burying his face in your shoulder. You couldn’t help but laugh and pat his back. 

There was a lot of work to do. He still had another layer of walls to break through, but he’d learn how to defeat and conquer. He’d learn how to stop building mazes for you. And it would be good for him, if it didn’t drive him insane first. 

You buried your nose into his hair. He groaned, slack in your arms. Part of you wanted to run, retreat. The other part of you rejoiced in the moment. You weren’t sure which one to listen to, but you and Kabru would figure it out with time. 

You and Kabru would figure a lot of things out together from now on. 

[pikavani]

Hi me again in your office au did jax ask #ragatha to be his gf or did they just kind of be romantic with each other. Sorry if this doesn't make sense. Love to see a comic on it tho. Ur the best

I'm really particular about how I portray Jax and Ragatha. Sure, I could just say they’re in a relationship, but I really enjoy writing and making comics to show the very slow burn of their story. It’s messy, not straightforward at all, with tons of banter and teasing. In my version, they’re both so awkward and confused about their feelings, which makes it way more fun to explore.

[cripplecharacters]

This might be redundant because it is about my own disability, but I’m on the autism spectrum with moderate needs and I am a part-time AAC user. I wanted to represent myself in a character, but I was recently told that my depiction of this character was infantilizing, which hurt because they were based off of me. Would it be okay to get some of my points reviewed, just so I can check if I screwed it up as badly as other people thought I did?

-This character still lives with their father as a caretaker, and while they love and trust him, they have some resentment for how overprotective he can be, since he still sees them as his baby. -They’re more comfortable verbally communicating with people they know and trust, or when talking to themself about their special interest. The rest of the time, they use an AAC tablet which was slightly modified in terms of aesthetic to fit the worldbuilding of my story, but retains all the general functions of a modern AAC application. -This character has several meltdowns over the course of the story. In one of them, they lash out at someone they love and run away, and in another, they completely lose the ability to communicate. These meltdowns are inspired by the way I’ve felt when overstimulated, but they’re also there to drive the plot. Because of this, one of them puts them in serious danger. -This character exists in a psychological horror setting, so they actually spend most of the story in legitimate danger, alongside characters of other neurotypes. -They’re very blunt and straightforward, and usually say things with no regard for if they’d sound mean or not, because they aren’t moderating their own tone of voice if they’re speaking out loud. -They’re technically a minor antagonist, since nobody knows who’s side they’re on for most of the book.

I don’t see anything that wrong with my character, but I just wanted to make sure there were no huge issues that I somehow missed. I don’t want to be “bad representation” myself, you know?

Hi asker,

I do not see anything wrong with your character, and especially so because you are basing it off of yourself.

You, and your needs, are not bad representation. End sentence.

Nothing here is jumping out as being infantilizing. I think something that happens is people can confuse "having more significant support needs and/or more obvious signs of disability" with actual infantilization, which is treating people like they are children who cannot make decisions for themselves.

Having an autistic character live with their parent isn't infantilization, having them use AAC or have meltdowns isn't either. Having a caretaker isn't infantilization. Not even the father being overprotective is necessarily infantilization – how many overprotective parents of abled and disabled kids alike exist? (A lot.)

You know already because you based this character off of you, but more people need to remember that these are just things that people can do or need. None of those by themselves are infantilization!

Autism is a spectrum. This spectrum includes people who can't do things that abled people can do easily, and people who can't do things that other disabled and even other autistic people can do easily. Some can do these things with help. Some can't at all. Showing this is not infantilization.

A person (or character)'s disability disabling them is not infantilization.

There's nothing wrong with your character, asker. No one's needs are "bad representation," and my heart goes out to you that you were made to feel that way. That is deeply unfair to you.

Hope this helps,

mod sparrow